March 3, 2022
“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
Thus, the last of the seven letters to the seven churches comes to a close. All seven of these letters end with wonderful promises 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 Source of power He is offering and to follow His example. He is seeking people to live forever with Him who agree that following His sinless example is the only way to truly be happy. All of the hurt, agony, and pain in this world is rooted in sin, which is disobedience toward God. He promises to make all things new, including the entire earth!
“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 because 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), believers must especially be on guard. The lukewarm condition of the church indicates that God’s people are lulled nearly to sleep. Blindness to the tactics of the enemy plays a huge role in his success. He has so filled the world with distractions that attention is moved away from the reality of the spiritual dangers that surround us.
The unique promise to overcomers that Jesus gives here is worth pondering. The fulfillment of this promise will be realized after Jesus returns for His “bride.” 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 to all of the churches. 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 upheavals. 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