The Occasion and Outline of Revelation – The Account of a Vision that the Apostle John had Concerning the Future
Revelation 1:1-20

Lesson 1

background notes

doctrinal points

1. The Book of Revelation concerns the revelation of Jesus Christ.
2. The Book of Revelation concerns the revelation of the future.

practical application

Expect to be blessed as you study Revelation.

questions

1. Who wrote the book of Revelation, where, and when?
2. Why is Sunday referred to as the “Lord’s Day”?
3. Where would the seven churches of Asia be located on a modern map?
4. What is the difference between being raised from the dead and being resurrected?
5. Why will all the tribes of the earth mourn (verse 7)?
6. How is Revelation 1:19 an outline for the book of Revelation?

answers

1. Revelation was written by the Apostle John. John was exiled to the island of Patmos because of his testimony as a Christian. It was on this island, near the end of his life (about 95 AD), that John received the vision from the Lord, which is this book.
2. That was the day of the Lord’s resurrection.
3. The Roman province of Asia was where Turkey is today.
4. Someone who is raised from the dead will eventually die again. But anyone who has been resurrected receives a new glorified body – never to die again.
5. Because the Lord is coming back in judgment. He is coming back to set up His long-awaited kingdom on this earth.
6. • “The things which you have seen” would be what John has already seen in the vision and recorded in Chapter 1.
   • “The things which are” would be Chapters 2-3 where the present state of the Church is seen in the letters to the seven churches.
   • “The things which shall take place after this” would be Chapters 4-19 which describe the judgments of the future Tribulation Period as well as Chapters 20-22 which describe future events into eternity.

discuss\ consider

1. This first chapter of Revelation has much to say about Jesus Christ. What does it say about Him and His role in the future?
2. Why do we believe that most of the events recorded in Revelation are still future? Describe the Preterist view of the book of Revelation.

challenge

The Lord promises a blessing to the reader of Revelation. Be encouraged as you read and study this book.

memorize

• “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants.” Revelation 1:1
• ”’I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,’ says the Lord, ‘who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.’” Revelation 1:8
• “Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this.” Revelation 1:19