To each of the cities, their letters contain a section of the promise given to those who “overcome.” Below is the description of the combined list of the letters.
1.) They will eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God
2.) Will not be hurt by the second death
3.) They will be given some of the hidden manna, and a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who
receives it.
4.) They will be given authority over the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken into pieces
5.) They will be given the morning star.
6.) They will be clothed thus in white garments, whose name will never be blotted out of the book of life
7.) Their name will be confessed before my Father and before his angels.
8.) They will be made a pillar in the temple of their God. They will never go out of it, and Christ will write on them the name of His God, and
the name of the city of His God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from God out of heaven, and my own new name.
9.) They will be granted to sit with Christ on His throne, as He also conquered and sat down with His Father on His throne.
All of them have this common element in their letters and here in chapter 21, we read in verse 7, “He that overcomes shall inherit these things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.” This promise is clearly related to His new creation and the promise to make all things new. This new relationship is inside the celestial city and a part of the new heavens and earth. The rich recipients of the blessings inside the city are those who overcome. Only they have the right to enter the holy city, New Jerusalem. That right is linked to the fact they are God’s children. The promise states, “I will be his God and he shall be my son” (cf. Gal. 3:26-29, 4:30-31).
Those who did not overcome are described in verse 8. It reads, “But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” The overcomers are comforted in the new age and bask in the glorious celestial city. But, those described in this verse will be found in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur (the second death).