What’s This Book About?
I. It’s a book about JESUS. (1:1)
A. Let’s GET the NAME right. (1:1)
B. He is the CENTER of all that EXISTS. (1:8; 22:13)
C. He is PRESENT and POWERFUL. (1:9-20)
D. He IS coming SOON. (22:7,12,20)
E. He will cause MOURNING for EVERYONE. (1:7)
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, how can we miss that? Yet we do. We tend to see the book as a way to fill in our spiritual day timers. Don’t get me wrong, there is a lot there that has plenty to do with the future, but the heart of it is all about Jesus. My hope for this series is that in wading through this vision of dragons, beasts, elders, and horsemen we will be better able to see Jesus for who He really is.
1. Kid’s Question: What stands out to you about the description of Jesus in Rev. 1:12-16? What would happen if you had seen that?
2. What do you think 1:7 means for your particularly? In what way will you mourn?
II. It’s a book about NOW. (1:1,3)
A. The TIME is NEAR…(1:3; 22:10)
B. It was a book about NOW…THEN. (1:1-4; 22:10,16)
The time is near. It states that at the beginning of the book and at the end. We have little trouble accepting that for us and this present age, but the truth is that this was said almost 2000 years ago.
3. What are some of the thoughts and ideas that come to your mind when you think of the book of Revelation? Have you read the whole book of Revelation at some point in your life?
4. Does the wording of these verses in regards to the “time is near” challenge your ideas about the book of Revelation? In what ways?
III. It’s a book about US. (1:3,6; 22:7,18-19)
A. Blessed if we READ and APPLY. (1:3; 22:7)
B. Cursed if we ADD or SUBTRACT. (22:18-19)
C. GIVES us our “WHY”. (1:6)
Romans 15:4 tells us that, “…everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” Even the book of Revelation. One big roadblock to our understanding of the book is that we are constantly trying to use it figure out what is going on around us instead of letting it reveal what is going on inside of us.
5. What are some ways that we may add to or subtract from the “words of this book” that you may have not thought of before?
6. What practical ways can we function as a Kingdom and Priests to serve our God this week?
IV. What’s the REVELATION for TODAY?
A. EVERYTHING is about JESUS. (Rev. 1:1; Eph. 1:9-10)
B. The Word speaks to us HERE and NOW. (Rom 15:4)
1. It’s important that we LISTEN CAREFULLY. (Rev. 22:8,18-19; Heb 3:15)
2. It’s important that we RESPOND ACTIVELY. (James 1:22-25)
C. Things are NOT as they SEEM… (Mk. 1:14-15; Mt. 28:18)
Each week I want to end with “What’s the Revelation for Today?” If it’s true that we are blessed when we read and apply these words (and I believe that we are), then it’s important to think specifically about how we can apply them.
7. Take a moment to think through all the different aspects of your life. In what ways is (or isn’t) Jesus the centre of those areas? What steps can you take to recenter your life around Him?
8. What practical steps will you take throughout this series to “listen carefully” and “respond actively”?
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Three rules for the Revelation Series:
1. For a moment, let go of your previous idea of what Revelation means.
2. Read the text…a lot…out loud.
3. Tell someone else what you are seeing, hearing, thinking, or learning.