Who Are The Overcomers in Revelation 2-3?
I. WE MUST RIGHTLY UNDERSTAND THE OVERCOMER IN REVELATION 2-3
A. In Rev. 2-3, Jesus spoke of 22 rewards that would motivate and stabilize His people during the End-Times when He
pours out His glory and judgments as described in the Book of Revelation.
B. The 22 rewards: To eat from the tree of life in the midst of Paradise (2:7); to receive the crown of life (2:10); to
not be hurt by the second death (2:11); to eat hidden manna (2:17); to receive a white stone (2:17); to receive a new
name written on the stone (2:17); to have power over the nations (2:26); to receive the morning star (2:28); to receive
white garments (Rev 3:5); to receive a name that is not blotted from the Book of Life (3:5); for Jesus to confess one’s
name before the Father and angels. (3:5); for one’s persecutors to worship before their feet (3:9); for one’s persecutors
to know that Jesus loves them (3:9); to be made a pillar in God’s temple (3:12); to have God’s name, the New Jerusalem
and Jesus’ new name written on them (3:12); to receive gold to make one rich (3:18); to receive white garments that
one’s shame not be revealed (3:18); to have anointed eyes to see more (3:18); to eat with Jesus (3:20) and sit on His
Throne. (3:21).
C. In Rev. 2-3, Jesus was speaking to believers who had already received the free gift of salvation. He was calling
believers to live in a way to receive heavenly rewards. Justification is a free gift given to us. It is based on Jesus’
worthiness (Eph. 2:8-9). Rewards are given based on our works.
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone
should boast. (Eph. 2:8-9)
12 I am coming…My reward is with Me to give to every one according to his work. (Rev. 22:12)
D. There will be a vast difference in the measure of glory that each believer will be rewarded with. This will greatly
differ according to the measure of one’s obedience. Some will be called least and others called great in the age-to-come
(Mt. 5:19; Jer. 31:34; Heb. 8:11; Rev. 11:18; 19:5). Some believers will receive far greater rewards than other believers
according to their obedience.
41 There is one glory of the sun…and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory. 42 So
also is the resurrection of the dead. (1 Cor. 15:41-42)
E. All believers in Jesus will enter the New Jerusalem as a free gift of God. Yet, our experiences, responsibilities
and the quality of our relationship with Jesus will be different from one another. We are all equally significant to God
but we will vary in prominence in the New Jerusalem as well as have different capacities to experience God’s glory.
F. Most of these 22 rewards will be received by all believers in at least an introductory way. The issue in Rev. 2-3
pertains to what measure of the reward a believer receives. Since only overcomers receive the fullest measure of these
rewards, it is important that we rightly interpret what Jesus intends when calling us to be overcomers in Rev. 2-3.
G. An overcomer in this context is one who matures in the specific areas of faithfulness that Jesus emphasized in their life.
The Lord has a specific calling for which He is preparing you for in the age-to-come. Thus, the Spirit will emphasize
specific areas we must overcome to be prepared.
H. Our obedience is deeply connected to our rewards. Some falsely teach that these rewards are given to all
believers in fullness regardless of how they live. This view takes these rewards out of their context which requires
repentance from certain things and to be faithful to the end.
I. In Rev. 2-3, Jesus was not exhorting them to be born again. He was offering born again believers rewards as
incentives to greater diligence in the face of temptation and pressure. They do not motivate us if they are automatically
given to everyone without regard to our responses.
J. These 22 rewards are not given with “empty warnings”. An empty warning is one that has no real loss associated
with it. If rewards are automatically received without regard to fulfilling the required conditions then they are given with
an empty or false warning. They are promises that have specific conditions. Imagine an employer who promised to give
$10,000 only to those who did a very difficult task, then gave the money to everyone regardless if they did the work or
not.
K. Rewards are given by grace in that we receive a far greater reward than we could ever deserve. God pays so well
for the few things we give Him (Mt. 19:29; Mk. 10:30; Lk 8:8; Mt. 13:8; 23).
29 Everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name's sake,
shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. (Mt. 19:29)
L. As there are degrees of fruitfulness so there are degrees of reward: 100-fold, 60-fold and 30-fold.
23 He…bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. (Mt. 13:23)
M. Jesus remembers and rewards our small expressions of love by obedience. Our works are our responses of
gratitude for Jesus freely saving us. The “exchange rate” for our obedience is high.
21 You were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. (Mt. 25:21)
N. When speaking about these rewards, Jesus urged us to have ears to hear what the Spirit is saying because it
will take special attentiveness and the Spirit’s revelation to grasp their full meaning (Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22;
13:9). There is more than meets the eye in these rewards.
