1:3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear and obey what is written in it, because the time is near.

14:13 … “Blessed are the dead—those who die in the Lord from this moment on.” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labors, for their deeds will follow them.

16:15 … Blessed is the one who remains awake and clothed, so that he will not go naked and let his shame be exposed.”

19:9 “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.”

20:6 Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection! The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.

22:7 “Behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of prophecy in this book.”

22:14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by its gates.

— Revelation 1:3; 14:13; 16:15; 19:9; 20:6; 22:7; 14

Thoughts on Today’s Reading

Grace, mercy and blessings from Christ to you.

There are many sevens in Revelation as a symbol of perfection and fulness. There are seven churches, seven spirits, seven stars, seven seals, seven trumpets, seven horns, seven eyes, seven trumpets, seven angels and so on. Revelation also has seven blessings. The first blessing is to those who know the time is near and read aloud, hear and keep the words written in this prophecy—the book of Revelation. The second blessing, according to a loud voice from heaven telling John to write is to those who die in the Lord from that moment on as they will rest from their labors and their deeds will follow them. The third blessing is to the one who remains awake and clothed so that he will not go naked and let his shame be exposed.

The fourth blessing is to those having been invited to the supper of the marriage of the Lamb. The fifth blessing is to the one who shares in the first resurrection as the second death has no power over them but they will be priests of God and of Christ and they will reign with Him for a thousand years. The sixth blessing is to bless the one who keeps the words of prophecy in this book of Revelation. The seventh blessing is to those who wash their robes so that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by its gates.