Leaders Guide Revelation Lesson 1

Lesson Plan for Revelation Lesson 1

Open with prayer: Oh Father, as we begin this discussion tonight, I pray that You will teach us the things that You want us to know. Guide and direct our discussion. Help us to truly learn and understand the truths that you want us to know from this first Chapter of the book of Revelation. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

The ‘Visual aid' for this lesson could be titled : REVELATION and have 3 columns.....

So, your visual aid will look like this as you begin the class discussion:

REVELATION

What is it & Impt. Info..........So what was John told?.........The Lord Jesus Christ IS God!

Begin your discussion with the following (or similar) opening questions and comments and, as the class gives you the answers, write short summaries of their answers in the first column labeled: WHAT IS IT & IMPT. INFO. You don't have to write EVERY answer they give you. Just put the main points. You do what you think is appropriate for your group.

OK, Let's begin

The Book of Revelation is what kind of literature? (letter? law? .... etc.... ) = PROPHECY

and What IS Prophecy ? = HISTORY THAT HASN'T HAPPENED YET

Revelation is sometimes also called by another name, the APOCALYPSE. What does the Greek word, Apokalypsis mean? (write the word on the board by the title of the chart, then define the word) = UNVEILING, UNCOVERING, DISCLOSURE (write this definition on the board by the title of the Vis. Aid.)

We noticed in our homework that Revelation is NOT a sealed book. How do we know this? = Rev 22:10

So, if it is NOT sealed, what does this mean? = WE CAN UNDERSTAND IT

Are there other books of prophecy in the Bible? = YES

Name some = DANIEL, ZECHARIAH, ISAIAH, EZEKIEL, 2 PETER, 2 THESS, JUDE

Are any of these sealed ? = YES

Name 1 and prove that it is sealed. = DANIEL ....Dan 12:8-9

What does it mean for a book to be sealed ? = NOT ABLE TO BE UNDERSTOOD IN ITS ENTIRETY. THERE ARE STILL THINGS THAT NEED MORE CLARIFICATION.

How long has Daniel been sealed? = FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS. IT WAS WRITTEN ABOUT 500 YEARS BEFORE BIRTH OF CHRIST.

When will the book of Daniel be unsealed? = AT THE TIME OF THE END

hmmmmmm

But, Rev. is not sealed so we know that God expects us to understand it. And, there were some other verses in our lesson that assured us that God wants us to know things. Do you recall any of those verses? Yes? What were they? What has God told us to assure us that He wants us to know many of His purposes and plans? = Daniel 2:22, Amos 3:7, John 15:15, Ephes 1:9-10

As the class gives you these verses, briefly discuss them and what they say and teach.

By now your visual aid might look something like this:

REVELATION (APOCALYPSE) = unveiling, uncovering, disclosure

.What is it & Impt. Info...................So what was John told?......................The Lord Jesus Christ IS God!

Prophecy

= history that hasn't happened yet.

Rev. Is NOT a sealed book so

we can understand it

Daniel IS sealed until

the time of the end

God wants us to KNOW His plans

.....He reveals deep and hidden things...

.....He does nothing without revealing His plan

.....Jesus makes everything known to us

Because we are His friends

.....God makes known to us the mystery of His will

Well, besides being expected to understand Revelation, is there anything ELSE that God has said or promised to those who read or hear the prophecies in the book of Revelation? What? (Hint: Rev. 1:3) (Write this answer, as they give it to you, in the 2nd column entitled....WHAT WAS JOHN TOLD)

1. BLESSED IS THE ONE WHO READS THE WORDS OF THIS PROPHECY

2. BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO HEAR IT AND TAKE TO HEART WHAT IS WRITTEN IN IT

Yes.Blessed is the one who reads and who hears. Why do you think the "hearers" are mentioned?

(= Because in the day when this prophecy was given, often people would have things read to them. Not every one could read and this was a letter.... the New testament had not been put together as a book yet, and even if it had been, not everyone would have been able to afford it or to read it....)

And, what does it mean to "take to heart what is written in it"?

