"The Revelation"
Click below to download the Cornerstone Connections leader’s guide and student lesson. This week’s resources also include two lesson plans and a discussion starter video which offer different ways of looking at the topic. Each lesson plan includes opening activities, scripture passages, discussion questions, and real-life applications.
The apostle John was keenly aware that his belief put him at odds with religious and civil leaders. As is often the case, however, that which humanity intends for evil God uses for His glory.
Scripture Passage
Revelation 1:1-18
Revelation 5:1-6
OVERVIEW
The Book of Revelation shows us more about Jesus and provides a guideline to life in the end times.
OPENING ACTIVITY:
PICTIONARY
It’s time once again for the classic game of sketches and symbols—Pictionary!
Divide your class into two teams.
Start a countdown (smartphones should work) for 1-2 minutes of playtime each.
Each team appoints someone to draw pictures to represent words given to them by the teacher. They may not speak (except to affirm a correct answer or ask for a new word), but their teammates may call out what they think the pictures represent.
The appointed artist keeps drawing until their teammates guess correctly or they elect to try a new word.
The team that guesses the most words correctly wins.
Suggested words may include:
LOVE
PEACE
LION
WATER
SPIRIT
LAMP
PROPHECY
FRIENDSHIP
FORGIVE or FORGIVENESS
SALVATION
GRACE
NOAH
SCROLL
FIRE
JESUS
TEN COMMANDMENTS
LAMB
TRUMPET
DEATH
SPIRIT
CLOUD
AFRAID or FEAR
QUESTIONS
How much easier was it to draw clues for words like “love” or “peace” that have well-known symbols than it was to draw symbols for other words?
Jesus often began parables by saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a . . .” We don’t always have words to describe things and concepts beyond us like heaven and righteousness, so God uses symbols to help us understand. What can you learn from a symbol that you might not learn if something were explained in a more straightforward manner?
A lot of people try to match every detail in a Bible prophecy to something in the real world, bringing it “down to earth.” Why might that be helpful or unhelpful?
TRANSITION
While reading the gospels, it’s easy to get used to a particular side of Jesus. Friendly. Approachable. Down to Earth. But while Jesus is all of those things, He is also so much more. The book of Revelation introduces us to many more sides of Jesus—while helping us understand everything that happens between Jesus’ resurrection and His Second Coming.
The John who wrote Revelation is almost certainly John the disciple, who at the end of his book includes the curious question of whether he would someday die or live to see Jesus’ return (John 21:20-23). Now, imprisoned on an island, John gets his answer. The early Christians expected Jesus’ return in their lifetimes, but Revelation looks many hundreds of years into the future, sketching how Christianity would be corrupted by worldly power. But because the issues were timeless, Revelation was not merely for future readers, but an essential text for everyday spirituality, and it contained the assurance that, in the end, Jesus will redeem the world.
BIBLE STUDY GUIDE
Apocalyptic Revelation
The title “Revelation” comes from the Greek apocalypsis. These days, the words “apocalypse” or “apocalyptic” are typically used as synonyms for “catastrophe” or “catastrophic.” But while it’s easy to understand why it’s taken on that meaning, the book of Revelation is, first and foremost, as its very first verse begins: “The Revelation of Jesus Christ.”
There’s a lot going on in the book of Revelation. It references the Old Testament some 400 times, including 90 direct quotes. Scholars have outlined it in numerous ways, many equally valid. For instance, it uses a chiastic (from the Greek letter Chi, equivalent to X) structure, with the second half of a text an inverse parallel of the first, like this: ABC/CBA. It features seven cycles of visions, each alluding to one of the high holy days in the Jewish calendar. Some of its symbolic prophecies refer to the same events, only in different ways. For instance, the seven trumpets echo the seven seals.
What is absolutely essential for every reader to see and understand is that the book is, above all, not a revelation of the end-times, or a revelation of dragons and beasts, but it’s the revelation of Jesus. From its opening verse to the closing cry, “Even so, come Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20), Jesus is front and center.
