Reading and hearing and keeping – blessings from Revelation 1 v. 3

By Baldmichael Theresoluteprotector’sson

“Blessed is the one reading, and those hearing the words of the prophecy, and keeping the things having been written in it; for the time is near.”

From Berean Literal Bible via

These are the words written and set out how one can be blessed, that is be happy, in applying oneself to the book and the things contained therein.

You may well have heard some Christians say that it is the only book where reading and hearing it read is a blessing in itself. This is incorrect which the text clearly indicates as it is all three aspects which count.

Indeed, the whole point of the words is that they do not pass in one ear and out through the other without taking rest in your being.

Taking action on those words, be it passive or active, is vital and has always been the case.

Scripture is consistent on this matter. For example in Proverbs 4 v.3-4

“When I was a son to my father, tender and the only child of my mother, 4he taught me and said, “Let your heart lay hold of my words; keep my commands and you will live.”

And Jesus said in Luke 8 v.20-21

“He was told, ‘Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to see You.’ But He replied, ‘My mother and brothers are those who hear the word of God and carry it out.’”

James 1 v.22 says

“Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves.”

As regards the interpretation of Revelation this has proven a contentious issue over the ages. I will not attempt to detail the various approaches but point out some obvious things.

Many have tried to fit the events into a timeline yet to occur, but this ignores the fact that Revelation was relevant the moment it was penned. The blessings (whatever they may be) were to be had by any faithful believer taking heed of the warnings and encouragement.

I pointed out in my more recent post on the pale green horse that the seven fold repeated verse is critical, that is “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

In hearing the passage one is listening for the sound of the words which in English for example may have more than one meaning. Thus ‘sea’ also sounds like ‘see’ and ‘C’.

That has a specific application which I will explain in due course in another post.

Now to look in more detail at the Revelation passage. Here are my observations highlighting what I will call key words.

“Blessed”

In Greek this is Μακάριος,  Makarios, with the sense according to biblehub.com of ‘happy, blessed, to be envied’. See

Makarios has its root from mak-, “become long, large”. This is as macron, a long mark as opposed to micron a short mark for example.

Mak is of course almost ‘make’ which is the sense here. As to ‘arios’ well this can be considered as ‘A-ri-os’ where ‘ri’ is laugh in French. You can see then the link to ‘happy’.

Thus the whole is ‘Make laugh’.

Another way of looking at it is that the ending ‘rios’ would mean ‘rivers’ in Spanish. Thus the whole is ‘make rivers’ where the sense is ‘rivers of benefit’ as rivers something which bring life giving water.

And of course this links to the end of the book of Revelation where there is a river of life.

There is more contained in the word Makarios reinforcing its meaning when we look at the anagrams. Here are some more obvious phrases:

– Ski aroma

I am not sure that skiing has a scent, but aroma can be broader in meaning as in the aura, the anticipation or excitement.

– Ms kiaora

Kiaora meaning “have life” or “be healthy”

N.B. Kaio is similar to ‘ciao’ meaning ‘Hi’, the informal ‘hello’ in Italian, whilst ‘ra’ means ‘day’ in Maori.

And note also ‘Maoris’ is an anagram out of Makarios!

– Is a korma

Korma means ‘braise’. See

However, the sense of happy is the aroma of the cooking. No doubt when the son smells his mother’s delicious meal he says ‘Cor, ma!’

There are other Indian associations:

– I Mr Asoka

Asoka means “one who is free from sorrow.” See

Am ok sari

Sari as in a female garment, thus making one feel happy to be clothed.

I soar a km

To soar like an eagle 1,000m above the ground. This reminds me of “But those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles…”

– So I am ark

An ark as in a place of safety in a storm and floods, including the flood of lies we have had in the COVID 19 deceit.

Reading, hearing and keeping

Most translations miss the strength of the present participle active where the spirit of the words is to continue reading, hearing and keeping.

I have indicated in an earlier post how ‘-ing’ relates to a spirit – see link at end.

Here are some thoughts on the individual words. The use of the anagrams may seem rather contrived at times but I think it can be helpful.

