“Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy” (1:3). This is the first blessing in the book of Revelation. There are 7 blessings or beatitudes in this book. Each blessing or beatitude is unique:
- He who reads and listens (1:3).
- Those believers who die during the Tribulation (14:13).
- He who watches and keeps his garments (16:15).
- Those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb (19:9).
- He who has part in the first resurrection (20:6).
- He who keeps the words of this prophecy (22:7).
- Those who do His commandments (22:14).
The word blessed (
makarios) is the same word that Jesus used in the beatitudes on the Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5:3-12). It comes from the root, large, denoting blessed or happy. The word is followed by a singular and a plural—
he, singular and
those plural. These tenses refer to one reader and many listeners. This refers to first century custom in the early church where there were no Bibles. The book had to be read to the congregation. For centuries the practice of reading aloud the Scriptures in the services was the custom. In this case what they are to read and hear are
the words of the prophecy. This denotes the genre of this book—prophecy. This is reaffirmed in Rev. 22:7, 10, 18-19. Revelation begins and ends on the note that it is prophecy. The word is used seven times in this book (1:3; 11:6; 19:10; 22:7, 10, 18-19). As prophecy it is a continuation (and completion) of the Old Testament Scriptures. It also notes that the primary means communication is by words, either read or heard.
“
And heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near” (1:3). While hearing this prophecy is the first step of blessing, there is another step—obedience (James 1:22). The word
heed is the Greek word
terountes (present active participle) meaning “while holding fast.” Hearing and obeying is a common connection in this book (12:47 14:23-24). Bullinger wants to limit this to remembering, or ponder upon the words of Revelation,
omitting the idea of compliance, but does not seem to have much merit. Compliance by heeding or keeping is a common theme in Revelation (1:3; 2:26; 3:3, 8, 10: 12:17; 14:12; 16:15; 22:7, 9). Newell makes a wise observation: “The prophecy will be fulfilled, whether we pay attention to it or not. But there is divine blessing if we give heed to it and jealously guard its very words!”
“
For” (
gar) is the preposition of reason. It tells why the reading, hearing, and heeding is necessary—“f
or the time is near” (1:4). Osborne notes the word near is use twice, always with the word time (here and 22:10); thereby “framing the book with the warning of the imminent eschaton.”
Time is the Greek word
kairos, frequently a technical term in the NT for the end times when the earthly kingdom is to be established.
It indicates nearness from the standpoint of prophetic revelation. The events of Revelation are next on God’s prophetic program, its implementation awaits the rapture of the Church (1 Thess. 4:13-18). When that takes place, these sequence of events will happen, thus they are near or at hand. The concept of imminence is constantly placed before the reader. “The prophecy of this book is not to be put aside as though it referred to things so remote that they have no concern for us. But they are always to be regarded as near, and kept in our minds, so that we may walk in view of the nearness of the Day when the Lord will judge, and thus be without care as to this present time.”
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