Welcome to this daily study the Book of the Apocalypse. The purpose of this study is to enhance your spiritual relationship. One method of study is to first read the section for the day. Then, by reviewing the text, answer the questions. Most of the questions may be answered by merely quoting the verse which is cited in the question. The answer to some questions is not explicit in the verse. These are marked with an asterisk (*), and may require some additional reflection on the material, or material from other books of the Bible. Finally, when you reach a question which is marked with a (§), spend some time contemplating how what you have read can enhance your spiritual life. You may find that these questions require a considerable amount of thought over a period of time. Quietly, in a relaxed state of mind, reflect on the question and find out where it seems to be leading you to consider. You are, of course, never required to share your answers unless you feel comfortable doing so. The references to the verses follow the The Holy Bible New Revised Standard Version, Cambridge University Press 1989. The LORD your GOD will bless your study of her word.
The Roman Empire had its own version of Alcatraz: a rocky island called Patmos. Prisoners banished to that hard-labour colony usually wasted away and died. In that desolate setting a man name John had a series of visions he wrote down as Revelation, the strangest book in the New Testament. John probably wrote this book about 60 years after Jesus left the earth. Questions were troubling the church. Was Jesus coming back as he had promised? Where did he go? To do what? Why didn't he return immediately? Revelation addresses those issues
Because of all the conflicting theories about Revelation, readers are tempted to respond in one of two ways. Some judge the book so perplexingly weird that they can find no reason to read it at all. How can anyone be sure of its meaning? Others fall prey to the opposite danger. They pore over Revelation and conclude they have discovered the secret explanation of each obscure detail. To the latter group, it may be humbling to learn that every generation since the first century has come up with different interpretations of the prophecies.
Why read this strange book? John gives a good clue in the first phrase, which introduces this book as "the revelation of Jesus Christ." Revelation gives a unique picture of Jesus Christ, and the New Testament would be incomplete without it. The Gospels describe Jesus' life on earth from four different viewpoints. The letters discuss the deep significance of the resurrected Christ and what he accomplished. But Revelation shows Jesus Christ from a new perspective: as the mighty ruler of the cosmic forces of good. When John saw him in this exalted state, he fell at Jesus' feet as though dead (1:17). Although Revelation does not remove the mystery surrounding Jesus' return and the end of the world, it does throw light on those events. It cannot be reduced to a mere timetable of events; it speaks lasting truths to every generation of readers. Revelation tells of Christ's future triumph over all the evil in the universe. This crucial message of final hope was needed by its original readers in the first century and is still needed by us today.
Revelation is probably the most intimidating book in the Bible. It packs in so many symbols and obscure details that most readers find themselves plagued by the sensation that they are missing something. All new forms of writing seem intimidating at first: for example, consider your very first science fiction book, filled with weird names and unearthly creatures, and governed by its own rules of writing . Science fiction seems very strange until you learn the techniques used by virtually all science fiction writers. Once you understand the form, it makes more sense. The same applies to Revelation. It will likely seem strange at first, because it uses techniques of symbolism and visions not commonly used elsewhere in the New Testament.
It is best to read Revelation one vision at a time, rather than all at once. The seven main visions give a view of similar events from different angles.
1. The church on earth (1-3)
2. The Lamb and the seven seals (4-7)
3. Seven angels with trumpets (8-11)
4. The church persecuted by satan and the beast (12-14)
5. The seven bowls of GOD's wrath (15-16)
6. Judgment of Babylon (17-19:10)
7. Final judgment and final victory (19:11ff)Try to read completely through a vision.. As you read, look behind the visual symbols for the meaning they point to. Ask yourself, What does this tell me about Christ, about God, about the real meaning of history? Don't try to analyse details at first; just follow the main flow of thought. Another way to study the book is to follow a single image through the entire book. For example, how is the Christ Jesus represented as the book progresses?
