OVERCOMERS AND THEIR GREAT REWARD
(Sermon #2 in Overcomers series by Ed Skidmore)
Text: Rev. 2-3, Rev. 21:7
introduction:
After the Crimean War, a great celebration was held in London to honor the heroes wounded in battle. Queen Victoria was present to give out the medals. Some of the soldiers appeared with empty sleeves, some came on crutches, and some had bandaged foreheads. To each she gave the same sweet smile and the same high award. At last, a terribly maimed soldier was brought before the Queen on a litter. His arms and legs were gone. He had sacrificed even more than the rest. At the sight of him the Queen, with tears streaming down her cheeks, stepped forward and
pinned a medal on his uniform. Then stooping down, she kissed his brow and said with great emotion, "Well done, good and faithful servant!"
When we read the letters to the seven churches in Asia we notice one thing all seven letters had in common. Each one contained special words for "overcomers" and the promise of special wonderful rewards. These rewards will be the focus of the sermon today. I believe that you will discover that the trials we must endure as Christians and the pain of perseverance are nothing when compared to the wonderful rewards Jesus promised to overcomers. In fact we are told in ROM 8:18 "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." We have so much more awaiting us than just an entrance into the heavenly realms. Let us take time to consider the overcomer’s rewards.
1. Allowed to eat of the tree of Life (Rev. 2:7)
REV 2:7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
This is a twofold reward which contains an implied entrance into paradise and a stated opportunity to eat the fruit from the tree of life. This is most likely the same tree which was in the garden of Eden, and therefore, the tree from which Adam and Eve were forbidden to eat after their sin (Gen. 3:22-24). Having cursed the earth and introduced pain, sickness, and death to the human landscape, God, in an act of mercy, forbid Adam and Eve to eat of the tree of life lest they be forced to live forever in a world of pain and sickness and sorrow.
We can see in the book of Revelation that the tree of life was removed from earth and placed in Heaven where the overcomers will be allowed to eat from it freely. This is a promise of eternal life in a place where sickness, and pain and suffering have been removed forever. What a tremendous reward!
2. Crown of Life and avoidance of Second Death (Rev. 2:10-11)
Rev. 2:10-11: "Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death."
Again we notice two rewards given to the faithful overcomers. Those who are faithful even to the point of death (which means martyrdom) are given a special crown called the "crown of life." Several different kinds of crowns are mentioned in the Bible. It would make a fascinating study to examine the different kinds of crowns and what they signify. But the crown of life is the crown given to those who are persecuted or even killed for their faith and remain loyal to the Lord through it all.
We are also told that these people will not be hurt of the second death. Which is another way of saying that they have nothing to fear from the possibility of condemnation to Hell. Those who remain faithful in the midst of adversity have a direct promise of Heaven and a crown of Life.
The crown mentioned here is a "stephanos" or victor’s crown. It is the badge of the overcomer. This crown signifies victory and joy, completion, special recognition as an honored one, and free access to the presence of God. With two different pictures Jesus reveals the security and honor which awaits the homecoming of the overcomer. He gains direct access to the throne room of God and has no fear of the fires of hell. That possibility has been completely removed. Heaven is his only possible destination.
3. Hidden manna, a white stone, and a new name (Rev. 2:17)
"To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it."
These promises are rich with hidden meanings. We know that "manna" was the bread of heaven which fell each night for the feeding of the Israelites in the 40 years of wilderness journey. To feast on manna is to enjoy the blessings and provision of God himself. By the way, this is an answer to one of the questions I often hear about heaven. Will we eat in heaven? Well, so far we have been told that we will eat from the tree of life, and be given hidden manna. Since we are also told we will participate in the wedding feast of the Bride and Lamb and the word "feast" implies food, I would say that we would be safe in assuming there is food for the eating in heaven.
The white stone with a new name written on it has many possible meanings:
1. It may mean that God has counted you among the faithful.
2. In judicial terms a white stone means a judgment of acquittal.
3. In Historical terms a white stone with writing on it generally
conferred on the recipient special privileges and free entrance to special events (like a credit card or season pass).
4. Among Gladiators a white stone with the letters "SP" signifying "Spectatus" means that a valiant warrior gains the right to retire with honor from the ring.
5. Among those who practiced magic arts a white stone with a secret name was a powerful amulet. The god who’s name was inscribed would promise to come to the owner’s aid when ever called.
6. Finally, the white stone with a name on it signifies ownership (Wm Barclay, Daily Study Bible, Rev. Vol.1)
4. Power over the Nations, The Morning Star (2:26-28)
REV 2:26 To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations-
REV 2:27 ’He will rule them with an iron scepter; he will dash them to pieces like pottery just as I have received authority from my Father. * Psalm 2:9
REV 2:28 I will also give him the morning star.
This is a promise of sharing authority with Christ. Not only will he rule over the nations, but he has given his followers the privilege to rule with him. This gives us an understanding of what we will do in Heaven. We will not just be sitting around with harps singing "Kum By Ah". We will be given authority from the King of Kings and Lord of Lords to serve as his delegates before the nations he will rule. Do we see this kind of promise any where else? Sure! 2TIM 2:12 if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us;
The overcomer (the one who endures), has a management position waiting for him in Heaven. Christ will share his dominion with his bride. We are the Bride of Christ with the promise of ruling under His authority and by his side.
