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Beatitudes In The Book Of Revelation

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hould the announcement be made that there will be a series of articles in the newspaper on the Beatitudes, some would think of such verses as, "Blessed are the pure in heart," or "Blessed are the peacemakers." These (along with the others) are certainly the Beatitudes of Jesus, and need to be studied often. However, they are not the ONLY Beatitudes in the Bible.

In this series, we will be looking at some Beatitudes from the Book of Revelation. These will be used to suggest spiritual lessons taught throughout the Bible.

"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" (Rev. 1:3).

You will notice that a blessing is pronounced on those who READ, HEAR, and KEEP the Word of God. Reading is important to many people today, but there are millions who neglect this blessing. Instead of reading books, time is spent viewing TV and listening to the radio. These have their place, but how long has it been since you read a book from the Library? How much time do you give each week to reading the Bible?

Many do not obey the Bible because they do not read and study it! The context of this beatitude is READING and OBEYING! Paul commanded Timothy, "Be diligent [study] to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Tim. 2:15). In chapter three, verses 16 and 17 of this book, Paul declared Scripture to be inspired of God, and capable of equipping one for every good work. Therefore, we need to read and study the Bible, and then put it into practice.

One time a missionary gave a man from China a Bible. Three weeks later, he knocked on the missionary's door, and returned it. The missionary asked, "Why are you returning this Bible?" He replied, "Because, every time I read it, it kicks me!" This is as it should be! The Bible is to be studied to change our lives—to lead us in obedience to Jesus.

Jesus taught: "You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me" (John 5:39). In the Book of Acts, the Bereans were praised over the Thessalonians, because they "received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so" (Acts 17:11).

If you want to receive a blessing from the Lord, then READ, HEAR, and KEEP the Word of God. Remember, it is ONLY through reading the Bible that we can learn about the Savior of the world, and how to obey Him.

"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" (Rev. 14:13).

Millions have been concerned about what will happen when the Lord returns, and many books have been written on this subject. However, the Bible gives a simple answer: When the Lord returns, He will save those physically dead or alive who are found IN HIM, but He will take vengeance on those physically dead or alive who are NOT found in Him. Paul wrote:

"For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord" (1 Thes. 4:14-17).

"...when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Thes. 1:7,8).

We hear today about purchasing Life Insurance, but in reality, no Company in the world can insure our lives! Even though certain benefits can be obtained if we live, basically we are buying Death Insurance. Only the Lord gives true Life Insurance to those who obey Him. For He said, "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly" (John 10:10).

One time some men were digging gold in a frigid part of the world. They struck gold, and day after day became richer and richer while ignoring that winter was coming, and their food supply was low. Finally, the blizzard moved in and the following weeks found them starving to death with all that gold. They had been so busy getting rich that they neglected life! Isn't this the picture of millions today? Lives are spent seeking physical things with no concern for eternal life. Then, with the stopping of the heart, all is left behind.

Longfellow wrote: "Art is long, and time is fleeting, and our hearts, though stout and brave, still, like muffled drums, are beating, funeral marches to the grave."

Remember, ONLY those who die faithfully IN THE LORD are blessed!

"Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame" (Rev. 16:15).

We come now to the third Beatitude in this series on "Beatitudes In The Book Of Revelation." The word "watch" is used often in the ministry of Jesus, and it means to be alert and ready! Jesus said:

"And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!" (Mk.13:37).

"Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming" (Mt. 25:13).

"Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak" (Mt. 26:41).

One of the ways that we are watchful is to keep our spiritual garments pure. The garments mentioned here are not physical, but refer to garments of righteousness. When Jesus dictated a letter to John for the church at Sardis (one of the seven churches of Asia), He said,

"I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Be WATCHFUL, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God...You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy" (Rev. 3:1,2,4).

Those in this church who were spiritually dead had not been watchful, and they had defiled their garments with imperfect works.

Sins that are Unforgiven, defile spiritual garments. Those who follow after the works of the flesh (Gal. 5:19-21), are sowing to the flesh and are soiling their garments. Paul made it plain that those who follow such sins will reap death.

"For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life" (Gal. 6:8).