II. UNDERSTANDING THE SPECIFIC CONTEXT OF OVERCOMING
A. In understanding these 22 rewards in their context, we first emphasize what specifically Jesus intended them to
overcome to receive the specific reward. Jesus meant that they understand that they would not receive certain rewards
without overcoming the specific issues He pointed out. The rewards were related to specific conditions in which each of
the churches was required to grow in their love for Jesus. Each condition for each reward is an arena to show our love to
Him. If a believer in the first century would have died without overcoming in many of the issues Jesus pointed out, they
still would have gone to heaven but would have come up short in their reward.
B. To the church of Ephesus overcoming meant to return to their first love for Jesus until the end.
2 I know your works, your labor…3 you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name's sake and
have not become weary. 4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 Remember therefore
from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works…7 To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life,
which is in the midst of the Paradise of God. (Rev. 2:2-7)
1. Many of the saints in Ephesus neglected to maintain the love for Jesus that they once had. Jesus affirmed their
diligent work. However, if they would have died without overcoming their passive love they would not have gone to hell but
would be saved. They already had eternal life but still needed to overcome specific things to receive the full reward
in v. 7.
2. They would not have received the specific reward of eating from the Tree of Life in the midst of Paradise. All
believers will eat of the Tree of Life in the New Jerusalem in one degree or another. The fruit trees throughout that vast
City probably differ in many ways.
C. To the church in Smyrna overcoming meant to be faithful in persecution even if it led to death.
9 I know your works, tribulation, and poverty…10 Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed,
the devil is about to throw some of you into prison…be faithful until death…11 He who overcomes shall not be hurt by
the second death. (Rev. 2:9-11)
1. The believers in Smyrna were called to persevere in persecution to receive the crown of life. This crown is like
receiving a gold medal in the Olympics given only to those who were victorious in overcoming fear related to persecution.
Jesus exhorted them to not give in to fear in any way. He was not warning them about losing their salvation.
2. This crown is not automatically given to every born again believer. It is not synonymous with possessing the gift of
eternal life.
D. To the church in Pergamos overcoming meant to resist immorality and idolatry until the end.
13 You hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas…was killed among you…14 I have a
few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak…to eat things
sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. 15 You also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans…1
7 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… (Rev. 2:13-17)
1. Jesus defined overcoming for the saints in Pergamos as resisting immorality and idolatry.
2. A sincere believer may die before fully overcoming in their struggle with pornography. They will be saved but will
not inherit the fullness of their potential reward. Jesus was not warning them about losing their salvation but promising
them a greater experience of the glory of God if they would be faithful in this specific way.
E. To the church in Thyatira overcoming meant to resist immorality and idolatry until the end.
19 I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first.
20 I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel…to teach and seduce My servants to commit
sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols…25 Hold fast what you have…26 He who overcomes, and keeps
My works until the end…I will give power over the nations…28 and the morning star. (Rev. 2:19-28)
1. In Thyatira, Jesus commended them for increasing in love, service in their outreach ministries and for persevering in
difficulty, yet they compromised in allowing immorality and idolatry to continue unchallenged. He defined overcoming in
Thyatira in a way similar to Pergamos. Here, He emphasized the need to not tolerate it in their fellow church members.
He required that they not remain silent about the compromise. They were not to expose any who repented but only those
who refused to repent.
2. Jesus called them to hold fast to these requirements until the end. He was not warning them about losing their
salvation but promising them a greater reward for faithfulness.
F. To the church in Sardis overcoming meant to be watchful or to develop a prayer life and to hold fast the things
that God entrusted to them from their earlier years when revival first broke out.
1 I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. 2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things
which remain…3 Remember…how you have received…hold fast and repent…5 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…
(Rev. 3:1-5)
1. Jesus defined overcoming to the saints in Sardis as holding on to the spiritual vigor they experienced in early days.
Overcoming in this context required that they become watchful, and hold fast the things God entrusted to them.
2. The promise to believers of receiving white garments is not the same as receiving the free gift of righteousness
(2 Cor. 5:21) but of acts of righteousness (Rev. 3:18; 16:15; 19:7-8).
G. To the church in Philadelphia overcoming meant to persevere in mature obedience to the end.
8 I know your works…you have kept My word, and have not denied My name…11 Hold fast what you have…12 He who
overcomes, I will make him a pillar…and I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the City…I will write on
him My new name. (Rev. 3:8-12)
1. Overcoming for the saints in Philadelphia meant to hold on to their mature obedience for the remaining years of
their life. Jesus promised them rewards that included being vindicated before their enemies in the age-to-come (v. 9),
receiving positions of authority as pillars in His government (v. 12 b) and intimate revelation of God’s heart (v. 12 c, d).
2. Jesus will write on them the name of the Father, the New Jerusalem and His new name. Thus, they would receive
a greater measure of revelation of God than they would have.
