REMNANT OVERCOMERS AT THE END OF
THE AGE
Throughout
the history of Israel and the Church, God has always prepared a faithful
remnant of overcomers so that whenever the whole body fails, He
can call on these
relatively few to fulfil His purposes.
WHAT IS AN OVERCOMER?
“Strongs,”
and “Thayers” lexicons provide us with these alternative meanings of the Greek
word ‘nikao’ (NT:3528) - ‘to subdue,’ ‘conquer,’ ‘overcome,’ ‘prevail,’
‘get the victory’ ‘to carry off the victory,’ and ‘to come off victorious.’
Here are some
examples of the way it was used in the New Testament.
Jesus said, “be of good cheer; I have overcome
the world.” John 16:33.
“Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with
good.” Rom
12:21.
“For whatever is born of God overcomes the world.” 1 John 5:4.
“But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the
Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed (3528) to open the scroll and to loose its
seven seals.” Rev 5:5.
“And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him
had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering (3528), and to conquer.” Rev 6:2.
“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.”
Rev
12:11.
“And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and
them that had gotten the victory (3528) over the beast, and over his image, and over his
mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the
harps of God…” Rev 15:2.
“These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome
them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him
are called, and chosen, and faithful.” Rev 17:14.
In the second and third chapters of the Book of Revelation, Christ directs letters to seven Churches operating in Asia at that time. At the end of each of the seven letters, He addresses a special message to a group in their midst whom He addresses as “To him who overcomes.” Rev 2:7.
THE STATE OF THE CHURCH
“And it was granted to him (Antichrist) to make war with the saints and to overcome (3528) them. And authority was given to him over every tribe, tongue and nation.” Revelation 13:7.
The general condition of the church is that it has been overcome. Antichrist has been able to create a false worldly religion that has infiltrated the true church and contaminated it. As in the parable of the wheat and the tares, (Mat 13:20-30) the tares or apostasies of the false religion, have been nurtured in the midst of the true Church. Many churchgoers have been overcome and polluted with the image of Antichrist.
To
understand who will bear the responsibility as Christ’s overcomers at the close
of the age, we must understand the principle of the remnant. From a biblical point of view, the remnant is
that part of the community of God’s children who remain faithful, when the
majority rebel in disobedience, and is drawn into idolatry.
As part of God’s providential care of His children, He has always ensured that there would be a faithful remnant, through which He could accomplish His purposes. The overcomers and the faithful remnant are synonymous in that they are a smaller group within the wider body, anointed with the Lord’s authority and power to fulfil His purposes when the wider body has become faithless.
When Elijah fled from Jezebel, he complained to
God that he was the last faithful one in Israel. “And he said, “I have been very zealous
for the LORD God of hosts; because the children of Israel have forsaken Your
covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I
alone am left; and they seek to take my life.”
However God assured Elijah that He had preserved a remnant in Israel. “Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.” 1 Kings 19:14&18. Notice that God said, “I have reserved.” He Himself has ensured that down through the ages there would always be a faithful remnant. His purposes are fulfilled through the remnant; and His victory over the powers of darkness is accomplished through the remnant of overcomers.
The apostle Paul proclaimed God’s declaration to Elijah to be a promise to all ages. Even though the nation of Israel had rejected Jesus as their Messiah, God would ensure that there would always be a faithful remnant. “I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel, saying, "LORD, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life"? But what does the divine response say to him? "I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal." Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace.” Rom 11:1-6. And in this present age God has reserved for Himself a faithful remnant that has not bowed the knee to Antichrist and his spirit, and has not partaken of idolatrous worship or lying signs and wonders.
Examples of the Remnant in the Scriptures
The Holy Seed
“Then
I said, “Lord, how long?”
And
He answered:
“Until
the cities are laid waste and without inhabitant,
The
houses are without a man,
The
land is utterly desolate,
The
LORD has removed men far away,
And
the forsaken places are many in the midst of the land.
“But
yet a tenth will be in it,
And
will return and be for consuming,
As
a terebinth tree or as an oak,
Whose
stump remains when it is cut down.
So the holy seed shall be its stump.” Isa
6:11-13.
