Chapter Thirteen/Buy Gold Refined by Fire

A Throne for the Conquerors

Jesus speaks of a further reward, saying:  "To the one that conquers I will grant to sit down with me on my throne, even as I conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne."  (Revelation 3:21)  In fulfillment of David's words at Psalm 110:1,2, the integrity keep Jesus, having conquered the world, was resurrected in 33 C.E. and exalted to sit down with his Father on His heavenly throne.  (Acts 2:32, 33) In another crucial year, 1914, Jesus arrived to sit down on his own Messianic throne as King and Judge.  The judgment began in 1918 with professed Christians.  Anointed conquerors who died before that time would then be resurrected and join Jesus in his Kingdom.  (Matthew 25:31; 1 Peter 4:17) He had promised this to them when instituting the Memorial of his death, saying  to his disciples: "I will make a covenant with you, just as my Father has made a covenant with me, for a kingdom, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones to judge the twelve tribes of Israel." -Luke 22:28-30. 

What a marvelous assignment -too sit with the reigning King during "the  recreation" and share  with him, on the basis of his perfect sacrifice, in raising the world of obedient mankind to Edenic perfection!   (Matthew 19:28; 20:28)  As John informs us, Jesus makes those who conquer to be "a kingdom, priests to his God and Father," to occupy thrones around Jehovah's own magnificent heavenly throne.   (Revelation 1:6; 4:4)  Let  all of us-whether of the anointed or of the new earth society that hopes to share in restoring Paradise-take to heart the words of Jesus to the Laodiceans! -2 Peter 3:13; Acts 3:19-21. 

As with previous messages, Jesus ends this one with words of exhortation:  "Let the one who has an ear hear what the spirit says to the congregations." (Revelation 3:22)  We are living deep in the time of the end. The evidence is all around us that Christendom is cold as far as love is concerned.  In contrast, may we be as true Christians respond fervently to Jesus' message to the congregation in Laodicea, yet, to all seven of our Lord's messages to the congregations. This we can do  by having a  vigorous share in  the fulfillment of Jesus' great prophecy for our day:  "And the good news of the kingdom will be witness  to all the nations; and then the end will come."-Matthew 24:12-14.

Jesus' counsel to the seven congregations is ended. He does not speak to John again in Revelation  until the final chapter; but he participates in many of the visions, for example, in executing Jehovah's judgments.  Let us now join the John class in examining the second remarkable vision revealed by the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Next time: Chapter Fourteen/ The Magnificence of Jehovah's Celestial Throne

From the book of Revelation