The Final Beatitudes

The Final Beatitudes TheSeven Beatitudes Given in Revelation Do you know what a beatitude is? A beatitude is the sure and certain promise of immortal bliss, eternal happiness, and supreme delight.

1. Our Lord Jesus pronounced nine beatitudes in his sermon on the mount (Matt. 5:3-12).

1. The apostle Paul gave us what some have called "the last beatitude" in Acts 20:35 - "Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive."

Everyone knows that it is more blessed, in this world, to be rich and have the means to give than it is to be poor and have nothing to give. It does not take a great deal of brilliance to understand that! But the words of our Lord mean that "It is more blessed to give to others than it is to receive from them. It is more blessed to give what we have, be it little or much, for the good of others, than it is to increase what we have."

Many give for the hope of gain, to get more. God’s people give according to their ability, to do good, hoping for nothing in return. It is more blessed to give our labor to those who need it than it is to be paid for our labor from those who do not need it. It is blessed to give and labor for those who are grateful and appreciative. But it is more blessed and honorable to give and labor for those who are ungrateful and unappreciative, for then our gifts and our labors are to God alone.

Look at the text, Acts 20:35, it tells us three things about the children of God in this world.

First, God’s saints are honest, hardworking men and women. They work for their living. They work hard. And they work for God (Eph. 6:5-8; I Thess. 4:11; II Thess. 3:10; I Tim. 5:8).

Second, God’s people work, not to enrich themselves, but to support the weak, the poor, the needy, and the work of the gospel (Eph. 4:28).

• We work to support our families.

• We work to support the gospel.

• We work to support those who are not able to support themselves.

Thirdly, God’s saints in this world, who give with willing and cheerful hearts, are blessed of God.

• The fact that they give with willing hearts, freely and cheerfully is proof that they are loved of God. Our giving does not cause God to love us and bless us with his grace. But it is a proof that he does love us and has blessed us (II Cor. 9:7).

• Giving men and women shall be constantly supplied by God with the ability to give (II Cor 9:8; Phil. 4:19; Lk. 6:38).

• Generous, open-hearted and open-handed men and women, those who give willingly, cheerfully, because they love Christ are blessed with God’s unspeakable gift, Jesus Christ, and everlasting glory in him (II Cor. 8:9; 9:15).

"Blessed!" - Our text says, giving men and women are "blessed."

Proposition:

These are the beatitudes of our Lord, his sure, unconditional promises of supreme happiness and eternal bliss to his people. These beatitudes, the blessedness they promise, are not conditioned upon the character and conduct of those to whom the promises are made. Rather, their character and conduct is the result of the blessing bestowed (Eph. 1:3). The Final Beatitudes. Turn with me to the Book of Revelation; and I will show you the last seven beatitudes given to God’s elect in the Word of God. Here are seven sure and certain promises of immortal bliss, eternal happiness, and supreme delight given to all who believe in the last Book of the Bible.

I. Supreme happiness and eternal bliss are connected with the public ministry of the Word (Rev. 1:3).

A. They that read...The faithful gospel preacher reads God’s word to the church and explains the meaning of the words. That is what it is to preach the scriptures. And the man who does so is blessed of God.

1. With grace

1. With gifts - knowledge, understanding

1. In preparation

1. In preaching

B. They that hear...

Those who hear the Word of God faithfully read and proclaimed are blessed in the providence of God, for this is the means of grace (Isa. 52:7; Rom. 10:14-17).

Those who hear in faith with understanding hearts are blessed with divine grace and eternal life (John 3:5-7; I Cor. 2:9-14).

C. They that keep...

Those who keep the word in their hearts are the children of God. Their hearts have been prepared by grace. The word has been sown in their hearts by grace. And they keep the word by grace.

• Wayside hearers

• Stony ground hearers

• Thorny ground hearers

• Good ground hearers

II. Supreme happiness and eternal bliss is promised to all who die in the Lord (Rev. 14:13).

There is a great, indescribable blessedness connected with death for the believer. "Precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of his saints." (See II Cor. 5:1-9).

A. They rest from their labors (See Heb. 4:9-11).

• Rest in His purchase!

• Rest in His providence!

• Rest in His presence!

B. Their works do follow them.

• Our works do not go before us.

• We do not carry our works with us.

• Our works follow us to heaven for the praise, honor, and glory of Christ.

III. Supreme happiness and eternal bliss is promised to those who persevere in the faith of Christ (Rev. 16:15).

• He that watcheth for his Lord.

• He that keepeth his garments, the garments of salvation (Matt. 10:22; I Cor. 15:1-3; Heb. 3:14; 10:23).

IV. Supreme happiness and eternal bliss is promised to all who are called to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Rev. 19:9).

The effectual call (Psa. 65:4; I Cor. 1:26-31).V. Supreme happiness and eternal bliss is promised to those who are born of God (Rev. 20:6).

The new birth is a resurrection from the dead!

• I have been resurrected representatively (Eph. 2:4-5).

• I have been resurrected spiritually (John 5:25).

• I shall be resurrected personally (Job 19:25-27).

VI. Supreme happiness and eternal bliss is promised to all who keep, or obey, the words of Christ (Rev. 22:7).

• Buy of me (3:18).

• Open the door (3:20).

• Come out of her (18:4).

• Whosoever will, let him come (22:17).

VII. Supreme happiness and eternal bliss is promised to all who obey the commandments of God (Rev. 22:14).

A. His commandments are very simple (I John 3:23).

B. All who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ have the right to live forever.

• It is the gift of God.

• It is the purchase of Christ.

C. All who believe shall enter into everlasting glory!

The Bottom Line:

"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved!"

catcmo2006