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Revelation 1:3
“Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things that are written therein: for the time is at hand.” Revelation 1:3
Jesus was confronted by a woman of His time who (perhaps as an early advocate of woman's liberation) proclaimed a blessing on the woman who had borne and nursed Him. Even to this day we find among the Catholic faith those who extol and venerate the position of Mary to a high office of worship. (Luke 11: 28) Jesus answers “. . . rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God and keep it.” Like the Bereans of apostolic times, who were complimented with their noble nature because, when they heard the gospel, they received its message with ready minds and then searched the Bible's OT to see if Paul's message was true, we need to study God's word for ourselves.
Jesus own admonition, from the Sermon on the Mount, was against those who use His name to endorse their own celebrity, saying “Lord, haven't we prophesied and cast out devils in your name?” To which Jesus replies, “I never knew you sinners. But he who hears My word and does what I ask builds his works on the Rock of salvation.” Blessed is he who reads and hears the words of Jesus and His Spirit in the book of the Revelation, and keeps those words which are written. And John adds, “For the time is at hand.” The words of this book are to be read, preached, and followed, not just because the time of the end is near, but because, like all other letters, this is God's word, proclaimed in importance by Jesus Himself as necessary for His church in the days from His resurrection up to the time of His reappearing. What better messages could we receive from God? If these things be true, it seems of utter significance to know and understand the message therein.
This book becomes a means of understanding how God ultimately deals with the problem of sin; that Jesus' second coming destroys evil forever; that sinners must come back to God in order to avoid the same destiny as sin and its originator; and that Jesus is here to guide His people every step of the way so that no one needs to be deceived about how to achieve salvation. The warnings in the book deal a lot with personal problems of members in the church and with things that happen to the church along the way. It outlines the spiritual battle between Jesus and Satan until Jesus receives the kingdom and the devil is forever destroyed. In this respect Jesus gives us the hope of the new earth under His kingship. But along the way, we must listen to the word and what it directs us to understand and follow. We also will come to see Jesus in His priestly work for us in the Heavenly sanctuary throughout the book. Home | About Us | Bible Study | Billerica Blog | Bible Commentary | Devotional | Online Giving | Ministries | Prayer | Media | Bookstore | News | Calendar | Contact Us | Sermons
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