WACC Community Groups Present: A weekly companion to WACC s sermon series on the book of Revelation By Brian Funke Special thanks to Chris Nord and Craig Wright
Getting Started For years and years there has been lots of speculation about the book of Revelation. People have drawn comparisons between horsemen and trumpets to the current events of their day. Others, like Martin Luther, thought the book had no value and should be thrown out of the Bible. For some, it is a mysterious outline of events to come and for others it is all stuff from the past or strictly symbolic. Many similarly educated scholars have drawn different conclusions along the way. So, where does all that leave us? How do we read this book that ends our Bible? In its opening words, Revelation gives a promise of blessing to anyone who takes up its pages. Therefore, there must be something profitable to its content and we should be willing to read, study, and listen for the Holy Spirit to understand how the book of Revelation can be valuable to our lives. This guide is to help you navigate some dramatic imagery as we walk through the book of Revelation as a church for the next 9 weeks. Each week, there are 5 days readings and opportunities to write and reflect. The passages that Pastor John Riley will be teaching on each week are broken up over the 5 days. Some weeks will cover larger chunks of scripture, since we are making our way from chapter 6 through chapter 22, the end of Revelation. Each guide reads like somewhere between a devotion and a commentary. There is a lot of information being condensed to one page. Many books have been written about Revelation. There may be points where your mind is left wondering about a particular untouched detail. Perhaps you may have even heard a differing opinion, as there are many. The author, a brilliant young mind (B. Funke), used many texts to for his content, but I will mention one in particular if you are interested in further study or would like to know the position we are coming from. Revelation and the End of All Things by Craig R. Koester
Guide Instructions There are 5 days of activity for each week. Begin by reading the assigned scripture in your Bible of choice. Then, read the writing for the day which will comment on the assigned passage. Next you will find some questions about the text. These are meant to help you think about some details from the reading. They are meant only to spur thought. Each day has an opportunity to respond in journaling a prayer to God. There are no restrictions on what you write. Be sensitive to your heart and the movement of God and write all you want. There is no right or wrong way to journal. Some days you may write two words. Other days you might fill pages. A Couple Things About Revelation Every piece of writing has a particular genre it would fall into. Revelation is no different except it has a couple forms of writing. There are letters, but it is usually categorized as Apocalyptic Literature. This kind of writing was common to the people who would read Revelation. Apocalyptic writings follow a narrative format. They are often about different realms described with vivid imagery. They are often coming from a perspective that the world is evil, but there is hope. Some are written in a linear timeline, but Revelation is not. Revelation is more like a spiral as it will address certain events over and over from differing perspectives. These cycles of visions, although kind of crazy, are meant to be encouragements to the people. Hopefully it will be for you as well. Why Read Revelation Remember this statement as you begin. The Goal of Revelation: to encourage the Church to overcome in difficult times by revealing God s ultimate triumph over Satan in establishing Christ s kingdom and the new heavens and the new earth. (Russell, 258).
WEEK ONE: DAY ONE: Four Horsemen READ: Revelation 6:1-8 Chapter Six opens with a bang as the Lamb exercises His exclusive right to open the scroll and break the first seal. Suddenly, a flurry of action commences as one of the four living creatures shouts, Come! and out of nowhere, a horseman with a bow runs onto the scene. (6:1-2). He is given a crown and sets out to conquer. But, he is followed by three different horsemen, each with their own malicious purpose. What does all this mean? Let s put on our first-century thinking-caps and see if we can t figure any of this out. First: The Rider with the Bow Who Came to Conquer. Today, we would consider a horseman with a bow an outdated fighting strategy, but back then, it was a very effective technique, even against an Empire as powerful as Rome. A prime example of this was the unconquered Parthian kingdoms just East of the Roman Empire. Rome was never able to conquer them, and from time to time, the Parthian kingdoms would actually attack cities in Rome. Second: The Rider with the Great Sword. He is permitted to take peace from the earth, so that people should slay one another (6:4). Since all of the conquering seems to be covered by the first horsemen, we are led to believe that there are other unknown forces at work at this point in the story. Third: The Rider with the Scales and a Voice. Here comes a rider with a pair of scales in his hand and a voice following him crying various denarius of wheat, barley. A denarius was a day s wages for most day-laborers at the time Revelation was written. Imagine how troubling this would be for a poor person to hear that their daily bread would cost all of their daily earnings. Fourth: The Final Rider, Death. Death, followed by Hades (the Greek name for the realm of the dead),is given authority over a fourth of the earth to go on what seems to be a killing-spree with various weapons and forces. We should think of this horseman figuratively, since
Death cannot literally ride a horse. The heavy imagery paints a clear picture of the situation at hand. Each of these characters resemble the chaos that is brought into the world of its intended audience. The first Christians are receiving a warning that even though Jesus the Lamb is all powerful, mighty, and King, there is still a world filled with war, fighting, economic hardship, and death. This will be a recurring theme throughout the book of Revelation, and it is one that Christians have continued to relate to since. THINK ABOUT THE TEXT: What do you think John s purpose isby using the image of such formidable figures as the horseman and Death? What do you think it would mean for a poor man in that day and age to have his daily bread cost him literally all his daily earnings? Do any of these images relate to other times in history and current events? PRAY AND WRITE: Take a moment to reflect on the struggles of your world. What concerns you? Where does it feel like horseman are overrunning you and making life difficult? Write a prayer to Jesus about the things that come to mind as you reflect on His power in the midst of hurt, trouble, and even death in our world.. Be honest with God as you write.
