just as it had a powerful message to its original hearers. Christians must overcome; there is no other option. John’s primary goal, in the language of Revelation, is to motivate his hearers to overcome. Every part of the book is designed to transform his hearers into overcomers. For some of his hearers, this encouragement to overcome reinforces their present convictions and conduct, while for others, the encouragement to overcome calls for dramatic changes to their beliefs