Week 1
1. When you think about “the end,” what sorts of feelings come up in you? Why do you think that is?
Are we living in the
So much has been said over the years about how to interpret the signs of the end times. And we get it: The thought of living in the end times might feel scary. Revelation, when not properly understood, can elicit fear. As we read through Revelation, we’re going to read about cosmic wars and battles and plagues and destruction. We’re going to encounter blood and martyrdom and visions of nightmarish endings for a multitude of people. Yikes, right? A few things to consider: • First, not all fear is bad. We often consider fear to be a negative emotion. It’s fear that stops us from stepping off a cliff or eating a rotten egg...or from taking the next step in our career. When it comes to fearing God, that doesn’t mean we’re supposed to cower in the corner and hide from him. Instead, fearing God means we fear disobeying him more than anyone or anything else. We respect him, giving him full authority. • Second, when we know the end, we have nothing to be afraid of. In the end, God’s people—those who put their faith in Jesus—win. Those who don’t put their faith in Jesus, who choose the way opposite of God, who continue to love evil more than good—they are choosing to be on the losing team.
Revelation is the culmination of all of God’s story. It hasn't happened yet, but it eventually will. Because of what Jesus accomplished on the cross, Revelation's author, John, is laying out a vision of what the future holds. What is that future? John’s not holding any punches. It’s a future filled with trial, temptation, struggle, and persecution. People will continue to be martyred for their faith. And if death was the finality of it all, then yes, that would be a terrible end. But death does not get the final say. If we hold on, or “conquer,” as John likes to say, we will experience an incredible future laid out in Revelation 21 and 22. A future with new bodies to populate the New Heavens and New Earth with Jesus. A future that will return to God’s perfection and original design for humanity. A world without sin, as the world should have been when God designed it in Eden. So, the question is: Are we near the end? Are we living in the end times? That’s for you to theorize. For now, with the breath we have in our lungs, our job is to live faithfully despite the trials, pain, and suffering. Whatever happens to us, John wants us to focus on “conquering” by not being overcome by the ways of the world. Instead, our job is to obey God and live faithfully for Jesus.
2. What does “fearing God” look like for you? Does that phrase feel odd or average? How does your relationship with fear play into the way you experience your relationship with God?
3. If the end times worry you, how could you reframe your perspective and bring it into a positive light, full of hope? If your posture is already hopeful about the end times, how does that anchor you today?
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Spend some time in prayer, telling God about how you feel about the end times. If you're worried, ask him to bring peace. Be honest with your doubts, and allow him to deepen your trust in him. Thank him for the plans he has for the future and for inviting you to be a part of them.
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Sign of the Times: A Study of Revelation
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Week 1
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