The Apocalypse

Bible Studies on the Book of Revelation

Contents Introduction

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Symbols in Revelation

page 3

1. The Revelation

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2. Message to the churches #1

page 7

3. Message to the churches #2

page 10

4. Who rules?

page 13

5. The trouble with tyranny

page 16

6. The hope out of chaos

page 19

7. The reality of persecution

page 22

8. Final destruction

page 26

9. Justice done

page 29

10. The final judgement

page 32

11. The new creation

page 35

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Introduction The apostle John wrote this letter while he was exiled on the island of Patmos. He wrote it to the seven churches in the Roman province of Asia, in modern Turkey. These churches faced persecution, false teaching, spiritual complacency and compromise. The message of this book, however, is for all churches because if its repeated refrain, “Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches”. The Book of Revelation presents us with a significant challenge because it is written in a style that we are mostly unfamiliar with. Given its stylistic challenges, it could be said that it is one of the most neglected books in the New Testament. But for some Christians, this book has become an obsession and has formed the basis of some outlandish claims as they seek to “unlock” it’s meaning in the light of world crises, especially in the Middle East. As we make our way through this challenging book we need to keep three factors in mind that will be critical for our understanding of this book. Firstly, we need to discern what this book might have meant to its original recipients. Secondly, what does the book have to say about God’s purposes in the future. Thirdly, we should be aware that it presents a preview of history, and the reoccurring themes of history. All of this will help us understand the central message of the Book, that God sovereignly rules history and will complete His plan to judge and save through Jesus, the slain lamb and the returning King.

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The Symbols in Revelation Throughout the book of Revelation the apostle John uses symbolic language. Below is a summary of the symbols used and what they mean. White Purple/Scarlet Sea beast and harlot Land beast/false prophet 7 6 3½ years 12 24 144,000 1000 Lion Ox Eagle Man Lamb Horn Eye Right hand

Conquest and rule Imperial and regal Roman emperor and his government Roman provincial governors Complete and eternal Pretentious and evil A period within human history Leaders of the redeemed people of God Leaders from Old and New Covenants The redeemed A great number Nobility Strength Speed Wisdom Helplessness Power Knowledge Authority

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1. The Revelation Revelation 1:1-20 Getting Started 1. What factors can domesticate our attitude towards God and Christ?

Investigate Revelation 1:1-20 2. How does John describe the revelation in this book? (1:1-2)

3. How does verse 3 shape your approach to the revelation in this book?

4. How does John describe God, Jesus Christ and the recipients of this revelation in verses 4-8? • God:

• Jesus Christ:

• Recipients:

5. How doesJohn describe his relationship with the recipients of the revelation? (1:9)

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6. Who is the person described in verses 12-15? (1:17-18)

7. How does Jesus reassure John in verses 17-18?

Thinking it through 8. What do you think will be some of the concerns or challenges in working through this book of the Bible?

9. How does verses 1-2 shape our understanding of the word “prophecy” in verse 3?

10. Read Daniel 7:13-14 and Revelation 1:5-7. Which details do they share? What details are different?

11. What is the significance of where the “son of man” is standing in verse 12? (see also verse 20)

12. How does this passage help our understanding of Jesus Christ?

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Prayer Points

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2. Messages to the church #1 Revelation 2:1-17 Getting Started 1. What factors do you think help the church keep going when faithfulness is not easy?

Investigate Revelation 2:1-17 2. What is the threat facing the church in Ephesus? (2:1-3)

3. What does the church in Ephesus need to do? (2:4-6)

4. How does Genesis 2:9, 3:22 help our understanding of the promise in verse 7?

5. What is the key concern for the church in Smyrna? (2:9-10)

6. What kind of errors were being committed by the church in Pergamum? (2:14-15)

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7. How will Jesus deal with the church if it refuses to repent? (2:16)

Thinking it through 8. How might we avoid the mistake of forsaking the love we had at first for Christ and his gospel?

9. How can we encourage one another to keep looking forward to the “victor’s crown”? (see also James 1:12)

10. What errors within our culture do you think the church might accept or justify in order to ‘stay relevant’?

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Prayer Points

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3. Messages to the churches #2 Revelation 2:18-3:22 Getting Started 1. What do you think the victorious Christian life looks like?

Investigate Revelation 2:18-3:22 2. What are the praiseworthy points in the life of the church at Thyatira in verses 19, 24-25?

3. What error has flourished in the church at Thyatira? (2:20, see also 2:14)

4. What do we learn about Christ in verses 21-23?

5. Where had the church in Sardis gone wrong? (3:1-3)

6. What hope is there for the church in Sardis? (3:3-4)

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7. What encouragement does Christ give the church at Philadelphia? (3:8-10)

8. What will the church at Philadelphia have to do in order to experience the victory mentioned in verse 12? (3:8-10)

9. Why is the church at Laodicea described as “lukewarm”? (3:15-18)

10. How does Jesus express his love towards the Laodiceans? (3:19-20)

Thinking it through 11. We’re told that Christ is the one who “searches hearts and minds”. In what ways is this an encouraging and a fearful truth?

