Listen:  120.4

Let’s read those blessed words of our Lord Jesus in Revelation 22:7, “Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.”  Now let’s read Revelation 1:3, “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.”  We see that the book of Revelation begins and ends with a promise of blessings to those who keep its words.

The verse in question begins with such a wonderful promise to us, “Behold, I come quickly…”  What joy, comfort, and strength these words give to the believer.  Our savior is coming again, and He is coming quickly!  This is what the Apostle Paul calls the ‘blessed hope’ in Titus 2:13-14, “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;  Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”  When will the Lord return to take us to be with Himself in Glory?  The Lord doesn’t tell us, but we read in Romans 13:11, “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.”  The Lord’s return is certainly nearer than it was yesterday and draws nearer with each passing day.

Revelation 1:3 speaks of blessings to those who read and those that hear the words of this prophesy.  Considering the day in which this book was written, this is in reference to the public reading of this book.  Blessed are those who read and blessed are those who hear the reading of this book.  The hearing of the words of this prophesy can also apply to the idea of heeding the words of this prophesy.  As we read in Revelation 2:7, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches…”

How is it that we ‘keep’ these words?  The blessings that come from possessing the revealed truth of God’s Word are not just from reading it, or from hearing it, although that is necessary.  It comes from the fact that the truth is properly received, and causes an influence over the way we live our lives.  We read of David’s thoughts concerning the words of the Lord in Psalms 19:10-11, “More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.  Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.”  So, we keep these words by acknowledging that they are the words of God and we seek to walk in the truth of what the Lord has given us in this book, as we should in each book.  The reading and keeping of these words will change our lives.  In this book we see the culmination of all things.  We see the Lord’s final triumph over Satan and his being cast into the lake of fire for all eternity, along with all those who reject the Lord Jesus Christ as their savior.

This book should cause unbelievers to fear.  Revelation 20:12-15 says, “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

This book should cause all believers to rejoice.  Revelation 22:1-5 says, “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 yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.”

As believers, may our hearts join in the words of this book in Revelation 22:20, “…Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”  (120.4)