Revelation 19:11-21

Yesterday morning my family finished considering Revelation 19:11-21 in our study of the book of Revelation using Douglas Connelly’s The Book of Revelation Made Clear (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2007) and Serendipity Bible for Study Groups (Littleton, Colorado: Serendipity House, 1988). It announces Jesus’ return with the armies of heaven and their defeat of the Antichrist and his allies. The passage and any other Biblical quotations given below are from the ESV. My comments on the passage are based primarily on Connelly’s exposition of it. The answers to the Serendipity Bible for Study Groups questions are based on what I can remember of our family discussion of them.

11 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. 13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. 14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. 15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.

17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to all the birds that fly directly overhead, “Come, gather for the great supper of God, 18 to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, both small and great.” 19 And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and against his army. 20 And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. 21 And the rest were slain by the sword that came from the mouth of him who was sitting on the horse, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh.

John sees the skies open and reveal a white horse carrying a rider called Faithful and True, Jesus, returning to judge and make war on those who oppose him. His eyes are like fire, he is crowned with many diadems, he has a name that only he knows, he is wearing a robe dipped in blood, he is followed by the armies of heaven, he has a sword coming from his mouth, and he has written on his robe and on his thigh “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” The robe “dipped in blood” is not a reminder of the cross but of the judgment Jesus would bring. The armies of heaven following Jesus are dressed in white and riding white horses. Connelly says that they are likely church-age believers but could also include Old Testament believers, Tribulation believers, and angels.
The armies of the Antichrist and of the kings of the East have already turned from fighting each other and gathered in and around Israel to fight against Jesus (Revelation 17:14). The Antichrist and the false prophet are captured and thrown alive into hell. Then the armies are killed by the sword that comes from Jesus’ mouth. Connelly says that Zechariah 14:12-13 suggests how they will be slain: “And this shall be the plague with which the Lord will strike all the peoples that wage war against Jerusalem: their flesh will rot while they are still standing on their feet, their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongues will rot in their mouths. And on that day a great panic from the Lord shall fall on them, so that each will seize the hand of another, and the hand of the one will be raised against the hand of the other.” The birds of the whole region are called by an angel to feast on their flesh.

Questions from Serendipity Bible for Study Groups

These questions are the ones on Revelation 19:11-21 in Serendipity Bible for Study Groups.

DIG, 1. What regarding the horse, the rider, and the setting commands your attention? What description, titles, and names from the rest of Revelation help you to identify the rider?
“His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he … is clothed in a robe dipped in blood” are the features that commanded the attention of members of our family.
DIG, 2. Who is following Christ: The church militant (still on earth)? Or the church triumphant (now in heaven)? Why?
The church triumphant is following Jesus, their coming from heaven nd being described as the armies of heaven.
DIG, 3. What weapon does the rider wield?
The rider is wielding a sword, its coming from his mouth.
DIG, 4. How does this supper (vv. 17-18) compare with the wedding supper (19:9)?
This supper is eaten by birds, their feast on the flesh of the armies opposing Jesus, but the wedding supper is eaten by those invited to the wedding of Jesus and the church.
DIG, 5. Who are the combatants in this war (vv. 19-21)? Who wins? What happens to the enemy leaders? To the army?
In this war are Jesus and the armies of heaven combat the Antichrist, the rulers of the world, and their followers.
DIG, 6. How does this “last battle” compare to the “previous” ones (16:12-16; 17:14-16) and a “later” one (20:7-10)? Do you think these are different accounts of the same battle? Why?
The battles described in Revelation 16:12-16 and 17:14-16 seem to be the same battle as this battle. The battle described in Revelation is a later battle, taking place after instead of before the Millennium and pitting people led by Satan, instead of by the Antichrist, against Jesus and God’s people.
REFLECT. What hopes and fears does this triumphant picture bring out in you? Why? How has Jesus been your deliverer this year?
Our answers to this question were personal and so I won’t share them here.

1 Peter 2:11-25

Yesterday evening the Life group which meets in my wife’s and my home continued our study of the life and writings of the apostle Peter by studying 1 Peter 2:11-25. Our study of it consisted of our reading the passage and discussing the following questions: Chapter Two Review Questions 11-25 in Executable Outlines (http://executableoutlines.com/) and DIG questions 1-3 and REFLECT questions 1-3 on 1 Peter 2:13-25 in Serendipity Bible for Study Groups (Serendipity House, 1988). Mark Copeland gives permission to users of the website to use the material there freely, and Serendipity House gave me permission to reproduce material from it for small group use.

1 Peter 2:11-25 (ESV)

11 Beloved, I urge you has sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

13 Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, 14 or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. 16 Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. 17 Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. 19 For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. 21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 25 For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Executable Outlines Review Questions

