Revelation 1:3 "Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near."
Introduction: Understanding Christ's Second Coming
We once again approach the Book of Revelation with the intention of understanding God's word and to see the Christ revealed therein. Whenever we looked at Revelation 1:1-3 a few days ago, we asked the question: why study the book of Revelation? In working through the opening verses we uncovered three reasons for studying this precious book:
1. The Person of Christ is revealed 1:1
2. Prophecies of things to come 1:2
3. Promises of blessing 1:3
With the reasons for studying Revelation established, we turn now to the key topic of the Book of Revelation: Understanding Christ's Second Coming. Revelation 1:3-8 will be our area of interest, since Christ's coming is alluded to or mentioned three times: Revelation 1:3 ("time is near"), Revelation 1:7 ("behold He is coming") & Revelation 1:8 ("who is to come"). We know that Christ's second coming is of great interest in the Bible and of chief interest in the Book of Revelation.
a. Some estimate that 1 out of every 25 verses speak of his second coming in the New Testament and that His second coming is predicted eight times more than was his first coming in Bible prophecy.
b. A total of 109 prophecies in the Old Testament predicted Christ's first coming however 224 prophecies spoke of what will be His Soon return.
c. According to Bible teacher Dr. John MacArthur, Jesus Himself refers to His second coming 21 times and in 50 or so places in the New Testament we are told to be ready for it.
d. The Book of Revelation references Christ's second coming in passages such as 1:3,7,8 as well as possible mentions in Revelation 6:17; 11:15; 14:14-20 and definite mention in Revelation 19:7-21.
Three truths about Christ's Second Coming from Revelation 1:1-8
So what can be said about Christ's second coming from Revelation 1:1-8? We will note three truths about His Second coming, with today's post focusing on the first:
1. Fast Approaching. Revelation 1:3
2. Fully Glorious. Revelation 1:4-7
3. Finish This Present Age. Revelation 1:8
The first truth to note from Revelation 1:3-8 about Christ's second coming is that it is....
Fast Approaching. Revelation 1:3
Revelation 1:3 states - "Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near." Please notice that underlined phrase: "the time is near". From the original language this phrase could just as easily be rendered: "the season is drawing to a close".
a. The New Testament's emphasis upon the immediacy of Christ's second coming
As you explore the New Testament's teaching on the second coming of Jesus Christ, Bible teachers will often use two terms to explain the fast approach of His coming: immediacy and imminency. The first term speaks to the suddenness of His coming and the second refers to not knowing when it will happen. Without a doubt the New Testament asserts both and underscores the Fast Approaching nature of Christ's Second coming as being immediate:
1. Matthew 4:17 "From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
2. Romans 13:11 "Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed."
3. James 5:8-9 "You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. (9) Do not complain,brethren, against one another, so that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door."
4. 1 Peter 4:7 "The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer."
5. 2 Peter 3:8-9 "But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. (9) The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance."
6. 1 John 2:18 "Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour."
Biblical verses like the ones above demonstrate the emphasis of the fast approach of Christ's second coming. Revelation echoes this same truth in places such as 1:1; 3:11; 22:6,7,10,12,20.
b. The New Testament's emphasis upon the imminency of the fast approach of Christ's second coming: Be ready!
Now why is this truth important for you? Because the Bible itself uses the fast approach of Christ's second coming to warn believers and unbelievers alike to be ready. We could look at many passages, however three clear examples will suffice to press home the point:
1. Matthew 24:44 "For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will."
2. Luke 12:39-40 "But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have allowed his house to be broken into. (40) You too, be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect."
3. 1 Thessalonians 5:4-6 "But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; (5) for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; (6) so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober."
Without question John is emphasizing the first truth of Christ's second coming as being a fast approaching event. As we close out today's post I, consider these words from Bible teacher Dr. John MacArthur on this text of Revelation 1:3 -
The next great era of God's redemptive history is near. That the return of Christ is imminent, the next event on God's prophetic calendar, has always been the church's hope."1
End Notes:__________
1. Dr. John MacArthur., Jr. The MacArthur New Testament Commentary: Revelation 1-11. Moody Press. 1999. Page 23
Daniel 9:23 At the beginning of your supplications the command was issued, and I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed; so give heed to the message and gain understanding of the vision.
The setting for today's top Bible Prophecy - Daniel 9:24-27
The prophet Daniel in Daniel 9:1-2 had been reading a series of verses from the prophet Jeremiah in Jeremiah 29:10-14 -
“For thus says the Lord, ‘When seventy years have been completed for Babylon, I will visit you and fulfill My good word to you, to bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.12 Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will restore your fortunes and will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will bring you back to the place from where I sent you into exile."
