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Revelation's Beatitudes
(By Gerald Schnuelle)

        Normally when we think of the "Beatitudes" we think of Jesus' sermon on the mount as described in Matthew 5. The book of Revelation, however, presents us with seven other beatitudes or pronouncements of blessing for those who persevere to follow Christ until the end. These beatitudes serve also as assurances that Christ will never abandon His faithful disciples.

       The 7 beatitudes given in the book of Revelation are as follows:

       These beatitudes or blessings from God begin in the first chapter of this last book of the Bible and they end in the last chapter of this book. The seven blessings reveal a progression from John's time to the time of the end and the second advent of Christ. Consequently, these beatitudes may be seen as a summary of Revelation's message. Together they represent the complete blessings of God for all His faithful and persevering children. Death has no power over such, for they love their Lord, keep His words, receive and live His righteousness. The marriage supper of the Lamb awaits them to celebrate this grand victory with Him.

A BLESSING FOR ALL WHO KEEP HIS WORDS (Rev. 1:3; 22:7)

       Why does God promise His blessing on all who hear, study, and keep His words in Revelation? When the books of Daniel and Revelation are better understood, believers will have an entirely different religious experience. They will be given such glimpses of the open gates of heaven that heart and mind will be impressed with the character that all must develop in order to realize the blessedness which is to be the reward of the pure in heart. One thing will certainly be understood from the study of Revelation—that the connection between God and His people is close and decided." "If our people were half awake, if they realized the nearness of the events portrayed in the Revelation, a reformation would be wrought in our churches, and many more would believe the message.

       In order to understand the book of Revelation better than we do now, we must approach its symbols correctly. How are we to regard the book of Revelation?

       To understand this symbolic book, we need to realize first that its symbols continue the traditional Hebrew images and terms. This connects Revelation closely with the Old Testament. These connections have to be established so that we can study each apocalyptic symbol in its original setting and meaning. There is a spiritual unity in God's revelations and works of redemption and judgment found in God's two witnesses of the Old and the New Testament This brings with it a deeper insight and conviction of truth.

       The other important principle of prophetic interpretation is the application of the gospel of Christ to all Hebrew symbols and images for the Christian age, because Christ is the center of all hope. How does experiencing Christ as the center of your hope lead you to take to heart His words and submit to His will?

THE BLESSING OF WASHING OUR ROBES (Rev. 22:14)

       What did Christ accomplish for us by His shed blood? Rev. 1:5; 5:9. Notice the imagery Isaiah used to express his own saving experience: "I delight greatly in the Lord..... For He has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness" (61:10, NIV). Why did Christ counsel the church in Laodicea to "buy" from Him "white clothes to wear"? Rev. 3:18, NIV. Do you see a connection between these symbolic "white clothes" and "wearing" them? Do you discern a close connection between justification and sanctification here?

       What is a believer to do after he has accepted from Christ His salvation? In Rev.7:14 it tells us that the believer is to wash his clothes and make them white in the blood of Jesus. In other words they need to put on the righteousness of Christ. In Rev. 22:14 it tells us that we need to wash our robes so that we can have access to the tree of life and may enter into the City of God. Many today would have us believe that it is only necessary to make a decision to have Christ come into our hearts to be saved with the privilege of entering into heaven. These verses indicate, however, that the believer must respond to that decision by cleaning up his life and putting on a life of righteousness of serving Christ. Making the decision is the right place to start, but one must continue in striving to please and serve the master which they have chosen in order to have the privilege of participating in the blessings of heaven.

       We may consider Rev. 7:14 as the key text to understand the meaning of the seventh beatitude in Revelation 22:14. It explains to some extent how we can wash our character robes to be white again. It keeps the attention riveted on the present privilege and duty of Christ's followers: they need to keep washing their robes of character.

       In Rev. 22:14 we are told that it is they that "do His commandments" which have the right to the tree of life and the right to enter into God's heavenly place. Again I say that it takes more than just walking a church isle making a "decision" for Christ. It involves follow up. We must within all our ability attempt to follow His commandments and live a life that is pleasing to Him. Being humans we will falter and at times fail and let Him down, but if we honestly want to serve and please Him and ask for His forgiveness He is faithful to forgive and help us back up on our feet when we fall. In this way the believer keeps a living connection between participating in the atoning cross of Christ and preparing for future salvation in Paradise restored. How do you apply the shed blood of Christ daily to your conscience?

THE WEDDING SUPPER OF THE LAMB (Rev. 19:9)

       What kinds of people in Jesus' parables were invited to the wedding banquet? Matt. 22:9, 10; Luke 14:23. It is important to know that the king in Jesus' parable invited not only the good people to the wedding feast, but also the bad ones (Matt. 22:10). They represent all nations in the Christian church (Matt. 28:19). It points to the mixture of true and false—i.e., obedient and disobedient—disciples in the church. Why was at least one man who was invited not allowed to take part in the wedding feast? Matt. 22:11-14. The king came in to see the guests before the actual wedding occurs. The guest who did not have wedding clothes at the royal banquet unmistakably represents the self-righteous sinner. He wants to make it known that he does not need the sacrificial death and atoning blood of Jesus to enter heaven.... It is an utter impossibility to appear before God without the protective clothing offered by Jesus Christ.

