The Overcomers Reward.

OVERCOMERS REWARD (Rev. 2 & 3)

When Christ promised the overcomers a reward it was not a new earthly body to live on the earth, as wonderful as that would be, but it was an incorruptible body like His that can dwell in the realms of the third heaven. And still more amazing is that the overcomers are sons of the most high, adopted into His family & given positions of authority & service as King Priests. What an inheritance! What a joy & a wonder for it is

• secured for us through Christ`s sacrifice,
  
  `this Man, after He (Jesus) had offered one sacrifice for sins forever,.....
  has perfected forever, those who are being sanctified.`
  (Heb. 10: 12 & 14)
  
  
  
• shaped in us through His Spirit`s indwelling,
  
  `We also who have the first fruits of the Spirit
  even we ourselves groan within ourselves,
  eagerly awaiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body,....
  to be conformed to the image of His Son, `
  (Rom.8: 29)
  
  
• & kept for us by His continual intercession on high.
  
  `He (Jesus) is able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him
  since He always lives to make intercession for them.`
  (Heb. 7: 25)
  

Although the overcomer`s reward is written in parts throughout Revelation 2 & 3, it comprises our full inheritance. Each part identifies –


The Reward - Eternal life in Christ Jesus, ruling as a King Priest.

The Tree of Life. (Rev.2: 7)

The Crown of Life. (Rev.2: 10)

The Hidden Manna. (Rev. 2: 17)

The White Stone. (Rev.2: 17)



When we shall rule - In time & eternity.

The Morning Star. (Rev.2: 28)

Power over the Nations. (Rev.2: 26 & 27)

Name in the Book of Life. (Rev.3: 5)



Where we shall rule - Through Christ, in all realms of God`s great kingdom.


Pillar in Temple. (Rev.3:12)

Name of God, New Jerusalem & Christ`s New name. (Rev.3:12)

Sit on Christ`s New Throne. (Rev.3: 21)

The REWARD

Christ`s Life. (The Tree of Life. Rev. 2: 7)

`God has given us eternal life
& this life is in His Son.` (1 John 5:11)


Christ is the source of eternal life. He continually sustains & nourishes us in our life now & throughout eternity. The proof of this `life` is seen in our service & relationships with others.

As we cooperate with the Holy Spirit we will experience the fruitfulness of a Christ led life.

Thus the picture of Christ as the `Tree of Life,` shows this fruitful life through us by the Holy Spirit. Here are 12 aspects of service & relationships by the Holy Spirit, in which we operate


Now ......

`son, (Gal. 3: 26) heir, (Gal. 4: 7) steward, (1 Peter 4: 10) servant, (Eph. 6: 6)
king, (Prov.25: 28) judge, (1 Cor. 6: 2 & 13) priest, (1 Peter 2: 5) holy one,(1 Cor. 1: 2) teacher, (Heb. 5: 12) citizen, (Eph. 2: 19) brother, (Heb. 2: 11) friend, (3 John 14).`



& in Eternity

We are sons of God, & an heir over His estate, functioning as stewards
of possessions & servants of people.
We rule as Kings, making decisions, judging in righteousness.
We are also holy ones, priests giving praise to God & teaching others of
His ways.

Finally in God`s great kingdom we have the privileges of citizenship in the
third heaven with the fellowship of the brethren & friendship of others in
different realms.

Christ`s Authority. (The Crown of Life. Rev. 2: 10)

This crown represents the authority to rule & reign with Christ. We are called of Christ to be
King Priests, & then empowered with His authority – the Crown of Life.

Crowns – Gk. `stepho,` Victor`s Crowns - a badge of royalty.

`Blessed is the man who endures temptation;
for when he has been approved, he will receive the Crown of life (royal life)
which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.`
(James 1: 12)

Other Crowns – (Rev.4: 10)

Each overcomer will also be given specific authority & responsibility for specific areas of service in eternity. These are represented by other `Crowns,` which we will receive in relation to our obedience to the Holy Spirit.


(1 Thess. 2: 19, 1 Peter 5: 2 – 4, 1 Cor. 9: 24 – 27, 2 Tim.4: 8)

Christ`s Character. (The Hidden Manna. Rev.2: 17)


`Jesus said,
“ I am the bread of life.
Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, & are dead.....
I am the living bread,.....
It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing.
(John 6: 48 -50, & 63)


Bread is bought to nourish those who are alive; but Christ, the Bread of God imparts life eternal. The physical bread we eat is from wheat or other grains, grown in the ground from whence our bodies are derived. The calcium, silicon, iodine, iron, phosphates etc in an organic form are packed into the wheat in order to build up our strength.


In like manner, if we are to become partakers of spiritual life & immortality we must eat the Bread of God, which is made up of righteousness, goodness, lovingkindness, graciousness, perfectness, holiness & such like which result in Christ likeness.


