Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Revelation 1:3

"Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of the prophecy, and keep the things that are written therein: for the time is at hand." — Revelation 1:3 (ASV)

“The one who reads” reflects the early form of worship where a reader read the Scriptures aloud on the Lord’s Day. “Those who hear” are the people of the congregation who listen to the reading. “This prophecy” is John’s way of describing his writing and refers to the entire book of Revelation (10:11; 19:10; 22:7, 9–10, 18). Prophecy involves not only future events but also the ethical and spiritual exhortations and warnings contained in the writing. Thus John immediately sets off his writing from the late Jewish apocalyptic literature (which did not issue from the prophets) and puts himself on a par with the OT prophets.

The twofold benediction “blessed” (GK 3421), pronounced on the reader and the congregation, emphasizes the importance of the message in that they will be hearing not only the word of John the prophet but the inspired word of Christ (see other beatitudes in 14:13; 16:15; 19:9; 20:6; 22:7, 14). John wrote in anticipation of the full and immediate recognition of his message as worthy to be read in the churches as the Word of God coming from Christ. In the ancient Jewish synagogue tradition in which John was raised, no such blessing was promised on anyone who recited a mere human teaching, even if from a rabbi, while one who read a biblical text was worthy to receive a divine blessing.

All must listen carefully and “take to heart what is written” because “the time [GK 2789] is near,” the season for the fulfillment of the return of Christ (v.7; cf. Lk 11:28, 21:8) and for all that is written in this book (cf. 22:10). The season for Christ’s return is always imminent—now as it has been from the days of his ascension (Acts 1:11).

A comparison of the Prologue (1:1–3) with the Epilogue (22:7–21) shows

that John has followed throughout Revelation a deliberate literary pattern. This should alert us to the possibility that the entire book was designed to be heard and interpreted as a single unit, and every part should fit into the message of the book as a whole. This should not in any way detract from the fact that John claims to have seen real visions (“saw,” v.2), which we may assume were arranged by John in their particular literary form for purposes of communication.