5. Intro 5 - Questions & Answers - Technology Ministries

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Introduction ~ Questions REVELATION 1:1, 2 

REVELATION 1:1-2 

INTRODUCTION V 

I. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 

A. INTRODUCTION 

1. WHO? 

2. HUMAN AUTHOR 

3. TWO AUTHORS 


EMPHASIZED 

5. BOND-SERVANTS EMPHASIZED 

6. SUMMARY 

7. TWO SETS OF CIRCUMSTANCES 

B. QUESTIONS 

1. WHERE? 

2. WHAT? 

3 WHEN? 

4. WHY? 

5. WHAT FOR? 

6. DEFINITIONS 

7. MEMORY VERSE 

8. COMPLETED PARAPHRASE 

9. SONG 

10. PREPARATIONS FOR NEXT SESSION 

This lesson contains many teacher’s 

notes, songs, activities and presentation 

directions. It is larger than others and may 

take two sessions to cover. Teacher should 

judge according to class comprehension. 

Teacher could plan two full lessons 

distributing songs and activities equally.

2 REVELATION is NOT a Mystery—TEACHER’S GUIDE 


REVELATION CHAPTER 1 


**PREPARATIONS FOR DEMONSTRATING THE MEANING OF 

“REVELATION”. 

A large picture of Jesus Christ covered with a thick drape should be on an easel in an 

inconspicuous spot before students arrive. Be careful! Do not allow anyone to get too close to 

the exhibit. If anyone peeps under the cover before the correct time, the impact of the 

demonstration is lost. If students inquire, tell them the easel will be explained later. A double 

asterisk ** in Teacher‟s Guide identifies where to present the demonstration. 

OPENING PRAYER 

Take a few moments to prepare your souls for the intake of God‟s Word. Admit any known 

sins to God the Father, and consciously switch your attention away from the things of the 

world toward the things of God. 

Dear Heavenly Father, We call on Your Spirit to guide us into all truth as we study Your 

Word together. Thank You, Father, for young people who love Your Word. In Jesus‟ name, 

we pray. Amen. 

REVIEW 

Vocabulary List 

Prophecy: a pre-written record of future events. 

History: a record of the statements, characters and flow of past events. 

Poetry: beautifully flowing text with lovely descriptions and vivid word pictures. 

Letters: written messages sent to a definite person or group of people. 

God‘s Library: the 66 books in the Bible inspired by God. Scripture; God‟s Word. 

Seven Churches: the seven churches in Asia written to in 96 A.D. by John: a term 

signifying all believers from the Day of Pentecost until the Rapture. 

Summary: 

As the last book in the Bible, the prophecy of REVELATION, must be studied for a well 

rounded knowledge of God‟s Word. God has placed many study aids within its pages to 

demonstrate REVELATION is not a mystery, but a slowly unfolding message sent 

specifically to believers of the Church Age. 

CLASS ACTIVITY POSSIBILITIES 

1. Song: “John the Apostle on the Isle of Patmos” is classified as an activity. Materials and 

directions are in Teacher‟s Appendix and Student Songbook, p.147, Directions are on 

following page in Songbook.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Introduction ~ Questions Revelation 1:1-2 

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2. Students may write answers to questions “Who, Where, What, When and 

Why?” in Student Workbook or on special outlines. 

3. Symbols for the chain of communication (in Student Workbook and 

Teacher‟s Appendix) may be cut out and pasted together in the correct order. 

I. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 

A. INTRODUCTION 

College Journalism professors suggest pausing regularly to ask 

five simple questions when studying any subject: ―Who?, 

Where?, What?, When?, and Why?‖ We begin by asking the 

question, ―Who?‖ 

1. WHO? Who wrote the book of Revelation? 

a. The Holy Spirit superintended. 

GOD THE FATHER AND GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT WATCHED 

OVER THE WRITING OF ALL SCRIPTURE. 

II PETER 1:20, 21 But know this first of all, that no 

prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one‟s own 

interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by 

an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy 

Spirit spoke from God. 

REVELATION 1:1 makes clear that Jesus Christ is involved in the 

writing of this book. All three members of the Tri-Unity are involved in 

the recording of “THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST”, but God 

the Son is the member of the Trinity most personally involved. 

Because it is His revelation. 

b. A human penman recorded the words. 

Look at REVELATION 1:1. See if students can identify the human author. 

REVELATION 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, 

which God gave Him to show to His bondservants, 

the things which must shortly take place; 

and He sent and communicated it by His angel to 

His bond-servant John.



Direct attention to verse four, then, look at verses eleven and nineteen. 

REVELATION 1:4 John to the seven churches that 

are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who 

is and who was and who is to come; and from the 

seven Spirits who are before His throne. 

