Sunday, January 16, 2011

Keeping the Words of the Prophecy

The book of Revelation (the last book of the New Testament and of the entire Bible) is full of many wonderful and terrible things. Both in its introduction and in its conclusion it promises that those who keep the words of the prophecy of this scroll will be blessed (1:3; 22:7). What does this mean? How are we to keep the words of the prophecy of this scroll? Of course we must first read them. And while reading, we need ears to hear what God has spoken and is speaking to us through them. But then we must also be keepers and doers of these words, not just readers and hearers.



It appears that the majority of the things written in this book are to take place sometime in the future. Then how are we to keep them? Are we just to keep these things in our hearts and minds? Possibly. Yet I believe there is something even more essential in our keeping the words of the prophecy of this scroll. One of the unlocking verses in this book is 19:10 which ends with "the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of the prophecy." The testimony of Jesus is the vital breath, the true essence, the intrinsic revelation of the words of this prophecy. Therefore, I believe that the keeping of the words of the prophecy of this scroll must be related to and for the manifestation of the testimony of Jesus.



Based upon this understanding, I have listed twelve (a key number used frequently in the book of Revelation which symbolically means completion and perfection) practical ways in which I believe we can be not only readers and hearers of the words of this prophecy, but keepers.



I hope you will consider them prayerfully and take the time to open your Bibles to read the references that are listed. You will then be greatly blessed as, by the grace of God, you become keepers of the words of the prophecy of this scroll. Glory be to God!

To go to the twelve point document, click here.

To copy or download this blog, click here.