Keep in mind also the condition of the persecuted Christians who first received this book. They needed not a precise calendar of future events, but rather a word of encouragement and hope. They needed faith that, no matter how things looked, GOD was in charge of history and good would ultimately triumph. Revelation provides this hope, for them and for us. Finally, and good Bible dictionary or commentary will clear up much of the confusion about Revelation. (Yancey, Philip; Stafford, Tim; The Student Bible, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49530 USA, 1996)The Apocalypse is a book of prophecy. It particularly emphasises the repeated and increasingly violent world-wide attempts, let by satan, to oppose and prevent the execution of the declared intention of Christ to establish His kingly rule on earth. It makes clear this conflict is certain to end in the complete overthrow of these evil forces and the establishment of the everlasting kingdom of Christ. This age long conflict terminates in the final judgment of the great White Throne, the appearance of the New Jerusalem, and the beginning of eternity [sic].
The book of Revelation is only large portion of the Word of GOD concerning which four basic differing systems of interpretation have been developed. The system of interpretation a Bible student adopts will make an enormous amount of difference in what she believes the book teaches.
(1) The Spiritual Scheme of Interpretation, From the time of Augustine, there have always been some Biblical scholars who have insisted that the purpose of this book is simply to teach fundamental spiritual principles. This is the view expressed ... by Milligan (W. Milligan, Lectures on the Apocalypse). Gloag insists upon the same view: "The book is designed to teach us the spiritual history of the Church of Christ, to warn us of those spiritual dangers to which we are exposed, to inform us of the spiritual trials to which we are liable, to describe the great contest with evil, and to comfort us with the assurance of the final victory of Christ over the powers of darkness."
Now all of this is true, but everything in the book contradicts the view that it does not unfold the prophetic future. the book itself claims to be genuine prophecy (1:3)(2) The Preterist Scheme of Interpretation. This system of interpretation of Revelation insists that the author describes only events taking place on earth in the Roman Empire during his own time, especially toward the end of the first century. This was a view developed principally in the seventeenth century by a Jesuit scholar Alcazar, in an attempt to reply to the arguments of the Reformers, who insisted that the book predicted the corruption and doom of the Roman Catholic Church, especially in the two chapters devoted to Babylon (17-19:10). Alcazar's view has been adopted by a number of modern writers -- Moses Stuart, A S Peake, Moffatt, Sir William Ramsay, Simcox, and others. These men hold that the ruler whose deadly wound was healed refers to Nero, and that Domitian was the beast of Chapter 13.
It is true that the Preterist view must be applied in our interpretation of the seven churches. But to say that the remainder of the book refers only to the events of the first century is really to deny its prophetic character, and to force many of its statements into a mould to small to contain them. As Milligan has said, "The whole tone of the book leads to the opposite conclusion. It treats of much that was to happen down to the very end of time, until the hour of the full accomplishment of the Church's struggle, of the full winning of her victory, and of the full attainment of her rest. The Apocalypse bears distinctly upon its face that it is concerned with the history of the Church until she enters upon her heavenly inheritance" (op. cit. p41).(3) The Historicist Scheme of Interpretation. According to this conception, the Book of Revelation, especially in the prophecies of seals, the trumpets, and the bowls, sets forth particular events in the history of the world that relate to the welfare of the Church from the first century down to modern times. The greatest work based on this theory s the four-volume study of Elliot (E B Elliot, Horae Apocalypticae), which may be taken as an illustration of this scheme. He says that the trumpet judgments cover the period from ACE 395 to 1453, that the first trumpet refers to the invasion of the Goths, the third to the Huns under Attila, the fourth to the hordes Moslems pouring into the West in the sixth and seventh centuries, etc. Other works find [famous figures of history] in the book of Revelation.
(4) The Futurist Scheme of Interpretation. It can hardly be doubted that the Revelation is a book of predicative prophecy. To deny this is to disregard the style, the theme, and the future events of the Apocalypse. The futurist scheme of interpretation insists that, for the most part, the visions of this book will be fulfilled toward the end and at the end of this age. The futurist view was long ago excellently defined as that scheme which "looks for the fulfilment of these predictions in the events which are immediately to precede, to accompany, and to follow the Second Advent of our LORD and Saviour" (Lectures on the Apocalypse, p68).
