Episode: Revelation Series No. 03 Narrator: A Mighty Angel Primary Scriptures: Revelation 5-11 Story Summary: The beginning of the time of tribulation Location: Roman Empire, Island of Patmos Time: AD 30 Jesus crucified and resurrected; Pentecost; Holy Spirit arrives AD 48 Paul’s “famine visit” to Jerusalem; First Missionary Journey starts Council at Jerusalem AD 50 Start of Second Missionary Journey. AD 53 Start of Third Missionary Journey AD 67/68 Paul probably killed in Rome AD 85-95 John writes Revelation Suggested Memory Scriptures: Revelation 5:5; 6:9-10, 6:15-17; 7:4, 7:14; 9:6, 9:20-21; 11:2-3, 11:10-11, 11:19 Revelation is often classified as apocalyptic literature, a style of writing that developed after the Jews returned from Babylon. This type of literature often describes the author’s understanding of the end of the world as revealed by a heavenly messenger. The writing typically urges its readers to be patient and trusting for their coming deliverance and rewards. The language of apocalyptic literature is usually symbolic. Revelation 5 begins the intense apocalyptic portion of the book. It starts by describing a scroll with seven seals and the Lamb who is qualified to break these seals and open the scroll. The terms describing the Lamb show it to be Jesus. The chapter does not reveal if the scroll contains good news or bad news, even though it is clear the contents are very important. Revelation 6 begins with the Lamb opening the first seal. It immediately is known that the seals represent calamities on the earth. Revelation 6 describes the disasters of the first six seals. Revelation 7 is a short break from the calamities, describing the sealing off of 144,000 people from the tribes of Israel and the great multitude who come faithfully from the great tribulation. Revelation 8 describes the opening of the eighth seal, and the revealing of the seven angels with seven trumpets. This chapter describes the disasters of the first four trumpets. Revelation 9 describes the sounding of the next two trumpets. Revelation 10 talks of the angel and the little scroll. The little scroll is used to get John engaged in the action. His involvement spills over into Revelation 11 where the two witnesses and the beast are introduced. The chapter ends with the disaster of the seventh trumpet. These seven chapters contain some of the scariest words ever written. The symbolic nature of the language has encouraged countless interpretations. All in all, these chapters are drastic warnings which are used to encourage Christians to be faithful to Jesus. Discussion Questions: 1. What style of writing is the book of Revelation? What are some components of that style of writing? 2. What are some of the challenges of understanding Revelation 5-11? 3. Which of the verses in Revelation 5-11 most capture your attention? 4. How many angels are in heaven? 5. Where can you learn about the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse? 6. Some American Christians use Revelation 7:4 as one reason why everyone should support Israel. Whether you agree, do you see their reasoning? *1. It is apocalyptic writing. These writings represent an author’s understanding of the end times, often revealed by a heavenly messenger. It is written to warn its readers of coming challenges, while encouraging them to be faithful. 2. These are some of the challenges: hard to know which things are literal and which are symbolic; hard to follow the sequence of events, and at what time in the future they will occur; whether some things should be understood on multiple levels; and, how these things fit in with other books of the Bible. 4. Many hundreds of millions according to Revelation 5:11. 5. Revelation 6:1-8. Application Questions: 1. Apocalyptic writing is meant to both warn readers of coming events and to encourage them to be faithful. Does Revelation 5-11 encourage you to be faithful, or do you consider it mostly a warning? In what ways does it encourage or warn you? 2. Revelation 5:8 says the prayers of God’s people are incense that is offered to Him. Knowing that, what are some things you could say while you pray? 3. How might Revelation 6:9-11 encourage you? How might Revelation 7:11-17 encourage you? 4. After the calamities described in Revelation 8 and 9, ungodly people still did not repent, as described in Revelation 9:20-21. Why is it so hard for people to repent of their actions? Application Questions for Teens: 1. It is common for people of all ages to be envious of those in power and those who have wealth. Using Revelation 4:12-17, explain how calamitous circumstances affect the balance of power among people? What qualities would you want to have in circumstances where food or water is in very short supply? 2. In Revelation 9:4, the people of God have seals on their foreheads. What might this mean? Based on other passages, could this have something to do with the Holy Spirit? 3. Of the actions described in Revelation 9:20-21, which are common in modern society?