He That Overcometh Shall Inherit All Things: A Careful Look At Revelations 21:7-8

Does Revelations 21:7-8 teach that a believer can lose his Salvation and end up in Hell? What does the Bible mean by “He that overcometh shall inherit all things?”

The book of Revelations records a series of visions received by apostle John in exile on the Island of Patmos. Being a series of visions, the contents must be properly considered and interpreted using the epistles as guidelines since we all know that visions are mostly figurative.

That means to answer the above questions, we must look to the epistles for clarity in the explanations of those revelations or visions of John. To begin, let’s look at that passage and read out what John said he saw there.

Rev 21:7  He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 

Rev 21:8  But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. 

To understand “He that overcometh” that he is talking about in that verse 7, let’s back up and read from verse 6.

Rev 21:6  And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. 

Rev 21:7  He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 

Rev 21:8  But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. 

So from verse 6, we see that “He that overcometh” that Jesus was talking to John about in verse 7 is the same person who was thirsty but has drunk of the Fountain of Life (Salvation) freely without paying for it either with money or his works. He received it FREELY without any cost at all.

This is the same person verse 7 said will inherit all things. Why? Because by drinking of the Fountain of Life (Salvation i.e the finished works of Christ), he has entered a union with God. God is now his Father and him His Son. Not because he did anything to deserve it (paid any form of prize for it) but simply received it as a gift.

In his epistle, apostle John also explained “who it is that overcomes” in such a way that it is clear as crystal. Here is how he puts it.

1Jn 5:4  For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 

1Jn 5:5  Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? 

So from 1 John 5:4-5, we see that “He that overcomes” in Revelation 21:7, is simply the fellow who has believed in Jesus Christ as his Lord and Saviour. Not necessarily the fellow who never sins after he is born again. No, it is simply the one who has received the free gift of salvation that God has offered the world through His Son Jesus Christ.

What about verse 8 of that Revelations 21? now pay attention to the line of thought in those verses again. Let’s start from verse 6 of that chapter and go down to that verse 8.

Rev 21:6  And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. 

Rev 21:7  He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 

Rev 21:8  But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. 

Did you notice how that verse 8 started with “but as for” and he went ahead to describe the man who is the opposite of “He that overcometh” which he had earlier talked about? Remember that “He that overcometh” here is the one that has believed in Jesus as his Saviour from sin or the one who has drunk of the Fountain of Life. 

Verse 8 description of his opponent would then be pointing to the man who does not overcome or who has not taken a drink from the Fountain of Life (Salvation). And that is the unbeliever today. He is the one that verse 8 is talking about that will be thrown in the Lake of Fire if he doesn’t drink of the Fountain of Life or overcome the world by His faith in Jesus’ sacrifice for his sins.

So looking at Revelations 21:6-8 closely, we see that “He that overcomes” that shall inherit all things and have a Father-Son relationship with God, is simply the one who has believed in Jesus’ sacrifice for his sins. Not necessarily the one who is perfect in all his thoughts, words and actions. This is further confirmed by the same apostle John who wrote the book of Revelations in 1 John 5:4-5. Look at that again.

1Jn 5:4  For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 

1Jn 5:5  Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? 

Having believed in Jesus as your Saviour from sin, you have crossed from death to life and will no longer end up in the lake of fire. This is what the Bible teaches. That is God’s promise and in it lies our Faith.

I hope this blesses you. Glory to Jesus, our Saviour and King!