There are few parts of Scripture that inspire both intense interest and baffling confusion like the last book of the Bible, the Book of Revelation. Like being drawn to a car wreck, we have a natural fascination with this book, yet at the same time readers quickly realize that this is one perplexing story! Reading about angels and beasts and martyrs and the clash of spiritual armies might in theory seem riveting at first, but if you are asking spiritual questions, it can quickly become frustrating.
A lot of our fascination stems from an innate sense that this book is more than passingly significant; it likely contains incredible insights. Something important is going on, and we just know it. If our world means anything, Revelation is quite likely to provide a clue. Here we see in stark terms the battle between good and evil; the powerful enemies of the Gospel; the suffering of God’s people; the vindication of those who stand firm in faith. The power, majesty, sovereignty, and splendor of the throne room of Heaven, and the joy of participating in the splendor are all on display. There is so, so much to amaze!
But, it is equally easy to see why the Book of Revelation is a source of perpetual frustration for the reader. How are we to understand all this weird imagery? Who exactly are all these people? These beasts, dragons, and living creatures? Why does the book paint a picture of the world that seems at such odds with reality? There is a lot of destruction and death—is this what God wants? And, of course, the big question—when? When is all this happening? How can we gain any insight from this book unless we at least can know what is happening, and when?
And, yet… and, yet, this book opens with an amazing promise, a promise we will lean into over the next couple of months together. Revelation 1:3. “Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.” And so, we will be reading together the Book of Revelation, and together we will be blessed!
Over the next two months, the sermon series will focus on the letters to the churches recorded in the opening chapters of Revelation. Each week we will explore what the Spirit says to these congregations, and to us today. I encourage you to read carefully the first three chapters. But, we will also be listening to other parts of the book. In worship together each week, in addition to the sermon text, we will be reading aloud one chapter of Revelation, with the strong encouragement that you read out loud another chapter during the week. In this way, we will hear together the entire Book of Revelation over the next two months.
For this week, we will be working through the opening verses of Revelation 1. Read verses 1-8.
1. What does “revelation” mean? Think of the word in non-religious terms, how do we use it in common speech?
2. In verse 1, we read, “the revelation of Jesus Christ.” How do you understand, “of” in the phrase? Two possible options: (a) “the revelation which belongs to Jesus,” or “the revelation about Jesus”?
3. To whom did God give the revelation? For what purpose?
4. What kind of blessing do you think is part of verse 3? How can we be blessed through the reading/hearing of the book?
5. How is God described in verse 4? Why is this important? How does each phrase capture something essential about our God?
6. There is a great benediction in verses 5 and 6. What key aspect jumps out at you? Why is it important?
7. When God defines Himself as Alpha and Omega (vs. 8) what is He saying?
