BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 2, Day 3: Revelation’s Writer & Recipients
4a)
Matthew 4:21-22; Matthew 17:1-3: Jesus called John and his brother as they were fishing to be his disciples. John was at Jesus’ transfiguration.
John 19:25-27: Jesus asked John to care for his mother after his death.
John 20:1-10: John was the first disciple to the tomb after Mary had come to announce Jesus had risen. He saw and believed.
John 21:20-25: John is the disciple whom Jesus corrects Peter over when Peter asked Jesus what his future would be.
Acts 4:13: John had been with Jesus.
b) John spent 3 years with Jesus as his disciple. It truly doesn’t get any more trustworthy.
5a) The original recipients were suffering. John knows that the people’s deeds, their hard work, and their 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.”
John knows their afflictions and poverty—yet they are rich! I” know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.”
b) Many. Christians still suffer, are persecuted, and even martyred for their beliefs. Christians persevere and work hard. They are in poverty but are rich because of Jesus. Christians today hold the same hope in Christ Jesus.
c) I hope to be more like Jesus: more compassionate, understanding, and generous. I hope to love others more.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 2, Day 3: Revelation’s Writer & Recipients
We learn that early Christians are not so different than us. We all suffer, just perhaps in different ways due to the changing times. Yet, there is still Jesus! Our shining light and a beacon of hope!
End Notes BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 2, Day 3: Revelation’s Writer & Recipients
Almost all Bible scholars agree that John is the writer of Revelation. He wrote to 7 churches in Asia (modern-day Turkey) sometime in the first century AD when Christianity was new and growing.
The cities are in a circuit from each other, so someone carrying the letters could easily make the rounds. They were on main road that ran north and south in Asia.
That being said, the author has been questioned since Dionysius of Alexandria who lived from AD 231-265. The book was either written at the end of Nero’s reign (54-68 AD) or at the beginning of Domitian’s reign (81-96 AD).
Almost all scholars agree it was written on the island of Patmos. Patmos was a penal colony where political prisoners were condemned to hard labor in the mines there at the time.
Map of Island of Patmos (photo credit: ferrelljenkins.blog/2020/11/10/john-was-on-the-island-called-patmos-2/)
