Grant Fishbook, Lead Teaching Pastor
“I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book, “If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues that are described in this book. If anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him, his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.” – Revelation 22:18-19
“Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy and blessed are those who hear it, and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.” – Revelation 1:3
Revelation was never intended to you, but to show you a picture of Jesus.
Revelation 1:1 — The revelation of
Revelation is a series of prophetic visions given from God to John, his friend.
Terms
- Millennium: a thousand-year period of God’s reign
- Tribulation: a seven-year period of trial and pain (Pre, Mid, or Post Rap)
- Rapture: when God takes his church away from the earth
- Bema Seat: a reward seat for the faithful
Views
What it all boils down to:
When is this crazy stuff going to happen, and where do I fit in that order?
Characters
- Jesus Christ (Son of God and God the Son)
- The Antichrist (??)
- Two Witnesses
- The 144,000
- The Lamb (Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God)
- The Woman and the Dragon
- The Beasts
- The Four Horsemen
- The Rider on the White Horse (Jesus, the Returning King)
Numbers
- 12 and its multiples – God’s people
- 10 and its multiples – complete amounts of time
- 7 – perfection and completion (bowls, letters, trumpets, seals, angels, churches,
Holy Spirit (7 spirits))
- 4 – winds, corners of the earth, horsemen
- 4 and 7 used together – Jesus is named 28 times as the Lamb of God, etc.
Why was this book written?
Two key questions:
1. Where is Jesus?
12 I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest.14 The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. 15 His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.
17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. – Revelation 1:12-18
2. Where is the hope?
The Jesus of Revelation 1 has everything .
Personal and Small Group Questions
- What’s the first thing that comes into your mind when you think about the biblical book of Revelation?
- When you hear the phrase the end of the world, what do think about doing or not doing?
- Read Revelation 1. What does this chapter reveal about the character of Jesus? Where do you find hope in this description?
- What do you currently believe about the end of the world and the return of Jesus?
- In light of all that’s coming in the future, how should we live now?
- How can we pray for you right now and throughout the week?