Read Revelation 1:1-8.
1 The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2 who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.
Greetings and Doxology
4 John,
To the seven churches in the province of Asia:
Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.
7 “Look, he is coming with the clouds,”
and “every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him”;
and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.”
So shall it be! Amen.
8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”
QUESTIONS
Given that Revelation outlines centuries of church and world history to come, what do you think it means when it says “The time is near”?
What does it say about the nature of God that they are described as “who is, and who was, and who is to come”? What Old Testament story does this echo? (See Exodus 3:13, 14.)
The reference to Jesus coming with clouds in verse 7 is an allusion to Daniel 7:13, in which “One like the Son of Man [is] coming with the clouds of heaven.” Revelation reveals Jesus as at the center of every biblical prophecy, from Genesis onward. The words “every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him, and all peoples on Earth will mourn because of Him” is a reference to the mysterious prophecy of Zechariah 12:10. What might it mean that Jesus makes the people of Earth “mourn” when He comes in glory? What disappointment will some people feel when they realize who Jesus truly is and what He stands for?
What does verse 4 tell us about the Trinity?
Jesus in Glory
Read Revelation 1:9-18.
9 I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10 On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, 11 which said: “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.”
12 I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. 15 His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.
17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.
QUESTIONS
What do you think it means that John wrote that he was “in the Spirit”?
How does the picture of Jesus described in verses 12-16 compare to how you usually imagine Him?
With eyes “like blazing fire,” a voice “like the sound of rushing waters,” stars in His hands, a sword in His mouth, and His face shining like the sun, this picture of Jesus is a far cry from the unimpressive description in Isaiah 53:2 (“He has no form or comeliness,” NKJV). Why didn’t Jesus present Himself in such a glorious way when He walked the Earth? What happened the one time He did for three of His disciples? (See Matthew 17:1-8.)
Seeing Jesus so glorious, John appears to faint, and Jesus tells John, “Do not be afraid.” How would you react to see Jesus this way? Why did John find it frightening?
How do you find this image of Jesus? Inspiring? Comforting? Eye-opening? Amazing?
Unscrolled
The throne room vision of Revelation presents another startling image of Jesus. It is one of both vulnerability and power, a sacrificed lamb, yet with seven horns symbolizing strength and power. Indeed, he is also described as a lion, that most vigorous of beasts. He also has seven eyes, symbolizing that He sees and knows all.
This is the paradox, power, and mystery of Jesus. No single metaphor or symbol or description could ever be adequate to describe Him.
Read Revelation 5:1-6.
1Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. 4 I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”
6 Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.
QUESTIONS
APPLICATION
The book of Revelation has been described as everything from “mystifying” to “chilling.” Read alone, it can be confusing, intimidating, and disheartening. Read with a knowledge of the earlier books of the Bible it draws from, it can be fulfilling, fascinating, and incredibly encouraging. It is a book that never stops showing careful readers something new. The key is to let the Bible explain itself, rather than simply trying to plug current or historical events into its world of symbolism.
Consider:
Studying the Book of Revelation in more depth through such study guides as Ranko Stefanovich’s Revelation of Jesus Christ, Jacques Doukhan’s Secrets of Revelation, Elizabeth Tablot’s Jesus 101: Revelation, the Fifth Gospel, or Jon Paulien’s Revelation audio series (available for free at ambassadorgroup.org).
Sketching or painting your own image of one of the scenes described in this week’s lesson.
Praying that God will help you understand Revelation’s relevance to life in 2022.
Talking with family or other church members about their experience with the book of Revelation.
SCRIPTURE PASSAGE
LEADER’S NOTE
For a Relational Bible Study (RBS) you’ll want to get into the Scripture passage and encourage the youth to imagine participating in the story while it’s happening. Then you will be able to better apply it to your own situation today.
