CROWN, SCEPTER, ROBE, AND THRONE OF THE OVERCOMER

 CROWN, SCEPTER, ROBE, AND THRONE OF THE OVERCOMER

 

SUNDAY, JULY 15, 2018

PASTOR CAROLYN SISSOM

 

Yesterday Satan threw a bomb at me and I felt like I had been hit by a torpedo.  It came out of left field, totally blindsiding me.  Now, if you know me, when I come under attack, I always accelerate.

 

However, for the first time since the LORD called me into full time ministry, I was talking to myself to “pull back.”  I have been studying and posting The Trump Prophecies by Mark Taylor; and we are studying The Veil, by Blake K. Healy on Sunday evening.   Both books are strong meat as well as warfare against high levels of powers of darkness.

 

Our conference, The Scepter of the King, begins next Friday.  I don’t know what we have hit in the realm of the kingdom of darkness, but Satan and his minions have been throwing bombs at me.

 

In the Book of Revelation in John’s letters to the seven churches, The Alpha and Omega , the first and the last, Jesus Christ, tells John to write of a soon visitation which will either bring great reward for the overcomers or judgment for the wicked.

 

The seven churches were a cross section of all the churches in existence at that time.  There were other churches in Asia besides the seven named by the Lord, but seven being the sacred and complete number, was representative of the whole church throughout the world and down through all ages.

 

We are to understand the entire book of Revelation is addressed to those seven churches.  However, the message of the Book of Revelation is transcendent Glory to all generations. The Word of God transcends time and space.  These letters were designed and meant to prepare the followers of the Lord Jesus for the trials due to come upon them before His return.  His appeal is for every Christian to be an overcomer.

 

This Year the Holy Spirit has blessed our congregation with Six Spiritual crowns with an impartation.  The Holy Spirit then called the conference, The Scepter of the King.  Surely we have come into a time of visitation.

Yet we are warned:  Rev. 3:11 Behold I am coming quickly!  Hold fast what you have, that no one takes your crown.

CROWN OF LIFE:

 

Rev. 2:8-10:  To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: … (9-10) I know your works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but you are rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.  For none of those things which you shall suffer; behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison that you may be tried; and you shall have tribulation ten days, b faithful to death, and I will give you the crown of life.

 

The Lord had not one complaint against this church.  It was severely persecuted.  Persecution always refines God’s people.  The Lord knew that even more severe persecutions were coming and encourages them to be faithful to death and they will receive the crown of life and shall not be hurt of the second death.

 

The second death is final judgment, the alternative to eternal life (Rev. 20:14; 21:8).

 

Let us ever be humble before the LORD because the Crown of Life comes at a high cost which we have not paid in suffering and persecution of being faithful to death.  I bless and honor all Christians even today who have paid the high cost of being faithful to death.  The Western Church of America has never had to pay this cost to worship and serve the LORD.

 

 

ROD/ROYAL SCEPTER/STAFF (Rhabdos) OF IRON:

 

2:18-29: To the angel of the church in Thyatira write: …I know your works, charity, service, faith, patience; and your works; and your deeds/works to be more than at first.  Notwithstanding I have a few things against you, because you permit that woman jezebel, which calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed to idols… (vs. 24) But to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.  That which you have already, hold fast till I come.  He that overcomes and keeps my works to the end, to him will I give power over the nations; and he shall rule them with a rod of iron (Rhabdos – Royal Scepter, Staff), as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers; even as I received of My Father and I will give him the morning star.

 

For the first time in this book, the Lord refers to Himself as the Son of God.  To this small, rather obscure church, the Lord speaks the longest of His messages to the seven churches.  He is speaking to them with blazing eyes and glowing feet.  At this point Thyatira’s commendation exceeds that of Ephesus.  Until he says I have a few things against you, then the reprimand is severe.  They are tolerating the spirit of Jezebel, whether that is her name or her spirit, it does not matter.

 

  1. The church has permitted Jezebel to teach.
  2. Permitted her to seduce My servants (Christians) to commit fornication.
  3. Permitted her to seduce Christians to eat things sacrificed to idols.
  4. Tolerated her in spite of impenitence.

