The 7 Blessings in the Book of Revelation

Christians agree that the Bible contains many promises of blessings, physical and spiritual. However, there are blessings that are often overlooked by the readers and these blessings are found in the last book of the Bible. Today’s article focuses on the 7 blessings in the book of Revelation.

Doesn’t everyone love blessings? I mean, we all want God to bless us, right? Not just in one but in all areas of our life. The problem with some or maybe even most of us is that instead of looking into the Bible to see how to receive God’s blessings, we choose to look somewhere else.

Preaching from and studying the book of Revelation? No, thanks!

The book of Revelation is the 1 book in the Bible that many readers intentionally leave out for several reasons such as:

• It is hard to understand because of the many symbolisms that the author used.
• It is perceived to be very controversial and often stirs up disagreements among pastors and Bible teachers.
• Much of the book is alarming and disturbing, if not depressing because of the mention of various natural disasters.
• Prophecy from this book has been abused by false teachers and date setters.
• Some of the scenes mentioned are terribly horrible and awful.

But if we just take the time to read the book of Revelation, and ask for guidance and illumination from the Holy Spirit, we will come to love reading and studying it because of the promise of blessings contained in it.

7 Blessings in Revelation

Although physical and financial blessings sound really great, there are 7 special blessings God has promised for those who study prophecy and pay attention to what it says. These blessings are scattered throughout the book of Revelation.

1) 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.”

Blessed in Greek means “to make happy.” It has the same implication as the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:3-10. Notice that the blessing here is threefold:

a) A blessing is promised to the one who reads.

The verb “read” means “to read out loud.” Revelation was first read aloud in local church meetings. Since few people had a personal copy of the Scriptures in the early years of the church, someone would read them aloud to the people.

Today, this blessing extends to all who read this climax to God’s prophetic program.

b) A blessing is promised to all who listen.

It’s in the book of Revelation where God gives us a glimpse of how everything is going to end. We are assured that Jesus wins and the enemy is finally thrown into the Lake of Fire.

Although it’s true that evil is alive and well in this world today, ultimately God wins – big time!

So just to hear the book of Revelation and other prophecies of the Bible read is indeed a great blessing in troubled times like our modern world.

c) A blessing is promised to all who obey.

It is not only important to read and hear Bible prophecy but also to obey what is written. When John sent this book of prophecy to the churches, they were going through intense persecutions and they needed encouragement.

The message in this book was not only to give them strength and hope but it would also to help them examine their lives in order to determine those areas that needed correction. They were not only to hear the Word but also to keep it.

It’s not enough to read, memorize and listen to the Scriptures being read, because the blessing would come not just by reading and hearing but even more so by doing (James 1:22-25).

Related Article: Genuine Faith, the Faith that Saves

2) Revelation 14:13

Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.”

In this verse, John intended his readers to see the contrast between what will happen to those who will decide to follow the “beast” (Revelation 14:11) and to those who won’t; there will be no rest for the wicked but eternal rest for the saints.

Though they suffer persecutions and be killed, the saints will reign with Christ forever. While those who follow the Antichrist will reign with him for a few short years but will suffer throughout eternity.

Are you persecuted today for your faith? Know that the early Christians suffered a great deal of persecution and most of them died brutal deaths for the sake of the Gospel.

3) Revelation 16:15

“Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walks naked and they see his shame.”

Many post-tribulationists often use this as a biblical reference to their view that the rapture of the church will take place at the end of the Tribulation because it warns about Jesus coming quickly, or like a thief in the night.

But if we read it in the context of the entire passage, this verse is a warning concerning the coming of Christ at Armageddon. It focuses on suddenness and destruction.

While this could be seen as both a blessing and a warning to the believers to be spiritually watchful for the Lord’s return, it’s also a warning to the unbelieving world concerning the battle of Armageddon.

4) Revelation 19:9

Then he said to me, “Write: Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.”

To be called to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb is one of eternity’s supreme blessings. The believers or the Church is the Bride (2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:22-33) and the Bridegroom is Jesus Christ (John 3:29). 5).

After the Judgment Seat of Christ where the Church is evaluated and rewarded, she is given a white robe and is now radiant in her glory. What a blessing to be enjoying the wedding banquet while the outpouring of God’s wrath is happening on earth in the event called the Great Tribulation.

5) Revelation 20:6

“Blessed and holy is he who has a part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.”

This verse calls the participants of the first resurrection “blessed and holy” because they have reached the point of ultimate sanctification, and the second death (the lake of fire) has no more power over them.

One of the blessed privileges of heaven is absolute security against death in any and every form.

All church-age believers who died will be resurrected when Christ comes at the rapture and together with those who are alive and remain; they will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and will go straight to heaven.

Related article: What is the significance of the resurrection?

But when Christ returns to earth after the 7 years of tribulation, the saints will return with Him, will reign with Him for a thousand years to enjoy the many blessings promised by the Lord in Isaiah 2:1-5; Isaiah 4:1-6; Isaiah 11:1-9, Isaiah 12:1-6; Isaiah 30:18-26 and Isaiah 35:1-10.

6) Revelation 22:7

“Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”

This verse begins with a wonderful promise to us, “Behold I am coming quickly.” The word “quickly” here means “soon” or “suddenly.” It means that when Jesus comes He will give no warning. His coming will be sudden and unexpected.

This is what the apostle Paul calls the “blessed hope” in Titus 2:13-14. The Lord’s return is certainly nearer than it was yesterday and knowing this gives the believers hope, joy, comfort, and strength.

Just like in Revelation 1:3, God promises a special blessing for those who “keep the words of the prophecy of this book.” To keep means to protect, preserve, guard, pay attention to and hold as precious.

Believers are called to guard and protect the book of Revelation; to defend it against detractors who deny its relevance and critics who deny its authority.

But believers are not only called to guard but also to obey it. What does it mean to obey the book of Revelation? It’s not as simply doing what it says in an obligatory and legalistic way.

It means to long for Christ’s return and our eternal fellowship with Him. Believers are called to desire heaven, and holiness and to see Christ vindicated as He triumphs over His enemies.

7) Revelation 22:14

“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.”

Although in modern versions, the first part of this verse is translated, as “Blessed are those who wash their robes,” the essential meaning of the passage is not affected.

Those that do His commandments are those who have been forgiven of their sins and have been cleansed by the blood of the Lamb; these are the believers who have washed their robes in the righteousness of Christ.

Doing His commandments does not earn us eternal life, but is evidence that we have been granted eternal life. The word “blessed” means “happy.” We all want happiness and the way to eternal happiness is to receive Christ as Lord and Savior.

The blessing here is having access to the holy city and the Tree of Life and thus are entitled to live forever.

Conclusion

Believers in Christ can receive the unmitigated blessings of God by simply reading, hearing, and paying attention to the things written in the book of Revelation and in other Scriptures that reveal the consummation of human history.