11) What is our duty as sojourners and pilgrims in this world? Why? (11-12)
Our duty as sojourners and pilgrims in this world is “to abstain from the passions of the flesh [and to] keep [our] conduct among [unbelievers] honorable” so that they will glorify God on the “day of visitation,” which we understood to be the day of judgment. “Beloved” marks the beginning of a new section in the letter; it also occurs in 4:12. Copeland views 2:11-12 as expressing the theme of 1 Peter.
12) What is our duty towards the governments of men? Why?
We are to “be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution” so that our doing good will “put to silence the ignorance of foolish people,” which may refer to accusations that unbelievers might ignorantly make about Christians, which in Peter’s day included such charges as that they practised cannibalism when they celebrated the Lord’s Supper. We also read what Paul wrote on submission to governing authorities in Romans 13:1-7 and noted that there are exceptions as Peter and the apostles told the Sanhedrin in Acts 5:29, “We must obey God rather than men.”
13) How are we to use our freedom in Christ? (16)
We are to use our freedom in Christ “as servants of God” and not “as a cover-up for evil.” Being free in Christ doesn’t license us to do as we please.
14) What four admonitions summarize our duties to others? (17)
“Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.” We are to respect everyone, but to love fellow-Christians. We are to respect rulers, but to reverence God.
15) What is the duty of servants to their masters? (18)
Servants are to submit themselves to their masters with respect. We also read what Paul said in his letter to the Ephesians on this (Ephesians 6:5-8). I suggested that Peter’s and Paul’s advice to servants/slaves applies to employees’ relationship to employers today.
16) What is commendable before God? (19-20)
It is commendable before God if a person endures suffering though doing good because he is mindful of God.
17) To what have we been called? (21)
We have been called to follow in the steps of Christ, who suffered for us.
18) How did Jesus suffer wrongly and bear it patiently? (22-23)
“When [Jesus] was reviled, he did not revile in return [and] when he suffered, he did not threaten” because he entrusted himself to God who judges justly.
20) What good did Jesus accomplish by suffering such abuse? (24-25)
Jesus bore our sins on the cross so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness.

Serendipity Bible for Study Groups Questions

DIG, 1.With government persecution, why is submission to authority a concern for Peter (vv. 12-14)?
Submission to authority is a concern to Peter because he fears believers might retaliate when persecuted and cause disrespect towards themselves and God.
DIG, 2. What does Peter mean by “submit” in this context? What equivalent verbs do you see?
“Submit” means to respect.
DIG, 3. How does their relationship with God influence their regard for human authority?
Their relationship with God should influence them to respect human authority because it is God’s will that they respect human authority
REFLECT, 1. What “authorities” are over you? How do you apply verses 16-17 in those relationships?
We included both secular and religious authorities in discussing this question.
REFLECT, 2. Peter wrote to a people who had no civil or employee rights. How would his advice be different to people in a country (or position) where their legal rights were being violated by authority gone bad (see Ac 16:35-37)?
We read Acts 16:35-37 before discussing this question.
REFLECT, 3. How could Jesus’ example help you face hardships you can’t change? How do yoy know when to submit and when to resist?
This is a personal question.

Revelation 19:1-10

This morning my family finished considering Revelation 19:1-10 in our study of the book of Revelation using Douglas Connelly’s The Book of Revelation Made Clear and Serendipity Bible for Study Groups. It announces the wedding supper of the Lamb. The passage and any other Biblical quotations given below are from the ESV. My comments on the passage are based primarily on Connelly’s exposition of it. The answers to the Serendipity Bible for Study Groups questions are based on what I can remember of our family discussion of them.

1 After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out,
“Hallelujah!
Salvation and glory and power belong to our God,
2 for his judgments are true and just;
for he has judged the great prostitute
who corrupted the earth with her immorality,
and has avenged on her the blood of his servants.”
3 Once more they cried out,
“Hallelujah!
The smoke from her goes up forever and ever.”
4 And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who was seated on the throne, saying, “Amen. Hallelujah!” 5 And from the throne came a voice saying,
“Praise our God,
all you his servants,
you who fear him,
small and great.”
6 Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out,
“Hallelujah!
For the Lord our God
the Almighty reigns.
7 Let us rejoice and exult
and give him the glory,
for the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and his Bride has made herself ready;
8 it was granted her to clothe herself
with fine linen, bright and pure”—
for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.
9 And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.” 10 Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God.” For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

The destruction of Babylon the Great in chapter 17 marks the end of the Tribulation and God’s day begins. Just before Jesus returns to earth, the inhabitants of heaven shout praises to God. Four times we hear the word “Hallelujah!” a Hebrew word meaning “Praise to Yahweh.”
The first “Hallelujah!” comes from what sounds like a great multitude in heaven, whom Connelly thinks are the Tribulation martyrs. Earlier they had called out for God to avenge their deaths and now He has destroyed Babylon. They praise Him for the justice of His judgment of it.
The second “Hallelujah!” comes them again, They cry, “The smoke from her goes up forever and ever,” which Connelly says can’t refer to Babylon’s burning forever and so must refer to the eternal judgment of those who carried out the Antichrist’s schemes.
The third “Hallelujah!” comes from the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures around God’s throne, whom Connelly identified in considering Revelation 4 as the raptured church-age believers and four magnificent angels. They shout, “Amen, Hallelujah!” “Amen” means “may it be.”
Before the next “Hallelujah!” John hears a voice from the throne, probably that of an angel, encouraging all God’s servants to praise Him.
The fourth “Hallelujah!” comes from what sounds like a great multitude in heaven, whom Connelly thinks consists of everyone in heaven—Tribulation martyrs, church-age believers, Old Testament believers, and angels. They rejoice because the wedding supper of the Lamb is about to begin. The Lamb’s bride is the church and is dressed in fine linen, which John says stands for the righteous deeds of its members. According to Alan F. Johnson, “the [righteous deeds] don’t imply any kind of meritorious works that would bring salvation.… The bride is ‘given’ the garments, but she ‘has made herself ready’ for the wedding by faithfulness and loyalty” (“Revelation” in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing Company, 1981, volume 12, pages 571-72).
The angel accompanying John prompts him to write, “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” John falls down in worship to him, but the angel forbids him, reminding him that only God should be worshipped. The angel adds, “The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy,” which Connelly explains as meaning that the purpose of true prophecy is to exalt Jesus.

