Revelation part 3
Eternity Online: John Edmiston (Editor)
Eternity-Inspiration for Saturday 18th October 1997
Revelation Part 3 - The Blessed Book
(Revelation 1:3 NKJV) Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the
words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it;
for the time is near.
The Bible often promises blessings to those who "hear" and "keep"
the words written in a book. The Torah (the law, the first five
books) promises blessings to those who keep the Law, Psalm 119 extols
the blessings of Scripture, in Proverbs blessing is promised to
those who study the Proverbs and acquire wisdom, in Ecclesaistes the
words of God are liken to well driven nails and commended for living,
the prophets warn of the consequences of refusing to listen to their
message, Jesus says those who hear His words are like "a house built
on a rock" and Paul says that Scripture is inspired and useful. (2
Timothy 3:16-17 NKJV) All Scripture is given by inspiration of God,
and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for
instruction in righteousness, {17} that the man of God may be
complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Thus the writers of the Bible took their message very seriously
indeed and exhorted us to do the same. Why is this? Were they just
enthusiastic authors in love with their own messages? Not at all!
They had messages they knew to be from God. The Revelation is no
exception. Its very name means an "uncovering", it is God uncovering
some of His plans for this world and some of the glory of His Son to
us. It is a message from God. We cannot dismiss it as "too hard" we
must study it and not only study it (for that tends to produce
unhealthy controversies if left to itself) we must "keep " it and its
message to endure and overcome and worship Christ alone.
The Hebrew word "shema" lies at the basis of John's exhortation in
this verse. (John was Jewish and Hebrew& Aramaic were his mother
tongues). It means "to hear and obey". It is similar to our "Note
Well" or "listen up!". It does not just mean to hear as in sensory
input, "to hear a sound". It means to pay attention. We use a
similar expression today when we say "I spoke to him but I don't
think he heard me..". We know when we have been heard -and so does
God. So John exhorts his readers to hear and keep the words of the
prophecy. He does not want us to fool around with this book. There is
a blessing in it and he wants us to grab hold of it.
John doesn't spell out what the blessing is but there are some very
obvious ones. Firstly we gain a much clearer picture of what the
ascended Lord Jesus is like and how He is worshipped as God. That is
critical to our whole Christian life. Secondly we are encouraged in
the midst of fiery trials knowing that God is in charge. Thirdly we
are given some keys to the future so we can be ready for that day
when evil seems to reign supreme and the world wars against God and
against the Lamb. Fourthly we are let into a few glimpses of the
heavenly blessings that await us and the rewards for those who
endure.
Prayer:
Lord show us the great blessings that are in Your Word so that we
may read it, inwardly digest it and keep it. Make us students of the
Bible and practitioners too. Let us not be lost in foolish
controversies but rather engaged in putting it into practice and
"building our house upon a Rock". Keep us from doubting it and
quicken it to us by Your Holy Spirit that we may love it more and
more each day and worship You more clearly. Amen.
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John Edmiston ([email protected])
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