How long, Isaiah asked, would the wretched condition
of the nation of Israel (a type of the apostate church), last? The reply was until “the land (was) utterly desolate.” However Isaiah was assured that
God would leave a tenth as a remnant.
But even then God would visit the remnant to severely prune away the
corruption from their midst, so that they would be left as the stump of an oak
tree. What was left He called “the holy
seed,” because it was the refined remnant that would be used by Him to consume
His enemies.
Zechariah’s One Third
“And
it shall come to pass in all the land,"
Says
the LORD,
"That
two-thirds in it shall be cut off and die,
But
one-third shall be left in it:
I will bring the one-third through the fire,
Will refine them as silver is refined,
And
test them as gold is tested.
They
will call on My name,
And
I will answer them.
I
will say, 'This is My people';
And each one will say,
'The LORD is my God.'” Zech 13:8-9.
“And the Levites who went far from Me, when Israel went astray, who strayed away from Me after their idols, they shall bear their iniquity” “And they shall not come near Me to minister to Me as priest, nor come near any of My holy things, nor into the Most Holy Place; but they shall bear their shame and their abominations which they have committed. Nevertheless I will make them keep charge of the temple, (the earthly church) for all its work, and for all that has to be done in it. But the priests, the Levites, the sons of Zadok, who kept charge of My sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from Me, they shall come near Me to minister to Me (personally); and they shall stand before Me to offer to Me the fat and the blood," says the Lord GOD. "They shall enter My sanctuary, and they shall come near My table to minister to Me, and they shall keep My charge.” Ezek 44:10 & 13-16.
The Levites who went
astray and entered into idolatry are a picture of those who are of the worldly
church. Instead of following the true doctrine of Christ, they have become
tarnished with worldly apostasy, or sought fulfilment in the lying signs and
wonders of the spirit of Antichrist.
They have forfeited their right to a personal relationship with God;
nevertheless they are not completely divorced from church work. They are still allowed to take charge of the
organization and conducting of the affairs and ministry of the worldly church.
The
“sons of Zadok” present a picture of a remnant who have divorced themselves
from the image of Antichrist, and have an enduring faithfulness to God and the
ministries entrusted to them. As a
reward for their faithfulness, God draws them into a close personal relationship
with Himself. They hear His voice, and
follow His commands. In this respect
they are said to minister to Him and keep the charge, or sanctity of the true
Church. They offer to God “the fat,” (i.e.
they forsake the luxuries of the world), “and the blood (they are a living
sacrifice to Him).
“Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father's name written on their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps. They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth. These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being first fruits to God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God.” Rev 14:1-5.
The 144,000 are renowned for their purity and
sanctity. Their virginity is not
physical, but speaks of total consecration and separation to God (compared to
the ‘harlotry’ of the Israelites).
Because they are totally consecrated to God, His seal of ownership is on
their foreheads. That they follow the
Lamb wherever He goes, and that there is no guile in their mouths, speaks of
doing only those things that the Lord initiates, and speaking only His
words. Because they are perfected
vessels, products of God’s workmanship, they are called, “first-fruits,” highly
prized by God and His Lord.
Those Who Grieve Over
the State of the Church
The sealing of the one hundred and forty four thousand has its
counterpart in a reading from Ezekiel, which is another parallel prophecy
relating to Israel and the worldly church.
“Then He called out in
my hearing with a loud voice, saying, "Let those who have charge over the
city draw near, each with a deadly
weapon in his hand." And suddenly
six men came from the direction of the upper gate, which faces north, each with
his battle-axe in his hand. One man among them was clothed with linen and had a
writer's inkhorn at his side. They went in and stood beside the bronze altar.
Now the glory of the God of Israel had gone up from the cherub, where it
had been, to the threshold of the temple. And He called to the man clothed with
linen, who had the writer's inkhorn at his side; and the LORD said to him,
"Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put
a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations
that are done within it." To the others He said in my hearing,
"Go after him through the city and kill (alternative meanings -‘strike
severely,’ ‘chasten,’ ‘punish,’ ‘smite’); do not let your eye spare, nor
have any pity. Utterly slay (alternative
meanings -‘wound,’ ‘beat,’ ‘strike’) old and young men, maidens and little
children and women; but do not come near anyone on whom is the mark; and
begin at My sanctuary." So they began with the elders who
were before the temple. Then He said to
them, "Defile the temple (worldly church), and fill the courts with
the slain. Go out!" And they went out and killed in the city.” Ezek
9:1-7.
