March 24, 2023
“To him who overcomes, I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Revelation 3: 21-22
This is the profound closing of the seventh of seven letters to the churches. Each of the letters ends with a wonderful promise for those who “overcome.” We have a perfect example of overcoming in Jesus. There is not a single temptation we face in this fallen world that He didn’t face and overcome. Regardless of the apparent difficulty of being obedient to Him in all things, let us be encouraged to draw from the power He is offering, for He is The Source of power. He is seeking people to live forever with Him who choose to agree that following in His sinless footsteps is the only way to truly be happy. All of the hurt, agony, and pain in this world is rooted in sin. He promises to make all things new (Revelation 21:5). The entire earth is included in all things!
“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
Remember that there is a powerful connection between use of the word “overcomer” and the name “Israel,” which means “overcomer with God.” Matthew’s gospel account is unique in that it is the gospel written by a Jew to Jews about a Jew—designed to present Jesus as King of the Jews, the long-awaited Messiah. Matthew uses the word “fulfilled” many times (make note!) because of the reality of the fulfillment of the promises of God in Jesus, the One who has overcome the world!
As Satan steps up his game in these last days (he knows his time is short – see Revelation 12:12), believers must especially be on guard. The lukewarm condition of today’s church indicates that God’s people have been lulled to sleep, lacking in awareness of Satan’s multi-level strategies. Blindness to the tactics of the enemy plays a huge role in his success; he has filled the world with distractions that effectively draw attention away from the terrible reality of spiritual dangers surrounding us.
The unique promise to overcomers that Jesus gives here is worth pondering and claiming daily. Its ultimate fulfillment will be realized when Jesus takes us to that heavenly place that He is preparing (John 14:2-3), but there is also joy to be had now in walking with Him! In looking over all of the letters, note that while the number of promises to the other churches increases in proportion with the decline of their spiritual condition, Laodicea, with its litany of serious shortcomings, is given only one promise. But to sit with Jesus on His throne incorporates all of the other promises given in all of the letters. To sit with Jesus on His throne is to have absolutely everything!
The last church exists in unique and peculiar times…. times of great secular, political, and religious upheaval. The church—in the midst of its self-sufficiency and lukewarmness—is struggling with its authenticity. The warnings of Christ to today’s church have far-reaching implications for all of God’s professed people at the close of earth’s history.
“And you [true, faithful followers] will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.” Matthew 10:22