Revelation 1:1-8 – Introductions
Study 1
Sharing Question: What are you looking forward to in studying the book of Revelation?
Background: Tradition authorship is the apostle John although there is some dispute.
Traditional dating is 81-96AD, however recent date tends toward an even earlier dating
immediately after the fall of Jerusalem (69-72AD).
The structure of the book is four series of seven making up the first two visions; (1)
seven letters to the churches (first vision, chapter 2-3), (2) seven seals (second vision,
5:1-8:1), (3) seven trumpets (second vision, 8:2-11:19), and (4) seven bowls (second
vision, 15:1-16:21),. The third vision contains the judgment of Babylon (17:1-21:8). The
fourth vision shows the consummation of God’s Kingdom (21:9-22:5). Each of the four
vision is introduced by “come and see” (1:9, 4:1, 17:1 21:9)
1. Who is the author of Revelation? Why would the designation be different than the
one used in the Gospel of John, “the one whom Jesus loved?” What is the role of
John according to verses 1-2?
2. What do you think John means by saying that the reader will be blessed? How does
understanding that the time is near helpful to the believer?
3. Who are the seven churches? Who are the seven spirits? What has Jesus done for
us according to the passage? How does Jesus feel about us? What is the meaning of
“firstborn from the dead?” How is Jesus the “ruler of the kings on earth?”
4. How has Jesus “freed us from our sins by his blood?” In what ways are we kings and
priests? How does one give “glory and dominion” to God?
5. What is mentioned of Jesus’ return? Who will mourn? What is the meaning of
“alpha and omega, beginning and end?” Who is speaking here? What is
emphasized in the declaration “who is and who was and who is to come?”
6. How is the trinity clear in this passage? What are we suppose to walk away after
reading this passage?
Revelations Inductive Bible Study by Gregory Chao
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Revelation 1:9-20 – The Lord of the Seven Lampstands
Study 2
Sharing Question: When are you most impressed with the power and majesty of God?
1. Where is the island of Patmos and what was John doing there? Who is the person
speaking to John? What do you think “in the Spirit” means? What do you think John
means when he describes the voice as like a “trumpet?” What is his direction to
John?
2. What do the seven lampstands represent? Why would Jesus be in the center? Why
does John have so many OT references in this passage? (Son of Man- Dan 7:13,
white wool – Dan 7:9, flame of fire – Dan 10:6, sound of water, Ez 43:2, sword – Is
49:2)
3. What aspects of Jesus’ character are emphasized in the way he is described? Why
do the descriptions use the color white? Why do the descriptions use fire and
brightness? Why would there be a sword coming from his mouth? What are the
seven stars?
4. Why does John fall to his feet? How does Jesus comfort him? How does Jesus
describe himself? How does he have the keys to Hades and death? Why is John
commanded to write these things down?
5. How compatible is this vision of Jesus with your view of him?
Revelations Inductive Bible Study by Gregory Chao
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Revelation 2:1-7 – Church of Ephesus
Study 3
Sharing Question: Share about a time in which you felt a sense of renewal in your
relationship with God.
1. What do we know about Ephesus? What other reference in the NT do we have
concerning this city?
2. How does Jesus identify himself? Why is it important that He state that he knows
their deeds?
3. How does Jesus complement the church? What do you think He means by hard
work and perseverance? What has their posture been about wickedness? How
were they able to keep their church pure? What kind of hardships do you think they
have endured?
4. What do you think it means to have lost their first love? How important is this?
What must they do to get back on the right track?
5. How can the church be so hardworking and pure and yet lose their first love?
6. What were the practices of the Nicolaitans?
7. What types of churches today have this tendency? How could you tell if a church
has lost their first love? How can they retain their first love? How can we retain our
first love in our own spiritual lives?
Revelations Inductive Bible Study by Gregory Chao
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Revelation 2:8-11 – Church of Smyrna
Study 4
Sharing Question: Have you ever received any ridicule because of your faith? Explain.