Israel had become idolatrous and corrupt, and the glory of God had
departed from the temple. Similarly, the
church has become corrupted with apostasy, idolatry, and worldliness, and the
glory of Christ as her Head has departed from her. Later, Ezekiel pictures the glory of the Lord
returning to the temple, just as it will return to the Church - but not before
she is judged and refined, as Peter forecast - “the time has come for
judgment to begin at the house of God…” 1 Peter 4:17. Judgment has started on the worldly church,
and as Ezekiel prophesied, it has started with the leaders, as in the exposure
of the apostasy of some with worldwide ministries, and the immorality of others
in trusted ministries. But notice that
God has reserved a faithful remnant to be engaged in restoration. They are marked with the seal of God’s
ownership so that, like the one hundred and forty four thousand, they are
exempted from God’s judgment.
Those who have the Testimony of Jesus Christ
In
the Book of Revelation, the “dragon,” or Satan, made war with the Church, but
was unable to destroy her because she was dispersed among the nations of the
world, where God protected her. Being
enraged that he could not destroy the Church, Satan directly attacked a small
group within the Church, described as those who are obedient to God, and
“have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”
“And the dragon was enraged with the woman (the Church),
and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the
commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Rev
12:17.
The apostle John was completely obedient and bore the “testimony of Jesus Christ,” and so suffered continual persecution, eventually being exiled to the island of Patmos. “I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Rev 1:9.
The Two Witnesses
In the eleventh Chapter of the Book of Revelation, immediately after John was given an instruction to measure the church to ascertain its corruption, we find a figurative account of “two witnesses.”
“And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth." These are the two olive trees (symbols taken from Zechariah 4:5, showing them being continually filled with the Holy Spirit) and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth. And if anyone wants to harm them, fire (pronounced judgment) proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed (or rendered harmless) in this manner. These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire.” Rev 11: 3-6.
The clues to the identity of the two witnesses are the
references to stopping rain, (Elijah, who is used as a symbol of prophecy) and
“to strike the earth with plagues,” (Moses, used as a symbol of the word of God). Together they refer to the spirit of
prophecy, or prophetic revelation of the Word of God. The “one thousand two hundred and sixty
days,” is not a literal period, but the Church age, and because the Church
has been overcome by the spirit of Antichrist, they are “clothed in
sackcloth.”
“When they finish their
testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war
against them, overcome them, and kill them.” Rev 11:7. This corresponds to the prophesied, “period of falling away.” “Let no one deceive you by any means; for
that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man
of sin is revealed…” 2
Thess 2:3. The falling away occurs after
the Holy Spirit’s restraint on the activity of Antichrist is withdrawn, so that
his lying signs and wonders become apparent to all. “For the
mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so
until He is taken out of the way. And
then the lawless one will be revealed…” 2 Thess 2:7-8.
At first there is celebration
because the stern warnings of the two witnesses have been a thorn in the sides
of those who have been engaged in disobedience, liberality, and lawlessness. “And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them,
make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented
those who dwell on the earth.” Rev 11:10.
Their jubilation is short lived, for at the time God is ready to enter into judgment against the church, the two witnesses are revived, and told to “Come up here.” They are not physically transported to heaven, but invested with authority and power from heaven, so that they could continue their ministries in the power of God.
“Now after the three-and-a-half days the breath of life from God entered
them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw
them. And they heard a loud voice from
heaven saying to them, "Come up here." And they ascended to heaven in
a cloud, and their enemies saw them. Rev 11:11-12.
The ministry of the two witnesses,
or the prophetic revelation of the word, will be of major importance at the end
of the age in the unmasking and overthrowing of Antichrist.
“…Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready." And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!'” Rev 19:6-9.
In this
reading there is the Lamb’s wife, and those who are called to the marriage
supper of the Lamb. This is
consistent with Christ’s parables of the king and the marriage of his son. Again we see the wedding party, and the
invited guests. “The kingdom of
heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, and sent out
his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding;…” Matt
22:2-3.
