Introduction

The key to understanding the Book of Revelation starts at that beginning of the Bible.  As we read through the pages of the Old Testament we gain an understanding of how  events recorded all through Old Testament history affected future prophecy fulfilled in the New Testament.  Several themes run through the Bible. We can follow these themes from beginning to end of the Bible.  Our course of study,  The Seven Plagues of Revelation, is based on one of these themes. 

Sharpening Our Spiritual Eye

Lesson One

Before we study from the Book of Revelation, it is necessary to begin with the correct frame of mind. Revelation will not make sense to us unless we approach it with a discerning spiritual mind. 

If it is really important to you to come away from this study with a greater understanding of the Book of Revelation, then I suggest that you spend some time praying for God to help you to understand it. 

We are going to study some passages, which will sharpen our “spiritual eye” to be more perceptive of the truths written in this wonderful Book. Just as athletes have to work out and condition themselves before a big athletic event, it is necessary to be in the right spiritual condition before you read and understand Revelation....Understanding Revelation is the Big spiritual athletic event. So let’s get started with the conditioning process.  

The Writer of Hebrews had a dilemma.  He had so much wonderful information in his head and on his heart to deliver to these Christians, but he sensed that it would be a waste of his time to do so. What a shame! If their hearts had been more spiritually fit think of how much we would have benefited from it too! Perhaps he would have written more to them....and we could have read it later.  He pinpointed their problem:

1. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him,... of whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become ______  ___  ________. (Heb.5:9;11)

2. Why was his information hard to explain?  Was it because he wasn’t a good writer?  Was the Holy Spirit deficient in power to make it clear in the writer’s mind? 

3. Please give the reason why the Hebrew writer had a hard time explaining things to them and then explain what the reason means. 

It is important that you understand this reason and can explain it so that you will know how not to have the same problem when we study Revelation. 

The recipients of the Hebrew letter had a spiritual deficiency stemming from an unbalanced spiritual diet:

4. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the _____  ________   of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. (Hebrews 5:12)

5. For everyone who partakes only of milk is ________  in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. (Hebrews 5: 13)

6. But _____  _______   belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. (Hebrews 5:14)

7. How does one become skilled in the word of righteousness? 

8. What is solid spiritual food?

9. List examples of solid spiritual food.

10. Explain why the answer you give would be in the category of “solid food”.

11.“By reason of use”. Hmmmmm. Sounds a lot like the old saying, “Use it or lose it” .  How does one exercise their senses to discern both good and evil? 

Concerning the Book of Revelation, you might ask, “Why did God give us a book that is so difficult to understand?”  The answer that is most often given to this question is that God wanted to veil the message in cryptic language so that the enemies of the Christians would not read it and understand it and persecute the Christians even more.  I am sure there is merit to this answer. 

We can look in the NT and find further explanations from Christ and the Holy Spirit  given through the Apostles for “veiled” or “hidden” messages.  Let’s take a look at some of them. 

Some Understood the Mysteries Christ Spoke and Some Didn’t

Christ admitted (Matt.11:25) that some understood His message and some did not.  He even said that the Father had hidden the message from some!!! 

12. And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in________  ?”  (Matt. 13:10)

13. He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the _______  of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. (Matt. 13:11)

14. For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have _________  ; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be ________  ________   from him. (Matt. 13:12)

15. Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they ________ . (Matt: 13:13)

16.  And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says:
‘ Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, And seeing you will see and not _________  ; (Matt. 13:14)

 The Reason Some Could Not See or Hear

17. For the hearts of this people have grown _____. Their ears are ______  of hearing, (Matt. 13:15)

18. And their eyes they have _______  , (Matt. 13:15)

19. Lest they should ____ with their eyes and ____   with their ears, (Matt. 13:15)

20. Lest they should understand with their hearts and ______  , So that I should _____   them.’ (Matt. 13:15)

21. But ______  are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; (Matt. 13:16)

Many Prophets and Righteous Men Wanted to Hear But Did Not

22. For assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men ________  to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it. (Matt. 13:17)

Some Hear But the Devil Snatches it Away

23. Therefore hear the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the ______  ______ comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. (Matt. 13:18-19)

Some are Happy to Hear at First

24. But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who _____  the word and immediately _______   it with joy; (Matt. 13:20)

But something happens that causes them to stumble

25. Yet he has no _______ in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of ____  ______ , immediately he stumbles.  (Matt.13:21) 

Cares of the World and Deceitfulness of Riches Choke the Word

26. Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the _______  of riches ______  the word, and he becomes unfruitful. (Matt. 13:22)

27. But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed ______  ______   and ________ : some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.” (Matt. 13:23)

If we think that it is hard to understand one Book in the NT that is written in cryptic language, can you imagine what it would be like if every message you heard was presented in some mysterious parable.  Christ explained each of His parables to His disciples in private.  But the multitudes must have been frustrated as they listened to Him teach, especially those who came to trap Him.  

