The Blessed Prepared

Introduction

The 7 beatitudes (blessing) of Revelation all say essentially the same thing:

those who endure and make heaven are the favored ones.

Christian is the term that we most readily recognize that describing people of faith in Christ. Notice how the Bible refers to Christians:

Disciple (μαθητής, mathētēs): learner/apprentice. Most common in Gospels/Acts. (e.g., Matt 28:19; Acts 6:1)

Believer (πιστεύων/οἱ πιστεύσαντες): one who trusts. (Acts 5:14; 1 Tim 4:12)

Saint / Holy ones (ἅγιοι): set-apart people. (Rom 1:7; 1 Cor 1:2; Eph 1:1)

Brother/Sister (ἀδελφός/ἀδελφή) and Brethren: family identity. (Acts 9:30; Rom 12:1)

Servant/Bondservant of Christ (δοῦλος): owned by Christ. (Rom 1:1; Phil 1:1)

Faithful (πιστοί): trustworthy, loyal to Christ. (Eph 1:1; Col 1:2)

Elect/Chosen (ἐκλεκτοί): God’s chosen ones. (Col 3:12; 1 Pet 1:1–2)

Brother/Sister “in Christ”: union-with-Christ emphasis. (Rom 16:7–13)

Beloved (ἀγαπητοί): loved by God. (Rom 1:7; 1 Jn 3:2)

Children/Sons/Daughters of God: adoption identity. (Rom 8:14–17; 1 Jn 3:1)

The Church (ἐκκλησία): assembly of the called-out. (Matt 16:18; Acts 11:26)

The Way: earliest movement name. (Acts 9:2; 19:9, 23; 24:14, 22)

Followers/Disciples of the Lord/Jesus. (Acts 9:1; John 8:31)

Brethren (plural family identity). (Acts 15:3)

Household of God / Household of Faith. (Eph 2:19; Gal 6:10)

Body of Christ. (1 Cor 12:27; Eph 1:22–23)

Temple of the Holy Spirit (corporate). (1 Cor 3:16–17; Eph 2:21–22)

People of God (λαός Θεοῦ). (1 Pet 2:10; Heb 4:9)

Royal priesthood / Holy nation. (1 Pet 2:9)

Firstfruits (ἀπαρχή)—as identity of the community. (Jas 1:18)

Revelation 22:14 “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.”

We’ve been granted access

The Bible is clear that the only way to heaven is through grace, by faith, in Christ.

Revelation 16:15 “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!”)”

1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Due to our acceptance of God’s gift of salvation, we are granted access to the very presence of God, both now and for eternity.

We’ve been given permission

Tree of life

hearkens back to Genesis/garden of Eden

city gates

city gates were meant to keep people out

entering through the gate mean you were a citizen

The imagery, whether literal or metaphorical, lets us know that Jesus has given us every blessing in heaven to enjoy for eternity

Conclusion

Closing out this series, it should be abundantly apparent that the blessed one, the ones favored by the LORD, are those who finish the race of faith.

If you want God’s blessing, you must be God’s people.

The blessed are those who join Christ in eternity