Symrna was a harbor city with a thriving export trade thirty-five miles north of Ephesus,
its was renowned for its beauty and its civic pride, calling itself “the first in Asia” as well
as the birthplace of Homer. It had a large Jewish population that virulently opposed
Christians. Rome had given the Jews the right to practice their religion, and they did not
want the privilege threatened. In addition, in the 80s Judaism had excommunicated the
Christian “heretics” from their synagogues, and the wanted nothing to do with them. In
AD 155 the famous bishop of Smyrna, Polycarp, was burned alive for refusing to call
Caesar “lord” during an extensive persecution instigated by the Jews. The Smyrna
church itself had been founded either by some returning Jewish traveler present at
Pentecost or during the Pauline mission of Acts 19.
1. What is the title used by Christ for this church? How would the titles be comforting
to the persecuted church of Symrna? It is interesting to note that this letter had no
negative criticism, why do you think this is the case?
2. What kind of affliction do you think the church was going through? What kind of
poverty? What do you think the slander was about? In what way are they rich
instead of poor?
3. In what way does Christ know their suffering, poverty and slander? Why do you
think God would allow his people to experience this type of suffering? How do
Christ encourage them. Why shouldn’t they be afraid?
4. How does the devil involve himself in causing trouble for the church? What is the
significance of the 10 days? What does Christ promise those who are faithful? What
does the crown of life mean?
5. What does it mean to overcome? What does it mean never to be hurt by a second
death?
6. How can we prepare ourselves for the possibility of facing this type of persecution?
Revelations Inductive Bible Study by Gregory Chao
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Revelation 2:8-11 – Church in Pergamum
Study 5
Sharing Question: What has been your exposures to other religions outside of
Christianity?
Background: In the year 133 B.C., Pergamum became the capital of the Roman province
of Asia. This city is forty-five miles north of Smyrna, and is built upon a high rock
outcropping, a natural fortress. It had become, by the time of the first century, the
center of emperor worship in the Roman world. There are many impressive temples in
Pergamum-to Zeus, Athena, Nikephoids, Dionysus-but the city was most famous for its
temples to Asklepios.
1. What aspect of Christ is emphasized by the description of Him? Understanding the
background of the city, how would this be the throne of Satan?
2. Since there are no other references to Antipas in the NT, what can we learn about
him in this reference?
3. What is the warning that Jesus gives the church? What is the idolatry referring to?
What is the sexual immorality referring to? Why are they to repent?
4. What does Christ promise them if they repent? What is the meaning of the hidden
manna? What is the meaning of the white stone with the new name?
5. What are strategies prevent us from falling into sin? When is the avoiding
appropriate?
Revelations Inductive Bible Study by Gregory Chao
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Revelation 2:18-29 – Church of Thyatira
Study 6
Sharing Question: Who is a person who you know that is charismatic yet has caused
harm to those who followed him/her?
1. What does the picture of Jesus emphasize? What did the church of Thyatira do
well? How would you characterize this church?
2. How does Jesus introduce the church’s weaknesses? What was the woman Jezebel
teaching? Why do you think this teaching was so appealing? How did Jesus treat
her? What will he do her since she did not repent? What is the warning to those
who follow her?
3. What does Jesus want the church to know about him? Why is it important to know
that Jesus searches the mind and hearts? Why is it important to know that he will
give to each according to his works?
4. What does Jesus say to the rest who have not been involved with Jezebel? How does
He encourage them? What is the significance of the morning star?
5. What is your overall impression of this church? What can we learn here about our
own personal behavior? Why is it important to know that God is a moral God?
Revelations Inductive Bible Study by Gregory Chao
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Revelation 3:1-13 – Church of Sardis & Philadelphia
Study 7
Sharing Question: Share an adversity that ended up making you stronger or wiser.
1. What is the warning to give to the people in the church of Sardis? What are they
told to do? What will happen if they do not repent? Why would Jesus come like a
thief? What does this say about the speed of God’s judgment?
