Alive Forever and Ever

Opening question: If you could, would you want to live forever?

Let’s read Revelation 1:9-18:

9 I, John, am a believer like you. I am a friend who suffers like you. As members of Jesus' royal family, we can put up with anything that happens to us. I was on the island of Patmos because I taught God's word and what Jesus said. 10 The Holy Spirit took complete control of me on the Lord's Day. I heard a loud voice behind me that sounded like a trumpet. 11 The voice said, "Write on a scroll what you see. Send it to the seven churches in Asia Minor. They are Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea." 12 I turned around to see who was speaking to me. When I turned, I saw seven golden lampstands. 13 In the middle of them was someone who looked like the Son of man. He was dressed in a long robe with a gold strip of cloth around his chest. 14 The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow. His eyes were like a blazing fire. 15 His feet were like bronze metal glowing in a furnace. His voice sounded like rushing waters. 16 He held seven stars in his right hand. Out of his mouth came a sharp sword that had two edges. His face was like the sun shining in all of its brightness. 17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as if I were dead. Then he put his right hand on me and said, "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18 I am the Living One. I was dead. But look! I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys to Death and Hell."

Discussion questions:
1. Who was John, and who was he writing to?
2. What does it mean to be a believer? A believer in what?
3. What does the term “royal family” mean, and how do you become a member?
4. What was John doing on the island of Patmos, taking a vacation?
5. How is the person speaking to John described?
6. Who is this person speaking to John, and from what you know, why did he die?
7. What do you think Jesus means by holding the “keys of Death and Hell”?