Revelation - Questions
Suggested Plan for Bible Study Groups:
1. Listen to the Audio reading.
2. Watch Andy's video.
3. DIscuss the video.
4. Discuss some of the Questions.
5. Have a prayer time arising out of the study.
#1 - Apocalypsis
Possible Questions
1. Do you agree that it is important to interpret a passage according to the type of genre (type ) of literature it is? What rules would you use in interpreting Cinderella to a seven-year-old/a fifteen-year-old?
2. Look at the three titles given to Jesus in v5b (not covered in Andy's video). Why do you think these three are mentioned above all other characteristics of Jesus?
3. Look at the nine images of Jesus in v9-18 - especially the ones Andy didn't talk about in the video. What does each tell you about Jesus? Which do you like the most/the least?
#2 - Seven Churches - Rev 2 & 3
Possible Questions
1. Look at the chart below. Why do you think Smyrna and Philadelphia received no crticism?
2. Why do you think Laodicea received no commendation. Why were their sins so much worse thanthose of Ephesus ("You have forsaken the love you had at first" - Rev2:4) or Thyatira ("You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet and leads my servants into sexual immorality" - Rev 2:20) or Sardis ( "You have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. I have found your deeds unfinished" - Rev 3:1)
3. Look at the list below of promises made to those who endure to the end. Which do you most look forward to? Are there any that don't really appeal to you. Why?
Promises to the victorious:
Ephesus – The right to eat from the tree of life.
Smyrna – Will not be hurt at all by the second death.
Pergamum – White stone with a new name.
Thyatira - Authority over the nations; the morning star.
Sardis - Dressed in white; never blotted out from the book of life
Philadelphia - Be a pillar in the temple ; receive a new name.
Laodicea – The right to sit with me on my throne.
#3 – Vision of God – Rev 4
1. Here are the symbols John uses in Chapter 4: Jasper, ruby, rainbow, emerald, a sea of glass, lightening, thunder, blazing lamps; Twenty–four thrones, Twenty–four elders, dressed in white, golden crowns; four creatures, ox, lion, man, eagle, six wings, covered with eyes.
Choose three of four of the symbols. What does each suggest to you about God? How are these different from how you have viewed God in your life?
2. What do you think of Andy's picture of God, based on v3? Do you think we should try to portray God or Jesus in pictures or paintings? Isn’t this making a form of graven image?
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#4 – The Lion and the Lamb - Rev 5
Possible Questions
1. What do verses 12-13 tell us about the relative status of the Father and the Son?
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2. What do you think it means that we “will reign on earth” (v10)? Do you think that in any sense applies right now? Would you like it to?
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3. What do you think of the Chagal window for Judah? Compare it to Genesis 49:8-12.
#5 – Four Horsemen - Rev 6:1-8
Possible Questions:
1. What do the four horses tell you about the present course of world history? How do you respond emotionally to all the death in this chapter and in world history?
2. The white horse represents tyrants who get into power and cause terrible hardship and death. Is there anything we can do to help prevent tyrants from getting into power? Should we get involved in politics or resistance?
3. The black horse represents the domination of the poor by the rich. How, practically, could we be involved in fighting this?
4. Look at Picasso’s “The Weeping Woman” and try to interpret it. What emotion do you see? What story can you imagine behind it? Notice the contrast between the colours in the foreground and the background. Similarly, notice the sharp angled lines the foreground compared to the curved lines in the background. What effect do these have on you? Is this relevant to interpreting apochalyptic?
#6 – “The 5th and 6th Seals” – Rev 6:8 – 7:17
Possible Questions:
1. A lot of symbolic numbers occur in this passage. How many sayings in English can you think of that use numbers metaphorically?
2. Do you think the cries of the martyrs in any way hurries the final judgment? What emotional response do you feel to the description of the judgment in 6:12-17?
3. What do you think 7:1-3 means?
4. Chapter 7 is Restoration – a picture of heaven. What do you like most about this description? Why?
#7 – “Silence and Prayer”– Rev 8:1-5
Possible Questions:
1. Revelation is apochalyptic – always symbolic. If this passage is not literal, what truths do you think it teaches? In what ways can this passage help us in our prayer lives?
2. If you are a group, invite members to share “tips” that have helped them in their praying. Maybe some can share things that have made their prayer lives more difficult.
