The Eighth Overcomer
Luke 21:29-36, “Then He spoke to them a parable: “Look at the fig tree (nation of Israel), and all the trees (individual Israelites). 30When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near. 31So you also, when you see these things happening (the Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21 events), know that the kingdom of Yahweh is near. 32Assuredly, I say to you, this generation (our generation) will by no means pass away till all things (all prophesied end-times events will take place in our generation) take place. 33Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.
34“But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that (Judgment) Day (the Great Tribulation) come on you unexpectedly. 35For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36Watch therefore (NOT the mainstream media, that is all propaganda), and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.””
In Luke 21:36, Yeshua is telling us that not everyone will have to face the Great Tribulation, some will be counted worthy to escape all the nasty events of the seven year Tribulation period. The group of people He is referring to is the Barley company of saints, the Bride of Christ, represented in the Spring Feast of Passover, the barley grain harvest. I’ve written before about the three sets of saints, as seen in the three Feasts of Passover, Shavuot, and Sukkot. The barley harvest represents the saints raptured before the Tribulation begins. The wheat harvest (Feast of Pentecost, Shavuot) represents the saints saved during the Tribulation, many of whom will be martyred for their faith. The grape harvest (Sukkot, Feast of Tabernacles) represents the saints saved during the end of the Great Tribulation, or Judgment Day. Barley is winnowed by simply tossing it into the wind of the Holy Spirit. Wheat is threshed, or beaten with rods, on the threshing floor, meaning pressure must be applied to these saints to get them saved. Grapes must be crushed in judgment to bring them into the life-giving experience of the new wine.
Anyway, since we are still in the beginnings of sorrows, each of us still has a chance to qualify as worthy to ESCAPE the Tribulation through the pre-tribulation rapture of the barley company saints. So, is there anything in the Scriptures that tells us how to qualify as an overcomer, worthy to escape all these things? The apostle John gives us a little insight to the overcomer in 1 John 5:1-5, “Whoever believes that Yeshua is the Messiah is born of Yahweh, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. 2By this we know that we love the children of Yahweh, when we love Yahweh and keep (all 10 of) His commandments. 3For this is the love of Yahweh, that we keep (all 10 of) His commandments. And (all 10 of) His commandments are not burdensome. 4For whatever is born of Yahweh overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Yeshua is the Son of Yahweh?” The first thing we learn about being an overcomer, is that he is a person of faith in Yeshua HaMashiach. You don’t have to be a person of great faith, just plain ordinary saving faith. The faith you have to get your soul saved is the same faith that makes you a world overcomer! You believe Yeshua and His word, simple.
Let’s go to the letters to the seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3 and find out what else Yeshua teaches us about overcomers. In Revelation 2:1-7, we have the first letter to the church at Ephesus. Notice what Yeshua praises them for: they labor in the field, making disciples. They exhibit patience with the saints. They cannot bear evil people; anyone putting up with Muslims today? Hmmm. They test those proclaiming to speak for Yahweh, and find most of them are liars. They persevere in their struggle during hard times. They’ve developed a lifestyle of repentance, something we desperately need today. They hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans. Holman’s Bible Dictionary explains: “NICOLAITANS (Nihk oh lay’ ituhns) Heretical group in the early church who taught immorality and idolatry. They are condemned in Revelation 2:6, 15 for their practices in Ephesus and Pergamon. Thyatira apparently had resisted the false prophecy they preached (Rev. 2:20-25). The Nicolaitans have been linked to the type of heresy taught by Balaam (Num. 25:1-2; 2 Pet. 2:15), especially the pagan feasts and orgies that they apparently propagated in the first-century church.” But he who overcomes in all these things receives this promise from Yeshua: he gets to eat from the tree of life in the midst of the Paradise of Yahweh. Sounds like a great reward.
