In Yeshua’s (Jesus’) letters to the seven assemblies, he pronounced blessings upon those that overcome. Let’s look at those promised blessings, what they mean to the people that receive them, what it is that they need to overcome and the means to become an overcomer.
To the assembly at Ephesus:
Revelation 2:7 – He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the assemblies; To him that overcomes will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of [Elohim].
The word “overcomes” comes from the Greek word “nikao” meaning, “to subdue (literally or figuratively): – conquer, overcome, prevail, get the victory.” The promise is made to those who belonged to the Ephesus assembly. The word “assembly” is the Greek word “ecclesia” meaning, “a calling out”. The assembly at Ephesus was comprised of those who were called out of the darkness of this world.
The “tree of life” refers to the tree mentioned in Revelation 22:2.
Revelation 22:2 – In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bear twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
It also refers back to the same tree that was in the midst of the Garden of Eden. Yahweh allowed Adam and Eve to eat of it until they sinned by eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. From that moment on, access to the tree of life was forbidden.
Genesis 3:22-24 – And Yahweh Elohim said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: Therefore Yahweh Elohim sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. So He drove out the man; and He placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubim, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.
Those who overcome will be permitted to eat from the tree of life and live forever. They will also be permitted to enter the Garden of Eden (the “paradise of Elohim”) once again since that is where the tree of life is located.
To the assembly at Smyrna:
Revelation 2:11 – He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the assemblies; He that overcomes shall not be hurt of the second death.
The “second death” is defined in Revelation 21:8:
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
The first death is when you die like everyone else does; old age, car accident, illness, etc. The second death occurs after you are judged and found guilty of all your sins and are thrown into the lake of fire terminating your existence forever. This second death can be avoiding by believing in and receiving Yeshua as your Savior. His death on your behalf pays the death penalty that you should receive. His shed blood cleanses you of all sin so that you will stand before the Almighty in a state of innocence.
To the assembly at Pergamos:
Revelation 2:17 – He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the assemblies; To him that overcomes 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 knows saving he that receives it.
It is not clear what this “hidden manna” refers to. It certainly calls to mind the manna that fell from heaven in the wilderness which sustained Israel on their journey to the promised land. That manna was “hidden” under a layer of dew. A bowl full of that same manna was put inside the Ark of the Covenant, hidden from view. I, however, suspect the following meaning.
Manna is “bread” from heaven. The words of Yahweh are also bread/food for us.
Deuteronomy 8:3 – And He humbled you, and suffered you to hunger, and fed you with manna, which you knew not, neither did your fathers know; that He might make you know that man does not live by bread only, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of Yahweh does man live.
The “hidden manna”, therefore, may refer to Yeshua feeding the overcomers with food from Yahweh’s Word that has been hidden from it’s readers. Our understanding would be opened to see and eat of things that were hidden in the Word (the Scriptures) for centuries.
The “white stone” may be a reminder to the overcomer as to how he overcame; the stone representing our “rock” Yeshua (1 Corinthians 10:4) and white representing his righteousness. The overcomer was clothed with Yeshua’s righteousness and stands on the firm foundation of the Rock, Yeshua. The overcomer’s new name written on it would not only represent Yeshua’s righteousness upon him, but the intimate relationship between Yahweh, Yeshua and the overcomer as a result of being adopted into the family of Yahweh.
To the assembly at Thyatira:
Rev 2:26-28 – And he that overcomes, and keeps 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. And I will give him the morning star.
Here we see that overcomers must keep Yeshua’s works until the end. What are the “works” that Yeshua expects from an overcomer?
John 14:15 – If you love me, keep my commandments.John 14:21 – He that has my commandments, and keeps them, he it is that loves me: and he that loves me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.John 15:10 – If you keep my commandments, you shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.John 15:12 – This is my commandment, That you love one another, as I have loved you.
We show our love for one another by obeying Yahweh’s commandments. If we steal, bear false witness, murder, commit adultery, etc., we show we do not love the person we are transgressing against. If we commit idolatry, take Yahweh’s name in vain, break His Holy Sabbath, dishonor Him, etc., we show that we don’t love Yahweh.
The overcome will receive power over the nations that are alive during the 1,000 year after Yeshua returns from heaven. Just as Yahweh gave Yeshua the power to rule as King over the nations, Yeshua will give overcomers the authority and power to rule with him.
As for giving overcomers the “morning star”, we read in Revelation 22:16:
I Yeshua have sent my angel to testify unto you these things in the assemblies. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
Yeshua is the morning star. He will give himself to the overcomer so that the two will become one as a husband becomes one with his wife. This intimate relationship of love will continue throughout all eternity.
To the assembly at Sardis:
Revelation 3:5 – He that overcomes, 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.
We are told in Revelation 19:8, that white clothing represents the righteousness of the saints.
And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
Their garments have not been soiled or stained by sin for Yeshua’s shed blood is constantly washing them clean. They are clothed with the pure and spotless righteousness of Yeshua, the only sinless man to ever live.
Overcomers will not have their name blotted out of the Book of Life which contains the names of everyone that will receive the gift of eternal life.
Revelation 20:12 – And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before [Elohim]; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.Revelation 20:15 – And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
When Yahweh hears Yeshua confess the names of the overcomers, He will grant them eternal life.
To the assembly at Philadelphia:
Revelation 3:12 – Him that overcomes will I make a pillar in the temple of my [Elohim], and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my [Elohim], and the name of the city of my [Elohim], which is new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my [Elohim]: and I will write upon him my new name.
As we see in this passage, Yeshua has an Elohim. His name is Yahweh. Yeshua is not his own Elohim, but Yahweh is. Overcomers will be pillars in Yahweh’s temple. Yeshua is its foundation and the overcomers give it stability and strength as a stone pillar would do.
The names of Yahweh and Yeshua will be written on their foreheads as they were on the 144,000 of Revelation 14:1:
And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Zion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his name and his Father’s name written in their foreheads.
Just as each overcomer will have a new name, so will Messiah Yeshua. His new name will be written on overcomers as well.
To the assembly at Laodicea:
Revelation 3:21 – To him that overcomes 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.
To sit on the throne of Yeshua means the overcomer will rule the Kingdom of Yahweh along with Yeshua. There will be many nations that enter into the millennium. They will be the subjects of the Kingdom. Overcomers will be the rulers of that Kingdom on earth.
What will overcomers be overcoming?
They will overcome:
1) evil:
Romans 12:21 – Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
2) the world:
1 John 5:4 – For whatsoever is born of [Elohim] overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith.
3) Satan:
Revelation 12:9-11 – And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceives the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our [Elohim], and the power of his Messiah: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our [Elohim] day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
4) the flesh:
Romans 8:13 – For if you live after the flesh, you shall die: but if you through the Spirit do mortify [put to death] the deeds of the body, you shall live.
4) Sin:
1 John 1:7 – But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Yeshua Messiah his Son cleanses us from all sin.
5) Death:
1 Corinthians 15:52-57 – In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to [Elohim], which gives us the victory through our Master Yeshua Messiah.
Conclusion:
Revelation 21:7 – He that overcomes shall inherit all things; and I will be his [Elohim], and he shall be my son.
Friend, if you desire to be an overcomer and receive all the blessings that overcomers will receive, then put your trust in Yahweh to save you through faith in His only begotten Son, Yeshua the Messiah.
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