Author

The apostle John wrote Revelation while exiled on an island toward the end of his life. John was one of the twelve disciples and also wrote the fourth gospel and the three letters of I, 2, and 3 John.

Audience

Revelation is written to seven unique communities around Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). Each community is experiencing one of three problems: persecution, false teaching, and/or spiritual decay. Revelation is written to both challenge and comfort these communities. Because the number seven represents completeness, we can receive the message of Revelation as being written not only to historical churches, but to the “complete” church universally.

Date

Scholars estimate Revelation to date between the late 60s and mid-90s of the first century AD. The reference in Revelation 17:9-10 to “seven kings, five of whom have fallen,” supports a date in the mid-90s, during the reign of Emperor Domitian (AD 81-90). This aligns with the traditional belief that John was exiled to Patmos during the intense persecution of Christians by Domitian.

Genre

Revelation is a combination of three genres of literature – epistle, prophecy, and apocalyptic. An epistle is a letter written to a specific audience about specific circumstances. Prophecy is God’s perspective on past, current, or future events. “Apocalyptic” means revealing what is hidden. The book of Revelation is God's perspective on a spiritual reality meant to encourage faithful walking with Jesus.

Purpose

Christ revealed Himself to the Apostle John for two primary purposes: to uplift and exhort seven of the churches in Asia Minor (chapters 2-3), and to reveal a series of visions related to the end times (chapters 4-22). More than any other book in the Bible, Revelation focuses on eschatology, meaning end-time events. Primary themes include: how practical choices have longterm affects in our lives, comfort in suffering and persecution, and the hope of Christ’s final return.

Sermon Discussion Guide

  1. Week 1: Overcoming Anxiety

    Revelation 1:1-20

    1. As we start a new series called “Overcomer,” what are specific areas in your life where you long for victory? Has your definition of what it means to be “victorious” changed through the years? If so, how?
    2. This week we talked about overcoming anxiety by remembering the person and presence of Jesus. Where do you battle anxiety? Why do you think you’re anxious in these particular areas?
    3. Take a moment to review the sermon and/or read Revelation 1:1-20. How does the concept of Jesus “holding the keys of death and Hades” speak to anxiety over mortality? How does the concept that He is the “Alpha and Omega” speak to anxiety?
    4. Which attribute of Jesus described in verses 12-16 stood out to you the most and why?

  2. Week 2: Overcoming A Hard Heart

    Revelation 2:1-7

    1. Review the sermon and/or read Revelation 2:1-7. What did Jesus commend the church in Ephesus for? What did He rebuke them for?
    2. Can you relate to the person who does all the right things but with a cold heart? If so, how? Why do you think we do that? How do we get there?
    3. Why is Jesus’ warning to the church in Ephesus such a big deal? Why is forsaking your first love a big deal corporately? What about individually?
    4. How do you maintain a soft heart toward God in a hard, often demoralizing, world?

  3. Week 3: Overcoming Difficulty

    Revelation 2:8-11

    1. Review the sermon and/or read Revelation 2:8-11. Why does Jesus tell the church in Smyrna, “I know your affliction and poverty, but you are rich”? In what sense are they rich?
    2. Why is this an upside-down economy when it comes to worldly standards of wealth, success, and a “blessed” life? Do you struggle with wordy standards of blessing? Why or why not?
    3. Read Mark 12:41-44. What stands out to you from the widow’s example? Have you ever had an experience where you gave out of your “poverty,” whether financial, emotional, or spiritual poverty?
    4. Have you ever experienced persecution as a follower of Jesus? If so, share. Why do you think Jesus tells the church of Smyrna not to fear what they are about to suffer? How can we adapt this principle when it comes to fearing future suffering?

  4. Week 4: Overcoming Temptation

    Revelation 2:12-17

    1. Review the sermon and/or read Revelation 2:12-17. What does Jesus praise the church for? What does He rebuke them for?
    2. Does either His praise or rebuke resonate with you personally? If so, why?
    3. How does false teaching infiltrate our hearts and minds today? What are some primary sources of false teaching?
    4. How can we choose God’s truth over temptation’s lies? What are some practical things you do to stand firm against lies and cling to the truth?

  5. Week 5: Overcoming Spiritual Drift

    Revelation 2:18-280

    1. Review the sermon and/or read Revelation 2:18-28. What were some of your biggest takeaways from the sermon this week? What challenged you? What encouraged you?
    2. The church of Thyatira experienced spiritual drift because they tolerated evil. Have you ever experienced a season of spiritual drift? What were some of the factors that led to it? How did you get out of it?
    3. What are some practical guardrails for protecting against spiritual drift?
    4. How can Christians be loving toward others while not tolerating evil?

  6. Week 6: Overcoming Spiritual Decay (or Hypocrisy)

    Revelation 3:1-6

    1. Review the sermon and/or read Revelation 3:1-6. Which of these six verses stands out the most to you and why?
    2. How would you explain the primary theme of Christ’s message to the church in Sardis in your own words?
    3. Have you ever felt like your reputation didn’t match your reality? Explain.
    4. In today’s world, it’s easier than ever to create a false reality. How is that damaging? How can we take practical steps to live authentically? Any personal examples?

  7. Week 7: Overcoming to the End

    Revelation 3:7-13

    1. Review the sermon and/or read Revelation 3:7-13. What’s encouraging about the promise in verse 7 that Jesus is the Holy One who “opens and no one will close, and who closes and no one opens”?
    2. How does this speak to Christ’s character? How does it empower us to overcome until the end?
    3. How does Christ’s promise in verse 11 – that He is coming soon – motivate and encourage you? How does it challenge and convict you?
    4. What were your biggest takeaways from this sermon? How could you adapt the main ideas in this passage into a prayer over your life?

  8. Week 8: Overcoming Uselessness

    Revelation 3:14-22

    1. Review the sermon and/or read Revelation 3:14-22. What was one new or surprising thing you learned in the sermon?
    2. Why is self-reliance so dangerous for a Christian?
    3. Would anyone like to share about a time when God allowed you to reach the end of yourself? What did you learn through that season? How did it change you?
    4. What were your biggest takeaways from this series? How can we continue to pray for you?