Going to Heaven when one dies is not listed as a reward to the overcomer, in the second and third chapters of the Book of Revelation, although Revelation does present the blood-washed as being in Heaven. Also, eating of the tree of life that is in the midst of Paradise necessitates being in Paradise at that point, it would seem. Yet, it is evident that the emphasis is not on "making Heaven our eternal home."

A beautiful home in Heaven is not mentioned as being a reward to the conqueror. Rather, the rewards have to do with the attaining of eternal life and power in the Presence of Christ and the Father.

All of us desire to go to Paradise when we die. The present world is a valley of pain and dread. According to the visions of the saints, Paradise is a garden of delight and peace.

But to lose our body and pass into the spirit realm certainly is not an attainment of life or authority. Eternal life is not perpetual consciousness in the spirit realm. Eternal life is a kind of life, a quality of life. Demons possess no eternal life but they are perpetually conscious in the spirit realm.

Satan is a spiritual creature, a cherub. He introduced sin into the spirit realm. Eternal death resulted. Eternal death is a spiritual condition, not a physical condition. To go to Heaven, to pass into the realm of spirits, is not to attain eternal life. It is Christ who is eternal Life, who is the Tree of Life.

When we are full of Christ we are full of eternal Life whether we are on the earth or in Heaven.

It is important that we understand what it means to overcome, because the inference in the items listed in the second and third chapters of Revelation is that if we are not pursuing the life of victory in Christ we are not inheriting these rewards or any of the other rewards mentioned by the Lord Jesus and His Apostles.

The writer has preached the overcoming life for many years. Sometimes people ask, "What will happen to Christians who do not lead an overcoming life? Will they be raised from the dead and ascend to meet the Lord in triumph when He appears? Will they be Divine kings and priests, crowned with glory and honor, even though they did not live as saints in this present world?"

The basic question is: Just how important is it that we pursue the life of victory in Christ? Will there actually be a great difference in destiny between the Christian who devotes his whole attention to pleasing the Lord and the Christian who trusts in his or her affirmation of the truth that Jesus is Savior and Lord and proceeds to live in the flesh?

To be continued.