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3. How would you answer someone who said Andy's emphasis on silence is too close to transcendental meditation?
#8 – “Trumpets and Plagues” – Rev 8:7-9:21
Possible Questions:
Note: In looking at Revelation, it is better to look “from a distance,” rather than be preoccupied with analyzing details. Try to allow the whole picture to impact you, rather than worrying about the parts. Try to see it with your right brain rather than you left. In the light of that…
1. What impact do the first four plagues have on you? (8:7-12). What meaning for us and the world do you see in these four plagues?
2. What does the imagery of the horses and riders (the crowns, the hair, the teeth, the colours of the breast-plates, the snakes in the tails) tell us about evil? (Rev 9:7-19) For example, in what ways does evil have “snakes in the tail?”
3 Look at his picture in normal size, then blow it up. What do you see? How can this help us to understand Revelation?
These two chapters are apparently very negative - some of the most negative in the Bible. But rememeber, we are only half way through the second cycle. Wait for chapters 10 and 11.
Nevertheless, can you find a positive message in these chapters?
#9 – “Worship and Witness" – Rev 11
Possible Questions:
1. Who do you think the two witnesses are? If they represent the witness of the church throughout the present age (namely, you and me), what lessons can we learn from this passage concerning our authority as his witnesses, our safety, the price we might pay, and our final triumph?
2. Why do you think John has chosen Moses and Elijah to represent us in our witnessing?
3. Which do you think would be more painful: being burnt at the stake for our faith, or experiencing rejection, ridicule, exclusion and apathy? Do you think you would be able to die for your faith?
4. What do the two lampstands and the two olive trees suggest to you?
5. What does the attached chart suggest to you?
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#10 – The Woman and the Dragon - Rev 12
Possible Questions:
1. In China the dragon is a symbol of the emperor, so to call Satan a dragon was an insult to China. What word would you use to translate dragon into Chinese?
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2. What lessons are there for us if the woman is Mary? If she is Eve? Israel? The Church?
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3. Can you identify a time in your life when the wilderness proved to be a blessing or a new beginning?
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4. This painting by Van Gogh is called 'Crows over a Wheatfield.' What meanings can you see in it? Bear in mind that shortly after painting it, Vincent shot himself in a field. Does that help you to understand Revelation?
#11 – The Unholy Alliance - Rev 13
Possible Questions:
(It would be best if you could watch Andy’s video before attempting the questions.)
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1. Andy says the Beast from the Sea represents foreign military powers. Do you see any of these threatening world peace right now? What should be done about it?
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2. Andy says the Beast form the Land represents Religion allied to a political power. Do you see this happening anywhere right now? Is it important to separate Church and State? Does this mean the two have nothing to say to one another?
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3. A megalomaniac is a person who has an obsessive desire for power. They can occur in politics, businesses, homes, even golf clubs. How could we respond if we find ourselves being affected by one?
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4. Andy (quoting Rabbi Sobel) says that six is the day of Humanity, and seven is the day of Divinity (from Genesis 1). The triple 666 asserts the pre-eminence of humans over God – humanity without divinity. What is the long term effect of humans leaving God out of their lives?
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5. Andy (quoting Rabbi Sobel) says “The nearness of God is our greatest good.” Do you agree? How can we appropriate the nearness of God for ourselves?
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If you want to watch Rabbi Sobel’s video about 666 (4 mins) go to: https://youtu.be/KbTUVC9yikE
#12 – The Crown and the Sickle - Rev 14.
Possible Questions:
(It would be best if you could watch Andy’s video before attempting the questions.)​
1. The crown and the sickle represent two sides of the character of the Son of Man: Restoration and Judgement. Wine in the Bible represents joy, but also represents the wrath of God. How do you feel about the wrath of God, about a God who judges? Try to look at the world from God’s point of view. What things would make you most angry?
2. Look at v1-4 and v13-14. What feelings do these verses arouse in you about heaven?
3 Do you think these two pictures are suitable for children? What are they teaching? Is there any aspect of Jesus they are not showing?
#13 – The Seven Bowls – Rev 15&16
Possible Questions:
(It would be best if you could watch Andy’s video before attempting the questions.)​
1. Many people see Revelation 16 as a threat: “You’d better love God, or God will pour out His bowls of wrath on you.” Do you think this is a fair assessment?
