Revelation 1:3

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3 Blessed [makarios] is he that readeth, [anaginosko] and [kai] they that hear [akouo] the words [logos] of this prophecy, [propheteia] and [kai] keep [tereo] those things which are written [grapho] therein [en]: [autos] for [gar] the time [kairos] is at hand. [eggus]    KJV-Interlinear

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.     NASB

The whole Bible is the revelation of Jesus Christ.Though Jesus Christ is God and the entire scriptures come from God, Jesus as the Son of God, is the represented mediator between God and man and therefore receives His instruction from the Father.And in turn communicates Gods Word, through the Holy Spirit, who is the revealer of scripture, to mankind.

Unlike all other religions and beliefs, there is only one truth, and one source of truth, which is God the Father.  And we have access to that truth by only one means and that is through Jesus Christ, who is our Lord and Savior.  And it is so stated herein so that all who read these words, will know that they are truth, and that they will come to pass at Gods convenience.

'Blessed', ‘makarios,’ is the result, which goes to those who follow their consistent daily study of Gods Word.

You cannot simply read and forget what you have read.But you must study in a manner which is compatible with Gods commands, where you learn and, comprehend, and possess the information which you have learned so that you can use it in your life.But more than that, as we will see when we get to the seven spirits, in the next verse, there is a specific procedure for learning and for your advancement in your spiritual life.

Genesis began with God in the beginning, because God is not only the beginning but the source of everything in creation.  Note that God is not a part of creation.  God preexisted creation, and is not apart of it.  God created the universe, yet God is outside the universe.So, here in Revelation, as John begins the chapter, the order of priorities is first set out.  We will read all the cool stuff about dragons and battles and such later, but in the beginning of this book the more important things are covered – your spiritual knowledge and growth.

First there is God, who gave instruction to Jesus Christ.Christ is our mediator and our link to God the Father.But there must be a mechanism that makes that link complete between us and God, and that mechanism is Bible doctrine.

First the gospel which gets us into Gods family and therefore in a potential position for a relationship with God.  Then there is doctrine, or the rest of the content of scripture, which is the source of our spiritual growth, and making possible an increased relationship with God.

The result is blessing.  Blessing to anyone, and it is guaranteed, who studies Bible doctrine, who listens, who hears, who retains and who applies (heeds) the doctrine they have learned, to their daily lives.  It all begins with your attitude toward doctrine, 'hearing', or being positive enough to go the entire distance of learning to the point of spiritual maturity.

Why?

Because the time is short, or near, as John warns us.  History is moving rapidly to a close.  If the Cross occurred in 30 AD, then we are 1,979 years into this Church Age (as of the year 2009).  Remember that Christ was born in the Age of Israel, and this Church Age began 50 days after the Cross, at Pentecost, and our Church Age has continued until this day.  Our Dispensation will continue until the number of believers for this Royal Family is completed, and will terminate at the rapture of the church.God alone knows when the number of believers will be completed.And since God is the source of order and planning, there is definitely a time predetermined for that event to occur.  God does not do anything haphazardly or arbitrarily.  Nothing in life, repeat, nothing in life occurs by accident.

But here we are warned that time is short, or near.   The meaning of the word, 'eggus', near, ready, hand at the throttle, squeezed, arm flexed to the point of aching, a curved arm.  OK, so what does that all mean?

God has completed, at the Cross, all the history that is necessary to complete in order for history to come to a close.  God is ready as far as mankind and angels are concerned, and can pull the plug on history and the angelic conflict at any moment.The next prophecy in time is that of the rapture of the church.It is imminent and has been ever since John wrote these words and published this letter to the churches back in 96 AD.

So from that point on, and since the Bible has then been completed, God tells us that the time is ever short.  He does not have to wait for the nations to form around Israel.God does not have to wait for the spheres of power to form to the north, south. east and west.God does not have to wait for the kings of the east to come to power, or any other king for that matter.Ever since the first century that stage has been set for the rapture and the final events of history.

Gods hand and arm are poised on the lever, arm flexed, muscles straining at the ready, to push history into its next phase.

So the warning to each of us.Do not procrastinate in your spiritual growth.  Don't put off that which you should be doing today, studying your Bible and growing up in your spiritual life.

Your over all objective in life in spiritual advancement to maturity.Your entire eternal future depends on it.You will either be a lower class, or upper class citizen in heaven.  There is no equality in heaven, since all will not have the same rewards.All will not have the same crowns, awards, blessings, beyond the basic blessings, and eternity is a long time for these differences to last.

Opportunity is now and when your death occurs, or when the rapture occurs, then your opportunities for advancement in your spiritual life in this current life, will end.   And what you have spiritually, in your soul, in this life is what you will take with you to heaven for your review and presentation of rewards by Christ at the Judgment Seat of Christ.

Therefore, do not be fooled.  All scripture comes from God, and it comes through only one source, Jesus Christ.

So study doctrine, learn it, and keep it as though it were the greatest treasure in your life, because  ....  it is.

The arm of Jesus Christ is flexed to the maximum, His hand holding tightly on the lever of human history.  When God the Father indicates the exact moment when history will change course (the Rapture), then Christ will throw that lever (symbolic) and events will begin to occur is very rapid succession.

To those who actually read or hear these words (Revelation) and those to follow, and learn from them, then blessing will occur in their life.To those who are not interested, then something worse, not blessing, will occur in their life.