Wednesday Bible Study: May 18th 2022
For Reflection – and before next week:
So, last week together we read through the whole book of Revelation at one sitting! Perhaps for the first time, ever, I don’t know; but we were certainly affected by the power of the story.
David Pawson (Unlocking the Bible, p. 1244) says: “...most Christians are glad that the book of Revelation is there, even if they are not very well acquainted with it. They can usually cope with the first few chapters and the last few but feel out of their depth in the central bulk of it (chapters 6-18). That is largely because this portion is so unlike anything else. It is difficult because it is different. Just what makes it so?”
- What were your “first” impressions? What did you feel; what were you “left with” after the book? If this is the Revelation of Jesus Christ, what picture(s) of Him do you have?
This week we will devote some of our time to the big picture of Revelation and then we will get down to our first verse-by-verse study of the text, Revelation 1: 1-8. We might not make it all the way through. You may wish to concentrate on certain questions, rather than others. Try to use scripture to answer questions, and always consult good sources. The following questions are by no means the only questions we can ask of the text. What questions occur to you?
- Can you define the word, “Revelation”?
- Who wrote down the words of this book? What do you know about this man? His circumstances? To whom is the letter/book written; what do we know about their circumstances. What threats did the churches face?
- What type of literature are we presented here with in the book of Revelation? Do we find other examples in Scripture?
- In Revelation 1: 1-3 we are presented with what could be described as a “chain of custody” or better a “chain of transmission”. The beginning of the letter suggests a “good provenance”. Where does that chain begin, progress and end?
- In v.3 John says that those who read and those who hear the words of this prophecy and heed the things written in it will be blessed by God; John says we should read (or hear) the book and heed (or observe) it; he does not say we will be blessed if we understand it. How does that make you feel? What do think is meant by the time is near?
- Read verses 4 & 5: John describes God and Jesus in such a way as to encourage his readers. How? What do you think it means (v.6) that believers are a “kingdom and priests to serve...” (?)
- Verse 7 relates to the return of Jesus. Does knowledge of Christ’s coming encourage you in the midst of your suffering?
- Jesus identifies himself (v.8 ) as, “I AM the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End...” Where else in the book of Revelation is this phrase found?
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