Our Bible Text …
3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. 4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; 5 And from Jesus Christ, who is …
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The Beatitudes (the Promises that begin with a “blessing”) in Revelation form an inclusio! (I am saying that the Book of Revelation both begins and ends with a “Blessed” Statement.)
Here and Revelation 22:14 … Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
In fact, there are 7 such Beatitudes in the Book of Revelation! In our next class we might take a quick overview of all of them. They nearly form the “backbone” of Revelation!
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Paul in his Epistles often includes a Blessing of some kind from God, a sweet word of encouragement. But John makes a point of mentioning the Trinity in his opening Benediction! Father, Spirit and Son, in that unusual order. I suspect Jesus came last because John has so much to say about Him! Our whole upcoming class, in fact!
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Here is the Verse I mentioned with reference to the “seven Spirits” (John’s way of depicting the Holy Spirit of God here in his introduction) …
Isaiah 11:2 … And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD …
Count His Attributes!
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In Bible jargon … “hearing” means “heeding!” To “keep” God’s Word … to take to heart!
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There may be “linkage” between John’s 7 Beatitudes in Revelation and Jesus’ Rewards to Overcomers in Revelation chapters 2 and 3! (I hope to explore any possible connections in my personal Bible Study, the Lord willing. I don’t know if we will have time to do so in class. It’s called “extra credit,” I think!)
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Daniel 2:28 … “But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets … “ (And we have the distinct honor of learning from that God, from His Spirit, from His Book!)
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Back to John’s “blessed” Verses …
“Blessed” is quite compatible with the Books of Wisdom and Poetry …
Proverbs 3:13 … Happy (esher, asher = means blessed) is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
Proverbs 8:34 … Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
Psalm 1:1-2 … Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
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On the public reading of God’s Word in the ancient Churches …
Synagogue reading of Scripture, the Old Testament …
Jesus … Luke 4:16 … And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read (anaginos’ko).
Acts 13:15 … And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on …
Acts 15:21 … For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.
Leading up to …
The New Testament Practice, but adding the Gospels and Epistles and now Revelation …
As in 1 Thessalonians 5:27 … I charge (horki’zo = to force to take an oath) you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren.
Also Colossians 4:16 … And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.
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The noun “prophecy” is found 7 times in the Book of Revelation! (I did count!)
Here’s the complete list: Revelation 1:3; 11:6; Revelation 19:10; 22:7, Revelation 22:10, 18 and 19.
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Back to the Seven Spirits …
He is mentioned here in Revelation 1:4, then in Revelation 3:1 and 4:5 and yet again in Revelation 5:6!
The “exact Name” Holy Spirit is not used in the Book of Revelation! Nor in John’s Gospel or three Epistles!
Instead, other adjectives are ascribed to Him! Such as “Seven” … indicating the Sufficiency, the Fullness of the Holy Spirit, just stated differently!
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And as I generally say, it is best to watch the whole class …
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
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