Yeshua’s second letter is to the church in Smyrna. Yeshua understood that they were undergoing tribulations and poverty in the flesh, though they were rich in the Spirit. These guys sound more like the wheat company, they were told to PREPARE for tribulation and be faithful unto death, so they could receive the crown of life. A life of faithfulness is more important to Yeshua than worldly riches. Though this was a suffering church, Yeshua told them the overcomer would not be hurt by the second death in hell, the lake of fire. In other words, they will be saved, though as through fire. These saints were not going up in a pre-tribulation rapture.
The third letter is to the church at Pergamos. Pergamos was an evil city to dwell in. Satan’s very throne was in that city! But these saints hold fast to Yeshua’s name, and do not deny Yeshua’s faith. These folks also needed to repent, they were close to falling into the trap of the doctrine of the Nicolaitans also. Pagan idolatrous worship and immoral orgies have no place in Yahweh’s church. Repentance is again the theme for the overcomer. The overcomer receives hidden manna to eat and gets a new name written on a white stone.
The fourth letter is to the church at Thyatira. These overcoming saints demonstrated love, service to Yahweh and His church, faith, patience, and good deeds. Sounds like the fruit of the Spirit was flowing and growing here. Yeshua encouraged them to hold onto their sound doctrine of the faith. The overcomer receives authority to rule over the nations with Yeshua and gets the morning star! Wow, you might get your very own solar system to rule!!
The fifth letter is to the church at Sardis. Revelation 3:4 shows that there are only a few worthy overcomers in Sardis. They will get to walk with Yeshua in their righteousness. Verse 3 sounds like a phrase right out of Matthew 24, they had stopped watching for Yeshua’s return, so He threatens to come upon them like a thief. Are you still a watcher today, or are you just going with the flow of the world into paganism? Again, they needed to repent and hold on to their faith and strengthen the doctrine they had already received. The overcomer’s name remains in the Book of Life and Yeshua Himself will confess the overcomer’s name before the Heavenly Father and His angels!
The sixth letter is to the church at Philadelphia. These folks were somewhat mature saints in the faith. They keep Yeshua’s word and don’t deny His name. Revelation 3:10 shows that because these folks have persevered in their faith, Yeshua will cause these saints to escape the Tribulation. These saints are the barley company. These saints will be raptured pre-tribulation!! These guys already possess the crown of life. These are true overcomers. They are made pillars in Yahweh’s Temple. They get Yahweh’s name, Yeshua’s name, and the name New Jerusalem written on them!! These overcomers will never leave the presence of Yahweh again!! You want to be one of these overcomers.
The seventh and final letter is to the church at Laodicea. One word defines this church, the bad attitude of lukewarmness. Yeshua loves these saints, but must rebuke and chasten them to encourage them to repent and open up their hearts to fellowship with Yeshua. These people are wealthy in the flesh, but absolute paupers in the spirit. These saints have a need to be refined through fire; they still don’t have on their garments of righteousness. Their worldliness has blinded them spiritually. A goal for these folks is a spirit of zealousness for Yeshua and His kingdom. They need a spiritual fire lit in their spirits. Once they allow the fire of the Holy Spirit to burn off the world’s chaff from their lives, they can dine with Yeshua as an overcomer, right on His throne. Yeshua re-light (anapto, enkindle) that fire in us.
The eighth overcomer is identified in Revelation 21:6-7, “And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega (Alef Tav), the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. 7He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his Mighty One and he shall be My son.” This overcomer inherits all things in the Kingdom of Yahweh. He receives the ultimate inheritance, sonship, his adoption into Yahweh’s family is complete when the New Jerusalem comes down to earth, when Yahweh descends from Heaven to dwell with His children forever on a renewed earth. Being one of the first seven overcomers is a great privilege, but attaining to the eighth overcomer, becoming a son of Yahweh, having His name upon you forever, is the greatest privilege and benefit one could ever imagine. At home, with your family, in your Father’s house forever, kicking it with Yeshua, Yahweh, and Holy Spirit for all eternity, it doesn’t get any better than that!! Are you thirsty for the King and His Kingdom yet?
Happy New Year and Happy Birthday Yeshua,
Gene Benjamin II
September 15, 2012 CE
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