Revelation
A Hope of Glory Study
Introduction
January 11, 2018 • Meg Rice
There are various interpretations of the book of Revelation. Some theologians see it as already having taken place in the hearts of believers; others think it is recording actual events that will take place in the future. That will be the tact I will take. However the Holy Spirit speaks to you through these passages, the important thing to remember is that Jesus, and all who follow him, are victorious.
Lesson 1
January 18, 2018 • Meg Rice
All of scripture is God breathed through the power of the Holy Spirit but recorded by prophets and witnesses to the life of Jesus. The book of Revelation is authored by God and seems to have a direct link to Jesus and John the Apostle. It is written for God’s people so that they may know what must soon take place. Revelation 1:19 gives us a clue as to how the book of Revelation is divided. John the Apostle wrote down what he saw in chapter 1. He writes what is happening “now” in chapters 2 and 3 concerning the Seven churches of the Revelation. Finally, he records “what will take place later” in the future at the end of the age in chapters 4-22.
Lesson 2
January 25, 2018 • Meg Rice
John was told to “write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches”. Chapters 1 and 2 of Revelation are referring to “what is now” (Revelation 1:19). The first of the seven churches addressed is Ephesus which at this time was the capital of the Roman province called Asia. After John was released from captivity on Patmos, he spent the end of his life in Ephesus. The second church to be addressed is Smyrna which is today’s Izmir. These churches were actual churches in John’s day but have come to represent churches throughout the ages and how the body of Christ in each church needs to heed the warnings. Each of the admonitions begins with a characteristic of Jesus. Then the churches are praised for their positive deeds and chastised for any areas that need to be changed. At the end are the rewards for those who “overcome”. Our individual churches today, as well as our own faith walk, can benefit from the advice given to these early churches.
Lesson 4
February 8, 2018 • Meg Rice
We are continuing with our study of the seven churches of the Revelation. Sardis was an ancient city where the worship of the Roman emperor was very strong. The words for this church are very harsh. Notice that even in this dark church, the life of faith is still present. Philadelphia, which means “brotherly love”, was not as affluent as the others we have discussed. It was a center of pagan worship, and its chief god was Dionysus, the god of wine.
Lesson 5
February 19, 2018 • Meg Rice
Some biblical scholars teaching that each of the churches of the Revelation represents a specific time period in the history of the church. If that is true, then our final church of Laodicea represents the church of our day, so we need to pay careful attention to what the Lord says about this church. Could our church possibly mimic these issues?
Lesson 6
February 26, 2018 • Meg Rice
Chapter 4 is the beginning of “what will take place later” that we read about in Chapter 1. In Chapters 4 and 5, John is given an unveiling of the throne room of God. In various Old Testament prophetic books, we receive glimpses of the throne room. However, these two chapters are a more complete description. John was in the Spirit but there is a sense that his visitation was more than just a vision since the “voice” said, “Come up here.” It was essential for John to experience the majesty and power of the throne room before he would be shown the horrific judgments that would be coming on the earth. There is no question this experience was unique to John and for our benefit.
Lesson 7
March 4, 2018 • Meg Rice
There are 7 waves of judgments in Revelation: seven seals, seven trumpets and seven bowls. Chapter 6 and chapter 8:1-6 are the seal judgments. There are 7 seal judgments with the seventh opening the gateway for the seven trumpet judgments. From chapter 5, we saw that the Lamb Jesus was the only one worthy to open the seals. The opening of the sealed scroll marks the beginning of Jesus taking the throne, taking hold of the kingdom, and setting up his kingdom on this earth.
Lesson 8
March 10, 2018 • Meg Rice
The final seventh seal of judgment inaugurates the seven trumpet judgments. From the first 6 verses of Chapter 8, it seems the prayers of the people are a catalyst for the next level of the judgment of God to finally begin. Chapters 8 and 9 can be disturbing and must have caused the apostle John anxiety because in chapters 10 and 11, God pushes the pause button. These two chapters give us the assurance that God knows exactly what He is doing.
Lesson 10
April 3, 2018 • Meg Rice
The seventh Trumpet judgment or last trumpet seems to mark the beginning of the reign of God on earth as it is in heaven. It also inaugurates the seven bowl judgments. There is a pause in chapter 17 and 18 for an explanation of why the bowl judgments were necessary. In these two chapters, you can sense the antithesis of what God values.
Lesson 11
April 5, 2018 • Meg Rice
Do you hear the Hallelujah Chorus! In chapter 19 is the first time "Hallelujah" is used. It means "Praise the Lord”: Chapter 19 is packed with glory. It is the moment for which the heavenly hosts have been waiting. It is the moment for which Jesus hung on the cross. His bride, his church, is ready and the wedding supper is taking place. We are the bride.
Lesson 12
April 16, 2018 • Meg Rice
Jesus has returned, He is victorious, and death and Satan are destroyed. Now it is time for God to open the way for His people to “walk in the garden with him in the cool of the day” (Genesis 3:8). No longer is sin a barrier between God and his people. The cross and Jesus have made his people “holy as God is holy” (1 Peter 1:16). It is now time for our eternal home.