Revelation Now :
Daily Devotional Bible studies in Revelation
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God's Blessing to his Readers : Day 2 
"He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who testifies to everything he saw - that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. 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." (Revelation 1.2,3)
God's Special Blessing to You and I
The Revelation of John is the only book in the Bible that promises a special blessing. Blessed is the one, who reads the words of this prophecy writes John. Those who listen to its words and do what it says will be favoured. Blessed indicates that this is the first of seven beatitude-like sayings in the Book of Revelation. They are reminiscent of Jesus' sermon on the Mount of Olives. Then, as if to lift his eyes to the Second Millennium reader, John adds, blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it. The book as it was read out aloud in First Century churches would be an encouragement to Christians of every century to stand firm in our faith in order to receive God's special blessing.
The Apostle John Proclaims who God is
According to the Early Church Fathers, the Apostle John wrote Revelation, the Gospel of John and the three Epistles under his own name. The tone of the letters to the seven churches shows the author's authority as a respected leader of the Christian community in Asia. He was venerated for his wisdom as one of the closest disciples to Christ himself. John was an eyewitness of the incarnate Christ in Israel as a young man and now as an elder statesman has a remarkable vision of the same glorified Christ in heaven.
Revelation Predicts Future Events
Revelation is a book of prophecies that both predict future events and proclaims who God is and what he will do. A prophecy is more than telling the future, for behind the predictions are important principles about God's character. As we read Revelation, it is God's intent that we will get to know him more completely and in this way receive his blessing.
A Threefold Blessing
The person who reads these words is blessed. The "reader" here mentioned is not the private reader, but the person who publicly reads the Scripture in the presence of the congregation, which was the centre of any service (1). In the Jewish synagogue, Scripture was read to the congregation by seven ordinary members, although if a Priest or Levite was present he took precedence. The Christian Church took much of its service from the synagogue order and the reading of Scripture remained a central part of the service.
Reading the Scriptures
Justin Martyr gives the earliest account of what a Christian service was like; and it includes the reading of "the memoirs of the apostles (i.e. the Gospels), and the writings of the prophets" (2). The "Reader" became in time an official office in the Church. One of Tertullian's complaints about the heretical sects was the way in which a man could too speedily arrive at an office without any training for it. He writes: "And so it comes to pass that today one man is their bishop, and tomorrow another; today he is a deacon who tomorrow is a reader" (3).
Hearing the Scriptures
The one who hears these words is blessed. How great a privilege it is to hear the word of God in our own tongue. Men and women died to give it to us; and the professional clergy sought for a long time to keep it to themselves. To this day the task of giving people around the World the Scriptures in their own language goes on.
Obeying the Scriptures
The person who keeps these words is blessed. To hear God's word is a privilege; to obey it is a duty. There is no real Christianity in the one who hears and forgets or deliberately disregards the message of Scripture.
"Blessed" x Seven in Revelation
Seven times "blessed" is used in Revelation. There is the blessedness of reading, hearing and obeying the Word of God. "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord" (4). "Blessed is the watchful pilgrim who is awake, keeping his garments" (5). "Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb" (6). "Blessed is he or she who shares in the first resurrection" (7). "Blessed is the wise person who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book" (8). "Blessed are those who do his commandments, who hear and obey" (9).
Meditation
What kind of blessing do you think God will give you because you are reading Revelation?
Prayer
"Bless the Lord, O my soul, And all that is within me, bless his holy name" (10)
Notes
(1) Luke 4:16; Acts 13:15 (2) Justin Martyr 1:67 (3) Tertullian, On Prescription against Heretics, 41 (4) 14:13 (5) Revelation 16:15 (6) 19:9 (7) 20:6 (8) 22:7 (9) 22:14 (10) An old Celtic Benediction
"The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place."
