First, to understand who ‘he that overcometh’ is in Revelation 2 and 3, we must be using the Biblical definition of who an overcomer actually is. The same John that penned Revelation (yes it is Jesus telling John what to write, but John penned it down) uses the word ‘overcometh’ clearly in 1 John. It is not about a difference of context between 1 John and Revelation 2-3 either as some teach. It is just the opposite I believe. John’s definition is correct and here in Revelation 2 and 3 those who ‘overcometh’ is indeed the believer in Christ and not just a special group of believers who have more works. Here are some context observations as to why I believe this is so.
OBSERVATION 1: REFERENCE TO THE SECOND DEATH
“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. 2:11 KJV)
Here we see who the person that ‘overcometh’. The one who overcometh is the one that will not see the Second Death. So what is the Second Death?
“And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death” (Rev. 20:14 KJV)
This is describing what will happen to those at the Great White Throne judgment of the wicked, unsaved, unborn again, who reject the GIFT of salvation. So the person that ‘overcometh’ is all who have accepted the free gift of salvation by belief on Christ (1 Cor. 15:1-4, John 3:14-18, 37-40, Eph 1:13-14, etc.)
This is the Bible’s definition of ‘The Second Death’ which is where all unbelievers will end up, The Lake Of Fire. So this cannot be a correct interpretation and we must apply this truth as stated to Rev 2:11 as well. And when we do, in proper context, we see the meaning cannot be that ‘he that overcometh’ is a believer who has done over the top works. It is telling us that only the overcomer will not be found at the Second Death. Is that by works? If so, than that means this passage in Rev 2 and 3 is teaching the false ‘salvation by works’, or as we know it today as ‘lordship salvation’ and that just cannot be when we take all the passage on salvation. And I know that the person who preached this does not believe in the false ‘works for salvation’ teaching that is so rampant today. I believe he just has not seen the context I am showing that I see.
In Rev 2, avoiding the Second Death, is everyone that is saved. Not just a special group of believers. That is correct context right? Context found in the passage of Rev 2 and 3 itself. If this alone is not convincing enough there is more.
OBSERVATION 2: JOHN 1. WHO IS A SON OF GOD?
What is the definition of a person who are a ‘sons of God’ in the Bible? Is it any being created by God? Well, no it is not according to Scripture.
In the book of Genesis, we see Angels described as ‘sons of God’ who intermingled with human women and produced offspring called the Nephilim. Why were they called ‘sons of God’? Because a ‘son of God’ is any being that was created by God, as eternal. Not that they always existed, but that they were CREATED BY GOD into an eternal state of being. When Satan and the angels who sided with him in ride against God (their creator!), they fell and became the enemy of God and humankind. They are still eternal beings because that is how God created them. One day they will be cast into the Lake of Fire.
John wrote that,
“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.” (John 1:12 KJV)
As a human, only those who BELIEVE on Christ for salvation and have received Him by being born again in the Spirit (John 3) have BECOME ‘sons of God’. Why? Because the VERY MOMENT a person believes on Christ alone (Eph 1:13-14, and not by our works Eph 2:8-9) for righteousness by faith and trust in His once for all sacrificial blood atonement on the cross (Hebrews 10:10) and His rising from the dead (1 Cor, 15:1-4), their Spirit has been RECREATED by God as a NEW CREATION which God MADE the very righteousness of God, IN CHRIST.
“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might BE MADE the righteousness of God in him.” (2 Cor. 5:21)
This is not anything we work to achieve. Our Spirit is a new created BEING as a believer and it is now an ETERNAL being Heaven bound to be with God forever as a son or daughter in His family. In UNION with Christ and the Father and Holy Spirit (John 17).
Now let’s go back to the book of Revelation 21:7 where it reads clearly,
“He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.” (Rev. 21:7 KJV)
The one who ‘overcometh’ shall be His son. Not just a special group of believers who have more or better works on their belt. In Rev 21, it is all about the place Jesus went to prepare for ALL born again in the Spirit believers (John 14) and where all believers from the Church Age will end up. It is our blessed hope to be Raptured with glorified bodies as Jesus has and live in this place, the HEAVENLY New Jerusalem.
This is the definition of the ‘sons of God’ in Revelation as well then. Do you see what I mean? Not just some special believers who did more works.
OBSERVATION 3: 1 JOHN’S DEFINITION OF HE THAT OVERCOMETH
Some pulpits are teaching that because the context is different in Revelation 2 and 3, 1 John 5 does not apply. I strongly believe otherwise, especially when we see the context I have shown in observation 1 and 2 above.
