21 December | EVERYONE
«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.» Revelation 1: 3
What does happiness have to do with the reading of Revelation, also called the Apocalypse? How do you read, hear, and keep prophecy? After all, what is the Apocalypse? The concept that many have of this term is related to the end of the world, catastrophe, or tragedy. When a catastrophe strikes the Earth, we speak of an “apocalyptic” phenomenon. During the Covid pandemic, I heard a country’s health minister say, “This is an apocalypse.”
However, the Apocalypse is not synonymous with destruction or tragedy. It is “the Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place” (Revelation 1:1). Essentially, Revelation is not about reveling in hidden and mysterious things. On the contrary, in this book God reveals to “His servants” transcendental matters for the purpose of transmitting hope to them. It refers to something that was to happen soon and of eternal consequences for individuals, families, and nations.
It is difficult to live in hope today without knowing why things happen. What is behind the gloomy global outlook? Did God create human beings and abandon them to their fate? Will hatred, bitterness, and fratricidal strife between nations one day come to an end? The Apocalypse is God’s answer to the confused and disoriented human beings of this time. And that answer is called Jesus. That is the underlying reason John says that people who read, hear, and keep the message of this book are happy. But a superficial reading is not enough, it requires a thorough and in-depth study (like the whole Bible does, actually). It is not enough to hear with the ears; it is also necessary to listen with the soul, in order to internalize and treasure their teachings.
Take Action
Read the Book of Revelation, remembering at every step that its protagonist, its message, and its hope is Jesus. Do not forget that it is a highly symbolic book and that its meaning, more than literal, is spiritual. Sing “Those Who Read, Hear, and Keep” (if possible, with your family).