I think this is a whole lot more complex (or maybe more simple) than it is being made out to be. The entire book of Revelation is about the appearing of Jesus Christ and it is signified, right?.
The word "keep", as in keep the saying of this book, means
‘a watch’ or
‘to guard (by keeping the eye upon)’.
These are the things that we are to WATCH for, that signify His appearing.
This is something that I wrote on another forum several days ago and that I sent to Mike yesterday. I have no idea if it agrees completely with either Mike or Ray, but here it is:
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I have been looking at the Book of Revelation and am wondering what does it mean to ‘keep those things which are written therein�?
Rev 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.[/list:u]
This ‘phrase’ is repeated three times, I think, in the book. There in Rev 1:3 and here:
Rev 22:7 Behold, I come quickly:
blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
Rev 22:8 And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.
Rev 22:9 Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets,
and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.[/list:u]
There are other reference in Revelations and throughout the scriptures about ‘keeping’ His commandments and ‘keeping’ His word. Not sure if that is related or not, but seeing that the word here for ‘keep’ is tēreō which appears to mean ‘a watch’ or ‘to guard (by keeping the eye upon)’.
In Rev 19:9 and 22:6 we have:
Rev 19:9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me,
These are the true sayings of God.
Rev 22:6 And he said unto me,
These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.[/list:u]
The entire Book of Revelation is about the revelation OF JESUS CHRIST… it is about His ‘appearing�, His ‘coming’, right? That is what the ‘sayings’ are about, right?
It was signified to John, and includes the ‘signs of the times’ of His coming, does it not?
Signs that the Scribes and the Pharisees could not discern:
Mat 16:3 And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites,
ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?[/list:u]
We are admonished in scripture to WATCH for Him:
Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
Mat 24:43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come,
he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
Mar 13:32-37
But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. Take ye heed,
watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work,
and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:
Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you
I say unto all, Watch.
Luk 12:37-40
Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. And
if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come,
he would have watched,
and not have suffered his house to be broken through.
Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not. [/list:u]
Even in the Book of Revelation we are told to watch, lest he come as a thief unto us:
Rev 3:3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent.
If therefore thou shalt NOT watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
Rev 16:15 Behold,
I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.[/list:u]
So when it says:
Rev 1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy,
and keep (watch, or keep their eye upon)
those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.[/list:u]
I tend to think that it mean to ‘keep watch’ and be able to ‘discern the times’, for THE TIME IS AT HAND, and He COMES QUICKLY and we best not be caught ‘sleeping’ when he does appear.
But not only that, but that those things that are we are to be ‘watching’ for are the things that we will be ‘going through’ and we “are His� then these are the things that we should be experiencing in our own life and see happening in the lives of others??
We are to heed the words written to the angels of the churches and take note, if you will, of the promised that are made “to those who overcome�.
We must recognize the ‘beast’ and pay attention to where the ‘seat of Satan’ is, etc; be able to recognize “MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT� and come out of her so that we “be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues�, etc.
But, overall, be able to discern the signs of the times?Any thoughts?
Blessings,
Christine
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Something that I should have added, but didn't think about at the time was this:
Judgment has been given to the saints:
Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
Psa 149:5-9 Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds.
Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a twoedged sword in their hand; To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people; To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the LORD.[/list:u]
Think about that in light of just who it is who is pouring out the wrath of God in the book of Revelation.
The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks.
The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.[/list:u]
It is the 'angels' that are sounding the trumpets and pouring the vials in the Book of Revelation. IS, WAS, and WILL BE, as I see it.
Blessings,
Chrissie