Revelation 1:3

3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.

A. A triple blessing is pronounced here.

1. He that reads - A blessing is upon those who give an oral or public reading of this book in the church assembly. Many church assemblies of the first century included a public reading of a section of scripture.

2 They that hear - those who listen to the words being read are also blessed. Listening implies more than just receiving an audible sound. Listening includes understanding, heeding, and obeying the message they heard.

3. Keep those things - The real blessing comes when we follow the commands, heed the warnings and believe the promises.

B. John repeats what was said in verse one. These things will happen shortly. They are seen as “at hand” or within reach. They are close enough that one could reach out and touch them. There would be no encouragement to say, “Here are some things that will happen in a couple of thousand years.”