12. Read Matthew 10:35-39. How does this help us understand what it means to be “worthy” in 3:4?

13. How might we be guilty of being lukewarm in the following areas: • Evangelism • Pastoral Care • Discipleship 11 of 37

Prayer Points

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4. Who rules? Revelation 4:1-5:14 Getting Started 1. When do you find it difficult to know that God rules over all things?

Investigate Revelation 4:1-5:14 2. What is the apostle John about to witness and what is the first thing he sees? (4:1-3, see also Exodus 20:3-4)

3. Given that in the Old Testament you had the 12 tribes of Israel and in the New Testament you have the 12 apostles, what do you think the 24 elders represent? (4:4)

4. What do the four living creatures teach us about God? (4:8)

5. Why is God worthy to receive glory, honour and power? (4:11)

6. What is the crisis regarding the scroll of destiny and how is it resolved? (5:1-5)

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7. What do we learn about the “lion of the tribe of Judah” in verses 6-10? Why is he worshiped like God?

Thinking it through 8. “Worship is not to be thought of, primarily, in either aesthetic or emotional terms, though aesthetics and the emotions maybe involved. Worship is the expression of agreement by the people of God about the truth about God.” (Paul Barnett from “Apocalypse Now And Then”) How does this explanation of worship compare to the worship in heaven and the worship in church?

9. How is the nature and purpose of God’s power revealed in these chapters different from political power in our world?

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Prayer Points

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5. The trouble with tyranny Revelation 6:1-7:17 Getting Started 1. List some of the tyrannical leaders who have brought devastation to the lives of others. What impact did they have?

Investigate Revelation 6:1-7:17 2. Briefly state what each rider on the four different coloured horses represent in humanity’s experience of life in this world? Rider on the white horse Rider on the red horse Rider on the black horse Rider on the pale horse 3. Why are the slain described in verses 9-11 as martyrs? How are they different from the martyrs of Islam?

4. What day is symbolised by the opening of the sixth seal in verses 12-17?

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5. God’s faithful people in the Old Testament are pictured in Rev. 7:1-8. How will they fare in God’s great judgement and why?

6. The great multitude pictured in Rev. 7:9-17 includes all God’s people who have emerged from this period of tyranny, persecution and martyrdom. How have they made it through the tribulation? (7:10, 14)

7. How will the events of the tribulation be overturned in heaven? (7:15-17)

Thinking it through 8. What do you think the imagery of the four horsemen might mean for persecuted Christians throughout history? What should it mean for us?

9. What message is there for us in the reply to the martyrs in Rev. 6:9-11?

10. How might Christians find encouragement from Rev 7:11-17?

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Prayer Points

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6. The hope out of chaos Revelation 8:1-11:19 Getting Started 1. What sort of natural disasters do we witness on our televisions and how are they portrayed?

Investigate Revelation 8:1-11:19 2. What marks the prelude to God’s judgement on the earth? (8:3-4)

3. What is the target of these signs of God’s coming judgement in Rev. 8:7-12?

4. Why are the final three final signs of the final judgement in Rev. 8:13-9:19 worse than the previous four? (8:13)

5. How does humanity at large respond to these signs of the final judgement? (9:20)

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6. Prior to the final trumpet being sounded in 11:15-19 there is an interlude. How does Rev. 10:7,11 explain this intervening period?

7. What do we learn about the city and the witnesses in 11:1-14? • The City:

• The Witnesses:

8. How does the 7th trumpet sounded in Rev. 11:15-19 accomplish the “mystery of God” mentioned in Rev. 10:7

Thinking it through 9. How might Romans 8:18-25 help us understand the chaos described in Rev. 8-11?

10. Who are the objects of Satan’s torture in Rev. 9:1-11? What insight does this give us into his real nature and power of deception?

11. How does Rev. 11:16-19 offer hope in the midst of the chaos we see in our world?

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Prayer points

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7. The reality of persecution Revelation 12:1-14:20 Getting Started 1. A person has been told that if they become a Christian that their life in this world will be better, easier, healthier and without sin. How would you describe a more realistic picture of being a Christian?

Investigate Revelation 12:1-14:20 2. Rev. 12 depicts a cosmic conflict that impacts the life of the faithful in this world. Who stands on either side of this battle? verses 3. How do the following verses demonstrate Satan’s defeat? 12:4-5 12:8-9

4. In this passage what two weapons does Satan use to wage war in the world? (12:9, 10)

5. What is the key to the triumph over Satan in Rev. 12:11

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6. Rev. 13 speaks of two beasts, one from the sea and the other from the land. What sort of power do they wield?

What does the world think of them? Why?

