In looking at the Scriptures with the word “overcome,” we can find hope and proof of a pre-tribulation rapture. The prophecies in Revelation were given to us by the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, and the Beginning of the Creation of God (Revelation 3:14), leaving no room for doubt amid the many wonderful promises listed in the book.
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches”:
Revelation 1:5-6 says Jesus, the Faithful Witness, loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood; He made us a kingdom and priests to serve God the Father. He wants us to serve Him, but we’re going to choose this day whom we will serve. As the Israelites desired a king over them like the rest of the nations of the world, one other than the Most High King, we will all choose what king we serve:
1 Samuel 12:13 “Now therefore, here is the king whom you have chosen and whom you have desired. And take note, the LORD has set a king over you.”
Because Jesus is the Overcomer and the Lamb who was slain, we also overcome by His blood and the word of our testimony (Revelation 12:11). The Lord told us in John 16:33 that in the world we’d have tribulation but to be of good cheer because He has overcome the world. Through Him, we’ve already overcome! The Greek word for overcome is G3528, “nikaó: To conquer, to overcome, to prevail, to gain victory.” This is repeated in 1 John 5:4-5:
1 John 5:4-5 “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world— our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”
John 16:33 “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
1 John 4:4 “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”
The disciples and brethren were often called “little children.” The disciples and brethren were the youngest of all the generations up until that point. This would mean those of us in the last days (I believe this is our generation) just before the rapture are the youngest children of God in the body of Christ. We’re the ones who, though we remain alive on Earth, will give up our own lives here on Earth and be delivered into eternal life. Understanding this gives these next verses a deeper meaning, in addition to what’s on the surface – as He does love babies and children with a tender love:
Matthew 19:14 “But Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.’”
Mark 10:15 and Luke 18:17: “Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”
Once I saw this, I couldn’t unsee it – it illuminates a lot of the end-time prophetic scriptures, even in the Old Testament. The Lord has spoken directly to all of the generations, from outside of time. Several things in the next verses are repetitive:
1 John 2:12-14 “I write to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake. I write to you, fathers, because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children, because you have known the Father. I have written to you, fathers, because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the wicked one. Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”
Here is a list of what we receive as overcomers through Christ, according to the scriptures in Revelation. The promises here simply can’t be reconciled with overcomers being left on Earth for the tribulation. Forget not His benefits!
We need to remember that those who are truly abiding in Christ have already overcome through Him. The letters to the churches are reminders, promises, exhortations, and warnings to make sure we’re all standing firm and ready before the tribulation begins. In Christ, we already have the victory over the enemy. The battle is won; He redeemed us and paid the bride price – and it was His own blood; instead of being delivered into wrath and temptation, we’ll be delivered healthy and whole (sound) into God’s kingdom.
>Revelation 2:7 – Those who have overcome will eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God. (There is famine on Earth during the tribulation, but overcomers will be eating from the Tree of Life in the midst of the Paradise of God.)
>Revelation 2:11 – Those who have overcome will not be hurt at all by the second death. (This is repeated in Revelation 20:6. We’re only appointed to die once, then to face judgment – Hebrews 9:27. It’s at the judgment seals, bowls, and trumpets that a person would have to face death a second time.)
>Revelation 2:17 – Those who have overcome will receive the hidden manna to eat, and a white stone with a new name written on it. (Manna was perfect sustenance for the Israelites, so for the second time here, we see we can never go hungry. As the bride, we’ll take on our Groom’s name.)
>Revelation 2:26-28 – Those who have overcome and keep His works will be given power over the nations, as Jesus was also given. We also will receive the Morning Star, as Jesus has received from the Father. (2 Peter 1:19 says that when that Day dawns, the Morning Star rises in our hearts, which is the brightest star; indeed, it is Jesus, as He is the Bright and Morning Star (Revelation 22:16). Therefore, it’s impossible for us to live in darkness. In addition to this, we are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14) – how then could we live in darkness, if we’re the light of the world? And if we have power over the nations, the nations have no power over us!)
>Revelation 3:4 – Those who haven’t defiled their garments will walk with Him in white, for we are worthy. (When we’re abiding in Jesus, we’re clothed in His righteous garments instead of our own filthy ones. We’re only worthy because He is worthy. In Luke 21:36, we’re told to keep watch and pray that we’d be worthy to escape all of these things that come to pass and to stand before the Son of Man. We may fall and yet rise up prior to the sudden destruction, but we won’t fall in the “falling away” – we’ll escape and be standing on our Firm Foundation).
>Revelation 3:5 – Those who have overcome will be clothed in white garments, and our names will not be blotted out from the Book of Life. Our names will be confessed before our Heavenly Father and His angels.
