CHAPTER THREE

TO OVERCOME PERSECUTION, WORLDLINESS, AND SPIRITUAL DEATH

Scripture Reading: Rev. 2:8-13, 17b; 3:1-5

OUTLINE

1. To overcome persecution, comprising tribulation, poverty, trial, imprisonment, and the slander of the deformed religion of Satan-Rev. 2:9-10a:
   1. By being faithful unto death, not loving the soul-life-2:10b; 12:11b.
   2. The reward:
      1. To receive the crown of life-2:10c.
      2. Not to be hurt by the second death-2:11.
2. To overcome worldliness:
   1. In a church that is affiliated with the world, where Satan administrates on his throne and dwells for his possession-2:13.
   2. To overcome such worldliness is to hold fast the name of the Lord and not deny the faith concerning the Lord-2:13.
   3. The reward-2:17b:
      1. To be given to eat of the hidden manna (Christ for nourishment).
      2. To be given a white stone (for the building in the Body of Christ), upon which a new name is written, which no one knows except he who receives it.
3. To overcome spiritual death:
   1. In a church having a name that it is living and yet being dead, with nothing completed before God-3:1-2.
   2. To overcome spiritual death is to be watchful and establish the things of life, which are about to die, and not to be defiled with the stain of spiritual death-3:2, 4.
   3. The reward:
      1. Not to miss the Lord in His coming secretly as a thief-3:3b.
      2. To be clothed in white (signifying being justified and approved by the Lord in the purity of life) and walk with the Lord-3:4-5a.
      3. To have his name never erased out of the book of life but confessed by the Lord before His Father and His Father’s angels-3:5b.