Promise of Life

Revelation 2:7 (NASB),  "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God."

     Jesus issued the first of seven challenges (one in each letter) for Christians to hear and obey the voice of the Spirit in God's Word. In this context, to have an ear means to recognize that Jesus Christ, the Lord and King, is speaking. Thus, hearers are to listen in faith and respond in obedience.

     Victors, or overcomers, in Scripture are not people who save themselves or live in their own strength. Rather, victors have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus and live by faith in Him.

     1 Peter 1:18-21 (NASB), "...knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, ¹⁹ but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. ²⁰ For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you ²¹ who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God."

     Jesus promised the victors in Ephesus that He would give them access to the tree of life, which is in God's paradise. The ancient Persian word for paradise referred to a beautiful garden. Signficiantly, the worship of the pagan goddess Artemis thrived in ancient Ephesus (see Acts 19:26-28). It featured a large tree-shrine in the center of the temple garden. Yet from thier Old Testament roots, Christians knew of a genuine tree of life that was located in the garden of Eden (see Genesis 3:24). Access to that tree had been lost when Adam and Eve sinned. However, Jesus promised believers that, in Him, access to a real tree of life would be restored.

     Revelation 2:11 (NASB), "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death."

     Jesus assured the church at Smyrna that He knew they were being targeted for persecution, probably by Jews from the local synagogue. He encouraged them to remain faithful even to death (see Revelation 2:8-10). Jesus further promised that His faithful followers would never be harmed by the second death. 

     In Scripture, the first death is physical death, when our bodily functions cease. Jesus taught His disciples not to fear the one who can kill the body, but to fear Him who can destroy both body and soul in hell (see Matthew 10:28). This is the second death. It is also referred to as the lake of fire, the final destiny of all whose names are not found in the book of life (Revelation 20:14-15). 

     Revelation 2:17 (NASB), "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it."

     Jesus promised overcomers in Pergamum at least two things. First, He would give them some of the hidden manna. Manna was the food God miracoulsy provided for the Israelites during their years in the wilderness (see Exodus 16:31-35). Christ assured His faithful followers that He would likewise provide for their needs in ways they perhaps could not see at the time. 

     Jesus also promised to give victors a white stone with a new name written on it. In ancient times, judges used stones to indicate a verdict. A white stone meant the accused was pronouned "not guilty." Similary, Jesus assured His people they woudl stand justified before God and display the purity of Jesus' righteousness (see Romans 3:24-26).

     Romans 3:24-26 (NLT), "Yet God freely and graciously declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. ²⁵ For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, ²⁶ for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he declares sinners to be right in his sight when they believe in Jesus."

     Apply: Review the promises made to overcomers above. Which promises about life do you especially need to be encouraged by today? Spend time in prayer, thanking God for the promises you identified.