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.
Parallel translations
- WEB Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and keep the things that are written in it, for the time is at hand.
- BSB Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear and obey what is written in it, because the time is near.
- NKJV 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.
- NASB Blessed is the one who reads, and those who hear the words of the prophecy and keep the things which are written in it; for the time is near.
- NLT God blesses the one who reads the words of this prophecy to the church, and he blesses all who listen to its message and obey what it says, for the time is near.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
A blessing is pronounced on those who read, hear, and keep this prophecy, for the time is near. It matters because Revelation is meant to shape obedient living, not mere curiosity.
Overview
This is the first of seven beatitudes in Revelation, promising blessing to those who engage the book rightly. "Read" and "hear" reflect public reading in worship, while "keep" stresses obedient response. The nearness of the time gives the call urgency and points the church toward faithful watchfulness for Christ's coming.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Luke 11:28But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.
- Rev 22:10And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.
- Rom 13:11And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
- 1 Pet 4:7But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.
- Rev 22:6–7And 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.
- Prov 8:34Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
- Dan 12:12–13Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.
- Jas 5:8–9Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
- Rev 22:12And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
- Rev 22:20He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
- 2 Pet 3:8But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Revelation ends the story with the slain-yet-standing Lamb who is worthy, the Lion of Judah, the Alpha and Omega, the returning King who makes all things new and dwells with his people forever.
How Revelation 1:3 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.