Today’s passage: Revelation 6

Helpful thoughts:

• Six of the seven seals are opened by the Lamb of God in today’s passage.
  • Only Christ (The Lamb of God) has authority to open these seals, and those who participate in bringing about the trouble associated with each seal only move forward with His authorization.  Christ is in command.
• Seals 1-4 appear are tied together with the illustration of the riders and horses, as well as the command to “come.”
  • The first rider on the white horse appears to be given authority on earth and uses it to the harm of the world.  The rule of the rider on the white horse leads to the next three calamities; war, a ruined economy and famine, and disease.
• Seals 5 and 6 are tied together as well.
  • The fifth seal draws our attention to those who have been martyred throughout history and to those who will be martyred during the tribulation.
  • The sixth seal appears to (at least in part) answer the question of the martyrs.  The rulers of the world and everyone else will hide in fear when the day of their wrath comes.
• No times are given in the text which indicate when the events of these seals will take place or for how long.  The events of Revelation are not always given chronologically, but thematically.  These seals could be an overview of the events throughout the time of tribulation.

Questions to consider:

1. What limited the amount of destruction which was depicted in these seals?  Who kept it from going any farther or getting any worse?  Who is sovereign over all?
2. What can we learn from the promises given to the martyrs?  How was their victory portrayed?  What can we learn from the fact that God intended for more of His children to become martyrs for his name during the time of tribulation?
3. Who can stand against the Lord (verse 17)?  After all of the questioning and speculating we could do after reading a passage like this, what is the only right response?  What must the reader do in relation to the Lord?

Today’s passage: Revelation 5

Helpful thoughts:

• John’s attention is now brought to the scroll.  The scroll would be a writing or representation of God’s covenant or will or decree for mankind, and to break the seals of the scroll and open it is to bring about the events written inside and outside of it.
• There is a sense of dread in John (weeping) when he thinks that no one is worthy or has the authority to bring about the completion of God’s will.
  • The reader is left to feel the devastation of what would be if it were not for Christ!
• All of the elders and angels (And myriads and myriads of other angels) give the same worship to Jesus that were given to God the Father on the throne.  Jesus is God the Son.

Questions to consider:

1. What would the world be (and what would become of us) if it were not for Christ?  Why would it be right for us to weep if Jesus had not done all He has done and if Jesus would not do all that He is yet to do?
2. How is Jesus described in this passage?  How is his appearance in the vision descriptive of who He is?  How is Jesus both a descendant of David and the Root of David (Mark 12:35-37)?
3. For what did all heaven worship Jesus?  What has He done?  What will become of us because of what Jesus did for us at the cross (being the Lamb who was slain for us)?

Today’s passage: Revelation 4

Helpful thoughts:

• Now that the churches have received their commands to remain faithful, Christ begins to reveal what is to come (Chapters 4-22).
• In today’s chapter, John describes his view of the throne in heaven.
  • John’s description is similar to that of Isaiah and Ezekiel.
  • The appearance of Almighty God on the throne had no equal in this world with which to compare.  So, John describes a mixture (or accumulation) of the most precious stones.
• The number twenty-four (Or two sets of twelve) is sometimes compared with the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve apostles.  The idea is that in heaven, all of God’s saints from the Old and New Covenants are represented in unity.
• These angelic beings exist to articulate and proclaim the holiness, eternality, glory, honor, power, creativity and sovereignty of God!  He is worthy of this worship forever.

Questions to consider:

1. If the heavens and the sky above declare God’s glory and His handiwork (Psalm 19:1-6), what must be the impression we will get when we see God’s creation in heaven?  What about when we see God Himself?
2. In what ways is God set apart from everything else that exists in all creation (Holiness)?  What makes Him so worthy of our praise, reverence, thanksgiving, obedience, and worship?
3. Is there any event or gathering of people today that compares with what we’ve read in this chapter?  Is there anyone who is worthy of this kind of eternal worship?  How do these truths about God then compel us to live?

Today’s passage: Revelation 3:14-22

Helpful thoughts:

• The final letter to the seven churches, to Laodicea.
• Jesus’ description of the church in Laodicea is the opposite of what He saw in the church at Smyrna (2:9).
• The church in Laodicea did not receive this warning from Jesus because He hated them, but because He loved them (Verse 19).
• Christ offers close relationship and fellowship to those who open the door to Him.
  • He is the master of the house, it is only right to open the door to the master and wrong to leave Him outside!
  • This illustration is given to the church.  It can be applied on an individual basis, but also for the church as a whole.  The church in Laodicea were meeting in Jesus’ name yet Jesus was kept outside the church.  This was a shocking warning!

Questions to consider:

1. What does it mean to be “lukewarm” as a Christian?
2. What is the naturally tendency of our heart, to desire what the church in Smyrna was facing or to have the worldly riches and acceptance the church in Laodicea had?  How might our desire for one over the other help us to better define what it means to be “lukewarm”?
3. When we compare God’s love for us in Romans 5:8 and here in Revelation 3:19, how is God’s love shown to be consistent?  What does God’s love save us from?  What does God’s love save us to?

