INTRODUCTION TO THE REVELATION OF THE OVERCOMERS
STUDY #1
     I will try to make a short outline and explanation about the "overcomers" before we proceed with the study so that we all can see their position in God's eternal purpose. It would be difficult to over emphasize the importance of the overcomer in God's economy. Every church surely needs those who qualify as "the overcomers".
     In a recent tape Francis Fragipane made reference to a survey that was sent to several churches. The survey asked how many overcomers they recognized in their congregations and what was the percentage of "overcomers" to the total membership. The average was I overcomer to 40 members. That is about 2 ½ percent. Of course some churches could report none while others might report a few. The problem is we don't know how each person identifies what an overcomer really is. Some may think an overcomer is one who faithfully attends the meetings and pays tithes. This points out a very serious problem and one that needs to be addressed. The question we must ask first is : What really is an overcomer and why is God so concerned with finding Overcomers rather than just more redeemed folks? If we just studied Revelation 2nd and 3rd chapters we should understand that God is not pleased with anything less than overcomers.
     If we can clearly show from scripture that only the overcomers will be "caught up" or “snatched away" to the throne of God just before the Great Tribulation, the seriousness of this study will be evident
     PSA 8:1 Oh, LORD, our Lord, How majestic is Thy name in all the earth, Who hast displayed Thy splendor above the heavens! [2] From the mouth of infants and nursing babes Thou hast established strength, Because of Thine adversaries, To make the enemy and the revengeful cease.
     PSA. 8:3 When I consider Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers, he moon and the stars, which Thou hast ordained; [4] What is man, that Thou dost take thought of him? And the son of man, that Thou dost care for him? [5] Yet Thou hast made him a little lower than God, And dost crown him with glory and majesty! [6] Thou dost make him to rule over the works of Thy hands; Thou hast put all things under his feet, [7] All sheep and oxen, And also the beasts of the field, [8] The birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, Whatever passes through the paths of the seas. [9] Oh, LORD, our Lord, How majestic is Thy name in all the earth!
     One of the great mysteries of the ages is this question. What is man and how does he fit into God's purpose and why was he created. Of all the wonders of creation why would God even consider man in his feeble and rebellious condition? Even after the fall of man, why would God still give man dominion over the earth and those things on it? Man was surely created much, much "lower than God" but in His image and likeness. Still God crowned him with glory and honor and majesty! This all seems rather strange. However, it does have a logical explanation.
     God obviously had a need that required satisfaction before the earth was restored and Adam was created. If God was not deeply concerned about something why would He go to all the trouble to restore the earth and create man upon it? God had a deep desire that could only be fulfilled through this creation. We all know that the man that God created to meet a particular need in His (God”s) life fell into sin and he fell from the purpose of God.
     God was able to restore man through Calvary and the blood of Jesus met man's need for

redemption but God's need was not met in Calvary. Still through Calvary man could once again rise up to meet God's need and do His will and fulfill His eternal purpose. This SHOULD BE redeemed man's primary goal to no longer live for himself but to live for Him that died and rose again on his behalf. This is only logical! However, that is not the primary focus of the
"born-again" experience. The thought seems to be now we have gotten this much from God so lets see how much MORE we can get. Now that we are "children of God" He is obligated to supply us with all the desires of our heart. After all we are now “the king’s kids” and deserve the very best..
     Somehow we have gotten the mistaken idea that everything from Genesis to Revelation is all about man and his well being and about God blessing man. When will the church just stop and ask why did God save me? What is He getting out of my life?
     Psalm 8 says that God set man here to deal with His adversary and to cause the enemy and the revengeful to cease. If God wanted to deal with His enemies why didn't He just do it Himself. He is much better equipped to deal with Satan and the fallen angels and the demons than we are. Yes! God could have wiped them all out with one word! Then why didn't He do it? Our God is a righteous and Holy God and He must do everything within His character.