‘Reading’

In Greek this is ἀναγινώσκων (anaginōskōn). This has the sense of “to know again” as in understanding the author’s mind/experience. See

There is more contained in the word anaginōskōn expanding/reinforcing its meaning when we look at the anagrams. Here are some more obvious phrases:

– Anno asking

Anno means ‘year of’ in Medieval Latin as in Anno Domini. ‘Year of the Lord’. In the sense of ‘year of asking’ we are in that period and seek the Lord’s guidance as we read.

– So king naan

As naan is a type of flat bread we are looking at the bread of the king as we read. The words are food for the mind and spirit.

– Anna ok sign

Anna means ‘God is gracious’, so one is reading about God’s grace.

– Sin ok go Anna

Similar to the above this reminds me of “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

As to the English word, ‘reading’ is a full anagram of ‘deraign’, meaning :

to defend or prove (a claim) or settle (a dispute) especially in personal combat

From

Reading the scriptures gives us the mental ammunition to use in verbal warfare which is the primary focus of Revelation. Remember for example in Revelation 1 v. 16 the ‘One like the Son of Man’ has a sharp double-edged sword coming from his mouth.

‘Hearing’

In Greek this is ἀκούοντες (akouontes). It means ‘listen’ and with the sense of attentively. It contains the root of the work ‘acoustics’. See

Anagrams of the word akouontes seem of very limited use but I note both ‘tone’ and ‘tune’ can be found. There is the single longest word ‘soutane’, a cassock, but originally meaning an undergarment.

We can get this full anagram:

– Ok soutane

Thus in hearing, in listening, we gain clothing as it were, in the New Testament sense we are clothing ourselves with Christ’s righteousness, his right way of thinking.

And there is this anagram:

– A tone souk

This gives the sense of separating the confusing ‘sounds’ at a market to search out the truly valuable items that one needs.

As to the English word, ‘hearing’ will anagram to ‘ah reign’ which gives the sense of reigning over (being in control of) one’s nature by careful attendance to listening to what is read.

‘Keeping’

In Greek this is τηροῦντες (tērountes). Meaning to preserve or keep intact. See

There is more contained in the word tērountes expanding/reinforcing its meaning when we look at the anagrams. Here are some more obvious phrases:

– Seen tutor

This reminds me of the work of the Holy Spirit who ‘leads us into all truth’

– On trustee

This is the essence of keeping, reminding me of Pauls’ words “I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him for that day”.

– One truest

This reminds me of focusing on Jesus Christ who is the way, the truth and the life.

One utters

This gives the sense of speaking the words one has heard so that we and others continue to benefit.

– To reset nu

Nu in French means ‘naked’ which we were when we were born so there is the sense of being ‘born again’.

As to the English word, ‘keeping’ will anagram the only one word anagram ‘peeking’. Perhaps this because we should continue to keep ‘peeking’ at the word of God!  

Tērountes and Jude 1:6

I came across this link in my research and thought it worth mentioning. The text is

“And the angels who did not stay within their own domain but abandoned their proper dwelling…” See

The word ‘stay’ has the same root as Tērountes, the Greek word τηρέω, téreó, meaning to watch over, to guard.

The word used is τηρήσαντας, teresantas. It is the only use of this particular form in the New Testament. This is very interesting because ‘teresantas’ anagrams to:

– Satan reset

– Satan steer

– Satan terse

– Satan trees

I am sure you will see the connection with the fallen angels.

Summary and final thoughts

The main thing to remember is the continued application to the text of Revelation, to read and read again, to listen and keep listening, to hold fast to the words in your heart and mind.

It is not enough just to read and listen.

And it is to be noted that the command to keep is reiterated at the end of Revelation where it says in chapter 22 v. 7

“Behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of prophecy in this book.”

The three fold stress on reading, hearing and keeping reminds me of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit.

And to end on a light-hearted note I like the bell like sounds of these three words as split up so:

Re a ding

He a ring

Kee ping

As to the last one, well ‘kee’ sounds like ‘key’ so the last one is the key, key-ping! As it is written

“But if anyone keeps His word, the love of God has been truly perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him:”

Look out for the sign of Baldmichael, he will be back!

P.S. here are some posts referred to above or which may be of use if you haven’t already seen.

The pale green horse of Revelation – why is it this colour? – a light bite

Why does ‘-ing’ at the end of a place name refer to ‘people’?

“I am the bread of life” – John 6 v.48

Holy Scripture and the Holy Spirit