Assignment On Rev 3:14-22

Our next assignment is to take a look at the passage starting at Rev 3:14 and ending with vs 22 of the same chapter. 

Starting with Rev 1, to get an idea what the book is about, we discussed words or themes that were repeated or emphasized in the introductory chapter. 

At first glance, there were a lot of good suggestions but we found, once again, that simplicity brought clarity in a deceptively easy way. 

Once we get through the greeting in Rev 1:1-3, just a cursory reading of the rest of the chapter reveals the words "saw", "see" and "seen" used multiple times. This would seem to indicate that the letter had a theme loosely based around the idea that John saw something. Another word used multiple times was "like", used to denote a comparison between what John  saw and some earthly reference in an attempt to give us an understanding of what it was. In other words, "like" shows us a metaphor for what John was seeing. 

If we put these two themes together, we can see that John has had some sort of vision and wants to tell us what he saw but has to use symbols to describe it. This is all understandable as Revelation is about John's vision of Christ (Rev 1:18), His church (Rev 1:20),  the end times (Rev 1:19) and the throne room in heaven (Rev 4:1). John's challenge was to describe something so spectacular and beautiful that was almost indescribable! Can you imagine trying to tell someone what heaven looks like. Here's what Michelangelo's version looks like:

In any event, this is the framework for the entire book of Revelation. It is John's description of what he saw and metaphors that are designed to help us understand it. This should be kept in mind as we read our assigned passage (Rev 3:14-22). 

Take a look at Rev 1 and see if you see the same things.

As you read the assigned passage, zero in on Rev 3:20, a commonly known and used verse. What does it mean in the context of this passage/chapter/book?

Come ready to discuss your findings and methods this Thursday at 7:00!