Theme: The letters to the Churches: What is the Lord Saying to us?
Topic: The Revelation of the Son of Man.
Main Text: Revelation 1:4-20 Key verse: Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death. Rev. 1:17-18.
Introduction:
Many people are perplexed by the book of Revelation, viewing it as a mysterious, bizarre, and indecipherable enigma, but it is far from that. The Greek word translated as revelation means to unveil or make visible. The book of Revelation unveils Christ’s full identity and God’s plan for the end of the world, focusing on Jesus Christ, his second coming, his victory over evil, and the establishment of his kingdom. It is a book of hope, but also of warning. The book reveals Jesus Christ, not as the vulnerable babe of Bethlehem, or the Teacher from Galilee who died a humiliating, criminal’s death on Calvary, but as the “the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, the ruler over the kings of the earth” (Rev 1:5) soon-coming King (v7) who holds “the keys of Hades and of Death” (Rev 1:18). It starts by reminding believers that He is the Son of God who loved us and freed us from sin by His own blood, making us a kingdom of priests unto God the Father (Rev 1:6-7).
Q1. 1. Read Ps 90:2; 1Pt 2:9 and Rev 1:1-8 (1a) From the introduction of the book (vv1-3), to whom was the book written and why? What happens to those who read, hear, and heed what is written? (1b)What does Revelation 1:4-5 teach us about God? (1c) What does it mean to be “kings and priests” unto God?
Paragraph 2:
“Son of Man” is the title Christ used most often about himself in the Gospels. It is taken from Daniel 7:13 and is an implied claim to deity. Yet, as WA Criswell observed, when Christ first came into this world, His Godhead was hidden by His humanity. His arrival was observed by a few people (and a great company of angels), and his departure into the clouds was seen only by some of his followers. His second coming will again be with the clouds, but this time, it will be seen by everyone, followers and unbelievers, all over the world. Only a small number of people can see any fixed point in the atmosphere, so Jesus’ second coming will clearly be a supernatural event. Sadly, for many, it will not be a joyous occasion. It will be a fearful encounter with the Alpha and the Omega, the one who holds all of history in His hands; the Son of Man who came to seek and to save the lost but whom they did not acknowledge while they had the opportunity.
Q2. Read Dan 7:9, Matt. 2:1,5:14-16, Luke 2:7, Rev 1:7-16 (2a) Compare how Jesus came into the world in the Gospels with the Jesus presented in Revelation 1 (2b) Discuss the significance of the imagery in Rev 1:7-16. (2c) After reading this description of Jesus, how has your understanding of Him deepened?
Paragraph 3:
Christ Jesus existed in the form of God from eternity past, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bondservant, and humbled Himself by being obedient to death on the cross to purchase redemption for mankind. Therefore, God exalted Him and He ascended to heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father, sending the Holy Spirit to work amongst those who, by faith through the grace of God, recognized that He is Lord. John was allowed to see the risen, glorified Son of Man and fell as one dead, which is a common response in the Bible to seeing the glory of God. Sometimes we forget who Jesus is and become casual and familiar in our approach. Understanding His glory, power, and authority will help us have a deeper appreciation of His humility and sacrifice on our behalf.
Q3. Read Numbers 16:22, Ezekiel 1:28, Rev 1:17-20 (3a) Why do you think John reacted as he did when he saw Jesus? What does Jesus’ response teach us? (3b) What is the danger of an unbalanced attitude to Christ among believers? (3c) How should the book of Revelation affect our view of God, His relationship to this world, and our witness to unbelievers?
Prayer: Heavenly Father, as we begin this new season of study, open my eyes, my ears, and my heart to see, hear, and heed what you are saying to us today and quicken my hands and my feet to obey so that my life might proclaim the glory of the Son of Man in every sphere of influence you have given me. Amen