Questions from Serendipity Bible for Study Groups

These questions are the ones on Revelation 19:1-10 in The NIV Serendipity Bible for Study Groups (Zondervan Publishing House, 1988).
DIG, 1. In contrast to the silence that comes with the fall of Babylon (18:22), what characterizes the new scene in heaven? Who participates in this praise?
This scene is characterized by loud shouting by everyone in heaven.
DIG, 2. Compare and contrast the five songs of praise. What is the most frequent refrain? What do you learn about God’s character?
The first two or three songs praised God for His destruction of Babylon, and the last song praised Him because the wedding of the Lamb was about to occur. The most frequent refrain was “Hallelujah?” The songs show that God is all-powerful and good.
DIG, 3. Contrast the prostitute of chapters 17 and 18 with the bride of verses 6-9 (see also Eph 5:25-27), What do you find interesting about this contrast? Why?
The prostitute was wicked and dressed in purple and scarlet, and the bride was righteous and dressed in white linen.
DIG, 4. How is John (and how might we be) tempted to worship the angel or messenger of the good news?
John was tempted to worship the angel because of all that he has shown John.
DIG, 5. How is the witness of Jesus related to prophecy.
The purpose of prophecy is to exalt Jesus.
REFLECT, 1. What are four things for which you are extremely grateful to God? How do you usually express your gratitude to him about these things?
REFLECT, 2. How has your interest in worshipping God increased or decreased in the last year? Since beginning your study of Revelation? Why?
REFLECT, 3. What sounds of worship do you really appreciate? Why? How will you use them this week to worship God?
REFLECT, 4. How does the defeat and condemnation of Babylon and the triumph and glory of the Lord God affect your overall view of your problems here and now? What is one problem you hope to manage more confidently and joyfully as a result of your study of Revelation?
We discussed the first of the REFLECT questions but our answers to it were personal.

Revelation 18:9-24

This morning my family finished considering Revelation 18:9-24 in our study of the book of Revelation using Douglas Connelly’s The Book of Revelation Made Clear and Serendipity Bible for Study Groups. It tells how three groups—kings, merchants, and seamen— will lament the fall of Babylon the great. The passage and any other Biblical quotations given below are from the ESV. My comments on the passage are based primarily on Connelly’s exposition of it. The answers to the Serendipity Bible for Study Groups questions are based on what I can remember of our family discussion of them.

9 And the kings of the earth, who committed sexual immorality and lived in luxury with her, will weep and wail over her when they see the smoke of her burning. 10 They will stand far off, in fear of her torment, and say,
“Alas! Alas! You great city,
you mighty city, Babylon!
For in a single hour your judgment has come.”
11 And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn for her, since no one buys their cargo anymore, 12 cargo of gold, silver, jewels, pearls, fine linen, purple cloth, silk, scarlet cloth, all kinds of scented wood, all kinds of articles of ivory, all kinds of articles of costly wood, bronze, iron and marble, 13 cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, frankincense, wine, oil, fine flour, wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and slaves, that is, human souls.
14 “The fruit for which your soul longed
has gone from you,
and all your delicacies and your splendors
are lost to you,
never to be found again!”
15 The merchants of these wares, who gained wealth from her, will stand far off, in fear of her torment, weeping and mourning aloud,
16 “Alas, alas, for the great city
that was clothed in fine linen,
in purple and scarlet,
adorned with gold,
with jewels, and with pearls!
17 For in a single hour all this wealth has been laid waste.”
And all shipmasters and seafaring men, sailors and all whose trade is on the sea, stood far off 18 and cried out as they saw the smoke of her burning,
“What city was like the great city?”
19 And they threw dust on their heads as they wept and mourned, crying out,
“Alas, alas, for the great city
where all who had ships at sea
grew rich by her wealth!
For in a single hour she has been laid waste.
20 Rejoice over her, O heaven
and you saints and apostles and prophets,
for God has given judgment for you against her!”
21 Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying,
“So will Babylon the great city be thrown down with violence,
and will be found no more;
22 and the sound of harpists and musicians, of flute players and trumpeters,
will be heard in you no more,
and a craftsman of any craft
will be found in you no more,
and the sound of the mill
will be heard in you no more,
23 and the light of a lamp
will shine in you no more,
and the voice of bridegroom and bride
will be heard in you no more,
for your merchants were the great ones of the earth,
and all nations were deceived by your sorcery.
24 And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints,
and of all who have been slain on earth.”

Three groups of people mourn Babylon’s fall:
– The political leaders mourn because their strength, power, and influence are gone. According to Connelly’s reconstruction of end-time events, the Antichrist himself isn’t in the capital city when it falls. He’s at Armageddon in Israel preparing for the last war against God and His people.
– The merchants mourn because their wealth is gone.
– The seamen mourn because their jobs (transporting good to Babylon) are gone.
However the people in heaven will rejoice because God is bringing justice on an empire that has killed so many Christians.
An angel takes a huge boulder and throws it into the sea to illustrate how Babylon is going to be thrown down and sink to never rise again. Through the angel God points out three reasons for Babylon’s complete destruction:
– They worshipped material wealth instead of God — “your merchants were the great ones of the earth.”
– Demons were in control instead of God — “all nations were deceived by your sorcery.”
– God’s people were killed in it — “in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints.”

Questions from Serendipity Bible for Study Groups

These questions are the ones on Revelation 18:9-24 in the questions about Revelation 18 in The NIV Serendipity Bible for Study Groups (Zondervan Publishing House, 1988).

