Tag: bsf notes

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BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 4, Day 2: Revelation 2:1-7

by atozmom, posted in BSF Revelation: The Hope 2024/2025

Summary of Revelation 2:1-7

To the church in Ephesus: Jesus praises the church for their hard work and perseverance. He knows they have endured many hardships. YET: They have forsaken the love they had at first. He asks them to repent and whoever is victorious (i.e. follows his ways), Jesus will grant them eternal life.

BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 4, Day 2: Revelation 2:1-7

3) Jesus identified himself as the one who, “holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands.” He told them he knows, “I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.”

Jesus offers encouragement by telling them that whoever is victorious (i.e. follows his ways), he will grant them eternal life. He holds against them, “You have forsaken the love you had at first.”

The consequences of not repenting/doing what Jesus is asking them to do are, “If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.” i.e. remove his blessing from them.

Jesus’ final exhortation or encouragement is, “Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.”

4a) The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

b) He walks among the 7 lampstands; he also encourages them and chastizes them. Jesus walks with his church/me is wonderful news! I am not alone, and I can always turn to Jesus for anything: advice, help, praise, and worship!

5) I work hard, and I persevere. I would like to love others more and put Jesus first in my life more.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 4, Day 2: Revelation 2:1-7

I love how first Jesus speaks positive things and praises the church before telling them what they are doing wrong. He also is gracious enough to give them directions on what they need to do to do right: repent and return to their old ways. While it sounds simple, we know it is hard, but each day is new, so we try, try again!

End Notes BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 4, Day 2: Revelation 2:1-7

Here, we have the first letter to the first church, Ephesus. They all follow a very similar pattern: Jesus will tell the church what they are doing good and/or bad and then he will offer up a command for reparation. He also promises a reward!

Jesus addresses the church as angel.

The church in Ephesus should be familiar to you. It is mentioned a lot by Paul since he ministered there for 3 years. Aquila, Priscilla, Timothy, and Apollos served there as well. (Acts 18:24-28, Acts 19:1, Acts 19:10, Acts 20:31, 1 Timothy 1:3)

One of the seven wonders of the ancient world was located here, the temple of Diana. It was absolutely massive!

Jesus describes himself as John sees him in Chapter 1. Jesus is central in all of this.

Jesus knows all about the church (as he knows everything).

The church left (not lost) their first love. This is a deliberate choice.

Their first love is most likely God AND the people. You have to love both (Matthew 22:37-39)

Jesus tells them to:

  1. Remember the times when they had their priorities right. You must get back to where you were with Jesus.
  2. Repent
  3. Go back to the basics (pray, read God’s Word, be excited about Jesus).

He says another positive word, by pointing out how they hate the Nicolaitans. Not much is known about the Nicolaitans, but you can be sure they were evil.

We don’t see Jesus use the word “hate” much (after all, he’s a God of love), so this is strong indeed.

All (including us) who hear.

If you overcome your cold hearts, you’ll receive eternal life.

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map courtesy of: https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/article/id/1887/truth-revelation-2-3.htm

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BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 3, Day 3: Revelation 1:4-8

by atozmom, posted in BSF Revelation: The Hope 2024/2025

Summary of Revelation 1:4-8

John greets the 7 churches in the province of Asia. He praises Jesus and quotes Daniel 7:13 and Zechariah 12:10 about Jesus’ Second Coming. The Lord says he is the Alpha and the Omega and is the One who is, was, and is to come. Jesus has freed us from our sins by his blood.

BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 3, Day 3: Revelation 1:4-8

6) God is, who was, and who is to come. He is eternal. There are seven spirits before his throne. Jesus Christ is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. God has existed since the beginning. Only He knows all things and creates all things. He is perpetual, never changing, and always. Jesus is God’s faithful witness to His almighty power.

7)

John 3:16-17: This says that God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, and whosoever believes in him will have everlasting life. Jesus is the ruler of the kings of the earth as God’s Son and will free us from our sins by his blood.

1 Corinthians 15:3: This says that Christ died for our sins as predicted in God’s Word. Jesus freed us from our sins by his blood.

1 Corinthians 15:20: This says that Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. Jesus Christ is the firstborn from the dead.

Philippians 2:9-11: This says that God exalted Jesus to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name and that every knee shall bow before him and acknowledge his greatness. Revelation says that Jesus is the ruler of the kings of the earth.

8 ) God is never changing. He has been here since the beginning and will be there at the end. He loves us enough to send us his Son to die for our sins so that we can be with him forever. What greater love is there than that? God forgives our sins and shortcomings, so we should forgive ourselves.

9a)  All of mankind has pierced him, including God’s people, the Jews. Mankind will mourn for him. They will mourn because they pierced/killed him. We’ll all witness Jesus’ return (all the peoples of the earth).

b) Christ has conquered all of evil for us with his sacrifice. No matter what we are facing, we are saved eternally. There is no better “good news” than that! We can be strengthened and comforted by his power over evil as we await his return.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 3, Day 3: Revelation 1:4-8

I love how Jesus is the end-all! As long as we hold fast to Jesus, we’ll all be okay!

