Revelation Study Guide
Compare the description of the "one like a son of man" in 1:13-16 with other visions of glorious beings in Ezek 1:26-28; 43:2-3; Dan 7:9-10,13; 10:5-6; Matt 17:2; 28:3; Rev 10:1; 15:6; 19:15. What does this tell the reader about who this Being is? What does John's response in 1:17 suggest? (Cf. Ezek 1:28; 43:3; Dan 10:7-9; Matt 17:6-7; 28:4)
-figure like that of a man -waist up: glowing metal full of fire -brilliant light surrounded him -when I saw his glory, I fell -clothing white as snow/hair white like wool -rainbow above his head -coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword The being is pure and powerful. We cannot stand to face his glory. John's response agrees with this because he also fell down when he was in the presence of Jesus.
Be able to explain the "mystery" unfolded in 1:20.
As for the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches. The seven stars are the messengers to the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches. Some believe that the messengers are the pastors of the churches and others believe that each church had an angel assigned to it. Lampstands were the place from which light would illuminate a room or light up the night. In the same way that the seven churches were to be lights shining in a spiritually dark world, we are to shine forth the good news about Jesus as well. Just as lampstands that do not provide a light are worthless, except for maybe an antique dealer, so are churches that do not shine by faithfully teaching the truth about God and His Word.
What reason does John give in 1:9 for his presence on Patmos, and what does he mean by this?
Because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. He has been called to be a two-fold witness of the revelation of Christ.w
What relation exists in 1:3 between the promised blessing and the imminence of the time of fulfillment?
Blessed is the one reads the prophecy and blessed are those who take the time to listen and keep it within them because time is crucial. You will be blessed if you keep the word of God at such a time when he is about to come back and deliver us from evil.
What is the message communicated through this vision of the glorified Christ as He walks among the lampstands, holding the seven stars in His right hand?
Christ will guide the churches. He is with the churches. Among them. And He is with us now.
Know the key characteristics of each of the churches.
Ephesus: Smyrna: Pergamos: Thyatira: Sardis: Philadelphia: Laodecia: http://www.bibleexplained.net/revelation/r-seg01-3/rev03c-table.html
. What Trinitarian formula appears in 1:4-5, and how does it relate to the christological benediction that follows?
[the One on the throne (presumably the Father), the seven Spirits or the Seven-fold spirit of God (presumably the Holy Spirit), and Jesus Christ Himself christological benediction re-emphasizes what is stated about christ in the formula and further shows how he can be called a faithful witness/firstborn from the dead Jesus fulfills the intended role of Israel as God's faithful firstborn son in his perfect life and sacrificial death, and he is vindicated by God in his glorious resurrection.
What descriptive titles does Christ use for Himself in this vision? How does the statement of Christ in 1:17-18 relate to the declaration in 1:8? (Cf. 22:13,16)
I am the First and the Last I am the Living One. In 1:8, God says he is the Alpha and the Omega, the one who is and was and is to come. Basically is showing that the Godhead has always been around and will always be.
What literary device appears in 1:4 to complicate the issue of the genre of the book?
chiasm??
In what way does the command of Christ in 1:19 set the stage for all that follows?
It shows the transmission of the revelation and how it can be interpreted (historicism) threefold division: prophecy; more of john's purpose; prepare for end time
Note how most of the descriptions of Christ in this passage are used in His introductions of Himself in the messages to the seven churches in Rev 2-3.
Noted.
Note the importance of the declaration in 1:7 and the tone it sets for the rest of the book.
confident prediction. prophecy. establishes importance because it will affect everyone (including those who hate him) The grammar places the event on the edge between the present and the future—the futuristic present. It is 'about to occur.' It is imminent:
Know the special circumstances of each church and why some receive only commendation while others receive only reproof.
http://www.bibleexplained.net/revelation/r-seg01-3/rev03c-table.html
Know some important aspects of the histories of the cities that are relevant to the content of the respective messages
https://zondervanacademic.com/blog/the-seven-churches-of-revelation-why-they-matter-and-what-we-can-learn
Try to explain the statement in 1:10, "I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day."