>Revelation 3:8-9 –He sets before the faithful church, who have kept His word and not denied His name, an open door which no man can shut; the synagogue of Satan will come to worship at our feet, to know that He has loved us.
>Revelation 3:10 – Those who have kept His command to persevere, He will keep from the hour of trial that will test the inhabitants of the earth. (This doesn’t say He’ll be with us through it – it says He’ll keep us from it!)
>Revelation 3:12 – He’ll make us those who have overcome a pillar in the house of our God, and we’ll never leave it. He will write on us the name of God and the city of God- the New Jerusalem. (This certainly makes it impossible for us to be left on the earth with Satan for the tribulation. We do come back with Jesus to stand on the Mount of Olives (Zechariah 14:5, Revelation 19:14), but the house of God is now our everlasting home.)
>Revelation 3:21 – He will grant those who have overcome to sit with Him on His throne, as He also overcame and sat down with our Father on His throne.
A couple of verses after this, in Revelation 4:2, we see the Holy One sitting on the throne set in Heaven before the seals even begin. “Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne.”
As part of the body of Christ, we are the holy brethren (Hebrews 3:1), having already overcome, been delivered, and now re-unified as one body in Christ, with Christ as our head, who has preeminence in all things (Colossians 1:18). This makes us members of the Holy One.
Mark 12:29 – “Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is One. And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.”
In Revelation 5:7, the scroll was taken out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. There is a lot of hope and good news to be seen in “His righteous right hand.”
>Exodus 15:16-17 is prophecy that the LORD’s right hand has dashed the enemy into pieces when He unleashes His burning wrath, and His enemies are consumed. We’re not His enemies. He calls us friends, beloved, children, and brethren.
>Psalm 118:16 says His right hand is exalted – which means “to be high, to rise.”
>Isaiah 41:10 says, “Fear not, for Iam with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”
>Psalm 18:35 says, “You have also given me the shield of Your salvation; Your right hand has held me up, Your gentleness has made me great.”
Going back to Revelation 5, in verses 9-10, the Lamb who was slain could open the scroll because He had redeemed us by His blood out of every tribe, tongue, people, and nation. This ties in with Revelation 1:5-6, where He said He freed us with His blood (written at the top of this commentary):
“And they sang a new song, saying: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; For You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.’”
The above verse reveals those who are redeemed and have overcome, but the verse below reveals those who are overcome by the beast: a remnant still on Earth because they didn’t repent of their unbelief before He called us to Arise. This prophecy is also in Daniel 7:21.
Revelation 13:7: “It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation.”
The saints in this verse are not the bride of Christ, but ultimately, they are part of the household of God. Because they didn’t abide in Christ, they weren’t ready and didn’t awaken to hear the Groom’s call, as they were asleep; therefore, the beast is able to prevail over them and martyr them.
It seems fitting that our last generation would be the “lukewarm church.” The cold, refreshing, living water is often mixed with deadly, boiling water, most likely representing double-mindedness.
Matthew 10:42 “And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”
Proverbs 25:25 “As cold water to a weary soul, so is good news from a far country.”
Jeremiah 1:13-14 “And the word of the LORD came to me the second time, saying, ‘What do you see?’ And I said, “I see a boiling pot, and it is facing away from the north.” Then the LORD said to me: ‘Out of the north calamity shall break forth on all the inhabitants of the land.’”
Ezekiel 24:3 “And utter a parable to the rebellious house, and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Put on a pot, set it on, and also pour water into it.”
Those clothed in the garments of Christ are not the rebellious house, and the righteous will not be destroyed with the unrighteous because that wouldn’t be just. Although it’s always good to make our calling and election sure, as Peter was quite certain he would never deny Jesus until he did, three times; the third time he “wept bitterly” when the rooster crowed. The rooster symbolizes the town crier, the watchman who warns the rest when danger is lurking – those of us who are watching are all saying the same thing: Danger is lurking! Be ready to go; don’t wind up weeping bitterly!
Jesus told the churches to “repent” six times in Revelation 2 and 3, an exhortation to repent and find refuge in Him before it’s too late. We should do as He does and encourage others to go behind the Door of our House in order to be safe, whole, and sound, far away from our enemy and his servants.
The good news is that anyone who believes in, confesses, and receives Jesus Christ is blessed. They will overcome and won’t perish, be consumed, or be condemned. Along with His salvation come glorious benefits!
Blessings!
Angela
The post Proof of Pre-tribulation Deliverance for Overcomers :: By Angela Scohy appeared first on Rapture Ready.
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