Lesson One Apocalypse 1-3 (The church on earth )
Day One Apocalypse 1:1-8 (Salutation and Doxology )
To whom is this revelation given?
From whom is the revelation received?
Why was this message revealed according to verse 1?
What is the blessing which we receive in verse 3?
How is the Christ Jesus described in verse 5?
What is our purpose revealed in verse 6?
(§) How might you become a "priest", serving the LORD your GOD?
Day Two Apocalypse 1:9ff (A Vision of the Christ )
From verse 9, where was John when this was written? Why was he there?
What is written in Daniel 7:13,14 about the Son of Man?
What did John see in verses 13 and 14?
From verse 16 what is held in the right hand?
What explanation is given in verse 20 for the seven stars and the seven golden lampstands?
(§) How would react to what John saw in verses 13 through 16? Would it help you to hear, "Do not be afraid."?
Day Three Apocalypse 2:1-11 (Ephesus and Smyrna )
What praise is given to the angel of the church in Ephesus in verses 2 and 3?
In verse 4, what is the error which requires correction?
What is written in verse 10 about faith and fear?
What is the promise given to those who conquer?
(§) Do you remember the love you had when you first entered your spiritual relationship?
Day Four Apocalypse 2:12ff (Pergamum and Thyatira )
What praise is offered in verse 13 to the angel of the church in Pergamum?
In verse 14, what criticism is offered?
To the angel of the church in Thyatira, what are the works in verse 19 which receive praise?
What admonition is levelled against them in verse 20?
(§) How might you practice love, faith service and patient endurance in your spiritual relationship?
Day Five Apocalypse 3:1-13 (Sardis and Philadelphia )
What warning is given in verses 1 through 3?
In verse 12, what is promised to those who conquer?
What encouragement is given in verse 8?
(§) Does your spiritual relationship present itself as an "open door"?
Day Six Apocalypse 3:14ff (Laodicea )
What is the complaint of verse 16?
In verses 19 and 20, what instructions are given to us when we become complacent?
(§) When you experience feelings of complacency in your spiritual relationship, what do you do to rejuvenate your conviction?
Lesson Two Apocalypse 4-7 (The Lamb and the Seven Seals )
Day One Apocalypse 4 (Heavenly Worship )
In verse 1, what did the first voice say?
What is around the throne in verse 4?
In verse 8, what do the four living creatures sing?
From verse 11, what do the twenty-four elders sing?
(§) Which of the two refrains might you use in your worship?
Day Two Apocalypse 5:1-4 (Sealed Book )
What is in the right hand of the one seated on the throne?
What does the angel ask?
Why did John begin to weep?
(As in our time, in the first century, documents of great import contained a seal. Only the the proper person, in the presence of witnesses was allowed to open the document )
(§) What special skills do you possess which are part of your spiritual relationship?
Day Three Apocalypse 5:5ff (Lion and Lamb )
Who can open the scroll in verse 5?
What does the Lamb do in verse 7?
In verses 9 and 10, what do the twenty-four elders and the four living creature sing?
What is the song in verse 12 and 13 which is sung by the thousands of thousands (millions, may be a number to express innumerable quantities )?
(§) The time you feel isolated from the grace of the LORD your GOD, will it help to remember that the Christ Jesus, "ransomed for GOD saints from every tribe and language and people and nation"?
Day Four Apocalypse 6 (Seven Seals and Four Horsemen )
In verse 1, what does the Lamb do?
What does the first horseman do in verse 2?
In verse 4, what does the rider of the red horse do?
From verse 5, what does the rider of the black horse hold in his hand?
What is the colon of the horse in verse 8?
Who did John see when the fifth seal was opened in verse 9?
(*) Where is the seventh seal?
