For additional resources check out MyRWC.org/The Book of Revelation
THEME:
The book of Revelation provides a wonderful picture of the glorious victory of Jesus Christ, that will take place as human history comes to an end. As we revel in God’s wonderful plan, we’ll discover an ancient church that allowed its connection with the Lord to grow cold and distant. Due to its waning devotion, it faced a stern rebuke. Don’t let that happen to you. Chase after Jesus relentlessly. Make him the singular focus of your passion. Be careful, because it’s dangerous to take the awesome glory of Christ for granted.
KEY SCRIPTURE:
Revelation 1:1-2:7
Revelation 1:1-3
“The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.”
The book of Revelation chronicles the ultimate victory of Jesus Christ
2 Timothy 3:16-17
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”
2 Peter 1:21
“For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”
Revelation 1:4-8
John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen. “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
The book of Revelation chronicles events surrounding the Lord’s return
Revelation 1:7-8
Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen. “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
Revelation 1:10b-11a
And I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet saying, “Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches…”
Revelation 1:12-16
Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. In his right hand he held seven stars his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.
Revelation 1:17-20
When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this. As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.”
Revelation 2:1-7
To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands. “ ‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans which I also hate. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’
The Ephesian Church was commended for its perseverance and sound doctrine
The Ephesian Church abandoned a passionate love for Christ
Revelation 2:4
“Yet I hold this against you: you have abandoned the love you had at first.”
Revelation 2:5a
“Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first…”
To keep your first love, you can remember, repent, and do the good things you did at first
Revelation 2:5b
If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent…
Revelation 2:7b
To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
God will grant continuing love and provision to those who are faithful
Revelation 2:7a
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
For additional resources check out MyRWC.org/The Book of Revelation