Rev 2:26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: 27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. 28 And I will give him the morning star.We must look further for the meaning of this passage:
Psalm 2:8 Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. 9Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. 10 Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.
There is a nice relationship between "I will give power over the nations" (Rev 2:26) and "I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance." (Psalm 2:8).
"He that overcometh" are those who keeps God's works until the end (Rev 2:26). "Works" are important, and is summarized by loving God and others - "the Greatest Commandment and the one like unto it" (Mat 22:36-40). We can never quit loving and overcome. Reverence for God and charity to mankind is love. They do not stand alone. The latter is the corollary for the former! Loving God without loving others is not a demonstration of love. Loving others without loving God is humanism, and is apostasy! Reverence for God is faith, and the "work of faith" is demonstrating love. Faith, therefore, is not for five minutes as one walks forward in contrition; it is forever thereafter!
Examine the following verse:
2 Tim 2:11 It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: 12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us...
"Overcoming" is living by faith. It is dying with Jesus!
Gal 5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
We see here what dying with Jesus (Rev 2:11) is: it's the new birth - giving up the things of the flesh for the Spirit of God. Jesus called that being "born again". That is essentially giving up the things you desire for God's will. Rather than dependence on the self for salvation, it's dependence on the efficacious blood of Christ! The new birth is living with Jesus (2 Tim 11).
Hence, when we overcome and keep God's works until the end (Rev 2:26), we will reign with him (2 Tim 2:12). We will be royalty. I like the idea of being of the royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9). It would seem that priesthood (communicating with God) is how we "dress and keep" the Garden in Heaven (Gen 2:5). That is validated by "keeping the way of the Tree of Life" (Gen 3:24) - a representation of Jesus. Thus overcoming here is "keeping the Way of Jesus". Dressing the Garden is uplifting God's Name - the One called Jesus!
Rev 2:26 says that those who overcome will be given "power over the nations". How can that be? When New Jerusalem comes back from whence it came, the paradise of the Garden returns to Jerusalem, there will be a new reign. "It will be on earth as it is in heaven" (Mat 6:10) because, I believe, that heaven and earth will share the same property!
Those who overcome will be rewarded: "the meek shall inherit the earth" (Psalm 37:11; Mat 5:5). How can that be? Only in New Jerusalem after heaven comes down (Rev 21:2).
Those who overcome will be given "the morning star" (Rev 2:28). What or who is that?
Rev 22:16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
Those who overcome will get Jesus. He will be our king and us priests will worship and pay tribute to Him!
To be truthful, I have few thoughts at all about Rev 2:27: who we will rule and break. However, I apply that to the Church specifically at Thyatira, and those like them throughout the ages. It is possible that the disobedient in the Church will indeed get their "fire insurance" for having a little faith. However, in heaven, their reward will be different than the obedient. Theologians refer to different "crowns":
2 Tim 2:5 (ESV) An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.
It would seem that those who obey get the better crowns. In heaven some will rule over others, albeit all get a reward. Hence, the obedient will rule, and those who fail in obedience will serve. The Church of Thyatira had some who will be kings, and the less obedient who will be more of God's soldiers in heaven (2 Tim 2:4).
"We shall be kings and we shall be judges" (Psalm 2:8) right here on earth! It seems complicated but it can be simplified! Meekness is obedience to God, and it will pay off. Meekness now means authority in heaven. Of course, we don't strive for obedience as a means to power but because we revere Jesus; so complicated but so simple!
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