Upon reading and reflecting on that text written over 70 years prior, Daniel decides to seek the Lord in prayer and to await God's response in Daniel 9:3-19. In Daniel 9:20-23 the angel Gabriel comes to a weary Daniel to encourage him and instruct him about God's future plans for Israel and His redemptive purposes to the end of history. Daniel had already been in Babylon for 70 years, and knew the time was about done. However what he needed to know from God was: "what now?" We read these words in Daniel 9:23 "At the beginning of your supplications the command was issued, and I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed; so give heed to the message and gain understanding of the vision."
With that word of encouragement, Daniel is given in 80 words the most far reaching prophecy in Daniel 9:24-27. It is to these four verses I direct the reader's attention to consider the Top Bible Prophecy of Daniel 9:24-27.
Top Bible Prophecy - Daniel 9:24-27
Many prophecies exist throughout scripture, some of which we have covered in previous studies. In this current periodic study we are entitling "Top Bible Prophecies", we have looked at those prophecies which predict and shape the events of scripture and history. 1 Many of those prophecies cover vast stretches of time and others are known for their heights of revelation about Jesus Christ. Daniel 9:24-27 accomplishes both. Below is a summary of the passage and the three great truths that show why it can be termed a Top Bible Prophecy:
1. Sovereignty of God 9:24-25
The prophecy begins by stating in Daniel 9:24 - "Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city." To understand how the Jews reckoned time, we know from passages such as Genesis 29:27-28, a "week" was a way of measuring a period of seven years or what is called a "heptad". Being that the Jewish calendar was based on the phases of the moon, each year was 360 days in length. Hence 490 years are spoken of here in Daniel 9:24 that correspond to a period of time divinely prescribed by God.
God's Sovereignty is His comprehensive rule over people, times and events. (Genesis 50:20; Psalm 90:1-2; Daniel 2:44; Romans 11:36) Before God reveals the specifics of this time frame, He first of all lists six Divine purposes for the remainder of his dealings with his people Israel -
1. To finish transgression
2. To make an end of sin
3. To make atonement for iniquity.
Those first three purposes would be accomplished in Christ's first coming to die on the cross and raise from the dead. God is Sovereign enough to orchestrate all of time in order to send His Son to accomplish salvation once and for all. (Galatians 4:4) Daniel then lists three more Divine purposes that relate to Christ's future second coming:
4. To bring in everlasting righteousness
5. To seal up vision and prophecy
6. To anoint the most holy
These last three Divine purposes are like the first three, they must necessarily come to pass. All six have relationship to Israel, to history and to Christ. God is Sovereign enough to bring them about. (Acts 2:23-24; Romans 11:25-26; Philippians 3:20-21) Thus the first reason why Daniel 9:23-27 is a Top Bible Prophecy. But notice the second truth taught...
2. Savior's Cross 9:25-26a
From the Sovereignty of God we see his remaining explanation of the prescribed 70 weeks (490 years) that would lead up to the crucifixion of our Lord. Recall the observation we made about how the Jews reckon time? In these two verses God revealed through this angel two divisions of this prescribed period, with the third being dealt with later in 9:26b-27. In Daniel 9:25 we read - "So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with plaza and moat, even in times of distress."
The first divided section deals with "seven weeks" or "49 years". The decree to rebuild and restore Jerusalem is recorded in Nehemiah 2 and occurred on March 14, 445 b.c. Whenever you count 49 years from that date, you arrive at 396 b.c, the exact year the city was done and also whenever Malachi the prophet finished his prophecy.
The second divided section of 62 sevens or 434 years is reckoned from the completion of the city in 396 b.c to the crucifixion week of our Lord in 33 A.D. Daniel 9:26a states - "Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary." Now whenever you do a little math and combine these two divisions together (49 years plus 434 years = 483 years) and multiply 483 years times 360 days, you arrive at a figure of 173,880 days. If we take the decree to rebuild and restore Jerusalem (March 14, 445 b.c) and count 173,880 days, we would arrive at April 6, 33 A.D, the day in which Jesus rode into Jerusalem on his triumphal entry! That very week would be when our Lord was to be crucified or "cut off" as predicted by Daniel.
So we see the truths of God's Sovereignty, leading to the Savior's cross which in turn brings us to the third major truth found in this top Bible prophecy, namely...
