Who Are The Overcomers?--Jack Kelley

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Who Are The Overcomers?--Jack Kelley; posted on RR and on Kelley's Web site
Topic Started: Aug 12 2008, 01:25 PM (119 Views)
kgreen20	Aug 12 2008, 01:25 PM Post #1
Advanced Member Posts: 1,533 Group: Members Member #96 Joined: January 7, 2006	http://www.raptureready.com/featured/kelley/jack23.html Who Are The Overcomers? by Jack Kelley In this study, we're going to deal with a new definition that's coming into the Christian lexicon. The word being re-defined is overcomer and the new definition is that an overcomer is someone who lives a Christ-like life, as opposed to just talking about it. They have died to self and now live a life that's holy and blameless. Some who embrace this definition claim that only those who meet its requirements will be the Bride of Christ while all other believers will spend the millennium in the “outer darkness” learning the sanctification that they failed to learn on Earth, so they'll be ready for eternity when the 1000 years are over. The fact that the Bible never uses the word in this context doesn't seem to be a problem for advocates of this new definition. It's like the word repent, which is never used in the Bible to describe a change in behavior, only a change in attitude. Because they've never been taught that, its intended meaning has never entered most peoples' minds. The common understanding of overcomer is facing the same future. But to set the record straight, let's see just how the Bible does define an overcomer. The word overcome first appears in connection with believers in John 16:33 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." Even though this world isn't a perfect place, we can have peace in our lives knowing that Jesus has overcome the world. No matter how bad life is for us here, in Christ we're assured of a better one to come. Jesus is the overcomer, and He told us this to encourage us. (Imagine how you'd feel about this word of encouragement if you arrived in Heaven only to discover that you had to complete a 1000 year indoctrination program before you were deemed worthy.) Paul said that we should overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:21) But while he admonished us over and over again to go beyond salvation and achieve victory over the sin nature in order to win the crowns available to us for doing so, he never once said that our participation in the kingdom depends on it. This is the only time he ever used the word relative to our behavior. Of all the New Testament writers, John used the word most often, saying that those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God are overcomers. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one. 1 John 2:14 Every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 1 John 4:3-4 Everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. 1 John 5:4-5 We've overcome the evil one, the spirit of anti-Christ, and the world, and how did we do that? Through faith, by believing that Jesus is the Son of God. As is always the case, it's our faith that makes us appear holy and blameless not our behavior, which could never qualify us. In Rev. 2-3 the word is used in each of the seven letters to churches to describe those who resist or reject the religious sin for which the church is being criticized and/or remain true to the gospel. Overcomers in Ephesus Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God. (Rev. 2:4-5,7) By the end of the first century the Church had already become so busy doing religious works that they had forgotten that the work was done and our primary purpose is to worship the Lord and give Him thanks. The relationship He gave His life to have with us was already becoming another religion. Those who changed their attitude and overcame the human tendency to earn our position with God, and rested in the fact that Jesus did it all would meet Him at the Tree of life in paradise. The overcomer was the one who rested in faith and worshiped God. Overcomers in Smyrna Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death. (Rev. 2:10) The ten days referred to here are the reign of 10 Caesars, which lasted for 250 years, through the third Century. During this time Christians were persecuted relentlessly. Many were called upon to give their lives for their faith. The Lord offered no escape from this except that which comes from death. But those who remained faithful in believing His promise of everlasting life, received it. The overcomer died in faith and received life. Overcomers in Pergamum Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality. Likewise you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it. (Rev. 2:14-17) In the 4th Century the church was married to the pagan Babylonian religion, and practices that were not only un-Biblical but detestable to the Lord became common. The Lord threatened to fight these practices with the sword of His Mouth, which is his Word. The overcomers were those who stayed true to the unadulterated Gospel and lived by faith in its promises. They received the Bread of Life, and a token that would commend them to the Father in the name of the Son. Overcomers in Thyatira Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds. Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan's so-called deep secrets (I will not impose any other burden on you): Only hold on to what you have until I come. To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations. (Rev. 2:20-26) The illicit marriage of the Church to Babylon produced four children, all alive on Earth today. Thyatira represents the Catholic Church, the first child. It became wealthy by confiscating property through false accusation, like Jezebel had, and also instituted the sale of indulgences that authorized licentious practices for a fee. But to those who hold Jesus in their hearts and reject the traditions that would add to what He accomplished on the cross, Jesus promises salvation. They haven't learned Satan's secrets of Jesus plus Mary, grace plus works, Scripture plus sacraments, and have overcome, living by faith alone. Overcomers in Sardis Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you. Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels. (Rev. 3:2-5) The Protestant Church, represented by Sardis, carried out the Lord's threat to judge the Church's practices by the Sword of His Mouth. The call of the reformation was "Sola fides (only through faith), sola gratia (Only by grace), solus Christus (only with Christ), and sola Scriptura (Only His Word)." For the first time, the Bible was available to all who could read it. Great seminaries were founded to teach pastors the Word of God. But into these seminaries the devil crept, and the authority of God's word was challenged. It was all in the name of intellectualism so it was thought to be good, but soon the Gospel had been robbed of its power, the light of faith had gone out, the Spirit was quenched, and the people had been lulled to sleep. Many still are asleep, but there are a few who remember the Gospel and cling to it. They've repented of the Documentary Hypothesis, Modern Rationalism, and all the rest. They've overcome what Walter Martin called the Cult of Liberalism and have retained the power of the Gospel. They've been washed in the Blood of the Lamb and been given clean clothes. Their names have been written in the Lamb's Book of Life, and He will never blot them out. Overcomers in Philadelphia I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name. (Rev. 3:8,10-12) “Hold on to what you have,” the Lord commands the Evangelical Church, “because I'm coming soon. And because you've waited patiently for me, I'll keep you from the hour of trial that's going to test the whole world.” And what do we have to hold on to? We have His Word, His name, and His promise. He's coming soon. There are 5 crowns mentioned in the New Testament, to which believers should aspire. But here the Lord mentioned only one. Which one? I think it's the one described in 2 Tim. 4:8, the Crown of Righteousness, for those who've longed for His appearance. Who but the Bible believing, prophecy studying Evangelical Church can even qualify for this crown, and which one is more descriptive of the yearning in our hearts? Overcomers in Laodicea I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne. (Rev. 3:15-16-20-21). Here's the fourth child, the End Times Apostate Church. Prosperous and in need of nothing. They like to call themselves followers of Christ, not just believers, and the focus is definitely on doing. Hardly anyone hears His knock on the door, which means He's standing outside trying to get in. To those who overcome this mad rush to conquer a world beyond saving, in the name of a Jesus many of them don't know, in the hope of accomplishing something He doesn't want, to those who hear the knock and invite Him into their heart to kindle the fires of faith, He will give the right to sit with Him on his throne. These seven letters give us seven examples to show that we overcome by faith alone. From the church in Ephesus we see that we overcome by worshiping the Lord and thanking Him for doing all the work of our salvation. From Smyrna we see that it's by remaining faithful to the point of death that we overcome and receive life. The overcomers in Pergamum rejected the pagan rituals of Babylon that obscure and pervert the Gospel Story. Those in Thyatira refused to add to the simplicity of gospel, while in Sardis they refused to let its power be taken away. Overcomers in Philadelphia hold on to His Name, His Word and His Promise, and Laodicean overcomers are admonished to listen for His knock at the door, and open their hearts to him when they hear it. While it's God's will that we be conformed to the image of Christ in our behavior, and that we go beyond salvation to achieve victory, it's clear from Scripture that we overcome by clinging tenaciously to our child-like faith in the Lord's completed work on the cross. The seven churches were just that, churches. Yet for the most part they introduced gospel obscuring, faith destroying doctrines that over the generations have kept untold millions off the path to eternal life. Only those who overcome by faith survive. He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son. (Rev. 21:6-7) The Book of Revelation ends as it began, by telling us that eternal life is provided without cost to those who walk by faith in Him alone, believing that the work is done, that the Lord is the beginning and the end of their quest for eternal life. These are the overcomers. Selah 08-09-08



