Revelation 1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things that are written therein, for the time is at hand.
John pronounces seven benedictions, or ”blesseds,” in the Book of Revelation for the readers and hearers of the words of this prophecy. Actually, Jesus promises blessing for those who hear and keep all the Word of God. Luke 11:28. Countless spiritual blessings come to the one who spends time in God’s Word, and believes it. All the vast riches of God come our way when we read, hear, and believe the Word.
We hear the Law and are convicted of sin leading to repentance and faith in the Gospel. Then, by the indwelling Spirit’s influence and leading our lives are brought more and more into conformity with the Law, which brings blessing when we do it. We hear the Gospel which is the power of God that brings the activity of God into the present moments of our lives. God touches us and we are blessed beyond belief. Blessing is the fruit, or result, of being in the Word daily and in church weekly. We can’t easily see the cause and effect connection between the receiving of the Word and the enjoying of the blessing. But it is there. We believe it. For God says so.
In this context, one person reads the book aloud, many hear it read, both keep it, take it to heart, and believe it, and all are blessed. In Revelation Jesus unveils the spiritual world that we can’t otherwise see, and shows us all about the future that we need to know. That other invisible world and that revealed future impact our present, here-and-now, moments with hope and faith and much blessedness. Promise!