God is Watching Over to Bless Our Reading of His Word
Did you know that there is one book in the Bible, which begins with a specific blessing to those who read and hear the contents of this book? That book is the last one in the Bible, the book of Revelation, the Apocalypse.
I think it very interesting that it is exactly this book that carries such a blessing, because without a doubt, it is the most difficult book of the Bible to understand in a cursory reading. Many studies have been made about this book, many sermons have been preached, and many people have tried to dissect it to try to make human sense of it. But it remains a book with many mysteries embedded in it. When I say, “mystery,” I am speaking of something that is for now hidden, but one day will be revealed. God has mysteries for us to only understand at certain times and in certain ways as we walk with Him, and as we NEED to know His truth revealed through the mystery.
My perception is that the more we read or hear the book of Revelation, the clearer the imagery becomes, and the more of the mysteries we understand. As we seem to be very close to the return of our Lord, the Messiah Jesus the Christ to earth, we have a need to understand more of these mysteries in order to be prepared for what is coming upon the earth to be ready for His coming, during His coming, and the aftermath of that coming.
It also seems that the more we read this book, part of the blessing we receive is that divine understanding and wisdom to discern what the Spirit is saying to us. In chapters 2 and 3 of Revelation, we find letters, which were written to seven churches. It becomes obvious that although these letters were written to existing churches at the time of the writing of this book, they still have an application and meaning for us in the time in which we are living. Each letter ends with this admonition, “He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” This indicates that indeed the Holy Spirit of God is saying something to the churches of all ages, and now especially in our age. May we have ears to hear, to understand and the will to obey.
My challenge to all of us is to make time regularly to read the book of Revelation to ourselves, read it to our families, read it in our churches, and meditate on what the Spirit wants to say to us. God does watch over us as we read this book in a very special and particular way to bless us. Let us give the time necessary to receive this special blessing.
Mary Fawcett