Reflections on Revelation #3 Rewards for the Overcomer

 

Reflections on Revelation #3 Rewards for the Overcomer

 

Having carefully examined the Revelation we are now in a position to do some reflecting on the book and discover ways we can directly apply its Truth to our lives.

 

We know that John’s original audience were enduring various degrees of suffering because of their faith in Christ.  Rough times, intense times, and catastrophic times were the norm.  Babylon was the culture that they found themselves in, a culture under the judgment of God for her unrighteousness. 

 

God has judged Babylon to be unrighteous because of her idolatry, immorality, economic exploitation, blasphemy, violence, and persecution of His children.  Babylon is corrupt, through and through, and being misaligned with God, is on a path of self-destruction. Every culture that follows in her footsteps is destined for destruction.  That’s why in Revelation 18:4 we are urged to get out of Babylon or we will get caught up in her doom.

 

Last time we considered 5 warnings that Jesus gave to his followers that are indicators that we are still very much a part of Babylonian culture. When we forget our first love; when we disobey in the small things; when we sit under false teaching; when belief does not translate into action; and when we are indifferent and complacent we are in danger of drifting away from the faith.

 

Hebrews 2:1 (MSG)

It's crucial that we keep a firm grip on what we've heard so that we don't drift off.

 

Drifting leads to apostasy. Apostasy is breaking your vows of fidelity to Jesus. 

Have you gotten caught up in the tide that pulls you away from God? The symptoms of drifting include having other priorities before God, and seldom do you crack your bible open to read or study the Word. Prayers are infrequent along with attending a fellowship of believers. You make your plans and conduct the affairs of your day without consulting with God first to get His direction. You no longer get your hands dirty when it comes to loving others, the ministry that once excited you is “been there, done that.” You feel no conviction to share the gospel, telling others about God’s amazing gift of redemption. You’ve lost interest in developing your spiritual life, Babylon has given you other priorities.  If you see these attitudes and behaviors in your life, stop, and draw near to God. You draw near by practicing the 7 Spiritual Habits of a Disciple.  You fan into flame your faith as you read and study the Scripture, and engage in prayer, fellowship, service, worship, obedience, and contemplation. The daily practice stops the drift, inviting encounters with God, which in turn allows you to experience what you believe.

 

The rough, intense, and catastrophic events of life can cause a tsunami of spiritual destruction in your life. Your faith can be shaken when Babylon persecutes.  Can you imagine not being allowed to make a living, being ostracized because you believe in One God, or even having friends executed for their faith? Your faith can shatter when bad things happen, you were abused, you lose a job or a marriage, an accident takes the life of a friend, a loved one becomes fatally ill, and God doesn’t answer your prayers.  We say that bad things happen to good people but we believe it's always the other person that those bad things will happen.  When we are thrust into a season of tears, pain, suffering, and death, we may choose to shake our fists at God, demanding answers and divine action. We question God’s love, His care, His promises, and His power.  Your lament, your complaint, and your anger can destroy your faith. I have been on the brink.  I remember praying, “God, I have given my life to you, done my best to serve you, and this is how I am repaid.” “My teachers and my preachers and even the scripture have lied to me. God is not good all the time, everything is not alright in Christ. Does God love me, care for me, and protect me and those I love and pray for? Does God exist? I was angry that God didn’t do what I wanted.  How can a loving heavenly Father, one who knows all and can do anything, not come to my rescue? I came very close to walking away. I spent 2 years rethinking my understanding of God. Maybe not the same events occurred but the original audience for John’s letter found themselves in emotionally similar situations. They also were engulfed in rough, intense, and catastrophic times and the message of Revelation is to endure.

 

Revelation 22:12 (MSG)

"Yes, I'm on my way! I'll be there soon! I'm bringing my payroll with me. I'll pay all people in full for their life's work.

 

There are rewards for staying faithful in the face of a preponderance of evidence that suggests your faith is a fairy tale. In hope let's examine the rewards that Jesus promises to overcomers, the rewards for those who stay faithful in the face of adversity.

 

Revelation 2:7 (MSG)

“I'm about to call each conqueror to dinner. I'm spreading a banquet of Tree-of-Life fruit, a supper plucked from God's orchard."

 

Just a little while longer and then a celebration.  A banquet from the Tree of Life. Eating the fruit symbolizes a resurrection from the dead.  We all die. When we follow Jesus we experience what He experienced.  He suffered, He was rejected, He was betrayed, “My God, My God why have you forsaken me?” After His death, God raised Him from the grave.  So God promises to raise everyone who believes in Jesus, who follows Jesus, who doesn’t relinquish their faith, into a glorified body (1 Corinthians 15:42-53).  Eating the fruit means you have been resurrected and eating the fruit means you have eternal life. This hope plays out in the promises found in Revelation 2:10-11.
 

Revelation 2:10-11 (NIV)

Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death.

