Meeting# 9 (Chapters 21 & 22) | This Week’s Leader: David Goodno
(Reminder to the leader, we have been running over timewise, try and start as close to 7:00 pm as possible.)
Introduction:
This is our ninth and final meeting, of the Men’s “Called” Growth Group Spring Semester. (Wednesday, 05/29/2024 is our last meeting – Everyone is welcome to join; you do not have to have been at a previous meeting to attend.)
The Men’s group is taking a break in June and July and will meet again for a short semester in the month of August. The next Men’s group meeting will be Wednesday, 08/07/2024. Please monitor https://fv.church/events for more information.
The Called Men’s Group is finishing the study of the Book of Revelation. The Book is a message of hope and warning for believers to repent from sin and begin living righteously. The Book was also written to encourage the seven churches to resist demands of the Roman emperor to worship him, instead of God. The Book of Revelation now warns us in present-time to resist temptations of the modern world that pulls us away from God; we should remain focused on Christ.
As we have continually said thought out the series, the message of the Book of Revelation should not have us hiding in our basement or building bomb shelters; it is a message to encourage us to tell others about Jesus.
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)
This Week’s Prayer:
Our Gracious Heavenly Father, we thank you for allowing us to come together tonight to study your word. Lord, we honor you and keep your name holy. We thank you for all you do for us, give us strength when we are overwhelmed by temptation. Lord, we trust you; help us to remember your assurances, and cling to you. Lord help us to reject the worldly lie of focusing on the here and now; help us remain focused on you and your will. In Christ’s name - Amen
Quick review of last week (Revelation Ch. 19 and 20) and tonight’s conclusion:
In Chapter 19, After the defeat of Babylon, there is celebration; a great multitude of heavenly praise to God for his victory. Christ returns, but no longer as a Lamb; as a rider on a white horse. The armies of Heaven followed Him, also riding on white horses. The beast and the false prophet are thrown into the fiery lake of burning sulfur; the lake of fire, and Satan’s army is defeated.
In Chapter 20, Satan was imprisoned for 1,000 years. Once the 1,000 years is over, Satan is released, and then thrown into the lake of fire, joining the beast and the false prophet - there they are tormented forever and ever. The final judgement occurs, all are judged. Anything wicked – Satan, the beast, the false prophet, the demons, death, the grave, all those whose name was not written in the Book of Life; those who did not place their faith in Jesus Christ. – John’s visions did not have any gray area when describing God’s judgement.
Tonight, the Book concludes with the promise of Christ’s return, and a warning to every generation. Christ is victorious, all evil is defeated. We should focus on and remember that there is hope and victory is to come.
Scripture: Read - Revelation Chapters 21:1 – 22:21
Observation, Application & Questions: (Identify/Discuss Among the Group)
Contrast of the Bible’s beginning and the end (Genisis vs. Revelation):
In Genesis, the sun is created – in Revelation, the sun is not needed.
In Genesis, God creates the world – in Revelation, God creates a new heaven and new earth.
In Genesis, Satan is victorious, humanity falls into sin – in Revelation, God restores people to sinlessness and Satan is defeated.
In Genesis, Adam and Eve run from God – in Revelation, people are invited to live with God forever.
In Genesis, people and the earth are cursed – in Revelation, the curse is removed.
In Genesis, people are doomed to death – in Revelation, death is defeated, believers live with God forever.
Chapter 21:
What did you imagine Heaven being like when you were a child and now that you are an adult, how has your vision of Heaven changed? – Explain and discuss with the group.
What are some misconceptions of Heaven as portrayed by television and movies? (Like harps, clouds etc.) discuss among the group.
The Holy city, the New Jerusalem is described as the place where God will remove all sorrows. There will be no death, no sorrow, no crying, or pain. No matter what we are going through, God has written the final chapter, and God will be more wonderful than we could have ever imagined.
New Jerusalem will have God living with His people. – Discuss among the group.
The Earth as we know it will not last forever. After God’s judgement He will create a New Earth.
Read: Romans 8:18-30.
Read: Isaiah 65:17, and 66:22.
Read: 2 Peter 3:7-13.