(§) When you read verses 10 and 11, what comfort do you receive knowing that the LORD your GOD is not slow in keeping a promise, as some understand slowness, but is patient, not wanting anyone to perish so that everyone to come to repentance (2Peter 3:9)
Day Five Apocalypse 7:1-8 (144,000 of Israel Sealed )
What do the servants of our GOD receive in verse 3?
Which tribe is named first?
Which tribe is committed (refer to Genesis 48:14-22)?
(§) How might you find security to know that we are remembered by our GOD as servants?
Day Six Apocalypse 7:9ff (Multitude from Every Nation )
What does the multitude from every nation say in verse 10?
In verse 12, what do the angels, the elders and the four living creatures sing?
According to verse 14, who are the ones who are robed in white (refer to 6:9-11)?
What reward do these receive in verses 15-17?
(§) What hope can you appropriate for you spiritual relationship from the verses 15 through 17?
Lesson Three Apocalypse 8-11 (Seven Angels with Trumpets )
Day One Apocalypse 8:1-5 (Seventh Seal and the Golden Censer)
When the seventh seal is opened, how long was there silence in heaven?
What was the angel with a golden censer given in verse 3?
From verse 4, whose prayers rose with the smoke of the incense?
What happened to the censer in verse 5?
(§) Have you considered including incense in your spiritual exercises? Why or why not?
Day Two Apocalypse 8:6ff (Seven Trumpets )
What catastrophes accompany each of the four angels?
What does the eagle say in verse 13?
(*) What events might these types of catastrophes describe?
(§) When you have experienced a natural disaster, how have you found strength in your spiritual relationship?
Day Three Apocalypse 9 (Fifth and Sixth Angels )
Who is saved from the plague of the fifth angel in verse 4?
In verse 11 what name is given to the angel of the bottomless pit?
What task was given in verse 15 to the four angels bound at the river Euphrates?
How did the survivors respond in verse 20 and 21?
(§) How do you overcome stubbornness in your spiritual relationship?
Day Four Apocalypse 10 (Angel with the Little Scroll )
What did the mighty angel hold in his hand in verse 2?
According to verse 4, why is there no record of what the seven thunders said?
What is John commanded in verse 9?
From verse 11, what commission is given to John?
(§) What are you currently doing in obedience to the will of the LORD your GOD in your spiritual relationship?
Day Five Apocalypse 11:1-14 (Two Witnesses )
In verse 1, what is John told to measure?
What authority in verse 6 is given to the two witnesses?
In what city are the two witnesses murdered? How will the inhabitants of the earth respond?
From verse 11, what happens after three and one-half days?
(§) In what way do you have an opportunity to show respect for the temple of GOD, the altar and the people who worship there?
Day Six Apocalypse 11:15ff (Seventh Trumpet )
What do the multitude say when the seventh angel blew his trumpet?
What do the twenty-four elders sing in verse 17?
What was seen within the temple in verse 19?
(§) How might your day become the day of your Lord and of his Messiah?
Lesson Three Apocalypse 12-14 (The Church Persecuted by satan and the beast )
Day One Apocalypse 12:1-6 (Woman and Dragon )
How is the woman described in verse 1?
What is the second portent described in verse 3?
Why did the dragon stand in front of the woman?
In verse 5, to where was the child taken?
(§) Where is there a spiritual place where you might find nourishment?
Day Two Apocalypse 12:7-17 (Michael Defeats the Dragon; Dragon Fights Again on Earth )
From verse 9, what is the outcome of the battle between Michael and the Dragon?
How was the accuser overcome according to verse 11?
In verse 14, how does the woman escape the dragon?
From verse 17, who are counted as children of the woman?
(§) How do you keep the commands of GOD and hold the testimony of Jesus?
Day Three Apocalypse 13:1-10 (First Beast )
How is the first beast described in verses 1 and 2?
Who did the whole earth follow and worship?
From verse 8, who alone does not worship the beast?
What advice is given in verse 10?
(§) How does your spiritual relationship benefit from endurance and faith?
Day Four Apocalypse 13:11ff (Second Beast )
What does the second beast do in verse 12?
