(Read the passage)
What initial questions do you have about the passage?
Do you remember the four major views on how to interpret Revelation?
Preterist: Most events were fulfilled in the 1st century. (from the Latin praeter, which means “past”)
Historicist: Revelation outlines all of church history.
Futurist: Most events are still future, especially chapter 4 and onward.
Idealist (or Symbolic): The book represents timeless truths about good and evil.
What do people normally hope to gain from a study in the Book of Revelation?
In terms of the structure of Revelation, it’s divided up into four major sections:
Section 1 – The introduction.
Section 2 – The discussion of the seven churches.
Section 3 – A series of visions about what will come.
Section 4 – The conclusion.
Verse 3:
Notice that there is a blessing that comes to those who read aloud the words of the prophecy and those who hear it and keep it.
Of course, there are blessings for all those who hear and keep all of God’s Word. However, that blessing is explicitly stated here bringing greater emphasis on knowing that there is a blessing.
Verses 4-5:
Regarding the seven spirits, could this perhaps refer to the Holy Spirit as part of a Trinitarian blessing in verses 4 and 5?
John says grace and peace from . . .
. . . the one who is, who was, and who is to come . . .
. . . and from the seven spirits before his throne . . .
. . . and from Jesus Christ . . .
So, if the “seven spirits” refer to the completeness of God’s Holy Spirit, then we have a greeting of “grace and peace” from all three members of the Trinity to the seven churches in Asia.
Verses 5-6:
Notice these descriptors of Jesus:
The faithful witness. To what is He a witness? The firstborn from the dead. What do we know about firstborns?
The ruler of the kings of the earth. How is Jesus the ruler of the kings of the earth?
Notice what Jesus did:
He loved us.
He set us free from our sins.
He made us a kingdom.
Jesus often spoke of a kingdom when He was on the earth.
See Mark 1:15: The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!
See John 3:3: Truly I tell you, unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Matthew 26:29: But I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.
John 18:36: My kingdom is not of this world . . . If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would fight, so that I wouldn’t be handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.
He made us priests.
See Exodus 19:6: and you will be my kingdom of priests and my holy nation.
How are we like priests? (we have access to God, we can represent God to others, we make sacrifices)
Verse 7:
Verse 7 is a reference to an Old Testament prophecy in Zechariah 12:10, which says:
Then I will pour out a spirit of grace and prayer on the house of David and the residents of Jerusalem, and they will look at me whom they pierced. They will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child and weep bitterly for him as one weeps for a firstborn.
To whom is this prophecy referring? How do we know that?
Let’s remember John 19:34:
But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once blood and water came out.
To whom is verse 8 directed? How do we know?