REVELATION 1:11 ...SAYING, “Write in a book 

what you see, and send it to the seven churches: to 

Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, and to Thyatira and 

to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.” 

REVELATION 1:19 Write therefore (the heavenly 

director, speaking to John) the things which you have 

seen, and the things which are, and the things 

which shall take place after these things. 

c. Heaven is directing. 

Do you get the idea that someone in heaven is directing someone on 

earth? There is only one human called by name in REVELATION 1:1. 

All others are heavenly beings. A man was commissioned to record 

this book for all members of the True Church on earth and his name is 

John. 

2. HUMAN AUTHOR 

A. We see from REVELATION 1:1 the human author‟s name is John. 

John an apostle of Jesus Christ is accepted by Theologians as the human 

penman of the book of REVELATION. 

“The Hebrew idioms in the book, the authority of the author in relation to the 

churches, the use of distinctively Johannine terms such as logos and “Lamb of 

God,” and the corroboration of Irenaeus, Origen, Tertullian, and Clement all 

affirm that the apostle John was the author of this book.” Revelation, Ryrie, 

Charles C. The Lochman Foundation, La Habra, California. 1996, P. 14 

Direct students to write, “The apostle, John” under “Who wrote the book of 

REVELATION?” 


Both authors of THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST are named 

and both authors are emphasized in The Chain of Communication. 

REVELATION 1:1; 4, 5 and 11 make it clear that Jesus Christ is the 

heavenly Author directing John, the earthly author. 

THE HEAVENLY AUTHOR, JESUS CHRIST, DIRECTS THE


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HUMAN WRITER, JOHN, TO RECORD THE MESSAGE GOD 

WANTS TO SEND. 

a. Heavenly author. 

1) The entire Bible in its original languages came from God through 

human writers directed by the Holy Spirit and protected from 

recording errors. God the Holy Spirit moved on the minds of certain 

chosen men so that what they wrote was...the Word of God. 

The moving of the Holy Spirit over those recording Scripture is the doctrine 

of Inspiration, one of the basic components of Bibliology. Information for 

further study of Bibliology is in Teacher‟s Appendix. 

TIMOTHY 3:16 All scripture is given by 

inspiration of God (is “God-breathed”) and is 

profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, 

for instruction in righteousness. 

II PETER 1: 21 For no prophecy was ever made by 

an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy 

Spirit spoke from God. 

2) Resounding evidence points to the apostle John as the human 

writer. John, a beloved disciple of Jesus Christ, declares himself to be 

the human author four times in the book of REVELATION. His 

reminders are spaced throughout the book so the student will not 

forget. 

REVELATION 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, 




His bond-servant John. 

REVELATION 1:4 John to the seven churches that 

are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from Him 

who is and who was and who is to come… 

REVELATION 1:9 I, John, your brother and fellow 

partaker… 

REVELATION 22:8 And I, John, am the one who 

heard and saw these things. 

b. Background of human author.



1) John and James, both sons of Zebedee, were among the original 

twelve disciples of Jesus Christ. John, the youngest of the twelve, was 

among the first to follow the Lord. Paul‘s nickname for John ―Son of 

Thunder‖ suggests he was a powerful public speaker. 

2) John, a fisherman, left work to travel with Jesus. John‘s family was 

doing well in a prominent fishing business. His father was probably 

wealthy and traveled in high society in Jerusalem. 

MATTHEW 4:21 And going on from there He saw 

two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, 

and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee 

their father, mending their nets. 

3) John was with Peter, James and Andrew when the Lord answered 

questions concerning the events scheduled for the end of the age. 

MARK 13:3 And He was sitting on the Mount of 

Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and 

John and Andrew were questioning him privately. 

4) John was with the Lord on the mount of transfiguration (LUKE 9:28- 

36). John was present at the last supper (LUKE 22:7-14). John was close 

to Jesus Christ while He was on earth. 

5) At the crucifixion Jesus left His Mother in John‘s care (JOHN 19:26, 

27). John was an eye witness when Jesus returned to heaven from the 

Mount of Olives (MARK 16:14-19). John was in the upper room on the 

day of Pentecost, the day the Church was born when there were 

―tongues of fire‖ (ACTS 2:1-4). John was with Peter in prison. John 

was also with Peter when a crippled man was healed and Peter said... 

ACTS 3:6 “Silver and gold have I none, but such 

as I have give I thee, in the name of Jesus Christ of 

Nazareth rise up and walk.” 

6) John was a willing bond-servant to Jesus Christ. He called himself 

“the one whom Jesus loved.” (JOHN 13:23) not because he thought he 

was loved more than the other disciples, but because he was deeply 

aware of the value of Christ‟s love for him. John appreciated the 

priceless quality of Christ‘s perfect love. 

