The Unknown

 “Now when the seven thunders uttered their voices, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered, and do not write them.” – Revelation 10:4

 Reading through Revelations again this morning, just looking for that hidden manna, I came across this verse.  Read it slowly.  Read it in context. Take it in. 

To me when reading it in context it was like an aggravating open ending of a great movie.  What?  No Part 2?

But consider this.  What if God told us everything that was going to happen from today till the end of our lives?  You’d know the day your best friend would pass away – and how.  You’d know the troubles your kids would get into.  You would know every sickness you’d ever have, and when.  And you’d know if you were to recover, or not. 

God is merciful in so many, many ways.  But perhaps the most merciful gift He has given us is to not know the future.  Friends, we couldn’t handle it!  We’re living day to day now and suffering from depression, anxiety, and all sorts of emotional issues.  We simply could not cope with knowing all the evil things and bad things that would occur in our future.

For that reason, the “little book” and the things said in the seven thunders were not given to us.  Now I can imagine what is for the rest of my life – but it’s just an imagination – nothing concrete, so it doesn’t afflict me. 

Father I thank you that each and every day, every minute, every second is in your hands to lead us through the course of events you’ve planned for us.  Your care for us is greater than we can fully understand.  I thank you for the hidden victories and catastrophes, and the day to day monotony that levels it all out.  I thank you that YOU are in charge of my life.  I thank you for Your love, knowing that your plans for me are for good, and not harm.  Father let us just rest in you, trusting your will.  Amen.

To Him who Overcomes

 

“Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” - Romans 12:21

Six times in Revelation, John has recorded what rewards we will receive if we overcome.

The word Overcome is translated from the Greek work Nikao (G3528) which is from the root word Vikn (G3529).  It means to overcome, conquer, prevail, get the victory.  Strongs Concordance breaks it down as: to conquer, to carry off the victory, come off victorious, of Christ – victorious over all His foes, of Christains – that hold fast to their faith even unto death against the power of their foes, and temptations and persecutions. When one is arraigned or goes to law, to win the case, to maintain one’s cause.

Here's what Revelation tells us will be the reward of those who overcome:

Revelation 2:7 “To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.”

Revelation 2:11 “He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.”

Revelation 2:17 “To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.”

Revelation 2:26-28 “And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:  And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. And I will give him the morning star.”

Revelation 3:5 “He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.”

Revelation 3:12 “ Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.”

Revelation 3:21 “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.”

But Revelation isn’t the only place the word Overcome is used.  There are other passages that tell us HOW to overcome.  Here are a few of them:

Romans 12:21 “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”

1 John 4:4 “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”

1 John 5:4 “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.”

1 John 5:5 “Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?”

There's an old song called "Victory in Jesus". Friends, Christ is our victory! Our faith in Him, and our Holy Spirit given from Him when we believed in Him, that is how we overcome. As long as our faith stands true, as long as we stand on that solid rock, we will be those that overcome!