We just got into the overcomer verses in ch. 2-3. We, the born again members of the Bride of Christ, in this age of Grace in which we live, are already given the gift of overcoming through Jesus Christ. John 16:33…In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. 1Jn 2:13-14 I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. 1Jn 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
We are overcomers because of the finished work of Christ and the earnest of our inheritance, the Holy Spirit of God, who indwells us at salvation and stays in us until we are in the presence of God. 1 Cor 6:19-20
Because these things are true, the statements concerning overcomers in Rev 2 & 3 are focused on those in the tribulation. Jesus stated, in the Olivet Discourse concerning the conditions of his 2nd coming, in Mat 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
There is an “overcomer” statement at the end of each letter, in these two chapters, that John puts in to encourage the tribulational saints, as they seek to hold on during the extreme days of persecution in Great Tribulation, the last 3.5 years of the tribulation. Jesus’s promise was “To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.”
The tree of life was established in the Garden of Eden in Gen. 2:9, to give Adam eternal life, but sin ruined the perfect situation. God set an angel with a flaming sword to protect the way of the tree of life. The tree of life is no longer on earth. It was removed in the flood.
We know that paradise was in the heart of earth until Jesus paid the sacrifice for sins on Calvary. The Old Testament saints were gathered in Abraham’s bosom (paradise) until Jesus came to get them. The exchange between Abraham and the rich man in Luke 16:22-31 is the great doctrinal passage to explain where paradise was. Eph. 4:7-10 explains that Jesus had to go to paradise and take the OT saints out to heaven with him. That is why he told the thief on the cross..Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
Jesus knew where he was headed. He had to go and preach to the spirits in prison (1 Peter 3:18-20). He had to go and get the OT saints. He took paradise to heaven with him. Paul stated in 2 Cor 12:1-4 that paradise is now in the third heaven, where the throne of God is.