DIG, 2. How do the voices from the world greet the fall of Babylon (vv.9-20)? Contemporize each of their laments—make them your own. Why do they mourn? Why would you mourn if you were in their situation?
All three groups mourned the fall of Babylon—the political leaders because of the loss of their power and influence, the merchants because of the loss of their wealth, and the seamen because of the loss of their jobs. We didn’t contemporize their laments or discuss what we would lament if we were in their situation.
DIG, 3. Compare this passage with the following OT prophecies about the fall of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah (Ge 19), Babylon (Isa 13, 47), and Tyre (Eze 27-28). How is each an historical example of the fall of this spiritual Babylon?
In Genesis 19, two angels told Lot to take his family and leave Sodom because God was going to destroy it and Gomorrah because of the outcry against its people (in Genesis 18 the angels also referred to their sin). In Isaiah 13 Isaiah prophesied that God would stir the Medes to come against and destroy Babylon because of its wickedness and arrogance, and in Isaiah 47 Isaiah prophesied that God would destroy Babylon because of its treatment of Israel and its idolatry. In Ezekiel 27-29 Ezekiel prophesied the destruction of Tyre, referring to its merchants and seamen in doing so.
DIG, 4. What conclusions do you draw concerning the destruction of Babylon from this comparison? What do you learn about God?
We concluded that God will destroy because of its treatment of His people and of its wickedness. We learn that God is all-powerful and just (rewarding good and punishing evil).
REFLECT, 1. If you were going to describe your life in terms of a city, what would you say? What kinds of cargoes are coming into it? What activities take place within its walls? How does it compare with Babylon? What would be a fitting name for your city? Why that name? What do you do to keep the evils listed in the passage out of your city or life?
REFLECT, 2. When has an important part of your life collapsed? What did other individuals say about this demise? What perspective did God brong to your fallen situation?
REFLECT, 3. What is the most important lesson you have learned from this passage? What actions will you take today based on this insight?
We considered the REFLECT questions personally but not in a group discussion.

Revelation 18:1-8

Yesterday morning my family considered Revelation 18:1-8 in our study of the book of Revelation using Douglas Connelly’s The Book of Revelation Made Clear and Serendipity Bible for Study Groups. In it an angel announces the fall of Babylon the great. The passage and any other Biblical quotations given below are from the ESV. My comments on the passage are based primarily on Connelly’s exposition of it. The answers to the Serendipity Bible for Study Groups questions are based on what I can remember of our family discussion of them.

1 After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was made bright with his glory. 2 And he called out with a mighty voice,
“Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great!
She has become a dwelling place for demons,
a haunt for every unclean spirit,
a haunt for every unclean bird,
a haunt for every unclean and detestable beast.
3 For all nations have drunk
the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality,
and the kings of the earth have committed immorality with her,
and the merchants of the earth have grown rich from the power of her luxurious living.”
4 Then I heard another voice from heaven saying,
“Come out of her, my people,
lest you take part in her sins,
lest you share in her plagues;
5 for her sins are heaped high as heaven,
and God has remembered her iniquities.
6 Pay her back as she herself has paid back others,
and repay her double for her deeds;
mix a double portion for her bin the cup she mixed.
7 As she glorified herself and lived in luxury,
so give her a like measure of torment and mourning,
since in her heart she says,
‘I sit as a queen,
I am no widow,
and mourning I shall never see.’
8 For this reason her plagues will come in a single day,
death and mourning and famine,
and she will be burned up with fire;
for mighty is the Lord God who has judged her.”

John sees an angel appear whose splendour lights up the earth. The angel calls out loudly, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great!” (On the identity of “Babylon the great,” see below.) He goes on to say that Babylon the great has become the dwelling place for demons and corrupted the world. Then John hears another voice from heaven, this one speaking on behalf of God. It appeals to God’s people to leave Babylon the great because God is about to punish it for what it has done, warning that in just one day He will inflict it with death, mourning, and famine and destroy it with fire.
Connelly closes his exposition of the passage with this comment on God’s appeal to His people to leave Babylon the great: “Why are any followers of Jesus in this sinful city to begin with? The righteous man Lot lived in Sodom (Genesis 19:1, 2 Peter 2:6-9), and true believers will be in the Antichrist’s city at the end. God warns them to flee, and as soon as they escape, judgment comes.” (Douglas Connelly, The Book of Revelation Made Clear, Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2007, page 299)

Identity of “Babylon the great”

Some Bible scholars think that “Babylon the great” is the literal city of Babylon in Iraq, their arguing that the Bible says “Babylon” and we should accept what it says and that the predictions of the destruction of Babylon in Isaiah 13 and 47 and in Jeremiah 50-51 have yet to be completely fulfilled. Other Bible scholars think that “Babylon the great” is another city, their arguing that the predictions of Babylon’s destruction were fulfilled when the Persians captured and later destroyed it, that John says things about it that don’t fit Babylon in Iraq—it was “drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of the martyrs of Jesus” (Revelation 17:6) and it sits on seven mountains (17:9), and that the earliest Christians commenting on the book of Revelation took “Babylon” to refer to Rome. Connelly concludes, “The Antichrist will rule a revived Roman/Western empire from a powerful city. John calls it ‘Babylon’; we know it (most likely) as Rome.” (Connelly, page 296)

Question from Serendipity Bible for Study Groups

This question is the only one on Revelation 18:1-8 in the questions about Revelation 18 in The NIV Serendipity Bible for Study Groups (Zondervan Publishing House, 1988).

DIG, 1. As compelling as the power of evil is, a more compelling authority shouts an overriding double-edged message: one edge cutting Babylon and her followers, the other exhorting God’s people. What are the two voices, the two messages, and the two responses from the two audiences? How does God’s perspective on Babylon (vv.2-6) differ from Babylon’s self-understanding (v.7)?
The two voices are the voice of an angel and the voice of God or of someone speaking for Him. The first message announces the fall of Babylon, and the second voice appeals to God’s people to leave Babylon and explains why Babylon deserves destruction. The passage doesn’t tell how the two audiences respond to the messages. God views Babylon as evil and deserving of destruction, but Babylon views herself as above others and impossible to harm.

