Revelation: 5. Christ the Reward.

[Marilyn C]

Christ the Reward. (Rev. 2 & 3)


Christ`s promises of a reward to the seven churches encompass the full inheritance to every overcomer. This includes a new body, an incorruptible one that can dwell in the realms of the third heaven.

For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality... (1 Cor. 15: 53)

Yet more amazing still, is that they are sons of the most high, adopted into His family and given positions of authority and service as King Priests.

The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are children of God: and if children, then heirs, heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ. (Rom. 8: 16)



Peter reminds us that -

`the inheritance is incorruptible, undefiled, and never fades away. (1 Pet. 1: 4)

What an inheritance! What a joy and a wonder for it is Christ`s Life.



Christ`s Life. (The Tree of Life. Rev. 2: 7)

To him who overcomes I will give him to eat from the tree of life which is in the midst of the paradise of God. (Rev. 2: 7)


Christ is the source of eternal life. He continually sustains and nourishes us in our life now and throughout eternity. The proof of this life is seen in our service and relationships with others. As we cooperate with the Holy Spirit we will experience the fruitfulness of a Christ led life.


Thus, the picture of Christ as the Tree of Life, shows this fruitful life through us by the Holy Spirit. Here are 12 aspects of service and relationships by the Holy Spirit, in which we operate.

son, (Gal. 3: 26) heir, (Gal. 4: 7) steward, (1 Peter 4: 10) servant, (Eph. 6: 6) king, (Prov.25: 28) judge, (1 Cor. 6: 2 & 13) priest, (1 Peter 2: 5) holy one,(1 Cor. 1: 2) teacher, (Heb. 5: 12) citizen, (Eph. 2: 19) brother, (Heb. 2: 11) friend, (3 John 14).

 

[Marilyn C]

Christ`s Authority. (The Crown of Life. Rev. 2: 10)

Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. (Rev. 2: 10)

This crown represents the authority to rule and reign with Christ. We are called of Christ to be King Priests, and then empowered with His authority. Each overcomer will also be given specific authority and responsibility for specific areas of service. These are represented by other crowns, which we will receive in relation to our obedience to the Holy Spirit.

Crowns – Gk. stepho, Victor`s Crowns - a badge of royalty.


The Crown of Life. (James 1: 12)

Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been proved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love him.

There are many trials we face as a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ.



The Crown of Rejoicing. (1 Thess. 2: 19)

`For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?

There is great joy in discipling and mentoring others.



The Crown of Glory. (1 Peter 5: 2 - 4)

Shepherd the flock of God....not....as being lords over those entrusted to you, but examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.

There is a great responsibility to be examples to others.



The Crown of Victory. (1 Cor. 9: 24 - 27)

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown.

There is great freedom in being guided by the Holy Spirit and not self. That is the way to run the race of life.



The Crown of Righteousness. (2 Tim. 4: 8)

Finally there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge will give me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved His appearing.

Looking for the Lord coming to His Body, nourishes our everyday life. We are continually receiving His life which then flows out to help and disciple others.

 

[Marilyn C]

Christ`s Character. (The Hidden Manna. Rev.2: 17)

To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. (Rev. 2: 17)

`Jesus said,

“ I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead.....I am the living bread,..... It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing.
(John 6: 48 -50, & 63)


Bread is bought to nourish those who are alive; but Christ, the Bread of God imparts life eternal. The physical bread we eat is from wheat or other grains, grown in the ground from whence our bodies are derived. The calcium, silicon, iodine, iron, phosphates etc in an organic form are packed into the wheat in order to build up our strength.

In like manner, if we are to become partakers of spiritual life and immortality we must eat the Bread of God, which is made up of righteousness, goodness, lovingkindness, graciousness, perfectness, holiness and such like which result in Christ likeness.

To believe Christ and receive Him is to appropriate and partake of the Bread of God , (Christ`s character) which came down from Heaven. In doing so the result is life everlasting, because these divine virtues are imperishable. Therefore the gift (reward) of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.



Christ Likeness and Function. (The White Stone with our New Name. Rev.2: 17)

To him who overcomes, I will give him a white stone, [/I] [I] and on the stone a new name written, which no one knows except him who receives it. (Rev. 2: 17)

To have our own new name written on that white stone, is to have our specific character and function identified.



Coming to Him as to a living stone,....precious... ...you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood,... (1 Peter 2: 4 & 5)



This shows that the living likeness of Christ, the precious Stone, is imprinted on every redeemed soul. And every living stone built in the spiritual structure of this celestial house, has become a partaker of the divine nature.

We are individually set in the Body of Christ with a specific purpose and function.

