The Gift of Revelation

     What do think Hell is like?
     Do you picture demons with pitchforks torturing people? Do envision a endless party? Is Hell a continuation of normal life without any relief?
     Or are we in Hell right now?
     Mark Twain once said, “Heaven for climate, Hell for company.” Many agree.
     Thanks to books, television and the movies, Hell has been misinterpreted. One does not get to indulge in sinful pleasure for eternity, nor does one get stuck listening to their least favorite musician without end, and despite what Hollywood has shown us, the devil and his demons do not run Hell.
     The lake of fire was created just for Satan and his fellow fallen angels as punishment for their rebellion. God never intended His most beloved creation, people, to inhabit this most horrific place of torment, but He gave us all a choice, and many will wind up in Hell by their own decision.
     Perhaps, if people understood the true nature of Hell, it would be easier to accept the eternal life of Christ.
     Enjoy!

Opening Discussion

-Describe your views of what Heaven and Hell are like?

Read

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

Revelation 20:11-15 (NIV)

11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them.

12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.

13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done.

14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death.

15If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

Study

Please read Revelation 19:11-21; 20:1-10.

Revelation 20:11-15 (NASB)

11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them.

12 And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.

13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds.

14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire This is the second death, the lake of fire.

15 And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

Verse 11

-What did the author see?
-Who was sitting on it?
-How did heaven and earth react?

Verse 12-13

-Who did he see next?
-Where were they standing?
-What were opened?
-What was one book called?
-From where did the dead come?
-What was done to the dead?
-From what were they judged?
-According to what were they judged?

Verse 14

-What happens to those who have been judged?
-Where are they thrown?
-What is this called?

Verse 15

-Read Revelation 3:5; 13:8; 17:8; 21:27?
-What is the significance of the book of life?
-What happens to those not found in the book of life?
-Where are they thrown?

-What do we learn about God?
-Christ?
-The Spirit?
-What do we learn about the author?
-His readers?
-His purpose?
-Is your name in the book of life?
-How can you know?
-How should that affect your walk with Christ?
-What has God shown you through this passage of Scripture?
-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.

Isaiah 26:19;
Daniel 2:35; 7:10;
Matthew 16:27;
Luke 16:19-31;
1 Corinthians 15:26;
Philippians 4:3;
Revelation 1:18; 2:23; 3:4-5; 4:2; 6:8, 14; 11:18; 12:8; 13:8; 17:8; 19:20; 20:6, 10, 15; 21:1, 4, 27

Challenge C-The Strand Challenge

Read Genesis 19;
Psalm 19;
Romans 9:12-22.

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