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MEMORY VERSE: “Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved” (John 13:23).

Suggested Reading: The Acts of the Apostles, pp. 539–556.

“After the ascension of Christ, John stands forth as a faithful, earnest laborer for the Master.”—The Acts of the Apostles, p. 546.

1.  THE DISCIPLE WHOM JESUS LOVEDSun, May 17

a.  What examples reveal the disciple John’s close proximity to Jesus?

Matthew 17:1: And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.

Mark 14:33: And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled.

Luke 8:51: And when he came to the house, he allowed no one to enter with him, except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child.

“[John] seems to have enjoyed to a pre-eminent degree the friendship of Christ, and he received many tokens of the Saviour’s confidence and love. He was one of the three permitted to witness Christ’s glory upon the mount of transfiguration and His agony in Gethsemane, and it was to his care that our Lord confided His mother in those last hours of anguish upon the cross.”—The Acts of the Apostles, p. 539.

b.  How is John distinguished among the disciples?

John 13:23: One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at table at Jesus’ side,

John 21:20 (first part), 24: 20 Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who also had leaned back against him during the supper 24 This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true.

“John and James, Andrew and Peter, with Philip, Nathanael, and Mat-thew, had been more closely connected with Him than the others, and had witnessed more of His miracles. Peter, James, and John stood in still nearer relationship to Him. They were almost constantly with Him, witnessing His miracles, and hearing His words. John pressed into still closer intimacy with Jesus, so that he is distinguished as the one whom Jesus loved. The Saviour loved them all, but John’s was the most receptive spirit. He was younger than the others, and with more of the child’s confiding trust he opened his heart to Jesus. Thus he came more into sympathy with Christ, and through him the Saviour’s deepest spiritual teaching was communicated to His people.”—The De-sire of Ages, p. 292.

2.  A CHARACTER TRANSFORMEDMon, May 18

a.  What is the significance of the name that Jesus gave to John and his brother James?

Mark 3:17: James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder);

“John did not naturally possess the loveliness of character that his later experience revealed. By nature he had serious defects. He was not only proud, self-assertive, and ambitious for honor, but impetu-ous, and resentful under injury. He and his brother were called ‘sons of thunder.’ Evil temper, the desire for revenge, the spirit of criticism, were all in the beloved disciple. But beneath all this the divine Teacher discerned the ardent, sincere, loving heart. Jesus rebuked his self-seeking, disappointed his ambitions, tested his faith. But He re-vealed to him that for which his soul longed—the beauty of holiness, the transforming power of love.”—The Acts of the Apostles, p. 540.

b.  How did John learn a new way of relating to others?

John 13:34: A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.

1 John 4:7, 8: 7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.

“The lessons of Christ, setting forth meekness and humility and love as essential to growth in grace and a fitness for His work, were of the highest value to John. He treasured every lesson and constantly sought to bring his life into harmony with the divine pattern. John had begun to discern the glory of Christ—not the worldly pomp and pow-er for which he had been taught to hope, but ‘the glory as of the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.’ John 1:14.”—Ibid., p. 544.

c.  Describe the results of a heart full of love to our fellowman.

1 John 3:10, 11: 10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother. 11 For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

John 13:35: 10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.

Love One Another 11 For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

“The depth and fervor of John’s affection for his Master was not the cause of Christ’s love for him, but the effect of that love. John desired to become like Jesus, and under the transforming influence of the love of Christ he did become meek and lowly. Self was hid in Jesus. Above all his companions, John yielded himself to the power of that won-drous life. . . . John knew the Saviour by an experimental knowledge. His Master’s lessons were graven on his soul. When he testified of the Saviour’s grace, his simple language was eloquent with the love that pervaded his whole being.”—Ibid., pp. 544, 545.

3.  BANISHED TO PATMOSTue, May 19

a.  After attempts to take the life of John were not successful where was he eventually sent?

Revelation 1:9: I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.

“John was . . . summoned to Rome to be tried for his faith. Here before the authorities the apostle’s doctrines were misstated. False witnesses accused him of teaching seditious heresies. By these accusations his enemies hoped to bring about the disciple’s death.

“John answered for himself in a clear and convincing manner, and with such simplicity and candor that his words had a powerful effect. His hearers were astonished at his wisdom and eloquence. But the more convincing his testimony, the deeper was the hatred of his op-posers. . . .

“John was cast into a caldron of boiling oil; but the Lord preserved the life of His faithful servant, even as He preserved the three Hebrews in the fiery furnace. As the words were spoken, Thus perish all who be-lieve in that deceiver, Jesus Christ of Nazareth, John declared, My Master patiently submitted to all that Satan and his angels could de-vise to humiliate and torture Him. He gave His life to save the world. I am honored in being permitted to suffer for His sake. . . .

“These words had their influence, and John was removed from the caldron by the very men who had cast him in. . . .

