lesson eleven the epilogue Revelation 22:6-21

Transcription

1 lesson eleven the epilogue Revelation 22:6-21 Memory Verse: And behold, I am coming quickly. Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book. Revelation 22:7, NASB Reflection: There is a remarkable similarity between the first two chapters in Genesis and the last two in Revelation. What is significant about them to you? Blessed, Blessing God s gracious blessing [Heb barak - ~400 times in Old Testament] began at creation where God blessed the animals and Adam and Eve (Genesis 1:22, 28), while communicating with them to be fruitful and multiply. God s blessings continued as He blessed Noah and his sons (Genesis 9:1), and as God promised that in Abraham all the families of the earth would be blessed (Genesis 12:2; 22:18; 26:4; 28:14). God even blessed Potiphar the Egyptian because of Joseph (Genesis 39:5). Individuals blessed one another, as Melchizedek blessed Abraham (Genesis 14:19), Jacob blessed Pharaoh (Genesis 47:7), and Jacob blessed his sons (Genesis 49). However, the most often recipient of blessing was God Himself (Genesis 9:26; 14:20; 24:27). Christ expanded this concept of being blessed [Greek makarios - supremely blessed, fortunate,] in His Sermon on the Mount, where the poor in spirit, those who mourn, those who are gentle, who hunger and thirst for righteousness, who are merciful, pure in heart, or are peacemakers, are declared to be blessed and are given a precious promise that they shall be comforted, satisfied, receive mercy, inherit the earth, see God, and be called sons of God, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:3-12). Revelation contains seven specific proclamations of being blessed [seven times in Revelation], promises for those who read, hear, and heed the things written in Revelation: Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near. (Revelation 1:3) And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, Write, Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on! Yes, says the Spirit, so that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them. (Revelation 14:13) Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his clothes, so that he will not walk about naked and men will not see his shame. (Revelation 16:15) Then He said to me, Write, Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb. And He said to me, These are true words of God. (Revelation 19:9) Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years. (Revelation 20:6) And behold, I am coming quickly. Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book. (Revelation 22:7) Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city. (Revelation 22:14) continued on next page... 82

2 Revelation also includes blessings [Greek eulogia - fine speaking, commendation, adoration, blessing; from eu good, well and logos word, utterance, something spoken ; three times in Revelation] and praise directed toward God and the Lamb: Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing. (Revelation 5:12) And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever. (Revelation 5:13) Amen, blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen. (Revelation 7:12) Not everyone will be blessed, emphasizing that individual eternal destiny is determined on earth today (Revelation 20:11-15; 21:8, 27). Revelation begins with a blessing for reading and heeding, and concludes with a warning to those who add to or take away from the words of the prophecy of Revelation (22:18-19; cf conclusion of Malachi 4:5-6). * How have you been blessed in your study of Revelation? Are you a blessing to others? 83

3 days one and two Revelation 22:6-21 The Revelation ends with a series of brief prophetic utterances, drawing together themes found throughout the book. Read verses 6-21 again, this time out loud. 1. What ideas and/or themes are repeated? Note verses. 2. What are the promises and warnings? 3. Why do you think there is such an emphasis on the reliability of the one who gave this revelation? (6, 16, 20) 4. Read through the whole of Revelation in one sitting. If you had to summarize this book in 2-3 sentences, what would you say? Memory Verse: And behold, I am coming quickly. Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book. Revelation 22:7, NASB 84

4 day three 1. Read through Appendix H, glorified Christ. What encouraged you? 2. Write down a timeline (or sequence of events), as much as you can without going back to check, of the major events of the end times. Make a list of important milestones. 3. Now check your answers with the chart on page 10. How did you do? 85

5 days four and five: The apostle John was entrusted with this revelation of Christ. He wrote down what he saw for believers through the ages. As we have seen, there is an incredible harmony between the beginning and the end of the Scriptures. 1. What names of Jesus have been most meaningful to you in our study this year? 2. How has this study of the end times impacted your thinking? About God About Christ About your purpose in this life 3. What have you learned? 4. What has surprised you this year? 86

6 5. How have you changed, if at all, as a result of this study? 6. C S Lewis, in his book, The Last Battle, closes with a commentary on the end of Revelation: The things that began to happen after that were so great and beautiful that I cannot write them. And for us this is the end of all the stories, and we can most truly say that they all lived happily ever after. But for them it was only the beginning of the real story. All their life in this world and all their adventures in Narnia had only been the cover and the title page: now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story which no one on earth has read: in which every chapter is better than the one before. How will this be true for us as well? personal response to God The opening chapter of Revelation offers a promise in verse three. Compare that verse, Revelation 1:3, with our memory verse, Revelation 22:7. What blessings have you experienced this year as a result of your study? May the Lord continue to bless you this year and in the future in many unexpected ways. 87