88. 'To him who overcomes' signifies he who fights against his own evils and untruths, and is reformed. Now because in the things written to the seven Churches there is described the state of all in the Christian Church who are able to receive the doctrine of the New Jerusalem and to live in accordance with it, thus all who are able to be reformed by combats against evils and untruths, therefore 'He who overcomes' is said to each one; as here to the Ephesian Church:-
To him who overcomes I will give to eat of the tree of life [Rev. ii 7].
To the Church of the Smyrnaeans:-
He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death Rev. ii 11.
To the Church in Pergamum
To him who overcomes I will give to eat of the hidden manna Rev. ii 17.
To the Church in Thyatira:-
He who overcomes and keeps My works even to the end, [to him] will I give power over the nations Rev. ii 26.
To the Church in Sardis:-
He who overcomes, the same shall he clothed in white garments Rev. iii 5.
To the Church in Philadelphia:-
He who overcomes, him will I make a pillar in the temple of My God Rev. iii 12.
And to the Church in Laodicea
He who overcomes, to him will I grant to sit with Me in My throne Rev. iii 21.
In these places 'He who overcomes' signifies he who fights against evils and untruths and so is reformed.
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