Revelation: A New Hope (Week 1)
In this series, we’ll explore Revelation through three lenses: the past—its Jewish roots and symbolism; the present—the context of its original audience; and the future—the timeless truth it speaks to the Church today.
For our Revelation Resources page, click here.
1. What is your experience (if any) with the book of Revelation? What have you been taught, or what preconceived notions do you have about it? What are you looking forward to in this series? Is there anything you aren’t looking forward to about studying Revelation?
2. In this week’s Primer Podcast, Pete, Shawn, and Drew answered some of the questions people submitted about the book of Revelation. What questions would you like to be answered?
In his sermon this week, Pete outlined three helpful lenses through which to read Revelation:
Tool #1 – Reading Revelation with its Culture in Mind (Present)
Tool #2 – Reading Revelation with History in Mind (Past)
Tool #3 – Reading Revelation with Timeless Truth in Mind (Future)
3. Read Revelation 1:1-20. How might these 3 tools help us understand this text?
4. In the podcast, Pete reminded us that the concept of “the rapture” is not addressed in the book of Revelation. Instead, it comes from one verse in 2 Thessalonians, as we discussed in our Normal People series. Is this surprising to you?
5. Discuss the following takeaway from Pete’s message this week: “Revelation’s primary intent is not to predict the future. Instead, it is an invitation to receive God’s timeless and hope-giving truth throughout all generations.”
6. Why do you think some of the things that seem really important to us about Revelation, or the “end times,” do not seem as important to John, the writer of Revelation? What conclusions do you draw from this difference?
(*Video available after Sunday services)
