By J.T. Haywood
The promises of God are to those that overcome. He that overcometh shall inherit all things. He that fails to overcome shall suffer loss. To the entire period of the Church, there are seven promises given to the overcomers. These are found in Rev. 2:7,11,17,26-28; Rev. 3:5,12,21.
He that overcometh the spirit that existed in the Ephesian period of the Church shall be given “to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” To retain one’s “first love” is the secret of life. The beloved apostle John had evidently reached that place. He was the most lovable of all the twelve. In his gospel and epistles, there is more said about love than in all the books of the New Testament. And there is more said about eternal life in his gospel than in all other writings together. It was he of whom Jesus said, “If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?” John 21:22. By this, the disciple understood that he was not to die. All other disciples met death by martyrdom, but John passed through all those things because he had evidently been “given to eat of the tree of life that was in the midst of the Paradise of God.” By some it was said that he died in a ripe old age, while others report that he was translated; by some, there is an old tradition circulated that John is yet alive somewhere on earth. However that may be, translated, or yet remaining, it is evident that he did not leave his “first love.” God grant that we all retain our “first love” and eat of the tree of life.
To the overcomers of the spirit of the Smyrnuan age,-the spirit of persecution, tribulation, poverty and suffering, shall be given a “crown of life,” and they “shall not be hurt of the second death.” The “crown of life” is the gift of life eternal that shall be given to the martyrs in the resurrection. They that enter into life eternal shall escape the lake of fire (Matt. 25:41-46) which is the second death. (Rev. 20:14, 21:8.) Those who “suffer” here with Christ have promise of “reigning with him” (2 Tim. 2:12) and that reign is a “reign in life” (Rom. 5:17), therefore he that faileth not in the hours of suffering and tribulation, but overcometh, shall be given a crown of life, thereby being delivered from the “hurt of the second death.” He that seeketh to save his life shall lose it; but he that loseth his life shall preserve it unto life eternal.
To overcome these things we must not shrink from hard trials and persecutions. He that endureth to the end shall be saved. Do not faint in these trying hours. But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great fight of afflictions. Cast not away therefore your confidence which hath a great recompense of reward.
* * *Now the just SHALL live by faith; but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. By God’s grace, we shall overcome!
The spirit in the church of Pergamos was that of instituting the doctrines of men, at the instigation of Satan who had succeeded in obtaining a “seat” in the church. Instead of the people being fed upon the true word of God they were made to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit spiritual fornication.
That spirit is abroad in the world today. But he that overcomes these things shall be given to eat of “hidden manna,” and shall be given a white stone in which is a new Name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it. That “hidden manna” is the “true bread from heaven,” Jesus Christ. (John 6:41,48,49,50,51,58.) In Christ is “hidden” all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. The mystery of God is “hidden from the wise and prudent” but is revealed unto babes (Lu. 10:21,22.) To feast on the revelation of Jesus Christ is truly “hidden manna” to our souls. The “white stone” is the same that Daniel saw “cut out without hands,” but the name written in that stone was unknown in other ages to the sons of men, but in these last days the knowledge of these mysteries is coming forth. That new name is “Jesus,” but no one knoweth it save he that receiveth it, and this is he that “overcometh.” (See Mat. 11:14, but all did not receive it.) Tho
this revelation of Christ Jesus is offered to all, but all will not receive, hence, no man knoweth that this “New Name” is JESUS saving he that will receive it. To the rest it is veiled in mystery, but to him that overcometh shall all these things be made known. The doctrine of Balaam was the spirit of preaching in order to obtain riches and honor. Balaam was not so eager to speak the Words of God as he was to gain honor and promotion from Balak. (Num. 24:15-17.) Because of many failings to overcome that spirit of “honor seeking” they are not able to believe the revelations on the Name of Jesus. (See John 5:44.)
The Thyatirian spirit is the increasing of the spirit of the preceding period. The woman Jezebel (Roman Catholicism) takes up the doctrines inaugurated by those of the Pergamos period, and for the love of riches and honor, has seduced the religious world to “eat things (traditions, not the Word, Matt. 4:4) sacrificed to idols (many gods), and to commit (spiritual) fornication” by worshipping other gods beside the only true and living God who is manifested in the Person of Jesus Christ. (Deut. 31:16; Rev. 17:1-5.) The spirit of “that woman Jezebel” is to rule over nations. She has committed fornication (compromised) with the kings of the earth in order to seduce them to come under her rulership. Many, seeing the prestige that she is gaining with the nations of the earth, are being seduced to follow in her pernicious ways. But her agreement with the kings will not stand. (Rev. 17:12-18.) In one hour her destruction shall come, and she and her children (followers) shall be cast into a (hot) bed of Great Tribulation. (See Rev. 2:20-24; 18:1 to 19:2.) Her false rule shall come suddenly to an end. But to those that OVERCOME that spirit in these days shall be given “power over nations, and shall rule them with a rod of iron.” For the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High. (Dan. 7:27) and they shall rule them with a rod of iron. Moreover He saith, “And I will give him the morning star.” That morning star is the Star and Scepter of Jacob. (Num.24:17.) The Star of Jacob and Scepter of Israel is beyond a doubt, Jesus Christ our Savior, who distinctly declares, “I am the root and offspring of David and the bright and MORNING STAR.” (Rev. 21:16.) Therefore, to him that overcometh shall be
given the life, power, and authority that was manifested in Jesus Christ in the days of his flesh, or in the “morning” of the gospel dispensation. The truth of these things have come in the “evening” time, as it is written, “but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light.”
