Revelation 21:7; He That Overcometh

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

God’s promise to the overcomer comes in the same form as the seven overcomer promises in chapters 2-3. This eighth promise to the overcomer completes and in effect includes the other seven. For the first time since Revelation 3:21, except for Revelation 16:15, the individual as opposed to the general body of the faithful receives a direct promise (Swete, Moffatt).

Revelation 3:21 (KJV)  To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

Revelation 16:15 (KJV)  Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. 

Revelation’s only reference to an inheritance comes in the term “to inherit”, through the heirship concept is quite common in Paul and elsewhere in the New Testament (eg. Matthew 5:5; 19:29; 25:34; Romans 4:13; 1 Corinthians 6:9).

Matthew 5:5 (KJV)  Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

Matthew 19:29 (KJV)  And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.

Matthew 25:34 (KJV)  Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

Romans 4:13 (KJV)  For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. 

1 Corinthians 6:9 (KJV)  Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 

This is one of the many indications of agreement between John and Paul (cf. Romans 8:17; Galatians 4:7).

Romans 8:17 (KJV)  And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. 

Galatians 4:7 (KJV)  Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. 

“Will inherit” here carries the general sense of “enter into possession of” or “partaker of” (Swete, Lee, Moffatt). The inheritance will consist of the antecedent “these things” which is the “all things” of v5.

Revelation 21:5 (KJV)  And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. 

The overcomer will inherit God’s new creation, i.e., the glories of the New Jerusalem about to go on display (Alford).

[Robert L. Thomas, Revelation 8-22 – An Exegetical Commentary, Moody 1995, 449]