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Overcomers, Heirs, Sons

He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.
- Revelation 12:7

John heard these words being spoken by someone identified as “…He who was seated upon the throne….” God Himself was speaking to His servant in some of the last words recorded in the Bible. The last words are important. I want to emphasize the significance of three words in this verse. They distinguish three things about those who are going to inhabit heaven

First, God makes this promise to those who overcome. This reminds me of John’s language in 1 John 4:4: “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” 1 John 5:4-5 amplifies this thought: “…for whoever is born of God overcomes the world, and the victory that overcomes the world is our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world, but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”

God promises that all overcomers will also be heirs, according to Revelation 21:7—and not just heirs of a few things, but heirs of all things. Lots of people have imagined being the heirs of someone rich and famous on earth, but overcomers will be heirs of all that it is God’s pleasure to bestow upon them. That is beyond imagination, and worth far more than anything this world has to offer.

But there is another distinction. God says that not only will overcomers be heirs of all things, but they will be sons (or daughters, as the case may be). Notice the progression of relationship in this verse. An overcomer could be anyone, but an heir is likely to have some form of relationship with the one who has the inheritance to bestow. However, God doesn’t stop there. He goes on to say that He will be their God, and they will be his son—indicating a closeness that can only be described by blood relationship.

God doesn’t want you to feel as though you are only a second cousin twice removed. He intends for you to enjoy the benefits and privileges that are reserved for sons and daughters. Part of your God-given inheritance as a believer in Jesus Christ is to enjoy the blessings of being a child of God—not just when you get to heaven, but right now.

Further Reading

• Genesis 24:48
• Revelation 12:7
• John 4:24