Revelation (Adults)

Chapter 1

Lesson written by David Riggs and Murray Wade

Read this chapter and answer the questions below.

SOME BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Verses 1-3 are the inspired introduction to the book. The revelation (unveiling, uncovering) of Jesus Christ (He is the giver of it; also, it reveals Him in His present glory and as executor of judgment) which God gave to Him (from God through Christ) the things which must shortly come to pass for the time or occasion is at hand. The expressions, "shortly take place" (vs. 1) and "the time is near" (vs. 3), along with verses 6 and 10 of the 22nd chapter, show that the things of the book would not tarry or delay and had a definite bearing on that generation. Besides giving immediate encouragement to the Christians of that day, its principles and messages are applicable to Christians of all time.

The apostle John bore witness, gave evidence and testimony of (1) The word of God--the word of the Lord which is the gospel (1 Pet. 1:25); (2) The testimony of Jesus Christ--all those things which Jesus both did and taught (Acts 1:1); (3) All things that he saw--John was always careful to point out that he gave a true witness (John 19:35, 21:24, 1 John 1:1-4).

"Blessed" in verse 3 carries both the idea of being happy and being praised or spoken well of. It is the same word used by Jesus in Matt. 5:1-13 and is the first of seven in Revelation. "Blessed":

(1) 1:3 --- "is he who reads...and those who hear...and keep those things"

(2) 14:13 --- "are the dead who die in the Lord"

(3) 16:15 --- "is he who watches, and keeps his garments"

(4) 19:9 --- "are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb"

(5) 20:6 --- "is he who has part in the first resurrection"

(6) 22:7 --- "is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book"

(7) 22:14 --- "are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life"

(The above are from the NKJV)

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR REVELATION 1

1. What time frame is given in verse 1 for the things in the book of Revelation to take place?

2. What time period do scholars estimate for the writing of the book of Revelation?

3. What word in verse one shows that the book of Revelation is a symbolical book?

4. Blessed is he who does what three things?

5. Verses 4-6 and 9 indicate that at the time of the writing of Revelation the Kingdom of Jesus Christ was in existence. Please list other NT verses which also show the Kingdom is in existence.

6. What reasons might explain why John was on the island of Patmos?

7. How is the “One like the Son of Man” described in verses 12-17?

8. What is "hades" of verse 18 (See also Revelation 20:13-14)?

9. How does verse 19 show that not all things in Revelation are in the future?

10. In Revelation chapter 1 there are four sets of 7s referred to. Please list these four sets and what they represent if you can.

11. Why do you think the number 7 is referred to so many times in this chapter?