To Him Who Overcomes

If you are not familiar with the book of Revelation, it is written by John. John was chillin’ in the presence of God one day and God told him to write down everything he saw and heard. The following is some of what John wrote down. Each promise listed below is contained in a special letter to each of the seven churches: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea. My purpose in writing this is to share what encouraged me. The promises below are extraordinary. It is my hope that these promises are not just for the seven churches, but for all of us who overcome.

To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God. Rev. 2:7

He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death. Rev. 2:11

To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it. Rev. 2:17

To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations— 'He will rule them with an iron scepter; he will dash them to pieces like pottery'— just as I have received authority from my Father. 28I will also give him the morning star. Rev. 2:26-28

He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels. Rev. 3:5

Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name. Rev. 3:12

To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. Rev. 3:21



My personal favorite is the idea of a new name. I think it would be amazing to get a white stone from Jesus revealing my new name. I also love the idea of having the name of God written on me. To me, it would be physical proof that God has forever said, "You are mine!" Who am I to say, however, that Jesus is speaking literally here? But if he is, those things would be cool.

My encouragement to you, and to myself for that matter, is when life is hard, remember the promises of God. I know that God has amazing things in store for those who overcome. Remember also what Jesus said to his disciples when the time was drawing near for him to endure the cross: “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)"