Today’s reading is Revelation 22.
The Final Word
Can you believe it? We’re on the last page of Revelation. We started John’s writings 50 weeks ago. We started Revelation 22 weeks ago. We’ve made it to the end of both. Today’s post could go a hundred different directions.
However, I want to end simply. Over the past 22 weeks, we’ve seen sevens on top of sevens: seven stars, seven lampstands, seven angels, seven spirits, seven churches, seven seals, seven trumpets, seven thunders, seven bowls of wrath. Let’s end with one final seven. This one, however, is a bit hidden.
Throughout this letter, without numbering them, John pronounces seven blessings. He describes the people who are favored by God, who experience flourishing from God, who have the good life through God.
Let’s wrap up this look at John’s writings with a look at these Blessed people.
BLESSED!!!
Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near (Revelation 1:3, ESV)
The point is not that vocalizing the book has some special blessing. The point was in the day this was written, someone would read it to the congregation so the congregation could hear and obey.
In other words, blessed are the folks who don’t ignore this book. Blessed are the folks who take it seriously. Blessed are the folks and the churches who make sure this book is read, discussed, and followed.
“Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!” (Revelation 14:13, ESV).
Jesus had said those who are persecuted for righteousness’s sake are blessed because they have a reward reserved in heaven (Matthew 5:10-12). The blessing doesn’t cease if the persecution ends in death. Death cannot keep those in the Lord from their reward. In fact, all death can do is lead those in the Lord to their reward.
Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed! (Revelation 16:15, ESV)
Stay alert. Stay prepared. We don’t know precisely when our judgment will come. We’ll be blessed if we are prepared at every moment.
Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:9, ESV).
The only ones invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb are the Lamb and His Bride. If we aren’t in the Bride, we’re on the outside. Let’s just say the feast on the outside is not quite as pleasant. I’ll let you read for yourself in Revelation 19:17-21. Thus marriage supper of the Lamb will be an incredible, victorious feast in which our enemies look on but can neither participate nor interfere.
Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years (Revelation 20:6, ESV)
Since the second death is the lake of fire (Revelation 20:14-15), the blessing of the first resurrection is a no-brainer.
Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book (Revelation 22:7, ESV)
In case we missed it at the beginning, this book is supposed to produce action. In the seven oracles to the seven churches, the brothers and sisters were called to repent or to hold fast. Those who repented when they needed to and those who held fast when they needed to would be blessed. The rest would face the plagues of this book.
Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates (Revelation 22:14, ESV).
According to Revelation 7:14, we wash our robes in the blood of the Lamb. In Revelation 12:11, the victors in the war waged against us by the Dragon conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. The blood of the Lamb that was slain gives us victory, allowing us to pass through the gates and passed the angels who guard them. The blood of the Lamb allows us to eat from the tree of life, a right Adam and Eve lost when they ate from the tree of death, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Some manuscripts, represented by the KJV and NKJV, say the blessed ones are those who do the Lord’s commandments. That doesn’t set as well with many today. They fear it sounds like we earn the right to the tree of life. That certainly isn’t true. However, let’s be clear, the blood of the Lamb isn’t just floating around, dousing people willy-nilly. If you want to be washed in the blood, you have to submit to the King. After all, His disciples are those who are baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Spirit and committed to observe all He has commanded (see Matthew 28:19-20).
Thanks for reading John’s writings with us. Come back next week as we kick off another year in the Psalms.
Be Blessed!
Next week’s reading is Psalm 107.
PODCAST!!!
PATHS:
Discuss Today’s Meditation with Your Family
What do you want to share with others from Revelation 22?
Read the Bible 