Is there anything interesting or noteworthy about “It is finished!” and “I am the Alpha and Omega – the Beginning and the End.”
John 19:28-30; On the cross, at the moment of death, Jesus said “it is finished.”
“I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last,” What do we think this means? - this means that God remains from the beginning to the end of time.
What about “To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life.” What is meant by the “water of life”?
Water of life is a symbol of eternal life. Jesus used this same image with the Samaritan woman. (see John 4:7-14) it shows the fullness of life with God and our belief in Him.
What is the second death?
The second death is spiritual death, complete separation from God.
Chapter 22:
Why would the nations need to be healed if all evil is gone?
John is referencing Ezekiel 47:12, where water flowing from the Temple produces trees with healing leaves. John is not implying that there will be illness in the new Earth, but emphasizing that the water of life produces health, and strength wherever it goes.
What do we think “No longer will there be a curse upon anything.” Means?
This means just what it says, nothing will be cursed in God’s presence. This fulfills the prophecy in Zachariah (see Zechariah 14:11).
What do we think is significant where John was told not to seal up the prophetic words in this book?
The angel tells John what to do after his vision, instead of sealing up what he has written, as Daniel was commanded to do (Daniel 12:4-12), the book is to be left open so that all can read and understand.
Scholars believe that Daniel’s message was sealed because it was not a message for Daniels time. But the Book of Revelation was a message for John’s time and for us now today, in our present time.
As Christ’s return gets closer, there is a greater polarization between God’s followers and Satan’s followers. We should read the Book of Revelation, hear its message, and be prepared at all times for Christ’s return.
What do we think is significant or important about those who wash their robes, eating the tree of life and those outside the city?
Those that wash their robes are those who seek to purify themselves from sinful ways of living. They strive daily to remain faithful and ready for Christ’s return.
In Eden, Adam and Eve were barred from eating from the Tree of Life, because of their sin. In the new Earth, God’s people will eat from the Tree of Life because their sins have been removed. Those who eat from the Tree of Life, will live forever.
Jesus will exclude from the holy city those “who love to live a lie.” Today we see leaders who twist the truth to serve their purposes. Many people have lost the ability to distinguish what is true from what they wish was true. This statement also emphasizes God’s authority to welcome believers into eternal life and exclude those who choose to live a sinful life. By believing their own lies, people deceive themselves and cut themselves off from God.
As we experience the troubles and trials of each day, it can be difficult to keep eternity in mind. What can we do to keep our focus on Jesus and our desire to be with Jesus in Heaven?
What is significant about the statement not to remove any of the words from this book?
It is important to remember that “the Book” is the Book of Revelation. We often think of the Bible as a book, but a truer description, would be a library of books.
This warning is given to those who might purposefully distort the message of Revelation. Moses gave a similar waring in Deuteronomy 4:1-4.
Even though the Bible is a library of books, and John’s warning was specific to Revelation, we should be quick to put the Bible’s principles into practice and handle the Bible with care and great respect so that we do not twist or distort its message (even unintentionally).
We do not know the day or the hour, but Jesus is coming soon and unexpectedly. This is good news to those who trust him, but a terrible message for those who have rejected Him.
Soon, means “at any moment” and we must be ready and prepared for Jesus’ return.
The chapter closes with “May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s holy people.” These should be words of encouragement to believers. In a world full of problems, persecution, evil and immorality, Christ calls all of us to endure in our faith to Him!
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 the group, discuss, and research.
Biggest takeaway?
REMINDER: We are taking a break in June and July and will meet in August. Our next Men’s group meeting will be on Wednesday, 08/07/2024. Please monitor https://fv.church/events for more information.
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)
_X_ 005, 05/01 Ch. 11, 12, & 13. (47 Verses) – Lane to lead the meeting.
_X_ 006, 05/08 Ch. 14, 15, & 16. (49 Verses) – Tom to lead the meeting.
_X_ 007, 05/15 Ch. 17, & 18. (42 Verses)
_X_ 008, 05/22 Ch. 19, & 20. (40 Verses)
_X_ 009, 05/29 Ch. 21, & 22. (48 Verses)