Search The Scriptures —Study 9 — Revelation 5

Study 9 From the Book of Revelation is: Revelation 5

1-     Of what does this vision assure us concerning the purpose and the results of Christ’s earthly sacrifice—as ‘the Lamb who was slain’?

2-     What is it that here prompts ‘a new song’ (verse 9)? How many ultimately join in the singing? What difference is there in qualification to sing on the part of those who do sing? See 14:3. Have you discovered why you should sing?

Notes

1-     Verse 1. ‘A scroll’: this is the book of destiny. It declares God’s purposes of judgment and blessing for this world. Some regard it as the title-deed to the inheritance with Christ has procured for Himself and for His fellow-men by His redeeming work.

2-     Verses 5, 6. Note the tense, ‘has conquered’. The victory is already won. Cf. 3:21. See also Jn. 12:31, 32. The occasion here seen in vision is that of Christ return from the cross of the throne of God as the Lamb that ‘had been slain’. He is at once invested into His universal dominion. Cf. Mt. 28:18; Heb. 2:9; 10:12, 13.

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INTRODUCTORY NOTE TO CHAPTERS 4 to 11 and Search The Scriptures —Study 8 — Revelation 4

INTRODUCTORY NOTE TO CHAPTERS 4-11

We are now entering upon the main revelation of the book (see 1:1 and 4:1). We have seen the conditions of the churches. Persecution had begun, and times of greater trial loomed ahead (see 2:10, 13; 3:10). The question, ‘What of the future?’ must have troubled every thoughtful Christian and is now about to be answered. But, first in chapters 4 and 5 God shows John a vision of the heavenly realities which abide unshaken behind and above the changes and uncertainties of earth.

Study 8 From the Book of Revelation is: Revelation 4

1-     When John looked into heaven, what is the chief and outstanding sight which met his eyes? What may we also learn from this vision about the origin, the control and the purpose of the created universe? What kind of response ought this awareness to call forth from us?

2-     What is here indicated or symbolized concerning the nature and character of God, and concerning the way in which He ought to be worshipped?

Notes

1-     Verse 3. ‘Like Jasper’: i.e., radiant; cf. 21:11. ‘Like…carnelian’: i.e., red like fire or blood. The ‘rainbow’ suggests God’s faithfulness. Cf. Gn. 9:12-17.

2-     Verse 4. These elders are normally taken to represent the church of Old and New Testaments

3-     Verses 6-8. ‘Four living creatures’: similar to those of Ezekiel’s vision. See Ezk. 1:5ff.; 10:12. Their appearance suggests the characteristics of strength, service, intelligence and swiftness. For their song, cf. Is. 6:3

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Search The Scriptures —Study 7 — Revelation 3:14-22

Study 7 From the Book of Revelation is: Revelation 3:14-22

1-     How do you think the church in Laodicea had become so blind to its true spiritual condition? Cf. Mt. 23:25, 26; 2 Cor. 4:18. Who undertakes to deal with them, and how?

2-     What three qualities of Christian character are symbolized by gold refined by fire’, white garments’ and eye salve respectively?  See for the first, 1Pet. 1:7; for the second, verses 4, and 19:8; Ps. 51:7; and for the third, Ps. 119:18; 2 Pet. 1:9; Eph. 1:18, 19. How may these things be obtained?

3-     How in its context is verse 20 to be understood?  If a church as a whole is ‘Lukewarm’, may individuals within it enjoy a close relationship with the Lord? What does the Lord promise to such? What are the conditions to be fulfilled in order to obtain what is promised? Cf. Jn.14:22, 23.

Note. Verse 17 Laodicea was prosperous and wealthy. After its overthrow by an earthquake in AD 61 it was rebuilt by its own citizens without imperial subsidy. ‘We need nothing’ was virtually what its inhabitants said.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 6 — Revelation 3:1-13

Study 6 From the Book of Revelation is: Revelation 3:1-13

1-     Verses 1-6. What was wrong with the Christians, in Sardis, and what was needed to remedy the situation?  Upon whose action did change and better living depend? Is our condition at all similar?

2-     In verses 7-13 what Christian quality is shown to be essential? For how long ought it to be exhibited? To what rewards will it practice lead?

