Revelation #1 – Study Questions

Kyle Bartholic   -   February 3, 2023

Revelation CGS – Week 1

 

Anticipation

 

Revelation 1:1-3

 

INTRODUCTION:  Revelation is a book that, for many Christians, elicits one of two responses, an eager reader to figure out how “it is all going to happen” or resistance and dismissal because of poor teaching or its confusing content. Let’s be honest Revelation is not an easy book of the Bible to read, let alone study and apply to our lives. Martin Luther once expressed his distaste for it by saying, “Finally, let everyone think of it as his own spirit leads him. My spirit cannot accommodate itself to this book. For me this is reason enough not to think highly of it: Christ is neither taught nor known in it. But to teach Christ, this is the thing.” [1] Imagine looking close up at the details of an impressionist painting. All you can see are strokes of paint and dabs of colour. It’s hard to make sense of it. But take a step back, and the picture becomes clear. And what emerges is not just a scene but the mood it evokes. That’s how we should approach the book of Revelation. Lean in too close, look only at the detail, and it’s all a bit perplexing. But step back, look at the big picture and Revelation not only becomes clearer, but grabs our imaginations. That’s John’s aim. Since we are faced with the threat and seductions of the world around us, John wants to recapture our imagination about how God is at work in the world.[2]

 

Yet, this mysterious book of the Bible will begin by telling us that if you read it, you will be blessed (1:3). Why is that? Well, as we will come to see, Revelation is to foster hope in us as it increases our anticipation for the things of God and his final act in the scope of redemptive history. God delights in our holy anticipation of what he will do in our lives and in the scope of human history. But the blessing or the gift of anticipation in God’s economy is not that we are filled with a fantastical wish. It is that our anticipation grows proportionally with our hope because we see God at work in our lives and in the most difficult of circumstances. We want to know that it is going to be ok. We want to know that it is going to work out. We are no different than the generations before us or the original audience in that way. To this need and to a culture and humanity wrapped in fear, God speaks to us through Revelation. He desires our holy anticipation because anticipation increases hope… hope fosters faithfulness.

 

 

 

GETTING STARTED – As you begin your group time this week, answer this question around the group. Have you ever experienced anticipation that changed the way you reacted or decisions that you made? I.e., At Christmas, did your anticipation of presents cause you to peek or to have self-control? Or maybe, preparing for your marriage, did your anticipation inform decisions you made ahead of your wedding?

 

 

IN THE WORD –   Let’s dig back into the passage. It is important to strengthen our muscles in reading God’s Word. On Sunday, we walked through the passage in the sermon. Hopefully, that helped you to see the landmarks of the passage with fresh eyes. Now, with your group, go back through it and see what God is saying to you specifically.

First, before you read the passage, take a moment to ask God’s Spirit to quiet your mind and heart and to illuminate the text to you. Second, read the passage aloud to the group. Then, follow the simple method below. (O.P.A)

 

Observe: Make 8-10 observations from the passage. Pay close attention to observe and note repeated words and phrases, names, places, and themes.

 

Principles: From your list of observations, what patterns or big ideas do you see emerging? Can you distill it down into 2-4 big idea truths?

 

 

 

Apply: Moving from your list of principles, it is time to apply God’s Word. Remember, we believe that God’s Word is living and active and that it can change the way we live Monday- Friday. What is one tangible way to apply a truth from your list above?

 

 

Note: Revelation can be a tough book. Here are some questions that might help with discussion.

  1. What has been your reaction or impression of Revelation in the past?
  2. If Revelation isn’t merely a timeline to be figured out, but timeless principles to be understood, how does that inform your perspective on Revelation?
  3. Hope in the biblical sense is defined as, “Biblical hope is more than a simple wish; it entails certainty based on God’s demonstration of faithfulness.” What resonates with you about that definition? How is it different than how you might have defined hope? Can you see this definition in the Scriptures?
  4. What would it look like to live with holy anticipation this week for you? Give two or three examples.
    1. Wrestle with this question as a group: If Jesus is victor… what changes for me because of that truth?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[1] Dr. Michael Cooper, A Faithful Witness (Ephesiology Press, 2021), 19.

[2] Chester, Tim. Revelation For You: Seeing history from heaven’s perspective (p. 6). The Good Book Company. Kindle Edition.