If you’re in Christ you’re an Overcomer

As the beheadings, bombings, shootings and slaughters of all kinds continue upon our brothers and sisters in Christ in the Middle East and elsewhere, many Christians in the West see these things headed our way so they’re now wondering if we’ve entered the period known in the Book of Revelation as the Great Tribulation. Others say we have entered it, quoting Scriptures to support their belief. That’s the natural thing to do, otherwise there’s nothing to support one’s argument. But what also should be the natural thing to do is check and see if the quoted Scriptures are in correct context.

I notice the persecuted church of Smyrna being quoted recently as a suggestion for us having now entered the Tribulation. These things says the First and Last…… Do not fear any of these things you are about to suffer…… Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life…… He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death Revelation 2:8-11. I wonder if the martyrs of Foxe’s book thought they were in the Great Tribulation. Given the hideous tortures they were put through, perhaps they did think that but it was not so in any case. And as hideous as the sufferings are for our current persecuted brothers and sisters over there, I don’t believe this suggests we’re now in that period.

One Christian, suggesting we’re in that time, says if we’re not overcomers we will be hurt by the second death, as quoted above. There’s much support for that too in Christian circles. It’s doubtful though when we check on what Jesus first said about overcoming in the gospel of 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. Do you see it? In Me, He says. Are you in Christ? If you are, you’re already an overcomer! Many Christians don’t believe that because many preachers and teachers tell them if they’re not fully dead to self, living a holy, sinless life they won’t make it to heaven. That causes not only a lack of peace, it causes doubt in the word of Jesus.

To be in Me means we have been born again by the Holy Spirit as a result of trusting in Christ’s sacrifice on the cross for our sin. To be in Me means He is also in us, so that most certainly makes us overcomers! That’s why John the apostle tells us, 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 1 John 4:4. All glory to God; through faith we believe Jesus is God in human flesh and through faith not works, we have overcome Satan, sin, the spirit of anti-Christ and the world. 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 Christ is the Son of God? 1 John 5:4-5.

By faith, overcomers rest in the Scripture promises of Christ; they lay aside Scripture misapplications. It is not wise to make an “overcomers doctrine” out of the Smyrna church at the expense of the other six churches. In Ephesus, those who loved Christ first and foremost were overcomers. In Pergamos, those who rejected pagan rituals and perverted doctrines were overcomers. In Thyatira, those who rejected beguiling, idolatrous spiritual and sexual adultery were overcomers. In Sardis, those who refused to defile their spiritual garments were overcomers. In Philadelphia, those who kept Christ’s word and clung to His name were overcomers. In Laodicea those who opened their hearts to the Lord’s knock were overcomers.

Someone asks, “What about those Christians who didn’t respond to Jesus’ commands in those churches?” My response: they were not Christians. They were religious church people but they were not born again. They were not in Christ and He was not in them. They had no desires for reality, only desires for religiosity. Reformation was probably appealing to them, but certainly not transformation. The former costs nothing, the latter costs everything! Most Christians think the one they worship and fellowship with in the church is the real deal, and whilst it’s not for us to judge if they are or not, it is wise to keep in mind what Jesus said in His parable of the tares explanation Matthew 13:36-43. Not everybody wants to enter the sheepfold by the door John 10:1-6.

Receiving Christ’s gift of salvation, we become a new creature; the old has gone the new has come 2 Corinthians 5:17. Do you see it? The old has gone; it’s on the cross of Christ. We have been redeemed (bought, purchased)….. with the precious blood of Christ 1 Peter 1:18-19. We are justified (declared righteous by God) through faith; we are at peace with God…… Romans 5:1. Don’t forget John 3:16, a most precious promise: We shall not perish but have everlasting (eternal) life. More: We were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise who is the guarantee of our inheritance…… Ephesians 1:13-14. If we’re living according to those promises and others like it, we can trust God to sort out in our lives that which is not pleasing to Him.

Now a word about the backslider, the one who is going in a wrong direction, spiritually; the one who once demonstrated a firm commitment to Christ but went back to the old ways. What’s to become of him/her? If their repentance was genuine, their salvation is still intact, so in some way, form or another God will draw them back to Himself. He knows the reason for their falling away. There’s great mercy for some, especially so for those who have been badly mistreated by pastors and others over them when they were in the church. One reason they’re not part of the church anymore is because they think God is like those tyrants when nothing could be further from the truth. Too many backsliders are criticized more than they’re prayed for! Don’t forget Isaiah 42:3.

So now, what about the Great Tribulation? Are we in it? No. Will the church go through it? It is difficult to believe so. In the Book of Revelation, we see church mentioned 7 times in Chapters 1 to 3 and churches mentioned 12 times, but there’s no further mention again until Jesus gives to John a final word of comfort at the end of the book Revelation 22:16. The word saints is mentioned 13 times between Chapters 5 to 20, and although they are certainly Christians they are not part of the church; it would seem the church by that time is not on the earth. Having said this, there are many many Christians who disagree; some vehemently disagree and don’t hesitate to ungraciously go on the attack.

It is very difficult to believe we’re in the Great Tribulation, or will go through it, when we read elsewhere in Scripture of Christ’s plans for the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all Ephesians 1:23. Members of the church are told they will have a part in judging the world 1 Corinthians 6:2. Whatever else that means, it does mean we’re not going to be judged with the world, which is one reason for the Great Tribulation in the first place; the other reason being God’s judgment upon Israel. Members of the church are heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ Romans 8:17. More good news for church members: we are destined to reign with Him (Christ) 2 Timothy 2:12. No, we will not be sitting on a cloud all day playing a harp!

The Great Tribulation is the time of God’s wrath – a word mentioned 13 times in Revelation. But for the church, the promise is we shall be saved from wrath through Him (Christ) Romans 5:9. The promise is Jesus has delivered us from the wrath to come 1 Thessalonians 1:10. The promise is For God did not appoint us to wrath 1 Thessalonians 5:9. Again, the promise is Because you have kept My command to persevere, I will also keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth Revelation 3:10. In context, the hour of trial refers to the judgments of Revelation 6-19 to come upon the entire world. Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of judgment has come…… Revelation 14:7.

Nothing but escapism! Perhaps that’s the charge from fellow Christians disagreeing with what’s said here. Not so though; I’m not saying we here in the West won’t lose our heads to murderous, rage-filled religious maniacs before the church is removed from the earth. But I am saying if you’re in Christ you’re an overcomer; there’s no reason to fear the second death; we are inheritors of the first resurrection, all glory to God and none to ourselves! If I’m wrong about the timing of the church’s earth removal it’s not a big deal, for we should be ready to meet the Lord in a split second! Ready? Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years Revelation 20:6.