Forever Blessed

The Seven Blessings (Hebrew Sheva Brachot) are a key part of a traditional Jewish wedding and are spoken upon a couple while standing under the chuppah (wedding canopy). They are repeated again at the wedding reception and once each day for the next week. The blessings grew out of ancient rabbinic teachings and express joy and hope for the new union.

Today’s text begins with the seventh and last blessing in the book of Revelation. Though it is not directly connected to Sheva Brachot, it is a blessing nonetheless from the bridegroom (Jesus) to the bride (the church). Who are those being blessed? “Those who do His commandments.” This aligns with the first blessing of Revelation, which also focuses on obedience: “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it” (Revelation 1:3).

There is a repeated theme in Revelation on keeping God’s commandments. “The dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ” (Revelation 12:17; see also 14:12).

In place of “who do His commandments,” a small minority of Greek manuscripts read, “that wash their robes.” This may be understood to be a copying error, though some see the change as deliberate. Even so, others believe either reading can be true. It is the cleansing blood of Christ that provides us with white robes (Revelation 7:14), resulting in us keeping God’s commandments (see John 15:10).

At one time, Adam and Eve had the right to the tree of life. But they forfeited that when they disobeyed God’s words. It is only through perfect obedience, made possible through Jesus, that we “may have the right to the tree of life” once more and “enter through the gates of the city.”

Commandment keepers, who wear the robes of Christ’s righteousness, will be citizens in the kingdom. Like the joy of a wedding couple, the redeemed will be united with Christ in blessed harmony for eternity.

Father in heaven, with great joy I look forward to being united with Christ, blessed forever and ever.

For Further Study: John 14:15; Romans 5:19; 1 John 2:3–6

Key Bible Texts

Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. (Revelation 22:14 KJV)