End Notes BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 3, Day 3: Revelation 1:4-8

John brings a greeting from God to these 7 churches.

Here’s our first reference to the number 7 and its symbolism. The 7 spirits refer to the Holy Ghost. Seven is the number of completion here, so the Holy Spirit is the perfect completion.

The early believers understood this reference, as it appears in Isaiah 11:2 where Isaiah describes the 7 aspects of the Holy Spirit.

John also brought a greeting from Jesus. Jesus is the faithful witness to God and to us. Witness in Greek means martyr.

Firstborn is a reference to always in existence.

Jesus will take over all the earthly kingdoms when he comes again.

Jesus’ death is the ultimate proof that God loves us immensely and indescribably.

Jesus cleansed us of our sins once and for all.

God loves us so much that he cleansed us for him!

Jesus makes us kings and priests to God the Father! This is a status that Adam never obtained.

Therefore, we give Christ the glory.

Amen means, “Yes” in Hebrew. This means that it will be so with God.

John describes Jesus’ coming using the Bible and what other prophets have said. Jesus will come in clouds. Believers can be called God’s cloud, too. All will see him, even the Jews and those who pierced him.

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End” is the beginning of Jesus introducing himself to his listeners.

Bible scholars debate whether this refers to Jesus or God, but most agree that Jesus is speaking here. After all, this is the Revelation of Jesus Christ. He uses those titles to refer to himself (Revelation 22:13).

Most of us know that Alpha is the first letter of the Greek alphabet and Omega is the last letter of the Greek alphabet. Therefore, Jesus is saying he was before all else and he will continue after all things. Jesus directs all things and has control of all things from the beginning to the end.

“Who is and was and who is to come” references Yahweh and the idea of Jesus’ eternal nature.

Fun Fact: “Almighty” is used 10 times in the New Testament and 9 times in the Book of Revelation. It means “the one who has his hand on everything” in Greek.

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7 Blessings of Revelation

by atozmom, posted in BSF Revelation: The Hope 2024/2025

7 Blessings in Revelation

  1. Revelation 1:3 “Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.”
  2. Revelation 14:13 “Then I heard a voice from heaven say, ‘Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ‘Yes,’ says the Spirit, ‘they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.’”
  3. Revelation 16:15 “Look, I come like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake and remains clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed.”
  4. Revelation 19:9 “Then the angel said to me, ‘Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!’ And he added, ‘These are the true words of God.’”
  5. Revelation 20:6 “Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.”
  6. Revelation 22:7 “Look, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy written in this scroll.”
  7. Revelation 22:14 “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.”

Again, we see the number 7, which represents the number of completeness or wholeness.

Great commentary HERE

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7 Visions of Revelation

by atozmom, posted in BSF Revelation: The Hope 2024/2025

There are many ways to divide up the visions in Revelation. In my previous post, I discussed the 4 “great” visions, which are prefaced by “in the Spirit” (Revelation 1:10; 4:2; 17:3, 21:10).

These 7 series of visions appear after the 7 sears are opened and the 7 trumpets are sounded:
  1. Revelation 12:1-18: A Woman and a Great Red Dragon, introduced by “A great sign appeared”
  2. Revelation 13:1-10: A Beast from the Sea, introduced by “And I saw”
  3. Revelation 13:11-18: A Beast from the Land, introduced by “And I saw”
  4. Revelation 14:1-5: The Lamb Enthroned, introduced by “And I saw”
  5. Revelation 14:6-13: Three Angels, introduced by “And I saw”
  6. Revelation 14:14-20: The Son of Man and his Angels, introduced by “And I saw”
  7. Revelation 15:1: Another Sign in Heaven, introduced by “And I saw”
Another way to divide up the visions is into these 7:
  1. The heavenly court, the scroll, and its seven seals of judgment (Revelation 4:1-8:1)
  2. Seven angels with seven trumpets (Revelation 8:2-11:19)
  3. A woman and a dragon, two beasts, and other figures (Revelation 12-14)
  4. Seven bowls of wrath (Revelation 15-16)
  5. The fall of Babylon and the final battle (Revelation 17-19)
  6. The reign of Christ and the new Jerusalem (Revelation 20-22)

Either way you want to divide up these visions, you are bound to be learning!

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BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 2, Day 4: Revelation’s Subject: God

by atozmom, posted in BSF Revelation: The Hope 2024/2025

BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 2, Day 4: Revelation’s Subject: God

6) The Spirit speaks to the churches. God is worshipped by all forever. Angels worship Jesus. God and Jesus are worthy of worship. Let all come to the Spirit and Jesus. These passages speak as if they are one.