How were the inhabitants of the earth deceived in verse 14?
From verse 15, what became of those who would not worship the image of the beast?
From verse 17, who is allowed to buy or sell?
(§) What types of deception do you experience which tend to distract you from worship in your spiritual relationship?
Day Five Apocalypse 14:1-5 (Lamb and 144,000 )
In verse 1, who is standing with the Lamb?
Who alone could learn the song in verse 3?
How are they described in verses 4 and 5?
(§) When have you experienced peace and harmony in your spiritual relationship?
Day Six Apocalypse 14:6-20 (Messages of the Three Angels; Reaping the Earth's Harvest )
What did the first angel proclaim in verse 6?
What did the second angel say in verse 8?
In verse 11, what happens to those who receive the mark of the beast's name?What does the fourth angel call out in verse 15?
What did the fifth angel have?
What did the sixth angel have authority over?
(§) Do you think knowing the outcome of those who accept the mark of the beast would help you decide not to accept the mark?
(§) How might your spiritual relationship provide the strength to keep the commandments of GOD and hold fast to the faith of Jesus?
Lesson Four Apocalypse 15-16 (Seven Bowls of GOD's Wrath )
Day One Apocalypse 15:1-5 (Song of Moses and Song of the Lamb )
What was seen in verse 1? Why were these plagues the last?
Who was standing by the sea of glass?
What were they singing?
Read the Song of Moses in Exodus 15:1-19.
(§) Which parts of the Song of Moses might apply to your spiritual relationship?
Day Two Apocalypse 15:6ff (Seven Angels with Seven Last Plagues )
In verse 5, what was opened?
Who came out of it?
What did one of the four living creatures give the angels in verse 7?
(§) What rituals do you follow as you transition from your temporal responsibilities to your spiritual time?
Day Three Apocalypse 16:1-6 (First Three Angels)
What are the angels told to do in verse 1?
What did the first angel give to the earth?
What was given to the sea by the second angel?
When the third angel pored his bowl into the rivers, what happened?
(§) Do you feel that your spiritual relationship provides you with everything you deserve?
Day Four Apocalypse 16:7-11 (Fourth and Fifth Angels )
How did the altar respond in verse 7?
On what did the fourth angel pour out his bowl?
In verse 10, what happened when the fifth angel poured his bowl on the throne of the beast?
How did the people respond in verses 9 and 11?
(§) How is repentance a benefit in your spiritual relationship?
Day Five Apocalypse 16:12-16 (Sixth Angel )
From ca. 7,000 B.C.E. through Biblical times, Megiddo dominated the most important international road in the Near East. Abounding with architectural monuments - temples, lavish palaces, mighty fortifications and a remarkable water system - and yielding unparalleled treasures, it is the jewel in the crown of Biblical Archaeology. Site of epic battles that decided the fate of western Asia, it became the Egyptians' first step to empire in the 15th century B.C.E., when Pharaoh Tutmoses III conquered the Canaan. Here was the centre of Solomon's administration in the north; here, too, the staging point for Assyria's deportation of the people of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Megiddo, the only site in Israel mentioned by every great power in the ancient Near East, appears in the New Testament as Armageddon, location of the millennial battle between the forces of good and evil. Small wonder, then, that it inspired James Michener's The Source. ( http://www.tau.ac.il/~archpubs/megiddo/index.html )
On which river did the sixth angel pour his bowl?
In verse 13, what issued forth from the mouths of the dragon, the beast and the false prophet?
Where do the kings of the whole world gather in verse 16?
(§) In your spiritual relationship, how do you maintain an attitude of expectation and preparedness?
Day Six Apocalypse 16:17ff (Seventh Angel )
In verse 17, what happened when the seventh angel poured out his bowl?
Which city is remembered in verse 19?
What dropped from heaven in verse 21?
(§) How do you respond to challenges in your spiritual relationship?
Lesson Five Apocalypse 17-19:10 (Judgment of Babylon )
Day One Apocalypse 17:1-8 (Great Whore; Beast )
What is shown by the seven angels who had the seven bowls?