 

The crown is a mark of victory.  In ancient Rome, the winner of athletic contests was crowned with a wreath, a symbol of honor. The second death comes after the first. “Everyone has to die once, then face the consequences” (Hebrews 9:27 (MSG).  As we discovered what you do matters but no matter how good you have done, if your name is not written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, if you have not bent your knee to the Lordship of Christ and stayed faithful the consequences are eternal separation from God.  John likened it to being thrown alive in a lake of fire. Those who endure, who overcome, who overcome even their doubt, are crowned by Jesus.

 

Revelation 2:17 (MSG) I'll give the sacred manna to every conqueror; I'll also give a clear, smooth stone inscribed with your new name, your secret new name."

 

In the midst of your rough, intense, or catastrophic time Jesus will give you what you need to spiritually substance you.  Manna was God’s provision to His people while they were in a desert place. There is deep and rich spiritual nourishment for those who continue to trust in the horrendously bad times. The smooth stone has been interpreted by scholars to mean acquittal, being found innocent; also a tessera, a white stone, was a token that entitled special privileges, like a VIP backstage pass.  That new name is your identity in Christ.  That the new name is secret suggests the intimacy you share with God. The reward for endurance is victory, purity, a new identity in Christ, and an intimate relationship with God.

 

 

Revelation 2:26-28 (MSG)

"Here's the reward I have for every conqueror, everyone who keeps at it, refusing to give up: You'll rule the nations, your Shepherd-King rule as firm as an iron staff, their resistance fragile as clay pots. This was the gift my Father gave me; I pass it along to you—and with it, the Morning Star!

 

Psalm 2:9 speaks of the Messiah's rule. Believers are promised a share in this authority, symbolizing participation in Christ's kingdom and victory over evil.  The iron scepter indicates the reign of Christ will be one of strength and decisiveness.  Jesus is the Morning Star (Revelation 22:16).  Jesus gives himself to the overcomers, a symbol of close and eternal friendship. If you recall the Morning Star is the start of a new day, so it also symbolizes the promise of a new beginning.

 

Revelation 3:4-5 (MSG)

They'll walk with me on parade! They've proved their worth! Conquerors will march in the victory parade, their names indelible in the Book of Life. I'll lead them up and present them by name to my Father and his Angels.

 

We know that the Message is a paraphrase of the Scripture and not a strict word-for-word translation.  One thing missing from these two verses is that the victors will be dressed in white for the parade. White robes represent righteousness and holiness, being rightly related to God. To wear “the white” signifies being cleansed for all sin and living a devout and holy life following God’s commands and the teachings of Jesus. To march in a parade indicates public recognition, highlighting the honor God has given you. 

 

Having your name indelible in the Book of Life again is a promise of eternal life under a new heaven on a new earth.  Jesus warned that the apostate would have their name blotted out from the Book of Life (Exodus 32:32-33, Deuteronomy 29:20,  Psalm 9:5, 69:28, 109:13).  Here the promise to the faithful is that their name will never be blotted out.

 

Jesus himself will present you to His Father.  When a person is introduced to royalty a court official introduces the person to the king, stating their name, title, and purpose of the audience. In this case, we can speculate that the One who sits upon the throne is going to confer an honor upon you for your faithfulness. 

 

Revelation 3:12 (MSG)

"I'll make each conqueror a pillar in the sanctuary of my God, a permanent position of honor. Then I'll write names on you, the pillars: the Name of my God, the Name of God's City—the new Jerusalem coming down out of Heaven—and my new Name.

 

To be a pillar is to have an enduring presence.  It speaks of your spiritual stability and steadfastness, you are now strong and unmovable.  Pillars in the ancient world were also decorated, commemorating contributions and sacrifices made to the Kingdom. To be made a pillar is to the reward of permanence in the presence of God.

 

Now you know the rewards that will be bestowed upon those who refuse to recant their faith.  You’re going through the darkest right now.  The storm you are in is terrifying.  There is no way out.  You are dazed and confused, full of why questions with doubt assailing you. You lament, you complain, you rage, and silence from the one who is an ever-present help in times of trouble is the only response you receive.  Rough, intense, and catastrophic times, and only a promise that sometime in the future, there will be rewards for faithfulness, and the promise right now of manna to sustain you.  It’s so easy to bow out, quit the faith, and turn your back on Jesus.  You must decide if what the Apostle Paul wrote is true.

 

Romans 8:18 (MSG)

I don't think there's any comparison between the present hard times and the coming good times.

 

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (MSG)

 These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There's far more here than meets the eye.

 

If your broken heart does decide that this is truth, that this is reality, then God will provide you with everything you need to endure.  The promises of victory and reward are never an exemption from suffering, but always of the strength and help that will see you through suffering till payday.

 

Jesus said:

John 16:33 (MSG)

“I've told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I've conquered the world."

 

Life is hard, bad things happen to good people, and there is pain and suffering, sorrow and tears, dreams turn to nightmares, and your world can be reduced to ashes at your feet.   Sometimes the cards you are dealt are a losing hand, but God can give you the resources to play a losing hand well.  The choice this gambler has made is to go with God regardless of my fear, my anxiety, my depression, my doubt.  I pray that you too are an overcomer.