H. To the church of the Laodiceans overcoming meant to resist lukewarmness to the end.
15 I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot…17 You do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor,
blind, and naked…18 Buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be
clothed…19 Be zealous and repent…21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My Throne... (Rev. 3:15-21)
1. Jesus defined overcoming to the Laodicean saints as zealously repenting or in being radical in their resolve to
turn from lukewarmness in their relationship with Him. Jesus promised them deeper fellowship along with a position in His
eternal Kingdom.
2. Jesus was not speaking to believers about receiving salvation but a new quality in their walk with God. Heavenly
gold will be seen in the heavenly mansions, crowns, garments, etc. He promised they would eat together in covenant
intimacy especially at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Rev. 19:9) and to sit on thrones ruling the nations.
III. UNDERSTANDING OVERCOMERS: 2 DIFFERENT CONTEXTS (REV. 2-3; 1 JN. 4-5)
A. Context #1: Overcoming worldly unbelief: all believers overcome in this general way.
John wrote of overcoming the world three times in two verses (1 Jn. 5:4-5). One overcomes in this context by believing in
Jesus and refusing the heresies that John confronted in his epistle, namely, the antichrist teachings that said Jesus was
not God and did not come in the flesh.
4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith. 5 Who
is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? (1 Jn. 5:4-5)
B. The issue in focus was to overcome heresies by believing in Jesus as fully God and fully man. We overcome the
deception and darkness of the world by refusing false doctrines about Jesus.
1 Do not believe every spirit…because many false prophets have gone out into the world…3 Every spirit that does not
confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist…already in the world…
5 They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. (1 Jn. 4:1-5)
C. Context #2: Overcoming unfaithfulness: not all believers overcome in this specific way.
John wrote of overcoming areas of unfaithfulness in a believer’s life as specifically defined in different ways in each of
the seven letters to the churches in Revelation (Rev. 2-3). To overcome means to walk in spiritual maturity or to be
consistent in obedience.
10 He comes, in that Day…11 Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and
fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness…12 that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you
in Him… (2 Thes. 1:10-12)
D. Summary: as unbelievers we overcome unbelief and the world on the day we become born again Christians
(1 Jn. 5:4-5). As believers, we overcome unfaithfulness in our lives only after we endure in obedience until the end
of our life.
IV. UNDERSTANDING WHO THE OVERCOMER IS IN REV. 2-3: THREE POSITIONS
A. The eternal reward view: rightly teaches that the rewards in Rev. 2-3 are given in different degrees according to
one’s faithfulness in loving and obeying Jesus. Rewards are given in addition to the free gift of eternal life. Jesus is
speaking to churches. The issue of salvation is settled, the issue in focus is the particular areas of unfaithfulness that
Jesus emphasized in their lives. Not all Christians overcome the specific unfaithfulness Jesus highlights in their life.
B. The loss of salvation view: teaches that believers are exhorted to faithfulness to avoid losing their salvation. In
this view, failing to overcome is synonymous with losing one’s salvation. This view implies that we must overcome all
spiritual immaturity to avoid losing our salvation. This implies that only mature believers are saved. The diligent workers
in Ephesus who lacked fresh love for Jesus would have lost their salvation if dying before faithfully renewing their first love.
C. The all believers view: teaches that all believers are overcomers because of the very act of believing in Jesus is all that
is needed to be an overcomer (1 Jn. 5:4-5). Faith in Jesus rather than faithfulness to Him is emphasized in this position.
In other words, both the spiritually mature and immature believers are equally overcomers. Thus, all the rewards in Rev.
2-3 are automatically and fully given to all believers as being synonymous with the gift of eternal life. The thief on the
cross will receive the same reward as Paul and John the Baptist.
V. BELIEVERS CAN BE SAVED YET SUFFER LOSS OF HEAVENLY REWARD
A. Eternal rewards can be lost. God remembers and rewards the good we continue in until the end. He forgets the
sin that we turn away from but He also forgets the good that we turn away from.
14 If anyone's work…endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself
will be saved, yet so as through fire. (1 Cor. 3:14-15)
8 Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for but that you may be rewarded fully. (2 Jn. 8; NIV)
11 Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. (Rev. 3:11)
B. The doctrine of rewards puts pressure on us. Destiny always pressures the one who says yes to it. We do not walk
into our eternal destiny accidentally or effortlessly. We rightly feel godly pressure if we do not change because we really
will miss some of what was potentially ours.
C. Some reject the doctrine of rewards based on our responses to Jesus because of the “pressure” they feel. There
is a godly pressure when we connect with our potential destiny in God. Some think grace means that there is no pressure.
Godly pressure convicts us until we change. This “pressure of love” is called the fear of the Lord.
9 You were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. 10 For godly sorrow produces
repentance leading to salvation…the sorrow of the world produces death…11 You sorrowed in a godly manner: what
diligence it produced in you. (2 Cor. 7:9-11)