Blessed are all who read and those who hear the words of the prophecy and obey the things which are written in it for the time is near. Revelation 1:3; 22:7
How do I heed these words? What is there to obey in Revelation, this prophetic book filled with visions too difficult to fully understand?
Foremost, we are to WORSHIP 1:10; 4:8-11. No matter what is happening, we can make a choice as John did, while exiled on the island of Patmos, to worship. There is a song from many years ago with the lines…
One day every tongue will confess You are God
One day every knee will bow
Still the greatest treasure remains for those who gladly choose You now.
Interspersed among the prophetic images John saw, we find quite a few instructions and examples of what we should do or avoid as we await Christ’s return.
Return to your first love. 2:4 In the midst of a busy life of doing good deeds for the Lord, it is easy to cease being motivated by love and instead perservere in duty.
Where you have fallen away, repent. 2:5
Don’t fear what you are to suffer. 2:10; 12:11
Don’t compromise or tolerate false teaching or teachers who lead others astray by encouraging sin. 2:14,20
Guard against becoming apathetic (lukewarm) in your faith and love. 3:16 Wake up to the harm of self-sufficiency and the ask God to reveal self-deception that is keeping Him outside the door to your life. 3:17,20
Continue to give witness for Jesus in spite of opposition. 11:4-7
Patiently endure and remain faithful. 12:11; 13:11
Do not give your allegiance to anyone/anything – only Jesus! 13:3
Don’t’ be deceived. Not all supernatural signs originate for God. 13:13-14
As we wait for Jesus, stay awake and remain clothed in the righteousness and character of Jesus. 16:15 Don’t get entangled in the world’s systems, mentality, and sinful ways. Come away from her (Babylon), my people. 18:4
Let the one who is thirsty come and deeply drink the water of life without cost. 22:17 Minute by minute, hour by hour, day after day we are to continually come to the source of living water, Jesus, who sustains us until He returns.
I am sure there are many more, but I will end here since I can spend the rest of my days seeking to obey these few words from Revelation.
Poiema by Lynn 
The more I reflect on these instructions, I realize that the loving heart of Jesus is in every one. If we obey, we will experience a good life on earth and everlasting life with Jesus. Thank you for the reminders.
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I’m so glad you pointed out the connection between his great love and eternal life. Sometimes in Revelation it is harder to see this quality which is so prevalent in the gospels and letters.
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Lynn, this is awesome, clarifying, helpful. I had been puzzling over that verse in Revelation about keeping the words of this puzzling book of John’s visions. And now you have led me forward and shown me a path to understanding of what I am to seek to do. What a beautiful gift you have of throwing divine light onto the obscure passages of Scripture.
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Lynn, I have puzzled over what it means to “obey” Revelation with all its strange visions, and you have showed me very clearly and specifically from within the book itself how I am to go forward. I find such help from your deep love and searching and understanding of God’s word. Thank you, thank you.
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Ellie Thank you for inspiring me to consider this question and for your continual encouragement of my writing. You are such a blessing!
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