1After this, I heard what sounded like a vast crowd in heaven shouting, “Praise the LORD! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God. 2His judgments are true and just. He has punished the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality. He has avenged the murder of his servants.” 3And again their voices rang out: “Praise the LORD! The smoke from that city ascends forever and ever!” 4Then the twenty-four elders and the four living beings fell down and worshiped God, who was sitting on the throne. They cried out, “Amen! Praise the LORD!” 5And from the throne came a voice that said, “Praise our God, all his servants, all who fear him, from the least to the greatest.” 6Then I heard again what sounded like the shout of a vast crowd or the roar of mighty ocean waves or the crash of loud thunder: “Praise the LORD! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.
7Let us be glad and rejoice, and let us give honour to him. For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb, and his bride has prepared herself. 8She has been given the finest of pure white linen to wear.” For the fine linen represents the good deeds of God’s holy people. 9And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb.”
And he added, “These are true words that come from God.” 10Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said, “No, don’t worship me. I am a servant of God, just like you and your brothers and sisters who testify about their faith in Jesus. Worship only God. For the essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus.”
Revelation 19:1-10
RSVP Now – Before it’s not too late.
[You will note I am sure that this is an exclusive invitation sent to the chosen few.]
- Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb.
- His bride has prepared herself. She has been given the finest of pure white linen to wear.
Who is the one who makes the choice as to who is chosen and who is left behind? You do! This process is on the basis of self-selection as you learned from the previous Gem.
No one is condemned to a Christless eternity by God. It’s the result of personal choice!
Ian
Revelation is not devoid of benefit or promises. As a whole it is a letter / book designed to bless. Despite the fact some of you have claimed it is a depressing book and you can’t wait until we finish it, it is a letter which warns you to change while you still can. But most miss the point of what John was shown and what he conveyed to us. Most of us want to turn Revelation into a prediction of what will happen at a future point in time. But that is not the purpose of ‘Revelation’. In fact if it were I don’t believe it would help us much. Have you noticed that each time we come to the unveiling of another seal, trumpet or bowl we are not given much in the way of the specifics. But neither is Revelation all doom and gloom as some of you think. In fact it is quite encouraging. Allow me to take you by the hand and lead you through the encouraging parts.
Did you notice in our wedding invitation above this verse.
And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb.” And he added, “These are true words that come from God.”
Revelation 19:9
Do you see John’s letter is book ended with blessing?
This is a revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants the events that must soon take place. He sent an angel to present this revelation to his servant John, who faithfully reported everything he saw. This is his report of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. God blesses the one who reads the words of this prophecy to the church, and he blesses all who listen to its message and obey what it says, for the time is near.
Revelation 1:1-3
God told John when and what to write and when he was not to write the detail down. Notice the re-occurence of the word bless. Right from the start it is clear God knows everything about these SEVEN churches, i.e. all churches and each individual in each church. Seven churches symbolise ‘completeness’. Each of these seven churches represent God’s people down through every age. God knows what each individual is doing in accordance with his Word and what is lacking. I would suggest you read through Revelation chapters 2 and 3 again. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you personally from the comments made to each of the seven churches.
But take particular time to notice the following closing elements for each church. God Himself gives promises to those who respond to His warning to change.
To those in Ephesus:
‘Let everyone with ears listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. To everyone who is victorious I will give the privilege of eating from the tree of life that is in God’s paradise.'”
Revelation 2:7
To those in Smyrna:
‘Let everyone with ears listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who is victorious will never be hurt by the second death.'”
Revelation 2:11
To those in Pergamum:
‘Let everyone with ears listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone. On the white stone is written a new name that no one knows except the person who receives it.'”
Revelation 2:17
Now notice the reversal of the order in what follows: From “1. Let everyone with ears . . . to 2. The one who is victorious switches to “1. Let the one who is victorious . . . 2. Let everyone with ears.“
To those in Thyatira:
To the person who is victorious and continues to do what I’ve commanded to the end, I will give authority over the nations. ‘He will rule them with an iron scepter; shattering them like clay pots.’ ‘Just as I have received authority from my Father, I will also give him the morning star. ‘Let everyone with ears listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.‘”
Revelation 2:26-29
To those in Sardis:
The person who is victorious in this way will wear white clothes, and I will never erase his name from the Book of Life. I will acknowledge his name in the presence of my Father and his angels. ‘Let everyone with ears listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.‘”
Revelation 3:5-6
To those in Philadelphia:
I will make the one who is victorious to become a pillar in the sanctuary of my God, and he will never go out of it again. I will write on him the name of my God, the name of the city of my God (the new Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God), and my own new name. ‘Let everyone with ears listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.‘”
Revelation 3:12-13
To those in Laodicea:
To the one who is victorious I will give a place to sit with me on my throne, just as I have conquered and have sat down with my Father on his throne. ‘Let everyone with ears listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.‘”
Revelation 3:21-22
However both repeated refrains are still present. Let the one who has ears listen to what the Spirit is saying . . . persevere to the end, i.e. be victorious! The initial group of three [Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum] open with Let everyone . . . and close with the person who is victorious. The following group of four [Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea] open with The person who is victorious (perseveres] and close with Let everyone. The point is EVERYONE needs to listen to what the Spirit says and persevere to the end.
I have gone back to read through Revelation looking for the blessing or the encouragement and found the following:
“You are worthy to take the scroll and open its seals, because you were slaughtered. With your blood you purchased people for God from every tribe, language, people, and nation. You made them a kingdom and priests for our God, and they will reign on the earth.“
Revelation 5:9-10
When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of all who had been martyred for the word of God and for being faithful in their testimony. They cried out in a loud voice, “Holy and true Sovereign LORD, how long will it be before you judge and take revenge on those living on the earth who shed our blood?” Each of them was given a white robe. They were told to rest a little longer until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers was completed, who would be killed as they themselves had been.