7a) God is worthy of our praise, glory, and honor because He is the Creator of all things and He is holy.

b) His holiness is especially meaningful. To think that an omnipotent God sees me, cares for me, and guides me is incomprehensible. God is so good. He is forever worthy of our praise for all that He has done for us.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 2, Day 4: Revelation’s Subject: God

While Revelation centers on Jesus, God is always at work in the background. He is there for us.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 2, Day 4: Revelation’s Subject: God

God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit all work in us and for us as God’s chosen people. They are inextricably linked and impact all of us in many ways on a daily basis. We can always be close to God.

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BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 2, Day 2: Revelation’s Themes

by atozmom, posted in BSF Revelation: The Hope 2024/2025

BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 2, Day 2: Revelation’s Themes

3a)

Revelation 1:4-8; 22:7: This announces Jesus’s Second Coming. This gives me hope that Jesus will arrive soon!

Revelation 2:9-10; 13:10b; 14:12: This speaks to how we will suffer, but to be faithful and keep God’s commands for we will gain eternal life. This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of God’s people. I’m not alarmed because we all suffer, but it’s helpful to remember our eternal destiny when times are tough.

Revelation 12:10-17; 13:5-7: Jesus comes to redeem us from Satan even though Satan wages war against us. Satan’s “reign” is temporary. It’s helpful to know that Satan only has power because God allows him to have power. This shows that God is the only one in control. Trust in Him for everything.

Revelation 19:6-9, 11-16: The Lord God Almighty will reign and believers will reign with Him. Jesus will come in all his glory to defeat Satan.

Revelation 21:1-4; 22:1-5: There will be heaven on earth, and there will be no more pain or suffering in Jesus’ reign. This is excited because we will get to see God and be with Him forever. The scene is truly unimaginable.

b) I want to learn more about the vanquishing of the devil. This is what gives me hope when I am in the midst of suffering or under attack.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 2, Day 2: Revelation’s Themes

There is so much hope in this often-misunderstood book! I am looking forward to learning more about what my future will look like one day with Jesus by my side!

End Notes BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 2, Day 2: Revelation’s Themes

Revelation is all about Jesus. As you’re reading, see him as the unifying theme.

We also see redemption and judgment all throughout this book. While it may be hard to understand God’s just judgment, especially on unbelievers, it’s important for us to understand so that we can bring more unbelievers to Him.

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What Does Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) Believe?

by atozmom, posted in Bible Study Fellowship (BSF)

“What does Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) believe?”

BSF is ultimately a non-denominational Bible study that believes 100% in the authority of the Bible.

Their Statement of Faith can be found HERE

BSF’S BELIEFS

  • They believe all 66 Books of the Bible are God-breathed.
  • They believe in the Holy Trinity.
  • They believe Jesus is the Son of God.
  • They believe Jesus’ death atoned for our sins.
  • They believe in the resurrection.
  • They believe Jesus will return and reign here on Earth.
  • They believe the only way to eternal life is to believe in Jesus as our Savior.

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Can I Do Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) Online?

by atozmom, posted in Bible Study Fellowship (BSF)

Many people ask the above question, “Can I do Bible Study Fellowship online?”

The answer is yes!

Follow this LINK and you’ll be taken to their sign-up, which includes the online Bible study option.

Here, you can choose from many different online groups, including the meet times, age range, gender, and the meet days. You can also find an online Bible study group in your language! So amazing!

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Summer Bible Study: WordGo’s Study of Hosea: Week 2, Day 3: Hosea 6-7

by atozmom, posted in WordGo Hosea

Summary of Hosea 6

Hosea calls Israel to repentance, proclaiming God’s faithfulness and exposing their sin. Yet, Israel remains unrepentant despite Hosea listing how God will heal and restore them.

Summary of Hosea 7

The Israelites still practice deceit and sin. They are adulterers. Their kings do not call upon the Lord. They turn to foreign nations rather than the Lord. Destruction to them! The Lord wants to redeem them, but He cannot because of their sins.

Questions for Hosea 6-7

6) Any time you put things in front of God, idols and others. He expresses His great love for us when He picks us up, guides us, and protects us.

7) Israel turned to other countries rather than God, including Egypt, Assyria, and idols. The consequences included Israel’s leaders falling by the sword and the people ridiculed.

8 ) Hosea 6:6: God desired mercy and love. God wanted to redeem his people. Hosea 7:13: God found Israel like fresh grapes and early figs. Hosea 9:10: However, the people desecrated themselves with idols.  Hosea 13:4: God has been Israel’s God since bringing them out of Egypt. They shall acknowledge no one else, and He deserves their wholehearted devotion.

Conclusions to WordGo’s Study of Hosea 6-7

The Israelites insincerely turn to God rather than have humble, heartfelt worship. Yet, the people still rebelled. God desires our sincere repentance. Will you repent today?

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