In verse 2, how do the kings of the earth and the inhabitants of the earth participate with the woman?
According to 12:6, how did the woman get to the wilderness?
From verses 17:3-6, how is the woman described?
How did John react to sight of the woman?
(§) Some scholars interpret the woman to be the Church (ie the Bride of the Christ). How is it that the woman went from GOD's grace and protection to the description in chapter 17? How do you maintain your faith in GOD's grace, and commitment to your spiritual relationship?
Day Two Apocalypse 17:9ff (Explanation )
What is called for in verse 9?
What are the ten horns in verse 12?
In verse 14, what name is given to those who accompany the Lamb?
From verse 18, who is the woman, now?
(§) Do you feel that you are called, chosen and faithful?
Day Three Apocalypse 18:1-10 (Fall of Babylon )
How does earth react to the angel in verse 1?
In verse 4, what are the people urged to do?
What does Babylon say in her heart?
What do the kings do in verse 10?
(§) How do you overcome the many distractions to your spiritual relationship?
Day Four Apocalypse 18:11ff (Merchants of Earth Weep )
Why do the merchants weep in verse 11?
From verse 18, what do the merchants do in Babylon's time of need?
What does the angel do in verse 21?
What was the great city accused of in verse 24?
(§) What do you do when the commerce of the world conflicts with your spiritual relationship?
Day Five Apocalypse 19:1-5 (Rejoicing in Heaven )
In verse 1, what does the great multitude say?
What did the four living creatures do in verse 4?
From verse 5, what does the voice from the throne say?
(§) What do you have to rejoice about in your spiritual relationship?
Day Six Apocalypse 19:6-10 (Marriage Supper of the Lamb )
In verse 6, what does the great multitude cry out?
Why is there rejoicing in verse 7?
Who is blessed in verse 9?
(§) What does it mean for you to hold the testimony of Jesus (verse 10)?
Lesson Six Apocalypse 19:11ff (Final Judgment; Final Victory )
Day One Apocalypse 19:11-21 (Rider on the White Horse; Beast and Its Armies Defeated )
What is the name of the rider on the white horse?
v11
v12
v13
v16
What do the birds feast on in verse 18?
What happens to the beast and the false prophet in verse 20?
(§) What name do you use to address the Other in your spiritual relationship?
Day Two Apocalypse 20:1-6 (Thousand Years )
What does the angel in verse 1 have in his hand?
From verse 3, for how long is the dragon locked in the pit?
What is the "first resurrection" of verse 5?
According to verse 6, who will reign for a thousand years?
(§) Can you imagine yourself as included in the first resurrection?
Day Three Apocalypse 20:7-15 (satan's Doom; Dead are Judged )
What will satan do at the end of the thousand years are ended?
According to verse 10, what happens to the devil who had deceived the nations?
What does John see in verse 11?
According to verse 15, what happens to those not found in the book of life?
(§) What images come to mind as you contemplate this vision?
Day Four Apocalypse 21:1-8 (New Heaven; New Earth )
Why was there a new heaven and a new earth?
What arrives down from heaven in verse 2?
Where is the home of God in verse 3?
What is given to those who thirst in verse 6?
(§) In what way does your spiritual relationship provide you with satisfaction?
Day Five Apocalypse 21:9-27 (Vision of the New Jerusalem )
What does the angel display in verse 9?
In verse 10, what comes down out of heaven?
What are the dimensions provided in verse 16?
Why is there no temple in the city according to verse 22?
(§) What does it mean to your spiritual relationship to have the LORD GOD the Almighty and the Lamb as your temple?
Day Six Apocalypse 22 (River of Life; Epilogue and Benediction )
What is flowing from the throne of GOD and of the Lamb?
In verse 2, what is growing on either side of the river?
Why is the sun unnecessary in verse 5?
What does the Spirit and the bride say in verse 17?
(§) What is most impressive about your study of the Apocalypse?