The apostle Peter called upon Godly women to place the greater emphasis on adorning the "hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible ornament of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very pleasing in the sight of God" (1 Pet. 3:3,4). Those who have outward beauty only, have soiled their spiritual garments, and this is true with both men and women.

Finally, under this Beatitude, there is only one way to cleanse our spiritual robes of defilement—through the blood of Christ.

John, among his many visions in the Book of Revelation, saw those who were arrayed in white robes who had come out of tribulation. Their robes had been washed white in the blood of the Lamb [Jesus] (Rev. 7:13,14).

Therefore, ONLY those who obey the gospel, and reach the blood of the Savior, (Rom. 1:16; Eph. 1:7), can walk with the Lord in spiritual white robes. All of us need to ask, "Have we been washed in the blood of Jesus, the Lamb?"

" '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' " (Rev. 19:9).

The church of Christ is often pictured in the New Testament as the bride of Christ, with Christ the bridegroom.

"Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another—to Him who was raised from the dead..." (Rom. 7:4). This is a spiritual marriage.

Jesus taught that His kingdom was like ten virgins who went out to meet the bridegroom, but only five of these virgins were prepared to meet Him (Mt. 25:1-13).

In the context of this Beatitude, verse seven speaks of "the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready." The next verse describes the way she is arrayed: "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" (vs. 8).

Thus, the church prepares to meet the bridegroom by faithful living according to His word. Those who leave His church, and follow a teaching and religion contrary to God's will are unfaithful, and are committing spiritual adultery.

Jesus gave a parable to teach about His church or kingdom—illustrated by a king who prepared his son's wedding. He sent out invitations by his servants, but those invited did not want to attend, and later killed the servants. The king was angry and slew these murderers, and burned their city. Then a command was issued to go to the highways and invite all that they could find. The wedding hall was filled, but among the many guests, one was found without a wedding garment. This one was cast out into outer darkness (Mt. 22:1-14).

Notice what Jesus was teaching in this parable: He came to the Jews (His own people), but they refused His kingdom. Then He offered it also to the Gentiles. He summed up this parable by saying, "For many are called, but few are chosen" (vs. 14). The ones chosen are those who prepare for the wedding, whether Jews or Gentiles—for God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34).

Paul wrote, "For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit" (1 Cor. 12:13).

We prepare for the Bridegroom by dressing in righteousness! Not our own, but the righteousness of God. Paul declared the gospel to be the power of God unto salvation, and said, "For in it [the gospel] the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith" (Rom. 1:16,17).

The question for all to ask: "Are we spiritually prepared for the marriage supper?"

"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" (Rev. 22:7,14).

We will consider now two Beatitudes in the Book of Revelation. These last two are related. The first one refers specifically to the Book of Revelation, but in principle it applies to all commands in the Christian Age. The second one speaks specifically of the commandments of Jesus.

There are those who teach that obeying commandments is not important. They conclude that since salvation is a gift (Eph. 2:8), that obeying com-mandments would be earning salvation. Even though obeying commandments has no power to buy salvation, the Lord HAS NOT promised the gift of salvation to those who refuse to obey Him. In the Beatitude above, the tree of life and the city of heaven were promised to those who DO HIS COMMANDMENTS!

Is there any other way to show Jesus that we love Him? Is it enough just to say, "Lord, Lord?" Jesus answers in the following references:

"But why do you call Me `Lord, Lord,' and do not do the things which I say?" (Lk. 6:46).

"He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me"..."If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him" (John 14:21,23; cf. 1 John 3:22; Jas. 2:14-26).

To those who keep His commandments, the tree of life is promised. The tree of life is first mentioned as growing in the Garden of Eden. However, when Adam and Eve sinned, they were forced from this tree.

"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" (Gen. 3:22,23). The tree of life was lost!

It is recorded in this Book of Revelation that John later saw the tree of life in heaven!

"In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations" (Rev. 22:2).

As we think of this tree of life, we should remember that salvation is offered ONLY to those who obey the commandments of Jesus.

"And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him" (Heb. 5:9).

It is my hope and prayer that this study of the Beatitudes of Revelation has been a blessing to you! Remember, the same spiritual principles found in these Beatitudes, must be applied to our lives today. If we long to receive the eternal blessings from God, we must seek and live His will while on this earth! —BBBristow