Bible Reading Plan

Category: Revelation

  • Revelation 2

    Revelation 2

    Editor’s Note

    We began our study on the book of Revelation on Saturday. If you missed it, you can go back and read the preview and first chapter here!

    Read Revelation 2

    To the Church in Ephesus

    2 “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:

    These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right handand walks among the seven golden lampstands. 2 I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. 3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.

    4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first.5 Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstandfrom its place. 6 But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

    7 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

    To the Church in Smyrna

    8 “To the angel of the church in Smyrna write:

    These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. 9 I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not,but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.

    11 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death.

    To the Church in Pergamum

    12 “To the angel of the church in Pergamum write:

    These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword. 13 I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, not even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives.

    14 Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality. 15 Likewise, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

    17 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.

    To the Church in Thyatira

    18 “To the angel of the church in Thyatira write:

    These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. 19 I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.

    20 Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel,who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. 21 I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. 22 So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. 23 I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.

    24 Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets, ‘I will not impose any other burden on you, 25 except to hold on to what you have until I come.’

    26 To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations— 27 that one ‘will rule them with an iron scepterand will dash them to pieces like pottery’—just as I have received authority from my Father. 28 I will also give that one the morning star. 29 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

    Go Deeper

    The Revelation of Jesus is more than a revelatory (apocalyptic) mash-up of prophetic letters and visions from Jesus through angel messengers to the first century church in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). It is a supernatural unveiling of coming events where Jesus promises to intervene in human history, destroy evil, and bring his kingdom. These highly symbolic, repetitive messages were written to encourage faithful perseverance during persecution and instill hope.

    Revelation’s second and third chapters follow John’s introductory greeting and initial vision of Jesus among seven specific churches in specific locations and cultural contexts. Most letters include a description of Christ, a commendation and rebuke from Christ, a remedy, consequences, and promises for those who endure. Revelation 2 includes the first four letters to Ephesus (v. 1-7), Smyrna (v. 8-11), Pergamum (v. 12-17), and Thyatira (v. 18-29).

    Jesus’ first message to the Church in Ephesus, a wealthy Roman port. He describes himself as holding seven stars (angels) and walking among (visiting) seven lampstands (churches) (Revelation 1:20). He commends their doctrinal vigilance amidst corrupting worldly influences and patient endurance during persecution and marginalization from brutal Roman rulers and Jewish neighbors. He encourages the Ephesian church to repent for assimilating pagan culture and commands them to return to their first love for God and others or lose their church. Jesus promises those who repent and persevere (conquerors) will eat of the tree of (eternal) life with leaves for the healing of the nations (Revelation 22:2).

    Jesus’ second message (v. 8-11) is addressed to the Church in Smyrna, a thriving port with temples dedicated to Greek and Roman deities, including the Ceasar, Zeus, and Athena. Jesus describes himself as the unique first and last God, who died and returned to life. He commends Smyrna’s rich faithfulness in the face of imminent tribulation, imprisonment, and martyrdom. Jesus promises a crown of (eternal) life to conquerors who will transcend the second death of worldly kingdoms.

    In the third message (v. 12-17), Jesus has a two-edged sword (words of life) for the church in Pergamum, a governmental center where Satan (Rome) dwells. He commends them for holding fast through martyrdom, but condemns them for idolatry and sexual immorality. He declares war against those who will not repent. He promises those who persevere sacred food and an exclusive invitation with a new name, like Abram/Abraham, Jacob/Israel, etc. who grappled well with God.

    John records Jesus’ fourth message to the Church in Thyatira, a smaller commercial city known for manufacturing purple (see Lydia in Acts 16). Jesus is described as the omniscient, omnipotent Son of God with eyes of flame and feet of bronze. He knows of the church’s patient endurance and growth but condemns the failure of some to turn from assimilating pagan practices. Those who hold fast are promised just rewards: a morning star (Jesus himself) and dominion over their oppressors (nations).

    Then, as now, the second chapter of Jesus’ Revelation to John repeatedly condemns tolerant adoption of corrupting worldly influences, commends faithful suffering, and promises eternal life for those who repent and faithfully persevere.

    Questions

    1. What messages do you find encouraging? Circle Jesus’ promises and commendations to the seven churches.
    2.  What messages do you find challenging? Underline Jesus’ condemnations of worldly influences in the seven churches.
    3. What messages from Revelation 2 apply to us today? Highlight Jesus’ promises for faithful perseverance.

    By the Way

    The ESV Expository Commentary quotes G.K. Chesterton, “Though St. John the Evangelist saw many strange monsters in his vision, he saw no creature so wild as one of his own commentators.” Recent scholarship summarizes Revelation in one verse: Exodus 20:3. “You shall have no other gods before me.”

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  • Revelation Introduction + 1

    Revelation Introduction + 1

    Revelation Preview

    We are gearing up to read the book of Revelation! For many of us, this can be a book that is daunting and sometimes challenging to read. However, the book of Revelation is in our Bibles for a reason. It was not meant to scare us or give us things to debate, it was meant to instill hope in what the future will hold for those who are in Christ. It’s all about seeing Christ for who He has revealed Himself to be. The Apostle John experienced exile on the island of Patmos during the Roman Emperor Domitian’s reign, and during that time received a vision from the Lord through an angel in AD 94-96. The book was written to the seven churches and has been preserved for us as the living and active Word of God. 