WEEK ONE: DAY TWO: Altar Martyrs Read Revelation 6:9-11 and Exodus 2:23 After so much death and violence, one would think John would be done with all of the harsh talk of horsemen and slaughter, but in Revelation things don t always turn out how they seem. As events progress and turn throughout the narrative, readers are forced to constantly shift their point of reference in order to imagine the events portrayed. One very sudden change happens at the opening of the fifth seal. John moves our attention away from horsemen riding around on earth back to the heavenly realm, just as the altar is opened, and the martyrs of God are revealed asking the question: 10 They called out in a loud voice, How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood? Oddly enough, God s martyrs don t call for a stop to the bloodshed, but instead seem to call on God to do more to avenge them. To many of us reading today, this seems in conflict with what being a Christian is all about. Teachings such as turn the other cheek or love your enemies come to mind in response to the martyrs call for vengeance, and this is a legitimate concern. Thinking in context of Scripture as a whole, this plea for God to act as the avenger of innocent blood is not new by any means. In fact, we see it echoed throughout Scripture as a repeated concern of God s people to their Shepherd and Protector. N.T. Wright shines light on this topic by commenting: There is a long tradition, going back through the Psalms and the prophets to the children of Israel in Egypt, crying out to their God to do something at last. (Ex. 2:23). This cry ( How long, O Lord, how long? ) echoes down through the centuries and is heard again as the fifth seal is opened. How is this cry echoed in our own day--in our families, churches, and the world around us? (Revelation Bible Study Guide, 41)
The question is worth asking today, as it was thousands of years ago: God, do you care? THINK ABOUT THE TEXT: Why do you think John would jump from what is happening on the earth to what is happening in the heavenly realm? What do you think of the martyrs plea? How do white robes connect to the letters to the churches in chapter 2 and 3? PRAY AND WRITE: Write a prayer that reflects the sentiment of those crying out to God. Feel free to simply ask our Heavenly Father for His thoughts on your concerns for today.
WEEK ONE: DAY THREE: Hiding in Caves Read Revelation 6:12-17 and Hosea 10:8 Just as we get a little consolation from seeing the martyrs clothed in white linens and being told gently to rest a little longer, John plunges us into yet another chaotic vision with the sixth seal. As soon as it is opened, John sees, a great earthquake, black sun, blood moon, stars falling to earth, skies rolled up, and mountains and islands removed from their places. (6:12-14). If anything, it seems John is seeking to disturb us with as much upsetting imagery as the first-century mind could muster! Then, as if that wasn t enough, John turns his attention back to the humans, who are still somehow left alive on earth. He tells us,...of kings, great ones, generals, the rich and powerful, and everyone else hiding themselves in caves, presumably from the disasters happening right above their heads, (6:15) all crying out to the mountains and rocks: 16 They called to the mountains and the rocks, Fall on us and hide us[f] from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17 For the great day of their [remember Hosea] wrath has come, and who can withstand it? Because a great calamity has struck at what seems to be all at once, this feels as if it was a fair question to ask.yet, looking back on the martyrs of the altar, there is a stark difference between the two groups. On the one hand, we find God s martyrs asking Him when He will act, then finding comfort as a response. On the other, we find every single person on earth instead sinking themselves deeper and deeper into the earth to hide from this same God. With such opposing responses to the same God, John seems to present his reader with but two alternatives: Join God and suffer for Him, or hide from God and suffer alone. The difference is definitely noteworthy, and will become a recurring theme as we continue our trek through Revelation. Over and over again, we will be told different viewpoints on the same events, each directly opposed to the other. So before we go on, it is worth asking: Why?
THINK ABOUT THE TEXT: What is John up to with these opposing viewpoints we see at this point in Revelation? What is the difference between the martyrs and the people who hide from God s wrath? How does John s reference to the Old Testament prophet Hosea impact the readers understanding? How is God s wrath portrayed? PRAY AND WRITE: All around the world, in a variety of cultures and environments, people are being persecuted for following Jesus. Pray for our fellow Christians who don t have the freedom to worship Jesus openly.
