Revelation 22:6-11: a reflection

6He said to me, “These words are faithful and true. The Lord God of the spirits of the prophets sent his angel to show to his bondservants the things which must happen soon.” 7“Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.” 8Now I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. When I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who had shown me these things. 9He said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow bondservant with you and with your brothers, the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.” 10He said to me, “Don’t seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand. 11He who acts unjustly, let him act unjustly still. He who is filthy, let him be filthy still. He who is righteous, let him do righteousness still. He who is holy, let him be holy still.”

Near the very end of the Bible, as the vision closes, Christ speaks a word of both promise and blessing: Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book. The promise of Christ's coming is joined to a blessing on those who keep God's word. In light of Christ's coming, the one who keeps the words, who heeds and lives by what God has spoken, is blessed. The nearness of Christ's coming gives urgency and weight to keeping God's word; and a blessing is pronounced on those who do, who take God's word to heart and live by it as they await his coming.

Notice the blessing joined to the promise: blessed is he who keeps the words, and, I am coming soon. Christ's coming is near; and in light of it, a blessing is pronounced on those who keep God's word, who heed and live by what he has spoken. It is not enough to have heard God's word or admired it; the blessing is on those who keep it, who take it to heart and live by it. And the nearness of Christ's coming gives this urgency: as we await his coming, we are to keep his word, and blessed are those who do. To keep God's word, heeding and living by it in light of Christ's coming, is to be blessed. The one who keeps the word is ready and blessed at his coming.

That is worth taking to heart, for we are blessed when we keep God's word, especially in light of Christ's coming. We can hear God's word, admire it, know it, and yet not keep it, not heed and live by it; but the blessing is pronounced on those who keep the words, who take them to heart and live by them. And Christ's coming gives this urgency: we are to keep his word as we await him. Do not merely hear or admire God's word without keeping it; blessed are those who keep it, heeding and living by it, especially as Christ's coming draws near. Keep God's word, heeding and living by it rather than merely hearing or admiring it, especially in light of Christ's coming, as he says, blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book, and I am coming soon; for the blessing is on those who keep God's word, and the nearness of Christ's coming gives urgency to heeding and living by what he has spoken.

Lord Jesus, near the very end of the Bible, as the vision closes, you speak a word of both promise and blessing: behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book. The promise of your coming is joined to a blessing on those who keep God's word. In light of your coming, the one who keeps the words, who heeds and lives by what God has spoken, is blessed. Show me the blessing joined to the promise: blessed is he who keeps the words, and, I am coming soon. Your coming is near; and in light of it, a blessing is pronounced on those who keep God's word. It is not enough to have heard God's word or admired it; the blessing is on those who keep it, who take it to heart and live by it. And the nearness of your coming gives this urgency: as we await you, we are to keep your word. To keep God's word, heeding and living by it in light of your coming, is to be blessed. Take that to my heart, for I am blessed when I keep God's word, especially in light of your coming. I can hear God's word, admire it, know it, and yet not keep it, not heed and live by it; but the blessing is pronounced on those who keep the words. And your coming gives this urgency: I am to keep your word as I await you. Keep me from merely hearing or admiring God's word without keeping it; blessed are those who keep it, Lord. Help me keep God's word, heeding and living by it rather than merely hearing it, especially as your coming draws near, as you say, blessed is he who keeps the words, and I am coming soon.