7) John, a Pastor before he wrote REVELATION, came to Rome 

around 70 AD. He traveled to seven local churches in the Roman 

Province of Asia and taught about the Lord. John talked about Jesus to 

the people he visited and bumped into as he traveled. Though John


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was warned to stop talking about the Lord, he loved Jesus so much he 

could not quit talking about Him. Are we not the same way when we 

love someone a great deal? We want to talk about them all the time, 

do we not ? 

8) It was because of John‘s love for Christ and his loyalty to God‘s 

Word that the Roman Emperor, Domitian, banished him to the Island 

of Patmos in the Aegean sea (an arm of the Mediterranean Sea 

between Greece and Turkey). 

REVELATION 1:9 I, John, … was on the island 

called Patmos, because of the word of God and the 

testimony of Jesus. 

9) John‘s brother, James, was murdered because of his faith in Jesus. 

John, the youngest apostle, was the last apostle to die. The last living 

apostle (John) wrote the last gospel, (The Gospel of John), one of the 

last epistles (III John) and the last book of the Bible (THE 

REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST). 

Colonel Bob Thieme, Pastor, Berachah Church, Houston, Texas, says “When 

John put the period on the last Amen in the book of Revelation the Canon of 

Scripture was complete”. 

JOHN WAS GIVEN THE FANTASTIC PRIVILEGE OF RECORDING 

WITH PERFECT ACCURACY THE LORD‟S GLORY ALONG 

WITH FUTURE EVENTS THAT BRING HUMAN HISTORY TO A 

CLOSE. WHAT AN HONOR. 

WHAT A THRILL IT MUST HAVE BEEN FOR JOHN! 

4. TWO AUTHORS EMPHASIZED 

The chain of communication recorded in the first Chapter of REVELATION, 

emphasizes two Authors. Visuals for the chain of communication are in the 

Visuals Appendix. 

a. First and second links in the Chain of communication. 

1) God is the first link in the chain of communication. 

2) God the Father gave the Revelation to Jesus Christ. God the Holy 

Spirit, although not specifically named, is always involved in the 

communication of God‘s Word. 

3) Jesus Christ is the second link in the chain of communication.



4) As the curtain is pulled back, The King of kings and the Lord of 

lords, Jesus Christ reveals Himself in all His glory. At the same time 

He reveals many other marvelous things concerning the work He has 

done and is going to do for the human race. His Revelation includes 

some magnificent future plans for purifying His creation. 

5) It is meaningful that God the Father gave the Revelation to His Son 

because as God, Jesus Christ did not need to have anything revealed to 

Him. 

AS GOD, JESUS ALWAYS KNEW EVERYTHING, BUT 

JESUS (GOD THE SON) BECAME MAN. 

PHILIPPIANS 2:7-8 But emptied Himself, taking 

the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the 

likeness of men. And being found in appearance 

as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming 

obedient to the point of death, even death on a 

cross. 

b. Third and fourth links in the chain of communication. 

1) The third link is a teaching, angel messenger from heaven. 

2) The fourth link is John, the human, author messenger. 

c. Final link in the chain of communication. 

REVELATION 1:1: “...to show to His bondservants”(referring 

to those who have trusted Jesus 

Christ as Savior). 

5. BOND-SERVANTS EMPHASIZED 

REVELATION 1:4 refers to seven churches in the Roman province of 

Asia (when Asia was under Roman rule) as the fifth link. The seven 

churches are called by name at the end of verse eleven: Ephesus, 

Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea. All 

are literal local churches existing at the time John penned the book of 

Revelation, but they also symbolize churches and individuals down 

through the Church Age. 

a. “Bond-servants” and “seven churches” refer to the same group of 

people. 

Technically, REVELATION was a gift from God, the Father, to God the 

Son. Jesus Christ (in turn) sent REVELATION through His teaching


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angel to His bond-servant, John, to seven local churches symbolizing 

all believers of the Church Age. 

b. Identity of “bond-servants” emphasized. 

1) Bond-servants are God‘s children: those who trust Jesus Christ as 

Savior and desire to serve Him. The seven churches symbolize the 

―full and complete‖ Church of the Church Age. 

2) ―Bond-servants‖ does not apply to every individual on church 

membership lists or even to all who regularly attend. ―The Revelation 

of Jesus Christ ― is sent to all who have trusted Jesus Christ as Savior 

whether or not they attend any local church. 

Information comparing membership in the True Church of Jesus Christ to 

local church membership is in Teacher‟s Appendix. 

JESUS SENT THIS BOOK TO BELIEVERS. 

3) A willing bond-servant has an attitude of humility toward his 

master. A voluntary bond-servant wants to do the master‟s bidding 

and should be careful to listen to the master‘s words so he can know 

the master‘s desires. 

4) Christ‘s ―bond-servants‖ make up the last link in the Chain of 

Communication. 

