Surely There Is An End!/Revelation, The Book of Life

Hebrews 12:2; Deuteronomy 8:16, 11:12; 1 Samuel 3:12; Proverbs 23:18; Revelation 3:5, 3:4, 20:12, 20:15; Luke 10:20; Exodus 32:32-33; Psalm 69:28; Revelation 22:19; Genesis 5:1; Matthew 1:1

We are walking in today:  Surely There Is An End!/Revelation, The Book of Life

Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Looking to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  End is defined as a point that marks the extend of something, the point where something ceases to exist.  We are at the end of 2011, think about it, Jesus endured the cross.  We endured somethings in 2011, but continue to look to Jesus, the Author and Finisher!  Tell every storm in your life, it is finished, it is over!  Tell 2011 it is finished, the end!  Deuteronomy 8:16 Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end.  Deuteronomy 11:12 A land which the LORD thy God careth for: the eyes of the LORD thy God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year.  Tell yourself the end!  2011 The End!  1 Samuel 3:12 In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end.  Proverbs 23:18 For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.  (NIV) There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.  (ASV) For surely there is a reward; And thy hope shall not be cut off.  (AMP) For surely there is a latter end [a future and a reward], and your hope and expectation shall not be cut off.  To every challenge, there is surely an end, if you will not give up your expectation shall not be cut off.  There is always a blessing in every season, if you can picture it, you can capture it!  Surely there is an end.  Your expectations shall not be cut off.  He will do it, He will deliver on all of His promises.  Hold on to your faith and hope.  God is more than able.  Surely there is an end.  Though weeping may endure for the night, joy comes in the morning.  God is sealing 2011 with us walking through the book of Revelation.  The Author and Finisher of our faith is who we are following after.  There is an end!  Time to shout the victory!  All of those late nights, pacing the floor--it is all over now!  We come to set the atmosphere as we prepare ourselves to enter in to this study of the book of Revelation.  Only God can end and begin a thing at the same time!  Prepare our hearts, Lord to hear Your word.  Surely there is an end!  Now, are you ready for the word of God?

Here is the final submission for the year 2011.  God blessed you mightily in the spirit this year with so many spiritual gifts, growth, patience, perseverance, and increased faith with knowledge, wisdom, counsel, righteousness, fear of the Lord and the best of these riches more of the Spirit of the Lord. Our spirit man has dominion in our destiny, therefore we do not receive anything in the natural until we first gain it in the spirit.  The richness we have been blessed with in our spirits this year, can now manifest itself in the natural.  Join us as we walk into our New Year’s revelation and abundant blessing in the natural in 2012.

Keep the faith, reap your reward, receive your garment and remain in the Book of Life.

From our study of Sardis yesterday we recognize the faithful remnant and Jesus encouraging them to hold fast, to fight the good fight of faith, to keep the faith and finish the course. 
Jesus will reward us.

Revelation 3:5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

A promise of a reward.
He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.
He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments: Jesus identifies the overcomers with those few names who have not defiled their garments (Revelation 3:4). These overcomers will wear white garments, received from Jesus.
The difference between the dead majority with imperfect works (but had a good reputation) and the few names who were pleasing to God was purity, and the closeness with Jesus that is always related to purity. The deadness and spiritual facade of most the Christians in Sardis was related to their impure lives, their embrace of the impurity and sin of the world around them. It’s hard to say if the deadness came before the impurity or the impurity came before the deadness, but they are surely related.
Jesus explained the absolute necessity of this being clothed by God with His garments of purity and righteousness in His parable of the wedding feast (Matthew 22:11-14). Real righteousness is receiving God’s covering instead of trying to cover ourselves. Adam and Eve tried to cover their own sin (Genesis 3:21) but God provided them with a covering that came from sacrifice (Genesis 3:7).
And I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life: By this, the overcomers are assured of their heavenly citizenship. In the ancient world, death or a criminal conviction could blot out the name of the citizen from the city’s book of the living, which was the city register.
“In ancient times cities kept a register of their citizens; and when a man died, his name was removed from the register. The risen Christ is saying that, if we wish to remain on the roll of the citizens of God, we must keep our faith flamingly alive.” (Barclay)
Blot out his name from the Book of Life: Does this mean that someone can lose their salvation? That someone is saved one day - their name is in the Book of Life - and another day, they have fallen away and their name has been blotted out from the Book of Life? We need to first see the context here in Revelation 3:5. The focus is assurance, so we should not think that names are being constantly erased and then re-written. The focus here is on assurance, not the idea that Jesus sits in heaven with a busy eraser. At the same time, we should carefully consider what the Word has to say about the Book of Life.
There is a Book of Life, and it will be opened and referenced on the Day of Judgment. This means that the Book of Life is real, and will be read.

And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. (Revelation 20:12)

There is a Book of Life, and it determines if we go to heaven or hell. This means that the Book of Life is important.

And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:15)

There is a Book of Life, and knowing our names are written there should bring us great joy.

Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven. (Luke 10:20).

There is a Book of Life, and there are five different references to people being blotted out of the Book of Life. This means that the idea of being blotted out of the Book of Life should be taken seriously. Perhaps it is only a symbol, and that person’s name was never there to begin with. Even if that is the case, the Lord still wants us to take it seriously, because there are some who by every human appearance are saved, yet will not be in heaven.

Moses said to the Lord: Yet now, if You will forgive their sin; but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written. (Exodus 32:32)

And the Lord said to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot him out of My book.” (Exodus 32:33)

Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous. (Psalm 69:28)

He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. (Revelation 3:5)

And if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. (Revelation 22:19)

A good example of how we should take this warning seriously is the life of a man named Charles Templeton. A generation ago he was deeply involved in the foundations of Youth for Christ and impacted the nation for Jesus. He was considered a dynamic and powerful  minister, and many would go anywhere to hear him. Many people received Jesus at his meetings. But recently he wrote a book in which he totally denounces his belief in Jesus Christ, denounces even his belief even in God, and says he is an atheist.
Charles Templeton totally denounces his early confessions of faith and through his book he wants to “rescue” the people he once brought to Jesus. Obviously, this man - in his present, apostate state - is not going to heaven. You can debate all day long if he was never saved or if he lost his salvation. But at the end of the day, there are two conclusions. First, at one time, by all human appearance he was saved. Second, he didn’t take the warnings of the Bible to keep walking, to keep trusting, to keep persevering in the faith seriously enough. (Barclay)
In the genealogies of the Bible there are two books mentioned.

The book of the generation of Adam (Genesis 5:1)
The book of the generation of Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:1)

Being born of Adam doesn’t guarantee that our name is written in the Book of Life. But being born again - born of Jesus Christ - gives us that assurance
But I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels: This is an amazing promise. It simply makes sense that we should be willing to confess the name of Jesus. But it is amazing that He would not be ashamed to confess us!
It is important for us to accept Jesus. But it is far more important to know if Jesus accepts us.
A general exhortation to all who will hear.
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Let him hear: We must all hear what the Holy Spirit says to the church at Sardis. It is easy to drift in sleepy apathy towards spiritual death, especially when you have a good reputation (people recognize that you are mature in Christ), and when you place a high value on stability. But there is always hope for the dead church, because Jesus is an expert at raising the dead.
What the Spirit says to the churches: Sardis teaches us that we must beware of our success. The city was wealthy and knew easy living, but it made them soft and spoiled. Sardis also teaches us that we be watchful at our strongest points. Sardis thought it was unconquerable, and so it was conquered. Where we say “I would never do that” is the exact place we must guard against.

The British Field Marshal Montgomery used to say, “One man can lose me a battle.” One corrupt or disobedient Christian can lose a battle for an entire church. First, they can lose a battle simply through their own point of failure. Second, they can lose a battle because they lead others into their same sin. Finally, they can lose a battle because they foster a spirit of accommodation to sin in the other members of the church. One man can lose a battle!
So hear what the Spirit is saying to us today fight, fight, fight--all I have promised is yours and surely there is an end.   The end resides in me my very name says so, I am the Alpha and Omega the Beginning and the End, so surely there is an end.   Go into this New Year 2012 with the power of the Spirit of the Lord, knowledge, wisdom, understanding, counsel, righteousness,  and the fear of the Lord and fight.  Yes you are more than a conqueror because you are an OVERCOMER!   You are Loved, Blessed and Anointed now all you need to do is FIGHT to WALK in it.   God Bless you, your servant Christene Duncan.