The spirit of the Sardis period was the spirit of false conception. They had a name that they lived, but were dead. This spirit appeared at the time of the reformation. Many who followed Luther and the reformers held fast to what knowledge they had and refused to return to paganism, although they did not have the spirit of life in them. They stood on negative faith alone. Because of their firm stand, God honored them, and exhorted them to hold fast to what they had received and heard, but to deepen their repentance. Even though they did not have the fullness of the Spirit yet because they walked in all the light that they had, He who had the seven Spirits (fullness) of God, declares “they shall walk with me in white,” and counts them acceptable, saying, “for they are worthy.”
Today we encounter the same spirit everywhere. Many are professing to have that which they have not, yet they endeavor to keep themselves pure and spotless before God. He that is able to overcome this Spirit shall be filled with the fullness of the Spirit, or “clothed in white raiment.” (Compare these scriptures, Rev, 19:8; Jer. 23:6; 1 Cor. 1:30; Rom. 13:14; Gal. 3:27.) Those who died without the knowledge of God’s Holy Spirit shall be “counted worthy,” but those who now live and will walk in the light shall be “made worthy” by being “clothed in white raiment” (the Spirit).
The promises to the overcomers of the Church of Philadelphia are deep and wonderful. The prevalent spirit was that of brotherly love. It is the spirit of true holiness, both negative and positive; that is, within and without as well. Before such there is set an open door. The secrets of the Lord are with them that fear Him. No man can shut the door that God has opened to His Philadelphian saints. Their strength is small. They must rely on Jesus’ Name alone, for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength. Their victory is through having faith in His WORD, therefore He says, “and hast kept the WORD of my patience, and hast not denied MY NAME.” Thank God the “door is open” and there are many who have not denied His Name! Our enemies shall be put to shame. (Com. Isa. 66:5 and Rev. 3:8,9.)
Furthermore, He has promised to keep them who have kept his word, from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Waves of that hour of temptation have already swept over the face of the earth. Terrible plagues have tempted many to resort to the “arms of flesh” for deliverance, but all those who put their trust in the NAME OF JESUS have found his promise true. There are yet other plagues to follow, but the Name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous run into it and are safe. His coming is near at hand, for this time He says, “Behold, I come quickly: hold that (Name) fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.”
Him that overcometh He will “make a pillar” in the temple of God. Peter, James, and John were “pillars” in the house of God. (Gal.2:9.) They kept the word of His patience, and denied not His Name. (Acts 4:8-20; 5:27-32.) The house of God today needs “pillars” in the midst of her. Whosoever overcometh the false teachings of them of the synagogue of Satan shall be made a firm support (pillar) in the temple of God. And “he shall go no more out,” for he shall find in Christ all that he needs.
Moreover, Jesus says, “I will write upon him My New NAME.” What is his new Name? Before this can be determined it will first be necessary to find out his old name. In Chapter 1:8 He declares that He is the LORD which is, and which was, and which is to come, the ALMIGHTY. Further on he declares “I am the First and the Last.” The Almighty is the name of the God of Abraham. Ex. 3:13-16; 6:2,3. That Jesus is the God of Abraham is proven by the following passage: John 8:56-58. If the one in the midst of the candlesticks was Jehovah, the Almighty, the Lord of Host, the Holy One of Israel, the Redeemer, the First and the Last (See Isa. 43:3; 44:6), then His “New Name” is JESUS, the greatest name in heaven or in the earth!
“The name of my God.” By this, he does not mean that he is going to write upon the overcomer three names. The Name of God is revealed to the overcomer only. Even now while I write these lines the Spirit says all who read these words will not understand. There is but one God. The God that Jesus worshipped in the days of his flesh as (a son) is the same God that we worship since we have become “sons of God.” This God and our God is one and the same. (John 20:17.) To the world, this is a great mystery (1 Tim. 3:16), but to him that overcometh is this mystery revealed. In Rev. 21:6 Jesus says, “He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I WILL BE HIS GOD, and he shall be MY son.” Now that he has made known to us our God, we know his God also. (John l4:7-9.) The name of our God is JESUS, and his GOD and our GOD is the same. This is only for them that overcome.
“The name of the City of my God” is the name of the New Jerusalem which cometh down from God out of heaven. By turning to Rev. 21:9,19 we find that the New Jerusalem is the Bride, the Lamb’s wife. That the Lamb is Jesus our heavenly Bridegroom no one will deny. The Lamb’s wife must evidently bear the name of her husband. Her Maker is her husband (Isa. 4:5) and JESUS is his name. In all things he must have pre-eminence. The name of our God, the name of the City of our God, and His New Name is JESUS!
To the overcomers of the spirit of the Laodicean Period of the Church is given the privilege of sitting with Christ in His throne. The lukewarm spirit of this church is identical with the present spirit prevalent throughout the religious world. The nominal Christian profess to be neither “saint, nor sinner”. Neither hot, nor cold. They are not condemned, no matter what they do. God has “spued them out of his mouth”. They claim to be “rich, and increased with goods”, but knoweth not that they are wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked”. To overcome his spirit, one must buy gold (faith) tried in the fire, (1 Pet. 1:7); white raiment (Rev. 19:8), and be anointed with eyesalve (Acts 10:38) so that they might see. The faith of the Son of God, the raiment of righteousness, and the anointing of the eyes of our understanding are things greatly needed in order to overcome this lukewarm, sickening, adulterous age. The Lord will come in and sup with such and grant them to sit with him in his throng. And this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. See Rev. 3:14-22.
(The above material was published by The Voice in the Wilderness, Detroit, MI.)
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