Revelation: A New Hope (Week 4)
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.
Warm-Up: What are some things people commonly depend on today to make life feel more secure, satisfying, or successful?
Read Revelation 2:12-17.
1. When Jesus tells the church in Pergamum that he knows where they live, he is saying he understands the cultural pressures they face. Where do you experience tension between following Jesus and fitting into the culture around you?
2. Culture in the cities of Pergamum and Thyatira were filled with competing “gods” promising things like healing, prosperity, pleasure, security, and success. What modern-day things make similar promises, and why can they be so attractive?
3. The temptation in both Pergamum and Thyatira was essentially, “You can have both”—you can follow God while also depending on the gods and values of the surrounding culture. What are some ways you wrestle with a similar sort of divided allegiance?
Read Numbers 21:4-9.
4. In the stories of Israel, God repeatedly provides for his people (manna in the wilderness, for example)—even when they doubt him or fail to recognize what he is doing. What do these stories teach us about trusting God’s provision rather than looking elsewhere to meet our needs?
Re-read Revelation 2:12-13.
5. Here, Jesus praises Antipas (meaning “against all”), as a faithful witness who was martyred in Pergamum. What does it look like to “stand against” the culture around us while still being “for” those who may not know Jesus?
6. If we truly believe that God is enough, how might that change the way we approach things like career, money, comfort, success, relationships, and security? What would it look like for a church community to actually live as though God is enough?
(*Video available after Sunday services)
