lived through those dreadful days could be thus deprived.  All that follows

the second and third chapter, is a record of what John saw, 'what thou

seest', things which were 'signified' by an angel (Rev. 1:1).  This angel has

evidently been with John throughout the unfolding visions and signs, and

meets us in the last chapter.

'I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me

these things' (Rev. 22:8).

The angel associates himself with those who keep the sayings of 'this

book'.  He speaks of 'the sayings of the prophecy of this book', and of 'the

words of the prophecy of this book', and 'things ... written in this book'

(Rev. 22:9,10,18,19).  Quite apart therefore from any visible connections

that lie on the surface, chapter 20, the Millennium, and the Great White

Throne, form a part of the things testified to the churches, and when we

realize that such items as 'The Second Death' and 'The Book of Life', so

generally associated with the general judgment of the wicked dead of all

time, form an integral part and an unbreakable link with the 'overcomers' in

the seven churches, then we need make no apology for calling a halt to

tradition, and asserting our right and responsibility to 'search and see'

(Rev. 20:6,14,15; 21:8,27; 2:11 and 3:5).

John, who was inspired to assure the overcomer that he would not be

'hurt of the second death' in chapter 2, would not forget all about it when

he came to speak of it again in chapters 20 and 21, and neither can, nor

will, we do so.  Everything that is recorded in chapters 4 to 22 is written

to encourage the 'overcomer'.  Nothing extraneous is added, so that nothing

is said of the Millennial kingdom but that the overcomers 'live and reign

with Christ'.  We only gather incidentally that there were 'saints' on the

earth and a 'beloved city'.  It has been left for prophetic students to

attempt to fill the gap, and this is a legitimate employment, providing it

does not obscure the supreme purpose with which the Apocalypse was written,

namely the Revelation of Jesus Christ Himself, and the association with Him

on the throne, of those who suffered and withstood antichristian domination

during the closing years of Gentile ascendancy.

The Greek verb nikao, 'conquer' or 'overcome' occurs a number of times,

and is distributed under three headings:

It speaks of the nature and the reward of this 'overcoming'.

'And they overcame him (i.e. the Accuser) by the blood of the

Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not

their lives unto the death' (Rev. 12:11).

This follows the sign in which the Man child is caught up to God

and to His throne, who will 'rule all nations with a rod of iron'

(Rev. 12:5; cf. 2:27; 19:15).

'He that overcometh shall inherit all things (or these things)'

(Rev. 21:7).

This takes us beyond the Millennium, beyond the Great White

Throne, into the new heavens and the new earth which shows that

the thousand years is but an episode in the reign of Christ which

is unto the ages of the ages.

It points to the One True Overcomer, Christ Himself.