2. What can be said about those who have remained faithful? What is the promise to
them?
3. What is the overall state of the church? How do you think they think of themselves?
4. In the church of Philadelphia, in what ways has this church been faithful? How can
they be faithful and yet have “little strength?” How does one not “deny His name?”
5. What will happen to the enemies of the church? How does Jesus use their
faithfulness to help the non-believers?
6. How will Jesus reward the church? How would you describe this church? What do
you think they think of themselves? How does the messages of these churches
motivate us to be faithful?
Revelations Inductive Bible Study by Gregory Chao
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Revelation 3:14-22
Study 8
Sharing Question: Name a time where you felt like you were somehow redirected or
corrected by God.
1. What is the emphasis of the title used for Jesus to the Church of Laodicea? What do
you think is the meaning of lukewarm? How do the people think of themselves?
What is their real state? Why do you think they are unable to see their real state?
2. How are they to repent? What does it mean to buy “gold refined by fire?” How is it
that God would reprove those that he loves? What will God do if they do not
repent?
3. Why is Jesus illustrated as standing at the door and knocking? What will happen if
they invite Him in? (Rev. 3:20 is a favorite verse to introduce non-Christians to
Jesus, do you feel it is OK to use it this way?)
4. In what ways are the believers to conquer? What will be their reward? Why would
sitting at the throne be a good thing?
5. This concludes the seven churches. Which of the messages are the most useful to
you? What have you learned from studying the messages?
Revelations Inductive Bible Study by Gregory Chao
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Revelation 4:1-11
Study 9
Sharing Question: In your opinion, what is the value of worshipping God? Why is it
important?
1. How is God portrayed in the passage? What is the significance of the jasper and
sardius stone? What is the significance of the rainbow?
2. Who are the 24 elders? From their description, what can we learn about them?
What are the seven lamps?
3. Who are the 4 living creatures? What can we learn from the description of them?
What is the activity of the 4 living creatures?
4. What is emphasized in the words of the four living creatures about God? What is
the emphasis in the response of the 24 elders? Why do they cast down their
crowns?
5. What is the overall feel of the passage? From reading this passage, how literally are
we to take them? What can we learn about God from this passage? What can we
learn about worship?
Revelations Inductive Bible Study by Gregory Chao
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Revelation 5:1-14
Study 10
Sharing Question: What are some things in your life that you are grateful to God about?
1. What is the significance of seals? What indication is given that the scroll is very
important?
2. In what ways is Christ a lion? Why is He described as the “root of David?”
3. In what ways is Christ a lamb? What is the significance of the seven horns and eyes?
4. How do the four living creatures and 24 elders react to the Lamb? Why were the
elders worshipping the lamb? What message is in the song that they sing?
5. How many angels are there? What message is in the sayings of the angels? What
message is in the sayings of the creatures on the earth, under the earth and in the
sea?
6. What is the mood of this heavenly scene? What is the focus of this scene? How can
we better worship Christ like this heavenly scene?
Revelations Inductive Bible Study by Gregory Chao
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Revelation 6:1- 17 – Horsemen and their Fury
Study 11
Sharing Question: How comfortable are you with the idea that God is a just and holy
God opposed to evil?
1. Who is opening the seals? What does the first horseman bring to the world? Why
do you think it was white?
2. What does the second horseman bring to the world? Why do you think it was red?
3. What does the third horseman bring to the world? Why do you think it was black?
Why do you think this horseman was commanded not to damage oil and wine?
4. What does the fourth horseman bring to the world? Why do you think it was pale?
Why was this horsemen limited to ¼ of the earth?
5. In general, what do the horsemen bring to the world? What relationship do they
have with respect to the Lamb?
6. In the fifth seal, what does it say about those who stay faithful to Christ? What are
they told?
7. In the sixth seal, how is this seal more terrible that the first five? How do the people
on earth react? If God does not stop the judgment, what would be the result?
Revelations Inductive Bible Study by Gregory Chao
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Revelations 7
Study 12
Sharing Question: Who was the one person that was instrumental in your salvation and
why?
1. In verses 1-3, why does God hold his judgment on the earth? Who are the 144000?
Why do you think God seals them?
2. In verses 9-10, who are the multitudes? How many are there? What does the palm
branches signify? From their song, how is it that they were included among the
saved?
3. Who else joins in worship? What does their song emphasize?
4. What does the angel’s song emphasize? How is God’s power and strength shown in
this case?
5. What else do we learn about the people in white robes? What kind of suffering did
they have to go through? What kind of people were they? What will they now have
instead of suffering?
6. From these verses, who does God save? What does God think about Israel from
these verses?
Revelations Inductive Bible Study by Gregory Chao
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Revelations 8 – 9
Study 13
Sharing Question: What is your impression of Revelation so far? How literally should we
take the vision?
1. Why do you think there was silence after the seventh seal was broken? What were
they waiting for? How was the prayer of the saints treated?
2. From verses 6-12, what was the order of the events as the trumpets were sounded?
What was common? How was the destruction limited?
3. In verse 13, why was the angel saying “woe?”
4. In verses 9:1-11, what did the locust look like? What were they given the power to
do? What were they prevented from doing?
5. In verses 12-21, how was this danger different than the previous? What were they
permitted to do? How did the people in earth react? Why do you think they did not
repent?
6. Why do you think each destruction was limited? What does this say about God?
Revelations Inductive Bible Study by Gregory Chao
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Revelations 10 – 11
Study 14
Sharing Question: How does the fact that God will someday judge all the nations affect
your world view?
1. The most obvious interpretation of the scroll is the word of God. What do you think
the scroll represents? Why would it be bitter and sweet?
2. Why is John given the measuring rod?
3. From earlier references in Revelations, the lampstand is referring to the Christian
churches. What do you think the lampstands represent? Romans 11 refers to olive
tree as God’s people. What do you think it represents here?
4. Who kills the witnesses? What is their fate? What is the reaction of the rest of the
people?
5. After the seventh trumpet, what is the emphasis of the praise? What follows the
praise? How is this praise similar to Psalms?
6. How would you compare the power of the evil powers versus the power of God
through out the book of Revelation?
Revelations Inductive Bible Study by Gregory Chao
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Revelations 12 – 13
Study 15
Sharing Question: What has been your exposure to the ‘left behind’ series (premillennialism)? What do you think of that viewpoint?
1. Who is the woman? Who is the child? Who is the dragon? What is the interplay
between the woman, the dragon, and the child? Who prevails?
2. Who is Michael? Where else in the Bible is he mentioned? What are the traits of
the dragon? How is the dragon defeated?
3. How does this passage add to our understanding of the work of Christ? How does
this passage help us understand the war that is going on between good and evil?
4. Who are the other offspring of the woman?
5. In Revelation 13:1-4, what are the characteristics of the beast? What is the reaction
of the people? What are they impressed with?
6. In Revelation 13:5-10, what powers were given to the beast? How do you think the
beast commits blasphemy? How does he treat God’s people?
7. What is the power of the second beast? How does he deceive those on earth?
What is the sign 666?
Revelations Inductive Bible Study by Gregory Chao
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Revelations 14 – 15
Study 16
Sharing Question: How does the fact that God is in control of human history a comfort
to you?
1. What is different about the 144,000 as opposed to those who belong to the beast in
chapter 13? How is there marking different than the previous people? What
significance is there to the number 144,000? How are they redeemed?
2. In verses 6-7, how is does God still give the people a chance to repent? What is the
message?
3. In verse 8, what does Babylon represent? What is the warning to the given to the
people?
4. Who are blessed in this passage? How does a Christian find comfort in persecution?
What is the angel doing with the sickle? What does this represent?
5. What is the purpose of the seven plagues? What is the emphasis of the song? How
does this song enhance our understanding of God?