The Song of Songs is
an allegory of the preparation of the bride of Christ. The Shulamite is a type of the bride of
Christ, accompanied throughout by “the daughters of Jerusalem, who represent
the rest of the church.
“Go
forth, O daughters of Zion,
And see King Solomon with the
crown
With
which his mother crowned him
On the day of his wedding,
The day of the gladness of his heart.” Song 3:11.
There have been people down through the church age who have been
prepared and refined by God, and who have reached the status of the bride. Because of their purity and devotion to
Christ’s will, they have been entrusted to wield His authority and power.
It was on the cross that Christ accomplished His work of
redemption, and His victory over Satan and the world. He then called on His disciples to be His
instruments in the world in manifesting His victory over the powers of
darkness. Knowing this, Satan persecuted
the Church, and when this failed he used the spirit of Antichrist to undermine
it with false prophets and teachers, heresies and lying signs and wonders, deceptions
and the enticements and the allurements of the world. At first the history of the church is one of
victory over Satan.
The
Book of Acts is an account of the Church triumphing over all of the assaults of
Satan. Unfortunately the Church gradually failed, and throughout the centuries
fell more and more under the power of the power of Antichrist. However, when the Church in general fails,
God always prepares a few in the Church to take the responsibility as
overcomers to manifest Christ’s victory over Satan. The principle of the overcomers is this -
1. Whenever the Body as a whole fails, God has always reserved a remnant, to stand for the whole in manifesting Christ’s victory over Satan.
2. God calls on these few to carry out His commands, so that through them, He may later reach the many who were disobedient. The principle of the overcomers is God calling a few to do the work for the blessing of many. A few are called into death, that many may receive life. “For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is working in us but life in you.” 2 Cor 4:11-12.
This
principle is illustrated figuratively in the children of Israel crossing the
Jordan to enter Canaan. (Joshua 3:6- 4:18). The Jordan River is a figurative type of
death. When Joshua miraculously parted
the water of the Jordan, he selected a small number of the Levite priests (the
few) to bear the Ark of God’s presence, and stand in the bed of the Jordan
until the twelve tribes crossed over into the Promised Land.
The priests could stand in that perilous position because they bore the Ark, which is also a type of Christ. This signifies that the overcomers must do all things through Christ - by His initiation and by His life. The fact that the priests had to stand in the river bed of death until the last of the Israelites reached Canaan, points to the fact that the overcomers must walk in death to self until the overcoming work is completed, and ultimately until the kingdom of Christ is established.
The reason
that the church has so few overcomers is not that the children of God are
totally disobedient, but that they are not fully obedient to the command to
take up their cross daily in order to become Christ’s disciples. Before the overcomers are qualified to bring
life to others, they must have stood in the bed of Jordan. Their flesh must
have been put to death by their willingness to partake of Christ’s cup of
suffering. Like Christ, they must have
learned obedience through the things they suffered. “…though He was a Son, yet He
learned obedience by the things which He suffered.” Heb 5:8-9.
The Overcomers in Christ’s Letters to the Churches in Revelation
Because there has always been a faithful remnant
amongst God’s people, so there have always been overcomers in the Churches’
history. There were overcomers in every
one of the periods of the church, (presented in the seven churches in
Revelation, Chapters 2&3). Christ addressed seven churches existing at
the time of John’s writing, which are generally considered as historic types of
future churches. He chastised,
commended, or encouraged each one according to their spiritual condition. At the end of each letter He addressed the
overcomers in their midst, encouraging them by outlining the rewards they would
receive through their steadfast commitment.
The rewards listed during the progress of the letters are commensurate
with their growing maturity as overcomers.
To
the Overcomers at Ephesus
“To
him who overcomes I will give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst
of the Paradise of God.” Rev 2:7.
The ‘tree of life’…in the midst
of the Paradise of God’ is the Lord Jesus Christ, from whom all the
blessings of eternal life are imparted.
The more the Overcomers are emptied of their own fleshly natures, the
more they are filled with the presence and life of the Lord, experiencing His
victory over the world, the flesh, and the devil.
To
the Overcomers at Smyrna
“He
who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.” Rev 2:11.
The ‘second death’ is the judgment
of the damned. “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually
immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake
which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” Rev
21:8.