Revelation 6:9-11
“Don’t harm the land, the sea, or the trees until we have marked the servants of our God with a seal on their foreheads.”
Revelation 7:3
After these things I looked, and there was a crowd so large that no one was able to count it! They were from every nation, tribe, people, and language. They were standing in front of the throne and the lamb and were wearing white robes, with palm branches in their hands. They cried out in a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the lamb!“
Revelation 7:9-10
Then he told me, “These are the people who are coming out of the terrible suffering. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the lamb. That is why: “They are in front of the throne of God and worship him night and day in his Temple. The one who sits on the throne will shelter them. They will never be hungry or thirsty again. Neither the sun nor its heat will ever beat down on them, For the Lamb will be their shepherd. He will lead them to springs of life-giving water. And God will wipe every tear from their eyes.
Revelation 7:14-17
They [the locusts] were told not to harm the grass on the earth, any green plant, or any tree. They could harm only the people who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.
Revelation 9:4
Then I was given a stick like a measuring rod. I was told, “Stand up and measure the Temple of God and the altar, and count those who worship there.
Revelation 11:1
The breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet. Those who watched them were terrified. Then the witnesses heard a loud voice from heaven calling to them, “Come up here!” So they went up to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies watched them.
Revelation 11:11-12
Don’t forget the parody chapter 13. The LORD Almighty laughs at the feeble ploys of satan. [See Learning to Laugh @ Lucifer’s Lame Lies 6]
No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. They have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins, and they follow the lamb wherever he goes. They have been redeemed from among humanity as the first fruits for God and the lamb. In their mouth no lie was found. They are blameless.
Revelation 14:3-5
Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, who keep the commandments of God and hold fast to their faithfulness in Jesus: I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write this: How blessed are the dead, that is, those who die in the Lord from now on!” “Yes,” says the Spirit. “Let them rest from their labours, for their actions follow them.“
Revelation 14:12-13
Then I saw what looked like a sea of glass mixed with fire. Those who had conquered the beast, its image, and the number of its name were standing on the sea of glass holding God’s harps in their hands.
Revelation 15:2
How blessed is the person who remains alert and keeps his clothes on! He won’t have to go naked and let others see his shame.
Revelation 16:15
They will wage war against the lamb, but the lamb will conquer them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings. Those who are called, chosen, and faithful are with him.
Revelation 17:14
Those who are the LORD’s, who have not taken the mark or worshipped the Beast sing Hallelujah, while those whose names are not written in the Lamb’s book of Life cry, “Woe Woe”. Rev 18 / 19 [See Gem 2358]
These are the true words that come from God.
Revelation 19:9
Compare that to the statement below:
This is his [true] report of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Revelation 1:2
There is one more comparison between Revelation 19 and Revelation 1.
And I fell before his feet to worship him, but he said to me, Behold! Stop! I am a fellow-slave of yours, and of your brothers, having the testimony of Jesus. Worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
Revelation 19:10
And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet, as dead. And He put His right hand on me, saying to me, Do not fear. I am the First and the Last, and the Living One; and I became dead; and, behold, I am living forever and ever. Amen. And I have the keys to hell, and of death. Write what things you saw. . .
Revelation 1:17-19 [LITV]
The “Blessings” in Revelation
John’s letter to the churches in Revelation was meant to be a blessing. Lastly, here are the number of times “blessing” is mentioned in Revelation.
Rev 1:3 God blesses the one who reads the words of this prophecy to the church, and he blesses all who listen to its message and obey what it says, for the time is near.
Revelation 1:3
And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this down: Blessed are those who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says the Spirit, they are blessed indeed, for they will rest from their hard work; for their good deeds follow them!”
Revelation 14:13
“Look, I will come as unexpectedly as a thief! Blessed are all who are watching for me, who keep their clothing ready so they will not have to walk around naked and ashamed.”
Revelation 16:15
And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb.” And he added, “These are true words that come from God.”
Revelation 19:9
Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. For them the second death holds no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him a thousand years.
Revelation 20:6
“Look, I am coming soon! Blessed are those who obey the words of prophecy written in this book.”
Revelation 22:7
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.
Revelation 22:14
To Summarize:
Blessed are:
- those who read Revelation
- those who listen to its message
- those who obey what it says
- those who die in the LORD
- those who are watching for His Coming
- those who are clothed in white [gained only from Christ] (Rev 3:18)
- those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb
- those who share in the first resurrection
- For them the second death holds no power
- those who wash their robes [in the blood of Christ] (See Gem 2300)
- For they will be permitted to enter through the gates of the city
- eat the fruit from the tree of life.
Behold, I stand at the door and knock: If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will enter to him, and I will dine with him, and he with Me.
Revelation 3:20 [See also Gem 2211]
Jesus said to him, I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
John 14:6
There is salvation in no other One, for neither is there any other name under Heaven having been given among men by which we must be saved.
Acts 4:12 (See the Gem series No Other Name]
Revelation is when God bypasses the limitations of your mind and shows you things you otherwise wouldn’t know. Instead of finding a solution to life’s problems every now and then, you can walk each day in a ‘spirit of wisdom and of revelation.
Bob Gass
Why would anyone not pay attention to the warnings of Revelation and make the necessary changes in order to be blessed when you meet your maker?
Ian