     Since Satan and his followers are created beings who followed after rebellion, lust, pride and disobedience, God must deal with His adversaries through created beings. God will surely bring judgement upon Satan and His followers for their rebellion and disobedience but He must do it through other created beings that love God, walk in obedience and fulfill God's eternal purpose. In other words God will deal with His adversaries through mankind that live righteously and exactly opposite the way Satan did. For example; Because of Abraham's righteousness God could judge Sodom and Gomorrah. If Abraham had been as rotten as Sodom and Gomorrah, how could God have righteously judged them, since they had no example to follow?
     God created man to serve Him, obey Him, live righteously, to be humble, to walk and talk with God and fulfill His eternal purpose and bring joy to God's heart. Ever since the re-creation Satan has been busy trying to deceive man in every age from fulfilling that place in God's purpose. Satan's reason is purely selfish and has to do with self preservation. Satan knows that God WILL judge all disobedience when our obedience is fulfilled.
     2 COR 10:5] We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, [6] and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete. This is a principle in God. God must find someone who is walking in obedience before He can judge disobedience. If Satan can keep the church ignorant and rebellious he has delayed his own judgement. If we preach "salvation" without obedience we have fallen into Satan's trap and he has won.
     HEB 5:8] Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. [9] And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation, The scriptures really don't know much about "saved rebellious sons that refuse to do His will".
     But consider this; If God could find "SOME" fallen, rebellious people who have been redeemed and who give themselves wholly to serve God, walk in obedience, love God and fulfill His purpose, Satan's doom is sealed. Then God can righteously judge Satan and the fallen angels and the demons and all the other rebellious people on earth. All the angels are mightier, wiser, and more cleaver than man who was created from the dust of this earth. But God made man from the dust in the most humble way and sets him up as the example to Satan and his angels of what true love and obedience is in God's eyes.
     Now this "group" is the overcomers and they have that honor from God. God will judge all the disobedience upon this earth through the obedience of the overcomers. They will even judge the angels.
     We could ask the question; Why has not the Lord come after all these years since Calvary? Didn't Jesus deal a fatal blow to Satan? Wasn't Jesus' obedience made perfect? Could not God just have dealt with Satan through Jesus' obedience? We could certainly say YES to all these things.
     Jesus was very man of very man and He certainly qualifies but some might accuse God of unrighteousness because Jesus is also the Son of God and born of the Holy Spirit. Besides it is a much sounder defeat if God could raise up a whole company of overcomers from every generation who would do everything that Satan refused to do. Through these overcomers God could righteously judge Satan, all the angels and all the demons and all the rebellious of mankind. No one would have any excuse because men of every generation overcame. This is the position of the overcomer in God's eternal purpose. God's great glory is that He can take fallen man, made of dust, and discipline and train him to become an overcomer and even to share His holiness. Not only that but God will share His throne with the overcomers through out all eternity and exhibit them as His masterpiece of creation.
     With that introduction let us now proceed to understand exactly what qualifies as an overcomer. In study #2 we will look at the types that are given in scriptures. At least some of the examples of faith in Heb.11 are also examples of those who overcame. Gideon and his small army are types of the few overcoming for the majority. In other words Gideon stood in the battle for all of Israel. All of Israel would not respond to the threats and abuse of the Midianites or the Amalekites so God raised up Gideon and his small band f of 300 overcomers to act in behalf of all of Israel. This type shows one aspect of the work of the overcomer! Of course the types don't have to be perfect to show a principle.
     To make an application for the church today we could say that all "Christians" will not overcome but God MUST find some overcomers in each generation who will do the whole will of God in love and obedience. God will judge all disobedience because of the obedience of the few. There is now a movement where God is assembling thousands of intercessors to act and pray. That is the introduction to the principle of the overcomers. Not all believers will pray and seek God but God is raising up a few ( intercessors-overcomers) who will act in behalf of the sleeping church.
     This is not to excuse the sleeping church from their responsibility but to be an example to the sleeping church to wake up.
     REV. 3:15] 'I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I would that you were cold or hot. [ 1 6] 'So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. V 21 ] 'He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. [221 'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."'