5) John called himself a ―bond-servant‖. John willingly submitted 

Himself to Jesus Christ. The same is true of Paul, Peter, James and 

Jude: all refer to themselves as ―bond-servants‖ of the Lord. 

Scriptural References: GALATIANS 1:10; II PETER 1:1; JAMES 1:1; JUDE 

1:1. 

6) The apostle, Peter, speaking to a group of free men, advised them to 

use their freedom wisely by choosing to become ―bond-servants‖ of 

Jesus Christ. 

I PETER 2: 16 Act as free men, and do not use 

your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as 

bond-slaves of God. 

COLOSSIANS 3:24 …knowing that from the Lord 

you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is 

the Lord Christ whom you serve. 

IT TAKES HUMILITY TO BE A WILLING BOND-SERVANT.



7) Gospel 

IT TAKES WISDOM TO CHOOSE TO BE A 

BOND-SERVANT TO THE RIGHT PERSON OR CAUSE. 

All who have trusted Jesus Christ as Savior are bond-servants. Use this 

orientation to repeat the Good News that Jesus Christ died on the cross for 

our sins as our substitute, then point out that believers with humility and a 

positive attitude toward the Word of God can be relaxed and secure no matter 

what is going on around them because they know their Master, who holds the 

future in His hands, is in control. Christ controls history. 

8) Jesus wants to share the vision of His glory with the bond-servants 

who will share everything with Him in eternity. 

BELIEVERS OF THE CHURCH AGE ARE THE BOND-SERVANTS 

REFERRED TO. 

WE ARE THE LAST LINK IN THE CHAIN! 

6. SUMMARY 

It is the delight of Jesus Christ to let His bond-servants know His deeper 

thoughts and the wonderful things He has planned for them. 

The Revelation of Jesus Christ is the only book in the Bible sent under the 

particular chain of communication recognized in this lesson. It is the only 

book given personally to Jesus Christ by God the Father, and sent especially to 

His willing bond-servants. It is emphasized throughout the study. 

All books of the Bible are “God-breathed”, but no other claims to be sent by 

Jesus Christ to the believers of the Church Age. REVELATION is sent so 

that Church Age believers might understand God‟s will and purpose and stay 

in His plan for their lives. 

Believers can have peace in their souls under the pressure of problems and 

disaster if they stay in fellowship with the Holy Spirit, study God‟s Word and 

grow up as His children. 

In the book of Revelation Jesus Christ unveils things previously hidden. 

Some Old Testament authors were told to “seal up” the mysteries of God, but 

the things God reveals are for His bond-servants and their children. 

DEUTERONOMY 29:29 The secret things belong 

to the Lord our God, but the things revealed 

belong to us and to our sons forever, that we 

(believers) may observe all the words of this law.


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A REVELATION IS NOT A MYSTERY! 

7. TWO SETS OF CIRCUMSTANCES 

a. John‟s personal circumstances. 

1) John is a witness. A witness is one who has personal knowledge of 

the subject because he either saw it or heard it, first hand. 

2) John is a reliable witness because he, personally, saw and heard 

everything he recorded. 

3) As a witness, John gives his personal testimony. A testimony is the 

type of evidence required in a courtroom to prove a case. 

4) As a witness, John gives accurate and reliable testimony. He is able 

to do so because he was an eye witness to Jesus Christ as He walked 

on earth. John‘s testimony is reliable because of his own trustworthy 

character. 

5) As a witness John is in fellowship and has the advantage of being 

guided by God, the Holy Spirit. Scripture tells us it is Sunday morning 

on Patmos Island. 

REVELATION 1:10, “I (John) was in the Spirit (in 

fellowship) on the Lord‟s day…(Sunday). 

b. The circumstances of the Sunday morning Bible Class. 

“Does this mean „the Day of the Lord‟ i.e. the day of His visible manifestation, 

or does it mean He was in the Spirit on the Lord‟s Day, the first day of the 

week? It is not the prophetic day of the Lord, but the Lord‟s day, the day 

which the early Church from the beginning celebrated as the day of His 

resurrection. “ “Gaebelein‟s Concise Commentary”, Gaebelein, Arno C., 

Loizeaux Brothers, New Jersey, 1989, p.1204 

“In my judgment, the Day of the Lord and the Lord‟s Day are two different 

things. We recognize that anti-fat and fat auntie are two different things and 

that a chestnut horse and a horse chestnut are two different things. And I 

would say that the Day of the Lord and the Lord‟s Day are two different 

things also, and that the Lord‟s Day is what we call Sunday.” 

“Thru The Bible”, McGee, J. Vernon, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, 

Volume. V., p. 893 

REVELATION 1:9 I, John, your brother and fellow



partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and 

perseverance which are in Jesus, was on the island 

called Patmos, because of the word of God and the 

testimony of Jesus. 