WEEK ONE: DAY FOUR: The 144,000 Read Revelation 7:1-8 Right when things appear seem to be getting better, yet again, the narrative shifts and we are tossed from the bowels of the earth up to heaven, but not without a quick interlude at the four corners of the earth. There, four angels hold back the four winds of the earth and a fifth holds the seal of the living God and ascends from the rising sun with a message: 3 Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God. This alone is a very interesting situation, however we are left no time to think about it as John immediately begins to describe what he hears to be the number of the sealed, 144,000 from every tribe of Israel. (7:4). After that, we get an extremely neat list of 12,000 from each of the twelve tribes of Israel. (7:5-8). But for some reason, one of the tribes is left out. These descriptions have left many a reader to wonder and speculate as to the meaning of the numbers, so it begs the question: What could this mean? Before we go any further, please take a moment to consider for yourself what John might be describing here. Now, to help organize your thoughts, let us think of what John was literally saying here and what the seven churches in Asia Minor--his intended audience-- would most likely understand from his words. First of all, there were the seven seals (and not the navy kind). In this first-century context, seals were a way that the kings and high officials showed ownership of things. When a document, or person, held the seal of the king, it showed that it/they were under the king s authority and came in the king s name, such was the case with the scroll with seven seals. Being under the king s authority also meant that a subject was under the king s protection, meaning that these 144,000 were under the protection of the King of kings. Yet, the protection provided seemed to be mainly spiritual, since later on in the text we find two witnesses of God were physically killed by powers opposed to God. (Metzger, 61). Now, with that out of the way, let s see if we can t make anything of these 144,000.
Interpretations vary on what this number might literally mean in terms of human bodies, but all commentators throughout the centuries have agreed that the symbolic value of the number is beyond doubt. 144,000 symbolizes completeness as it is a number derived from twelve, a number that represents the complete nation of Israel as it is in its twelve tribes. John uses similar symbolism of completeness later in Revelation when he goes on to describe the cubic nature of the New Jerusalem and the 144,000 virgin men who accompany Christ the warrior, but we ll save those for another time. THINK ABOUT THE TEXT: What do you think John wants to get across when he says he heard of 144,000 sealed? What are the benefits of being under a king s authority? What kind of king is our God? PRAY AND WRITE: If you follow Jesus as King, then you are sealed in His Kingdom. Write a prayer praising God for all that comes with being a participant in Jesus Kingdom. You can praise Him for things like His power, His justice, and His unconditional love.
WEEK ONE: DAY FIVE: The Great Multitude Read Revelation 7:9-17, Isaiah 25:8 and 49:10 Finally, after so much suffering, violence, crying out, and symbolic numbers, we catch a glimpse of a great multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language standing before the throne and the Lamb, singing His praises, and all this at the end of just the first week! Here we find one of the happiest scenes in the entire Bible, in the midst of what is so often considered one its harshest books. That this is such a pivotal moment in all of Scripture is very fitting, due in large part to the fact that such a large portion of Scripture is fulfilled in this scene, but before we dive into the thick weeds, I encourage you to take a moment and settle into this beautiful picture of God s intimate communion with His people at the end of days: 15 Therefore, they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. 16 Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them, [a] nor any scorching heat. 17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. [b] And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. [c] Not only do we find a great and diverse multitude of believers, but we also receive a glimpse of large portions of past promises from Scripture fulfilled in this scene. Verses 15-17 speak volumes to this as the promises made as far back as Isaiah come into fulfillment, right before the throne of God. Craig R. Koester puts this scene into a Biblical perspective well when he writes:
The torrent of threats that appeared at the end of Revelation 6 gives way to a cascade of promises at the end of Revelation 7. Virtually all the language in 7:15-17 echoes what was said through Israel s prophets. According to Ezek. 37:27. God said that he would make his dwelling or tabernacle with his people, and Rev. 7:15 repeats that the one who is seated on the throne will tabernacle over them. According to Isa. 49:10, God promised that the redeemed shall not hunger or thirst, neither scorching wind nor sun shall strike them down, for he who has pity on them will lead them, and by springs of living water will guide them. Revelation 7:16-17 declares that these promises are fulfilled by the Lamb at the center of the throne, who is the shepherd that guards them against hunger, thirst, sun, and heat, and guides them to springs of water of life. Finally, Isa. 25:8 said that the Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces, and Rev. 7:17 repeats that God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. (Koester, 91) In the image of the great multitude, we see what has been echoed throughout Scripture: God is faithful, His steadfast love will not forsake you. What a beautiful and affirming message right in the middle of a book so full of ugliness and unsettling things! Here we catch a glimpse of Paradise as Scripture would have us know it. THINK ABOUT THE TEXT: What do you take away from this scene? What does this passage tell us about the multicultural nature of the church? How does it make you feel that the Lamb at the center of the throne [Jesus] will be [our] shepherd?
PRAY AND WRITE With Revelation in mind, think about John 10:11 where Jesus says, I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. Write a prayer to your shepherd. Where do you need guidance? Where do you need Christ s care?