Reading and Listening

Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.
-- Rev 1:3 NIV

The first of seven blessings in Revelation is directed to two sets of people. First, the blessing is for the person who reads the words of this prophecy aloud to others. Reading in ancient times was almost always done aloud. Manuscripts were rare, and there were almost always those who would like to hear what was written. Today, Bibles are common, but still many don’t know what is written between the covers. It would still be good today if those who read the Scriptures always did so with the intent of sharing what they read with others. The one who reads and shares the message of Revelation is blessed in his deed.

Second, the blessing is for those who hear and “take to heart” what is written. While certainly taking the message to heart is important, this translation does not capture fully the response required for blessing. The ones who are fully blessed hold on to what they hear; that is, they remember it. They do even more. They are also moved to obey its exhortations, commands, and warnings. The blessed one who hears Revelation says with the Psalmist,

I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you.
-- Psalm 119:11 NIV

Do you read Revelation with intent to share? Do you listen to its words intending to remember and obey them? If so, you will be blessed.

The Purpose of an Apocalypse

John's book is called an "apocalypse," which is the Greek word for "revelation." One characteristic of an apocalypse is that it addresses God's people who are living in cultures where people do not worship God (Daniel and Ezekiel are good examples). In those living conditions, God's people face a dilemma: compromise or persecution. On the one hand, the surrounding cultures attempt to seduce God's people by promising prosperity and happiness if they will compromise their faith and accept God-denying or God-ignoring practices. On the other hand, the surrounding cultures attempt to marginalize or eliminate God's people by withholding material needs or killing them. Revelation, like other apocalyptic books, warns God's people of the dangers of compromise, assures them of God's sovereignty and ultimate victory over godless nations, promises them that faithfulness will be rewarded, and exhorts them to remain faithful in the face of hardships. If we miss the warnings, assurances, promises, and exhortations, we miss the primary purpose of Revelation.

What Jesus Reveals

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place.
-- Revelation 1:1 NIV

Today, we will look at the second, and I think the preferred, way to understand the words "the revelation of Jesus Christ" in Revelation 1:1. The revelation can be understood as that which Jesus Christ reveals. Jesus reveals what God gave him in order to show his servants "what must soon take place."

Many of us think of Jesus revealing the events surrounding his return and judgment of the world, but Jesus is a lot more concerned about how we will face the things that will happen in the near future - today, tomorrow, this week, and this month. Will we resist the seductions of our culture to compromise our faith or to pollute our holy lives? Will we be faithful in our witness to Jesus Christ in the face of opposition, ridicule, and persecution? We must be overcome today's seductions and be victorious over tomorrow's persecution if we are to be ready for that last day and final judgment. That is the reason Jesus shows his servants "what must soon take place."

The Revelation of Jesus Christ

The words "the revelation of Jesus Christ" can be understood in two ways: 1) that which reveals Jesus Christ, or 2) that which Jesus Christ reveals. Perhaps we should understand it both ways. Today, I will look at the first way.

The last book of the Bible tells us a great deal about Jesus. It tells of his birth, of the attempt to kill him at birth, of his sacrificial death, of his ascension to the Father, of his authority over the churches, of the glory he shares with the Father, of his dominion over spiritual and human forces, of his second coming, of his victory over all that is evil, and of his reward for the saints. He is Lord of lords and King of kings yet he is intimately concerned about those who serve him. He rebukes, warns, exhorts, encourages, protects, blesses, and makes promises to them.

Revelation is more concerned that we know Jesus than the time of his coming. Do you know him today?

More Than New Clothes

Sydney Carton gave Charles Darnay new clothes which enabled him to escape prison, but Jesus does so much more than give us new clothes. He gives us a new birth if indeed we have been born again from above, that is, born of water and Spirit (John 3:3, 5). New birth gives us new life (Romans 6:4).

We are not fugitives from justice merely hiding our identity under false clothing, but we are truly new people who have been set free. We are free from the fear of death (Hebrews 2 14-15), so we are no longer on death row. We are also free from the tyrannical control of sin (John 8:34-36), which means we are no longer prisoners of sin and can now pursue righteousness. Now we are free to approach God with confidence (Ephesians 3:12). Praise God, "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free" (Galatians 5:1 NIV).