Church/ The Church and Tribulation/ At Christ’s Return

Those Who Read, Hear and – KEEP – The Book of Revelation Shall Be Blessed

Rev. 13, Church Current March 15, 2016

Book of Revelation- William Blake illustration

When the chosen people of Israel, after 2,000 years of captivity in foreign lands, became a sovereign nation again in 1948, who was it that began to look up knowing that the redemption of the earth and the return of Jesus Christ was imminent? When the European Community started to gel, who knew it was a sign of the end and that the rise of the Antichrist was approaching fast? When the Spirit was poured out on all flesh in the magnificent latter-day rain of the Holy Ghost in the late 1960s, who was it that began to tilt a listening ear to the heavens so they could hear the blast from the archangel’s trumpet announcing Christ’s appearance and the rapture of the Church? Those who knew Revelation, that’s who!

The world remained ignorant, many so-called Christians were still unknowing, but those who had read understood and kept the words written in the book of Revelation were awaiting the fulfillment of prophecy.

The purpose of any study of Revelation ought to be to increase the believer’s faith for actively living the words that are written in it. To live Revelation by faith, the believer must first read and understand its meaning. It is extremely important in these last days that the believer has faith for the things preached and proclaimed in Revelation. All parts of the infallible Word of God are extremely precious and have been given to us by God, “for doctrine, reproof, correction and instruction in righteousness”. 2 Tim. 3:16 Every book, every part of God’s Word deserves our full attention and deepest labor. Revelation, certainly, is no different. In fact, Revelation is so important that God has attached a unique promise to it for those who will incorporate it into their everyday faith. God has promised that those who read, hear and KEEP, the words of Revelation will be blessed.

“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.” Rev. 1:3

Above all, it is not enough to simply read or hear or understand the things written in Revelation, but the saint must also keep their meaning. If we say we believe what is written in it we must also live like we believe it. It is not enough to know prophecy, nor is it enough to understand what one should do about it, we must not only be a hearer of Revelation but we have to be a doer too. God’s Word tells us that if we live in the spirit, we should also walk in the spirit. We must be not only a hearer but a doer. What we believe we must put into action. We are invited, asked, and exhorted and expected to know Revelation, understand it, and live by it. We hope this work on Revelation will enable the Christian to achieve this kind of active belief in their personal walk with Jesus. The primary goal of this study is that we should know and obtain the heavenly blessing promised in verse three. You must keep the words if you are to receive the blessing.

No special visitation needed to understand Revelation
Revelation is not of any private interpretation.

“We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation.
For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” 2 Peter 1:19‑21

We do not need a special revelation from heaven (though it is immeasurably helpful to have a personal relationship with the Holy Ghost) to unlock its meaning. A desire for full knowledge of the other 65 books of the Bible is key to the Spirit unlocking Revelation’s meaning. We do not need angels making night visitations to “specially” anointed ministers or to some “chosen leader” to uncover Revelation’s supposedly secret meaning. Neither do we need theological training. What we need is faith, patience, prayer and a willingness to understand the full gospel as revealed throughout the entire story of the Bible. We need a desire in our heart to have the truth of the ungodliness of this current crazy, upside-down world revealed so that we might be delivered from its clutches, from those things that have wreaked so much havoc and despair on our souls.

Getting a grip on Revelation’s symbols and their spiritual meaning will answer questions that have been hitherto impossible to perceive. For this purpose, we must have a mind to travel anywhere within the covers of the Holy Bible, from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21 and all the old and new testament books in between. Herein lies the major reason that people, born‑again or otherwise, remain ignorant and unable to face the news that is unequivocally delivered by the pages of Revelation. A fear of the judgments declared in the book’s pages is a major reason why so many Christians have closed out Revelation as well as other parts of the prophetic word. It may be that they do not like prophecy, or they reject the Old Testament. Maybe they don’t believe in the second coming, or the baptism of the Holy Ghost. Every part of the Bible and all parts of its message must be absorbed if full understanding of these days in which we live are to be properly and safely lived. One must mingle with faith the entirety of scriptural references without picking and choosing for personal convenience’s sake. The clues and advice for life are nestled in the historical books, the psalms, the prophetic books of old, the great poetic books, the letters of apostles, and, of course, the four Gospels. They can give one the knowledge they need in order to understand not only Revelation, but salvation and the offer tendered to us of eternal life in Christ.

If we stick to these three basic things:
1.) Revelation can and should be understood
2.) Scripture interprets scripture
3.) And, no special visitation from an angel or any new revelation is needed

… then we shall begin to see the mysteries of Revelation dissolve away as the morning fog, then the light of God’s perfect plan of redemption can begin to shine into our heart and mind. Revelation then will become simple and its messages clear and refreshing as a cool drink on a hot day. We argue against being like so many fearful and lazy people who use the excuse; “Why should we study the book of Revelation? Isn’t it too hard to understand with all its symbols and mysterious spiritual meanings?” They assert, “I’d rather read the rest of the Bible and leave Revelation to the experts.” What a tragic mistake. Why would God make Revelation part of His inspired Word and then not give us the means to understand it? Why would he go to the trouble; it makes no sense for Him to do that. The primary purpose of the entire Bible is to inform Man of His will. If you want to rip yourself off then keep putting Revelation aside. But if you want a great adventure and a special blessing then pick it up and start chewing on it today.