1) John is on the Isle of Patmos because he would not quit talking 

about the Lord. 

2) The following verses show that John was told not to talk about Jesus 

anymore. 

ACTS 4:17-20 But in order that it may not spread 

any further among the people, let us warn them to 

speak no more to any man in this name. And 

when they had summoned them they commanded 

them not to speak or teach at all in the name of 

Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said to 

them, „Whether it is right in the sight of God to 

give heed to you rather than to God, you be the 

judge; for we cannot stop speaking what we have 

seen and heard. 

Acts 5:28 …saying, „We gave you strict orders not 

to continue teaching in this name, and behold, 

you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and 

intend to bring this man‟s blood upon us. 

3) The Emperor Domitian warned John he would be punished if he 

didn‗t hush, but John kept right on telling people about Jesus. So, the 

Emperor sent John to a small, rocky island in the Aegean Sea off the 

coast of Asia Minor (Turkey, today). 

4) Bible class is taught on the island called Patmos (REVELATION 

1:9) and John attends. Scripture records the Island was ―called‖ 

Patmos at the time of John‘s writing so there would be no doubt which 

island was meant if the name changed over the years. In this case, the 

name, Patmos, has remained. 

5) The Island of Patmos is about ten miles long and six miles wide. It 

was too far out in the Aegean Sea for John to swim to land: it was the 

Alcatraz of the ancient world. The Emperor thought he had shut John 

up by sending him so far away. But the Emperor was wrong! John did 

not stop talking about Jesus. 

6) John found a way to send letters back to his seven churches. And 

what do you think he wrote about? John kept right on talking about 

Jesus Christ. He wrote letters from Patmos to his churches telling them


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more about his precious Lord. 

GREECE 

Agean 

Sea 

ASIA 

Mediterranean 

Sea 

PATMOS 

Religious News Service Photo 

PATMOS 

B. MORE QUESTIONS 

1. WHERE? Where is the book of REVELATION? 

a. Look in the Bible. 

1) It is impossible to study the Bible without using the Bible. 

Ask students to open their Bibles to the book of Revelation. In some Bibles 

notes, maps and references are placed at the end. Revelation may not be at the 

very back of those Bibles, but it is still the last book. 

2) ―Where is the book of Revelation located?‖ It is the last book in the 

Bible. 

There is another “Where?” question: “Where was the Author, John, when the 

book of Revelation was being written?” We have the answer to that question, 

too: John was on the Isle of Patmos. 

b. John hears a trumpet-like voice. 

REVELATION 1:10 I was in the Spirit (in 

fellowship, filled with the Spirit) on the Lord‟s day 

(Sunday morning) and I heard behind me a loud 

voice like the sound of a trumpet. 

John is probably studying God‘s Word one Sunday morning 

when he hears behind him a loud voice like a trumpet. A 

trumpet blast is a means of getting immediate attention. John 

does not hear a real trumpet, but a loud, strong, clear voice. It 

gets John‘s attention and gives him some important directions.



c. John turns to see who is speaking. 

REVELATION 1:12 And I turned to see the voice 

that was speaking with me. 

You don‘t really see a voice, but you can tell where the voice is coming 

from, and when you turn in that direction, you see the one speaking. 

d. John is polite. 

John has good manners. He shows that he is interested and wants to 

see the speaker. He is considerate of others. He turns to give full 

attention. It is the voice of the Lord Jesus Christ attracting John‘s 

attention because He wants to be John‘s Bible Teacher. 

e. Jesus begins to teach. 

Jesus teaches a Bible class and the apostle John is His only student. 

The Lord made it clear He wanted John to record the message for the 

benefit of the rest of His bond-servants for He directed John to send it 

to the churches of the Church Age. 

REVELATION 1:11 Saying, “Write in a book what 

you see, and send it to seven churches: to Ephesus 

and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira 

and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to 

Laodicea”. 

TODAY, AS WE STUDY THESE LESSONS, 

WE ARE STUDENTS 

OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, ALSO! 

Sing the first verse of “John the Apostle”. Patterns for signs and directions 

for actions are in Teacher‟s Appendix. Words and music are in Student 

Songbook. 

2. WHAT? What is the correct title of the book? 

a. Consider the correct pronunciation of REVELATION, first. 

Direct students to repeat the word, pronouncing each syllable and lead them 

to say it with you: “RE-VE-LA-TION”. Listen carefully for any sound of an 

“S”. Note there is no “S” at the end of REVELATION. 

Display the “No S on Revelation visual.


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Call attention to the round circle with the “S” marked out by the negative line 

at the end of the word “REVELATION”. An „S‟ at the end of a word means 

there are at least two items. 

