Introduction: This is our fourth meeting for the Spring Semester of the Men’s “Called” Growth Group. Friendly reminder that anyone is welcome to join, and you do not have to have attended a previous meeting to join this week.
We meet at 7:00 pm and will continue meeting through the end of May 2024 (05/29/2024).
This semester, Called Men’s Group is conducting a Bible study of the Book of Revelation. The book of Revelation is a book of hope and warning to believers to repent and live righteously. John also wrote the Book to encourage the seven churches to resist the demands to worship the Roman emperor and now warns us in present-time to resist all the temptations of the modern world that can pull us away from God, and to be devoted to Christ.
Revelation can be divided into six sections:
1. Introduction (1:1-8)
2. Vision of Jesus (1:9-20)
3. Message to the Seven Churches (2:1-3:22)
4. Visions of the seven-sealed scroll, the seven trumpets, and the seven bowls (4:1-19:10)
5. Vision of the return of Christ and the fulfillment of this age (19:11-20:15)
6. Vision of the new heaven, the new earth, and the new Jerusalem (21:1-22:21)
As we have said in previous meetings, God didn’t give us the book of Revelation to build bomb shelters, but to tell others about Jesus. - We too are taking this approach with this semester’s Bible Study.
Before we dive into our study of Revelation tonight, my wife sent me a message that she found on Instagram Worship Blog: it said “Eve found the serpent more trustworthy than God, not because of the serpent’s credentials, but because the serpent said what Even wanted to hear “
Let’s look at Genesis 3:
The Man and Woman Sin
3 The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?”
2 “Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” the woman replied. 3 “It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’”
4 “You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. 5 “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.”
What did the serpent do here?
The serpent got Eve to doubt God’s commands. - Satan will attack us this way too – get us to doubt God’s word.
6 The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too.
Let’s start by identifying what the word “sin” means. What do you think “sin” means, discuss among the group.
Sin literally means “missing the mark”; like an arrow missing its target. Sin is falling short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23 “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.” (NLT)
“The tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious” - Often times when we are tempted to sin, the sinwhatever it is, will appear beautiful and enticing. Agree/Disagree? Discuss.
Eve ate the fruit, then gave it to Adam, who was with her, and he ate the fruit too. Adam was there too!
So not only was Eve fooled, but Adam was fooled too. Both Adam and Eve knew what God’s instructions were, Adam didn’t stop Eve or correct her. They both ignored what God had told them and chose to listen to the serpent instead, because they wanted more.
God wasn’t trying to control Adam and Eve, He knew that the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil would bring nothing but suffering, loss and misery.
Think of a loving parent, when they withhold something from a child, it’s not because the parent is being controlling, something is withheld because the parent is trying to protect the child. I’m sorry but no. – touching a hot stove is not a good idea. God does this for us too. If you pray for something and you aren’t getting it, it could be that what you are praying for isn’t good for you or won’t help you grow spiritually.
7 At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So, they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.
The moment Adam and Eve disobeyed God’s command, and ate the fruit (sinned), their eyes were opened.
And they immediately felt shame at their nakedness.
When we sin, we too almost always feel immediate humiliation and shame.
Adam and Eve sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.
They sinned and then tried to fix their mistake themselves.
8 When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man [a] and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the Lord God among the trees.
Can you really hide from God?
9 Then the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” 10 He replied, “I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.” 11 “Who told you that you were naked?” the Lord God asked. “Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat?” 12 The man replied, “It was the woman you gave me who gave me the fruit, and I ate it.” 13 Then the Lord God asked the woman, “What have you done?” “The serpent deceived me,” she replied. “That’s why I ate it.”
When God asks a question, is the question for God’s understanding or for our understanding?
Do we see what Adam and Eve did here? Adam first blamed Eve “it was the woman” then blamed God “the woman YOU gave me.” Eve then blamed the serpent. Both Adam and Even knew God’s commands but chose to be disobedient. They wanted to gain knowledge and must have though God was withholding from them.
we too blame shift like Adam and Eve. When we make mistakes and sin, we often find excuses to explain away why the mistake couldn’t possibly our own fault.
Rather than make excuses, take ownership of your mistake, admit fault, try to reconcile, learn from the mistake, and then try not make that same mistake again. Like Jesus said, “your sins are forgiven, go now and sin no more.”
Skip ahead to verse 21:
21 And the Lord God made clothing from animal skins for Adam and his wife.
Adam and Eve tried to cover themselves with fig leaves.
God made clothing for Adam and Eve from animal skins.
the first blood sacrifice to cover sin.
Think about this when we study the book of Revelation tonight: Sin has consequences – for the sinner and those around, connected to the sinner. Consider this anonymous quote “Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay.”
Now let’s move on to the book of Revelation:
Quick review of last week (Ch. 6, 7, & 8):
In Chapter 6, the first four seals are opened, and we learn about the Four Horseman of the Apocalypse. In Chapter 7, a vast crowd were worshiping and praising God and the Lamb. In Chapter 8 the seventh seal is opened, unveiling a series of God’s judgements announced by seven angels with seven trumpets.
This Week’s Prayer: Father, thank you for giving me victory over sin. Help me to rest in assurance of my salvation. Father, you answer my prayers in your will and timing. Lord help me to accept that you always do what is best for me. Help me accept the things I cannot change, to change the things I can and the courage and wisdom to know the difference -Amen.
