Street Party Prep:

Spend 10 minutes on Street Party in Life Group this week;

Watch video (4 mins) https://youtu.be/lXvJd1u-bmE

Practice conversations in pairs

Pray for Street Party

Leaders - please email Kath list of all those who are helping at your stall in ANY way - in preparation before the day, and on the day.

The Revelation of Jesus Christ Part 2: Session 6 - Revelation 19

Cheat Sheet

White horses were often considered the best horses for a ruler or important official to be riding, given their rarity and beauty. The king of the Parthians, a feared enemy of Rome, was known to ride around on a white horse. It was the vehicle of a victorious leader.

The rider in Revelation 19 is Jesus Christ. The images used to describe him are built in part on what Jews at the time had hoped their Messiah would be. Yet they are also foreshadowed in earlier parts of the Bible, such as Isaiah 11 and 2 Thessalonians 1. Here lies yet another place in Revelation where a High Christology is developed and celebrated.

A name that no one knows is the subject of some debate, although it likely serves as a reminder to the reader that some aspects of Jesus are mysterious and beyond human comprehension. It also evokes Revelation 2:17, where a new, mysterious name is promised to those in the church at Pergamum who were faithful. This speaks of an intimate connection to God that is given to his faithful ones.

The winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty is an image that was first prophesied by Isaiah (see, for example, Isaiah 63:1-6), and paints a vivid picture of God’s response to sin and evil. It shows us that Christ is the righteous judge.

A name written on robe and on thigh is a helpful requirement for one on horseback, so that all might see who he is.

Hungry birds would often circle ancient battlefields, waiting to feast on the dead once the fight was over. This was seen to be a horrific and insulting way to die in the ancient world, where a proper burial provided the dead with dignity and ensured a safe path to the afterlife.

The fiery lake of burning sulphur is an image of torment; the lake would have been intensely hot, and it would have smelt terrible. In Genesis 19, burning sulphur rains down on the city of Sodom, from which only the righteous escape. Yet again we are presented with an image of God’s judgement on human sin.

Study

Read Revelation 19

This week, the study is going to involve making comparisons between what we have read in chapter 19, and what has been developed in some of the earlier chapters in Revelation. Feel free to focus on just one of the two exercises below, depending on the time and energy you have with your group.

• Hymns of Praise in Revelation

Read through some of the hymns of praise in Revelation, and answer the following questions about the song:

What does the song celebrate?

What aspect(s) of God’s character are highlighted in the song?

How does this song compare to modern praise songs?

Revelation 4:8-11 Revelation 5:9-14

Revelation 11:15-18 Revelation 15:3-4

Revelation 16:5-7 Revelation 19:1-3

Revelation 19:6-8

• Warlike Characters in Revelation

Carefully examine the description of the heavenly warrior in Revelation 19:11-16. If it works in your group, draw up a two-columned list. In the left column, list each characteristic you see in these verses. In the right-hand column, note down what you think these characteristics might mean. Then, look back at the following descriptions of warlike characters in earlier chapters of Revelation:

Revelation 6:1-8 Revelation 9:7-19

Revelation 13:1-8 Revelation 13:11-17

John’s intention is to show us that the rider is the ultimate victor, the superior warrior. The other warlike characters in Revelation are all inferior to the rider; they are subject to his will and his judgement.

From a Christian perspective, what makes the rider on the white horse so great?

How does John’s description of this rider inspire us to worship Jesus?

Optional Extra Resources:

The guys at The Bible Project have a couple of resources that can help us understand the broader theology that lies behind these final chapters in the book of Revelation:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEBc2gSSW04

This second one is a bit more technical. Start at the ten-minute mark, and listen through to around 24.30:

https://bibleproject.com/podcast/day-lord-part-6-revelation-and-jesus-modern-politics/