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HopeLives365

Mark Finley

7 Blessings to Live Successfully in the Last Days

If I asked you, where are the Beatitudes found in the Bible, what would your answer be?

Most people would say they're found in Matthew, the fifth chapter.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, Blessed are they that mourn, blessed are the meek, and so forth.

Is that the only place in the Bible that beatitudes are found?

Somebody says, well, pastor, they may be found in others of the gospels.

But wait a minute, Are you aware that there are Beatitudes in the book of Revelation?

7 Beatitudes are outlined in the book of Revelation.

And the book of Revelation gives us 7 beatitudes, 7 blessings to live successfully in the last days of earth's history.

Let's look at the 7 beatitudes of the book of Revelation.

We begin with Revelation chapter 1, verse 1.

It says it's the revelation of Jesus Christ Where did Jesus get this revelation?

God gave it to him Why did God give it to him to show his servants things which must shortly come to pass?

And so the book of Revelation is more than a book of beasts and images and cryptic symbols.

It's a book given to us by God to enable us to live fully abundant lives in the last days of earth's history.

Beatitude number 1, Revelation 1, verse 3, "'Blessed is he that reads, "'and they that hear the words of this prophecy "'and keep those things that are written therein "'for the time is at hand.'" So blessed is the 1 that reads, The person that reads the book of Revelation, the person that understands prophecy, the person that knows what's coming because they have read with divinely enlightened eyes by the Holy Spirit, they will be blessed.

Blessed is the person that reads, those that hear.

Now the word for hear in the original Greek language is akuo, it is understand.

So it's 1 thing to read Revelation, it's another thing to understand it.

By comparing Scripture with Scripture, by reading the book of Revelation, by filling our mind with prophecy, and by allowing the Holy Spirit to interpret that prophecy in our lives.

Here it says, in those that keep, blessed is he that reads and hears, or understands and keeps.

The purpose of reading and understanding is to keep, is to do those things that are written in the book.

So the book of Revelation leads us to perseverance.

And that's what these blessings are about.

They're about a people who saturate their minds with the word of God, who have God's word and his prophecies filling their hearts.

A people whose minds are not saturated with the mass media of our day.

They're not saturated with the latest Hollywood themes.

They're not infatuated with Hollywood stars or enamored with the sports heroes.

They have the greatest hero in the world and that's Jesus Christ.

And so this is the blessing of for those that study.

Now, the second beatitude is the blessing for those that are faithful to God.

We find this beatitude in Revelation chapter 14 and verse 13.

It says, Revelation chapter 14 Verse 13, I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, write, blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth, yea, saith the spirit, they may rest from their labors and their works do follow them.

There is a blessing placed upon the person who's been faithful to God.

In the book of Revelation, chapter 13 and 14, the beast power arises.

There's a time that no man can buy or sell.

There's a time that to be faithful to God, One's life is threatened, 1 may be put in prison, and 1 may be isolated from family and friends, and God's Spirit, of course, is there with them.

The Holy Spirit is encouraging them, giving them hope.

But This says in Revelation 14, verse 13, blessed are the dead that die in the Lord from henceforth.

So there are those who may give up their lives, even as martyrs, when the mark of the beast is enforced.

As they do that, The Spirit of God touches their lives and influences other people through their faithfulness.

Blessed are the dead that die on the Lord from henceforth, yea, the Spirit says that they may rest from their labors.

They are resting, but the legacy of their life goes on.

They may have been martyrs for their faith, but their life witness still goes on.

The impact of their life touches other people.

Are you living your life in such a way that when you die, the legacy of your life still blesses others?

That your faithfulness to God impacts your family, your friends, your children, your relatives, your working associates.

It is a special blessing given by God upon Every person that is faithful to him and lives a Christ-centered, biblically-oriented life, the blessing is that when you die, the legacy of your life will continue to bless others.

Now, the first blessing in Revelation 1, verse 3, is the blessing of study.

The second blessing is in Revelation 14, verse 13.

It is the blessing of faithfulness, that if you live a faithful life, your life blessing will continue to go on.

The third blessing is the blessing of vigilance.

We find that in Revelation 16 and here in verse 15.

Jesus says, behold, I come as a thief, not that he's coming secretly, but he's coming swiftly, unexpectedly.

Blessed is he that watches and keeps his garments lest he walk naked and they see his shame." In other words, be vigilant.

Do not allow the world to squeeze you into its mold.

Do not allow the world to crowd out the things of eternity.

You remember what it says in Romans, the 14th chapter.

Here in the book of Romans, the Bible is very, very plain about the world and it's how the world is attempting to squeeze us.

It's written, it's actually chapter 12, verse 2.

"'Be not conformed to this world.'" In other words, don't let the world squeeze you into its mold.

Be not conformed to this world, but be transformed.

By the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

So allow the Holy Spirit to enter your life.

Don't be enamored with the things of this world.

Don't let the things of time crowd out the things of eternity.

Revelation chapter 16, the third beatitude says, Behold, I come as a thief.

It means to be on guard and keeps his garments.

That is when we come to Jesus, he clothes us with his righteousness.

When we come to Jesus, he surrounds us with his love.

When we come to Jesus, he fills us through the Holy Spirit with the fruits of the spirit of love and joy and peace and longsuffering.

Blessed is he that watches, that's alert, keeps his garments, that is vigilant, does not allow the things of time to crowd out the things of eternity, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.

There's a blessing for the 1 who is eternally vigilant, because once you let your faith slip, You remember how it's put in the book of Hebrews, Hebrews chapter 3 and verse 2.

The Bible puts it this way in the book of Hebrews.

Hebrews 2 verse 1, therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things that we've heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.

For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward, How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?

Don't let the things of eternity slip through your fingers like grains of sand.

Don't neglect the salvation that Christ has given to you.

That third beatitude is an earnest appeal to watch and be vigilant.

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7 Blessings to Live Successfully in the Last Days

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