The Blessed Receivers

W. Kyle Miller

The Blessed Life: The Blessings of Revelation • Sermon • Submitted 21 days ago • Presented 7 months ago

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The Blessed Life will look at the seven occurrences of blessings that appear in Revelation. We will look at their context, what they meant, and what they mean today.

Notes

Transcript

Introduction

Deut 27: 1-13

Mt. Gerizim — blessings

Mt. Ebal — curses

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.” Revelation 22:7 ““And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.””

Beatitudes in Matthew’s Gospel

Revelation, the “book of 7s”, had seven beatitudes as well

blessings come from a variety of sources: Some are pronounced by John, some by angels, and some by Jesus, one by a voice from Heaven

Revelation in context

part Epistle

part Prophecy

part Apocalyptic literature

“Revelation was written to fortify Christians to live in the world, enduring its harsh treatment and alienation, with a firm confidence that this world is not all there is, and that, in fact, what may seem like defeat is going to give way to victory.”

— Blessed: Experiencing the Promise of the Book of Revelation by Nancy Guthrie

“The prophecy of v. 3 is not a set of predictions but, in the biblical tradition, a word from God calling for obedient response in the lives of believers.”

— Revelation: A Shorter Commentary by G. K. Beale, David Campbell

“of Revelation, as it unfolds, is not designed to provide fodder for intellectual speculation about the end times but is rather a series of commands addressed to the present-day lives of all who read it.”

— Revelation: A Shorter Commentary by G. K. Beale, David Campbell

What is “blessed” ?

Holman Treasury of Key Bible Words: 200 Greek and 200 Hebrew Words Defined and Explained Blessed

Makarios was frequently used in Greek literature, the Septuagint (a Greek translation of the Old Testament), and the New Testament to describe

The International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia, Volumes 1–5 Blessed

“happy” or “favored,”

Eerdmans Bible Dictionary BLESS, BLESSED

to bestow goodness and favor, and to invoke such qualities upon another.

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter One: A Very Special Book (Revelation 1)

God’s people were going through intense persecution and they needed

“Revelation 1: 3 contains the first of the seven benedictions, or blessings, in the book of Revelation (see the list on p. 39 above). It is pronounced both on the one who reads it aloud (in the assemblies) and on the hearers/ keepers of the prophecy. The emphasis on keeping the words of the prophecy reminds us that this book is not primarily a depiction of events to come as a means of satisfying our curiosity but is rather a call to “first-commandment faithfulness” (Talbert’s apt phrase1), a call to conversion and discipleship in light of past, present, and future realities. The prophet is a visionary, not merely of present crises or future events, but of an alternative way of being grounded in the vision of God.”

— Reading Revelation Responsibly: Uncivil Worship and Witness: Following the Lamb into the New Creation by Michael J. Gorman

“encourages wise behavior and attitudes with the inducement of benefits. (See”

— Revelation Through Old Testament Eyes by Tremper Longman III

Revelation Chapter 1

While, therefore, there may be many obscurities in this book, it is also to be assumed that it may be so far understood as to be useful to Christians, in supporting their faith, and giving them elevated views of the final triumph of religion, and of the glory of the world to come. Anything is a blessing which enables us with well-founded hope and joy to look forward to the heavenly world.

Blessed = God’s favor

Revelation 1:3 “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.”