Now going back to what I believe is the very definition the Bible is giving for ‘he that overcometh’, found in 1 John. Not just 1 John 5, which is where it is very clear to see what the definition is. But looking at the context just prior in 1 John as well. And we must remember that this is the same John that penned Revelation 2 and 3 we are discussing here. I feel that certainly holds much weight.
John tells us the very purpose of his writing 1 John and it is “so that your joy may be full”. He is refuting the Gnostics that did not believe Jesus is God and that we have been given a new born again recreated Spirit. The joy is knowing that as a born again believer, we are sealed in salvation. We have become the ‘sons of God’ as he wrote in John 1.
In 1 John 5 we see the clearest definition of what the New Testament defines ‘he that overcometh’ is referring too. And it is all believers from the Church Age, not just a special group of believers. John wrote these letter to the various churches in his time of writing as instructed by the risen Christ Jesus our Lord. First, do you think all members of churches are truly believers? Or are some using the lingo and seem to be believers but are not even born again. We find this true in today’s church organizations and it was also true back then when John wrote this. IN fact, he wrote 1 John to refute those teaching falsely among the church. That is how we also must be reading and interpreting Revelation 2 and 3 to see clearly what is being said by Jesus. The churches in Revelation 2 and 3 being discussed by Christ also have meaning of not just the churches of that time, but is a history of the Church of Jesus over time. And we are likely the last churches. Each church discussed have implications for individual believers as well right? So it is important to get the definition of who the overcomers are being discussed.
“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?” (1 John 5:4-5 KJV)
What does the world view believe? They believe in false ‘works for salvation’ to have right standing with God. Even in non Christian religions, it is all about works works works. We are bombarded with this false teaching constantly. The one that overcometh the world is the one that knows the truth. They are overcoming the lies of the devil ruling our current world system. Our ‘many wonderful works’ will not save us (Matthew 15-23) nor will our works keeps us saved (Gal 3, 4:4-5). It is clear however, that as born again believers, we SHOULD have good works because we have been MADE a new creation in the Spirit, created in Christ UNTO good works (Eph 2:10).
HE THAT OVERCOMETH is all true born again believers in Jesus as the Messiah, The Christ, who is God in the flesh, never sinned, and took our sins and paid fro all sins of the whole world and then rose from the dead. By belief on Chris the believer surely has OVERCOME the world. They are Heaven bound. It is the ONLY way a person can overcome the world; trust and belief on Christ.
OBSERVATION 4: JOHN 16:33, WHO OVERCAME THE WORLD EXACTLY?
Jesus said that HE OVERCAME THE WORLD. He did not ever teach that by OUR WORKS WE can overcome the world. In fact, in Matthew 7 Jesus warned sternly that such people will find themselves at the Great White Throne judgment to be condemned because they were never born again in the Spirit by trusting in Him as the foretold Messiah who was to come and be the final payment for sin. In PRIDE they thought they were good enough. Jesus will tell them, “I NEVER KNEW YOU”. Scary words!
Jesus said,
“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.” (John 16:33 KJV)
So who are the “he that overcometh”? Jesus or believers? We are only overcomers because we are in union with Christ! We are only
deemed HOLY and righteous (2 Cor. 5:17-21) because we are sealed in union with Christ (Eph. 1:13-14). We are only perfect in the Spirit because we are in union with Christ (Heb. 10:14). We are only complete in Christ because.. yeah, we are in union with Christ, and already risen with Christ (Colossians 2).
It Is Christ in us, the hope of glory you see?
OBSERVATION 5: REV. 2:26. IS OVERCOMING & GOOD WORKS THE SAME THING?
“And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:” (Rev 2:26 KJV)
See that word “AND”? This verse is the only one in Rev 2 and 3, where works will be given a special reward.
There is those who “overcometh”. How? by belief on the testimony of Christ and His death, having paid for our sins and His resurrection. BELIEVERS are all Church Age people who believed on Christ and received the FREE GIFT of being born again in the Spirit.
In this specific verse, it states the one that overcomes AND ALSO “keepth my works unto the end” will be given POWER over the nations on Earth during the 1000 year Kingdom age to come. This is a special reward for a select few exceptional believers.
Two different groups of believers in this one verse and only for a select group of believers – not all believers. The rest of Rev 2 and 3 promises for ‘he that overcometh’ is for ALL Church Age Believers.
This is how I see it with context. Rev 2 and 3 has always been a challenging passage. So many teaching differently about it as well. So far, this is how I see it and believe because of the context.
