Revelation 1:3: There’s a Blessing In This Book!
Revelation Bible Study
*Revelation 1:3-
“Blessed is the one who reads aloud 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.”
“Blessed [is] the [one] reading, and those hearing the words of the prophecy, and keeping the things in it having been written; for the time [is] near. ”
(Greek-English interlinear)
Did you know that there are actually 7 BLESSINGS promised in reading the Book of Revelation?!?
If you weren’t convinced YET that this book is meant for us to read, and study, and understand, then this should do it!
Here are the blessings listed all nice and neat and in one place below.
However, keep in mind, that we’re going to come across them again in their proper context… and right when we need them in the toughest parts of our reading!!
+Blessing #1-
Blessed are those who read, hear, and keep (take to heart) the words of this book! (Revelation 1:3)
+Blessing #2-
Blessed are those who die in the Lord during these days! (Revelation 14:13)
+Blessing #3-
Blessed are those who stay awake and keep their garments on! (Revelation 16:15)
+Blessing #4-
Blessed are those called to the marriage supper of the Lamb! (Revelation 19:9)
+Blessing #5-
Blessed (and holy!) are those who have part in the first resurrection! (Revelation 20:6)
+Blessing #6-
Blessed are those who keep the prophecy of this Book! (Revelation 22:7)
+Blessing #7-
Blessed are those who wash their robes (do His commandments)! (Revelation 22:14)
This week’s study is super short because it lays the foundation for what is coming up next.
I didn’t want to group verse 3 together with verses 4-5 because that would have made a really long study. BUT if you want to do this study and go ahead jump to the next week’s, it will be up on Wednesday, September 2!
Hope you’ll continue to hang with us!
We’re just getting started! There are so many BLESSINGS to come!
∆ blessed– makários – from mak-, “become long, large”; when God extends His benefits (the advantages He confers); blessed. Happy.
∆ read– anaginṓskō – from aná-, “up, again,” intensifying ginṓskō, “personally know”; “to know again” through reading. Reading (anaginskō) enables others to re-live (re-appreciate) what was conveyed (experienced) by the original author.
–>Note: ginṓskō is one of my favorite words! We learned it’s meaning while studying the Book of John. In short, it means to KNOW by personal experience. This is the way Jesus wants us to “know” Him and a focus of this entire study!
∆ hear– akoúō – listen, comprehend by hearing; pass: is heard, reported; the root of the English term, “acoustics.”
∆ keep (take to heart)– téreó– to guard, to observe, to watch over; keep intact
-Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy,
Blessed are the ones who READ ALOUD the words of this prophecy!
So friends, get reading out loud! Think of it!
While you’re sitting on your front porch, having coffee with a friend, or in the grocery store shopping, or at your child’s baseball game… just open to the Book of Revelation and shout it out! 😀 Ok, yeah. I know, I know, that would be a bit awkward.
So what does reading it out loud look like then?
In context of John’s lifetime, reading the Scripture out loud would likely have meant a public reading some place like the Temple courts, a synagogue, or even in the agora (marketplace). This was a very common practice then, and actually it was a necessity!
The scrolls that the Scriptures were written on obviously weren’t lying around on people’s coffee tables like our Bibles are, and even if they had been, most people couldn’t read!
So, the early Church would gather from place to place (the Jews did this in synagogues and public spaces too) for lengthy readings of the Scriptures! It would not be unusual at all to pass by a public reading of Scripture on your way to buy your groceries!
Now imagine when parts of THIS BOOK were being read aloud as people walked past!
The idea is that the blessing comes from SHARING the words of this books TOGETHER!!
Just exactly what we are aiming for here!
It is also good to note that all the verbs in this sentence- “reads”, “hear”, and “taking to heart (keeping)” – are present participles. If you’ve long ago forgotten all those grammar rules, this just means that these words are ONGOING or continuous! That means it extends to us on this very day!
HOW do you think we can apply this and “read aloud” the words of this prophecy today?
Do you have any ideas ? I know some of you are so creative! Let us know your thought!
-and blessed are those who hear it
So not only are we blessed/happy if we are READING the book of Revelation, but we are also blessed/happy if we are even only HEARING it!! Keep in mind that in the historical context, the Scriptures were almost always read aloud to a group who were actively listening!
When we get to the Letters to the 7 Churches in chapters 2-3, we will see just how important it is to HEAR what is being said in these words! “Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches” is repeated at the end of every letter!
And there’s another hidden blessing… HEARING the Word of God grows our FAITH!
*Romans 10:17– “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”
∆ hear– akoúō – listen, comprehend by hearing; pass: is heard, reported; the root of the English term, “acoustics.”
-and take to heart what is written in it
BLESSINGS AND BLESSINGS AND BLESSINGS!
We are again blessed if we take to heart (hold fast; guard) these words.
∆ keep (take to heart)– téreó– to guard, to observe, to watch over; keep intact
*James 1:22– “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”
Jesus warned that in the last of the last days, DECEPTION would be everywhere. We are going to see the effects of satan’s deceit upon man in this study, and I think most of us would agree that we can see this great deception happening TODAY!
We MUST take to heart and ACT UPON what we are studying!
That might sound a little challenging (like reading this Book ALOUD), but we’ll figure out the application of what we are reading together!
Eeeks! I’m excited to get into Chapters 2-3! They’re a wonderful heart check for every Believer and church!
BUT first… the rest of Chapter 1 lol.
HOW do you think we can apply HEARING and KEEPING these words as we study?
– because the time is near
“Blessed is the one who reads aloud 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.”
All that blessing sounds pretty good until you think about the next part of this sentence… BECAUSE the time is near!
This goes back to our perceptions of and the connotations of – REVELATION!