Note. Verse 8. ‘An open door’ : i.e., a missionary opportunity. Cf. 1 Cor. 16: 9; 2.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 5 — Revelation 2:18-29

Study 5 From the Book of Revelation is: Revelation 2:18-29  

1-     In what ways is the description of Christ in verse 18 relevant to what follows? In what character is He here revealed? How should awareness of these truths affect our own behaviour?

2-     The religious compromise and moral laxity that were creeping into the churches seem to have proceeded further in the case of Thyatira, and to have become a doctrine and almost a sect.  What responsibility had the church as a whole towards the presence of such evil in its midst? What advice is given to the individual members who do not hold this teaching?

Note.  Verse 20. ‘The woman Jezebel’: so called because of her moral likeness so Jezebel of old. Cf. 1. Ki. 21:25, 26; 2 Ki. 9:22, 30.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 4 — Revelation 2:8-17

Study 4 From the Book of Revelation is: Revelation 2:8-17

1-     Reconstruct from verses 8-11 the situation with which the believers in Smyrna were confronted. What does Christ declare concerning (a)a their immediate, and (b) their final future?  In What ways were they already rich? How were they to conquer? To what result would such conquest lead?

2-     Satan could not break the rocklike steadfastness of the Church in Pergamum by frontal attack (verse 13), so he employed another method, tempting believers to ask, ‘Is it necessary to be so uncompromising in our attitude toward idolatrous practices and pagan morals? What is Christ’s answer to this sort of question?

Notes

1-     Verse 10. ‘Ten days’: i.e., for a short period

2-     Verse 11.  ‘The second death’: cf. 20:14, 15; 21:8.

3-     Verse 13. ‘Where Satan’s throne is’: Pergamum was the official residence of the Roman proconsul of the province, and the chief centre of the worship of the emperor.

4-     Verse 17. ‘The hidden manna’: the Rabbis taught that the Messiah when He came would give the people manna to eat, now hidden in heaven. What is said here is that Christ is the true manna, the bread of life. Cf. Jn. 6:-48-51.  ‘A white stone’:  stones engraved with names supposed to posses’ magical qualities were highly valued in heathen circles. Christ gives privileges, personal to catch recipient, which exceed all that can be found outside of Him.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 3 — Revelation 2:1-7

Study 3 From the Book of Revelation is: Revelation 2:1-7

The seven letters of chapters 2 and 3 are all similar in structure, beginning with titles descriptive of Christ, which have already occurred in the vision in 1:9-20; then giving Christ’s message to the church, and closing with a summons to hear and a promise to ‘him who conquers’. In the last four letters the promise precedes the summons.

1-     State in your own words what Christ found to commend in the Church at Ephesus (Verses 2, 3, 6).

2-     What was the poof that their love had declined? How could this condition be remedied? What further danger otherwise beset them? How should we take such a warning to heart?

3-     Verse 7a. Note the present tense ‘says’,  and the combination of individual appeal and universal application. How does Christ still speak through these scriptures, and to whom? Cf. Mk. 4:9, 23; 8:18. How may the hearing ear be obtained?

Notes

1-     Verse 6. Nicholaitans’. See also verses 14, 15. Nicholaos’ may be meant as a Greek equivalent of ‘Balaam’, intended to describe a person who lays waste the people of God, as Balaam did through the introduction of idolatrous and immoral practices. Cf. 2 Pet. 2:15, 16.

2-     Verse 7. ‘The tree of life’:  in contrast to the corrupt fruit of idolatrous and sensual self-indulgence. Cf. 22:2.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 2 — Revelation 1:9-20

Study 2 From the Book of Revelation is: Revelation 1:9-20 

1-     What, according to verse 9, is the twofold experience in which all believers share, and what should characterize their lives? Cf. Jn. 16:33; Acts 14:22; 2 Tim. 2:12a.

2-     We are not for a moment to suppose that Christ is literally like this. What John sees is a vision, each feature of which is symbolic of some aspect of our glorified Lord. Write down against each feature here portrayed what trait in our Lord. Write down against each feature here portrayed what trait in our Lord’s character it suggests. What is the total impression left upon your mind?

3-     What does Christ say of Himself and of His relation to the churches in verses 17-20? With verse 17, cf. Dn. 10:8-11, 15-19, and with the figure of the ’lampstands’, cf. Mt. 5:14-16.

