Email Bible Lessons Course Number 59
The Book of Revelation Bible Study – Lesson 1 of 12
EMAIL BIBLE LESSONS
Welcome, we trust you will enjoy these lessons as much as we did composing them. We are glad to be able to serve the Lord and you in this way.Many arebeing saved and helped through these simple Bible lessons. We suggest that you try to do one lesson each week; this will keep your interest in them active. This particular course contains twelve lessons onRevelation Bible Studies.Please save this lesson onto your computer, read the lesson carefully, full in the answers to the test questions at the end of each lesson and email the test page back to us at - .We will then evaluate and return any corrections to you with your next lesson. On completion of the full course you will receive a beautifully presented certificate. Should you have difficulty opening or sending this file to us, please let us know by return email. We suggest that you print these lessons and put them in a binder for future studies.
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LESSON 1 - BOOK OF REVELATION (BY R.E. HARLOW)
CHAPTER1
Revelation is the last book of the Bible and a very important and exciting one. In Scripture God has graciously revealed Himself to all who will read it. We can learn that God created all things, that Christ died for all men, and that the Holy Spirit lives in all believers today. However, in Revelation God gives us even more, an exciting picture of His future plans. Think of God telling man what He isgoing to do! The Lord Jesus often did this when He was here with His disciples. These disciples werenot only His servants, but He called them His friends. Because of this, He told them many things that would happen later, John 15:15 (KJV) Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. He gave them some details of His coming in Matthew Chapter 24, and the apostles were given more about this by the Holy Spirit in their writings, Paul in 1 and 2Thessalonians and 1 and 2 Corinthians, and Peter in his second letter.
The Spirit had revealed a great deal about God's plans to the Old Testament prophets from Isaiah to Malachi, especially Isaiah and Daniel, also some more in the Psalms.But the book of Revelation ties all this together and adds much more. The apostle John wrote it and he often used language from the Old Testament without saying where it came from. Some other New Testament writers did the same but other times they quoted the original writer, David or Isaiah, by name, as in Romans 4:6 (KJV) Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, Romans 10:20 (KJV) But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me. But in Revelation John joined together the words from the prophets and from the Lord as part of what he was saying. For example, Christ will come with clouds, Revelation 1:7 (KJV) Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen, as Daniel and the Lord had said, Daniel 7:13 (KJV) I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him; Matthew 24:30 (KJV) And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory; and all Gentiles will see Him and mourn as Zechariah had said, and John had quoted in his gospel,Zechariah 12:10 (KJV) And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn; John 19:37 (KJV) And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced. We will notice more examples as we read this book of Revelation.
The one chosen to write this great book was the youngest of the twelve apostles. His father was Zebedee, his brother, James. All three, father and sons, were fishermen until the Lord Jesus called John and James with Peter to follow Him, Matthew 4:21 (KJV) And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them. Later the Lord called these three and nine others, and named them apostles, Matthew 10:2 (KJV) Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother. These three men, Peter, James, and John, had a special place close to the Lord, Luke 8:51 (KJV) And when he came into the house, he suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden; Luke 9:28 (KJV) And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray, and special work to do. But they had a lot to learn first. The Lord had called James and John the sons of thunder, Mark 3:17 (KJV) And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder. They seemed very quick to call down judgment on others, Luke 9:49,54 (KJV) 49 And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us. 54 And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? These two brothers went to the Lord to ask Him for the highest place in His kingdom The Lord refused, Mark 10:35 (KJV) And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire. Yet He still chose them for special work, Mark 13:3 (KJV) And as he sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately; Mark 14:33 (KJV) And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy.
John knew that he had a place close to the Lord. Five times, he called himself the disciple whom Jesus loved, John 13:23 (KJV) Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved; John 19:26 (KJV) When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!; John 20:2 (KJV) Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him; John 21:7,20 (KJV) 7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea. 20 Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee? He was one of the three chosen to see the glorified Lord on the mountain. He leaned on Jesus' breast when they ate together. He took care of Mary after the Lord had died, and he and Peter saw the empty grave and believed that Christ had risen from death.