...now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.(1 Cor. 12: 18)

 

[Marilyn C]

Christ Appearing for the Body of Christ. (The Morning Star. Rev. 2: 28)

I will give him the morning star. (Rev. 2: 28)


The morning star is the herald of the coming day. It is seen only by the watchers, or the early risers.



In the spiritual heavens, Christ is also the Bright and Morning Star.

I am the bright and Morning Star. (Rev. 22: 16)



He is the One whom we eagerly await. We look to His appearing.

[I]Finally there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord the righteous judge, will give to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved His appearing. (2 Tim. 4: 8)[/I]



Appearing – Gk. epiphaneia, meaning – manifestation, brightness, to become visible, conspicuous.



We are encouraged to eagerly wait for the Lord to come again.

To those who eagerly wait for him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation. (Heb. 9: 28)



And when Christ appears, we shall become like Him, changed and taken to glory.

When Christ, who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. (Col. 3: 4)

 

[Marilyn C]

Christ Appearing for Israel and the Nations. (Power over the Nations. Rev.2: 26 & 27)


The Lord`s coming for the Body of Christ is as the Morning Star. However when He comes to deliver Israel and bring judgment upon the nations He is described as the Sun of Righteousness.

`For behold the day is coming, burning like an oven, and all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up,” says the Lord of hosts.... but to you who fear my name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise...” (Mal. 4: 1 & 2)



Note the appearance of the morning star only intensifies the darkness of the night. So between the appearing of Christ as the Morning Star (for the Body of Christ) and His coming as the Sun of Righteousness (for Israel and the Nations.) there will be a period of great darkness, known as the Tribulation.

Immediately after the tribulation of those days.... all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds with power and great glory.
(Matt. 24: 29 & 30)


The tribes & nations of the world that go through into the Millennium are then ruled with a rod of iron. This designates that there will be immediate consequences for wrong actions. (Zech. 14: 16 – 19)


The overcomers seated with Christ in glory, will have power over the nations, ruling with Him as King Priests.

`And he who overcomes and keeps my works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations - He shall rule them with a rod of iron, as a potter`s vessels shall be broken to pieces.` (Rev. 26 & 27)

 

[Marilyn C]

Christ the Judge. (Name in Book of Life. Rev.3: 5)


He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the book of life, but will confess his name before my Father and before His angels.
(Rev. 3: 5)


Finally, when the thousand years are completed and Satan is dealt with, then comes the time of the great Judgement. This is at the great white throne where all the books are opened.


Every person not in Christ will stand before the judge. They will be judged on their works.

And the dead were judged according to his works. (Rev. 20: 12)



Many people had never heard of Christ and will be judged on how they lived their life according to their God-given conscience. If they tried to live righteously they will go on to the new earth. (Rev. 21: 24)



The overcomers seated with Christ in glory are not judged at this throne having been washed in the blood of the Lamb. Their names are written in the Book of Life which leads into an eternal reward in God`s great kingdom. Eternal life, Christ`s life forever manifested in them.

 

[Marilyn C]

Christ`s Holy Priests. (Pillar in God`s Temple. Rev.3: 12)

He who overcomes, I will make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go out no more. (Rev. 3: 12)



The Temple was Israel`s storehouse of national treasures. This is symbolic of Christ, the true temple in whom are all the treasures of wisdom & knowledge.

Christ...in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (Col.2: 3)



As a pillar in the temple, we are part of God`s spiritual house, we are in Christ. We are the holy priesthood, that speaks forth the wisdom, knowledge, and counsel of Christ.

you are..... a Royal Priesthood,....that you may proclaim the praises (virtues, excellencies) of Him who called you... (1 Peter 2: 9)





Ruling over 3 Realms. (Name of God, Name of the City of God, the New Jerusalem and Christ`s New Name. Rev.3: 12)


`He who overcomes, ..... 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 Name is used to give the character and function of a place or person.



The New Name of Christ. This is His New position as King Priest over the New order of King Priests in the third heaven.


The Name of the city of God, the New Jerusalem that comes down out of the third heaven to the Universal area over the earth.


The Name of God is His authority over all His vast kingdom. This includes the new earth peopled by Israel and the nations.



The overcomers are given authority in Christ in all these realms.

 

[Marilyn C]

Christ`s Kings. (Sit on Christ`s New Throne. Rev.3: 21)


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)


These are the overcomers whom Christ has matured and brought to the 3rd heaven where they will rule and reign with Him as King Priests on His throne.

To sit on the throne, doesn`t mean inactivity in one place but rather refers to having authority and responsibility from the 3rd heaven.

This is the high calling in Christ which Paul encourages us to aim for.

I press toward the goal of the upward (on top / high) call of God in Christ Jesus.

(Phil. 3: 14)

`