The Lord continuously draws me back to the passages in Revelation describing the seven churches. Each church is unique in their standing and their faith (or lack of faith). In each commendation or rebuke, the Lord Jesus reminds the church what is to come for those who overcome.
At the introduction of each message to the church is a description of Jesus. These alone are awe inspiring. 2:1 proclaims Christ as "The One Who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One Who walks among the seven lampstands." 2:8 describes Him as "The First and the Last, Who was dead and has come to life." 2:12 "The One Who has the sharp, two-edged sword." 2:18 "The Son of God, Whose eyes are like flames of fire, Whose feet are like polished bronze." Revelations 2:23 proclaims "I am He Who searches minds and hearts." 3:1 Jesus is "the One Who has the sevenfold Spirit of God and the seven stars." 3:7 Jesus is "the One Who is holy and true, the One Who has the Key of David, what He opens no one closes, what He closes no one can open." And finally in verse 3:14, He is "the One Who is the Amen-the faithful and true witness, the Beginning of creation..."
One day every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord. He is the One, the First and Last, the Righteous Judge, the Omniscient God, He is holy and true. He is the Omnipotent Lord, ruler of Heaven and Earth. These descriptions of our King of kings is awesome yet there is more! For those of us who belong to Him by His free gift of life to us, we who overcome, are promised the following from God's hand:
Revelation 2:7 "I will grant him to eat from the Tree of Life which is in the paradise of God." Adam and Eve were given the privelege to walk with God and dwell in His Garden. The ONLY restriction was to not eat from one tree out of all that was in the Garden. This tree, named Knowledge of Good and Evil, was forbidden because God, Creator of Adam and Eve, knew what was best for them. Yet, they chose rebellion over obedience and God in His magnificent love for His Creation, did not want His beloved to then eat from the Tree of Life and live forever in their rebellious condition, so He banned them from the Garden for a time.
Those who overcome will now enjoy the privilege of eating the fruit of the Tree of Life!
Revelation 2:10 "I will give you the Crown of Life." We will then be crowned with the Crown of Life.
Revelation 2:17 "I will give him some of the hidden manna. I will give to each one a white stone on the stone will be engraved a new name that no one understands except the one who receives it."
The manna given to the Hebrews in their wilderness wandering was sustenance beyond their comprehension. It was a picture to mankind that we cannot live by bread alone by all that proceeds from the Mouth of God. We need His provision each day.
And I LOVE this part...He will give us a white stone that is engraved with a special name that only He and I will know. Each one of us will be given this precious stone with a "pet name" the Lord has for us.
Hosea records the names of his children through the harlot, Gomer. Each name is significant, describing the fruit of Israel's disobedience...Jezreel meant "the Lord will punish", and was a reminder to the Hebrews of the judgment to come upon them for their disobedience. Lo-ruhamah means that "the Lord will no longer have compassion". The House of Israel was to face judgment without compassion for their generations of disobedience while yet enjoying some of God's blessings. Lo-ammi was the third child of Gomer's whose name meant "you are not My people and I am not your God." This revealed that no longer would the House of Israel be referred to as God's people because of their grievous rebellion. Later, God shows His great lovingkindness and renames the children speaking of His forgiveness, His compassion and claiming His people.
Each of these original names could be the names we have grown up with...until we believed and received from Jesus Christ the Lord, His forgiveness and new life. Soon, we, like Hosea's children, will receive a new name-describing the new life we have in Christ. Hallelujah!
Revelation 2:23 "I will give to each one according to your deeds (whatever you deserve-NLT)."
This is being self explanatory, should also be sobering.
Revelation 3:5 you will be clothed in white and "I will never erase their names from the Book of Life. I will announce before My Father and His angels that they are mine." (NLT)
We will be given white, pure clothing and then Jesus tells us that He will never erase our names from His Book of Life. Jesus also tells us that He will announce us before His Father and His Father's angels that we belong to Him. It is a picture of coming into a royal hall and then being announced that you are the king's child! And this is EXACTLY what Jesus is doing for us. He is telling all of creation that we belong to Him!
Revelation 3:12 "I will make him a pillar in the Temple of My God..."
We become part of God's grand purpose...to glorify Him. How is this done? It is a mystery to me, but being a pillar in God's Temple pictures a place of importance and prominence. Pillars uphold the Temple, so we too uphold God and His glory, enthroning Him in our praise of Him.
Revelation 3:21 "I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne."
To sit down during the times of John (the author/recorder of Revelation) meant that your work was through. We will be granted the privilege to sit down because we have completed our work. We sit down with Christ on His throne because of His completed work on the cross.
All through out Scripture God has promises for His people. He does all the work and our part, to love Him with all our hearts, minds, soul and strength, is what is required of us. We who in Christ Jesus overcome we will receive from Him eternal life. We will be crowned with this eternal life for we are Christ's joint heirs in His kingdom.
May each one of us be overcomers in and through Christ Jesus.
Amen!
