Verses 1-5

• Meaning of “Parenthetic” used in NIV chapter title?
• Who is involved?
• Where are they?

• What/who is the source of the sound like “roar of rushing water” (Eze 43:2), “peal of thunder” (Zec 9:14), and “harpist playing their harps” (Psa 150:3-6)?
• Who are the four living creatures (see Revelation 4:6-8), and what do they represent?
• Who are the 144,000? (Note Revelation 7:4-8)
• What do you think 14:4 means?  Is this important? (1 Cor 5:1;6:13,  Gal 5:19, Eph 5:3, Col 3:5, 1 Thes 4:3)

• How are the 144,000 purified?
• Websters ‘guile’ to disguise or conceal, to deceive or delude.  What does this reveal about the character of 144,000.
• Does this suggest celibacy?  (Heb 13:4, 2 Cor 11:2)
• What is the significance of the 144,000 being “offered as first fruits”?

Verses 6-13

• Who is involved in verses 6-12?
• What is their primary role?
• What does one angel carry?
• What is the angel’s command/warning?
• What does Babylon symbolize?
• What happens to those who worship the beast?
• Is this a literal or figurative description?
• What advice is given to the saints?
• How can we apply this advice to our lives?
• Who is involved in verse 13?
• What is the significance of “from now on”?
• What are the labor and deeds of the blessed?
• What focus should our labor and deeds have?

Verses 14-20

• Who is involved?
• Where do these verses take place?

• What is meaning/significance of “like a son of man”?
• Is the angel instructing Jesus of his own?  What relationship does this suggest? (see John 3:16-17, John 5:19, John 10:18, John 12:49, John 14:31)
• What are the angels harvesting?
• Is there a difference between the harvests of verses 14-16 and 17-20?
• What is the significance of “a distance of 1,600 stadia”?

Does the plight of the wicked in this chapter change the way we view our place in God’s plan?