SHOTS FROM BUJUMBURA RETREAT 2010

Publicizing/Advertizing the Word

Preaching/Interpreting the Word

Listening/Reading the Word

Teaching/Sharing the Word

Performing/Singing the Word

Acting/Enjoying the Word

Practicing/Living the Word

Revelation 1:3 - Blessing for Reading,Hearing and Keeping What is Written Therein!

Shalom from Dar es Salaam!

Welcome to our stepwise study of the Book of Revelation. You can access the previous lesson through this link: Revelation 1: 2 - 'Bare Record'. Today we are thus reading Revelation 1:3:

Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.

Here a blessing is pronounced. The word 'blessed' appears many times in the Bible - 267 times according to BibleGateway.com. When pronounced it signifies one becoming redeemed/saved, forgiven, fruitful, prosperous and happy/joyous among many other positive things. Here is a classical example of Beatitudes/Blessings from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount:

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches (Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3: 6, 13, 22).

The deeper meaning of hearing or hearking is closely tied to the blessing which Revelation 1: 3 pronounces to whose who keep those things that are written in Revelation. Once we read and hear about its prophecy we, automatically, ought to hold fast to what is written therein.

Finally, Revelation 1: 3 closes with this rationale: "the time is at hand". This question of (prophetic) time also puzzled the disciples of Jesus. It has been associated with the end of the world and the establishment of God's eternal Kingdom. Concerning these events the disciples thus asked Jesus prior to His death on the cross:

Tell us, when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of they coming, and of the end of the world? (Matthew 24: 3)

Even after Jesus' ressurection the discpiles thus kept asking prior to His ascension:

When they therefore were come together, they asked of Him, saying, Lord, will thou at this time restore again the kingdom of Israel? (Acts 1: 6)

So, Jesus, through Revelation 1: 3, is providing the answer for the disciples of all times - "the time is at hand." This is indeed the time that is referred to by the following sucessive prophecies of the Books of Daniel and Revelation:

And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt...But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased... And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end (Daniel 12: 1-9).

Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book... Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand ( Revelation 22: 7 - 10).

REVELATION 1: 2 - 'BARE RECORD'

Dear Blessed Reader,

Shalom from Dar es Salaam!

Welcome again to our verse by verse and chapter by chapter study on the The Revelation. In our first lesson we saw the meaning and purpose of this prophetic book provided in Revelation 1: 1. You can revise it here: Lessons from the Revelation of Jesus Christ.

Today we swiftly move to the second verse of chapter one - it thus reads:

Who bare record of the Word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he say (Revelation 1: 2).

The verse mentions two beings or persons. The first one is the "who" in the beginning of the text. This is John, the beloved Disciple of Jesus, who is referred to in the end of the preceeding verse. Of course the other one is Jesus Christ. The working relationship between Jesus and John is also clearly stated therein.

John's task is to bare three things. Before we go on let us unpack the meaning the of this term 'bare'. The Free WordWeb Dictionary simply defines it as: (1) Make visible, allow others to see; (2) Make public; (3) Remove or clear everything so that nothing is left.

In other words, John is telling us that his task as far as the Revelation of Jesus Christ is concerned is to make visible, clear and public the following three things so that others, that is, you and I, can see:

(1) Record of the Word of God

(2) The Testimony of Jesus Christ

(3) All things that he [John] saw

As usual, the Bible offers its own definitions of things that it introduces to us. In our previous lesson we saw how it defined the Word of God and John's role and rationale in baring its record. Let us thus relive in full that marvellous Biblical passage that sums all this:

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life. (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us:) That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full (1 John 1: 1 -4).

So, here we have John baring the record of Jesus - "The Word of God" (John 1: 1 -18). In regard to the Gospel of Jesus according to John, this "is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true" (John 21: 24).

John's testimony is on and about Jesus. It is not surprising then that in Revelation 1: 1 he also introduces himself as baring the Testimony of Jesus. Interestingly, somewhere else the Bible specifies those who "keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ" (Revelation 12: 17). Then it goes on elsewhere to offer this powerful definition from a messenger of God who was addressing John:

I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren, that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God; for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy (Revelation 19: 1.

In sum the second verse of chapter one is telling me and you that we are called to share with our spiritual brethren John the main mission of Revelation - to testify about Jesus!

And testifying about Jesus is all about ensuring that we "hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches" (Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3: 6, 13, 22) - Yes its about hearking to what God "hath declared to his servants the prophets" (Revelation 10: 7). For: "Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secrets to His servants the prophets" (Amos 3: 7) and the Bible thus declares accordingly:

"Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe His prophets, so shall ye prosper" ( 2 Chronicles 20: 20).

No wonder our Saviour has thus indeed testified in his Revelation of Jesus Christ:

"Behold , I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the saying of the prophecy of this book" (Revelation 22: 7).

"He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus" (Revelation 22: 20).

AMEN