3. Surrounding events leading to Christ's return 9:26b-27
Daniel's prophecy jumps from the cross to the future wherein history will be coming to its intended end before Christ's return. The third and final division of the seventy weeks is classified as "one week" or a seven year period wherein this "prince" will make a covenant with Israel. In the middle of this seven year period, the prince (elsewhere called "Anti-Christ, Son of Perdition and other names) will break his treaty and thus revealing his true colors. Thus "Anti-Christ" is the subject of these verses, with his rebellion and blasphemy being the primary predicted events. This final seven year period or "week" spoken of in Daniel is referred to by other names throughout the Bible.2
This focus of Daniel's 70th week is designed to show the stage upon which the second coming of Christ will take place. The "complete destruction" upon the one "who makes desolate" (Anti-Christ), though not explicitly stated here in Daniel 9:24-27, is shown in other texts to be accomplished by one Person, the soon coming King of Kings and Lord of Lords. 2 Thessalonians 2:8 illustrates - "Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming."
Conclusion
Praise be to God for the top Bible prophecy of Daniel 9:24-27 that reveals the Sovereignty of God, the Savior's Cross and the Surrounding events of Christ's second coming.
Endnotes:_____________________
1. Other top prophecies that have been studied previously are: Genesis 3:15; 12:1-7; Deuteronomy 30; 2 Samuel 7:8-16; Psalm 110; Isaiah 53 and Jeremiah 31:31-34. The reader is encouraged to type in "Top Bible Prophecy" in the search engine on this blog site to view the previous entries in this study.
2. Note the names given for Daniel's "seventieth week" throughout scripture:
1. Day of Israel's Calamity. Deuteronomy 32:35
2. Jacob's trouble or troubled time. Jeremiah 30:7; Daniel 12:1
3. Day of Wrath. Zephaniah 1:15
4. When you arrive in the New Testament, Daniel 9:26b-27 constitutes the backdrop for Jesus' teaching on the times leading up to His second coming in Matthew 24:15 and Mark 13:14.
5. Day of the Lord. 1 Thessalonian 5:2
6. The Tribulation and Great Tribulation, Matthew 24:21,29
7. Judgment leading to Christ's return. Revelation 6-19
Daniel 1:9 "Now God granted Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the commander of the officials."
Brief Introduction
In today's post I am interested in acquainting the reader with an overview of the Book of Daniel. Daniel was a Jewish lad of 15 years of age when he and his fellow Jews were taken away into exile by the Babylonians to the land of Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar, the king of what came to be called the "Neo-Babylonian Empire" took the Jews into captivity over a period of three stages in 605 b.c, 597 b.c and the final defeat of Jerusalem occurring in 586 b.c. These dates are important to consider for getting into the reader's mind both Daniel's day and the prophets who were ministering in Jerusalem. Daniel would had been among those in the first deportation, Ezekiel in the second stage of exile and Jeremiah representing those Jews who saw Jerusalem fall in the final wave of exile in 586 b.c. Daniel's book is interesting because he begins writing it as a young man of 15 and receives the visions from God up until past his 85th year of life.
Ways in which to approach Daniel
As a young man Daniel had been called and gifted by God to receive and interpret visions, as well as compose the series of revelations that would span the over 70 years he would spend in Babylon. To get a feel for the types of things Daniel wrote in his book, we can divide the Book up topically or chronologically:
Three Topical sections covered in Daniel
Section 1: Testimonials Daniel 1,3,6
-Daniel and his 3 friends. Chapter 1
-The 3 friends and the fiery furnace. Chapter 3
-Daniel and the lion's den. Chapter 6
Section 2: Prophecy Daniel 2, 4, 7-12
-Predictions for the remainder of history until Christ's return. Chapter 2
-Prediction of the humbling and restoration of Nebuchadnezzar. Chapter 4
-Predictions and further elaborations on prophecies of history until Christ's return. Chapters 7-12
Section 3: History Daniel 5
-The empire of Babylon falls to the Persians
Four sections of Daniel in Chronological order
1. Daniel 1-4 occurs during the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon 605b.c-562 b.c
This is where we see Daniel in his youth and where the themes of God's Sovereignty and Kingdom are developed.
2. Daniel 7-8 occurs during the brief reign of Nebuchadnezzar's son, known in history as Nabonidus in 556 b.c. History outside of scripture records that Nabonidus had a son by intermarriage with his father's daughter of a different mother by the name of Belshazzar. As Nabonidus grew more interested in seeking adventure to fill his appetite for archaeological relics, Belshazzar was installed as his co-king and overseer of the empire. It was with this background that Daniel, a far older man, received his second series of visions concerning history in general and the time in between the Old and New Testaments.
