BIG IDEA: Revelation promises blessings for readers, hearers, and keepers.
These beautiful biblical beatitudes should be part of our answer! Let’s read and pray through the blessings for believers found in the book of Revelation. We’ll do this together, out loud, with our eyes open:
- Revelation 1:3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. {Jesus, help us not fear this book but to scour it with anticipation of discovering the ways you still walk among us.}
- Revelation 14:13 I heard a voice from heaven saying, "Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on." "Blessed indeed," says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!" {Jesus, help us no longer fear death, but to somehow see it as a blessing where we get to rest from our labors.}
- Revelation 16:15 "Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!" {Jesus, help us believe, that though it’s been over 2000 years, your return is closer than ever and let us not grow weary!}
- Revelation 19:9 And the angel said to me, "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb." And he said to me, "These are the true words of God." {Jesus, as we take communion each week, help us to anticipate sitting at your heavenly banquet table.}
- Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years. { Jesus, help us to live as though your resurrection has transformed creation and to anticipate of our resurrection.}
- Revelation 22:7, 14 "And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book." ...Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. {Jesus, help us learn all it means to wash our robes daily in the blood of the Lamb and to enjoy commandment keeping.}