Notes

1-     Verse 17.  See also 22:13. Note that Christ applies to Himself words spoken by God of Himself in verse 8.

2-     Verse 18.  ‘The keys of Death and Hades’.: according to the teaching of the Rubbis these keys are in the hands of God alone.

3-     Verse 20. ‘Mystery’: i.e., something with a hidden meaning here explained. Cf. 17:7; Mt. 13:11. ‘The angels of the seven churches’. Sometimes taken to mean the pastors or bishops of each church, but more probably denoting a guardian angel (cf. Dn. 10:21; Mt. 18:10).

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Search The Scriptures —Study 1 — Revelation 1:1-8

Study 1 From the Book of Revelation is: Revelation 1:1-8

1-     Trace in verses 1 and 2 the course of the ‘revelation’ from its source in the mind of God by four successive steps to us who read and receive it. How is it described in its content, character and value, and what is required in those who read or hear? CF. Lk. 11:28

2-     Observe the place given to Jesus Christ in relation to God, and consider each title given to Him in verse 5a. Cf. Jn.3:11, 32, 3; 18:37; Col. 1:18; Rev. 19:11-16. How does John describe His attitude to us, and what He has done for us?  Cf. Jn. 13:1; Eph1:7; 1 Pet. 2:9.

3-     With 1:7 cf. Dn. 7:13 and Acts 1:9-11. Is the thought of His coming a joy to you? Cf. 6:15-17; 1 Thes. 4:15-18; 5:1-4; 2 Thes. 1:7-10.

Notes

1-     Verse1. “The revelation of Jesus Christ”: i.e., communicated by Him; and intended not to mystify but to disclose.

2-     Verse 3. “He who reads”: the one who reads this book aloud to his fellow-believers ‘the prophecy’: a significant claim. Cf. 22:7, 10, 18, 19.

3-     Verse 4. “The seven spirits” i.e., the Spirit in His sevenfold fulness.

4-     Verse 5. “The faithful witness”: this includes the thought of martyrdom. Cf. 1 Tim. 6:13. Note the sequence - death, resurrection, enthronement.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 0 — The introduction of Revelation

Study 0 From the Book of Revelation is:  Introduction to the Book of Revelation 

Many have been put off the study of the book of Revelation by fears of its difficulty, or the intricate nature of some interpretations. But no book of the Bible will more surely reward the student who approaches it for its present relevance rather than as an eschatological enigma. It is important to remember that the visions which occupy so large a part of it are not to be regarded as literal pictures: the book is written in the literary form known as ‘apocalyptic’, which expresses heavenly and spiritual realities by means of a conventional and elaborate symbolism.

It is generally agreed that it was written by John the apostle, and in days of persecution, as his exile proves (1:9). Some thing that his exile was suffered under Nero, who died in AD68; Some under Domitian (81-96). The later date seems more probable. The struggle between the people of Christ and the power of Rome had now reached a state more advanced than that which is reflected in the Acts of the Apostles. Emperor worship became common from Nero’s reign outward, and the outlook was dark and threatening.

The reference to Rome in chapter 17 is but thinly veiled. Some interpreters (Preterist’) regard all the references as being to contemporary events, so that for us the book speaks of things already past; some (Historicist’) have seen in chapters 2:19 references to Christian history before and after the fall of Rome, and to the conflict of evangelical religion with the Roman church, so leading on the times of the end; other (‘Futurist’) regard chapters 2 and 3 as an epitome of Christian history, and the rest of book, as prophecy looking forward to events at the time of the Lord’s return.

A true interpretation may well find something of value in all these points of vies. It is best to study the book with the assurance (1) that it had a real message for its own time; (2) that its lessons have been illustrated by the history of the Church; and (3) that it contains prophetical reference to the future. The readers should not be so troubled by the obscurities that he cannot rejoice in the message of what is clear. We can learn lessons of tremendous value about the place of Christ’s people in the purposes of God and the glorious future awaiting them, the heavenly nature of our earthly conflict,  which can be carried on only with divine aid, the need to overcome in the struggle, the eternal judgment of God upon Satan and sin, and the certainty of the complete victory, the lordship over history and second doming of Jesus Christ our Lord.