Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Revelation 3:21

"He that overcometh, I will give to him to sit down with me in my throne, as I also overcame, and sat down with my Father in his throne." — Revelation 3:21 (ASV)

The promise to the overcomers concerns the sharing in Christ’s future reign in the eschatological kingdom. Such a reign with Christ has already been referred to earlier in the book (1:6, 9; 2:26–27) and appears later on (5:10; 20:4– 6). The kingdom reign is also a theme in other NT writings (Romans 8:17; 2 Timothy 2:12). As Christ overcame through his suffering and death and entered into the highest honor God could bestow—that of being seated at his “right hand” of sovereignty (Mark 16:19; Acts 2:22ff.; Revelation 22:1)—so believers who suffer with Christ even to the point of death will share in the honor of Christ’s exalted position. The distinction between the Father’s throne and Christ’s throne differentiates aspects of God’s program in history (1 Corinthians 15:24–28). Christ is reigning now, for there is a sense in which the messianic kingdom of God was inaugurated in Christ’s earthly ministry, death, and resurrection. But the promise here foresees a final earthly consummation of the kingdom when Christ returns. On the closing exhortation, see comment on 2:1–3:22. III. Vision of the Seven-Sealed Scroll, the Seven Trumpets, the Seven Signs, and the Seven Bowls (4:1–19:10) In view of the elaborate use of imagery and visions from 4:1 through the end of Revelation and the question of how this material relates to chs. 1–3, it is not surprising that commentators differ widely. One problem is that of interpretation: What do the imagery and visions mean? Another problem involves chronology: When do the things spoken of occur? Furthermore, how does John use his frequent OT images? Does he interpret them in exact accordance with their OT sources, or does he freely reinterpret these images and figures? What is symbolic and what is literal? Answers to such questions will determine the interpreter’s approach. Since few of these questions are capable of dogmatic answers, there is a need for tolerance of divergent approaches in the hope that the Spirit may use open-minded discussion to bring us further into the meaning of the Apocalypse.