Revelation Online Sermon #1

BLESSEDNESS OF PROPECHY

Sunday 24, 2006

Good morning, members of the Final Call, and those who are viewing the site as non-members! Welcome to the first of, hopefully, many online sermons that our site has to offer. This will be the first message on prophecy that is given today in our midst. As you enjoy reading the sermon online, please feel free to copy it and save to your hard drive for later reference or to use as a lesson for you study group, whatever time they meet. You have my permission to reproduce this wherever it is accepted and needed; for God's Word is Truth and my messages are for all to heed and hear. As a matter of fact, that will go into what will be said today. Since this will be an online sermon, it will be brief as far as time and explanation is concerned. So, please enjoy and feel free to leave replies as you so desire (for members) and/or join us one the Final Call (to those who are not members). This morning, our topic will be focused on prophecy and the blessedness it holds for those who read, hear, and heed the words thereof. Todays' morning message is entitled, “Blessedness of Prophecy.”

Our passage this morning comes from the book of Revelation, chapter 1, verse 3. I will use the New American Standard Bible (NASB for short) as my source of God's Word this morning. You may use your preferred version for following along if you desire. The following verse, Rev 1:3, reads as follows from the NASB:

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

At this moment, please pray a silent prayer or pray aloud with your group at this time, and then move on to the lesson. The following passage is a verse written by no one other than the one whom is believed to be the Apostle John. John the Apostle was a dedicate and beloved disciple of Christ who was exiled to the island of Patmos for his testimony of Jesus Christ. The text is believed to be written between A.D. 90 and 96 depending on sources. The Lord Jesus Christ received this Revelation from the Father, the first person of the Trinity. In this, an angel is sent by our Lord to John and shows him the the things that will soon take place (verse 1). Though more can be said, we will focus our attention to verse three, as quoted above. As we do, consider the things you may heard about the book of Revelation, other than the obvious arguments (pre-trib, tribulation period, etc). Instead, consider some myths you may have heard like, the book of Revelation is hard to understand. How about, it's not too be taken literal but be viewed as a book of history and not as futuristic. Well, regardless of what you heard, consider this: why even attempt to understand the book of Revelation? Why is there so much controversy over one book that seems so cryptic? Simple: the book of Revelation promises a blessing to those who read, hear, and heed the words of this prophecy; namely, the book of Revelation. Are you sure? Isn't that true of all scripture? Yes, but in this case, context is our friend; it is talking about this book because the cannon, as well as the Bible, hasn't been completed yet. Rather, this will be the final book before the inspiration of the Holy Spirit ceases on His writers of the Holy Scriptures. As we study this passage this morning, I'm going to share with you that there's a blessedness in understanding prophecy.

First of all, it is important to know that whomever reads the words of this prophecy will be blessed. Let's begin by noting the word “blessed”. This word simply means happy. Happy is the one who reads the words of this prophecy. How can just reading the book of Revelation be happy? Well, if just reading it alone would make one blessed, then nothing else would be required. But because there is more to this book than just reading, to be happy requires more to be done than just reading. Besides, when you read you'll find out that there's terrible wars that are fought, people that are killed, and people of God getting slaughtered left and right. Surely...how can one be blessed or happy by just reading such a terror! Simply: though this book contains many terrors, it also contains a blessing. Besides, there's more to do than just reading.

One must not only read the words of this prophecy, but also hear the words of this prophecy. What is meant by hearing is simply to perceive something uttered by another, or gain understanding of a teaching. So, read and hear? Sure. But many people hear what's going on in Revelation and they grow confused and even terrified of the book. So much so that they try to avoid it and don't bother to try and understand it as the Word of God. But if one is seeking the blessings of this prophecy then one should seek and understand this book, because it contains very important information that helps our faith grow, as well tell us the victories of Christ and His return. Remember that this book is also the Word of God and that it is so much a blessing that God would bless you alone in reading and understanding His Word. Besides, the reasons for reading and hearing would be vital to those who behold the prophecy. So, blessed is he who reads and hears the words of this prophecy. If they were any other reason to read the book of Revelation, this would be it: to bring blessedness to your reading and understanding of the Revelation of Jesus Christ!

The reader is blessed, as well as the hearer, but also one other thing is to be considered here. Reading and hearing are great, but the Word of God calls forth people to “heed” the words of this prophecy. To heed something is to guard or to attend carefully is vitally important. It's not enough to read and hear Revelation but to heed it as well. Throughout scripture together, there are different times in which we are called to heed something. For instance, in Matthew 24, Jesus told His disciples to “take heed” as to not be deceived because many false Christs have gone out into the world. This same terminology can be used to take heed of the things listed in this prophecy. After all, when the Bible promises to bless one who reads, hears, and heeds something, it's vitally important that it's noted and acknowledged so that one will receive it.

So what? What is the blessedness of reading, understanding, and heeding the words of this prophecy that John told us about? Because the time is near. Near, as in, very close, a time in which something will occur at the right moment, or imminent. You are blessed if you read, hear, and heed the words of this prophecy because the time in which these things will occur is near, very near! So if you know about it, then you can easily tell others what will take place. Not only that, you can prepare your own life to receive the blessings of God and avoid the slothfulness that many believers may have when Christ returns. We all know Christ has promised to return, but when we do not know. Many people have tried to understand the book of Revelation, only to be refuted by many others who either disagree or believe to a degree and not in full the true message of Revelation. The challenge is given to the one to read, hear, and heed the words of prophecy; and that challenge is far and true (because these are the words that come from the one that's faithful and true, Rev 22:6)

I challenge you today, brothers and sisters in Christ, to gain read this book and to hear it (understand it) and heed what it says. Study it diligently and it shall bring you to a better knowledge of our God and things He has in store for us. Besides, the message of Revelation is so inspiring but at the same time it's so terrifying that it brings both a blessing and a curse. What is the curse it brings? Maybe that will be the next topic... I hope this has inspired you to read this book as part of your devotions or just for gaining understanding in the wisdom of our Lord. If John write and knew enough to understand it, then so we too can be blessed in that reading, hearing, and heeding the words of prophecy. May God bless you and keep you, until we meet again, God be with you all! Amen!

Reggie (Ninjaearth)