 

Her activity had evidently gone on for some time, and previous warnings had been unheeded; now sickness and plague will fall as a judgment on her and her children.  Literally I will kill her children with death.

 

Once again the attributes of God are shared by Christ.  I will repay each of you according to your deeds is a repeat of the constant principle of divine judgment in scripture.

 

Jezebel teaches Satan’s so called deep secrets:  there is a heavenly wisdom which explores ‘the deep things of God (1 Co. 2:10), so a counterfeit wisdom promises to open up ‘deep things’ as they are called—of Satan.  The reference may be to a form of Gnostic teaching, the doctrine of salvation by knowledge.

 

I will not impose any other burden on you---hold fast until I come:  His coming is a visitation of judgment upon the unfaithful and a reward for the faithful.  I will give authority over the nations---He will rule them with an iron scepter.  Messiah’s dominion is shared with His victorious followers.  The word for “rod” is (Rhabodas) which is the same word used for iron rod, royal scepter, and shepherd’s staff. Just as I have received authority from my father, I will give him the morning star.  This must be understood in relation to Rev. 22;16, where Jesus calls Himself the morning star…the overcomer is to share the royal rule of his conquering Lord.

 

ROBE OF WHITE RAIMENT:

 

3:1-5: To the angel of the church of Sardis write: …These says He that has the seven Spirits of God; and the seven stars; I know your works, that you have a name that you live, and are dead,  Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die; for I have not found your works perfect before God…He that overcomes, the same shall be clothed in white raiment, and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life…

 

“The church partook of the character of the city, whose name was almost synonymous with pretensions unjustified; promise unfulfilled; appearance without reality; confidence which heralded ruin” (W. M. Ramsay).  In short, “for appearances sake."

 

Four Things against Sardis:

 

  1. Works.
  2. Having a name or reputation of being a live church, but ‘are dead”.
  3. Works not perfect before God.
  4. Few Godly members.

 

Five Commands to Sardis:

 

  1. Be watchful
  2. Strengthen the things that remain.
  3. Remember your teaching.
  4. Hold fast.
  5. Repent.

 

The language, “I will come on you as a thief and you shall not know what hour I will come upon” describes the suddenness of Christ’s coming in judgment and/or blessing.   This is the 8th prophecy in the Book of Revelation which has been fulfilled.   This does not refer to the Second Advent, but to a visitation of the Lord.

 

Christ promises not to blot the name out of the book of life of any man who will obey these commands.  If some should refuse to obey these commands, then according to Exodus 32:32-33, it is God’s prerogative to blot out their names from the Book of Life.  He definitely promised Moses concerning any who sinned, “Him will I blot out of My book”.

 

The Psalmist in Ps. 69:25-28, by the Holy Ghost prayed that God would blot out his enemies from the Book of life.  In Acts 1:20, this scripture is applied to Judas.  For it is written in the book of Psalms.  Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein; and his Office, let another take

 

Ps. 69:28: Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.

 

In Rev. 22: 18-19, Christ again threatens to take the names of men out of the book of life if they take anything away from the words of the book of this prophecy.

 

There are those who do not believe that God would erase anyone’s names from His book.  I am only a messenger.  It is written clearly for all to read!!! 

 

There are four promises for the Overcomer:

 

  1. Walk with Jesus in white (White Robe)
  2. Be clothed in white raiment. (WHITE ROBE).
  3. Jesus will not blot his name out of the book of life.
  4. Jesus will confess his name before His Father and the angels.

 

SIT WITH CHRIST IN HIS THRONE:

 

3:14-22:  To the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write:  These things say the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God.  I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot.  Because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot; I will spew you out of My mouth…To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne.

