The Conquerors, Part 4

Outline

Big Idea:

The Tree of Life - Revelation 2:7.

The Second Death - Revelation 2:11.

The Hidden Manna, White Stone, and New Name - Revelation 2:17.

The Authority Over Nations and the Morning Star - Revelation 2:26.

The White Garments, Book of Life, and Confessions - Revelation 3:5-6.

The Pillar and Inscription of Names - Revelation 3:12-13.

The Granting of Fellowship and Relationship - Revelation 3:21-22.

Introduction

Review

First Two Promises to the Conquerors…

They will be granted the right to eat of the Tree of Life

They will not be hurt by the second death.

We will be given the hidden manna, a white stone, and a new name. We will be given Christ. Permanently satisfied, sealed, and identified with Him.

Body

The White Garments, Book of Life, and Confessions - Revelation 3:5-6.

Revelation 3:5–6 ESV

5 The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. 6 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

Three things described.

All refer to the same thing, from different angles.

White Garments

White represents purity and holiness. The believers wearing of white is primarily (probably) to reflect the holiness and purity that they possess in Christ.

Revelation 7:13–14 ESV

13 Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” 14 I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

These here in white, have been said to have been washed in the blood of the lamb, making them holy and righteous, spotless. It is from passages such as these, and many more in scripture, that we draw these conclusions that white and is representative of holiness and righteousness, and purity.

We will shine brightly with brilliant white radiance, the holiness of Christ given to us!

However, white garments were also worn on festive occasions, such as weddings, in the ancient world. The bride of Christ will wear white at the marriage supper of the Lamb (Rev 19:7-9).

White was also worn by those celebrating victory in battle. Again, we are victors, overcomers, conquerors. All true follower of Jesus are AND THESE PROMISES are for us. We HAVE victory over death, the devil and sin. Our wearing white may also reflect our victorship in Christ.

Book of Life

Book of Life refers to ETERNAL LIFE.

It is the book that contains the names of all those who authentically and genuinely belong to God.

Book of Life References

Rev 13:8 - Book of Life of the Lamb (Before foundation of the world)

The anti-Christ, the beast was given authority over all whose names were not written in the book of life. He waged war on those whose names were in it.

All whose names were not written in it WILL worship him.

Rev 17:8 - Book of Life (Before Foundation

All whose names were not written would marvel at the beast. They will worship and be deceived by it.

Rev 20:12, 15 - Book of Life

Great White Throne

Judgement - Books were opened.

All judged by what is written

All not written in book of life cast into Hell/Lake of Fire

Books…another book…book of life

Rev 21:27 - Lamb’s Book of Life

All those whose names were written will enter heaven.

Ps 69:19 (tells you “who”), 22-28

Book of the Living

Those who persecute Jesus and his saints…may they be blotted out and not enrolled with righteous

The consequences of being blotted out is that they are not numbered with the saints.

Confessed

Confessed before Father and Angels

Matthew 10:32-33; Luke 12:8-9

Those who openly and publicly confess Jesus he will confess before the Father and the angels in heaven.

Those who deny Him, he will deny before God in heaven.

The consequences of not being confessed before God in heaven are that he will be rejected by God.

Revelation e. Promise for Conquerors (3:5)

Thus we have the picture of a heavenly courtroom (cf. 20:11–15), the throne room, where God sits on the throne and angels congregate around the throne (chaps. 4–5). Those who conquer will be publicly vindicated and honored as they receive a great reward—namely, eschatological life.

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Conclusion

Application