       What clarifying note does John add regarding the meaning of "fine linen"? Rev. 19:8. Why do you think he does that? Again, I believe that John is referring to the righteousness of the believers. The larger setting of the unit of Revelation 17-19 shows the contrast between the "harlot" and the "bride." Their different dresses indicate different behaviors. In opposition to the evil deeds of the harlot (see Rev. 17:4-6), John points to the "righteous acts" of the bride of the Lamb. This indicates a Christlike character!

       When will the wedding supper of the Lamb take place? None of us know precisely when that will occur, but we need to be ready at all times so that we are ready for it when it happens. Events in today's news indicate to me that this time of the coming of the wedding supper of the Lamb is getting very near. In what ways are you preparing yourself for the wedding supper of the Lamb?

SPECIAL BLESSINGS FOR THE END TIME (Rev. 14:13; 16:15)

       What is the time-setting of the beatitude in Rev. 14:13? If we recognize the specific context of the pronouncement of blessing, we have moved forward in time to the preaching of the last warning message of God to all nations (Rev. 14:6-12). This means that the blessed dead of 14:13 are those who kept "the faith of Jesus" (14:12, NKJV) during the testing time. The phrase "from now on" does not point to the moment of death, as some commentators say, but refers to those who die in the Lord while witnessing with the restored faith and obedience to God's commandments (14:12). They do this in the face of the threats of the beast and his allies (Rev. 13:15-17). This special blessing is assured by the resurrection of Christ, who holds "the keys of death and Hades" (Rev. 1:18, NIV). Notice the remarkable confirmation by the Holy Spirit: "Yes,... they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them" (14:13, NIV). These "deeds" are not independent entities but the expression of a living faith in those whose lives correspond to their profession.

       What is the time frame of the beatitude of Revelation 16:15? (See Rev. 16:1.) Again we are moved forward in history, now to the time of the seven last plagues. Although these plagues will fall only after probation has ended (Rev. 15:1, 8), Christ inserts here a special alert signal to His end-time people: "Behold, I come like a thief!" (Rev. 16:15, NIV). This must be understood in the light of Christ's earlier warnings (Rev. 3:3; Matt. 24:43, 44; Luke 21:34-36). Their purpose is to arouse God's people to be ready before probation ends. It is precisely because the followers of the Antichrist are not awake to God and his gospel that the day of God for them is a day of doom instead of a day of redemption.

       What do you think is the meaning of the blessing of staying awake and keeping one's clothes found in Revelation 16:15? (See Matt. 22:11.) We need to be clothed with the clothes of the righteousness of Christ so that we are ready to be a part of the great wedding feast.

OUR GREATEST BLESSING IN THE FUTURE (Rev. 20:4-6)

       What is the most comforting assurance for the future of the saints? Rev. 20:4-6. This blessed assurance goes beyond that of 14:13. Its fulfillment must come before the saints can enter the wedding supper of the Lamb in 19:9. Here we find also the reassuring answer to the question What will happen in the judgment to those who have died in the Lord? How and when will they enter heaven and enjoy its glory? By a new act of creation! The faithful ones will be resurrected along with those who will be translated to take part in a new responsibility, to judge the world (see also 1 Cor. 6:2, 3). This is a fulfillment of what the prophets had already promised in the resurrection for the saints (see Isa. 26:19; Dan. 12:2).

       Who are the "holy" ones that are blessed with the first resurrection? Rev. 20:6. We need to realize that the term saints [hoi hagioi, in Greek] is the regular title of all believers in Christ (Rom. 1:7; 1 Cor. 1:2). This title does not denote primarily a moral qualification, but a calling to belong to God as His chosen people (see Rom. 8:33; Col. 3:12). But then the Spirit of God leads them into a life of holiness (Rom. 8:14; 1 Cor. 6:11) to make them fit for heaven (Col. 1:12), to make their "calling and election sure" (2 Pet. 1:10, 11). Peter explains the moral implications in this regard (1 Pet. 1:13-16).

       For our purpose, we need to consider also the larger context in Exodus 19:6 and Daniel 7:9, 21, 22, 25. The background of Daniel 7:22 is illuminating for understanding Revelation 20:4-6. The saints in Daniel 7 are those who remain faithful in persecution and witness faithfully about the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.

       How did Jesus describe death? How did He correct Martha's belief in the resurrection? John 11:11, 23-26. He described it as a sleep. In Christ is life, original, unborrowed, underived. He that hath the Son hath life. The divinity of Christ is the believer's assurance of eternal life.

       Why should we not simply trust others to do our study for us and accept their conclusions? I believe it is important for each believer to establish and maintain that close personal relationship to Christ which can only be obtained through the Holy Spirit as he studies and develops his own conclusions based upon His guidance.

       How many times can a believer "wash his clothes" in the blood of the Lamb? He should continuously wash his clothes keeping them as spotless as possible. If we keep our robes "unsoiled" from apostasy, do we then no longer need God's forgiving grace? We all fail and do less than that desired by God occasionally and we continually need to ask God for forgiveness and restoration from our failings. If we do this honestly from our heart with the full intention of not repeating the error God is faithful to forgive us our sins because of our clothing in the righteousness of Christ. So many of our modern churches are overcome with apostasy. They have a form of worship, they may be expanding their worldly status, they may be building new buildings or raising funds for other projects but in all this they are not attempting to bring people to a point of washing their clothes continually in the righteousness of Christ. Many of their members do not even read the Bible or pray regularly and they do nothing really to encourage them to change their ways. I believe the true believers of today are diligently trying to wash and keep their clothes clean and white so that they are ready to partake of that great wedding feast and will enjoy the blessings of these beatitudes of Revelation.