June 4, 2023

REVELATION: AN INTRODUCTION

June 04, 2023

Pastor Jonathan Falwell

 

We have begun a new series for summer as we study the book of Revelation. This is one of the most intriguing books in the New Testament, beginning with the beautiful “Blessed is…” in verse 3, reminding us of the promises in the Sermon on the Mount. The book is filled with symbolism, future events, and facts concerning the “last days” or “end times.” How do we correlate life today with the last days foretold in Revelation? What can we learn that will help us hold tightly in this chaotic world to the promises of Jesus’ return? “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.” Will you be one of those being blessed as we study this book?

Focal Passages: Revelation 1:1-9, Daniel 2:21.

Who, When & Where

This is Jesus’ Revelation:

  • Read Rev. 1:1. John the apostle was very clear as to who “revealed” (hence, “revelation”) the events throughout this book. Who did the revealing and Who did they come from?
  • Who received the words to give to John? What is the ministry of the angels?

Delivered to John:

  • What was special about John the apostle? What was he to do with the things he was shown? Why should this book bring us much consolation and encouragement?
  • Where was John at this time (vs. 9)? What did Jesus mean when He called John His servant? About how old was John at this time?

What & Why?

So we might know…So we might go:

  • Read verse 2. What was John to do with the information he was receiving? Again, Who did the information come from? Read Num. 23:19a, b. Can either the Father or the Son lie? Why not? Then what can we take away from these first verses?
  • When Americans take an oath in court to tell “the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth,” what does that mean? Why would John use this same legal language in relating what he saw on Patmos?
  • Read verse 3a, b. What is another word for “blessed”? How have you been blessed when you have read or heard the words of Revelation? How can we bless others by declaring the victory that will be coming through Jesus Christ?
  • Read verse 1b. In God’s timeline, why does He say these things will “shortly” take place? Read 2 Pet. 1:14. How long after writing this did Peter die? Read 2 Pet. 3:8. What perspective was Peter trying to put on God’s concept of time? Can you give an example of feeling like time is both short and long for the same event?
  • We assume God’s revelation of a short time means months or years on a calendar; if our lifespan is approximately seventy years, for us individually, is the time short? Why must we act NOW? As you age, how has your perspective on your time of death changed?

He’s our only hope:

  • Read Rev. 1:8. What are some of the characteristics of Jesus that you can name from verses 5, 6, 7, and 8?

SO WHAT NOW?

Rejoice, Jesus wins!

  • Read verses 4-7. How would John have known—being in captivity—what specific issues and needs within the seven churches he needed to address unless God had revealed it to him through Jesus? Would he even have known which seven churches to choose? Why is there no doubt God is the one who revealed this?
  • In verse 7, does this describe the Rapture or the Second Coming? Why is it so important that we tell others what to expect?

Close:

Can you imagine, for a moment, being John, exiled to the Isle of Patmos? John, after Jesus returned to Heaven, became the last living apostle. Jesus, while hanging on the Cross, indicated to John that He was asking John to take care of His mother. This was probably because—at that time—none of His half-brothers believed in His Deity. John would have done this to the best of his ability. Near the end of that century, all the other apostles had been martyred. John, legend tells us, was boiled in oil, but lived through it, which is why he was then taken to Patmos. He was about ninety at the time he received the Revelations from the angel, who received them from Jesus Christ who received them from God the Father.

It is something hard to imagine, being in John’s place, receiving the clear direction to write all the specifics of the end of the world, and the final victory of Jesus over Satan. How did he feel? Yet he did what was asked of him, without objections (like Moses), or without excuses. What about us? Jesus has asked us just to carry out the Great Commission of Matt. 28. Have we done that?

 

By Sandy Day

June 04, 2023

 

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