2. Choose two or three of the Bowls, and try to untangle the imagery to see how it could be applicable to our world.
3. A plague is literally “a wound.” Can you think of a time when you felt God inflicted you with a wound? Do you think the wounds you’ve experienced have helped you grow in your walk with God?
4. Look at the picture. What do you think God should do with the perpetrators of such atrocities?
#14 - The Prostitute and the Bride Part 1 - Rev 17-18
1. Remember the mark of the beast – 666? Six is the number of humanity; seven is the number of divinity. So 666 is the decision to live entirely on the physical level and to leave God out. It is humanity without divinity – life lived entirely for self.
What do you think causes selfishness? What effects does selfishness have? Is there a cure?
2. The prostitute represents the world in its attempts to draw people away from God. In what areas do you think the world is currently being most successful? Is there anything we can do about it?
3. Which do you think was worse – the Roman Empire or the British Empire?
#15 - The Prostitute and the Bride Part 2 - Rev 19
Possible Questions:
(It would be best if you could watch Andy’s video before attempting the questions.)​
1. How can the scene of the marriage supper of the Lamb provide comfort to those facing guilt or hardships? Why is it significant that the bride is given her garments?
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2. How does the description of Jesus as the Rider on the white horse contrast with the images of Christ you usually encounter? Which is correct?
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3. The Rider's name is known only to Himself (v12). What does this tell you about Jesus and God? How could this affect our living?
4. What does this picture say to you?
#16 – Millennium – Revelation 20
Rules of Hermeneutics:
1. Take note of the genre (Apocryphal writing.)
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2. Take note of the cultural/historical background (Christians under Roman persecution in 90 AD.)
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3. Let the Bible interpret the Bible:​
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a) Take doctrine from didactic passages not narrative or symbolic passages. (i.e. I Corinthians 15 and Matt 24 must interpret Rev 20, not the other way round.)
b) Let clear passages interpret obscure passages​​
Two ways of interpreting Revelation 20:
Possible questions:
(It would be best if you could watch Andy’s video before attempting the questions.)
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1. The key element of the Millenium is that Satan is/will be bound. According to Andy (using Matt 12:22-29 and Ephesians 1:19-23) Satan was bound during Christ’s time on earth. If Andy is right, and we are living in the Millennium now, what difference would that make to our lives, our thinking, and our prayers?
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2. How do you feel about “books” being kept in heaven of all your good and bad deeds? How does this compare with the idea that Santa Claus is “making a list, and checking it twice, he’s gonna find out who's naughty and nice”? Should we be telling children that?
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3. If Andy is right that the page of our bad deeds is blank, why do we confess our sins in church every Sunday?
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4. Satan’s last act will be to provoke war (v8) Watch the movie clip “Neighbours” https://youtu.be/gWCyamfhcfk What does this movie say to you about war?
#17 – A place called Hope – Rev 21
Possible Questions:
(It would be best if you could watch Andy’s video before attempting the questions.)​
1. If money and passport were no object, where would you live?
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2. What does the promise of new heaven and a new earth signified to for do?
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3. What emotions or thoughts does the description of the New Jerusalem evoke in you? Look at all the symbols. Why is the number twelve so predominant?
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4. How does the vision of God dwelling among his people influence your understanding of God’s relationship with humanity?
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5. What do you think of C S Lewis saying: ”Heaven is not a shadowy version of Earth; earth is a shadowy version of heaven.”
6. What aspects of this earth would you most like to carry over to the new earth?
#18 – Eden restored – Revelation 22
Possible Questions:
(It would be best if you could watch Andy’s video before attempting the questions.)​
1. There will be work in heaven: “His servants will serve him … And they will reign for ever and ever.” (v4-5) What kind of work would you like to do?
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2. How does the river of life in Rev 22 tie in with John 7:38 –“Jesus said, ‘Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.’ By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive.” What significance does this have for us now?
3. The Greek word dendron means a normal living tree. The word xulon means a log/dead wood. What significance do you see that the tree of life is xulon, not dendron ?
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4. Srare at one of the dots in the middle of this picture, then shut your eyes for a while. What do you see? Is there a spiritual lesson in this?
