PREPARE YOUR HEART FOR THE SERMON BY LOOKING THROUGH THESE SUGGESTIONS THAT WILL ASSIST YOU IN MAKING THE MOST OF OUR TIME TOGETHER HEARING GOD'S WORD.

You will find suggestions for thinking more critically through the passage, meditating more intently on the text, and prayerfully seeking wisdom to deepen your understanding of the passage to be preached this Sunday.

Carefully Think

• Why does John call himself brother and fellow partaker? What significance does this carry?
• Where and what is the island of Patmos? (Look it up in the back of a study Bible, Bible Dictionary, or Bible maps; What did you learn about this island?)
• Where was John at before going to this island? Why is John on the island?
• What are the seven churches? What is the significance of the number seven?
• What is the significance of the 7 golden lampstands? (See Ex. 25:37, Zech. 4:2-7)
• What is the significance of the name “son of man”? (See Dan. 7, Heb. 2:5-9, Ps. 8:4-6)

Prayerfully Meditate

• Below are the descriptions of Christ in verses 13-16 of Revelation 1. Use the cross-references in your Bible and the recommended verses below to study the biblical significance of each of these descriptions. Write out what you learn for each. How do these passages (and their surrounding context) inform the meaning of Revelation 1:13-16?
• Clothed in a robe ( Ex. 28:4)
• Hair white like wool/snow (Dan. 7:9)
• Eyes like fire (Dan. 10:6; Rev. 2:18, 19:12)
• Feet like glowing bronze (Ezek. 1:27, 8:2; Dan. 10:6, Rev. 2:18)
• Voice like many waters (Ezek. 1:24, 43:2)
• Right hand holding seven stars (Ps. 63:8, 89:13, 139:10; Rev. 1:20)
• A sword coming out of his mouth (Is. 11:4; Rev. 2:12-16, 19:15-21)
• Face shining like the sun (Matthew 13:43, 17:2)