You will need to ask God for the Holy Spirit to be present as your small group discusses the questions (no more than 3-6 people in a group is recommended). Start with the opening question. It is a personal question and the answer is unique for each individual. There is no right answer and nobody is an expert here, so don’t be surprised when you hear different responses. You are depending on the Holy Spirit to be present and to speak through your group. Say what God prompts you to say, and listen to what others share.
Take turns reading the chapter out loud. Follow that with giving the students some time to individually mark their responses to the questions (a PDF version of the handout is available as a download). This gives each person a starting point for responding when you start to share as a group. Next, begin the discussion by asking the students to share what they marked and why on each question as you work your way through. Feel free to take more time on some questions than others as discussion warrants.
Encourage each person in the group to apply what is discussed to their personal lives and to share with the group what they believe God wants them to do. Then ask them to pray that God will help each of them to follow through in doing so. Remind them to expect that God will show them ways to live out the message of this passage in the coming week, and that they are free to ask others in the group to help hold them accountable.
OVERVIEW
Many people avoid the book of Revelation. Some find it impossible to decipher, while others have created so many conspiracy theories that it either freaks out people or the ideas become so ridiculous that few would follow them.
Those who don’t avoid Revelation take comfort in the final chapters that describe the New Earth. It sounds wonderful, especially when compared to so much heartache and trouble we experience on this earth currently. The familiar “no more sorrow or pain” might be spoken today as, “no more pandemic or war or mass shootings.”
Because Revelation contains so many symbols, different interpretations abound. What comes to mind when you hear somebody say, “The book of Revelation”? (Ask youth for feedback.)
Let’s allow the book to tell us what it’s about. A good place to begin is, well, the beginning of the book. The topic sentence for the entire book can be found in the first few words—Revelation 1:1: “The revelation of Jesus Christ . . .” (Jesus is the topic). Some translations have, “The revelation from Jesus Christ . . .” (Jesus is the source).
That’s what this book is about—Jesus Christ! When we think of beasts or the end of the world or persecution or 666, we’ve missed the main point of the book. It’s a revelation of Jesus—like when He gets way more column inches starting in the first chapter.
Numbers in Revelation are usually symbolic. For example, three represents God, and seven represents perfection. In Revelation 1:4, John offers grace and peace from the Trinity, starting with “him who is, and was, and is to come”—three elements of time indicating the eternal God the Father, as indicated in Exodus 3:14. Next comes the “seven spirits before God the Father’s throne.” Since seven symbolizes perfection, the seven spirits are the perfect Holy Spirit, not seven different spirits.
But since the book is primarily about Jesus, Revelation 1:5-6 completes the description of the Trinity with more details about Jesus. Not only is Jesus part of the Trinity, Jesus is God. Notice the three descriptions of who Jesus is (faithful witness, firstborn from the dead, and ruler of the kings of the earth), and three descriptions of what Jesus does (He loves us, has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom of priests). No wonder John collapsed at the feet of Jesus (vs. 17), overcome by who Jesus is and what He does. When we see Jesus, our response is worship.
For our RBS (Relational Bible Study) this week, we’ll limit ourselves to just the first chapter of the Revelation of Jesus Christ. Lord Jesus, reveal Yourself to us as we read the beginning of this book that is all about You!
A Revelation of Jesus
What comes to your mind when you hear: “the Book of Revelation”?
Read Revelation1:1-20.
1 The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2 who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.
Greetings and Doxology
4 John,
To the seven churches in the province of Asia:
Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.
7 “Look, he is coming with the clouds,”
and “every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him”;
and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.”
So shall it be! Amen.
8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”
John’s Vision of Christ
9 I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10 On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, 11 which said: “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.”
12 I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. 15 His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.
17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.
19 “Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later. 20 The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
1. How is this book (or chapter 1) a “revelation of Jesus”?
It really isn’t.
It’s all about Jesus.
It comes from Jesus—He’s the source.
It’s more about beasts than about Jesus.
It can be discovered—like taking the lid off of a stew pot.
It requires a supernatural interpretation.
There might be more to Jesus than I know right now.