To believe Christ & receive Him is to appropriate & partake of the Bread of God , (Christ`s character) which came down from Heaven. In doing so the result is life everlasting, because these divine virtues are imperishable. Therefore the gift (reward) of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Our Christ Likeness & Function. (The White Stone with our New Name. Rev.2: 17)


`Coming to Him as to a living stone,....precious...
...you also, as living stones,
are being built up a spiritual house,
a holy priesthood,...`
(1 Peter 2: 4 & 5)


This shows that the living likeness of Christ, the precious Stone, is imprinted on every redeemed soul. And every living stone built in the spiritual structure of this celestial house, has become a partaker of the divine nature.


To have our own new name written on that `white stone,` is to have our specific character & function identified. We are individually set in the Body of Christ with a specific purpose & function.


`...now God has set the members, each one of them,
in the body just as He pleased.`
(1 Cor. 12: 18)

Richard Mulcahy said:

Hi Newbie
Just wanted to thank you for such a great thread. Very informative.
I wonder what dwelling in the realm of the 3rd heaven will be like?
God bless...

Click to expand...

Hi Richard,

Thank you for your encouragement. Yes what a wonderful thought to dwell on, our eternal home with the Lord and others in such a splendid place.

I will write some more tomorrow however I don`t want to overload people with too much to read in one session. So glad you appreciate what the Lord is doing.

When we shall Rule.


In Time – when Christ Appears. (The Morning Star. Rev. 2: 28)


The morning star is the herald of the coming day. It is seen only by the `watchers,` or the early risers. In the spiritual heavens, Christ is also the Bright & Morning Star. (Rev. 22: 16) He is the One whom we eagerly await. We look to His `appearing.` (2 Tim. 4: 8)


Appearing – Gk. `epiphaneia,` meaning – manifestation, brightness, to become visible, conspicuous.

And when Christ `appears,` we shall become like Him, changed & taken to glory.


`When Christ, who is our life appears,
then you also will appear with Him in glory.`
(Col. 3: 4)

In Time – during the Tribulation & the Millennium.
(Power over the Nations. Rev.2: 26 & 27)

The appearance of the morning star only intensifies the darkness of the night. So between the appearing of Christ as the Morning Star (for the Body of Christ) and His coming as the Sun of Righteousness (for Israel & the Nations. Mal. 4:2) there will be a period of great darkness, known as the Tribulation. (Matt. 24: 21)

`Immediately after the tribulation of those days....
all the tribes of the earth will mourn,
& they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds
with power & great glory.`
(Matt. 24: 29 & 30)


The tribes & nations of the world that go through into the Millennium are then ruled with a `rod of iron.` This designates that there will be immediate consequences for wrong actions. (Zech. 14: 16 – 19)

The overcomers however, seated with Christ in glory, will have `power over these nations,` ruling with Him as King Priests. (1 Cor. 6: 2 & 3, Rev. 3: 21)

In Eternity. (Name in Book of Life. Rev.3: 5)

Finally when the thousand years are completed & Satan is dealt with, then comes the time of the great Judgement. This is at the great white throne where all the books are opened. The overcomers seated with Christ in glory are not judged at this throne having been `washed in the blood of the Lamb.` Their names are written in the Book of Life which leads into an eternal reward in God`s great kingdom. Eternal life, Christ`s life forever manifested in them.
(Rev. 20: 7, 11 – 15)

Where we shall Rule.


In Christ – A Holy Priesthood. (Pillar in God`s Temple. Rev.3: 12)

The Temple was Israel`s storehouse of national treasures. This is symbolic of Christ, the true temple in whom are all the treasures of wisdom & knowledge. (Col.2: 3)

As a `pillar in the temple,` we are part of God`s spiritual house, we are in Christ. We are the `holy priesthood,` that speaks forth the wisdom, knowledge, & counsel of Christ.

`you are..... a Royal Priesthood,....
that you may proclaim the praises (virtues, excellencies)
of Him who called you...`
(1 Peter 2: 9)

Ruling in 3 Realms. (Name of God, Name of the City of God, the New Jerusalem & Christ`s New Name. Rev.3: 12)

A `Name` is used to give the character & function of a place or person.


The New Name of Christ. This is His New position as King Priest over the New order of King Priests in the third heaven. (Rev. 3: 21)



The Name of the city of God, the New Jerusalem that comes down out of the third heaven to the Universal area over the earth. (Rev. 21: 2)



The Name of God is His authority over all His vast kingdom. This includes the new earth peopled by Israel & the nations. (Isa. 66: 22 Rev. 21: 24)



The overcomers are given authority in Christ in all these realms.

With Christ – King Priests. (Sit on Christ`s New Throne. Rev.3: 21)

These are the overcomers whom Christ has matured & brought to the 3rd heaven where they will rule & reign with Him as King Priests on His throne. To `sit on the throne,` doesn`t mean inactivity in one place but rather refers to having authority and responsibility from the 3rd heaven. This is the `high calling` in Christ which Paul encourages us to aim for.

`I press toward the goal of the upward (on top / high) call of God in Christ Jesus.` (Phil. 3: 14)

`To him who overcomes
I will grant to sit with Me on My throne...`
(Rev. 3: 21)