Supply some examples and encourage students to suggest examples. (chairs, 

tables, automobiles, boys, girls, animals, etc.) When there are two of anything 

and one is taken away, the “s” is taken away from the end of the word. It 

means there is only one. 

THERE ARE NOT TWO OR THREE REVELATION(S). 

THIS IS ONE REVELATION: 

THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST. 

Let students in on a little secret. Tell them not to get the big head about it, 

but it might help them not to slip and say this word wrong again. The secret 

is that… 

b. Not many adults know this word is singular. Many call it, the 

book of “Revelation S.” 

Advise students: Do not be smart aleck about your new found knowledge. 

Do not correct adults. It is not your place to correct adults. Being smart does 

not carry with it the right to be disrespectful. Being polite goes with being 

wise. 

c. Consider the correct name again. 

Men divided the Scripture into chapters and verses. Men placed 

headings over the chapters and decided on names for the books. A few 

different names were chosen for this book. 

Direct students to look in their own Bibles and read some of the titles for the 

book we are studying. If the following are not named, supply them yourself: 

“The Revelation of St. John, the Divine”; “The Revelation of John”; “The 

Revelation to John”; “The book of Revelation”. Some translators even picked 

the word “Revelation”. 

Then, suggest students look at the first line in the first verse and read God‟s 

title for His book.



d. We don‟t have to wonder about the correct name of this book. 

God tells us. It is one of the many things God has done to help His 

bond-servants study this book. 

GOD SAYS IT IS, “THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST.” 

Tell students to write “THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST” in 

answer to the question, “What?” 

Direct attention to the word “When?” 

3. WHEN? When was the book of Revelation written? 

Direct students to look on the fly-page of their Bibles and see the printing date 

recorded for their individual Bibles. Show them where this type of information 

is located. Next, direct students to check the pages preceding the 

REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST. 

1) Most Bible translations record accepted dates of writing. For 

instance, in the Ryrie Study Bible, New American Standard, on page 

1893, under ―Introduction to the Revelation to John‖, we find the 

words ―Author: John; Date: 90‘s‖. Other sources such as Halley‘s 

Handbook establish the time as 96 A.D. The following diagram shows 

how soon after our Lord‘s death ―REVELATION‖ was written. 

Call attention to the following events. Note 96 A.D. first. 

a. Timeline Chart. 

63 YEARS 

The crucifixion 

and resurrection 

of Jesus Christ 

John writes 

Revelation 

We are here. 

33 A.D. 96 A.D. CHURCH AGE 2006 A.D. 

Pentecost: 

Church Age 

begins 

Rapture: 

Church Age 

ends 

2) Roman Emperor, Domitian, reigned from around 81 A.D. until his death 

in 96 A.D., approximately 15 years. It was he who sent John to the Isle of 

Patmos. According to John, (REVELATION 1:9) Jesus Christ taught him in 

a Bible class while he was in exile and John recorded what he learned. 

Rumor claims John was released from Patmos after Domitian‘s death. Even 

when we consider how young John was when Jesus was on earth ( probably


17 

18 or 19), John was quite elderly by this time. 

According to Halley‟s Handbook, Trajan followed Domitian as Emperor of 

Rome in A.D. 98. Halley‟s Bible Handbook, Henry H. Halley, Zondervan 

Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1965. 

b. Sixty years after the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 

REVELATION WAS WRITTEN DURING THE EARLY YEARS OF 

THE SAME AGE IN WHICH WE LIVE, 

THE CHURCH AGE. 

Direct students to write “ 96 A.D., during the Church Age” in answer to the 

question, “What?” 

4. WHY? Why was THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST 

written? 

a. A more difficult question. 

It is slightly more difficult to answer this question than it has been to 

answer the others. Where do you suppose we should go to find the 

answer? 

Bring four or five reference books and encyclopedias to class. At this point 

pick up the books and quickly distribute them. Work fast and keep moving. 

Children are smart. If you wait too long someone will ruin your 

demonstration. 

How about dictionaries, resource books, encyclopedia, etc? Here, help me pass 

out these heavy books. Perhaps, we will find the answer in one of these books. 

Can you find anything that tells us why the Book of Revelation was written? 

Start looking up the answer. I‟ll be looking, too. 

What heading should we look under? Should we look under “R” for 

“REVELATION” ? Why are you just sitting there? You don‟t know where 

to look? Well, maybe, you‟ve got a point. What should we do? 

Of course! We need to look in the Bible. Why I didn‟t think of that? See if 

the answer is in the book of Revelation, itself. Go over the first Chapter, 

again. Do you see a statement that might help? Is there anything that might 

tell us why the book of Revelation was written? Look carefully at verse 

#11. 

b. To send to seven churches.



