Passages: Revelation 1-11, 21
Big Idea: Jesus is the one to worship because the past, the present and the future are in his hands. Jesus rules!
Ages: 8-11
Eight lessons on the book of Revelation.
We make a mistake if we think Revelation is a puzzle book, full of clues needing to be solved before we can understand. Revelation is more like a picture book, full of pictures painted in broad brushstrokes, giving us insight into what has happened, what is happening and what will happen, with King Jesus as ruler over everything.
The word ‘revelation’ means ‘to reveal’, ‘to pull back the veil’, ‘to make known’. God gives John a vision of heaven and in chapter 1 he meets the risen Lord Jesus - God’s victorious King who is to be feared and worshipped. CS Lewis famous quote from The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe beautifully captures this picture of Jesus… “Aslan is a lion - the Lion, the great Lion." "Ooh" said Susan. "I'd thought he was a man. Is he-quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion…" "Safe?" said Mr Beaver, "Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you.”
John is then instructed by Jesus to write seven letters to the seven churches in Asia Minor (modern day Turkey). These letters are not just a word for these churches but for the whole of God’s church across time. The use of the number seven (seven being a perfect complete number) indicates that these letters are the complete message Jesus has for his church. These letters contain themes such as:
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guarding against false teaching and holding tightly to the truth
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patient perseverance in the midst of persecution
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living a godly life distinct from the world around them
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not living a compromised, watered-down Christian life
The letters include words of encouragement and the promise of blessing – but also words of rebuke and judgements issued.
In chapter 4 to 11 we are given a glimpse into the future - where people from tribe, nation and tongue, who have been purchased by the blood of the lamb, are gathered together, worshipping the Lamb who is now enthroned in heaven. On that day (Revelation 21) God will come down and live with his holy people and the sin that once separated and destroyed, will be no more, and the effects of sin - crying, pain and death will be no more.
All praise to the Lamb who sits on the throne!
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