THOUGHTS TO CONSIDER:

Last week we focused on the reality that the Book of Revelation is all about Jesus! He is worthy to be worshipped. He is "...the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world" (Revelation 13:8)

This week consider the opening verse of the Book of Revelation. "The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John" (Revelation 1:1). We learn that God gave Jesus a revelation, which Jesus would show his servants (slaves) about "things which must shortly come to pass." Jesus then sent his angel (messenger) to John and signified what these things were. The Greek word for Revelation is where we get the word "apocalypse", which means to disclose or discover what was previously hidden. John receives this revelation and "...bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw" (Revelation 1:2). 

It is interesting to note that this revelation John received had previously been hidden. In Daniel 2 we read that Nebuchadnezzar had a dream that Daniel interpreted. Daniel said to the king, "...there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be  in the latter days" (Daniel 2:28). In Revelation, John writes about "things which must shortly come to pass" (Revelation 1:1). Could it be that this revelation is the fulfillment in the last days regarding what that dream was about?

Notice that Nebuchadnezzar's dream was about a coming kingdom that "...shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever" (Daniel 2:44). Daniel then says to the king that "the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter" (Daniel 2:45).

It is clear from the Book of Revelation that Jesus is "KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS" (Revelation 19:16).  Many believe that the Book of Revelation is the fulfillment of the dream Nebuchadnezzar had describing the kingdoms of the earth (Babylon, Persia, Greece, Rome) and ultimately Christ's kingdom which would "stand for ever and ever" (Revelation 2:44).

It would be wise to consider this week how this Revelation of Jesus Christ connects to previous Scriptures, especially that from Daniel. We often simply read this book with whatever viewpoint we were taught without digging deep into the rest of the Bible to understand what is meant.

Here are some questions for your consideration as your read the Book of Revelation.

**Was this book written for the believers in John's day with relevance to what they were facing (great persecution) and to offer them present help and comfort? Or was it written to describe what would happen just prior to the Second Coming of Christ and at least two thousand years AFTER Jesus came in the flesh?

**How much time have you spent studying this book for yourself? Is your present view based on your own study or the comments from those you have enjoyed listening to?

**Do you think God included this book to confuse Christians or to offer us real hope and comfort in whatever situations we are facing in life? The answer is obvious but consider whether Revelation has been a help to you in your present trials.

That's all for this second lesson. Why not read Daniel 2 and consider it in light of Revelation 1:1?