Sound The Trumpet : Revelation 21:5-8 Overcomers

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“Revelation 21:5-8 Overcomers”
by Art Sadlier
June 3rd, 2012

Revelation 21:5; “And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.”

The former things belonged to the first creation, and they were corrupted because of Adam’s sin. In the coming new creation all things will be made new in Christ, the second Adam. The old will be banished forever to be replaced by something new and wonderful. This is not something that has taken God by surprise, we read about back it in Isaiah 65:17; “For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.”

We have a parallel with this new creation in salvation. Those who are saved by Christ are made new persons. 2 Corinthians 5:17; “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” We have the same truth in Ephesians 2:10; “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” This concept is also revealed in John 3:3; “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” In Genesis we have the original creation; here in our text verse we have the re-creation of all things.

The Lord says to John; “These words are true and faithful.” Eternity may seem a distant prospect but God promises it and it will come to pass. It is in the promise of God that we place our trust.

Verse 6; “And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.” Christ is the Alpha and the Omega. He is the eternally existent one. He has created all things and He sustains all things and He will consummate all things. What assurance to know that He is our Saviour. It is this infinite, all powerful God that saves us, sustains us and guarantees our future.

We were created for God and in Him we will find our souls satisfaction. He created a thirst for God in our souls and He can and will satisfy us with the water of life. We read the word “Freely,” what a beautiful word to the sinner’s ears. We as sinners are totally depraved and can do nothing to attain salvation. Thank the Lord we do not have to, our Savior has done it all and at no cost to us. The saddest thing in the world is to see men and women trying to earn salvation, such efforts will only guarantee eternal doom.

Verse 7; “He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.”

How can a man become an overcomer? The believer is an overcomer by virtue of his new birth. Peter confirms this truth to us in 2 Peter 1:4; “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” The moment a person is saved he becomes a partaker of the divine nature. At that moment his eternal destiny is fixed, he is placed in Christ; his sin is removed from him forever. He is an overcomer by virtue of who he has become. He may stumble and even fall, but his position before God is established forever. When this age is over he will be in heaven in God’s presence clothed in God’s righteousness, while the unregenerate will be down below in hell forever. We strive to be overcomers in our walk in this world but our destiny is fixed, we are overcomers.

What sublime words we read in our text; “...and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.” There is a saying that says, “If that doesn’t ring your bell your clapper is broken.” Meditate on that portion of the verse and your heart will be thrilled by it. There is nothing that your heart could so desire as that promise. What a glorious assurance, what a glorious hope and expectation.

Verse 8; “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

We have an incredible contrast in verse 8. The contrast is so stark and fearful that it leaves us shaken in the very depths of our souls. Only blinded eyes can fail to be moved by this verse. Why is it that men and women do not cry out to God for mercy and forgiveness in the light of such awesome truth? The answer is found in the fact that men’s eyes are blinded by their sins.

2 Corinthians 4:4; “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” We need to give ourselves to earnest prayer, calling on God to lift the blindness from the eyes of the unsaved.

A part of the blindness or deception that Satan foists on men is the pleasure of sin. Men take pleasure in that which is “abominable, in murderers, in whoremongers, and in sorcerers, and in idolaters, and in liars.” Satan gives men dirt and pig slop to eat and the deception is so great that they actually enjoy it. While they are destroying their bodies and souls they are revelling in that destruction. It is like taking drugs, it gives you a great euphoria even while it destroys you.

We are in a monumental spiritual warfare; we must trust the Spirit of God to fight the battle if men are to be saved from sin and themselves.

The battle may fierce and the way hard but we are overcomers.

Looking for His glorious appearing! Titus 2:13