This is a very very important question. Let the class discuss this in some detail. Be sure they come to the conclusions that, yes, it IS important to KNOW what is coming in the future...BUT... the most important thing is to KNOW God and to obey Him and to worship and serve Him.... and to Know that He is in control of everything...and when He tells us to do something, that we are to obey Him, and etc. etc. You don't have to write any of this on the board. but., it would be good to write a short summary statement of the discussion as you bring it to an end..... a statement such as.... TO TAKE TO HEART IS TO HEAR, HEED AND OBEY GOD IN EVERYTHING HE SAYS) . You could put this in column 1 or 2.

Then continue with:

I know you studied all of this, so let's summarize some important things about this book.

(You don't have to write this on the visual aid... just throw out the questions and get the answers from the group ....but, if you have time, and want to put these on the board, put them under column 1)

What were the circumstances re. this book? Ie......

To Whom was it given? = TO JOHN AND THE 7 CHURCHES AND TO US

Who was John? = ONE OF THE 12 APOSTLES/ DISCIPLES

Who Gave it to John? = JESUS

Where did Jesus get His information? FROM GOD THE FATHER

How was the message given to John? by Jesus? or an angel? = MOSTLY BY AN ANGEL

Where was John when He received the visions in this prophecy= ON ISLAND OF PATMOS

When? = ON THE LORD'S DAY

Why was he on the Island of Patmos? = A PRISONER OF ROME

Why?= FOR PREACHING THE WORD OF GOD AND THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS

How did John describe himself (1:9) (write this on the board under column 1 and discuss briefly)

= YOUR BROTHER & COMPANION IN THE SUFFERING (thlipsei = tribulation/pressure)

AND KINGDOM (basileiai) AND PATIENT ENDURANCE (hupomonei) THAT ARE OURS IN CHRIST JESUS.

.What was John doing on the Lord's day when Jesus and the Angel appeared to him? = WORSHIPING GOD

Summarize what ‘happened' while John was worshiping on the Lord's day?: = John was

in the Spirit, heard a loud voice like a trumpet behind him. The voice said, "write on a scroll what you see and send it to the 7 churches" John turned and saw 7 golden lampstands & among the lampstands stood one who looked like a son of man.

Who was this person who looked like a son of man = JESUS.

How do you know?

(Let the class discuss this in some detail based on the truths taught in this Chapter.)

Then continue with the following questions.

Describe how Jesus appeared. (write this description in column 3, as the class gives it to you. Also, as you write each phrase, briefly discuss what it means . For example, the robe could represent the garment of His Priestly role and or of His roles as Judge and King. Ditto re the golden sash...etc. You may have to do some personal research to be able to do this. But, hey, that is the role of a leader.)

= DRESSED IN A ROBE REACHING DOWN TO HIS FEET

GOLDEN SASH AROUND HIS CHEST

HEAD AND HAIR WHITE LIKE WOOL, WHITE AS SNOW (see Prov 16:31, 3:1, 20:29)

EYES LIKE BLAZING FIRE

FEET LIKE BRONZE GLOWING IN A FURNACE

VOICE LIKE THE SOUND OF RUSHING WATERS

IN RIGHT HAND HE HELD 7 STARS

OUT OF HIS MOUTH CAME A SHARP DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD

FACE LIKE THE SUN SHINING IN ALL ITS BRILLIANCE

What did John DO? =FELL AT JESUS' FEET AS THOUGH DEAD

What did the one who looked like the son of man do? = PUT RIGHT HAND ON JOHN

AND SAID DO NOT BE AFRAID

If this had been an angel, would he have let John fall at his feet and worship him? = NO

Discuss the difference in what happens when John or others bow down to worship an angel of God as contrasted when they bow down to worship God. This is an IMPORTANT concept. Be sure that they understand that God's angels NEVER allow anyone to worship them and always tell them to get up and to worship ONLY the one true God.

