The Overcomers-who are they? (Part 2)
Messiah addresses his letters to the angel of each church. It could mean the elder or the leader of the church. He spoke to each church the words ‘I know’. Messiah is aware of everything, he knows the thoughts and actions of everyone.

The church at Ephesus had been begun by the Apostle Paul. Timothy was sent by Paul to this church. Elohim has good things to say to the church. The church worked hard, they took their faith seriously. They helped the downtrodden and ministered to the outcasts of society. They were busy, continually working, and our Lord commends them for that.
They were orthodox in their faith. They did not run after every new doctrine that came along. They examined them like the Bereans, whether or not they were true. They strongly opposed some of the teaching of the itinerant speakers of that day. They had persisted in their teaching in spite of much discouragement and hardship. They were sincere, disciples, faithfully working and not deviating from the truth they had received. But they ‘had left their first love’. Love for Elohim was not a priority anymore. This is true of so many churches. They work hard, do all the right things but without any love for Yahshua. Messiah tells them to remember their early days and the joy they had in the Lord. He asks them to repent, to change their minds. Give up their ambition, pride of position, the critical mind, the academic knowledge and turn back to Him and love Him. The reward promised is in Rev.2:7. To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of Elohim.

Smyrna was a rich and prosperous city, and largely inhabited by Jews bitterly opposed to Messiah and Christianity. It was a city deeply committed to idolatry and the worship of the Roman Emperor.
Though the city was rich, the Christians were poor. They were persecuted for the gospel. They were not allowed to carry on their trade. Even today, this is a common form of persecution against Christians. The church at Smyrna had a rich leadership, as one of the pastors of that church was Polycarp, one of Apostle John’s disciples. The Lord knew all the persecutions the believers face there. They were going to face persecution again from those who claimed to be Jews but were not. Though those Jews worshipped in the synagogue, they were to be regarded as worshipping satan rather than Yahweh. The people who overcome the threat of persecution will be given a crown of life.
Rev.2:10. He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death. The second death is hell, the lake of fire. Yahshua promises His overcomers that death is conquered for them.

Pergamos was the political capital of the Roman Province of Asia the Less. It was a stronghold of Satanic power because it was the political center of the worship-demanding Roman government. Yahshua praises the Christians of Pergamos because they did not deny His faith. But as in many churches today, the church in Pergamos had people who quickly believed false prophets. What is the doctrine of Balaam? Balaam was a prototype of all corrupt teachers. According to Num. 22-24, 31, Balaam combined the sins of immorality and idolatry to please Balak, the king of Moab, because he could not curse Israel directly. Yahshua asks the people of Pergamos to repent, else they will face Yahshua who has the two-edged sword. Judgment will begin at the house of Elohim (1Pe_4:17).
Rev.2:17. To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it. Yahshua’s hidden manna was the bread of life which he gives to who refuse the bread of idols.

Thyatira was the smallest and least important of the seven cities. It was an important center of business and trade. The church at Thyatira was a model church. They had four great essential qualities. They had love, both for the Lord and for one another. They knew service, and had faith and patience. But there was a woman, who is called by the Lord as Jezebel, who claimed to be a prophetess. She was an immoral woman and had an ungodly influence on others, and led others into sin. Jezebel led others into immorality and idolatry. The Lord gave her a chance to repent but she did not. There were still some Christians who did not compromise with these dangerous doctrines. Christians can overcome and keep Yahshua’s works until the end. We must not become discouraged at immorality and idolatry around us, even among Christians. Elohim’s work will still go on through His overcomers.  To them, Yahshua offers a share in His own kingdom.
Rev 2:26  And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations.
Sardis was a city well known for its softness and luxury. The first coinage ever to be minted in Asia Minor was minted in Sardis in the days of Croesus. Its people were notoriously loose-living, pleasure and luxury loving. In the church of Sardis, like the city of Sardis, everything seemed alive and good. They appeared to live for God, but , spiritually they were dead. But there were some in Sardis who truly lived for God, Religion was just a formality in Sardis. The Saviour does not specify any prevailing form of error or false doctrine; but that their religion was wasted.
Rev 3:5  He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

Philadelphia means brotherly love. Philadelphia was also known for her beautiful buildings. The church in Philadelphia has an open door set before them. Yahshua tells them that He has opened the door of evangelism to them, there was nothing that can keep them from using this door.
The term a little strength does not imply weakness, but real strength. They were weak enough to be strong in the Lord. The church in Philadelphia also was faithful to Messiah and His word. But they were persecuted by some of the Jewish people from the synagogue. Messiah also promises the believers protection from the hour of trial coming on the whole world. Overcomers are told that they will be as a pillar in the temple of Elohim. Pillars are pictures of strength, stability, and durability. True pillars in the church support the church, and they look to Yahshua as their support foundation.
Rev 3:12  Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my Elohim, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my Elohim, and the name of the city of my Elohim, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my Elohim: and I will write upon him my new name.
Laodicea was an important, wealthy city, with a very large Jewish population. It was a noted commercial center, and some of its goods were exported all over the world. Yahshua says “Just as the water you drink is lukewarm, you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot.” In this spiritual sense, lukewarmness is a picture of indifference and compromise. It tries to take the middle path, never taking a strong stand. Lukewarm is also useless. They were rich in worldly prosperity but poor spiritually. Spurgeon described the lukewarm church: They have prayer-meetings, but there are few present, everything is done decently and in order, but vigor and zeal are considered to be vulgar. They have deacons and elders who are excellent pillars of the church, if the chief quality of pillars be to stand still, and exhibit no motion or emotion. The pastor certainly has no flame of fire in his preaching.  Everything is done in a half-hearted, listless, dead-and-alive way, as if it did not matter much whether it was done or not. The Laodiceans had understand their spiritual poverty. They should turn away from their lukewarm ways and turn to the Lord with zeal. Rev 3:21  To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne.