Reading
Revelation 1:1-20
Going Deeper
Revelation gives us a glimpse of who Jesus really is and the glory and power that are His. For more insight about Jesus, read Philippians 2:5-11.
Exploring the Meaning
1. What do you learn here about Jesus' identity? How is this identity affirmed in Revelation 1?
2. What does Philippians 2 say about Christ's past humiliation and its relationship to His present and future exaltation?
3. Read Matthew 24:29-30 and 25:31. What do these passages add to your understanding of the second coming of Christ?
4. Read John 11:25 and 14:6. What do these verses say about Christ being "He that liveth" (Revelation 1:18)?
(Verses to consider: Romans 6:9; Hebrews 2:14-15; 7:16; 1 Peter 3:18)
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Back to the Future - Part 4 - Devo for 01/01/2009
Reading
Revelation 1:1-20
Questions
1. Describe the amazing appearance of the Son of Man in this vision (vv. 13-18). What do these images convey about Christ?
2. What effect did this vision of the risen Christ have on John?
(Verses to consider: Genesis 17:3; Numbers 16:22; Isaiah 6:1-8; Ezekiel 1:28; Acts 9:4)
3. Why is Revelation 1:19 such a significant verse in relation to our understanding of this book?
Revelation 1:1-20
Questions
1. Describe the amazing appearance of the Son of Man in this vision (vv. 13-18). What do these images convey about Christ?
2. What effect did this vision of the risen Christ have on John?
(Verses to consider: Genesis 17:3; Numbers 16:22; Isaiah 6:1-8; Ezekiel 1:28; Acts 9:4)
3. Why is Revelation 1:19 such a significant verse in relation to our understanding of this book?
Back to the Future - Part 3 - Devo for 12/31/2008
Reading
Revelation 1:1-20
Questions
1. What did John mean when he wrote "the time is at hand"?
(Verses to consider: Matthew 24:36-39; 2 Peter 3:3-4)
2. How did John describe the future second coming of Christ?
3. How will unbelievers (Jews and Gentiles) respond to the return of Christ?
(Verse to consider: Zechariah 12:10)
Revelation 1:1-20
Questions
1. What did John mean when he wrote "the time is at hand"?
(Verses to consider: Matthew 24:36-39; 2 Peter 3:3-4)
2. How did John describe the future second coming of Christ?
3. How will unbelievers (Jews and Gentiles) respond to the return of Christ?
(Verse to consider: Zechariah 12:10)
Back to the Future - Part 2 - Devo for 12/30/2008
Reading
Revelation 1:1-20
Keys to the Text
Revelation: This word comes from the Greek word apokalypsis and means "an uncovering," "an unveiling," or "a disclosure." In the New Testament, this word describes the unveiling of spiritual truth (Romans 16:25; Galatians 1:12; Ephesians 1:17; 3:3), the revealing of the sons of God (Romans 8:19), Christ's incarnation (Luke 2:32), and His glorious appearing at His second coming (2 Thessalonians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:7). In all its uses, "revelation" refers to something or someone once hidden, becoming visible. What this book reveals or unveils is Jesus Christ in glory. Truths about Jesus and His final victory become clearly visible through this revelation.
Apostle John: John was an apostle and one of the three most intimate associates of Jesus (see Matthew 17:1; 26:37). John and James (John's older brother), were known as "the sons of Zebedee," and Jesus called them "Sons of Thunder" (Matthew 10:2-4; Mark 3:17). After Christ's ascension, John became a pillar in the Jerusalem church. He ministered with Peter until he went to Ephesus (tradition says before the destruction of Jerusalem), from where the Romans exiled him to Patmos. Besides the book of Revelation, John also authored the Gospel that bears his name, as well as 1 John, 2 John, and 3 John.
1. Write something new that you learned about the word revelation.
2. Write something that you find interesting about the Apostle John and his life.
Revelation 1:1-20
Keys to the Text
Revelation: This word comes from the Greek word apokalypsis and means "an uncovering," "an unveiling," or "a disclosure." In the New Testament, this word describes the unveiling of spiritual truth (Romans 16:25; Galatians 1:12; Ephesians 1:17; 3:3), the revealing of the sons of God (Romans 8:19), Christ's incarnation (Luke 2:32), and His glorious appearing at His second coming (2 Thessalonians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:7). In all its uses, "revelation" refers to something or someone once hidden, becoming visible. What this book reveals or unveils is Jesus Christ in glory. Truths about Jesus and His final victory become clearly visible through this revelation.
Apostle John: John was an apostle and one of the three most intimate associates of Jesus (see Matthew 17:1; 26:37). John and James (John's older brother), were known as "the sons of Zebedee," and Jesus called them "Sons of Thunder" (Matthew 10:2-4; Mark 3:17). After Christ's ascension, John became a pillar in the Jerusalem church. He ministered with Peter until he went to Ephesus (tradition says before the destruction of Jerusalem), from where the Romans exiled him to Patmos. Besides the book of Revelation, John also authored the Gospel that bears his name, as well as 1 John, 2 John, and 3 John.
1. Write something new that you learned about the word revelation.
2. Write something that you find interesting about the Apostle John and his life.
Back to the Future - Part 1 - Devo for 12/29/2008
Reading
Revelation 1:1-20
Drawing Near
1. On a scale of 1-10 (1 = representing "very little understanding" and 10 = "complete and full understanding"), how would you rate your current understanding of the book of Revelation and what it teaches about end-time events?
2. What do you hope to learn from this study?
3. When you think about the future of the world, are you optimistic or pessimistic? Why?
The Context
Many people are fascinated, even obsessed, with the future. They faithfully read their horoscopes, seek our Tarot card readers, have their palms read, feed on futurisitc scientific material, or call one of the many "psychic hot lines." All such attempts to discern the future, however, are in vain. There is only One who knows and declares the future: God (Isaiah 44:7; 45:21; 46:9-10). Only in Scripture can truth about the future be found.
The Old Testament prophets, particularly Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, and Zechariah, provided glimpses of the future. Jesus spoke about it, as did Peter and Paul in their inspired writings. But the book of Revelation provides the most detailed look into the future in all of Scripture. The fitting capstone of God's revelation to man in the Bible, the book of Revelation unveils the future history of the world, all the way to history's climax in the return of Christ and the setting up of His glorious earthly and eternal kingdom.
The breathtaking vision of Jesus Christ that begins John's book shows Him to be the glorified Lord of the church. For persecuted believers at the end of the first century, this reminder of Christ's present ministry to them surely provided great hope and comfort. Revelation 1:19 provides a simple outline for the entire book: "the things which thou hast seen," refers to the vision John has just seen (ch. 1); "the things which are" denotes the letters to the churches (chs. 2-3); and "the things which shall be hereafter" refers to the revelation of future history (chs. 4-22). The first chapter of Revelation makes abundantly clear that Jesus Christ is the central theme of the book. It specifies that the events described lie in the future. More importantly, from a reader's perspective, it promises blessings to those who study and obey the contents of John's prophecy.
Note: This study of Revelation moves quickly through large passages and will only allow us to look at major themes and events.
Revelation 1:1-20
Drawing Near
1. On a scale of 1-10 (1 = representing "very little understanding" and 10 = "complete and full understanding"), how would you rate your current understanding of the book of Revelation and what it teaches about end-time events?
2. What do you hope to learn from this study?
3. When you think about the future of the world, are you optimistic or pessimistic? Why?
The Context
Many people are fascinated, even obsessed, with the future. They faithfully read their horoscopes, seek our Tarot card readers, have their palms read, feed on futurisitc scientific material, or call one of the many "psychic hot lines." All such attempts to discern the future, however, are in vain. There is only One who knows and declares the future: God (Isaiah 44:7; 45:21; 46:9-10). Only in Scripture can truth about the future be found.
The Old Testament prophets, particularly Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, and Zechariah, provided glimpses of the future. Jesus spoke about it, as did Peter and Paul in their inspired writings. But the book of Revelation provides the most detailed look into the future in all of Scripture. The fitting capstone of God's revelation to man in the Bible, the book of Revelation unveils the future history of the world, all the way to history's climax in the return of Christ and the setting up of His glorious earthly and eternal kingdom.
The breathtaking vision of Jesus Christ that begins John's book shows Him to be the glorified Lord of the church. For persecuted believers at the end of the first century, this reminder of Christ's present ministry to them surely provided great hope and comfort. Revelation 1:19 provides a simple outline for the entire book: "the things which thou hast seen," refers to the vision John has just seen (ch. 1); "the things which are" denotes the letters to the churches (chs. 2-3); and "the things which shall be hereafter" refers to the revelation of future history (chs. 4-22). The first chapter of Revelation makes abundantly clear that Jesus Christ is the central theme of the book. It specifies that the events described lie in the future. More importantly, from a reader's perspective, it promises blessings to those who study and obey the contents of John's prophecy.
Note: This study of Revelation moves quickly through large passages and will only allow us to look at major themes and events.
Friday, December 5, 2008
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