A Soteriological Analysis of "Overcome" in Revelation

 

Hello and welcome. In this article, we'll be examining verses in Revelation that speak about overcoming and unpacking their meaning to identify the soteriological implications and application of these verses. 

THE SETTING AND CONTEXT OF REVELATION 

The book of Revelation contains exhortation and admonition penned by John that is directed toward seven local churches located in modern-day Turkey. This is the context of chapters two and three. In the book of Revelation, there are eight texts of soteriological concern regarding the concept of overcoming. Seven of these texts are located within chapters two and three. 

THE OVERCOME VERSES

Rev 2:7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; 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 2:11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

Rev 2:17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; 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 2:26-27 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.

Rev 3:5 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 3:12 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 3:21 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 21:7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

What's interesting is that 2:7 is addressed to Ephesus, 2:11 is addressed to Smyrna, 2:17 is addressed to Pergamum, 2:26-27 is addressed to Thyatira, 3:5 is addressed to Sardis, 3:12 is addressed to Philadelphia, and 3:21 is addressed to Laodicea. Lastly, 21:7 speaks of the new heaven and earth. So each of the seven local churches received an "overcome" verse. Where some Christians get hung up and confused is the issue of what this overcoming is connected to and conditioned upon. How do we overcome? Do we overcome by our work and perseverance? Or do we overcome some other way? 

THE JOHANNINE UNDERSTANDING OF OVERCOMING

1Jn 4:3-4 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

1Jn 5:4-5 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? 

What we need to understand is that John penned both Revelation and 1 John. In 1 John we get a little more insight into how John understands the concept of overcoming. According to John, is overcoming conditioned upon moral renovation or attaining a certain amount of righteousness through our own pious acts? Well, in chapter four we're told the reason believers have overcome the spirit of antichrist is God's greatness. In chapter five, we see a description of those who have overcome. Those who have overcome have been born of God. 

1Jn 5:1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.

Jhn 1:12-13 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 

In 1 John 5:1, we're told that those who have believed in Jesus Christ for their salvation are born of God. We also know from the gospel of John that receiving and believing Christ is connected to being a made a son of God. We see that according to John, overcoming is tied to faith and connected to the person of Jesus Christ. 

Rev 2:26-27 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.

We see a further indication in Revelation that overcoming is not inherently connected to works. How is this? Because we see a benefit that is conditioned on overcoming in addition to something else. In this verse, that something else is keeping works unto the end. This conveys that overcoming itself need not be understood as something inherently pertaining to works. Rather, this further points back towards the other Christocentric statements John makes about overcoming being tied to faith and connected to the person of Jesus Christ. 

OVERCOMING IS CHRISTOCENTRIC

Jhn 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Rom 8:35-37 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 

Rev 3:21 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 17:14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

Overcoming is Christocentric because Jesus is the true one who has overcome. He was made like unto us in all ways. He was tempted in every point like us yet while we all went astray into sin he did not. He conquered death and hell. These are things we cannot conquer and overcome ourselves. However, by God's grace, humanity can also overcome with Christ by being joined to him by faith. 

THE RESULT OF OVERCOMING: PROMISES OF GOD FOR ALL BELIEVERS 

When we correctly understand that the true overcomer is Christ and we also overcome through him by believing the gospel of Christ, it becomes clear that the results of overcoming are promises and benefits in the age to come for those who have met this prerequisite. Those who have met this prerequisite will: 

1. Eat of the tree of life (Revelation 2:7) 

2. Not be hurt by the second death (Revelation 2:11) 

3. Eat hidden manna and be given a new name (Revelation 2:17) 

4. Not be blotted out of the book of life (Revelation 3:5) 

5. Be a pillar in the temple of God (Revelation 3:12)

6. Sit with Christ in his throne (Revelation 3:21) 

7. Inherit all things and be a son of God (Revelation 21:7) 

CONCLUSION  

To conclude, our overcoming is grounded in faith and connection to Christ who is the true overcomer. Overcoming is not best understood as something connected to our works and personal perseverance. What Revelation chapters two and three are doing is giving a promise of God for believers to the seven local churches that are addressed; with a final promise at the end of Revelation in the context of the new heaven and earth. 

Thanks for reading. That concludes this article.