“He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. And I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.”
He who overcomes
Every Christian is an overcomer because of Christ and for no other reason. The Greek indicates that this person constantly overcomes.
I will make him a pillar
A “pillar” is a column supporting the weight of a building. Metaphorically, the Bible uses this term for the church (1 Ti 3:15,16) for a permanent position in the eternal temple. Jesus will make the overcomer bear the weight of that temple. Throughout eternity, this believer will be a monumental pillar in the eternal temple.
A pillar is a picture of strength. Philadelphia was in an earthquake zone. Its citizens feared earthquakes. Those who live in earthquakes experience phenomenal insecurity and instability. Jesus offers hope to those who operate in insecurity and instability. When people sojourn to ancient ruins, they note that often all that remains are the pillars. Once a person accepts Christ as his Savior, Jesus will make him a pillar. That pillar will never crumble. He will never lose his salvation. God’s plan is greater than any sin we might commit.
in the temple of My God
The New Testament uses the word “temple” for the inner part of the temple in Jerusalem (Mt 23:35) called the “sanctuary.” This was the shrine. There were many synagogues but only one temple. The temple was the place of God’s presence.
and he shall go out no more
People of Asia Minor fled their cities and buildings when earthquakes occurred. Jesus promises they will flee no more. Once a builder puts the column in place, it does not move from that building. So God will not move the Christian from His eternal temple. This is a picture of permanence and eternal security. We will never get out of God’s plan of salvation.
And I will write on him the name of My God
Jesus writes three names on the overcomer. The first name is the name of “My God.” On this pillar, God will write His very own name. The believer persevered for this name. He went through trial for that name so that God will write His own name on this pillar.
and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God.
The second name that Jesus writes on the overcomer is “the name of the city of My God.” Chapters 21 and 22 give a resplendent, striking description of the “New Jerusalem.” This is the place of wonderful fellowship with God. To people living in an earthquake zone, this is a picture of stability as over against decay. Christians will eternally fellowship with God.
And I will write on him My new name
The third name Jesus writes on the overcomer is “My new name.” The conquering Christian’s pillar will have the name of God, the city of God, the New Jerusalem, and Jesus’ “new name.” A name symbolizes character. No one knows that name yet, but Revelation 19:12 says that when Jesus appears, He will come with that new name.
Re 19:12, “His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself.”
Before Jesus step foot on earth, an angel announced to Joseph that Mary would bear a son and that he should call this new baby “Jesus” “because He will save His people from their sins.” Jesus means “Jehovah saves.” Now that Jesus has finished that work He will have a new name. He will have a new role with a new name.
PRINCIPLE:
The Christian is eternally secure once he or she receives Jesus’ death as the only commodity that satisfies a holy God.
APPLICATION:
Jesus will remove a “lampstand” [church] from its place of effectiveness but never a “pillar.” The church is the pillar and ground of the truth.
1 Ti 3:15-16, “…but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. 16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness:
God was manifested in the flesh,
Justified in the Spirit,
Seen by angels,
Preached among the Gentiles,
Believed on in the world,
Received up in glory.”
The church is the pillar of Christ’s new name, God’s name, and the name of the New Jerusalem. This is a pillar of permanence, the permanence of eternal life.
The church with “little strength” is now a pillar of strength. The church possesses honor forever in the very presence of God. Every Christian who accepts the finished work on the cross for suffering for sin has eternal life, not temporal life.
Thank you for the interpetation. God bless you. All Praise be to The Almighty Lord our God Forever.
You are not eternally secured once you accept Christ. In revelations it plainly stated that these peoples name were written in the lambs book of life but were in danger of them being blotted out of it if they don’t repent. That lie of eternal security came from Martin Luther when he split from the Catholic church in England and started that belief and he admitted this him self. Please wake up to that before it’s to late for yourself to escape judgememt for teaching a lie and not repenting from it. The only thing that is once and for all is that the blood doesn’t have to be shed but it still has to be applied only by asking now in his name and you have to abide.
Tom, look at this study before you jump to conclusions: http://versebyversecommentary.com/articles/doctrine/eternal-security/
Grant
You gave Tom a link with more mistranslated scripture?
Jeff, I don’t think you meant “mistraslated” but misinterpreted Scripture. However, Please indicate where my article is misinterpreted.
When we except Jesus as our Lord and savior He gives us the gift of eternal life!
Before salvation, we were slaves to sin and destined for death. But through faith in Jesus Christ, we received the gift of God, which is the salvation of souls unto eternal life: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him” (John 3:16–17).
The word gift in Romans 6:23 means “a present given as a sign of good favor.” Ephesians 2:8–9 elaborates on this gift: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” The gift of God does not depend on our behavior. It cannot be earned, like a wage. The Bible calls it a “free gift” (Romans 6:23, ESV). We don’t work for the gift of eternal life; we receive it simply because God’s good favor is poured out on us.
The gift of God is His “abundant provision of grace.” It is “not like the trespass,” which brings death through sin. “God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ” brings everlasting life (Romans 5:15–17; see also Romans 3:24; Ephesians 1:7–8). Sin pays its wages in death, and sinners get what they deserve. But God bestows a free gift, and believers in Jesus Christ receive what they don’t deserve—eternal life.
Everyone reading this understands the books of the New Testament were not written by the disciples themselves, and in most cases written decades after Jesus walked the earth?
There is plenty of debate about who authored other books.
I.e. you are not arguing about the word of God in this thread. You are arguing about words persons unknown wrote based on stories told and retold, and then only a small subset of such stories as selected by Constantine and a small group of powerful religious leaders. There are many other ancient writings that tell a different story. Misquoting Jesus is a good reference.
Bleh, you make unsupported assumptions about the author/s of Revelation and other books. I suggest you study further textual criticism. Also, see my introduction, which gives a brief summary of the authorship.