November 28, 2025
“Pray, Read, and Keep”
Revelation 1:3
What a wonderful experience it was to sit at the foot of the table at our older son’s home—for while my poor hearing enabled me to hear only snatches of the conversations—from Joy on my right, and one of our daughters-in-law on my left, and down the long table, where our two sons, along with wife and daughter all enthusiastically conversed during this, my 85th Thanksgiving day.
And while foxnews.com and numerous blogs and TV news programs had been interviewing “experts” on social relations about how we should be careful to avoid topics like politics in order to preserve the holiday peace, or more correctly, truce, there was no disharmony here. They discussed numerous subjects, ranging from the impact of AI on their own work, to politics to religion, including the cults, faith, and the second coming of Christ. And their give and take was amiable and good natured, with not a note of discord, even when expressing highly volatile issues.
The difference is that those sitting around our table were motivated by Christ’s command to love, which is a matter of obedience and not some here-today, gone-tomorrow feel-good emotion, but the “Golden Rule,” in which Christ commanded all of us to treat others as we should want to be treated. Our sons were amiable and good natured, with not a note of discord, because perfect love casts out fear and melds hearts together, whereas the unsaved are so filled with selfishness and self-righteous bitterness, and so devoid of the will and willingness to love, that they can only despise those who don’t agree with their every view, and even hope for the deaths of those who don’t share those views.
Our children were given us by God to nurture and train up in the way that they should go, and though we could have been better parents, we tried hard. And since they have all put their trust in God, they stand tall. In fact, I sat there thinking, “How much more mature they are than I was at their ages,” and thanked God that I had now been given the wisdom to recognize and the humility to accept that truth.
At one point, my two sons and I began discussing whether we are in the “end times,” and one introduced the fact that Orthodox Jews and some Jewish groups are actively preparing to build a temple to replace the one destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD. And though no physical construction is currently underway, groups such as the Temple Institute in Jerusalem are engaged in extensive preparations, including the creation of ritual vessels, priestly garments, and other sacred objects according to ancient biblical specifications. End times prophecies and the rebuilding of the temple are both favorite subjects of people concerned about a world that seems set on self destruction.
That led to a discussion of the last book in the Bible—The Revelation of Jesus Christ—a book in which both of our sons had obviously immersed themselves. And I, “the gadfly of Athens,” asked in an innocent voice, “Are you satisfied that the Church will experience a pre-tribulation rapture?” And the younger, like his brother, went out of his way to show tolerance to his beloved old dad, concerned, I suppose, that I might be on the edge of senility, and that they must be kind and understanding because I might kick off any day. So with just a slight flare in his eyes, he instantly and emphatically replied, “ABSOLUTELY!”
Then I asked a couple of follow-up questions to elicit further comment. But the most vital to me was, “What do you think is the most important lesson that God is trying to teach us from this book?” Our youngest—a brilliant Bible scholar, with the degrees to prove it, immediately began discussing significant passages from the book, but I interrupted him.
“No, no,” I said. “What is the fundamental teaching of the book?” I can’t recall my exact words, but I do remember agreeing with him that one verse, early in the book, is vital. So, I will base my own ideas about what God wants us to take from the book by alluding to a number of passages in The Revelation. But don’t get me wrong. I don’t disagree with my two sons ideas of what is important in the book. We need to try to understand all these things in order to avoid being misled, and to learn from God.
I. First, READ AND HEAR
“Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of the prophecy, and keep those things that are written therein: for the time is at hand.”
Revelation 1:3
That third verse in the book tells us that “they that hear the words of the prophecy” will be blessed. It does not say that they that hear it must understand it all, but it is implied that we will try.
II. KEEP THE THINGS
We should all strive to understand “…those things that are written therein…” because we must not only hear, but “…keep those things….” I suppose you could interpret that phrase to mean that we need only remember or memorize those things, but that doesn’t seem adequate because it says, “…keep the things.”
And that word, “keep,” is used numerous times in the Bible to exhort us to obey, to do, to “keep.” For example:
- Keep thy heart with all diligence (Proverbs 4:23).
- Keep the way of the Lord (Genesis 18:19).
- Keep thy tongue from evil (Psalm 34:14).
There are many other commands to “keep,” but these words of Jesus Christ encompasses them all:
“Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.”
Luke 11:28
And the words spoken to John are almost identical to the words of Jesus. “Blessed is he that readeth, and they thathear the words of the prophecy, and keep (obey) those things” (Revelation 1:3).
It seems to me that this is the reason for our receiving Christ’s Revelation. Sure, the unsaved may try to understand it, and terror that might be awakened in a convicted heart by the Holy Spirit with the intent that they might see their need for Christ. Of course theologians dig in and attempt to understand all the symbolism and glean the truth from every word. But it was communicated to John so that he would record it for you and me. Even the least educated among is commanded to read or hear, and take from it certain basic truths—facts that impact each life—things that you and I are to keep now and in the future, and even after “time is no more.”
Please keep in mind that when John penned these words, all the others who had been with him during his three years with Jesus had now passed on—Peter, Andrew, his brother James—all the Apostles, including Paul. So John was writing to those who were then alive, the second generation of believers, but also to all who would come after, including you and me.