Today’s passage: Revelation 3:7-13

Helpful thoughts:

• Because the city of Philadelphia aided in reconstruction after an earthquake early in the first century AD, Rome had given the city a temporary and honorary new name (“Neocaesarea” or “Caesar’s New City”).  Christ’s promise to the Christians who hold fast is infinitely greater, to be part of the temple in the “New Jerusalem.”
• Jesus is the one who holds the keys to the kingdom.
• The church may face hardship and persecution from the hands of the world (Even from those who claim to be following God but are not).  But, God’s people will never face the wrath of God against their sin.  In the end, we win in Christ!

Questions to consider:

1. What does Jesus call those who proclaim they are Jews (followers of God) and are not?  What is a true Christian and what do true Christians do?  What is true of those who say they are Christians and churches in our culture today but do not submit to the Word of God, preach the Gospel or call people to follow Christ in spirit and truth?
2. When we do suffer in this world, what kinds of things cause our suffering?  What will bring about the end of our suffering?  To what do we look forward once our suffering has ended?  How does this outlook differ/contrast with what the realities of the rest of the world?  Who has gifted us with these promises and how?
3. How does faith in the promises of God help us to hold fast in the midst of this life in this world?  Why is it right to consider our successful perseverance a result of faith and a gift of God’s grace?

Today’s passage: Revelation 3:1-6

Helpful thoughts:

• Sardis as a city experienced two military defeats where the blame was placed on the failure of the watchmen to keep their eyes out.  The church at Sardis was making the same mistake, so Jesus tells them to wake up.
• It is possible to have the reputation of being alive as a church but in truth be dead.
• To those in the visible church who are truly following Christ, His return is a joyful expectation full of reward and delight.  To those in the visible church who are dead and not truly following Jesus, they are to hear the words, “you will not know at what hour I will come against you.”

Questions to consider:

1. What are some things we might see a church doing that would make us consider it to be alive, even thriving, that are not actually things the Bible commands the church to do?  Does that make all church activities not directly commanded in Scripture wrong?  Are fun youth events, sewing groups, or basketball open gyms wrong?
2. What do living healthy churches do that dead churches do not?
3. In what ways are you participating in the things that make the church alive and healthy?  How can you be a conqueror with the rest of Christ’s church today?

Today’s passage: Revelation 2:18-29

Helpful thoughts:

• Christ, with eyes like a flame of fire can see all things.  His feet of burnished bronze reminds the reader of his sovereign authority.  We enter the throne room of the King and sit under his rule.
• From the notes in the ESV Study Bible: “Thyatira’s strengths and weaknesses are the inverse of those at Ephesus. This church is strong in love evidenced in works; but it lacks discernment and tolerates heresy.”
  • The prophetess titled, “Jezebel” is commanded to repent in these verses.  But also, the church is being rebuked for it’s failure to pursue the discipline of “Jezebel.”   The church is responsible before God to maintain its purity.
• Jesus sees that there are people within the church who are holding fast to the gospel message and are satisfied in it, and there are others who think they want/need more.  When people go after more than what Christ has given in the gospel, they are actually settling for less and rejecting Christ altogether.

Questions to consider:

1. Why was Christ right to rebuke the church for not pursuing discipline of this prophetess?  How was the tolerance of her teaching and actions harming the church, the testimony of the church in the community, the reputation of Christ, and even the prophetess herself?  What must a church who loves God and loves their neighbors do when unrepentant sin is occurring in their midst?
2. How do these commands concerning the purity of the church and repentance help us to grow in wisdom concerning the true definition of love and wisdom in knowing when our patience has crossed the line and turned into passivity?
3. How does the depiction of Christ as omniscient and sovereign in verse 18 set the tone for this letter?  Why did the church in Thyatira need to listen and heed what Jesus said to them?  Why must we still today?  Who is Jesus?

Today’s passage: Revelation 2:12-17

Helpful thoughts:

• Christ reveals Himself to the church at Pergamum as “him who has the sharp two-edged sword.”  This sword is pictured as proceeding from his mouth (1:16) and depicts Christ’s authoritative word of judgment.
  • If the church at Pergamum does not follow this instruction to rebuke false teachers, Jesus will be ready to Himself.
• Because Balaam could not curse the people of Israel in the wilderness, he suggested temptation instead (Numbers 31:16).  It worked (Numbers 25:1-5).
  • Pergamum was allowing teaching in the church which promoted the same practices.  Their sin was not necessarily participating in the idolatry or the immorality, but failing to rebuke those who taught it.  What we teach matters to God.
• White stones were given in that culture to champion athletes as a token for entry into the celebration after the event was completed.  They were also used to designate a vote of acquittal by a juror.  Either parallel would fit here.  Those who follow Christ are justified by His shed blood and invited to the victory banquet (Revelation 19:9)!

Questions to consider:

1. What kind of teaching does Jesus forbid in this passage?  Who does He command to put a stop to that kind of teaching?  And specifically, where (or in the presence of whom) are we responsible to prevent that teaching from being presented?
2. Even if we think people won’t listen to us, why should we proceed in the effort to purify the church from false teaching?  Who will ultimately win the struggle and purify the church?  What part are we truly playing in Christ’s work to present to Himself a pure church?
3. Who is Jesus telling to repent in verse 16?  Why isn’t Christ speaking to the false teacher’s?  Whose servants are they?  Whose servants are we?