They were both important in the early church, Acts 1:13 (KJV) And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James; Acts 3:1 (KJV) Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour; Acts 8:14 (KJV) Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John; Galatians 2:9 (KJV) And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision, and suffered for the name of Christ, Acts 4:3,13,19 (KJV) 3 And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide. 13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. At the very beginning of this book, we see a wonderful verse. God the Holy Spirit promised a blessing to all who read or hear the book of Revelation and keep these things, Revelation 1:3 (KJV) Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. So weare part way into blessing already! But also at the end of the book, He warned of punishment to any who try to add or take away anything from it, Revelation 22:18-19 (KJV) 18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. This tells us how serious God thinks it is to change words, and how important He considers Revelation. There are three main sections in Revelation:
1. The Present Age, Revelation Chapters 1 to 3
2. The Great Tribulation, Revelation Chapters 4 to 18
3. The Coming of Christ, Revelation Chapters 19 to 22
To understand prophecy it is necessary to live a holy life. You cannot disobey God's laws and expectto understand His plans. The first half of the book of Daniel tells how he and his three friends obeyedGod and suffered for it. The second part gives us God's great revelations about the future. The book of Revelation is the same in that the first three chapters, give us Christ's messages to seven churches, and the rest of the book tells us what God is going to do in this world. The study of prophecy should make us live holier lives, 1 John 3.3.
LESSON 1 - THE PRESENT AGE
READ:Revelation Chapters 1 to 3
In the first part of Revelation, there are two sections:
1. John and his Lord, Revelation Chapter 1
2. Messages to seven churches, Revelation Chapters 2 and 3
1. JOHN AND HIS LORD, CHAPTER 1
The first chapter contains the Introduction, verses 1-3;
The writer and his prayer, verses 4-8;
AndJohn's vision of Christ, verses 9-20.
INTRODUCTION, Revelation Chapter 1:1-3
Revelation 1:1 (KJV) The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: - This book is a revelation of Jesus Christ and His coming in glory. The disciples had wantedto know when the Lord would restore the kingdom. But He had told John and the other apostles that they were not to know the time of His coming again. The Father had put this in His own authority, Acts 1:7 (KJV) And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. This is not to say that Christ is less than God is, but the Lord Jesus always gave honour to His Father, John 8:29-49 (KJV) 29 And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. 49 Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me.So here, we find God revealing things to us and the order of the revelation of this book is:
GOD
JESUS CHRIST
HIS ANGEL
JOHN
GOD'S SERVANTS
Christ is revealed in all Scripture, Luke 24:27 (KJV) And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself, but the word revelation (apocalypse, unveiling) is usedof His return in glory, 1 Corinthians 1:7 (KJV) So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ;2 Thessalonians 1:7 (KJV) And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels;1 Peter 1:7,13 (KJV) 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;1 Peter 4:13 (KJV) But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. The book of Revelation also reveals the glory of the Lord Jesus; He is mentioned forty-eight times in the book.
When would these things take place?
Revelation 1:1 (KJV) The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John - was written nearly 2000 years ago and it says soon. But we must remember that a thousand years is with the Lord as one day, 2 Peter 3:8 (KJV) But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
Today we can surely hope that the Lord will soon return. God has decreed that the events of Revelation must come to pass. And God's word will never fail, so how soon it must be now! God often used angels to speak to His people. He revealed Moses His covenant with Israel by angels. He spoke to Hagar Abraham, Manoah and his wife, Elijah and others by an angel. Here we see angels are prominent again in Revelation; they are mentioned sixty-two times.
In the last chapter, Jesus said that He had sent His angel to reveal these things through John to the churches Revelation 22:16 (KJV) I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. John saw and heard many strange and wonderful things in Revelation and we must look for the meaning. Many verses in the Bible are like this. For example, before He died, the Lord Jesus said that He would be "lifted up"; this meant that He would die on a cross, John 12:33-34 (KJV) 33 This he said, signifying what death he should die. 34 The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man? So in Revelation; everything has a meaning. Even though we do not understand it at first, the Lord is telling us something. Pray that the Holy Spirit will help you to understand.