Chapter 8- Promises

Let's take a look at the many promises made to us by our beautiful Saviour.
Revelation 2:7,11, 17, 26 and 3: 5, 12, 21 speak of God's promises to those who overcome. But overcome what? Overcome the world and its sins(the lust of the eyes,the lust of the flesh ans the pride of life)!
But who can overcome the world? 1 John 5:4, 5 says, "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.' "who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? Jesus himself set us as example as he overcame the world and sin when He lived in flesh on earth. John 16:33 records Jesus telling His disciples, "………….: I have overcome the world."
So it would be appropriate for us to follow in His footsteps and wait patiently for the promises made by Him to be fulfilled when the time comes.
In Revelation 2;7 we read, "He that hath an ear let him hear what the Spriti saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God."
This is the same "Tree of life" that we read about in Genesis Ch: 3, which God did not want sinful man to eat of and live forever and thus placed it in charge of Cherubims (one class of angels) and a flaming sword that turned everyway. Man would have lived indefinitely if he ate of the tree of life but then he sinned and fell short of the Glory of God. Thus he could not eat of the tree then. But Jesus Christ; by His coming to earth in flesh; by His dying for our sins on the cross and by His resurrection changed everything.
In 2 Timothy 1:10 we read, "But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel."
Revelation 22:1,2 speaks of where exactly the tree of life is situated. " And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb." "In the midst of the street of it and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yeilded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations."
The end of the 2nd verse speaks of leaves of the tree used for healing of antions. But there would be no death/pain/sorrow in the New Heaven and New Earth as we read in Revelation 21:4. Perhaps the leaves are for keeping everyone healthy forever.
In Revelation 2:11 we read, "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Sprit saith unto the churches. He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death."
The 2nd death is "The lake of fire," (Revelation 20;14) This is where every unbeliever ends finally: Whatsoever name is not found written in the book of life is finally cast into the lake of fire.
Verse 6 of Revelation 20 says, "Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection; on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years."
Wonderful promise! Isn't it? None of us would like to miss this opportunity I guess.
Another promise is that of God giving the overcomer hidden manna and a white stone with a new name written on it. (Revelation 2:17)
In Revelation 2;26 God promises us power to rule over the nations if we overcome and remain faithful to Him till the end.
In Revelation 3:5 read, " 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."
White raiment signifies purity and righteousness here. If Jesus says that He will not blot out the name of the one who oversomes and remains faithful, it also means that He will surely blot out the name of the one who backslides and does not repent then.
That, names can be blotted out from the book of life is true. Jesus Himself says so and this we read in Revelation 22:19. "And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city and from the things which are written in this book."
Blacksliders who repent will be reinstated in the book of life. Aaron's case was such.
When Moses was upon the mountain for 40 days, Aaron was in charge of all Israel.Seeing that Moses delayed in coming back, the people asked Aaron to make them gods who would lead them and thus was the golden calf created with all the gold that they had. God's anger burned against Israel and He told Moses who tried to atone for the sins of Aaron and Israel, "whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my booK." (Exodus 32: 33)
Until then Aaron was in God's favour and grace; now his name was blotted out of the book of life along with the others who sinned.
Later; upon much intercession by Moses and after atonement was made, God forgave Aaron. As we very well know Aaron was made high priest and continued thus for around 38 years. So he was in; out; and then again in the book of life.
Is your name in the Book of life? Stay in; by leaning on Jesus every day that you live. If your name has been blotted out; repent now and get your name resinstated in the book of life before it's too late. Escape the "Lake of fire."
In Revelation 3:12, 21 we read, "Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name."
"To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.'
More power; more authority for the overcomer and eternal stay with God in His holy city. What more could one ask for?

3 things to end this book with:

1. An open invitation from Christ to all "lost" to be saved
"And the spirit and the bride say, come. And let him that heareth say, come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." (Revelation 22:17)
2. " A word of caution from Christ to all " saved"
"Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown." (Revelation 3:11)
3. A "repeat call" from Christ to the "backslider"
"Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent and do the first works…….. (Revelation 2:5)

PRAYER

IF YOU ARE AN UNBELIEVER (ONE WHO HAS NOT YET PROFESSED FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST)

MAKE JESUS YOUR SAVIOUR NOW.

THE BIBLE SAYS,
IF YOU CONFESS WITH YOUR MOUTH,JESUS IS LORD,AND BELIEVE IN YOUR HEART THAT GOD RAISED HIM (JESUS) FROM THE DEAD,YOU WILL BE SAVED.(ROMANS 10:9)

PRAY THIS PRAYER OF ACCEPTING JESUS CHRIST AS SAVIOUR IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY DONE SO.

DEAR FATHER IN HEAVEN,

I CONFESS THAT I AM A SINNER AND THAT I WILL PERISH IN MY SINS IF I DO NOT ACCEPT JESUS AS MY SAVIOUR AND LORD.FORGIVE ME ALL MY SINS AND UNRIGHTEOUSNESS AND WASH ME WITH THE BLOOD OF JESUS AND MAKE ME A NEW PERSON THIS DAY.I BELIEVE IN MY HEART AND CONFESS WITH MY MOUTH THAT JESUS IS YOUR SON AND HE DIED ON THE CROSS AT CALVARY FOR MY SINS AND THAT HE WAS RESURRECTED AND ASCENDED TO HEAVEN AND SITS AT YOUR RIGHT HAND WITH ALL AUTHORITY GIVEN TO HIM BY YOU.
FILL ME WITH YOUR HOLY SPIRIT AND LET HIM GUIDE ME THROUGH YOUR WORD TO LIVE A LIFE, HOLY AND PLEASING TO YOU.

IN JESUSNAME,
AMEN.

JESUS SAID,
IF YOU LOVE ME,YOU WILL OBEY WHAT I COMMAND.(JOHN 14:15)

THIS DOES NOT MEAN ONLY THE 10 COMMANDMENTS,BUT ALL APOSTOLIC DOCTRINES GIVEN TO THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH.

1.WATER BAPTISM BY IMMERSION.
2.HOLY SPIRIT BAPTISM.
3.SEPARATE FROM IDOL WORSHIPPERS AND WORSHIP IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH.
4.PARTAKE OF THE BODY AND BLOOD OF JESUS REGULARLY.
5.LIVE A LIFE HOLY AND PLEASING TO GOD,KEEPING ONESELF FREE FROM THE LUST OF THE EYES,LUST OF THE FLESH AND PRIDE OF LIFE.
6.MEDITATE ON GODS WORD REGULARLY.
7.PRAY AND FAST REGULARLY.


MARANATHA