The Joy of Revelation VI. The Beatitudes - 6

6.     22:7 (Look! I am coming soon!

Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy expressed in this book.)

Here we have another parenthetical insertion which again appears to come, not from the angels that continue to guide John through his visions, but Jesus Christ himself. Again, it seems as if Jesus can’t keep himself from trying to get the main point(s) across. We dealt with a previous one in the discussion of Beatitude #2, from Rev. 16:15. 

NOTE: Not all translations put these particular phrases in parentheses, e.g. the NRSV.

First of all, what are we to make of the first 2 phrases, over 1900 years after this was written? Some have dismissed outright the idea of Christ’s return. They are similar to the Jews who have given up on the idea that the Messiah is coming. Some of both of these groups would still claim they believe in God and that God has a role to play in the world, that there are still ways in which we can gain from the study of scripture. However, most Christians, and I am in that camp, do believe that there will be a time when Christ will return. What exactly that will look like we have some suggestions in the Bible, some of which we have dealt with in this chapter. One imagines there is much more we do not know. 

How then can we understand these words? I think John wrote them, quite probably believing that Jesus was coming soon. Much of the New Testament writing on the subject suggests the Early Christians held such a belief. It is not difficult to see how people of the time would have believed that, having just lived with Christ, with the events of his life, death and resurrection still on their minds. Paul writes from that perspective too.

We know John was writing to people who were living in difficult times. There were restrictions placed on their lives. There were prison sentences, there was persecution, mainly from Rome, sometimes from Jews and other religions. We see all this in the New Testament already. To tell the believers Jesus was coming soon and going to set things right, to vindicate them, would have been welcome news, a reassuring message that gave hope. We see this is a message all through Revelation.

This could also be interpreted personally. Those facing death would know Christ was coming for them. When they died, they would join him. That would be a positive message for them too. If Christ was not coming yet as in The Rapture, as it is sometimes spoken of, he was coming for those who remained faithful. He was coming for the persecuted, the martyrs. Some of them knew their death was going to be soon, and that meant Christ was coming for them soon!

Another approach to this time question has been to refer to what some refer to as God’s time. God, of course, is not limited by time. However, God created the system that marks our times. This does not mean time is irrelevant to God though. If he set it in motion, it is obviously important. In other words, what might seem soon in God’s scheme of things could be a long time for us in the human dimension of time. But we know and trust that God, who has demonstrated faithfulness in keeping his promises before, in fulfilling many elements of his plan, is still working it out. Indeed, demonstrating that is a key component of Revelation. 

If we then want to ask, what are these words of prophecy? In the grand scheme of things, they show God’s overall plan for the world, for humanity. As I have already written, prophecy is more than a prediction of the future. It is the word of God for a particular time, a specific situation. It can be a call to repentance. It can be God imploring us to return to faithfulness. It can be a plea to live out behaviour consistent with being a people of God. There is warning and judgment. We see all of these in the writings of the Old Testament prophets, and we see all of these here in Revelation. 

So, what does it then mean to keep these words of prophecy? What else can it mean but to respond in the affirmative to all of these invitations? If we repent and turn to Jesus, if we live justly and in righteousness, obeying the law of love, if we keep the faith steadfastly to the end of our lives – this is keeping the words of this prophecy. This is what the Lamb, who gave himself for us, asks of us. This is what will make us blessed. This is what can give us the joy of knowing we are on the right path, the joy of Revelation, walking with our Lord, headed to the glory described in so many ways in this important book for those who remain faithful.