So, as I mentioned to my sons, “To me the book of the Revelations is God’s extensive and elaborate final biblical message, its capstone, and because it centers on the return of our God and Savior Jesus Christ, and his judgment on the world and the devil, it is worthy of our best study and devotion.
I mentioned that I consider this book to be an elaboration of God’s message in the parable of the virgins. Jesus concluded his parable with these words:
Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
Matthew 25:13
III. TAKE CARE THAT YOUR TEACHERS ARE TRUSTWORTHY
Let’s consider a few of the things that the Lord made very clear, for if God made them clear, then we ought to pay special heed.
I say, “Pay attention to the Parable of the Virgins; be ready, or be left out in the cold!” That’s what I consider the principal message of the book, but as our sons were discussing, there is so much more; things that sometimes seem difficult to understand; symbols about which theologians have been debating for 2,000 years. What are we certain about concerning these events, and what do we know of their timing? We may understand the order in which they occur, and the enormity of their impact, but little of their actual timing. We need to study the book because it will help prepare us against many dangers. For example, we need to be very careful of whom we listen to, especially if we become proud of our knowledge, and of our ability to discern honest teaching, for “Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall (Proverbs 16:18). As Jesus warned,
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Matthew 7:15
Jesus warned,
“Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.”
Luke 21:8
The wolves that come among us may seem like sheep, and above criticism, but we’ve been repeatedly warned that false teachers, inspired by the prince of lies, are to be expected, and not tolerated.
John, on the other hand, could be trusted. He began, “I John, who also am your brother….” which is clearly an allusion to his faith relationship with all men and women who have received Jesus as Savior,
“I John, who also am your brother, was in the isle of Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Revelation 1:9
John was about 95 years old when the Revelation was revealed to him. He was “the disciple whom Jesus loved” (John 21:7), a proven soul winner, preacher, pastor, and teacher, whom neither the Jews, Gentiles, or Roman authorities could silence. They threatened, whipped, scorned, and murdered Christ’s disciples, but none of them, including John, would stop declaring that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God, and that through him, we may have forgiveness of sins and eternal life.
IV. PREPARE TO READ AND HEED WHAT YOU LEARN
And what was John doing when it all began? He wrote:
“I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice as of a trumpet.”
Revelation 1:10
John had been praying so long and so intensely that he was, as it were, “… in the Spirit.”
Isn’t that what we are called to do, to be filled with the Spirit? After all, the Lord sent his Holy Spirit to lead us into all truth; to convince us of sin, and of righteousness, and of justice; and to bring comfort and provide the power (dunamis) to be his witnesses (Acts 1:8). But we find it difficult to pray, as we find witnessing to strangers to be a hard thing. We can argue that even the original disciples had a problem with prayer, but that is no excuse!
Jesus had been praying so intensely in anticipation of his coming passion that he sweated as it were great drops of blood. But when he returned to his disciples, whom he had instructed to “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation,” and he had even mentioned the challenge they faced, that “…the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41), all of them, including Peter, who had just declared that he would never betray Jesus, all of them were fast asleep.
That is another lesson in The Revelation. The first is that the Christ of God is about to act. The second is that—if we want to understand anything about his revelation, we need to be “in the Spirit,” as John was. We dare not be luke warm about these matters! If he finds us walking in the flesh, rather than in the Spirit, we will be as blind men.
There is nothing in these verses that I just quoted that should puzzle us. Unlike much of the book—rich in symbolism, and fraught with terrifying events—John’s words are straight forward and easy enough for most saints to quickly comprehend.
V. FINALLY, DIVE IN; GO DEEPER
God made his intentions clear. He has provided a warning, and promised blessing to those who heed his words:
Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.
Revelation 1:3
Someone may say, “I want to understand, but I cannot!” And you will not be able to understand unless you do as he instructed: Stand tall and boldly share your testimony, and lower yourself in prayer until the Spirit overflows and leads you into all truth, as Jesus assured us he will.
As he was commanded, John took the little book from the hand of the mighty angel in Revelation chapter ten:
And I took the little book out of the angel’s hand, and ate it up, and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.
Revelation 10:10
Will that happen to you if you devour God’s word? You may, like Ezekiel the prophet, taste of the word of God, and find it “sweet as honey,” but when you consider entering his ministry, you hesitate because of the risk that that honey will turn bitter in your stomach.
It doesn’t surprise me when someone declares, “Forget it! I’ll do well without that!” In fact, that is what tens of thousands of people have said when denying God’s call on their lives. It’s a pity that they didn’t remember Peter’s counsel:
For Peter adds:
But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Having a good conscience;”
I Peter 3:14
Consider James’ words:
Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin,
James 4:17
When you are a “King’s kid,” you get special consideration from God. Ask me. I provide scores of examples of God’s miraculous intervention in my new book, Average Guy meets Extraordinary God, coming soon from Northeastern Baptist Press.
So, set yourself apart. Take time in prayer, perhaps, as John did, “…on the Lord’s day,” because, if you do this, you’ll be among those
“Blessed…that readeth and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep the things which are written herein: for the time is at hand.”
Revelation 1:3.
Since blessing is awaiting you, and “the time is at hand,” can you think of a better way to invest your life?
Copyright 2025, Frank Becker