     The contrast is between overcoming or being vomited out of His mouth ( body). This is very vivid and doesn't leave very much room for the sleeping church to find comfort. If there were no overcomers to act in behalf of the sleeping church how will they wake up, repent, buy from Him gold tried by the fire, purchase white garments, and buy from Him eye salve so they can personally "SEE" ?
     From this short outline it is clear that every assembly must have a group of overcomers who will function in behalf of the majority and set an example. Surely the intercessors will have a vital part of that work.
     From Revelation 2 & 3 we see the diversity of things that the overcomers WILL overcome if they are to inherit the New Jerusalem. They will be living in first love. Endure tribulation, suffering, poverty and be faithful unto death. They will not deny the faith, they will reprove those that teach false doctrine and put stumbling blocks before believers. They will reject the work of the false prophet Jezebel that leads His bondservants astray. The overcomer will hold fast until He comes! The overcomer will not only have a name that they are alive but they will be living by His life. Their deeds will be judged as complete in the sight of God. The overcomers will have used the (little) power they were given, will have kept His word and not deny His name. They will have a revelation of God's love for them, personally. They will have kept His word with perseverance. The overcomers will be on fire for God and in hot pursuit of Him.
     A more complete list of various trials and sufferings of the overcomer is found in 2 Cor 6 and 2 Cor.11. Paul said these are proofs of Apostleship but it is clear that they are also proofs of overcoming. Many wonder why God treated Paul so harshly and put Him through such rigorous trials and sufferings but Paul recognized that he was set as an example to the believers.
     I COR 4:8] You are already filled, you have already become rich, you have become kings without us; and I would indeed that you had become kings so that we also might reign with you. [9] For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as men condemned to death; because we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. [10] We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are prudent in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; you are distinguished, but we are without honor. [11] To this present hour we are both hungry and thirsty, and are poorly clothed, and are roughly treated, and are homeless; [ 12] and we toil, working with our own hands; when we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure; [ 1 3 ] when we are slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become as the scum of the world, the dregs of all things, even until now.
     I CO 4:14 1 do not write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children. [ 1 5] For if you were to have countless tutors in Christ, yet you would not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. [161 1 exhort you therefore, be imitators of me.
     Still today Paul is a shining example for us of an overcomer who endured so many things right up to the end and was found faithful. While there are not so many examples given of those who gave up before they overcame, there are a few. We will try to focus upon the positive.
     Paul was acting in behalf of the whole church, not only in his generation but in every generation.
     We may wonder why the whole church doesn't sit back and let the overcomers fulfill the desires of God. If the overcomers will act in behalf of the church why should we worry? The answer is blunt but simple. It is the overcomers that are caught up to the throne of God
     The under-comers will participate in the great tribulation until they either overcome and be killed or take the mark of the beast. The lukewarm will be vomited out of His body.
     Rev 2:15] `Thus you also have some who in the same way hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. [16] `Repent therefore; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth.
     Will Jesus really make war with His believers that don’t repent? Read carefully the rest of Revelation Chapter 2 & 3 and see that His rebuke and warnings are not lightly given and He means what He says. It is perfectly clear that there is no sentimentality in the Kingdom. Either measure up or be cast out.
     This gospel of the sentimental God who loves us just like we are and who accepts us the way we are only on the basis of what we believe is soundly shot down in these two chapters. This gospel of the give-a-ways and the gospel of the half-priced sale and the gospel of the bargains and the gospel of greasy grace have been a great disservice to the church. They breed lukewarmness and an unconcern for spiritual growth. What about “Buy from me gold tried by the fire?” What about “Buy from me eye salve so you may see?” What about “Sit down and count the cost?” To qualify for the Kingdom of God will cost us everything including our own life also! If we insist upon saving our life we will lose it according to the word of the Lord.
     What about “Repent or I will remove your lampstand?” The book of Hebrews is full of warnings. To preach the blessings without the warnings is not a blessing!