Today’s passage: Revelation 9

Helpful thoughts:

• The fifth and sixth trumpet judgments are described.  They are also referred to the first two of three “woes.”
• Our imaginations could run wild with these explanations from the Apostle John.  We could err by taking all of the explanations too literally.  We could err by trying to naturalize every description.  We could also err by trying to predict with exact detail what all of these things, people, creatures will be.  I think the specificity is yet to be revealed.
• Some things we can be sure of from this passage:
  • Satan is a destroyer, even of his own followers.
  • Satan and his demons can do nothing without God’s permission.  God is sovereign over all.
  • Even with all the devastation conveyed in this text, the world still will not repent.

Questions to consider:

1. In what ways can we see similarities with these judgments and the plagues in Egypt?  Are there any correlations?  What (If anything) should we make of that?
2. How do verses 1 and 11 go together in a way that seems to indicate Satan is the angel being referred to in this passage as “Abaddon” and “Apollyon”? (These words mean “destruction” and “destroyer”)
3. How do verses 1 and 15 give evidence of God’s continued sovereignty over the devil?  Even if the devil thinks he is getting away with doing whatever destructive thing he desires to do, whose ultimate purpose is he still serving?  How fickle is it for anyone to think they can go a different direction that the sovereign will of God?  Why is it absolutely right to follow Jesus Christ?

Today’s passage: Revelation 8

Helpful thoughts:

• The opening of the seventh seal ushers in the next series of seven in the judgments of Revelation, the seven trumpets.
  • With the constant worship ongoing in heaven, this half an hour of silence would be full of suspense.  This suspense is fitting given the judgment which is to be executed.
  • The coming judgment is depicted as a response to the prayers of the saints.
• The first four trumpets are described in chapter 8.  Trumpets five and six will be explained in chapter 9.  The seventh trumpet will not be blown until chapter 11.
  • The judgment of God destroys a third of things on earth ranging from plants on land, to the sea, to rivers, to the sky (What we can see when we look to the sky (The sunlight, moonlight).
    • These trumpet judgments bring with them the death of animals on land and sea, as well as the death of many people.
• Wormwood is a bitter tasting plant with a poisonous extract.
• The judgments listed here in the first four judgments will not compare with what’s to come in the final three trumpets.

Questions to consider:

1. What does it seem the silence in heaven represents?  To what are all the hosts of heaven giving the attention?  What would their silence (in the presence of God) seem to indicate concerning the information that was being presented to them?  If God is continuously worthy of all glory and praise, how would it be glorifying to God for all of heaven to silence themselves in these moments?
2. If these trumpet judgments are describing specific historical events yet to take place, how do you think they would look?  What type of events would John be describing?  How would the world respond in the midst of such destruction?
3. How does the content of this chapter point to the majesty of God?  As much as it might draw our attention to speculation and imagination of life on this earth, what does it tell us about Him and the honor that is rightly due Him?  How should we respond?

Today’s passage: Revelation 7

Helpful thoughts:

• The question at the end of chapter 6 is answered in chapter 7.  Who can stand against the wrath of God?  Those whom He has redeemed, washed, and sealed (“marked” as belonging to the Lord).
  • The Holy Spirit serves as our seal! (Ephesians 1:13-14)
• It is debated exactly how symbolic the listing of the tribes of Israel in verses 4-8 is.  The numbering of 12,000 per tribe could be symbolic of a massive number or a number of completion.  The number of people could literally be an ingathering of ethnic Jews, or it could be symbolic of the ingathering of the Gentiles into the people of God.  Here are some observations we can make:
  • The tribes are listed in a unique fashion!
    • Judah (The tribe of Christ) is listed first, Reuben (the firstborn) is second.
    • The tribes of Gad, Asher, and Naphtali (all sons of Jacob’s concubines) are elevated above other sons of Leah and Rachel.
    • Levi had not been given an inheritance of land, but he is included in the list.
    • Dan had been given an inheritance of land, but his tribe is not listed (Judges 18).
    • Manasseh is listed, Ephraim is not (but Joseph is, perhaps in the place of Ephraim).
• Regardless of how symbolic verses 4-8 are, there will be a gathering of people from every tribe, tongue and nation (including ethnic Israel) who call on the name of the Lord and are saved!
  • Eternity for all those who are in Christ is depicted in verses 15-18.

Questions to consider:

1. If the “four winds of the earth” are depicting the devastation of God’s wrath against the earth, what can we learn from the fact that those four winds were to be stopped when it came to those who would be redeemed?  What are God’s people saved from, both now and forever?
2. In what way would it make sense to believe this listing of the tribes of Israel refers to ethnic Israel?  In what way could it make sense to believe this listing refers to all the people of God?  How might passages like Romans 11:11-27 and Galatians 6:11-16 help us to think through these possibilities?
3. In the end, is this debate worth breaking fellowship over?  How could either interpretation yield the same results through the redemptive plan of God (especially since those in verses 9-17 are from every people group)?

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?