As soon as the saints have overcome Satan he will be thrown down from his place in the heavens by Michael and the holy angels. Sin originated in the heavens and came down to the earth. Sin must be conquered first in the heavens, and this will be accomplished by the "handful of corn."

And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. (Revelation 12:10,11)

The Lord Jesus overcame Satan, and we enter that victory when we receive Jesus by faith.

Jesus enables us to overcome Satan.

To him that overcometh . . . even as I also overcame . . . . (Revelation 3:21)

The rewards of Revelation, Chapters Two and Three begin with access to the tree of life and climax with a position in the throne of God. Included are the crown of life, nourishment with the hidden manna, and power over the nations of the earth.

These rewards, some of which are given to us now to a certain extent, compose the first resurrection from the dead.

The rewards of life, authority, opportunity for service, and nearness to God that traditionally have been associated with belief in Jesus are promised only to the overcomers. Being a member of the royal priesthood, a member of the Body of Christ, a part of the Wife of the Lamb, must be attained.

Because all of the rewards are ours at the moment of receiving the Lord the conclusion has been drawn that they are ours forever by "faith" and without any effort on our part.

The writings of the New Testament hardly support the position that we share in Christ by grace through faith without any effort on our part. Yet this is the prevailing understanding among numerous Christians.

Scriptures can be found that appear to support the view we have everything by faith the moment we receive Jesus. Scriptures also can be found that support the view we must labor to make our election certain and we are to "work out" our salvation with fear and trembling. We must endure to the end if we would possess our soul, if we would be saved.

The resolution of the two doctrines is as follows: we are given everything in the beginning. Then we must cooperate with the Holy Spirit as He enables us to maintain, develop, and perfect what has been so freely given to us. To not follow the Holy Spirit is to draw back to destruction, losing our gift.

But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition [destruction]; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. (Hebrews 10:39)

Rebecca was selected by Eliezer, according to God's leading, to be the bride of Isaac. But if she had not left her home and followed Abraham's servant on the long, unfamiliar journey to Isaac's tent, she would not have been Isaac's bride after all.

Many are called but few chosen.

It is not all those who start but those who finish who gain the crown.

To be continued.