The storyline of Revelation is nothing more or nothing less than the conflict between first man Adam and second man Adam (to use the words of Paul, the greatest spokesperson for Christianity other than Jesus Christ himself). Paul in writing to the church in Corinth recorded

And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly (1 Cor. 15:45-48).

In representing first man Adam, Paul used in the original language a term that corresponds to the Hebrew "breathing creature" in the creation story of man (Gen. 2:7). When man was created, God breathed his life into the unique, the only one of its kind, brain of man. Mysteriously, the human cells of man's brain began to function as a living mind. This unique characteristic of man, a brain sufficient in size and matter to enable it to think about its thinking, sets man apart from all other creatures in the created world. It gives man the glorious opportunity to experience and to know that he is experiencing the life of God. Correspondingly, you cannot have one without the other, it also gives man the potentiality of thinking too highly of himself. One of the great mysteries of life is that the rich, full contented life that everyone desires is not about your work. It is about the Son of God's work in and through you. John, again, would record the words of the risen Christ to be sent to the church in Thyatira, "he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations" {emphasis added] (Rev. 2:26). Life is really all about whether your mind will either be on "the things that be of God" or on "those that be of man." Your eyes will either be on your works or his works. Since the original word nations can be translated, and is, as customs, people, tribes, nations, heathens, or Gentiles, if you keep (meaning, "to watch, to guard") the Son of God's work in and through you unto the end, he will give you power over the customs, the people, the tribe, or the nations. Whatever culture brings your way, in your walk today, his feet, "like unto fine brass," can walk you through it because he actually carries you through it. "He that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations." Heavenly Father, I pray that you will help me to come to understand fully that the battleground of my soul will always be within my own mind. I know that only your Spirit in control of my mind will produce your life in me. Conquer my mind with your Spirit that my flesh will lose its control. May I, too, say, “I live, yet not I, but it is Christ that lives within me.”