7. What distinguishes the true believers in Rev. 13? (13:8, 10, 15, 14:1, 3)

8. Through all the tyranny, chaos and persecution that has marked the history of the world, how many of the 144,000 of God’s people have been lost since we last read about them in Rev. 7? (14:1)

9. What is required of God’s people in these last days? (14:12)

10. What is pictured in Rev. 14:14-20?

Thinking it through 11. From Rev. 12 how might we expect Satan to wage war against Christians in Australia today?

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12. How does Rev. 13 help Christians to evaluate when secular authority and Christian faith have been corrupted?

13. How should the dual messages of the angels in 14:6-8 shape our allegiances and desires in a modern day “Babylon”?

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Prayer Points

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8. Final Destruction Revelation 15:1-16:21 Getting Started 1. List some of the ways the end of the world has been depicted in books and movies. Who survives and why?

Investigate Revelation 15:1-16:21 2. What is significant about this final set of seven events? (Rev. 15:1)

3. Why is Moses and “the Lamb” significant for God’s people? (15:2)

4. How are these judgements of God explained in Rev. 16:5-7?

5. Who are the objects of God’s judgement? (16:2, 9, 10, 21)

6. How is the sixth judgement different from the preceding five judgements? (16:12-16)

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Thinking it through 7. What future is there for the old order of creation?

8. How are Christians urged to live in the face of such difficult circumstances? (see also Matthew 24:36-44)

9. In the light of present day environmental anxiety, how might the message of this passage impact our response to environmental issues?

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Prayer Points

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9. Justice Done Revelation 17:1-19:21 Getting Started 1. Briefly describe what is our world’s answer to the following problems. • Poverty • Terrorism • Greed • Environment

Investigate Revelation 17:1-19:21 2. Who is the woman identified in Rev 17:1-6? (see also 17:18) What might the woman represent in the 1st century?

3. The beast is mentioned in Rev. 13:1. How might Rev. 17:12-14 help us understand who the beast is and who the 10 horns might be during the 1st century?

4. How is Babylon destroyed (17:15-16)

5. What do the following verses tell us about why Babylon is judged by God? • 18:5 • 18:6 29 of 37

• 18:7 • 18:9 6. What does Rev. 19:1-2 and 6-8 teach us about the return of Christ?

7. How might 19:9 help the struggling Christians that John is writing to?

8. How is Jesus portrayed in Rev. 19:11-16?

Thinking it through 9. What does the destruction of Babylon teach us about the nature of evil?

10. What light does Babylon’s judgement shed on the nature of corruption, and how we evaluate corporate or national success?

11. What do you find confronting or challenging about the image of Jesus in Rev. 19:11-16? Why?

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Prayer Points

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10. The final judgement Revelation 20:1-15 Getting Started 1. How do you feel about God’s promised final judgement?

Investigate Revelation 20:1-15 2. What does Revelation describe as being the beginning and the end of the 1000 years? (vv. 4b-6)

3. How does Rev. 20:4 show that Satan’s efforts have been “bound” or restricted throughout the 1000 years?

4. How should we read the events described in Rev. 20:7-10 with the events described in Rev. 19:19-21? (n.b. Rev. 20:10)

5. On what basis will the great and small be judged by God? (20:12)

6. On what basis would someone be saved from the “lake of fire”? (20:15, see also 13:8)

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Thinking it through 7. What do the following verses teach us about when Satan was bound?” John 21:31 and Colossians 2:14-15

8. How does this passage impact your view of Satan?

9. Read the following passages: John 3:17-18, James 2:14-18 and Luke 6:43-45. What is the relationship between our faith, what we have done and our judgement?

10. How should God’s promised judgement shape and influence the following: • Your personal evangelism

• Your discipleship

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Prayer Points

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11. The New Creation Revelation 21:1-22:21 Getting Started 1. List three things that you think would make your life now, the best it could ever be. Why would they make life so much better? 1. 2. 3.

Investigate Revelation 21:1-22:21 2. Who or what is “the holy city, the new Jerusalem” (21:3, 9-10)

3. Who will be part of this new age and who will be excluded? (21:6-8, 27, 22:14-15)

4. Read Revelation 21:9-22:6. What are the similarities and differences between the new creation and the creation account in Genesis 1-2? Similarities

Differences

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5. How is Rev. 22:17 a word of grace?

Thinking it through 6. How do the following verses help us understand the significance of Rev. 21:3 • The exodus - Exodus. 29:44-46

• The exile - Ezekiel 37:26-28

7. What was the purpose of the temple? Why is there no temple in the new age? (21:2-4, 22)

8. How does Rev. 22:8-9 summarise the key point of application in this book?

9. How is Jesus described in Rev. 21-22? Why is this the key to the new age?

10. How fervent is our plea, “Come Lord Jesus”? What factors might hinder our earnest desire for Jesus return and the salvation of others for his glory?

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Prayer Points

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