Read in the book
Chapter 11: The Woman, the Dragon, and the War in Heaven · Chapter 12: The Beast and the Mark · Chapter 13: The Lamb and the 144,000
Five-day reading plan
Participant guide
Work through the book's own Reflect & Discuss questions for this week's chapters. The last question in each set is personal — no one should be required to answer it.
From Chapter 11 — The Woman, the Dragon, and the War in Heaven
- Read Revelation 12:1–6. What does John see, and which pictures does Revelation itself explain? Look at Genesis 37:9 and Psalm 2:9 for two more.
- Heaven says the accuser “has been thrown down” (12:10). How does knowing the accuser’s case is closed change the way you handle guilt, shame, and accusation?
- Verse 11 says they overcame “because of the Lamb’s blood, and because of the word of their testimony,” and that they “didn’t love their life, even to death.” What does that add to the picture of overcoming?
- The dragon can’t reach the child or destroy the woman, so he makes war on her children. Where do you feel that pressure?
- (Personal; feel free to pass.) What is the heart of your own testimony — not the whole story, the center of it?
From Chapter 12 — The Beast and the Mark
- Read Revelation 13:1–8. List what the beast does, and list what is “given” to it. Who is doing the giving, and what does that tell you about the limits of its power?
- Compare Daniel 3 with Revelation 13:11–17. What pressures on God’s people are the same in both scenes? What is different?
- Verse 17 says no one can buy or sell without the mark. Why do you think John includes money, and not only worship?
- Where do you see pressure — in politics, work, culture, or church — to give a person, a system, or a nation the kind of loyalty that belongs only to God?
- (Personal; feel free to pass.) Where does following Jesus cost you something socially right now?
From Chapter 13 — The Lamb and the 144,000
- Read Revelation 14:1–5. What is said about the 144,000? Which of those descriptions are literal and which are pictures? How can you tell?
- The first angel’s message is “Fear the Lord, and give him glory… Worship him who made” everything. Why is worshiping the Maker rather than what he made the oldest and most basic call in the Bible?
- The third angel’s warning is followed at once by a blessing on those who die in the Lord. Why do you think John placed them side by side?
- The Son of Man reaps, and the winepress is trodden outside the city. What does it mean to you that the Judge is the one who was crucified there?
- (Personal; feel free to pass.) Whose name is written on your life? How would someone close to you know?
Facilitator plan · about 60 minutes
- Open (5 min). Open in prayer, then read this week's key Scripture aloud together.
- Read (10 min). Let the passage speak first: what did people notice in the five-day readings?
- Discuss (35 min). Walk the participant-guide questions in order, letting everyone share who wants to. Where sincere believers differ, say so, and keep the group's eyes on Christ.
- Close (10 min). Commit together to each chapter's This Week step, and pray for one another.