REVELATION 1:1-3 – READ, HEAR, AND KEEP

INTRODUCTION:

1. Tonight we come to the actual text of Revelation.

2. As we do this, let’s bear in mind the foundation we have laid.

3. John was writing to some congregations of the Lord’s church (2-3).

4. The Roman Empire had turned against Christianity.

5. The empire of Rome was threatening to stomp out the faith of Christians.

6. John was not going to yield to Rome; he didn’t want his brethren to yield.

7. Somehow fellow believers had to be encouraged and strengthened.

8. How could John get his message through without government censorship?

I. APOCALYPTIC LANGUAGE. THIS WOULD LET CHRISTIANS KNOW ABOUT GOD AND

HEAVEN’S PLANS, AND AT THE SAME TIME KEEP THIS INFORMATION CONCEALED

FROM THE UNBELIEVING AUTHORITIES.

A. This evening we will look at the first three verses of Revelation 1. READ.

B. John said that what he was writing would come to pass “shortly” – 1:1b.

C. The time for the events of Revelation was “at hand” – 1:3b.

D. If we accept what John says at the start of this book and repeats – much of this book is history.

E. In addition to giving us information about what events are to occur, we have information

about a key character.

F. Verse 1 says, “The revelation of Jesus Christ”.

G. Revelation is about Jesus.

H. When we conclude this study we should know a lot more about the Lord.

I. In fact, John deals with the idea of knowledge in Verse 3.

1. He speaks of people “reading” this book.

2. People “hearing” this book.

3. And people “obeying” this book.

J. These are the three points we will use in tonight’s study.

K. These points do not involve complex symbolism.

L. If anything, the three thoughts in Verse 3 are practical.

M. John spoke of people “reading” Revelation.

1. We have printing presses.

2. Millions of books can be produced each year.

3. Our publishing abilities are fairly recent.

4. In John’s day copies of books had to be made by hand.

5. You might hold you finger here and turn back to Luke 4.

6. Jesus went through the temptation in the wilderness.

7. He then made His way back to Nazareth.

8. Jesus went into a synagogue and read from the Old Testament.

N. If we are called upon to do a scripture reading, we just take our Bible and read from it.

O. Look at what Luke 4:16-17 says. READ.

P. Copies of God’s word were all done by hand.

Q. Not everyone had a copy of scripture.

R. Many times copies would be kept in synagogues and they would be handed to the reader.

S. After the reading was finished, the copy would be returned – Verse 20.

T. This is what John describes in Revelation 1:3.

U. “Blessed is he that reads.”

V. Since not everyone would have had a copy of Revelation and people would have wanted to

hear God’s word, someone had to read it.

W. To the reader, John says, “You are blessed.”

X. When people shared God’s word with others they were blessed.

Y. When people read God’s word they were blessed.

1. The reading (sharing) of God’s word is important to heaven.

2. The word “blessed” is used elsewhere in Revelation.

3. This word used in Revelation 1:3 is also used in Revelation 14:13.

4. John says that the dead are “blessed”. READ.

5. Heaven takes good care of those who die in the Lord.

6. Dying in the Lord is a very favorable (blessed) state to be in.

7. Revelation 19:9 is another reference that uses the same word. READ.

8. This passage is certainly good and favorable.

9. John describes fellowship with Christ.

10. This is as good as it gets for human beings.

11. The word used in Revelation 1:3 also occurs in Revelation 22:14. READ.

Z. The word “blessed” is a word that Christians want applied to them.

A. The word “blessed” indicates God’s stamp of approval.

B. The “blessed” are those who are pleasing to God.

C. God says that reading (sharing) His word makes one blessed.

1. This should encourage those who publicly read scripture.

2. Those who do this are favorably looked upon by God.

3. Sharing God’s word with others in other ways is blessed.

a. If we share the Bible with our children, this is a blessed act.

b. Opening God’s word with our husband or wife is a blessed act.

c. Sharing God’s word with those we know is a blessed act.

II. JOHN SAYS THAT WE CAN DO MORE THAN READ (SHARE) GOD’S WORD. IN VERSE 3B

JOHN SPOKE OF “HEARING” THE WORDS THAT COMPOSE THIS BOOK.

