Chapter Twelve/"Keep Holding Fast What You Have"

The Conquerors' Blessing

The John class today have 'kept the word about Jesus' endurance,' that is, they have followed his example and endured.  (Hebrews 12:2, 3; 1 Peter 2:21)  They have thus been greatly encouraged by Jesus' further words to the congregation in Philadelphia:  "The one that conquers-I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will by no means go out from it anymore." -Revelation 3:12a. 

What  a privilege it is for one to be a pillar in the temple of Jehovah!  In ancient Jerusalem, the literal temple was the center of Jehovah's worship. Within the temple, the high priest offered the blood of sacrificial animals, one day each year, before the miraculous light that represented Jehovah's presence in "the Most Holy ."  (Hebrews 9:1-7) At Jesus' baptism, there came into existence another temple, a great spiritual, templelike arrangement for worshiping  Jehovah.  The holy of holies of this temple is in heaven, where  duly appeared "before the person of God." (Hebrews 9:24) Jesus is the High Priest, and there is only one sacrifice offered for the complete covering of sins: The shed blood of the perfect  man Jesus.  (Hebrews 7:26, 27; 9:25-28; 10:1-5, 12-14)  As long as they remain faithful, anointed Christians on earth serve as underpriests in the earthly courtyards of this temple.  (1 Peter 2:9) But once they have conquered, they too enter that heavenly holy of holies and become immovable  supports, like pillars, of the templelike arrangement for worship.  (Hebrews 10:19; Revelation 20:6)  There is no danger that they will "go out from it anymore."

Jesus continues saying:  "And I will write upon him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem which descends out of heaven from my God, ans that new name of mine."  (Revelation 3:12)   Yes, those conquerors have written on them the name of Jehovah-Their God and Jesus' God.  This shows clearly that Jehovah and Jesus are two separated persons and not two parts of  a tribune God, or Trinity.  (John 14:28; 20:17) All creation must come to see that these anointed  ones belong to Jehovah. They are his witnesses.  They also have written on them the name of new Jerusalem, the heavenly city that descends  out of heaven in the sense that it extends  its benevolent rule over all faithful mankind.  (Revelation 21:9-14) All the earthly Christians sheep will thus also know that these anointed conquerors are citizens of the Kingdom, the heavenly Jerusalem. -Psalm 87:5, 6; Matthew 25:33, 34; Philippians 3:20; Hebrews 12:22. 

Finally, anointed overcomers have written on them Jesus' new name.  This refers to Jesus' new office and the unique privileges granted to him by Jehovah.  (Philippians 2:9-11; Revelation 19:12) No one else gets to know that name, in the sense that no one else has those experiences or is entrusted with those privileges.  However, when Jesus writes his name on his faithful brothers, they come into  an intimate relationship with him in that heavenly realm and even share in his privileges.   (Luke 22:29, 30)  It is not wonder that Jesus concludes his message  to such anointed ones by repeating the exhortation: "Let the one who has an ear hear what the spirit says to the congregation." -Revelation 3:13. 

What grand encouragement that message must have been to the faithful Christians in Philadelphia!  And it certainly has a powerful lesson for the John class now, during the Lord's day.  But its principles are important for each individual Christian, whether of the anointed or of the other sheep.  (John 10:16) Each of us would do well to keep producing Kingdom fruitage as did those Christians in Philadelphia. All of us have at least  a little power. All of us can do something in Jehovah's service. Let us use this power!  With regard to increased Kingdom privileges. Let us be alert to enter any door that opens  for us. We can even pray for Jehovah to open such a door.  (Colossians 4:2, 3)  As we follow Jesus' pattern of endurance and prove true to his name, we will show that we too, have an ear to hear what God's holy spirit says to the congregation.

Next time:Chapter Thirteen/Buy Gold Refined by Fire

From the book of Revelation