“By the emperor’s decree John was banished to the Isle of Patmos. . . .

“Here, his enemies thought, his influence would no longer be felt, and he must finally die of hardship and distress.”—The Acts of the Apostles, pp. 569, 570.

b.  What precious privilege did his banishment present?

Revelation 1:1–3, 10, 11: 1 The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2 who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. 3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet 11 saying, “Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea. ”

“Patmos, a barren, rocky island in the Aegean Sea, had been chosen by the Roman government as a place of banishment for criminals; but to the servant of God this gloomy abode became the gate of heaven. Here, shut away from the busy scenes of life, and from the active la-bors of former years, he had the companionship of God and Christ and the heavenly angels, and from them he received instruction for the church for all future time. The events that would take place in the closing scenes of this earth’s history were outlined before him; and there he wrote out the visions he received from God.”—Ibid., pp. 570, 571.

4.  AN ENCOUNTER WITH CHRISTWed, May 20

a.  How did Christ appear to John in vision on Patmos?

Revelation 1:12–16: 12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, 15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.

“[The beloved disciple] had seen his Master in Gethsemane, His face marked with the blood drops of agony, His ‘visage . . . marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men.’ Isaiah 52:14. He had seen Him in the hands of the Roman soldiers, clothed with an old purple robe and crowned with thorns. He had seen Him hanging on the cross of Calvary, the object of cruel mockery and abuse. Now John is once more permitted to behold his Lord. But how changed is His appearance! He is no longer a Man of Sorrows, despised and hu-miliated by men. He is clothed in a garment of heavenly brightness. . . . Patmos is made resplendent with the glory of the risen Lord.”—The Acts of the Apostles, p. 582.

b.  What was John’s reaction, and what commission did Jesus have for him?

Revelation 1:17–19: 17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, 18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. 19 Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this.

“John was strengthened to live in the presence of his glorified Lord. Then before his wondering vision were opened the glories of heaven. He was permitted to see the throne of God and, looking beyond the conflicts of earth, to behold the white-robed throng of the redeemed. He heard the music of the heavenly angels and the triumphant songs of those who had overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony. In the revelation given to him there was unfolded scene after scene of thrilling interest in the experience of the people of God, and the history of the church foretold to the very close of time. In figures and symbols, subjects of vast importance were pre-sented to John, which he was to record, that the people of God living in his age and in future ages might have an intelligent understanding of the perils and conflicts before them.”—Ibid., pp. 582, 583.

c.  How is the book of Revelation a message to us personally?

Revelation 1:4–6: 4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood 6 and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Revelation 3:22: He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. ’”

“This revelation was given for the guidance and comfort of the church throughout the Christian dispensation. Yet religious teachers have de-clared that it is a sealed book and its secrets cannot be explained. Therefore many have turned from the prophetic record, refusing to devote time and study to its mysteries. But God does not wish His people to regard the book thus.”—Ibid., p. 583.

5.  CHRIST’S PRESENCE ASSUREDThu, May 21

a.  What did the vision of Christ among seven golden candlesticks signify?

Revelation 1:20: As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

“Christ is spoken of as walking in the midst of the golden candlesticks. Thus is symbolized His relation to the churches. He is in constant communication with His people. He knows their true state. He ob-serves their order, their piety, their devotion. Although He is high priest and mediator in the sanctuary above, yet He is represented as walking up and down in the midst of His churches on the earth. With untiring wakefulness and unremitting vigilance, He watches to see whether the light of any of His sentinels is burning dim or going out. If the candlesticks were left to mere human care, the flickering flame would languish and die; but He is the true watchman in the Lord’s house, the true warden of the temple courts. His continued care and sustaining grace are the source of life and light.”—The Acts of the Apos-tles, p. 586.

b.  Describe the purpose of God’s messages to the church as a whole, repre-sented by the seven churches in Revelation chapters 2 and 3.

“The names of the seven churches are symbolic of the church in dif-ferent periods of the Christian Era. The number 7 indicates complete-ness, and is symbolic of the fact that the messages extend to the end of time, while the symbols used reveal the condition of the church at different periods in the history of the world.”—Ibid., p. 585.

“The church was defective and in need of stern reproof and chastise-ment, and John was inspired to record messages of warning and re-proof and entreaty to those who, losing sight of the fundamental principles of the gospel, should imperil their hope of salvation. But always the words of rebuke that God finds it necessary to send are spoken in tender love and with the promise of peace to every penitent believer.”—Ibid., p. 587.

PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONSFri, May 22

1.  Though Jesus did not have favorites, why was John called the beloved disciple?

2.  What created the change in John’s life and character?

3.  How did God overrule the purposes of the evil men who tried to get rid of John?

4.  While often mistakenly called a sealed book, what does Revelation mean to us?

5.  Describe the purpose of God in sending messages of rebuke to His church.