Yes, it definitely says so in verse eleven. Do you see that? (Or ―to 

give to His bond-servants‖, VERSE #1) Remember, we learned both 

titles refer to the same group of people. As we continue to study we 

may notice other reasons, but this one is enough for now. 

REVELATION was written as messages or letters to seven churches. 

Tell students to write, “To send to seven churches.” in answer to the 

question, “Why?” 

Author Hal Lindsey has added one more question to his list: “What for?” It is 

a slight play on the question “Why?” We consider the purpose behind 

sending the letters to seven churches by asking “What for?” Students may 

add this question at the end of their list, if they wish. 

5. WHAT FOR? What is the purpose behind sending the 

messages to the seven churches? 

a. The main purpose is to stress the importance of God‟s children 

studying God‟s Word. 

II TIMOTHY 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by 

God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for 

correction, for training in righteousness. 

TIMOTHY declares four specific purposes all Scripture fulfills. Inform 

students and consider the purposes one at a time. 

1) For teaching - All Scripture teaches what God wants His children to 

know. 

2) For reproof - All Scripture helps identify wrong things going on in 

the lives of God‘s children. 

3) For correction – All Scripture is able to bring about changes in the 

lives of God‘s children. 

4) For training in righteousness – All Scripture is able to instruct God‘s 

children in what is right and what is wrong; what is good, what is bad, 

how to tell the difference and what needs to be changed. Instruction 

also covers learning about God, His plan, His purpose and what to 

expect in the future. 

b. “All” Scripture includes the book of Revelation. 

The purpose of Scripture cited in II TIMOTHY also applies to “THE 

REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST”. However, Revelation is unique


19 

and there are additional purposes for the message it contains. What is 

the full purpose in sending this book to seven churches in Asia? That 

question has many answers. 

Students may notice additional reasons as the study moves along. They might 

underline the words “What For?” 

For now, Students might write “For instruction for the bond-servants” or 

“to teach from God‟s Word what is right and what is wrong” in the correct 

place on the Outline. 

6. DEFINITIONS 

a. ―Bond-servants‖. 

Emphasize (one more time) the identity of “bond-servants”. 

1) The first line ―The Revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave Him, 

to show to His bond-servants‖ proclaims this book is sent to the bondservants 

of Jesus Christ. 

2) Seven churches (the number seven meaning ―full and complete‖) 

represent the members of the true Church of Jesus Christ: bondservants—all 

believers of the Church Age. That‘s US! 

b. “Revelation”. 

** Picture of Jesus Christ is in Teacher’s Appendix. It may be enlarged 

or teacher may use another picture of Jesus Christ. 

1) We want to understand the meaning of the name of this book. The 

book of Revelation is going to ―lay bare‖, ―show forth‖ ―uncover‖ or 

―disclose‖ things previously hidden from our understanding. The 

definition of the word “REVELATION” proves this book is not a 

mystery. 

**An easel with a picture of Jesus Christ behind a fabric curtain should be set 

up before students arrive. Be sure everything is secure. Teach the entire 

lesson without referring to the easel at all. At just the right moment lift the 

veil revealing the special secrets and the mystery of what lies behind the 

covering. Be dramatic as you emphasize the point that without the removal of 

the covering or veil no one would know what was hidden. Jesus Christ is 

revealed and in turn “unveils or lays bare” some secrets previously hidden or 

unknown. Unknown facts connected with the final outcome of God‟s plan are 

unveiled along with the Lord Jesus Christ in all His majestic glory.



2) THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST is not a mystery 

seeking a solution, but a slowly unfolding message revealing 

past, present and future facts of great importance. 

3) REVELATION takes us back into the past, brings us up to the 

present age and thrusts us forward into the future. 

e. “Paraphrase”. 

1) A paraphrase is not a word for word translation, but an 

amplification. Someone checks the original language, 

incorporates the deeper meanings and rephrases the words. All 

information is put into present day language. It is not necessarily 

more simple, but is designed to enhance understanding. The 

memory verse was paraphrased in the previous lesson. You will 

be given an opportunity to compose a paraphrase of your own in 

a future lesson. 

2) Three definite steps are involved in making a paraphrase. 

First Step: separate each word or phrase in the text to be paraphrased. 

Second Step: amplify each word or phrase. Each separate word or 

phrase from REVELATION1:1 is listed. Deeper meanings from the 

original (Greek) language are added. 

Third Step: incorporate all meanings and organize them into 

paragraphs. 

The first step in paraphrasing REVELATION 1:1 follows. 

3) The REVELATION: Revelation means “unveiling, uncovering, 

disclosing, or laying bare‖. It implies something secret or 

previously hidden is being flashed forth into the open. 

