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
4. 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
INTRODUCTION V
REVELATION CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION V
**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
3
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.

4 REVELATION is NOT a Mystery—TEACHER’S GUIDE
INTRODUCTION V
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?”
3. TWO AUTHORS
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

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Introduction ~ Questions Revelation 1:1-2
5
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,
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.
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.

6 REVELATION is NOT a Mystery—TEACHER’S GUIDE
INTRODUCTION V
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

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Introduction ~ Questions Revelation 1:1-2
7
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.

8 REVELATION is NOT a Mystery—TEACHER’S GUIDE
INTRODUCTION V
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

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Introduction ~ Questions Revelation 1:1-2
9
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.

10 REVELATION is NOT a Mystery—TEACHER’S GUIDE
INTRODUCTION V
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.

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

12 REVELATION is NOT a Mystery—TEACHER’S GUIDE
INTRODUCTION V
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

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Introduction ~ Questions Revelation 1:1-2
13
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.

14 REVELATION is NOT a Mystery—TEACHER’S GUIDE
INTRODUCTION V
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.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Introduction ~ Questions Revelation 1:1-2
15
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.

16 REVELATION is NOT a Mystery—TEACHER’S GUIDE
INTRODUCTION V
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

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

18 REVELATION is NOT a Mystery—TEACHER’S GUIDE
INTRODUCTION V
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

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

20 REVELATION is NOT a Mystery—TEACHER’S GUIDE
INTRODUCTION V
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.

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

22 REVELATION is NOT a Mystery—TEACHER’S GUIDE
INTRODUCTION V
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
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.
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

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