    The message of Revelation is simple: victory! Jesus will reign victorious forever, and those who have trusted in Him will as well. Revelation 1:19 gives us a general outline for the book. The angel tells John, “Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later.” It covers the things which have been seen in the past (chapter 1), the things which are in the present (chapters 2-3), and the things which will take place in the future (chapters 4-22). This book is considered apocalyptic literature; however, it is composed in a letter framework and is filled with prophecy. It is filled with symbolism as a means to describe divine realities that are difficult to put into words. Some of these symbols are tied to the history and geography of the original readers, and they would have understood these as symbols because they are tied to the time period.

    There are various interpretations to the book of Revelation. The idealist (or allegorical) interpretation sees the book as an allegory teaching the triumph of good over evil. The preterist (or past) view believes the book deals with events that took place in early church history. The historical viewpoint sees the book as dealing with events in the entirety of church history, not just the church in John’s Day. The futurist interpretation views the book as mainly eschatological, meaning events that will happen in the future end times.

    It is important to read this book in light of the Old Testament. There are over four hundred references to the Old Testament, where much of the symbolic imagery comes from. If we look back to the Old Testament and how the Israelites were waiting for the Messiah to come, Jesus literally fulfilled hundreds of prophecies in regard to His first coming (which is what we celebrate at Christmas)! Likewise, we can be confident that Jesus will literally fulfill the promises that are made in this book as He makes all things new.  

    This book is filled with mysteries about the things to come. There are visions of worship, three sets of seven judgements (seals, trumpets, and bowls), the final stage of the end of the world, the fall of Babylon, the marriage Supper of the Lamb, Christ’s second return, the setting up of the Millennial Kingdom, and so much more! Revelation gave the people during the time it was written incredible hope. Likewise, it gives us hope now knowing that whatever we are going through, we won’t be going through for long. We know how the story ends: Jesus will one day return and reign in glory, and that’s good news for us today!

    Read Revelation 1

    Prologue

    1 The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angelto his servant John, 2 who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.

    Greetings and Doxology

    4 John,

    To the seven churches in the province of Asia:

    Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come,and from the seven spirits before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

    To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.

    7 “Look, he is coming with the clouds,”
        and “every eye will see him,
    even those who pierced him”;
        and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.”
    So shall it be! Amen.

    8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”

    John’s Vision of Christ

    9 I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10 On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet,11 which said: “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphiaand Laodicea.”

    12 I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. 15 His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.

    17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.

    19 “Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later. 20 The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right handand of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angelsof the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

    Go Deeper

    Revelation begins giving us an idea of the value of the book, and why we should read it and obey it. It says, “Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near” (v. 3). This is the first of seven blessings that John mentions in Revelation. There is blessing when we hear the words of this book and obey it.  

    Nancy Guthrie, an author, and Bible teacher, puts it like this: “There is no magical blessing in simply hearing what is revealed in Revelation. There’s no blessing for those who hear it but choose to ignore it, reject it, rebel against it, or simply treat it as fodder for their curiosity. The blessing is for those whose lives are impacted and shaped by what is in it. It changes their priorities. It builds up their courage. It impacts how they spend their money. It leads them to worship in spirit and in truth. It sends them to their knees in prayer. It emboldens their witness. It takes away their fear of death. It fills their imagination and fuels their anticipation of where history is headed, and it shapes their understanding of how their suffering will resolve in the new heaven and the new earth.” This book should change the way that we live today!

    Revelation is all about Jesus from beginning to end. We learn more about the person of Jesus in the book of Revelation than almost any other book in the Bible. Revelation 1 gives us a beautiful picture of our Savior. Take note of some of the descriptions of Jesus in this chapter alone:  

    • The One who is, and who was, and who is to come (v. 4)
    • The faithful witness (v. 5)
    • Firstborn of the dead (v. 5)
    • Ruler of kings on earth (v. 5)
    • Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood and made us a kingdom of priests (v. 5-6)
    • The One who is coming with the clouds (v. 7)
    • Acknowledged by every tribe and tongue (v. 7)
    • The Alpha and Omega (v. 8)
    • The Almighty (v. 8)
    • Son of Man (v. 13)
    • Clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around His chest (v. 13)
    • Head of white hair (v. 14)
    • Eyes like a flame of fire (v. 14)
    • Feet like burnished bronze and a voice like the roar of many rivers (v. 15)
    • Holds seven stars in His right hand (v. 16)
    • From His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword and His face was like the sun (v. 16)
    • The first and the last (v. 17)
    • The living One (v. 18)
    • The One who died but lives forevermore, and who holds the keys of Death and Hades (v. 18)

    As we journey through the book of Revelation, remember that Jesus is the main focus. Revelation gives us reason to revel in Him and see Him for who He has revealed Himself to be.

    Questions

    1. Make a note of verse 19. How does this verse give us a general outline to the book of Revelation? (Tip: Having an outline is helpful as we study a book like Revelation.)
    2. What does verse 3 tell us to do when it comes to the book of Revelation? Why do you think there is blessing from listening and obeying the words of this book?   
    3. Write down the descriptors of Jesus in this chapter. Which ones stand out to you? What is the significance of this descriptive detail?

    Watch This

    Check out The Bible Project’s video overview of the first half of the book of Revelation! 

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