28. All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He _____  _____ speak to them, (Matt. 13:34)

29. That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: “ I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things _____  _______   from the foundation of the world.” (Matt. 13:35)

The Apostle Paul didn’t use Human Wisdom

 The Apostle Paul didn’t have a PHD and he wasn’t  “charismatic” , which are the sought after qualifications in a speaker today.  He was just “plain Joe” and “down to earth”.  He  did not seek to gain recognition for himself or his own speaking abilities.  He preached Christ.  That’s it.   

30. And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with __________  of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the _________  of God.  (1 Cor. 2:1)

31. For I determined not to know anything among you except _____  ______  and Him __________. (1 Cor. 2:2)

32. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with __________  _______ of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, (1 Cor. 2:3-4)

Is your faith in the wisdom of men or in the power of God?

33. That your faith should not be in the _______   of men but in the _______  of God. (1 Cor. 2:5)

34. However, we speak wisdom among those who are _______  , yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to _________  . (1 Cor.2:6)

35. But we speak the wisdom of God in a _______  , the ______ wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, (1 Cor. 2:7)

36. Find one verse (using Bible Gateway or some other help) that lists the 6 points of the “mystery”.

37. Which none of the rulers of this age ______ ; for had they ______ , they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. (1 Cor. 2:8)

38. In 1 Cor.2:8 (above) who is said to have not known the “mystery” also called the “hidden wisdom”? 

39. Who were the “rulers of this age” referenced in 1 Cor. 2:6 and 8? 

40. What did the “rulers of this age” do as a result of their ignorance?

Remember them, for they are key players in the Book of Revelation. 

Here is an important clue.  1 Cor. 2:9 (below) reveals the key necessary ingredient for opening the eye of understanding.   What is it?

41. But as it is written:  “ Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who _____  Him.” (1 Cor.2:9)

42. Find and list verses that tell us how we know that we love God.  It is vital that I understand what He is looking for as an indicator of my love for Him and not substitute my own way of “loving” Him.

43. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are __________ to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually _________ . (1 Cor. 2:14)

44. Explain the difference between the “natural” man and the “spiritual” man. 

45. For “who has known the mind of the LORD that he may ________  Him?” But we have the mind of Christ. (1 Cor.2:16)

46. How can a person learn how to have the mind of Christ?

47. Do you think we will be able to have the ability to “spiritually discern”  if we have the mind of Christ?   

48. These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, __________  _________ things with spiritual. (1 Corinthians 2:13)

Spiritual discernment all boils down to, not how smart you are, and not how (worldly)  wise or prudent. What matters most for understanding God’s Word, including the Revelation, is the condition of your heart. Your heart must be receptive and innocent like that of a baby.

49. At that time Jesus answered and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the ______  ____  _______ and have revealed them to babes. (Matthew 11:25)

You must love the truth with all your heart

50. And with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the _____ of the truth, that they might be saved. (2 Thess.2:10)

51. And for this reason _____   will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, (2 Thess.2:11)

52. That they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had _________ in unrighteousness. (2 Thess.2:12)

From 2 Thess. 2 we see that God will send strong delusions to those who do not love the truth. From all the different passages we have read in this lesson, we can know that it is in God’s plan to hide the truth or  spiritual mysteries from those who do not love the truth as well as from those who do not care enough to “seek” them. BUT, if we seek with the right heart, He will lead us to the knowledge for which we hunger!

53. The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the LORD shall ______ lack any good thing. (Psalm 34:10)

54. O God, You are my God; Early will I ______ You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh _____ for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water. (Psalm 63:1)

55. Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with the _________  heart! (Psalm 119:2)

56. Salvation is ____ from the wicked, For they do not seek Your statutes. (Psalm 119:155)

57. My son, if you receive my words, and ________ my commands within you, (Proverbs 2:1)

58. So that you incline your ear to wisdom, and  _______ your heart to understanding; (Proverbs 2:2)      

Do you hunger to know the hidden meanings of Revelation and other difficult passages?  Then let these verses tell you how to find them.

59. Yes, if you cry out for _________, and lift up your voice for understanding, (Proverbs 2:3)

60. If you ______ her as silver, and ______  for her as for hidden treasures; (Proverbs 2:4) 

61. Then you will understand the fear of the LORD, and find the _____________ of God. (Proverbs 2:5)

62. For the LORD ______ wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding (Proverbs 2:6)

Pray for God to help you find the treasures hidden in Christ, to understand mysteries concealed in the Bible.

63. ...That their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the _________ of wisdom and knowledge (Col.2:2-3)

64. According to Col.2:2-3 (above) where are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden? 

If you pray for the LORD to help you see the hidden treasures, be prepared for the changes that you will also be challenged to make in your heart. 

65.The ________  of the LORD is with those who fear Him, And He will show them His covenant. (Psalm 25:14)

Review:

66. The writer of Hebrews had a lot of information to give but why did he not share it?

67. Who can have “solid food”?

68. Please explain the difference between the “babes” in Matt. 11:25 and the one in Heb.5:13.

69.Why did Jesus speak to his disciples in parables?

 70. Please explain the connection between “open eyes” and an “understanding heart”.  (Matt. 13:15)

 71. From what you have learned in this lesson please explain “spiritual discernment”.  Or in other words, describe the person who has “spiritual discernment”.