FAITHFULNESS AS GIVEN BY THE BOOK OF REVELATION - 2

by Bryan Gibson

 

In our first article on this subject we looked at some characteristics of the faithful in the Book of Revelation, those who are rewarded with heaven.  Here is a quick review of the points made in last week’s article.

 

•           They were Christians, or to use the term commonly used in the book, saints.

•           These Christians had faith.

•           These Christians had love, for God, and for one another.

•           These Christians feared God rather than man.

 

Let’s look now at some other characteristics they possessed.

 

THEY KEPT GOD’S COMMANDMENTS

 

The faithful are described in 14:12 as those “who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.” Those who keep His commandments, according to 22:14, are the ones who “have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.” If we want to enter that blessed city, we too must keep God’s commandments.

 

THEY SHOWED GREAT PERSEVERANCE AND COURAGE

 

They continued to serve God faithfully even when it cost some of them their lives. In 6:9 we read of those who were “slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held.” We read of others in 20:4 who were “beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God.” As mentioned in last week’s article, these Christians were truly “faithful, even to the point of death” (2:10, NIV).

 

THEY WOULD NOT TEACH, BELIEVE, OR PRACTICE A LIE

 

Notice who is “before the throne” in 14:5: “No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless.” But what about those who do teach, believe, or practice a lie? They are warned to repent, or suffer the consequences in 2:14-16 and 2:20-23. They will have their part in the “lake which burns with fire and brimstone,” according to 21:8. “Whoever loves and practices a lie” will be left outside the gate (22:15). So it is vitally important that we believe the truth, teach the truth, and practice the truth.

 

THEY WERE WILLING TO REPENT OF ANY SINS THEY COMMITTED

 

Notice some of the admonitions to repentance given in the early chapters (2:5; 2:21-22; 3:3; 3:19). It is clear from these references that those who wanted to please God and be saved eternally would need to repent of their sins. Some later references speak of those who would not repent (9:20-21; 16:9, 11). The consequences for this would obviously be very serious. If we want to be counted among the faithful in the final day, we must be willing to repent any time we sin against God.