1 Peter 2:4-10

Yesterday evening the Life group which meets in my wife’s and my home continued our study of the life and writings of the apostle Peter by studying 1 Peter 2:4-10. Our study of it consisted of our reading the passage and discussing the following questions: Chapter Two Review Questions 5-10 in Mark Copeland’s Executable Outlines (http://executableoutlines.com/) and DIG question 1 and REFLECT question 3 on 1 Peter 2:4-12 in The NIV Serendipity Bible for Study Groups (Serendipity House, 1988). Mark Copeland gives permission to users of the website to use the material there freely, and Serendipity House gave me permission to reproduce material from it for small group use.

1 Peter 2:4-10 (ESV)

4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it stands in Scripture:
“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone,
a cornerstone chosen and precious,
and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”
7 So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe,
“The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone,”
8 and
“A stone of stumbling,
and a rock of offense.”
They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.
9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Executable Outlines Review Questions

5) What kind of stone is used to describe Jesus? (4)
Jesus is described as “a living stone” and as “rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious.” He is solid like a stone and thus good for building on, and he is living rather than inanimate or dead. Also men rejected and crucified him, but God views him as precious and raised him from the grave.
6) What two metaphors are used to describe Christians? (5)
Two metaphors used to describe Christians are “living stones, being built up as a spiritual house” and “a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” As living stones Christians form a temple in which God can dwell as He did in the tabernacle and temple in the Old Testament. As priests they offer sacrifices to God as priests did in the Old Testament. We discussed Romans 12:1, Philippians 4:18, and Hebrews 13:15-16 in considering what “spiritual sacrifices” are.
7) What prophecy foretells the laying of a chief cornerstone in Zion? (6)
Isaiah 28:16, “Therefore thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation.”
8) What is Jesus to those who believe in Him? To those who do not believe? (6-8)
Jesus is “a cornerstone chosen and precious” to those who believe in him and “a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense” to those who do not believe. We discussed how Jesus is a cornerstone to believers and how he is a stone of stumbling to unbelievers.
9) What is the appointed end of those who do not believe and are disobedient? (8)
The destined end of those who are disobedient to the message is to stumble. I noted that some Bible scholars believe that “what they are destined for” is to disobey the message and stumble.
10) How are Christians described by Peter? What is their duty? Why? (9-10)
Christians are “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession”; we discussed the meaning of each of the terms. Their duty is to “proclaim the excellencies of him who called [them] out of darkness into his marvelous light.” The reason is that “[they] are God’s people [now that they] have received mercy.”

The NIV Serendipity Bible for Study Groups Questions

DIG, 1. What similarities does Peter show between Christ’s experience and that of these people?
Both Jesus Christ and Peter’s readers were/are chosen by God and rejected by other people.
REFLECT, 3. How does it make you feel to be chosen, royalty, and God’s possession? When is it most difficult to remember what God has made you?
We spent considerable time discussing this question, but because what we said was personal I won’t share it here.

Revelation 17:6-18

This morning my family finished considering Revelation 17:6-18 in our study of the book of Revelation using Douglas Connelly’s The Book of Revelation Made Clear and Serendipity Bible for Study Groups. In it an angel explains to John “the mystery of the woman and of the beast she rides.” The passage and any other Biblical quotations given below are from the ESV. My comments on the passage are based primarily on Connelly’s exposition of it. The answers to the Serendipity Bible for Study Groups questions are based on what I can remember of our family discussion of them.

6 And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.
When I saw her, I marveled greatly. 7 But the angel said to me, “Why do you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast with seven heads and ten horns that carries her. 8 The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to rise from the bottomless pit and go to destruction. And the dwellers on earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel to see the beast, because it was and is not and is to come. 9 This calls for a mind with wisdom: the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated; 10 they are also seven kings, five of whom have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come, and when he does come he must remain only a little while. 11 As for the beast that was and is not, it is an eighth but it belongs to the seven, and it goes to destruction. 12 And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power, but they are to receive authority as kings for one hour, together with the beast. 13 These are of one mind, and they hand over their power and authority to the beast. 14 They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.”
15 And the angel said to me, “The waters that you saw, where the prostitute is seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and languages. 16 And the ten horns that you saw, they and the beast will hate the prostitute. They will make her desolate and naked, and devour her flesh and burn her up with fire, 17 for God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose by being of one mind and handing over their royal power to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled. 18 And the woman that you saw is the great city that has dominion over the kings of the earth.”

The leaders of the future religious system represented by the woman have three specific goals in mind:
– They will seek to destroy all the followers of the true God. In the Tribulation they will be supported by the civil authority and will search out and slaughter Tribulation believers and witnesses (the Greek of “the martyrs of Jesus” means “the witnesses to Jesus”) until they are drunk with their blood.
– They will seek to exalt the beast (the Antichrist). The passage says that the beast “was, and is not, and is about to rise from the bottomless pit and go to destruction.” Connelly thinks that this refers to the fatal wound suffered by the Antichrist when he attacks Israel in the middle of the Tribulation (Revelation 13:3, 14). During the time of his death he descends into the Abyss, where he becomes fully dominated and indwelt by Satan. He also possesses incredible political power. The angel says that the beast’s seven heads are seven mountains, which Connelly identifies as the seven hills of Rome, and are also seven kings, whom Connelly identifies as five Roman emperors who could have been the Antichrist if the Tribulation started in John’s day, the emperor who sent John into exile (Domitian), and the Antichrist, the final Roman emperor who will rule during the Tribulation (thus Connelly suggests that the Antichrist might be both the seventh and the eighth rulers.) The angel also says that the ten horns are ten kings who will reign under the beast for a brief time (“one hour”)
– They will make war against Jesus and his followers. In the first half of the Tribulation they will have incredible power and influence. However the day will come, likely in the middle of the Tribulation, the beast (the Antichrist) will turn on them. Connelly explains, “When the Antichrist sets himself up as God in the temple, he will tolerate no competition, no rivalry for worship. At that point he will strip the apostate church of her power, devour her wealth, and burn whatever is left” (Douglas Connelly, The Book of Revelation Made Clear, Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2007, page 291).

