When we talk about the book of Revelation we talk about sevens. Seven letters to the seven churches. Seven seals β seven trumpets β seven thunders β seven bowls.
What about the seven blessings?! Seven times in the book of Revelation we hear the words, "Blessed isβ¦..."or "blessed are..."
The first one came at the beginning of the book: "Blessed is the one who reads aloud, and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and those who keep what is written in it..." (1:3)
Today we come to the second blessing: "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on." "Indeed, says the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them."
I start with this blessing β because this blessing is the central point of chapter 14.
As we talk about the coming judgment, we need to be reminded that at the heart of the coming judgment day is a day of rest β a day when God will make all things right.
And speaking of sevens, I didn't bring this up earlier β because I didn't want to add too much complexity! β but we are in the middle of another set of sevens!
The Seven "Then I Saws"! Perhaps we should just call them the "Seven Pictures." Seven times β from chapter 13, verse 1, through chapter 15, verse 2 β we hear the identical phrase β "And I saw." The ESV translates it three different ways! And I saw... Then I looked... Then I saw... But in Greek it is exactly the same words...
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