Revelation 2 - Steve Wiggins Daily Devotional

“Anyone who has an ear should listen to what the Ruach (Spirit) says to the congregations. I will give the victor the right to eat from the tree of life which is in the paradise of G_d.” Revelation 2:7

“Anyone who has an ear should listen to what the Ruach (Spirit) says to the congregations. The victor will never be harmed by the second death.” Revelation 2:11

“Anyone who has an ear should listen to what the Ruach (Spirit) says to the congregations. I will give the victor some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name is inscribed that no one knows except the one who receives it.” Revelation 2:17

“Anyone who has an ear should listen to what the Ruach (Spirit) says to the congregations.” Revelation 2:29

There is an old saying, “Born once, die twice. Born twice, die once” “Born once” means to reject the gospel and live only for this World. When such a person dies, they actually have died twice because they were dead in their sins while alive, and now through physical death, they are dead for all eternity, separated from G_d.

When a person is “Born twice”, it means they have recognized they were born, dead in sin, and have received the “new Life” offered by Messiah…who died on our behalf. That person “lives twice” because they were given life on earth, plus eternal life with the L_rd in Heaven. In today’s passage, the apostle John is speaking of the benefits of listening to G_d’s Ruach (Spirit) and following Messiah. He is speaking of being “born twice” or as the Bible puts it, “born again”.

The believer, (called a “victor” because through Yeshua they have obtained victory over death), lives forever with G_d. This is illustrated by the image of eating from the “Tree of Life.” It carries the idea that whomever eats from it has life would never cease eating from it. Again, John writes the “victor” will never be harmed by “second death”. Concerning being a victor, referencing Psalm 44:22, Isaiah 53:7, and Zechariah 11:4-7, in his epistle to the Romans, Paul said:

“No, in all these things we are more than victorious through Him Who loved us.” Romans 8:37

John goes on to say the victor will be given “hidden manna’, which represents G_d’s miraculous provision and sustaining of His people.

Finally, we are to receive “a white stone” inscribed with a new name, signifying that G_d will remember us…not for who we were (our old name), but for who we have become through Messiah.

Blessings,
~Steve Wiggins, Associate Leader, Worship Leader
Shuvah Yisrael
Daily Devotional, Sunday, December 15, 2013