The book of The Revelation is a book of sevens. There are seven churches, seven seals, seven trumpets, and seven bowls. However, there are is another set of seven that is not so obvious. There are seven beatitudes scattered about.

They are of particular interest to those who have rejected Dispensationalism and its Prophetic interpretation of Futurism. They just don’t match the Rapture, the Seven Year Tribulation, or political Antichrist mythos. So don’t let these Futurists throw away our blessings, by sending them into a fictitious future.

How can they even think that Messiah left the church with no information about their future? Then after 2000 years, He starts dealing with the Jews again? It is as if the entire Gentile congregation is an afterthought. We are the red headed step child no one really loves.

The children of Israel were told that they would be in Egypt for 400 years. [Gen. 15:13]

Sampson would be born to be a judge [Judg. 13:1-5]

Solomon’s kingdom would be divided [1Kings 11:11]

The Northern Tribes would go into captivity under Assyria. [Hos]

The Southern tribes would go into captivity under Babylon.[Jer. 25:11]

There would be four Gentile Empire ruling over the children of Israel for 2520 years. [Lev 26, Dan 4]

Messiah would come and the Temple destroyed in 490 years. [Dan 9:24-27]

They were never left without foreknowledge of what was coming. Why would the Gentiles not be given the same consideration?

He left us with the book of the Revelation which contains the entire history of the lands that were ruled by the Roman Empir. The Revelation tells us when Rome would fall and the ten nations come to their own. It said the sun would turn to sackcloth, the moon would be like blood, and the stars would fall from the sky. This language is used throughout the Old Testament to mean a change in political leadership. (See Also: Sun, Moon, and Stars)

This political change was the fall of Rome. The next period of time in history is universally called the Dark Ages, as the light of government and learning went out all over Europe. The Revelation also speaks of three Muslims woes, that the Roman church would persecute the real believers for 1260 years, And finally that after the French Revolution people would be so scorched that they would deny that there is even a God. Then all the nations will fall.

He promised He would never leave us or forsake us. He did not abandon us to history. He was always in charge and watching over us, as His kingdom grew and grew.

. . . and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the first-born of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. 

 To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. Rev. 1:5-6

He that Readeth

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. Rev. 1:3 

This is one of the arguments against the Futurist who claim the book is only for the “end times”. Then why is this blessing here? What good is this book if it means nothing for 2000 years.

It is important to read this book. The reason is that the time is at hand. The book was written sometime around 96-98AD. So clearly the people of the second century were going to need what was coming their way. The Lord did not leave them ignorant and without guidance. As the first horse of the seals came forth the Roman Empire went into expansion mode in a major way. Trajan and Hadrian push the empire to its largest borders they added Darcia, Romania, and Mesopotamia, finally building Hadrian’s wall between England and Scotland to stop the expansion. With the second horse, we see the empire fall into civil war while Septimus Severus was on the throne. The third horse brought famine by inflation as the two Antoninus’ revalued the money. Finally, death came as the first plague came to Europe under emperor Gallus, and yes one-third of the population did die.

The Dead in the Lord

And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them. Rev. 14:13 

Many over the ages have given their lives for the faith. But the Dispensationalist say that only those who die in their “ends times” are going to count for things like this blessing. So those great saints that went through the Roman persecution under Emperor Diocletian and the INQUISITION, count for nothing? How absurd? No! they clearly have a special place and blessing that we should honor and remember.[See Also: Will I find Faith?]

He that Watcheth

Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. Rev. 16:15

The coming like a thief is said to be the Rapture. Yet here it is near the very end of the of the bowl judgments. Not at the beginning! Remember the ten virgins? They were ALL virgins, they were ALL asleep, we must keep our oil so we can watch. This is our generations blessing. Get up and keep watch. Don’t let the futurist lull you to sleep with their fantasy.

Those called to the Marriage Supper

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. 19:9

One must be called to the marriage supper. There is some kind of call or spiritual invitation to listen for. Far too many are looking for events that are not in the texts. They come rather from ecstatic utterances in the 19th century. From people whose identities have been concealed by the Futurist, claiming instead that what they teach is in the Bible. Their claims are false.

The First Resurrection

Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. Rev. 20:6 

The first resurrection only seems to be for those who have been persecuted, burned at the stake or fed to the lions. Yet the futurists teach that there is no distinction between believers. We are all saved the same way, they say. We all will be resurrected. They have replaced the Biblical teaching of resurrection with their fiction of a rapture.

Those that Keep the Prophecy

Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book. Rev. 22:7

If He was coming quickly in 96-98 AD then maybe “coming” doesn’t mean what we think it means.

God came down and looked at the world then told Noah to build a boat.

God came down and look at the tower of Babel and scattered the people.

God came down and looked at Sodom and Gomorrah then led Lot out of town.

God came down and looked at Jerusalem and told Jeremiah that Babylon was coming.

God came down and looked at Babylon and told Daniel that Persia was coming.

Someday the Lord will “Return” and we all hope and pray for that day. However, from a simple humanist point of view, we never want to see Him “come.”

That Do His Commandments

Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. Rev. 22:14 

Oh those nasty little commandments, according to the Dispensationalist they have passed away. Oops! The commandments are the only way to the tree of life and the gates of the city.[c.f. Ex 20; Deut 5]

Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and fornicators and murderers and idolaters, and every one who loves and practices falsehood. Rev. 22:15

Nothing in this universe happens without the foreknowledge and preordination of it Creator, and He has not left His servants without access to that knowledge.

22  “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs which God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know —  23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.  24 But God raised him up, having loosed the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.  25 For David says concerning him, ‘I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken;  26 therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; moreover my flesh will dwell in hope.  27 For thou wilt not abandon my soul to Hades, nor let thy Holy One see corruption.  28 Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou wilt make me full of gladness with thy presence.’ Acts 2:22-28