The condemned will face eternal damnation in “the lake of
fire,” but the Overcomers are assured that they will be spared from this
judgment. Also they will not be found
wanting in facing the judgment seat of Christ, where our judgment is not
concerning salvation but according to our works on earth. “For we shall all stand before the
judgment seat of Christ.” Rom 14:10.
“Now if anyone builds on this foundation (Paul’s gospel teaching) with
gold, silver, precious stones, (spiritual truth) wood, hay, straw, (apostasy
and deception) each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare
it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's
work, of what sort it is. If anyone's
work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer
loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.” 1 Cor 3:12-15.
To the Overcomers at Pergamos
“To
him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the
stone a new name written which no man knows except he who receives it.” Rev 2:17.
The manna is a symbol of Jesus
Christ, “the living bread,” or “bread of life” that came down from heaven. Eating the manna is usually associated with
receiving the life of Jesus, but also receiving within oneself Christ’s words
of truth. Jesus said of Himself, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” John
14:6. The connection between manna, the
Lord, the word and life, is illustrated in this reading. “So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna
which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know
that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that
proceeds from the mouth of the LORD.” Deut 8:3-4.
The hidden manna speaks of the
hidden revelations and truths in the Scriptures. They are revealed to the Overcomers by the
Lord, being counted as trustworthy custodians of His inner truths that are to
be revealed to His Body in accordance with His will and time.
The symbology of the white
stone may have been taken from the practice of giving the winner in the Grecian
games a white stone on which was inscribed a name that only he knew. The white stone and secret name shared by the
Overcomer and the Lord indicate the intimacy of their relationship, where the
Lord reveals Himself and what He is doing, just as God revealed to the Lord
what He was doing during Christ’s ministry on earth.
To the Overcomers at Thyatira
“And he who overcomes, and keeps
My works until the end, to him I will give power (authority)
over the nations – 'He shall rule (shepherd
with uncompromising authority) them with a rod of iron; They
shall be dashed to pieces like the potter's vessels' -- as I also have
received from My Father; and I will give him the morning star. "He who has an ear, let him hear what
the Spirit says to the churches.” Rev
2:26-29.
In the
Book of Revelation, the peoples of the world are generally divided into the
church and the nations - or everyone else.
Whilst the true church is subjected to Christ as her Head, the nations
are the tool of Antichrist in opposing the church. However, it is important to see that the “harlot,”
or the false worldly “church” is a part of the nations. The spirit of Antichrist is controlling
it. In fact, most opposition to the true
Church does not come from the world, but those whose religion is imprinted with
“the image of the beast.”
This
blessing to the Overcomers indicates that they will be the Lord’s instruments,
or spiritual battle warriors, who will be entrusted with the authority of His
name in casting down the strongholds of Satan.
The words spoken to them are almost identical to those spoken by God to
the Lord in Psalm 2, indicating the presence of the power of Almighty God in
upholding their authority.
“… I will give You The nations
for Your inheritance, You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash
them to pieces like a potter's vessel.'” Ps 2:8-9.
The “morning star,” is one of the names of Jesus Christ,
indicating that the Overcomers shall receive the fullness of the Lord’s
presence. The morning star also points
to the end of darkness and the beginning of light, or the end of Antichrist’s
dispensation of darkness, and the beginning of Christ’s reign of light. This indicates that the Overcomers will have
a prominent role in restoring the church by breaking the chains of darkness now
holding her in bondage.
To the
Overcomers at Sardis
“He who overcomes shall be
clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of
Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.” Rev
3:5.
The
Overcomers are clothed with white garments, having a righteousness beyond the
imputed righteousness we all have as Christians through the blood of
Jesus. This is the righteousness
described in Revelation 19:7. “Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb
has come, and His wife has made herself ready." And to her it was granted
to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the
righteous acts of the saints.” Rev 19:6-8.
Overcomers
have laid their carnal natures on the cross, and having been emptied of self,
they are now filled with the Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is now their righteousness. They are clothed in the righteousness of the
Lord, and the works they do are of the Lord, and being righteous works, they
are called “the righteous acts of the
saints.”
