Who are the overcomers mentioned in Revelation seven times? And what is the outer darkness? Is an overcomer someone who never gives up trying to repent or someone who overcomes all their sins?
The following eight verses all speak of the OVERCOMER: Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21; and 21:7. The “overcomer” in all of these verses is the “believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.” How do we know this? We know this because of what the apostle John wrote in 1st John 5:1, 4-5: “Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God…For whatever is born of God OVERCOMES THE WORLD. And this is the victory that has OVERCOME THE WORLD—OUR FAITH. Who is he who OVERCOMES THE WORLD, but HE WHO BELIEVES THAT JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD” (NKJV). It is “faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God” that makes one an “overcomer”; it is NOT by “trying to repent” or by “overcoming all our sins.” The fact is Jesus Christ is the one who “died for our sins” on the cross “to take away our sins” (see 1st Corinthians 15:3 with 1st John 3:5). We could never accomplish that but the moment a sinner trusts in the work that Jesus Christ accomplished on the cross he/she is saved (John 19:30 with Acts 16:31 & 1st Corinthians 1:18-24) and are an overcomer.
Due to space limitations, we will now quote the eight verses from Revelation with brief comments. Bear in mind what we have already said, it is through FAITH IN CHRIST that one is an OVERCOMER. One is “not saved by overcoming” but they “overcome because they are saved.”
Revelation 2:7, “To him who OVERCOMES I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” Every believer will enjoy “eternal life in its fullness in heaven.” Paradise is another word for heaven (Luke 23:43 and 2nd Corinthians 12:2-4) and in Revelation 22:2 we learn that in the heavenly city “was the tree of life.”
Revelation 2:11, “He who OVERCOMES shall not be hurt by the second death.” No believer will experience the “second death,” which is the “lake of fire” (Revelation 20:6 & 14).
Revelation 2:17, “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 one knows except him who receives it.” The “manna” speaks of Christ (John 6:32-35) and the “white stone” may be a special note of approval from Christ (since a white stone was given to those who were victorious in the Olympic games with their name on it, along with admission to a special feast). Both may thus refer to Christ’s favor in giving the overcomer a place of special communion with Himself in the glory.
Revelation 2:26 & 28, “And he who OVERCOMES, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations…and I will give him the morning star.” The believer will “reign with Christ over the nations in His coming Kingdom” (2nd Timothy 2:12 and Revelation 20:4). Christ Himself is the “morning star” (Revelation 22:16) who is coming to take all believers to heaven before judgment strikes the earth so this is a promise that they will have a part in the Rapture.
Revelation 3:5, “He who OVERCOMES shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot his name from the Book of Life.” Every believer will be seen wearing “garments of salvation” and “robes of righteousness” (Isaiah 61:10) because of their faith in Christ’s redeeming blood (Revelation 7:14). Their eternal security is seen in the impossibility of their names being blotted out of the Book of Life.
Revelation 3:12, “He who OVERCOMES, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more.” The believer who overcomes will have a place of stability and honor in the Father’s house in heaven and will never leave, for he will “dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (Psalm 23:6).
Revelation 3:21, “To him who OVERCOMES I will grant to sit with Me on My throne.” This, again, speaks of the privilege the believer will have to “reign with Christ” when He establishes His Millennial Kingdom.
Revelation 21:7, “He who OVERCOMES shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.” Each believer will share the inheritance that God gives to His Son (Hebrews 1:2 with Romans 8:17; Galatians 4:7; Titus 3:7; James 5:2). (483.3) (DO)