Faithful and Truth	Aug 13 2008, 08:56 PM Post #2
Newbie Posts: 5 Group: Members Member #4,789 Joined: July 14, 2008	O Lord, thou art my God: I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done "wonderful things; (THY COUNSELS OF OLD ARE FAITHFULNESS AND TRUTH.) Isaiah 25:1 Isaiah 26:2-3. Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the Truth may enter in. 3. Thou will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee. 8. Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O Lord, have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, AND TO THE REMEMBRANCE OF THEE. Our understanding of faith must change. It must take a higher ground, a more secure position, a more authentic understanding and expression. This faith must be based upon what is unseen, not upon what is seen. (Heb. 11:1) (Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.) It must be based upon what is known and most deeply felt from within our hearts. It cannot be based upon appearances. It cannot be based upon the manifestations of nations and religions, or it will suffer terribly and your heart will fail you in the time of crisis and great need. Your faith must be in something greater than what humanity has created. It must be in something greater than what the institutions of the world have created. The Greater Faith is not new; it has only been forgotten. It has only been overshadowed by ritual, history and belief. People believe in institutions, in sanctuaries, in rituals, in clubs, and in historical interpretations. They follow great leaders,elders, avatars, fathers, saviors and saints. But they have forgotten the most important thing. And that is the Great Faith. Jesus is known as Faithful and True. When you pray, ask for Knowledge(Wisdom/Holy Spirit) to become strong and to guide you—to reveal to you your errors, to show you your weaknesses and to show you what you must correct, what you must strengthen and what you must set aside. Ask for the Fathers Holy Counsels and Wisdom (The Tree Of Life) to lead and teach you, and also ask for the strength and courage to follow it ,and the freedom that it will give you. Therefore, recognize what deserves your faith and your devotion. (Realize that that which is unseen has all of the power) and that which is seen is what is weak and vulnerable. Here you will see that God is great and that the world is small, that nations and religions are vulnerable and that human weakness is everywhere. Here you will see that everything that occurs to you in life will either show you the evidence of Knowledge or the need for Knowledge. With this understanding, everything that happens will substantiate your Great Faith, the Great Faith that you must now have. For this is your future and this is your promise, this is your calling and this is your mission. When you have this great faith in the creator of all things, the Lord of hosts will feed you what you need as far as spiritual food goes. In His Holy Mountain, he alone will guide and feed you,and give to you this great gift (the Holy Spirit or Tree of Life), and you will finally know and taste freely the fat things and the new wine, and will be filled abuntantly. Isaiah 25: 6-7 6. And in this mountain shall the LORD of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined. 7. And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations. Happy are those who remember the Father's Holy Counsels of old, and those who overcome this world's vail of darkness and hearken to Wisdom's Holy Counsel. Proverbs 1:20-33 (King James Version) 20. Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets: 21. She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying, 22.How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? 23. Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you. 24. Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; 25. But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: 26. I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; 27. When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. 28. Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: 29. For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: 30. They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. 31. Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. 32. For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. 33. But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil. Proverbs 3:1-1-20 My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: 2. For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee. 3. Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: 4. So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man. 5. Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. 7. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. 8. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones. 9. Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: 10. So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine. 11. My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: 12. For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth. 13. Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. 14. For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. 15. She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. 16. Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour. 17. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. *** (18. She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.)** 19. The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens. 20. By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew. Proverbs 9:1-8 1. Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars: 2. She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table. 3. She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city, 4. Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, 5. Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled. 6. Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding. 7. He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot. 8. Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. Proverbs 8:19-36 (King James Version) 19. My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver. 20. I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment: 21. That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures. 22. The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. 23. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. 24. When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. 25. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: 26. While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. 27. When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: 28. When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: 29. When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth: 30. Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; 31. Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men. 32. Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways. 33 Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. 34 Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. 35 For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD. 36. But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death. this also includes denying the Holy Spirt... Matthew 12:30-32 30. He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad. 31. Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. 32. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come. May we never deny the Holy Spirit by... having a form of godly devotion but proving false to its power." If we do, we a denying the power of the Holy Spirit, and refusing her call to be the one to comfort us and lead us to life eternal. We are denying the Holy Spirit by not trusting in the father with our whole mind, heart, and strength. We are leaning on the thoughts of men for food, up and above the Holy Spirit, thus denying her. If we seek her as silver, and search for her as if hidden treasure, then we will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. Isaiah 65:13-17 13. Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, my servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry: behold, my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty: behold, my servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be ashamed: 14. Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit. 15. And ye shall leave your name for a curse unto my chosen: for the Lord GOD shall slay thee, and call his servants by another name: 16. That he who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the (God of Truth); and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the (God of Truth); because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from mine eyes. 17. For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. With Love, Faithful and Truth



Robert	Aug 15 2008, 01:29 PM Post #3
Member Posts: 61 Group: Members Member #4,713 Joined: May 30, 2008	Hi kgreen20 May I ask you a question? Do you think Christians of this dispensation need to eat of the tree of life? And if so, why? In His grace Robert



kgreen20	Aug 15 2008, 02:31 PM Post #4
Advanced Member Posts: 1,533 Group: Members Member #96 Joined: January 7, 2006	Seeing as there is no tree of life on this planet, that's an academic question. =) LOL. As for later--well, I can't imagine we'll need to, once we're in our resurrection bodies, since they'll be immortal anyway. Edited by kgreen20, Aug 15 2008, 02:32 PM.



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