The Seven-Fold Blessing in the Book of Revelation, Part 5
Pastor Jon
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Introduction
Introduction
Texts
“Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”
Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.
Review
For the general readers of the Book, especially the churches
;
For those who will go through the tribulation period
For those who will survive the horrors and destruction of the tribulation period and the wrath of God, and go in to the Millennial kingdom
For those who will be raised up in the first resurrection, which takes place before the millennium
,
General exhortation
Main Issues
who are the blessed ones described here
how are they blessed
Background
The context begins with chapter 21, where an angel shows John the Bride of Christ in the form of the great city, the Holy Jerusalem
the angel is one of the 7 angels who holds the 7 last plagues (see )
the vision is the last that was shown to John
Main Points
Main Points
Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book
Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book
“Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”
Jesus speaks in person
First person pronoun, “I”
He is the One who is coming
The beatitude echoes the first, in John’s introduction
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.
Revelation 1.3
Blessed are those who do His commandments
Blessed are those who do His commandments
Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.
these were John’s own words
“Those who do His commandments”
other translations say “those who wash their robes”
other translations say “those who wash their robes”
Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city.
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.
Blessed are those who wash their robes. They will be permitted to enter through the gates of the city and eat the fruit from the tree of life.
there was an error in translation. most Bible translations do not follow the KJV and NKJV
most Bible translations do not follow the KJV and NKJV
“Those who wash their robes”
By the pronoun “those”, John was referring to the “Tribulation Saints of
Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?”
And I said to him, “Sir, you know.” So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
a robe (Grk. stole) is a stately robe, a long garment reaching to the feet or with a train behind
used by scribes
Then He said to them in His teaching, “Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces,
worn by an angel
Mark 15.2
And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed.
given to the returning prodigal son
Luke
“But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet.
They are the ones who will suffer persecution for the Word of God and for their testimony
given to the souls under the altar
Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.
Revelation 6.
worn by the Tribulation Saints
Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?”
And I said to him, “Sir, you know.” So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Their “robes” distinguish them from the Bride
The Bride will be arrayed in “fine linen”
Not equal with the Bride’s clothing - “fine linen”
And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
Revelation 19.8
And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses.
the “finen linen” signifies the righteous acts of the saints
the “robe” signifies honorable standing before God, through the washing of the blood of the Lamb
To have the right to the Tree of Life means to have “access” to It.
wash means to be clean
These robes were washed in the blood of the blood
Washed in the blood of the Lamb
made righteous (clean, white) by the redemptive power of the blood of Christ
These people are honored before God because their lives have been made clean by the blood of Jesus Christ.
To have the right to the Tree of Life means to have “access” to It.
the Tree of Life was forfeited and forbidden in the Garden of Eden
Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever”—
therefore the Lord God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken.
So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.
Genesis 3.
the tree was forbidden because man had become a sinner before God
God did not allow man to be a sinner and have eternal life at the same time
the Tree of Life remained inaccessible until the redemption price is provided
Those who have been washed in the blood of the Lamb have access to the Tree of Life
and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood,
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” ’
Revelation 2.
To enter through the gates into the city means to “become part of It.”
Abraham saw the heavenly city and embraced the promise
By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise;
for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
Hebrews 11.9-10
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland.
And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return.
But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.
Hebrews 11.13
The Holy City IS the Bride of Christ
Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.
Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.
Revelation 21.1-3
Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, “Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.”
And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.
Revelation 21.9-11
Those who were washed in the blood of Christ become part of the heavenly City!
a city is a town enclosed with walls; the word also stands for the inhabitants of the place (see )
a city is a town enclosed with walls
They will be of the same condition as the Bride of Christ - Glorified
they were washed in the blood of the Lamb
the word also stands for the inhabitants of the place (see )
they will be filled the Holy Spirit
they will give their lives for the sake of Christ
they will be resurrected before the millennium, in the first resurrection
they will reign with Christ
Conclusion
Conclusion
John concludes his Letter with three important notes:
Christ’s own words
“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.”
“I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.”
This Letter and all the visions contained in it mean 2 things
Jesus is Who He says He is - He is God, the Almighty, from beginning to end!
Jesus is coming “quickly” to reward the saints!
An invitation
Revelation 22.17
And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.
The Message of Christ is now in His people - they speak the SAME THING
The opportunity is open to all who thirsts for Life!
Revelation 22.18-19
A warning
For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book;
and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
It is important that the preachers and hearers speak only as they read it from this prophecy.