Revelation 1-3: The First Facet

Week 2, Tuesday: Grace and Peace
Do not read John’s greeting as merely formulaic. In those days, a typical letter began something like, “Greetings and good health.” Nice, but hardly arresting. “Grace to you, and peace…” Now you’ve got my attention! Write on, brother, and let me get as much of that grace and peace as your pen can scrawl!

Read Revelation 1

Meditate on Revelation 1.4-6
1.      “Grace and peace” set the tone for the book of Revelation. Taken together with what we saw yesterday about the focus of Revelation, how do these words “set” our expectations for reading this book? What should we expect as a result of learning the message of Revelation?

2.      Can you see the three Persons of the Trinity in vv. 4-6? How is each characterized? (For the “seven Spirits” look at Isaiah 11.2 and the “sevenfold” character of the Spirit.) What do these various descriptions imply about our relationship to God?

3.      John reveals the overarching purpose of the book of Revelation in vv. 5 and 6, beginning with “To Him…” What does John mean by:

-        glory?

-        dominion?

Complete the following: “Jesus gave the book of Revelation of John so that…”

4.      Revelation is a book about Jesus. It comes with a message of grace and peace. Its purpose is to bring glory and dominion to Jesus. Note the pattern: From heaven, to earth (us, the readers), back to heaven and King Jesus. This pattern will recur in various ways throughout the book of Revelation. This is how John intends us to think about our lives in these last days. Suggest some applications of this pattern, this way of thinking, for your walk with and work for the Lord:

5.      In what sense (v. 6) are we “kings and priests” to God because of what Jesus has done for us? Which of your daily activities look most like:

-        priest?

-        king?

My Reflection
Look for yourself in the “mirror” of Revelation 1.4-6: What do you see? What do you learn about yourself? About us as Christians and our calling as disciples? Do you observe any changes, anything you need to “repair” before you head out for your day (Jms. 1.22-25)?

The Glory of God
The full “weight” of the Trinity is reflected at us in these few verses. How should this affect your understanding and experience of God?

Glory to Glory
From, to, from: Write a prayer, based on your study of Revelation 1.4-6, to express your sense of how this pattern should operate in your life:

Memorize
Our memory verses for this week are Revelation 1.18, 19. Make one observation from Revelation 1.18, 19 that “harmonizes” with anything you’ve learned from Revelation 1.1-6:

Review your memory verse. Pray it back to the Lord, as best you can.

Closing Prayer
Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples!
Shout to God with the voice of triumph!
For the LORD Most High is awesome;
He is a great King over all the earth…
Sing praises to God, sing praises!
Sing praises to our King, sing praises!
For God is the King of all the earth…
God sits on His holy throne…
He is greatly exalted.

Psalm 47.1, 2, 6-8, 9d

T. M. Moore

Download your free copy of this week’s study, Revelation Week 2, by clicking here.

The book of Revelation is the culminating episode in the story of God’s covenant. To learn more about that covenant, and to discover the way it integrates all of Scripture into the Gospel of Jesus Christ, order a copy of T. M.’s book, I Will Be Your God, by clicking here.

Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.