Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. (Revelation 1:3)

And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book. (Revelation 22:7)

I recently heard a pastor urge people to read the book of Revelation out loud, with no interruptions. He said it would change their 2009.

I’ve been reading it (not out loud) for a few weeks now, and it’s affected me in a fresh way. As the Word of Christ, Jesus gives us a glimpse of who he really is; not the man he humbled himself to become on earth, but the God of everything he was, is, and will always be, enthroned in heaven.

Angels and men and heavenly beings live to bring him glory and praise for his just, loving, and glorious deeds. Christ gives us a picture of what the end of the world will be like—that all that is deceptive and wicked will be brought to an end. All worldliness, idolatry, and lies will be exposed, and everything that has taken place in our lifetimes will be exposed.

All found living for selfishness and the pleasures of this world will be given a clear view of themselves and will be judged according to their acts. All who claim the name of Christ but live like the rest of the world will be shown trying to cover their nakedness with shameful things and will be similarly judged according to how they lived their lives.

All who claim the name of Christ who have truly put their faith in him and have thereby been faithful to the end will be judged by the righteousness of Christ and will be clothed in white robes purchased by the death of God’s only Son. They will be given an inheritance and body and glory likened to that of Christ’s own.

The main thing that stuck out for me was that mankind tries so hard to convince himself that there is no one around to give an account to. There is no judge. There is no lawmaker. There is no one who expects you to live a life of selflessness and love. Man tries to convince himself through philosophy, justification, and distraction that he can live however he likes—using people, living immorally, hating, abusing, getting drunk, killing. Man convinces himself that—just like someone who has “wasted” his or her life living for the Lord—he’ll similarly be dead, asleep forever with no judge or judgment of deeds. This is obviously contrary to the very mind, conscience, and soul we have been given.