While reading the Book of Revelation (the only book in
Scripture that promises a blessing to its readers) I felt led to write down the
rewards for overcomers side-by-side. I saw that they seem to build upon each other
in relation to positions of authority in the Millennial Kingdom!
To the church in
Ephesus: To him that overcometh will
I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God
(Rev 2:7).
Using Scripture to
interpret Scripture, we first learn about the tree of life in Genesis 2:9. God placed it in the
middle of the garden and Adam and Eve were free to eat of it. Some authors
suggest that this passage speaks to paradise regained in the Millennial Kingdom,
or the promise of increased knowledge (Whipple).
To the church in Smyrna:
He that overcometh shall not be hurt of
the second death. (Rev 2:11).
The second death refers to salvation of the soul (1 Corinthians 3:12-15), which unlike salvation of the spirit (the
free gift of eternal life) is the reward of gaining entrance into the
Millennial Kingdom. This will be determined by whether our works are burned up or
refined by fire at the judgment seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10). Jesus himself tells us that some will only be
able to see the Kingdom while others
will be able to enter it (John 3:3, John 3:5, Matthew 7:21, Matthew
18:3). In the Matthew parables, He speaks of believers who will be cast
into the outer darkness for the thousand years, where there will be weeping and
gnashing of teeth (Matthew 8:12, 22:13,
25:30).
To the church in
Pergamos: To him that overcometh will
I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the
stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.
(Rev 2:17)
In Exodus
16:15, manna was the miraculous food and sustenance the Lord provided each day for the
children of Israel. The Revelation passage may refer to hidden wisdom that will be revealed to
those who receive salvation of the soul. It also alludes to receiving a
position of authority in the Millennial Kingdom. We see this in the type in Genesis
17:5, when God gave Abram a new name: Neither shall thy
name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee
(emphasis mine).
To the church in
Thyatira: And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I
give power over the nations; And he shall rule them with a rod of iron;
as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received
of my Father. And I will give him the morning star. (Revelation 2:26-28)
These passages fulfill the parables of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30) and the minas (Luke 19:11-26), where Jesus said that those who are wise and
faithful over a few things will be made rulers over many things in the
Millennial Kingdom.
To the church in
Sardis: He that overcometh, the same
shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the
book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his
angels. (Rev 3:5)
If we let Scripture interpret Scripture, Revelation 4:4 tells us that those who
are clothed in white raiment have the honor of sitting around the throne and are wearing crowns of gold.
To the church
in Philadelphia: Him that overcometh
will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and
I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God,
which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will
write upon him my new name. (Rev
3:12)
This appears to be another position of authority in the temple, a
possible fulfillment of the type in 1
Kings 7:21 when Solomon set up the pillars in the porch of the temple.
To the church
in Laodicea: To him that overcometh
will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set
down with my Father in his throne. (Rev
3:21)
Jesus had such harsh words for the Laodiceans. He said that He would spew them
out of His mouth. But those who open their eyes to the Kingdom truths, “come
out” of this church, repent, and “sup” with Him can achieve this incredible reward, the highest position mentioned for overcomers.
Many teach that all believers are overcomers and will
receive the same rewards, but Scripture clearly does not support this. When you
understand the ramifications of the judgment seat of Christ,
and can distinguish passages from Scripture that deal with salvation of the
spirit (John 3:16, 11:26) from those
that concern salvation of the soul (1 Peter 1:9), you see just how
dangerous this teaching is.