Personally I wondered about Connelly’s identifying the seventh king as a future Roman emperor considering that there is no indication in the Bible or in today’s world that the Roman empire will be revived. Thus I found interesting Walvoord’s and Wiersbe’s identifying the first six kings as six world powers (Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome) and the seventh king as a future world power); Walvoord makes a long quotation from Joseph A. Seiss’s The Apocalypse (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 1957, pages 391-94, in support of that view. However the other two commentators whose commentaries on Revelation I consulted, Mounce and Keener, give views similar to Connelly’s. I certainly agree with Connelly’s claim that Revelation 17:7-13 is “one of the most difficult passages in the New Testament” (Connelly, page 287).

Questions from Serendipity Bible for Study Groups

These questions are the ones on Revelation 17:6-18 in the questions about Revelation 17 in The NIV Serendipity Bible for Study Groups (Zondervan Publishing House, 1988). I haven’t shared from our answers to REFLECT 2-4 because they were personal.

DIG, 2. What here is the ultimate sin? Why?
Here the ultimate sin is warring against the Lamb and his followers.
DIG, 3. What does the angel say about the origin of the beast? Its history? Its future? What response does the beats elicit? Why?
The angel doesn’t say where the beast originates from but says that it is now in the Abyss. He says that it once was, now is not but is in the Abyss, that it will come again, that it will war against the Lamb, and that it will be destroyed by the Lamb and his followers..
DIG, 4. Geographically, historically, and spiritually, what do you think the beast’s seven heads and ten horns represent (see also Da 7:15-28)? Why do the kings and the beast join forces? With what result? How can evil turn on itself, Satan (in effect) casting out Satan? How does God’s greater purpose triumph in all this?
I understand the beast’s seven heads to represent both the seven hills of Rome and seven first-century Roman emperors, giving meaning and hope to Christians of John’s day, and the beast’s ten horns to represent a coalition of end-time nations which will support the Antichrist in his war against the Lamb and his followers, giving meaning and hope to us. The kings and the beast join forces to war against the Lamb. They will be defeated by the Lamb and his followers. The beast turns on the woman because each wants to be supreme and because God put it into their hearts. God’s greater purpose triumphed because He became recognized as Lord of lords and King of all kings.
DIG, 5. How are the readers of Revelation comforted by the various “definitions” of the symbols? How do these many symbols draw attention to a single object from different angles?
If the readers of Revelation understood the beast to represent the Roman Empire, they would be comforted by John’s prophecy that it would be defeated by the Lamb. We didn’t discuss the second part of the question.
REFLECT, 1. In this passage how does Babylon symbolize what is wrong with society today? For example, what institutions have been overthrown by revolution, only to be replaced by new regimes which surrender to the same godless ideology?
The main thing that the passage attributes to Babylon that is wrong with society today is professing to be religious but not worshipping and obeying God.
REFLECT, 2. Of society’s wrongs, which ones have entrapped you from time to time? How has God enabled you to avoid the snares of “the great prostitute”?
REFLECT, 3. Surely by now you are “calling for a mind with wisdom” (v. 9). What wisdom do you want in the new few weeks? What wisdom do you need in understanding the message of Revelation?
REFLECT, 4. If you have not grasped the full meaning of the various beasts, have you at least been frightened by the power of evil? How will you translate that fear into action or hope?

Revelation 17:1-5

This morning my family considered Revelation 17:1-5 in our study of the book of Revelation using Douglas Connelly’s The Book of Revelation Made Clear and The NIV Serendipity Bible for Study Groups. It describes a woman sitting on a beast. The passage and any other Biblical quotations given below are from the ESV. My comments are based primarily on Connelly’s exposition of the passage.

1 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who is seated on many waters, 2 with whom the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality, and with the wine of whose sexual immorality the dwellers on earth have become drunk.” 3 And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous names, and it had seven heads and ten horns. 4 The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and jewels and pearls, holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality. 5 And on her forehead was written a name of mystery: “Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth’s abominations.”

An angel invites John to witness the punishment of “the great prostitute,” the future apostate religious system. Connelly notes three things brought out about it in the invitation:
– It will permeate the Antichrist’s empire.
– It will lead the nations to turn away from the true God.
– It will intoxicate them in such a way that they can’t tell the difference between God’s truth and Satan’s lie.
John is carried by the Spirit into the wilderness where he sees the woman sitting on a scarlet beast that is covered with God-mocking names. The beast is the Antichrist. The woman’s sitting on it shows that she controls it to an extent and that it supports her. This seems to describe the situation in the first half of the Tribulation.
The woman is dressed in purple and scarlet and adorned with gold, jewels, and pearls, showing that she is not only powerful but wealthy. She is holding a golden cup full of abominable things.
The woman’s name is a mystery, its being hidden until God reveals it. Its being called “Babylon the Great” doesn’t mean that it is the actual city of Babylon or the Babylonian empire that was prominent in the Old Testament. Connelly says that it means that the woman “is a source of false worship, just as Babylon was the source of false religion and idolatry in the Old Testament” (Douglas Connelly, The Book of Revelation Made Clear, Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2007, page 284).