 

Laodicea is the final word to the church.  The Philadelphian church represents those who are destined to overcome through love.  The Laodiceans represent those who are destined to be rejected because of their “self” assurance.  They represent the final word to the carnal church. Rev. 3:18 is the only hope of those who are blind to God’s desire.  “They have need to buy of Christ; Christ ‘anointed presence.’  It is a matter of standing in the fire and allowing “self” to be burnt up!” (Van Tanner, The Seven Thunders of God)

 

While teaching Revelation, Chapter 3, 6/7/12, under the unction of the Holy Spirit, I began to prophesy that the “Laodicean church that was renowned for its wealth is one of the spirits over the present global financial markets”.   Since 2012, the globalists have stolen trillions of dollars from the U.S.A.

 

Laodicea was Located at the junction of two major trade routes.   Laodicea served as the banking and financial center of the province of Asia.  It was the wealthiest city in Phrygia.  The church took on the spirit of the city.

 

This is a spirit of self-assurance (arrogance), pride and self-sufficiency.  Though self-sufficiency and independence is admirable on some levels; in the spiritual realm, “self-sufficiency” means destitution.  A nation, a people, a city, a church, or a Christian’s true sufficiency must come from God, who alone supplies spiritual riches, blessings, safety,  clothing, well-being, and health.  This is part of the spirit of antichrist that the world will get their eyes off of the Creator the beginning of the creation of God (3:14b), on to self.

 

2 Cor. 3:5: “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of our selves; but our sufficiency is of God.”

 

God’s redemption terms: ‘BUY OF ME”: (Gr. Agorazo) “doing business with God on His terms.  Man sold Himself a slave to sin and Satan.  God paid the price of His redemption.  Man is now obligated to meet God’s terms of faith, repentance, and service.

 

  1. Gold tried in the fire =  Faith
  2. White raiment =  Righteousness
  3. Anoint your eyes with eye-salve = enlightenment by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God.

 

 

 Here is a church that demonstrates what wealth and power can do to Christians.   It was also famous for its jet black wool from black sheep which were made expensive garments.  It was widely known for an eye salve made from a powder mixed with olive oil from the Phrygian stone.

 

Jesus’ identifies Himself as, “the beginning of the Creation of God”.  (Rev, 3:14, Mk. 10:5, 13:19, 2 Pe. 3:4)

 

Rev. 3: 21-22: “To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne.  He that has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

 

The highest place that Heaven affords is Jesus’ by right; participation in His sovereignty is granted to His people.  That we are to sit with Jesus in His throne appears to reflect that we will be “in Christ” who is “in the Father.”

 

 

There are 17 Blessings to the Overcomer in Rev. 2-3:

 

  1. The tree of life (Rev. 2:7).
  2.  The crown of life (Rev. 2:10; 3:11).
  3. Escape the second death or lake of fire (Rev. 2:11; 20:14).
  4. The hidden manna (Rev. 2:17).
  5.  A white stone and a new name (Rev. 2:17).
  6. Power over the nations (rev. 2: 26-27).
  7. Complete defeat of rebels (Rev. 2:27).
  8. The Morning Star (Rev. 2:28).
  9. Walk with Christ in white (Rev. 3: 4-5).
  10. Name eternally in the book of life (Rev. 3:5; 22: 18-19).
  11. Confession of name before God (Rev. 3:5).
  12. A pillar in God’s temple (Rev. 3:12).
  13. Eternal abiding with God (Rev. 3:12)
  14. God’s name upon him (Rev. 3:12).
  15. Name of the New Jerusalem upon him (Rev. 3:123).
  16. New name of Christ upon him (Rev. 3:12).
  17. Eternal throne and kingdom (Rev. 3:21; 1:6; 5:10; 11:15; 22: 4-5).

 

The transcendent glory of the Book of Revelation is seen that the blessings are for any generation and all generations who will love, serve, and receive Christ; and if need be bear up under persecution.

 

 No matter how dark and evil days become, our sovereign Lord will appear and smash the forces of evil and exalt His church of which the gates of hell will not prevail. 

 

Carolyn Sissom, Pastor

Eastgate Ministries Church

www.eastgateministries.com

Scripture from K.J.V.

Paraphrased from Bible Studies by: Pastor Carolyn Sissom, Revelation 1 and Revelation 2.

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