The Gift of Revelation

     Well, we are fast approaching the Super Bowl and many are wagering on who will be the champions.
     But, long after the game is over, we will still be faced with the opposition of a rapidly decaying world. The fourth quarter is looking bad, and everyone is still wondering who will win.
     Well, we’ve been told who the winner will be. Do you want to know?
     Here it is: The winner will be our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, King of all kings. He will soon return to win the battle and take command once more.
     And we get to win with Him. That should give us comfort.
     Let’s see how the victory plays out.
     Enjoy!

Opening Discussion

-Have you ever won anything?
-How did it feel?

Read

Here is this week’s study passage.
Please pray before you begin.

Revelation 19:17-21; 20:1-3 (NIV)

19:17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair, "Come, gather together for the great supper of God,

19:18 so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and mighty men, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, small and great."

19:19 Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war against the rider on the horse and his army.

19:20 But the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped his image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.

19:21 The rest of them were killed with the sword that came out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.

20:1 And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain.

20:2 He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years.

20:3 He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time.

Study

Revelation 19:17-21; 20:1-3 (KJV)

19:17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;

19:18 That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.

19:19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.

19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

19:21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.

20:1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.

20:2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,

20:3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

-What does the author see? (v. 19:17)
-Who does the angel call?
-Why does he call them?
-What will they eat? (v. 18)
-Who gathered together? (v.19)
-Why did they gather?
-Read Revelation 13.
-What do we learn about the beast and the false prophet?
-What happened to the beast and the false prophet? (v. 19:20)
-Where were they cast?
-How is the lake described?
-Who is the remnant? (v. 21)
-What became of them?
-What else did the author see? (v. 20:1)
-What did the angel have?
-Who did he bind? (v. 2)
-How many angels bound him?
-How long was he bound?
-Why was he bound? (v. 3)

-What do we learn about God?
-Christ?
-The Spirit?
-What do we learn about the author?
-His readers?
-His purpose?
-How significant is it that only one angel was needed to bind Satan?
-How should that affect our walk with Christ?
-With whom can you share what you learned this week?

This Week’s Challenges

Challenge A-Reading

     Continue reading the book of Revelation.
     Read at your own pace.
     Take notes as you go.

Challenge B-The Text

Read some or all of the verses below.
Note any similarities with this week’s passage.

Genesis 3:1;
1 Sam 17:44;
Isaiah 24:22; 30:33;
Jeremiah 12:9;
Ezekiel 39:17-20
Daniel 6:17; 7:11;
Matthew 27:66
2 Peter 2:4;
Jude 1:6;
Revelation 1:18; 6:15; 8:13; 9:1; 10:1; 11:7, 18; 12:9; 13:1, 12-16; 14:10; 16:13-16; 17:16; 19:5, 11, 15; 20:8, 10, 14; 21:8

Challenge C-The Strand Challenge

     Read Genesis 16;
          Psalm 16;
          Romans 8:14-26.

Note any similarities between each as well as to this week’s text.