We tend to think of the time being when the 4 horsemen of the Apocalypse riding out with war and plagues and bloodshed! Scary images of The Beast rising, and giant asteroids and hailstones striking the earth!
It’s just as preposterous as Jesus’ words-
“Blessed [HAPPY] are those mourn…Blessed [HAPPY] are those who are persecuted…”
We don’t readily equate our HAPPINESS to mourning, or being persecuted, or reading some of the really scary “words of this prophecy”!!
Yet this is the only book in the entirety of Scripture that promises a blessing to those who read it…hear it… and take it to heart!
∆ the time– kairós – the time- (“opportune time”) is derived from kara (“head”) referring to things “coming to a head” to take full-advantage of. The appointed time, or the season.
∆ near– eggus – near in place or time; ready
+What is “the time”?
The appointed time. The time of His unveiling. The time of His wrath. The time of His return (the 2nd coming)!
Yes. His wrath is PART of this… but also His unveiling, His return, AND the new Creation!!
Want a sneak peek at “the time” and why that might actually fill you with JOY instead of fear?
Jump ahead to Revelation 22 !
The time.
In looking at this word closer we can also see the much more descriptive Greek word for our one English word “time”.
The word used here is not “chronos“, but “kairós “.
Chronos is used to describe time as a long continuation, and kairos is used to denote a SPECIFIC event in time.
∆ the time– kairós – (“opportune time”) is derived from kara (“head”) referring to things “coming to a head” to take full-advantage of. The appointed time, or the season.
∆ time- chronos– time in general, especially viewed in sequence (a “succession of moments”); time in duration; a space of time
*Romans 13:11-12– “And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.”
*1 Peter 4:7-8–
“The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”
*James 5:7-8-
“Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. “
+WHY as “the time” draws near is it so important to ACT on these words?
As “the time” nears, deception will increase!
The urgency to read, hear, and HOLD FAST to the TRUTH has never been clearer!
*2 Timothy 4:3-4– “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.”
*1 Timothy 4:1- “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.”
And of the Antichrist during the Tribulation-
*Daniel 8:25- “By his cunning he shall make deceit prosper under his hand, and in his own mind he shall become great. Without warning he shall destroy many. And he shall even rise up against the Prince of princes, and he shall be broken—but by no human hand.”
+Why else are we blessed if we read the words in the book of Revelation, and if we hear them, and if we keep these words because the time is near?
Because the time is READY and every one of these words will without a doubt be coming to pass!
What a solid foundation! This is another BLESSING within the blessing!
Whether we understand everything we are reading or not, we can be 100% positive that God is working out His purpose and plan with detail and power and all wisdom, and without fail!
The words of this book served the very first readers as a great encouragement that in the end, all things would be made right…. and these words will STILL serve all those who read them, to this day, as a blessed HOPE and a exhortation to be ready and work up until we the moment we hear the trumpet sound. The harvest is STILL ripe! Bring your friends with you!
And should the Lord not return in our lifetime, when these things come upon the earth QUICKLY, this prophecy in this book will be TRUTH in a world full of chaos and deception, continuing to bless all those who may find a Bible, read it, and do the things asked of it. Continuous blessings!
*Revelation 22:7– “Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book”
+WHEN is “near” ?
Near is kind of like the word “soon” that we looked at in last week’s study (Revelation 1:1-2).
∆ near- eggus– close, at hand
This explanation from Bible Hub seemed to show the meaning of this word pretty clearly-
“1. Imminence—God’s decisive acts approach; believers must remain alert.
2. Accessibility—salvation is not distant; the gospel is within reach of mouth and heart.
3. Presence—Christ’s nearness comforts, corrects, and empowers His church.”
Though we do not know the exact date or time that Jesus will return, we know that He will, and that “the time” when He does is one day “nearer” than it has ever been before! We (especially as Americans) have a tendency to think in a solidly linear, chronological way. We are all about timeliness. We measure our daily lives, and all of history this way. Points on a horizontal timeline.
This isn’t the way the whole world thinks though.
Many eastern cultures think in a much more cyclical way. Think seasons and passing of time that repeats and comes without punctual events.
And then there is the way God thinks.
His understanding of “nearness” and “time” is way beyond what our very temporal minds can fathom. It’s part of WHO God is. Outside of time and space. Unique in all He is- HOLY!
Yet from His Word we can understand a little bit of how God views time. Scripture shows time as having a beginning, specific events on a timeline, yet also occurring cyclically as seasons of life and death, sin and redemption, planting and reaping, etc… repeat.
*Psalm 90:4– “For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night.”
So, how near is “near”?
IMMINENT! At the door!
Just wait until we get to Chapters 2-3… we may not know the day or the hour, but we CAN recognize the SEASON we are in!
Did I say that already?!? 😀
It’s going to get sooooo good!!!
Here are just a few more reflective kinds of questions to think on during the week if you want.
What questions do YOU have?
Leave them in the comments at the bottom of this post!
+The verse we studied today ends with, “the time is near.”
How does remembering that our time on earth is limited change the way we approach God’s Word?
+Do you ever feel too distracted to “hear” what God is saying to you through His word?
What are some ways we can actively try to combat that?
(For example, I find writing things down that make me ask a question, or prick my heart helps me keep my focus)
+Why do you think this verse begins with blessings rather than a warning of God’s soon coming wrath?
+What are some ways that the character of God was revealed in today’s reading?
+When you come across something in Scripture that you don’t understand, what is your usual response?
How might Revelation 1:3 encourage you to keep reading?
+Did you think of some ways to “read aloud” the words of this Book?
Share them in the comments below or on our Gather Around The Table Facebook group page! I really would love to hear your ideas!
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