Is this further proof that this is JESUS who was standing among the lampstands?=YES

And, is this further ‘proof' that Jesus is GOD? = YES

What ELSE did Jesus SAY? Specifically, what did He say about Himself? (Write answers on board in column 3, and discuss briefly what each of these phrases means or teaches or indicates about Jesus)

I AM THE FIRST AND THE LAST

I AM THE LIVING ONE

I WAS DEAD AND BEHOLD I AM ALIVE FOR EVER AND EVER

I HOLD THE KEYS OF DEATH AND HADES

How else was Jesus described earlier in the chapter (specifically in verses 5-8 of chapter 1)? (Again, discuss the meaning, teaching or implication of each phrase as you write it on the board in column 3)

THE FAITHFUL WITNESS

THE FIRSTBORN FROM THE DEAD

RULER OF THE KINGS OF THE EARTH

LOVES US

FREED US FROM OUR SINS BY HIS BLOOD

HAS MADE US TO BE A KINGDOM & PRIESTS TO SERVE HIS GOD &FATHER

TO HIM BE GLORY AND POWER FOR EVER AND EVER

HE IS COMING IN THE CLOUDS

EVERY EYE WILL SEE HIM, EVEN THOSE WHO PIERCED HIM

ALL THE PEOPLE S OF THE EARTH WILL MOURN BECAUSE OF HIM

What else did Jesus say to John (1:19)? (Write this in column 2)

WRITE WHAT YOU HAVE SEEN, WHAT IS NOW AND WHAT WILL TAKE PLACE LATER

THE MYSTERY OF THE 7 STARS IN MY RIGHT HAND & OF THE 7 GOLDEN LAMPSTANDS IS

..........THE 7 STARS ARE THE ANGELS (MESSENGERS) OF THE 7 CHURCHES

..........THE 7 LAMPSTANDS ARE THE 7 CHURCHES

(Now it is time to begin to wind up this lesson and bring it to a summary and a close.

So, you could begin with....)

Hmmmm. This was quite a chapter, wasn't it?

In this lesson, we have seen that Chapter 1 of Revelation is basically an introduction to this book of prophecy. We have been given an awesome description of the Lord God Jesus Christ. And we have learned that that Jesus is going to give John much information about the future as well as some specific messages to 7 Churches in Asia.

During the rest of this course, we will be looking at the messages to the churches and at the details of the many many prophecies which Jesus gave concerning the future.

We have learned that Jesus gave this Revelation (prophecy, unveiling, uncovering, disclosure) because He wants us to know, as these events unfold and become really ‘scary', that He (God) IS in control and that He knows the end from the beginning. He wants us to be able to stand with confidence and assurance that He, as our God, as the One Whom we have chosen to serve, WILL prevail.

So, as you go home this week to do your homework for Lesson 2, keep thinking on these things.

Remember that Jesus has said that we are His friends, and, therefore, He tells us everything that He learned from His Father.

Remember that God reveals deep and hidden things....

Remember that the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing His plans....

But, also remember that, in this course, we will be doing more than just trying to put notches on a time line of what is going to happen and when.

We are ALSO going to learn much about our Sovereign God and how to "take to heart" what He is telling us.

The main reason Jesus has given us this message in Revelation and caused this book to NOT be sealed, is because He wants us to truly love, worship, and serve the real God of the universe.

The time is coming, and now is, when every person MUST "Choose...Whom you will serve...."

Let's close with prayer.

Father, Thank you for this wonderful Book of Prophecy.

Thank you for revealing to us your plans for the future.

Thank you for being our God.

Help us to accurately discern what you are teaching and telling us as we study this book of Revelation.

In Jesus' Name. Amen.

For you leaders who are ‘word-buffs', here is some OPTIONAL Supplemental Word Study information which you might want to use in your class discussion time:

1:1 Soon / shortly/ rapidly = TACHOS =in a brief space of time, in haste, with speed. We get the english word tachometer from this. A tachometer shows RPM (revolutions per minute) and is used to show how fast an engine is moving. Thus, this word is telling us the events will occur rapidly.

1:2 Servants / Servant = DOULOS = bondservant

1:2 Testimony = MARTURIA We get the english word Martyr from this word.

1:5 Witness = MARTUS We get the english word Martyr from this word.

1:5 Loves = AGAPE pres. Act. Participle

Freed = LUO = loosened 1 aorist active participle

1:14 Fire = PUROS The english word purify comes from this.

1:16 Sword = ROMPHAIA = a long sword, probably like a Thracian javelin

1:18 Living / alive = ZON (ZOA). We get zoology, zoo, etc. from this word

1:18 Keys = KLEIS Keys are a symbol of authority.

Jesus has these keys because of His victory over death.

1:18 Death = THANATOU and Hades = HADES

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