Question from The NIV Serendipity Bible for Study Groups

This question is the only question on Revelation 17:1-5 in the questions about Revelation 17 in The NIV Serendipity Bible for Study Groups (Zondervan Publishing House, 1988). The answers to the questions in it are what I remember of how our family answered them.

DIG, 1. Who is the central figure in the next scene? Who appears to be “off-stage”? In what sense is she influential? Evil? Attractive? Repulsive? Who is she (see also 14:8 and 16:19)? How is the woman and this beast like the first and second beasts of chapter 13?
The central figure in this passage is a woman. John appears to be “off-stage.” That the woman is influential is shown by the kings of the earth committing adultery with her and its inhabitants becoming drunk on her wine. That she is evil is shown by her cup’s being full of abominable things and also by her being drunk with the blood of the saints (Revelation 17:6, which both the NIV and the ESV put with 17:1-5). She is Babylon the Great. Like the first and second beasts of chapter 13, the woman and the scarlet beast represent the Antichrist (the beast) and the false prophet (the woman).

Revelation 16:12-21

Yesterday morning my family finished considering Revelation 16:12-21 in our study of the book of Revelation using Douglas Connelly’s The Book of Revelation Made Clear and The NIV Serendipity Bible for Study Groups. It continues describing the Tribulation judgments, telling what will happen when the angels pour out the sixth and seventh bowls of God’s wrath. The passage and any other Biblical quotations given below are from the ESV. My comments are based primarily on Connelly’s exposition of the passage.

The Sixth Bowl

12 The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, to prepare the way for the kings from the east. 13 And I saw, coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs. 14 For they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty. 15 (“Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!”) 16 And they assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.

The sixth angel poured his bowl on the Euphrates River in modern Iraq. The river’s water dried up to prepare the way for the kings of the East whom we met in Revelation 9. Those leaders will gather a massive army to war against the Antichrist, who has his throne in Jerusalem, and will kill a third of the world’s people in their march westward. They will be drawn by demonic power, John’s seeing three evil spirits spring from the mouths of the dragon (Satan), the beast (Antichrist), and the false prophet. The three evil spirits will perform Satanic miracles and draw all the kings of the world, not just those of the East, “for battle on the great day of the Lord.” As they march towards Jerusalem, Jesus will issue a word of assurance and warning, “Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!” The three evil spirits will assemble the armies at Armageddon, a wide valley next to the mount of Megiddo, fifty miles north of Jerusalem.
The preceding paragraph is how Connelly combines Revelation 9:13-16 and 16:12-16. However since it is speculative, even commentators who hold a similar view differ on some details. For example, whereas Connelly says that the leaders gathered their armies to war against the Antichrist:
– Keener says, “The devil and his agents…gather the nations together in order to battle the true God” (Craig S. Keener, The NIV Application Commentary: Revelation, Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2000, page 396).
– Mounce says, “The unclean spirits…gather the kings of the whole world for a great war against God and the hosts of heaven” (Robert H. Mounce, The Book of Revelation in The New International Commentary on the New Testament, Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1977, page 300).
– Walvoord says, “Some have interpreted this as this a gathering of forces in anticipation of the second coming of Christ. More probably, it reflects a conflict among the nations themselves in the latter part of the great tribulation as the world empire so hastily put together begins to disintegrate.” (John F. Walvoord, The Revelation of Jesus Christ, Chicago, Illinois: Moody Press, 1966, page 237)
– Wiersbe says, “Since ‘the beast’ has set up his image in the temple in Jerusalem, and since many Jews will not bow down to him, it is natural that the Holy City [and the Jews] would be the object of attack” (Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, Wheaton, Ilinois: Scripture Press Publications, 1989, volume 2, pages 610-11).

The Seventh Bowl

17 The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” 18 And there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, and a great earthquake such as there had never been since man was on the earth, so great was that earthquake. 19 The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell, and God remembered Babylon the great, to make her drain the cup of the wine of the fury of his wrath. 20 And every island fled away, and no mountains were to be found. 21 And great hailstones, about one hundred pounds each, fell from heaven on people; and they cursed God for the plague of the hail, because the plague was so severe.

When the seventh angel pours out his bowl, a loud voice (probably God’s) shouts, “It is done!” Like when the seventh seal on the scroll was broken (Revelation 8:5) and the seventh trumpet was sounded (Revelation 11:19), there are flashes of lightning, rumbles of thunder, and an earthquake. The earthquake causes “the great city,” which Connelly identifies as Jerusalem (called “the great city” in Revelation 11:8) or Babylon (described as “great” five times in Revelation 18) and others say could be Rome because the early church viewed it as a contemporary Babylon, to break into three parts and every city in the world to be devastated. Also the entire surface of the earth changes, great hailstones fall from the sky, and people again curse God instead of pleading with him for mercy.
Connelly concludes his exposition of Revelation 16 by observing, “The next event in the time line of Revelation comes in Revelation 19:11—Jesus returns from heaven to destroy his enemies and to establish his kingdom on the earth. Chapters 17 and 18 give us more details about specific events that occur in the Tribulation’s last days, but as the seven bowl judgments end, Jesus returns.” (Douglas Connelly, The Book of Revelation Made Clear, Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan), 2007, page 275

Questions from The NIV Serendipity Bible for Study Groups

These questions are the questions asked about Revelation 16:1-21 in The NIV Serendipity Bible for Study Groups (Zondervan Publishing House, 1988) which I didn’t ask in my last article. The answers to the DIG questions are what I remember of how our family answered them. The REFLECT questions are personal.