It is granted to the
Overcomers that Jesus will confess their names before God and His angels. They
will be in God’s protective care, and as Jesus said, “…I give them eternal life, and they shall never
perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is
greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand.” John 10:28-29. The angels are God’s instruments of protective
care.
To the
Overcomers at Philadelphia
“He who overcomes, I will make
him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write
on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New
Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him
My new name.” Rev 3:12.
A
pillar is a symbol of strength.
Throughout the history of the church, its foundational strength has
rested on those who have consigned their carnal fleshly natures and
self-dependence to the cross, allowing Christ to reign through them. Since God and His Christ are the true
strength of the church, and their strength is directed through the Overcomers,
they are declared to be pillars in the temple of God.
Our
spiritual pilgrimage leads us to lose our lives so that Christ can become our
life, and as our High Priest He leads us through the rent veil of His
sacrificed body, sanctified through His shed blood, to shelter in Almighty God
who abides in our spirits. In God we
enter a state of complete rest and stillness, trusting Him to be our
protection, our provision, our wellbeing - the governor and upholder of our
whole lives. Before being completed as
an Overcomer we have learned to retreat into God in times of trouble, and when
the crisis has passed we have resumed our normal lives. But at this stage the Overcomer enters into
God and remains there, making Him their permanent habitation. They “shall go out no
more.”
Next
Jesus says that He will write on the completed Overcomer the name of New
Jerusalem. In Revelation, New Jerusalem is called “the bride,”
and “the wife of the Lamb.”
“Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” Rev 21:1-3.
When the overcomers in the letter to
the Philadelphians receive the name of New Jerusalem, they are being accredited
with the status of the perfected state of the bride of Christ. The perfected
Overcomer, or Bride of Christ, will be invested with Christ’s new name, given
by Christ Himself as an eternal commitment by the Lamb to His wife.
To the
Overcomers at Laodicia
“To him who overcomes I will grant
to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on
His throne.” Rev
3:21.
The
completed Overcomers are granted to sit with Christ on His throne. They are given the responsibility of
exercising the authority of Christ, but only as they “sit.” To sit is to enter into a complete state of
rest and dependence on Christ, not acting on their own authority, but doing and
saying only those things initiated by Christ.
Notice that even the Holy Spirit as Christ’s representative had that
same restraint.
“However, when He, the Spirit of
truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on
His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell
you things to come. He will glorify Me,
for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.” John
16:13-15.
THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON
The Overcomers are the Lord’s
Battle Warriors on Earth
The
battle of Armageddon is basically a battle between Christ and Antichrist, which
will re-instate the Lord Jesus Christ as “…head of all
things to the church.” Eph 1:22. Casting out the pollution of Antichrist from
the Church and restoring Christ’s headship, will not only restore the Church,
it will be the beginning of Christ’s everlasting kingdom. This battle is not a physical war, but a
spiritual conflict using spiritual weapons like the authority of the name of
Jesus, and the word of God.
Two Battle
Fronts—Heaven and Earth
The
battle is waged on two fronts. In the
heavenlies the adversaries are Christ and His angelic hosts, against Antichrist
and his “principalities…powers… and the rulers of the darkness of this age…in the heavenly places.” Eph
6:12.
On
earth the Overcomers wage war on the spirit of Antichrist and his “spiritual hosts of wickedness…” (Eph 6:12) who have deceived and overcome those in the
apostate church, and the kingdom of Antichrist that now holds the world in
captivity.
The Army in Heaven
“Now I saw heaven
opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful
and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on
His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except
Himself. He was clothed with a robe
dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine
linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword,
that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a
rod of iron. He Himself treads the
winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a
name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS...” Rev
19:11-16.
The
army accompanying the Lord in heaven is said to be “clothed in fine linen,
white and clean,” not the attire of angels, but the same as attributed to the
bride of Christ (another type of the Overcomers - perfected in their
preparation). “And to her (the
bride of Christ) it was granted to be arrayed in
fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the
saints.” Rev 19:8. The
fact that they are said to be in heaven with the Lord should not be regarded as
a literal geographical position.
Spiritually they are raised to heaven, sharing the authority of His
throne.