A. The word “blessed” applies to both reading and hearing.

B. Look at the verse once again – READ.

C. Blessed is he that reads AND he that hears.

1. The word “hear” is an important word in the New Testament.

2. It occurs about 430 times.

3. In Revelation this word occurs 46 times.

4. We are going to see this word again and again.

5. The word “hear” has more than one meaning.

6. In some cases it is literal.

7. People “hear” because they are not deaf.

8. This literal usage is in verses like Mark 7:37.

9. Sometimes the word “hear” means to obey – Mark 9:7.

10. At the transfiguration the Father said, “Hear ye Him.”

11. “Listen to and obey My Son.”

D. In Revelation 1:3 the “hearing” does not seem to mean obedience.

E. After the word “hear” in Verse 3 we have the word “keep”.

F. Keep goes along with obedience. Here there is a difference between “hear” and keep.

G. The meaning of “hearing” is right in our text – Verse 3.

H. Here is a man who is “reading” God’s word – in this case Revelation.

I. As this man is reading, those present are “hearing”.

J. The word “hearing” in Verse 3, if you like marginal notes, is listening.

K. God not only strongly approves of having His word read, He is very interested in people

listening to His word.

1. We have a society that is losing interest in God’s word.

2. The desire to listen to the word has decreased.

3. This decreased desire does not please God.

4. When people listen to the gospel, God is pleased.

L. I would not hesitate to apply this hearing to non-Christians.

1. I will affirm that God is pleased with those who are not in Christ when they listen to His word.

2. This does not mean that those who are listening are saved.

3. It does not mean that they have become a friend of God.

4. People outside of Christ need to get into Christ.

5. There is a sense in which God is pleased when people listen.

M. This is a lesson for each one to learn, know and apply.

N. When we listen to God’s word, we engage in a blessed act.

O. If we do not listen to God’s word, we make a bad choice.

1. I was in school with a man who had already preached for several years.

2. This brother was from the Arkansas/Missouri area.

3. He had wild stories to share with his classmates.

4. He told of a woman who did not like him.

5. This sister brought her Sunday newspaper to services.

6. When it came time for the preaching, the sister unrolled the newspaper.

7. She held it out in front of her and read about current events.

P. Would you like to guess what heaven thought about that?

Q. Blessed is he that readeth and heareth.

R. I have heard some dull preachers in my day. We all have.

S. The mind can wander. We may start to fidget and squirm.

T. If a man has little to say about God’s word, we have reason to wiggle.

U. If the truth is being read (presented), we need to do our best to hear (listen) to it; concentrate

on it.

V. This pleases God.

III. WE HAVE LOOKED AT TWO THINGS FROM REVELATION 1:1-3. THERE WAS THE

READING OF THE WORD AND THE HEARING OF THE WORD. NOW WE COME TO THE

KEEPING OF THE WORD.

A. The word “keep” is going to show up throughout Revelation.

B. It will be used in 2:26; 3:3, 8, 10; 12:17; 14:12; 16:15; 22:7, 9.

C. The word “keep” means “to observe; to do”.

D. Think with me about what Revelation says in these opening verses.

1. John is writing a letter that is received by at least 7 churches.

2. John says that this document needs to be:

a. Read.

b. People need to listen to it when it is read.

c. Brethren also need to “keep” (do) what this book says.

E. How many times have we heard someone say Revelation tells us things to do?

F. Aside from Revelation 2:10, this book receives little attention.

G. John says that his book contains things for God’s people to do.

H. If there were no other reason to study this book, this would be sufficient.

I. As we go through this book we will look at things we are to do.

J. Tonight I will give you a little preview.

1. Rev 3:2a – READ – “be watchful” (do this).

2. Rev 3:18 – READ – “buy gold from God”.

3. Rev 3:19 – READ – repentance is taught in Revelation.

4. Rev 16:15 – READ – we need to “keep our garments”.

5. Rev 18:4 – READ – there are some things we need to avoid.

6. Rev 19:7 – READ – we have some obligations towards God.

7. In Rev 22:14 we have this thought – READ.

CONCLUSION:

1. Contrary to what some believe, Revelation and the rest of the Bible need to be read and listened to.

2. These things are done because the Bible can be understood.

3. With our understanding comes a responsibility to keep (obey) what it says.

4. Tonight we hope that you have acted upon this responsibility.