The Last promise in vs. 28 is the promise of the "morning star." That title has a fascinating history. At one point in time Satan was called "the Morning Star" before he rebelled. He lost that title when he fell from heaven. (Isaiah 1442) But who is the morning star spoken of here? The answer to that is found in: REV 22:16 "I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you* this testi¬mony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star."
We see then that Jesus himself is the Bright Morning Star. He has the title Satan once enjoyed among the many other titles Jesus possesses. To say that the overcomers will be given the morning star is to say that they have free access eternally to Jesus Christ himself. We enjoy his presence among us continually.We need not try to reach him through a mediator, for he is ours as we are His.
This is the way it is between a bride and groom. They are together. Living in closest harmony and fellowship. This is one of the greatest of gifts for the overcomers.
5. Clothed in White, name in the book of Life, Confessed by Christ before his Father (Rev. 3:5)
REV 3:5 He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels.
Wearing white garments is a representation of purity and
righteousness. It is no accident that this same picture is used
for the virgin bride. White always represents that which is
undefiled. In our case the white garments of the Bride of Christ were provided by the Bride Groom who died on the cross in order to purify his church and present it to himself without spot or wrinkle.
EPH 5:27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.
The next reward is that they won’t have their name blotted out of the book of life. This makes an interesting implication. Blotting out a name from a book implies that it was there and was
removed. Some scholars hold to the idea that the Bible presents all people as having their names in the Book of life, and that their name remains or is removed depending on what they do with Jesus Christ. This would fit the verse where it says that God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance II Peter 3:9. It also explains why in the end of Revelation the book of Life is called the Lamb’s hook of life.
REV 21:27 Nothing impure will ever enter it (heaven), nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
To continue the picture of having your name written in the Lamb’s book of life, we are drawn to the Judgment bar of Heaven where we witness Jesus Christ confessing your name before his Father in Heaven. The overcomers have the promise that Jesus will have your name on his lips when he appears before the Father. We stand before the Father wearing imputed righteousness, with our name written in the book of life, and Jesus confessing our name before his Father. Now, that is security!
6. Made into an inscribed pillar in the temple of God (Rev. 3:12)
REV 3:12 Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name.
No doubt you have heard people talk about someone being a pillar in the church, which is another way of describing an active worker in a local congregation. That concept may have come from this verse which tells of the permanent nature of our abode in Heaven. Those who arrive there will never worry about having to leave it.
When John wrote to the brethren in the church in Philadelphia he wrote to people who were familiar with the terror of earthquakes. They knew what it was like to be in a building and have to leave it suddenly when they felt tremors in the earth.
They didn’t want to be crushed in a collapsing building. For them, the idea of being a permanent pillar in a building which would not fall down was a wonderful change from what they had to endure. They were enduring persecution which often meant being dragged out of the worship house to be tortured or killed.
To them and to us Jesus promises permanence. We will become a pillar in the temple. Again, from history, we notice that when a man of honor died a new pillar was erected in his honor in a public building. On that pillar would be his name and the name of his father. The pillar signifies lasting honor, and nothing could possibly be more permanent than a lasting pillar in the temple of heaven. God’s name on that pillar signifies ownership. He will put his mark on his own. The New Jerusalem signifies heavenly citizenship, and the new name to which Jesus refers is a new title He will receive in Heaven. That new title will be written on our pillars. No one knows that title yet, but when
that title is given to Jesus it will be written on us.
7. Granted to sit on the throne with Christ (Rev. 3:21)
REV 3:21 To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne.
Unlike others who attempt to usurp authority and power for themselves, Jesus who is all power and authority is willing to share it with his followers. Just as Jesus has the right to share the throne of power and authority with his Father, He grants to his overcomers the right to sit on that throne with Him. I must admit that I can’t quite figure out logistically how that will be accomplished. It must be a very large throne for the Father and Son and all the Son’s followers to sit on that
throne together, but that is the nature of the promise. We are
given permission to enter the throne room and sit on the throne
with Christ. That implies the nature of our relatedness to God. We are his children and full joint heirs to all Jesus has inherited as God’s unique son.
We have one final promise given to the overcomers. This final promise wraps up and sums up all we have already said:
8: Shall inherit all things and be God’s son (Rev. 21:7)
REV 21:7 He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son.
"Overcomers will inherit all this", we are told. It is kind of like the way the quiz show host recites every prize in a showcase and then says, "You will win all this if the price is right." In an even greater way, God reminds His overcomers, that everything he has promised in Revelation 2 and 3, the whole package, is the inheritance of the overcomer. He then adds, "and I will be his God and he will be my son." This is much different than a quiz show host who hands out prizes and then walks away from the prize winner.- God’s relationship with his overcomers is permanent. He remains their God for eternity and claims them as sons.
Conclusion:
I believe you can see from all this that our rewards as overcomers are greater than we could ever imagine. In fact, the magnitude of these rewards will probably astound us for eternity. No High School honors assembly could ever compare with the glory God will reveal to his own. No military medal or sports trophy could begin to measure up with what God has in store for his children. He has given us a brief outline of the glory he will one day reveal. Until then, what do we do? We do just what the name implies. We overcome. We endure. We exhibit staying power. We cling to Christ and abide in Him as He abides in us. We do His
will the rest of our days. And if it should ever call for it, we
are willing to remain faithful even unto death. Keep in mind, the tree of life, the crown of life, the hidden manna and white stone, the morning star, the white robes, and your name in the book of life, the pillar in God’s temple and sitting on the throne with Christ. Remember these things when the going gets tough.
REV 21:7 He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son. Could anything possibly be.any better than that?!
