As many of my readers know, I am into eschatology. I have spent many years studying God’s Word on the topic of end times and I have found it to be a blessing for me; particularly as I see all of the crazy happening in the world; even as of late, like last night. Knowing how it all ends really helps with our stance and position of faith, even in the face of ominous threats from opposing nations bent on destroying us.
The book of Revelation is a wonderous book, written in about 95AD by the Apostle John on the Isle of Patmos. He was probably labeled by his Roman captors as a crazy man and therefore his rambled writings were able to make it off the isle and into the hands of certain scribes who both copied and preserved it so that it made it into the canon of scripture, bringing up the rear as the 66th book in your Bible.
Believers should not be intimidated by Revelation nor more than they should avoid it. In this blog I should like to briefly share the seven blessings found in the book of Revelation. You will be blessed as you read it. Ask the Lord, as a pastor friend of mine says, ‘to open your heart to receive and your mind to comprehend’ what God’s Word says.
- “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near.” – Revelation 1:3
- This first blessing is for the ‘reader and the hearer’ of Revelation. More than that, we are called to obey (‘heed the things which are written in it’) its words as they relate to our lives.
The phrase, ‘the time is near’ has more to do with the limited mortality of the man reading Revelation. Their lifespan is all the time they have; compared to eternity, it’s a blip on the screen of time as we know it. Live well and read Revelation, you’ll be blessed if you do.
2. “And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, “Write, Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!’ “Yes,” says the Spirit, “so that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them.” – Revelation 1:13
- Here is the hope of all the NT saints; when we die in Christ, we will finally rest from the laborious work and sin-ladened environment that we have endured in our lifetime.
Most of it was good for most of us, but the bad stuff can really hurt. I thank God that I have more good days than bad, and that my labors are relevant to my ability to accomplish them. The ‘rest’ that Jesus speaks of in this second blessing is something that those who die in their sin and suffer in hell will never experience.
3. “Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his clothes, so that he will not walk about naked and men will not see his shame.”
– Revelation 16:15
- Believers in Jesus are all called to stay alert (‘awake’) and keep their garments (‘clothes’). This state of readiness speaks to the mature believer who is, like the sons of Issachar, aware of the times and seasons. There is a blessing for those who are alert, awake, and aware of the nearness of the Lord’s return.
The context to Christ’ statement here is in reference to the high priest, who would walk about the temple complex at night with a torch. He would observe the status of the temple guards to see if they were awake. If they were asleep at their post, he would sneak up on them and light their garments. This would require them to disrobe, to their shame. The priest here was also referred to as ‘the thief in the night.’
The relevant takeaway here is that we as believes in Jesus are in a state of constant awareness of the nearness of the Lord’s return and our own mortality. We need to know that we only get so many trips around the sun and then we have to give an accounting of them. Live ready!
4. “Then he said to me, “Write, `Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’ “And he said to me, “These are true words of God.” – Revelation 19:9
- One thing is for sure, the Lord doesn’t want you to miss out on your own wedding; yet unfortunately every trib-saint will. While many disagree with this position, I wouldn’t bet my soul on it.
As believers in Jesus, we are all to be ready for the Lord’s return; either in the Rapture, or the Resurrection, depending on our state of living (or death) at the moment of our passing or catching away. Every person resurrected and raptured will experience the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. Those who die during the tribulation will miss out on that part of the blessing mentioned here in this passage.
The trib-saints soul is sequestered under the altar of the Lord where they will be kept during the span of the seven-year tribulation. The trib-saints will be resurrected and reunited with their loved ones in heaven just prior to Christ’ Second Coming; an event that we will all be blessed to enjoy.
5. “Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.” – Revelation 20:6
- This blessing speaks to those who are resurrected from Paradise or raptured off the face of the earth. This is the first resurrection.
The ‘second death’ references the Lake of Fire, where all unbelievers who die in their sin will go when they are eventually (after the millennial reign) resurrected from Gehenna hell. We who are raptured, resurrected, and even the trib-saints, will be blessed to return with Jesus to the earth in His glorious Second Coming. We will be assigned various duties during the millennium and will reign with Jesus during those thousand years.
6. “And behold, I am coming quickly. Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book.” – Revelation 22:7
- Here is another promise from the Lord that we will be blessed if we obey the words of Revelation. It’s a prophetic book with a powerful message for those who can receive it and walk in its truth.
The ‘coming quickly’ statement has a two-fold meaning. The first has to do with the shelf-life of the reader in centuries past who have read this book; for them, Christ has already come as they are now in Paradise. The second meaning has more to do with the return of Christ and the quickness of it when He does return. Things are happening pretty fast prophetically right now, imagine how things will progress when the Church is removed from the earth and the antichrist steps onto the stage.
7. “Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city.” – Revelation 22:14
- This final blessing is for everyone who dies in Christ, either in this age, at the Rapture, or as a trib-saint martyr. When we awake on the other side, we will be stepping into our ultimate blessing, eternal life with Christ, where we will forever be with the Lord and all those who love Him.
Our robes will be continually clean (‘washed’) which references our sinless and eternal state. We will be given full access to the Tree of Life, something Adam and Eve were restricted from partaking of in the OT. The gates of the city references the celestial city spoken of at the end of Revelation. It’s a real city that all resurrected believers in Jesus will have access to; forever.
These seven blessings are very real blessings that the Lord has made available to us as we read and obey the book of Revelation. We don’t have to avoid this prophetic work of the Holy Spirit, penned by the Apostle John, rather, we must embrace it by faith and enjoy the rich truths that God has provided for us within its pages.
May you be blessed in your walk with Jesus as you read and discover more of God’s truths that are written in His Word; which the book of Revelation and it’s blessings, are very much a part of.
Blessings and Maranatha!
Encouragemen is a blog written by Pastor Rob Lee, recently relocated to Northern Missouri. He lives with his wife of 35-years, near their three adult children, their spouses, and children (their grandchildren). Pastor Rob is an Ordained Assemblies of God minister, a Lead Pastor (25+ years), police chaplain, and community advocate. He continues to serve, consult, and disciple men of God, including those who are in the ministry.
Encourage Men 