THOSE WHO OVERCOME

Identifying Christ and His people as those who “overcome,” is a dominant theme in the book of Revelation. It is the Greek word, “nikao,” and is used seventeen times, variously translated in English as “overcome,” “conquer,” “prevail,” etc. though it is the same word in the original. The seven churches in chapters two and three are each given a specific promise related to those who “overcome.” 

For this study, we will identify the characteristics of those who overcome as presented in Revelation 17:14 that reads, “These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of Lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.” In this chapter, the fiendish foes who will rise to oppose Christ are the scarlet woman and the scarlet beast—whom I identify as the False Prophet of a one-world religion and the Antichrist and his global governance. These oppose Christ, the Lamb of God, with the climax of their hate being the battle of Armageddon at Christ’s return, (Rev. 19:11-21). “These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of Lords and King of kings,” (Rev. 17:14a). We will be in that victorious vanguard, “and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful,” (v. 14‬‬b). 

These are THE CALLED, “those who are with [Christ] are called.” They have heard the call of the Gospel. The Holy Spirit has summoned these to follow Christ. It is a work of grace that bids the spiritually dead to rise as Lazarus was called by Christ to come out of the grave.  Those who overcome have heard Christ’s call.

These are also THE CHOSEN, “those who are with [Christ] are…chosen.”  The Gospel call is to extend to all sinners, but is effectual only to those chosen—those who attest to that in their responding by faith to Christ. Our Lord taught, “For many are called, but few are chosen,” (Matt. 22:14). I think of the rich young ruler that our Lord called to follow Him, who sadly walked away. Those who overcome have been chosen and have heeded Christ’s call.

These are furthermore, THE COMMITTED, “those who are with [Christ] are…faithful.”  If you take the word faithful and turn it around it would define this attribute as those full of faith. These have not merely made a profession of faith, but are in possession of faith. The verbal commitment to Christ in their confession is validated by the visual commitment to Christ in their conduct. Judas Iscariot once identified himself as a disciple, but in the end proved his profession to be false.  He was overcome by the world, the flesh, and the devil rather than overcoming these as a true believer will. This is the perseverance of the saints. Those who overcome have been called, chosen, and are committed.

THE UNHOLY TRINITY

Satan is not very original. He seeks to mimic God, as he twists the truth. In the last days, there will arise an unholy trinity, as is pictured in Revelation 13. 

There is the dragon—Satan himself who is a perversion of the Sovereign God. He is the head of this unholy trinity. His is the power at work behind human government at the close of the age.

There is the beast—the Antichrist who is a distortion of the Son of God. There is even a counterfeit resurrection which brings awe to the  world, as they worship this man of sin.

There is the other beast—the False Prophet who is an imitator of the Spirit of God. As the Holy Spirit bears witness to Christ, this evil personage calls for the worship of the Antichrist. 

The result is that a world that rejects the witness of the Holy Spirit, by refusing the work that Christ has done in bringing salvation, and will not worship the True and Living God, will be given what they want—a false god from hell, and a false messiah as a demonic dictator of global governance, and a deceiving prophet that directs a one world religion.

While we can, let us shine the light of the Gospel. May we point people to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. The church is to be salt, resisting the rot of sinful society. I believe there is coming a day when the church will be removed from the world, and then all hell will break loose. That time may be very near!