The Seven Blessings in the Book of Revelation

The Seven Blessings in the Book of Revelation

 This morning (July 22, 2017) I was reading a passage in Revelation 16 - where it promises a blessing.  I knew that (as far as I know) Revelation is the only book in the Bible that promises a blessings if you read or hear the words in it.  (Of course, the Torah itself promises blessings for keeping and doing it, but that is different than for hearing or reading.) I don't want to get off on the differences here. 

So then I wondered how many times the word "blessed" appears in Revelation.  I did a quick search in Power Bible and found these seven (7) times:

Yes, I think the number is significant.

I think they all seem to be self explanatory, but I would recommend you read them and consider them.

1. Revelation 1:3 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.

If you haven't read the book before, you're not commanded to understand it all.  But you are promised to be blessed by reading and/or hearing what's in it.

 2. Revelation 14:13 Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, "Write: 'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.'" "Yes," says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them."

This portion comes right after the part that talks about the torment that will come on those who take the mark of the beast.  But it is an encouragement to believers at that time to persevere during the terrible times that will come on the earth.

Revelation 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.
I have to comment that even in the last book of the New Testament and the entire Bible, we are reminded to "keep the commandments of God, and to have faith in Yeshua (Jesus)".  With all that will befall the people of earth at that time, it is still crucial to have both - Faith in Yeshua and keeping God's commandments. 

 3. Revelation 16:15 "Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame."

God's angels are pouring out the vials/bowls of wrath upon the kingdom of the beast and armies are being gathered to the valley of Armageddon.  In the midst of that, here is this verse above.  Again, if you are here at that time, you are warned and yet promised to be blessed.  Keep watching. Keeping your garments - I'm pretty sure - refers to keeping faith in God and not getting out from under His covering.  Don't let anything shake you.  Trust Yeshua and trust Yehovah - just hang on.  He wins in the end.

 4. Revelation 19:9 Then he said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!'" And he said to me, "These are the true sayings of God."

There are many opinions on what this "marriage supper" refers to exactly. I won't try to add my ideas.
These verses below precede verse 9 and seem to be setting the stage:

Revelation 19:5 Then a voice came from the throne, saying, "Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both small and great!"
 6 And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, "Hallelu-Yah! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!
 7 Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready." 8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.

Right after the "blessed" part, the Lamb of God is seen preparing for battle - on His white horse! This leads to a great "feast" or "supper" for the birds of the earth - to devour the evil men fighting against Yeshua.  Not sure, but maybe there are two (2) feasts that day!??

 5. Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.

This verse spells out for us an important idea.  While everyone dies, and there is a resurrection, there is also a "second death".  You can read the context, but in essence, the 'unsaved' do not have part in God's kingdom and eternity with him.  They await judgment, then are given the second death which is being thrown into the lake of fire.  Some would call this a spiritual death.  I'm not sure, but I pray no one reading this will have any part of that. 

Put your faith and trust in Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) now while you are alive.  There is no opportunity after.  Ask Him to save you, and He absolutely will - if you are sincere.

 6. Revelation 22:7 "Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book."

Here is now the second warning, so to speak, to "keep the words" of this book.  That tells me how important it is to Yeshua and His Father, Yehovah.  We may not understand it all, but we need to read it or listen to it, and do our best to "keep" the words of the prophecy of this.  For one, we can look at all the warnings to the Seven Churches in the beginning and heed those.  Second, we can be sure NOT to take the Mark of the Beast and thereby avoid being eternally damned. 

 I know in the Torah or Tanakh, the word for "keep" usually means to "guard".  I think that would apply here also - we should "guard" what is written in this book, and not let it be corrupted, rewritten or forgotten by people coming after us.  We don't know how close we are to the End, but if it tarries, future generations need to be warned. 

 7. Revelation 22:14 Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.

 
This one is one of my favorite verses and really hammers home the concept that God's commandments are NOT done away with. This is the end of the Bible.  Why would it be here if that was all done away with?  God and Yeshua knew exactly what they were doing.  I believe it is in this book because it relates to the End Times.  If we are the ones to soon live through the events of the book, Yehovah wants us to be aware that we are still to focus on and learn and keep His Commandments. 

That is a big part of the reason for this blog and for the YouTube channel of the same name:  Return to Yehovah. Yehovah because it is God's Holy Name.  Return, because that means "Repent" or "turn back" and it implies "turn back to God's commandments".

Bottom line:  Love Yehovah your God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength.  Love and put your faith and trust in Yeshua as God's Messiah and only Son.  Keep God's commandments as led by the Holy Spirit.  This is our duty as followers of the God of Israel.