Amen.  Hallelujah!  Surely there is an end.  You wanna have your name written in the book of life.  Not having a spirit of trying to take down a church.  Thank You Lord for taking us out with a study of the book of Revelation, putting a seal on 2011.  Everything is being revealed.  Surely our expectation shall not be cut off!  For every test, trial and tribulation that we had in 2011, our expectation shall not be cut off.  All that we have gone through has made us better, wiser and stronger.  We saw Your word from Genesis to Revelation in this year!  We could not thank You enough, for keeping us in this year!  When everything appeared to be falling apart.  Surely there is an end!  Look to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith! It is over now!!  Surely there is an end!  For every tear shed, the struggle in the press--you didn't give up.  God is bringing you out.  He is willing and able!  Thank You Lord!  Surely our expectation shall not be cut off.  We can do all things through Christ Jesus!  His strength is made perfect in weakness.  He is our Jehovah Jireh, Jehovah Rapha, Jehovah Tsidkenu, Emmanuel, who has promised to never leave nor forsake us!  We must have a new mind set for this new year!  God is doing a new thing!  It is over now!  The old things have expired, stop walking in that mess that you should not even be in!  There are some things that can not follow you into the new year!  We must let go of the past to walk in to the present.  We are gonna need faith to walk in 2012, in our thoughts, words and steps--all new.  Surely there is an end, our expectation shall not be cut off.  Some things have expired!  It is over.  Surely there is an end!  God can't bless you when your are looking at the past.  Jesus is the Author and Finisher of our faith!  We are not talking like we used to--God is doing a new thing, 2011 is over and our expectation will not be cut off.  We have been expecting some things from God, for Him to show up and pouring down an abundance of rain on us.  Hold on to your faith!  We know that without faith, it is impossible to please God.  We walk by faith and not by sight.  If we had mustard seed faith, we can move mountains!  Our expectation shall not be cut off!  Where is your faith?!  God said it and we should stand in expectancy of His promises and word being manifested in our lives!  Don't let the enemy have an ear to drop doubt, fear or questions into your spirit!  Hold to God's word, it is eternal and will not come back void.  No one else can make and back up that claim!!  Surely there is an end!  God will deliver on all of His promises, but are you in position to receive?  Are you still stuck in the past not looking to the present and eventually the future?!  God is bringing us out, don't turn back to look at that thing, like Lot's wife  (Genesis 19:19, 26).   Why regard that think anymore, it is over!  Why consider it or pay any attention to it?  Behold our God is doing a new thing and also bringing us out of what we were in.  We are drawing closer to Him as He draws us by His love!  We serve a God who is doing a new thing and here you are stuck in the past!?  Let it go, it is holding you back from the new thing that God is doing!!  Move out all of that junk and go to the next level with God, trusting, believing and having unshakable faith in Him!  Shout, glory!  Thank You God, the victory is mine!  Surely there is an end!!  My soul sits back in wonder, how I got over.  We know that God is a keeper and healer, that His grace is sufficient.  Surely there is an end.  Thank You for being living water, from Genesis to Revelation  Thank you for 2011, somebody did not make it.  We are still trusting and believing in Your word, as we cross over in to the new, new.  Only God can end and begin at the same time!!!  We have got to be in position for the blessing--for what God has for us.  Let go of that dead thing that you have been dragging all through 2011, it is over now.  Surely there is an end!  Thank You Lord!  All of those thoughts of doubt,failure, worry and anxiety, let it go and trust in He who holds the world in His hands!  We lift up fiveamprayer, it is over, let it go.  Surely there is an end, our expectation shall not be cut off.  We lift up prayer requests those known and unknown, surely there is an end.  Let go and let God.  Where God is taking you, all of that can not follow.  Surely there is an end!  Forgive us for not letting go and staying in that mess longer than was necessary.  All the while that you have been waiting on God, He has been waiting on you.  Let it go and give it over to Him.  He works alone and you trying to help, caused the delay.  He has been waiting for you to change position so that He can bless you.  Reposition your praise, faith without works is dead--surely there is an end.  All that you have been through in 2011, surely there is an end.  It is time out for playing church, this all boils down to relationship with the Father.  Hallelujah!  Glory to His name!

We seal this prayer in His precious blood: 1 Chronicles 4:10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.

Welcome to the overflow...

 Surely there is an end.  Enlarge our coast, Lord.  We want more of You and less of us.  In this new year, God is gonna do a new thing!!  He wants His people to do new things too.  Thank You for 2011, Lord You have been better to us, than we have been to ourselves!!  He still favors us!  His grace is sufficient!  There is no weapon formed against us that shall prosper!  He has been there through the storm, pain and rain.  Surely there is an end.  We just gotta hold on to His word.  There is an end.  There is favor over your life.  His grace is sufficient.  Shout glory to His name!  Surely there is an end!  God is gonna open up a window and pour out blessings that there will not be enough room to receive them!!  Hallelujah!  Glory!  Don't keep waking up thinking that everything will be the same.  The devil is a liar, your expectation shall not be cut off!  What ever you are expecting in your marriage, job, finances, family, health--hold on the the promises.  We must speak life, not death in all situations.  He creates the fruit of our lips.  Some of what we are experiencing is from what we have spoken.  Let that old way expire in 2011, speak life and His word in 2012!  We have to open our mouths, not just think God's word, speak it!!!  God created the world by His speaking, He has given us the same power!  What ever comes up put God's word on it.  As you look back over 2011 and the things that you were in, God kept you--surely there is an end!  Hallelujah!  His grace is sufficient.  Hold on and watch what God does in the new year!  There are storm clouds gathering in the spiritual realm, blessings are about to break forth!  Surely there is an end.  Hallelujah God!  Thank You Jesus!  Make a new years revelation, and walk in it.  Look to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith.  Surely there is an end, and our expectation shall not be cut off.  God has already made a way and is doing somethings for you.  2011 there is an end!!  Walk in this word all weekend long.  He is the Great I AM that I AM.  Happy New Year!  Surely there is an end!  Thank You God!  He has been so good!  Taste and see that the Lord is good!  He is about to get gooder and gooder!  He is doing a new thing!  Have a supernatural weekend!  We have a new mind for the new year.  We have been renewed by the word of God.  Take some time to read the scriptures for yourself and visit us on facebook.  Have a blessed day!