If you are using Messages on Mac, or an iPad with a keyboard, this will make you so much faster.

⌘ + R

Reply to the last message from the other party.

⌘ + E

Edit your last message.

⌘ + T

Reveal Tapbacks → Hit a number that corresponds to the slot on the keyboard.
1 = Heart, 2= thumb up, etc.

Want these to apply to another message?

You can click a message and use the same shortcuts with them.

Ctrl + ⌘ + 4

Hides all messages that aren’t new. Hope what's left over is all from good friends. *

* For some reason, the iPad doesn't do this. Apple!