The
“two witnesses” are also raised to a heavenly status and entrusted with the
ministry of expounding the prophetic word of God. They will have the major role in unmasking
and disarming Antichrist. It is said of
the heavenly Christ, “out of His mouth goes a sharp
sword.” Obviously
this is not a literal sword, but a symbol of the word of God. “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any
two-edged sword…” Heb 4:12.
Jesus is the initiator of the word that is imparted to the two witnesses.
Their prophetic expositions received
from Christ expose the lying signs and wonders of Antichrist, and reveal his
true identity and nature. Antichrist’s
control over people will be broken by the truth.
The Armies on
the Earth
The
second battlefront is the worldly kingdom of Antichrist, through which he has
brought the whole world under his control.
The battle on earth and its outcome is described briefly in the
following passage,
“And I saw the beast, the
kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against
Him who sat on the horse and against His army.
Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who
worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark
of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive
into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the rest were killed with the
sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the
birds were filled with their flesh.” Rev 19:19-21.
Antichrist’s
worldly kingdom has been established by using those bound under his influence
to control the bastions of trade and commerce. He has been able to bring all people under his
control by the influence that money exerts on their lives, to the extent that “no
one can buy or sell” (Rev 13:17) without being contaminated by the mark of
his character. It is important to see
that these people may also be part of the worldly church, for in the area of
money, Antichrist’s influence pervades all.
The ten kings under Antichrist’s control in the next reading are the
money controllers of the world.
“The ten horns which you saw are
ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority
for one hour as kings with the beast (Antichrist). These are of one mind, and they
will give their power and authority to the beast. These will make war with the Lamb, and the
Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those
who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.” Rev
17:12-14.
“The
kings of the earth” should not be regarded as literal kings, but people on
earth with positions of so much worldly authority (for one hour, or a short
period), that they can govern the lives of all the inhabitants of the
earth. They control the world economy,
and dominate the fields of commerce, politics, and even religion. Their own personal ambition is to wield such
authority and power as to control the whole earth. However they are dupes of Antichrist, who is
using them in attempting to destroy the earth. But they will fail because “the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of
kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.” The “called, chosen, and
faithful” are a remnant of overcomers who will wield the
spiritual authority entrusted to them by their Lord and Commander in casting
down their worldly empire. David calls
them the Lord’s volunteers in the day of His power, when God makes Christ’s
enemies His footstool.
“The LORD said to
my Lord,
"Sit at My
right hand,
Till I make Your
enemies Your footstool."
The LORD shall send
the rod of Your strength out of Zion.
Rule in the midst
of Your enemies!
Your people
shall be volunteers
In the day of
Your power…” Ps
110:1-3.
Antichrist’s
worldly kingdom will be cast down by the LORD in “one hour,” (or a very short
time), never to rise again. “The kings of the earth who committed fornication and lived luxuriously
with her will weep and lament for her, when they see the smoke of her burning,
standing at a distance for fear of her torment, saying, 'Alas, alas, that great
city Babylon, (the kingdom of Antichrist) that mighty city! For in one hour your judgment has come.'” Rev
18:9-10.
The judging and overthrowing Antichrist’s worldly
kingdom, or “Babylon the Great,” is the responsibility of Almighty God. The responsibility of ministering truth to
the bewildered and disillusioned ones previously under Antichrist’s control,
and turning their hearts to the Lord, belongs to the overcomers, or “volunteers.” It is through their ministry that the kingdom
of the Lord will be re-established.
Overcomers Have
the Responsibility of Annulling Antichrist’s Legitimate Authority
Even
though Almighty God is invincible, and no one can stand against Him, He is also
a God of justice and righteousness. “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne…” Ps
89:14. Whilst people on earth willingly
subject themselves to the deceptions and temptations of Antichrist, he has
legitimate authority on the earth, and a legitimate claim on their lives. But when the deceptions of Antichrist are
exposed by the Lord’s spiritual army on earth, his power and control over
people will be rejected, and his legitimate authority annulled. The authority of the Lord Jesus Christ as
“Head of all things to the Church” will be reinstated, and His glory will
re-enter the Church.
The outcome of the battle
between Christ and Antichrist in heaven is decided here on earth. As Antichrist loses his legitimate authority
on earth, the weight of God’s just judgment will fall on his head in the
heavenlies. “Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked
signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the
beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the
lake of fire burning with brimstone.”