Revelation 4 - Personal Study Guide
Revelation Chapter 4 – Outline
I. Approaching Rev. 4 with the Right Perspective/Attitude
a. This chapter is one of the most mysterious pieces of literature ever written in the history of mankind. I cannot think of anything more awesome than a true description of the place where God dwells and governs the earth from. This entire chapter is a picture of the Beautiful God of mercy exercising His sovereignty in fierce judgment. These are two realities that we often separate in out thinking. However, we are shown here that God reconciles these realities in perfect harmony as He governs the earth in the last days scenario.
b. Because of the awesomeness of this book we want to approach it in the right way. When our motivations for learning are wrong God will oppose us and not reveal His hidden secrets to us. God rewards the humble and lowly in heart, and He also resists the proud of heart. It is one thing to have an understanding of what is going on in the Scripture, but it something totally different to have that understanding ‘causing our hearts to burn’. This burning heart comes from the revelation of the Holy Spirit.
c. God is the only one who can transform our understanding into a deep burning ‘knowing’. We may understand something to be true, but God alone has the transformational power to show us that it’s true.
d. As we approach this chapter over the next season we want to come to it with an attitude of reverence so that God will cause it to come alive within us. When the Scripture is alive in our hearts we can then labor out of a place of rest (Heb. 4.11).
II. Why was this Book Written?
a. Rev. 1.1 - The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants–things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John
b. This book was written to equip the saints with the true knowledge of God and the things concerning God. It is also meant to produce inspiring and overwhelming fear (respect) and profound reverence in our God image.
c. It is meant to give us understanding of these future events while simultaneously producing deep worship. We must tap into both of these elements: the understanding and the worship.
d. We want to pursue the understanding of these mysterious records so that we may anticipate what is lying ahead of us, while at the same time remembering that the result of understanding should be believing and worshiping.
i. If our understanding fails to produce belief and worship then it remains in our head alone and never makes it to our heart/spirit. If our learning doesn’t lead to worshipping God in that truth then it only produces a chaotic thought life.
ii. We don’t want a bunch of thoughts, we want to worship God in the truth that He has revealed.
III. Chapter 4 – In 3 Sections
a. This chapter of Revelation can be divided into three separate categories or sections. In each section John addresses different issues and aspects of what is taking place around him. (more…)