4) Of: ―Of‖ means ―about‖ and ―from‖. The Revelation belongs to 

Jesus Christ. It is ―of‖ Jesus Christ, ―about‖ Jesus Christ and ―from‖ 

Jesus Christ. 

5) JESUS CHRIST: the second member of the Triune God, God the 

Son. 

6) Which God gave Him: God the Father gave the Revelation to Jesus 

Christ. It belongs to Him: He owns it.


21 

7) To show to His bond-servants: God gave the Revelation to Jesus 

Christ so He could show it (uncover it and lay it bare) to His bondservants. 

Bond-servants are those who have willingly chosen to love 

and serve Jesus Christ. They are believers of the Church Age. 

8) Things which must shortly take place: two important ideas are 

conveyed in this phrase. 

a) The word “must” declares the events are certain to happen: there is 

no doubt they will take place. 

b) The phrase “shortly take place” connotes a rapidly increasing rate 

of progress. It does not mean the events will happen immediately, 

but just as a ball rolling down hill picks up speed, once the events start 

rolling, they swiftly come to an end. 

A ball rolling downhill 

Illustrates the meaning 

very well 

(Other places this same phrase is used: LUKE 18:8; ACTS 12:7; 22:18; 

25:4; ROMANS 16:20; REVELATION 22:6-7). 

9) And He sent and communicated it through His angel to His bondservant, 

John. 

a) “He” refers to Jesus Christ as the One who owns the Revelation and 

―He‖ sends it through His servant John. 

b) ―Communicated‖ conveys another important point. Other Bible 

translations use the word “signified‖. 

c) The original Greek word carries both meanings: Jesus Christ uses 

signs and symbols to communicate with man because we on earth do 

not understand the language of heaven and God wants to help those 

who love Him understand heavenly descriptions. 

10) The last words of this phrase name two agents through whom 

Christ sends the Revelation. Jesus Christ sends the Revelation through 

an unnamed teaching angel from heaven and through a human being 

on earth named John.



OH, YES. JESUS WANTS THIS BOOK 

TO BE READ AND UNDERSTOOD. 

Final Step: the final step is to put all information together in up to 

date, easy to understand sentences. While a paraphrase is more than a 

translation, it does not change God‘s Word. It increases 

understanding. 

7. MEMORY VERSE 

REVELATION 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ 




His bond-servant John. 

Memory Verse is the same in the previous lesson. Continue to help students 

commit it to memory. The paraphrase of REVELATION 1:1 includes deeper 

meanings of words and phrases. 

8. COMPLETED PARAPHRASE 

This book concerns the removal of a veil by Jesus Christ so that secrets and 

mysteries concerning previously hidden truth are uncovered and laid bare. 

Jesus Christ owns this revelation. He is the One doing the uncovering and 

He is the One being revealed. God gave the information to Jesus Christ and 

Jesus, in turn, forwards it to some people who are valuable to Him. 

The events spoken of in the unveiling are scheduled to happen next (exactly 

when God planned them) on God‟s calendar and once they start to unfold they 

are carried out quickly. Jesus Christ uses sign language and symbols familiar 

to those who receive the message to help them understand. Jesus wants those 

who have chosen to love Him to be ready and not be afraid of the future. Jesus 

Christ sends the uncovered message forward through His teaching angel and 

His willing slave John to all other willing slaves of the Church Age: true 

members of His Church. 

9. SONG: “John the Apostle on the Isle of Patmos”. 

Words , music and directions for song are in Student Songbook. 

10. PREPARATIONS FOR NEXT SESSION


23 

Students decorate a “Blessings Box” in the next few sessions. Any type of 

box may be used. (Box should have removable top or an opening.) 

Small cardboard boxes work well. Maxwell House Filter Pack, 10 pack 

containers (CEKACAN) work also. Students may bring boxes from home or 

teacher could supply all boxes to guarantee uniformity. 

A few finished “Blessing Box” examples might be displayed at this time. 

Share ideas and be ready to begin decorating boxes next class session. Suggest 

students give their boxes some thought between classes and bring additional 

decorations of their own if they wish. 

BLESSING BOX 

EXAMPLE 

All decorations should be 

golden. 

CLOSING PRAYER 

Heavenly Father, there is no way we can adequately thank You for all You 

have provided. We thank You for Your perfect plan that makes it possible for 

those who were sinners to live with You forever in Your perfect, heavenly 

home. We thank You for the Lord Jesus Christ who voluntarily received the 

payment for sin that we deserve. 

We thank You that Your Spirit lives in those who believe Your Son died in 

their place. We thank you that Your Spirit is our teacher, our mentor and the 

one who brings to our memory the things we forget. May we take the truth 

taught in this lesson, store it in our souls and use it to make wise decisions in 

our lives. In Jesus‟ name, we pray. Amen.

5. Intro 5 - Questions & Answers - Technology Ministries

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