Wednesday Bible Study: May 25th 2022
For Reflection – and before next week’s session:
So, last week we looked at the Prologue to the Book of Revelation (Rev 1: 1-8). Take a little time to do some OT research into the background of what we studied: “What must soon take place” (v. 1) – Daniel 2: 28; “the seven churches and the seven spirits” (v. 4) – Zechariah 4; “who is and who was and is to come” (look at Exodus 3: 14 to see a ‘Christian take’ on this phrase); “ruler of the kings of the earth” (v. 5) – Psalm 89: 27; “a kingdom of priests” (v. 6); - Exodus 19: 6.
We “get lost in the old to make sense of the new!” In your own time don’t be reluctant to familiarise yourself with the other apocalyptic books. Take an excursion.
Read Revelation 1: 9-20 – more than once. Take some or all of these questions. Ask your own questions, always.
- How does John identify himself to his readers? (9a); Where and when did John receive the Revelation? (9b-10); often, the greatest revelation from God occurs when least expected and in the most unusual places (e.g., Paul in Arabia, Gal 1: 15). Can you think of examples? Clue: a rocky place can be a gate or staircase to heaven… (Genesis 28, Jacob)
- What do you think it means to be IN THE SPIRIT? (v. 10); the bible speaks of others, apart from John, who had known this experience. Who were they? (1 Kings 18: 12; Ezekiel 3:12; 2 Corinthians 12:2)
- How can we be influenced by the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit in our lives?
- In verses 12 & 19 John pictures the churches as seven golden lampstands to hold oil lamps. What might we gather about the function of the churches?
- John’s vision of the Son of Man (verses 13 – 16) is replete with biblical imagery. Which images impress you most with the magnificence of Jesus? What must John have felt? Would this vision have reminded him of the vision given to the prophets Daniel and Ezekiel? Compare the vision here with that in Daniel chapter 7.
- Consider the words of Jesus to John in verses 17-19: do you find them encouraging; do they give you heart when you face a hostile and seductive world? How might reflecting on this Jesus (glorious, majestic) help you to worship God?
For Reflection:
The unavoidable response of those who saw even a glimpse of His glory is that of fear. Yet how cavalier we are today in our attitude toward the Maker of a myriad of galaxies! Augustine in (Trench, Commentary on the Epistles to the Seven Churches in Asia).
We, who dare not even touch a 60-watt light bulb without wearing protective gloves, often treat Him as our “Genie on call.” We haven’t the slightest notion or appreciation of His holiness, even daring to think that worship is about pleasing us—expressing our dislike if the music is not to our taste or we are unable to drink coffee during the “worship service.”
RevBS325/05/22