It’s not much of a revelation for me.
Other.
2. Who was the book of Revelation written for?
The seven churches in Asia Minor (Turkey) in John’s day.
People in America today.
Muslims all over the world.
Christians throughout the ages.
College-educated professionals.
Science fiction types.
A warning to the American Indians before the Europeans invaded.
People living at the end of earth’s history.
Other.
3. Why was John on the island of Patmos when God sent these visions?
He had won an all-expense-paid cruise.
Patmos was a penal colony; John must have been a Roman prisoner.
He was right where God wanted him.
Roman authorities didn’t want John to influence anyone anymore.
He needed some R & R as a pastor in Ephesus.
He kept promoting Jesus.
He needed some continuing education credits.
Failure to make Rome #1 had its consequences.
Other.
4. What would make you think the one described in verses 13-20 is Jesus?
So many of the symbols indicate power.
It’s just a guess.
It sounds a lot like Daniel 10:5-6.
It sounds a lot like Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14.
It sounds a lot like Isaiah 53:1-12.
It sounds like “The Force.”
It includes Christ’s favorite title for Himself: “Son of Man.”
One of the descriptions, namely: __________________.
Other.
5. What is the significance of Jesus holding the keys of death and Hades?
It makes me wonder why Jesus doesn’t do more with this.
Jesus controls death.
I question why Jesus lets some people die too soon.
This means Satan doesn’t have the final say.
This requires more trust in Jesus than I sometimes have.
It removes my fear of death and hell (Hades/place of the dead).
This takes away my fear of death.
Other.
6. Who (or what) are the seven lampstands John saw?
Seven lampstands—just like it says.
A symbol of Jesus who is the light of the world.
The seven churches in John’s day.
The Bible—“A lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105).
All of God’s people.
A cool laser show.
The angels to the seven churches.
Other.
7. Why would Christians 60 years after the death of Christ need a fresh revelation of Jesus? Why would you?
8. Which element about Jesus in Revelation 1 is the most important one to you right now?
SUMMARY
The book of Revelation begins, “The revelation of Jesus Christ.” Does it live up to its topic sentence in this first chapter? What did you find that served as a reminder to you about Jesus? What was a new revelation to you? When we feel overwhelmed by Jesus, the things of this earth grow strangely dim, and we worship Jesus with our hearts, our heads, and our hands (feelings, thoughts, and actions).
APPLICATION
Based on the revelation of Jesus Christ found in the first chapter of Revelation, three ways to apply this could involve your head (thinking), heart (feeling), and hands (actions). Choose any or all of these, or let them spark your own ways to respond this week.
HEAD
Compare Revelation 1:13-20 with Daniel 10:5-6.
While the description isn’t identical, notice the similarities.
Based on this comparison, here are two questions for you to contemplate:
Is it possible that the supernatural being who appeared to Daniel is the same supernatural being who appeared to John more than 600 years later?
Is that same supernatural being present on earth today?
After your own contemplation, ask someone else at your church these same two questions.
Be sure to give them some background so they understand why these questions are on your mind at this time (we’re studying Revelation 1 in Youth Sabbath School, and this was part of our study).
Offer a prayer of praise to this supernatural being, and invite your fellow church member to do their own prayer of praise.
HEART
What emotions did you sense when you read and discussed the first chapter of Revelation?
Use the downloadable handout “Jesus, I Feel You” to circle the emotions you’ve felt when you think of Jesus in these specific ways.
You may choose to keep this private, or you may want to share this with someone else, too.
HANDS
A revelation of Jesus Christ leads to worship.
Notice how John responded in Revelation 1:17.
To put this into action yourself, strike a pose that illustrates your response to the revelation of Jesus you found in the first chapter of Revelation. Will you go face-down, jump for joy, bend the knee, hug, give a simple thumbs-up, fold your arms in boredom or indecision, or some other posture?
If you didn’t find anything in Revelation one to lead to a response to Jesus, try Revelation 5, especially verses 9-14.