Scripture: Read - Revelation Chapters 9:1 – 10:11
Observation, Application & Questions: (Identify/Discuss Among the Group)
Reminder that trumpets have three purposes: to warn that judgment is certain; to announce the battle between the forces of good and evil; and to announce the return of the King, the Messiah, King Jesus. – These trumpets offer us a warning and urge us to make sure our faith is firmly fixed on Jesus.
In Chapter 9, a star fell to earth, and was given the key to the bottomless pit.
It is not known whether this “star” that fell from the sky (some translations say Heaven) was Satan, a fallen angel, Christ, or a good angel. Biblical scholars are divided. Some believe that this is most likely a good angel or Jesus that fell, because the key to the shaft of the bottomless pit is normally held by Christ (1:17, 18); others believe that the star fallen from heaven is Satan, whom Jesus saw fall like lighting as a result of his disciples ministry (Luke 10:17-20, read Luke and discuss).
In either scenario if the star that fell was an angel or Satan, they were given the keys to the shaft of the bottomless pit, which indicates that whoever they are, they are under God’s control and authority.
The bottomless pit, also known as the abyss or the underworld (which is also mentioned in 9:11) represents the final destination of demons and Satan – see also Luke 8:31: “The demons kept begging Jesus not to send them into the bottomless pit (the Abyss)”. Why do we think this is? – Discuss.
In the Old Testament, locusts were symbols of destruction, because they destroyed crops and vegetation. Here in Chapter 9, the locusts symbolize an invasion of demons, which would torture non-believers in God. The limitations put on the demons were to only torment people for five months.
Do we think the limitations to only torment, and not kill people is significant? Why? - Discuss
Some biblical scholars believe that the limitations indicate that these demons were under God’s authority, because the demons, the fallen angels’ main purpose is to prevent, distort or destroy people’s relationship with God. The demons are corrupt and wicked, their appearance reflects the distortion of their evil spirt.
While it is important that we recognize and understand the locust/demon’s evil activity - so we can stay away from them, but at the same time, we must avoid curiosity about or involvement with demonic forces or with the occult. Agree/Disagree, discuss and explain why.
In the second terror, the people who did not die, were so hard-hearted that even the plagues did not convince them to turn to God.
What does this tell us about people in the end-times?
How is this different from people today in our time?
It is important to remember that people don’t usually fall into sin and evil suddenly – typically they slip into sinful behavior gradually, a little bit at a time - until they have hardly realized what has happened and stuck in their evil ways.
Unrebuked temptation today, can become sin tomorrow. Agree/Disagree – Discuss.
In Chapter 10 the purpose of the mighty angel is clear – to announce the final judgements on earth.
Some biblical scholars believe that the right foot on the sea, and the left foot on the land indicate that angel’s words deal with all creation, not just a limited part as did the seal and trumpet judgements.
The powerful angel also conveys high rank and authority from God by straddling the land and sea. The huge size contracts with the smallness of God’s enemies.
When things are going badly in our lives, we need to remember that this angel represents the kind of power that is on our side. God’s angelic forces are with us! – Discuss among the group.
Jesus told his disciples that the time of the end is known only by the Father. (Mark 13:32 - 37, see also Matthew 24:23 - 51)
By saying that “God’s mysterious plan will be fulfilled.” John was pointing to God’s removal of all evil and the final exaltation of Christ as Lord. For God’s chosen people this would be a message of hope and peace, for God’s enemies, this would bring fear.
Do we long for Christ’s return and pray for God’s justice to be carried out and his plan fulfilled?
Do we hope and long for God and his people to be vindicated?
In Chapter 10: 9 the angel tells John to eat the scroll. It will be sweet in your mouth, but sour in your stomach. Sounds odd doesn’t it? Do we know why this is significant?
The eating of the scroll is similar to a vision of the prophet Ezekiel (Ezekiel 2:8 – 3:4). It is sweet because of its divine origin but bitter because of the impending judgement.
Is there anything that stands out/jumped out to you? Share with the group and discuss.
Is there anything that left you with more questions? What were they? Share with group, discuss and research.
Biggest takeaway?
Read all of Genisis 3.
Research: Why is the list of tribes of Israel in Revelation different from other places in the Bible?
Prepare for next week’s meeting. Read: Revelation 11:1 – 13:18
Is there anything that stands out when reading these verses? Be ready to discuss at the next meeting.
References/Acknowledgements:
Elements of today’s Bible study were copied from:
1. NLT Courage for Life Men’s Bible, New Living Translation (NLT); copyright 2023 Tyndale House Ministries Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation https://www.tyndale.com/sites/courageforlifebible/
2. NLT, Life Application Bible Studies, Revelation; copyright 1998, 2009, Tyndale House Publishers Inc, Carol Stream, Illinois.
Schedule:
Meeting No., Date Chapters (Total Verses)
_X_ 001, 04/03 Ch. 1 & 2. (49 Verses)
_X_ 002, 04/10 Ch. 3, 4 & 5. (48 Verses)
_X_ 003, 04/17 Ch. 6, 7, & 8. (47 Verses)
_X_ 004, 04/24 Ch. 9, & 10. (31 Verses)
___ 005, 05/01 Ch. 11, 12, & 13. (47 Verses) – Lane to lead the meeting.
___ 006, 05/08 Ch. 14, 15, & 16. (49 Verses) – Tom to lead the meeting.
___ 007, 05/15 Ch. 17, & 18. (42 Verses)
___ 008, 05/22 Ch. 19, & 20. (40 Verses)
___ 009, 05/29 Ch. 21, & 22. (48 Verses)