Revelation 3:21 is a verse that causes me to say “WOW” out loud. As you know, the letters that Jesus wrote to the seven churches in Revelation were not only written to seven actual churches, but are commonly thought to have been written to Christians in the seven ages of the Church, with Ephesus representing the Apostolic Church, which was the church up to 100 AD, Smyrna representing the Age of Persecution, which was 100 AD to 313 AD, Pergamos being the Imperial Church age from 313 AD to 590 AD, Thyatira being the Age of Papacy from 590 AD to 1517 AD, Sardis being the Age of Reformation from 1517 AD to 1730 AD, Philadelphia the Age of Missions from 1730 AD to 1900 AD, and finally Laodicea being the modern church age, from 1900 AD to the year Christ returns.

        All of the seven letters end with a promise from Jesus as to what the Christians of that time would receive if they “overcame”. All of the promises are exciting, from being given the right to eat from the tree of life, to being given a “white stone”, which represents celebrity status such as Greek Olympic athletes had. They are all wonderful rewards to be given in heaven.

        When it comes to Laodicea, the letter written to us, the emphasis always seems to be on the fact that Jesus said the church of our time was neither hot nor cold, and that since our church as a whole was lukewarm Jesus said he was going to spit it out of His mouth. But let’s really look at the promise for those of us who overcome. I am bowled over by it. Here it is, from Revelation 3:21: “To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on His throne.”   

        Let that sink in. It is one of the most incredible things you may ever read. If we only overcome Satan and the world for the few relatively short years we live on this earth, we will actually sit down with Jesus on His throne, for eternity. Can you imagine what that would be like. Talk about being born into royalty. WOW !!!

        Of course, if someone doesn’t believe in a literal heaven, that may not mean much. But if we are truly a Christian, we must believe that heaven is a real place, just like Borneo is a real place even though we haven’t seen it with our own eyes. If we don’t believe it, we are saying that Jesus is a liar. For me, Jesus said over and over that it exists, so end of debate.

        Therefore, if heaven exists, the throne Jesus sits on exists, and you and I can earn the right to actually sit on it with Jesus. The thought sends chills up my spine. All we and I have to do is “overcome”. Whatever that takes, no matter what, the reward is a billion times greater than the acts involved in overcoming. If ever we could be persuaded not to give 100% of our love and our lives to Jesus, that should dissolve with the realization of what that verse is saying. There could be no greater promise than that. That is the best there is.

        Whatever this world or Satan throws at you, remember the vision of you sitting right beside Jesus on his throne. For such a reward, there is nothing you and I could not withstand. Burn it in your memory. Don’t ever forget it.

        I will look forward to shaking your hand, with a big grin on my face from ear to ear, when you and I sit down together, of all places, on the throne of Jesus, right along side Him. Talk about a front row seat to the events of eternity. Words don’t come close.

                                      A joint heir with you to the throne,  Bob