Revelations Inductive Bible Study by Gregory Chao
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Revelations 16 – 17
Study 17
Sharing Question: What have you heard about to the idea of Armageddon?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
How are the seven plagues severe compared to the previous judgments? How do
the angels in verses explain the judgment in verses 4-7? How can man still curse
God in light of the severe judgment?
In verse 13, how do the evil being deceive? What is their purpose?
How is it that the Lord is coming like a thief? What is the significance of
Armageddon? How is the battle concluded?
What is the description of the woman? What acts has she done? What does she
represent?
In verses 14-17, how does the harlot compare with the Lamb? How will the harlot
be destroyed? How does God accomplish this?
Revelations Inductive Bible Study by Gregory Chao
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Revelations 18-19
Study 18
Sharing Question: What is the closest you have come to meeting an evil person?
1. In the personification of Babylon, what is her sins as described in verses 1-10? What
is meant by fornification? What does God do to save His people from judgment?
Why would the merchants weep for Babylon’s destruction? How do God’s people
react to her destruction?
2. What additions sins were caused by Babylon in verses 21-24? In what ways does
Babylon oppress God’s people?
3. In verses 19:1-5, what is the multitude celebrating?
4. In verses 6-10, who is the Lamb marrying? What does this image say about Jesus’
relationship to us?
5. Who is on the white horse? Who is fighting in the battle? How is the battle won? In
what ways is this a one sided battle?
Revelations Inductive Bible Study by Gregory Chao
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Revelation 20
Study 19
Sharing Question: What thoughts have you had about the fact that we will all be judged
someday?
1. What is the temporary fate of Satan according to verses 1-3? During the time of
1000 years, what happens on earth? Who is reigning? What do you think it would
be like to live during that time? In what way is this the first resurrection (verse 5)?
2. What will Satan do when he is released after 1000 years? During the battle, how
does it look for the saints? How does God ultimately win? What is the fate of Satan
and his followers?
3. Who will be judged? How will the people be judged during the final judgment?
What is the book of life? What is the fate of those who are not in the book of life?
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Revelation 21
Study 20
Sharing Question: What do you envision heaven to be like?
1. In verses 1-4, how does the new heaven and new earth counteract the curse found
in Genesis 1? How is the picture of a bride and husband appropriate for this event?
What is the emphasis of this picture of heaven? What do you think it means when it
says that the former things have passed away? How is this picture of heaven
different than the commonly held pictures of heaven?
2. In verses 6-8, what are the qualities of people who will go to heaven? What is the
relationship that God promises his followers? What will the followers inherit? What
are the qualities of people who will be experience the second death?
3. In the description of the city, why would the gates have the names of the twelve
tribes of Israel and the foundation have the names of the twelve apostles of the
Lamb?
4. In verses 15-21, the list of jewels is in reverse order of the instructions in Exodus
28:17-21 for the arrangement of the jewels on the high priestly breastplate. How is
this significant?
5. What would it be like to have the city be lit up by the glory of God? What does it
mean that nations will bring their glory and honor to the city? In what way will the
distinctiveness of the people be preserved? What will be discarded?
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Revelation 22
Study 21
Sharing Question: What things have you learned from studying the book of Revelation?
1. How are these words faithful and true? Why is there a mention of these things
“shortly taking place?” Who is coming quickly? What does it mean to keep the
words of the book?
2. Why is the angel careful not to receive worship? What is the meaning of the words
the “time is at hand?” What is the meaning of unjust and filthy staying and the
righteous and holy staying?
3. In verses 12 and 13, who is coming quickly? How is He the Alpha and Omega,
Beginning and End? What does it mean that to “give every one according to his
work?”
4. Why is there mention of “doing His commandments?” What do evildoers
participate in? How is Jesus the Root, Offspring of David, the Bright and morning
star?
5. Why does Christ call to the thirsty? Thirsty for what? Why is there a warning not to
add or take away anything from the book?
6. Why do you think the book ends with the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ?
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