The Holy Spirit was speaking to him and preparing him to receive the revelation. In each place where John was IN THE SPIRIT, he saw THE FUTURE. Each NEW LOCATION offered a DIFFERENT SEGMENT of God's dealing with the world and mankind.
Who is apparently speaking in 1:8, and how does this declaration impact the Christology of the book? (Cf. 4:8-11; 5:13-14; 11:15-17; 15:3-4; 16:5,7; 19:6-7; 22:3,12-13,16)
the Lord God --the book was written by John (he does the greetings and intro) God now signs the Book of Revelation. No other book of the Bible has the imprimatur of God. This is God's autograph. Jesus signs in as God Almighty. The use of Alpha and Omega with the "first and last" defines its meaning. God is the beginning and the end of all things. "First and last" occurs in Isaiah 41:4; and 44:6. This statement is similar to "Alpha and Omega." Jesus is the start and finish (1:17; 21:6). "Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:2). Jesus originates and consummates our faith.
In what way is Jesus' introduction of Himself to each church relevant to their respective situation? Note the way Jesus' self-identification is drawn, with one exception, from the introduction to the vision in 1:12-18
Ephesus: Holds 7 stars, walks among 7 lampstands *their lampstand will be removed if they dont repent. Jesus is holding lampstands and has the power to do it* Smyrna: First and Last, Died and came to life *continue working hard because i have the power to give the faithful ones eternal life just as i have* Pergamos: The One with two-edged sword *i HAVE TWO-EDGED SWORD and ill fight with it if you dont repent* Thyatira: Eyes of fire, feet like brass; searches minds *just as i have power which can also be physically seen i will give you power over the nations; morning star* Sardis: Holds 7 spirits and 7 stars Philadelphia: Holy, true, holds keys of David, what he shuts no one can open *I'm true and hold the keys of David so I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth* Laodecia: Amen, true witness, Beginning of creation (ruler of Gods creation) *I'm faithful.. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline, If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.*
What process is described in 1:1 for the communication of the revelation of Jesus Christ?
God gave Jesus Christ the revelation to show to his servants the things that must soon take place
What is the function of the two-fold witness in 1:2? (Cf. Deut 17:6; 19:15; Matt 18:16)
He must bear witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw
In what way does the christological doxology in 1:5-6 introduce key ideas that permeate the rest of the book?
Revelation has to do with Jesus and salvation through him. Its aim is Christ's second coming and God's kingdom of glory thereafter. Jesus loves us (Rev 1:5). • He has redeemed us through his substitutionary death. The sin problem is resolved (Rev 1:5). • Jesus sets us in a new position. We are a kingdom and priests (Rev 1:6). • Jesus will come again (Rev 1:7). Rev 1:5-6 "is the first doxology in when we tALK out the doxology, we mean "Praise God from whom all blessings flow This doxology (1:5b, 6) not only reveals what Jesus Christ has done in his double role of priest/king for the Christian community of seven churches, but it also stresses his personal relationship with them through this priest/king role. The participles "who loves us" and "has freed us" are followed by the finite verb "made us."
How should one understand the concept of the "seven spirits" in 1:4? (Cf. 4:5; 5:6)
There are seven Spirits to match the seven churches addressed by the Revelation. Each Spirit is a representation of the Holy Spirit's personal work through prophets ministering to each of the seven churches, delivering to them the God-breathed testimony or gospel of Jesus. The expression "the seven Spirits of God" (Revelation 5:6) is parallel to the expression "the God of the spirits of the prophets" (Revelation 22:6). By representing the Holy Spirit and his work as seven spirits, the visions reassure us that God has a personal relationship with each congregation of Christ, and each congregation has its own independent responsibility in that relationship.