DIG, 3. What is described in the interlude (vv. 13-16) between the sixth and seventh bowls? What functions did the frogs perform?
In the interlude between the sixth and seventh bowls reassured and warned believers that he would be coming soon. The frogs encouraged the nations of the world to gather together to war against God.
DIG, 4. How will the just purposes of God and the evil purposes of Satan finally and awfully converge at Armageddon (or “hill of Megiddo,” an historic crossroads of the Middle East)?
Satan prompted the nations of the world to gather together to oppose the returning Christ at Armageddon.
DIG, 5. Compare the seven seals, seven trumpets, and seven bowls to each other and to the seven plagues of Egypt (Ex 7-10). What examples of contrast (e.g., “not only…but…”) can you find in each section?
The seven seals, seven trumpets, and seven bowls included plagues that were similar to each other and to the seven plagues of Egypt. The seven trumpets and the seven bowls differed in that the former affected only one-third of the areas or people but the former affected all of them.
REFLECT, 2. If “war is hell” (says Hawkeye on M*A*S*H), could John be envisioning that “hell is war”? What does this passage tell you about God’s judgment?
REFLECT, 3. What are the “frogs” that are battling with you? How is the battle going?

1 Peter 1:13-2:3

Yesterday evening the Life group which meets in my wife’s and my home continued our study of the life and writings of the apostle Peter by studying 1 Peter 1:13-2:3. Our study of it consisted of our reading the passage and Mark A. Copeland’s summary of it in his Executable Outlines (see below) and discussing the following questions: Chapter One Review Questions 13-20 and Chapter Two Review Questions 2-4 in Executable Outlines (http://executableoutlines.com/) and DIG question 1 and REFLECT question 2 on 1 Peter 1:13-2:3 in The NIV Serendipity Bible for Study Groups (Serendipity House, 1988). Mark Copeland gives permission to users of the website to use the material there freely, and Serendipity House gave me permission to reproduce material from it for small group use.

1 Peter 1:13-2:3 (ESV)

3 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, 18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you 21 who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 23 since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; 24 for
“All flesh is like grass
and all its glory like the flower of grass.
The grass withers,
and the flower falls,
25 but the word of the Lord remains forever.”
1 And this word is the good news that was preached to you.
2 So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

Executable Outlines Review Questions

(Chapter One)
13) Upon what are Christians to rest their hope? (13)
Christians are to rest their hope on the grace to be brought to them at the revelation of Jesus Christ. His appearance will bring blessedness and deliverance from sin and therefore should be looked forward to.
14) As obedient children, what three admonitions are given to Christians? ( 14-17)
The three admonitions given to Christians as obedient children are to not conform to their former desires, to be holy in all their conduct, and to conduct themselves in fear. See the Serendipity Bible questions below on what it means to be holy. “Fear” here doesn’t mean dread of but respect for God.
15) What three reasons are given to obey these admonitions (14-19)
The three reasons given to obey these admonitions are that God is holy, that as Father He judges impartially according to each one’s deeds (although this may refer only to the final judgment, more likely it refers to the present as well), and that they were ransomed (NIV, redeemed; purchased at a cost) with the precious blood of Christ and not with perishable things.
16) What four things are said about Christ? (20-21)
The four things said about Christ are that he was foreknown before the foundation of the world (God knew, even chose, before creation that He would send Jesus), that he was made manifest in these last times for us, that he was raised from the dead and given glory by God, and that through him we believe and have hope in God.
17) What did God do to Jesus so that our faith and hope are in God? (21)
God raised Jesus from the dead and gave him glory.
18) What two reasons are given for us to love one another fervently with a pure heart? (22-23)
The two reasons that are given for us to love one another fervently with a pure heart are that we have purified our souls by obeying the truth and that we have been born again through the word of God. In their notes on 1 Peter in NIV Study Bible (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2011), Donald W. Burdick and John H. Skilton explain how although the new birth comes about by the action of the Holy Spirit, the word of God also plays a part “for it presents the gospel to sinners and calls on them to repent and believe in Christ.”
19) What is said of the Word of God? (23-25)
The word of God is said to be imperishable seed, to be living and abiding, to remain forever, and to be the good news that was preached to them. Peter H. Davids points out that the word of word of God which Peter is talking about is the Gospel “as opposed to his creative word in the beginning or the words he spoke in between through the prophets” (Peter H. Davids, The New International Commentary on the New Testament: The First Epistle of Peter, Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1990, page 79).
20) What is said about flesh and the glory of man? (24)
Flesh is said to be like grass, and the glory of man is said to be like the flower of grass.
(Chapter Two)
2) What must we lay aside to grow spiritually? (1)
To grow spiritually we must lay aside all malice, all deceit and hypocrisy and envy, and all slander.
3) How should we long for the Word if we want to grow spiritually? (2)
If we want to grow spiritually, we should long for the Word like newborn babies crave for milk.
4) What should motivate us to desire the Word with such longing? (3)
What should motivate us to grown spiritually is that we have tasted that the Lord is good.

The NIV Serendipity Bible for Study Groups Questions

DIG, 1. From the five commands Peter gives in verses 13-15, how would you define “holy”?
Holiness includes both separation from the world and consecration to God.
REFLECT, 1. How does Peter’s call to holiness challenge you at home? Work? Community? Church?

Conclusion

Scot McKnight sums up 1:13-25 thus: “In summary, Peter exhorts the Christians of Asia Minor to work out their salvation by building a life of ethics that is rooted in the salvation that God has given to them and is based on the holy and loving character of God” (Scot McKnight, The NIV Application Commentary: 1 Peter, Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 1996, page 92). He goes on to point out the importance of a Christian’s rooting his or her ethics in solid Christian theology, expanding on this in applying the passage to contemporary life (pages 92-101).