3. Daniel 5-6 Though appearing in the text of Daniel before chapters 7-8, chapters 5-6 chronologically are revealed to Daniel after 7-8. Daniel's book primarily is organized more in a topical, rather than a Chronological manner. In the language of the court, Belshazzar is called "son" of Nebuchadnezzar due to his being in the dynastic line of Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 5:2). Daniel interestingly enough ends up being 3rd in command over Babylon in Daniel 5:29, a title which would enable him to serve the court after the switch from the Babylonian to Persian Empires. It is in these chapters we see Daniel make statements about events near to his day and the King of Persia, Darius, issue a decree by Daniel's pen of the universal reign of God's Kingdom. (Daniel 6:26-28)
4. Daniel 9-12 is the longest and most far reaching prophetic section of Daniel. Composed by Daniel in his mid-eighties, we see the most remarkable prophecies recorded in the Old Testament. It is in this last section where we see all of God's prophetic insights to Daniel come to bear. The Book of Daniel ends as a sealed book, a "padlock", awaiting the time when Jesus in Matthew 24 and other books such as Revelation will come and "unlock" the wonders revealed in Daniel.
It is hoped that this brief survey has aided the reader in gaining a greater appreciation and grasp of the Book of Daniel.
Revelation 1:3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near.
Review
I offer once again the quote I gave a couple of days ago from the late pastor and Southern Baptist preacher Dr. W.A Criswell: No other book in the Bible has as much circumference and height and depth as does the apocalypse of Jesus Christ. It describes the great consummation of the age, and we are in the plan and that program and that unfolding now. We are involved in it. It is a part of our life and ultimately a part of our destiny. When we read the Book of Revelation, we read about ourselves. When we scan the vistas of the ages in this book, we are looking at the destiny of our own souls. It is not something far off; the time is at hand. It concerns us."1
For the past couple of days we have been interested in understanding why the Book of Revelation is so important for the Christian. So far we considered the reasons of the Person of Christ being revealed and the prophecies of things to come. In today's post we want to look at one more reason to study Revelation from Revelation 1:3 - namely the Promises of Blessing.
Promises of Blessing. 1:3
Revelation 1:3 states - "Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near." What does it mean to be "blessed"? According to Greek Scholar W.E Vine, the word translated "bless" speaks of "the nature of that which is the highest good".2 Whenever you and I think of "blessing", we conceive of blessings mainly having to do with "material things" or "spiritual highs". Though such realities can flow from blessing, the true heart of blessing is having more of God's Power and Presence in your life.
You and I as Christians are in desperate need of the vertical in order to impact the horizontal. What do I mean by that? Whenever you are exposed for any length of time to this world, your way of living quickly becomes horizontal, meaning that all that matters is what you see in front of you and around you. However the Book of Revelation is refreshing because it presents all of life as being about the vertical - that is God centered, Christ exalting and Spirit saturated. Only when we are vertical in our vision can we affect the horizontal around us. Revelation starts off with the vertical and reveals how the horizontal world right now and will be impacted by Christ's return.
According to Revelation 1:3, a three-fold vertical promise of "blessing" is given. First it starts with the blessing to the one who "reads". That word translated "read" speaks of public reading, preaching or teaching of the scriptures. Whenever Jesus entered into the synagogue at Nazareth to preach his first sermon in Luke 4:16, that word "read" was used. When the Apostle Paul was writing instructions to the young pastor Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:13, he said to give himself to "public reading, exhortation and teaching." Revelation is meant to be preached, and thus we see a promise of more of God's power and presence in the preacher.
But notice also two other blessings: namely to those who "hear" and those who "heed". Those who "hear" obviously refers to the ones who are listening to the preaching of the Book. Remember, by Divine inspiration John wrote this book to seven churches in Asia Minor. The Book of Revelation was meant to be circulated, preached and heard in the churches. Then that third word "heed" refers to the obedience and embracing of Revelation's message by both the preacher and the person in the pew. All Christians know that it is not enough to be a mere hearer of the Word, but also a doer thereof. (James 1:22-25)
Conclusion So then it is important for the Christian to hear and heed the words of Revelation? We know that the Person of Christ is revealed, that prophecies about the future are given and that promises of blessing abound in Revelation. John punctuates these reasons with the final little phrase at the end of Revelation 1:3 "the end is near". Quite literally, this particular present age is drawing to a close. The final tick of the final second of God's prophetic clock is about to go to twelve. History as we know it is ready to exhale and give away to Christ's return, Millennial reign and New Heavens and new Earth. My prayer is dear friend that you are read to be met by the Master of the Book of Revelation - Jesus Christ. I close with these words from Romans 10:9 "If you will confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."
End Notes:______________
1. W.A Criswell. Expository Sermons on Revelation. Pages 13-14
2. W.E Vine. Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words. Page 133
