This study of the book of the Revelation to John was presented as a series of Sunday School lessons that lasted over six months. Since I was writing the study as we went along, they study was a journey more than presentation, and the earlier lessons, in particular, show influences from the variety of opinions from those of us in the class. Later lessons show a clearer focus and understanding, as we together came to share a closer understanding of this book.

I based this study on a number of different source books so that I could at least skim over the range of popular opinions concerning this unusual book. My conclusion from doing research and teaching the study is that we too often make it into something it is not. I have found no reason to interpret this book as a foretelling of events in the previous centuries or centuries to come. This is a marvelous book of hope and reassurance, intensely steeped in the culture of that time. Once we understand more about that culture, heritage, and ways of story telling, everything in the book makes sense—at face value!

For convenience, click here to read the entire meditation on one web page without the table of contents on the left column; this may be more convenient for printing.


We covered the book of Revelation during the Wednesday night Bible study at Peace United Methodist Church, with my goal to complete this study in nine weeks. I am including the handouts for that Bible study as downloadable document files in Microsoft® Word format below:

• Week 1: Biblography, Concepts, Introduction in Revelation; April 18, 2007
  
• Week 2: Opening vision, letters to the churches; April 25, 2007
  
• Outline for the Visions
  
• Week 3: First half of first vision; May 2, 2007
  
• Week 4: Second half of first vision; May 16, 2007
  
• Week 5: Second vision; May 23, 2007
  
• Week 6: Third vision; May 30, 2007
  
• Week 7: Fourth and fifth visions; June 6, 2007
  
• Week 8: Sixth vision; June 20, 2007
  
• Week 9: Seventh vision and Epilogue; June 27, 2007

Throughout these web pages, I will quote the scriptures along with the study materials. Because I will be using the entire book of Revelation in this way, I am using a public domain version of the Bible, the King James Version. I encourage you to follow along in a more modern version, such as the New Revised Standard Version or the New International Version.