Blessed is he that readeth .

The Roman government had banished John to the island of Patmos in the Aegean Sea, off the coast of Asia Minor, modern-day Turkey. While John was at Patmos, the risen, glorified Son of God appeared to him and commanded him to write ''the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this'' (Revelation 1:19).

John pronounces blessings to those who read and obey Revelation, and then he greets his readers warmly and describes Jesus' appearance.

Revelation 1:1–3 is the prologue to the book of Revelation. It establishes the authority for the entire writing by stating that this uncovering—this ''revelation''—is from Jesus Christ, given by God to John.

John testifies that what he saw was a message from and about Jesus Christ. He promises that all who read and obey the words of Revelation will be blessed.

Revelation 1:3 - "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 states that blessed is he that readeth . This refers to the happiness or security of the persons who read and hear the prophecies of those things which were to come to pass shortly, and took proper measures to escape from the impending evils .

Those who hear the letters will be even happier, and they will be even happier if they obey the words in the letters . There is a warning at the end of the book that warns about anyone who might change the message .

In this verse John promises a blessing to the person who reads aloud the words which have been written and a blessing to those who hear and respond in obedience to what they hear. This does not seem to imply a universal, tit-for-tat blessing on any person throughout all time who recites these passages.

Rather, "the one who reads aloud" refers to the persons who originally read this message to a congregation; those who hear and obey its words refers to that congregation. Both the reader and the audience are blessed: literally, happy or fortunate. In a more general sense, this implies that there is great benefit to those who study and understand this writing.

When read and obeyed, the Word of God rejoices the heart. Jesus promised, "These things I have spoken to you…that your joy may be full" (John 15:11). First Thessalonians 1:6 reports that, when the Thessalonians "received the word in much affliction," they did so "with the joy of the Holy Spirit.

" The first Psalm describes the person who delights in God's Word as "blessed" (Psalm 1:1–2). David, most likely the writer of Psalm 119, declared in verse 111: "Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart."

John concludes verse 3 by stating that "the time is near." The Greek word translated "time" here refers to a period of time. In other words, John is predicting that the period described in this writing, when God wraps up history, is soon to begin.

Jesus Christ received this revelation from God and passed it on to John by a series of visions that an angel interpreted for him. John, in turn, was to pass this revelation on to God’s persecuted people in Asia Minor, for it concerned events about to take place that would affect them.

All who took notice of the book would be blessed, both the person who read it to the church and those who listened as he read it (1:1-3).

The writer greets his readers in the name of the Lord - the eternal God, the ever-present Spirit and the faithful Son. This Son was a faithful witness through his sufferings and is still Lord of the kings of the earth.

These include the Roman Emperor, their persecutor. Christians may share Christ’s sufferings, but they also share his victory. Through him they have been cleansed from their sins and given the privilege of worshipping and serving him as a kingdom of priests (4-6).

Christ’s enemies thought they had conquered him, but he will return to conquer them, for he is almighty. Nothing existed before him and nothing will exist after him (7-8).

It was noted above that "shortly come to pass" cannot be applied to all that is revealed in the prophecy; but the last clause here surely indicates that some of the events foretold would soon occur, the very imminence of them leading to this double beatitude which was to be heeded by the persons who originally received the epistle.

Regarding the events which were indeed imminent, the great persecution about to break forth against the Christians was most certainly one of the things in view. "There is general agreement that John expected persecution of the church by the Roman Empire.

"This is the first of seven beatitudes in the book, the other six being found in Revelation 14:13; Revelation 16:15; Revelation 19:9; Revelation 20:6; Revelation 22:7, and Revelation 22:14.

The blessing invoked is on the one reading aloud to the congregation and on those hearing and observing that which is enjoined.

The words of this prophecy … Although the book is called "Revelation" in Revelation 1:1, it is here also called "this prophecy," a title for it which appears five other times in Revelation 19:10; Revelation 22:7; Revelation 22:10; Revelation 22:18; and Revelation 22:19.

And keep those things which are written therein - Keep in mind those things which relate to the future; and obey those things which arc required as truth and duty. The blessing which results from having in possession the revealed truth of God is not merely in reading it, or in hearing it: it results from the fact that the truth is properly regarded, and exerts a suitable influence over our lives.

Compare Psalms 19:11; “And in keeping of them there is great reward.”

For the time is at hand - See Revelation 1:1. The word used here - engus - has the same signification substantially as the word “shortly” in Revelation 1:1. It would apply to any event whose beginning was soon to occur, though the end might be remote, for the series of events might stretch far into the future.

It cannot be doubted, however, that the writer meant to press upon them the importance of attending to these things, from the fact that either entirely or in part these things were soon to happen. It may be inferred from this verse, that it is possible so to “understand” this book, as that it may convey useful instruction.

This is the only book in the Bible of which a special blessing is pronounced on him who reads it; but assuredly a blessing would not be pronounced on the perusal of a book which is entirely unintelligible.

While, therefore, there may be many obscurities in this book, it is also to be assumed that it may be so far understood as to be useful to Christians, in supporting their faith, and giving them elevated views of the final triumph of religion, and of the glory of the world to come.

Anything is a blessing which enables us with well-founded hope and joy to look forward to the heavenly world.