Have you wondered or struggled with why the Book of Revelation is in the Bible and how to understand it in today’s context? Let’s find out its genre, historical/cultural background, and message back then and present time.

What are the letters to the seven churches about? Why those seven churches in Asia Minor? Why Ephesus? Why Smyrna? What symbolism is present, and how should it be interpreted?

What do Pergamum and Sacramento have in common? What do Balaam and his talking donkey have to do with today’s culture war? What is the secret manna, and why is there suddenly a white stone?

Why is Thyatira, a small city, included in the seven letters? Why is this the longest letter? Who is Jezebel in this context? Why should we pay attention to avoiding “food sacrificed to idols” from 2,000 years ago when we can buy any meat in the market today?

What does the defeat of Croesus, the King of Lydia, in 547 BCE have to do with this letter? Why is having a reputation for "being alive" not enough? Don’t we also need to wake up from our sleep?

What irony do we see in this letter to “the city of brotherly love”? Is the return of Jesus truly imminent? How can we understand the second coming of Jesus?

Why does Jesus address the church in Laodicea as being lukewarm, rather than addressing another church? Is Jesus knocking on the door really a call for us to accept Him as our Lord and Savior?

Do you know the Book of “Revelation” begins not in chapter 1 or 2 or 3 but in chapter 4? Is John the Seer in ecstasy or hallucinating? Do you know there is a lot in common between the Book of Revelation and a famous movie series, Matrix?

Do you know that we humans are wired to worship? Understanding this basic human nature can help you grasp this passage. However, some questions remain. What do the four living creatures, resembling a lion, an ox, a human, and an eagle, signify?

Why does the Lion of Judah present himself in the form of the Slain Lamb? Commenting on this passage, N. T. Wright writes, “The victory won by the Lion is accomplished through the sacrifice of the Lamb, and in no other way.” Why is this? Have you encountered lion Christians and/or lamb Christians? What is the Jesus way?

The 24 elders are holding two things in their hands: 1) a harp and 2) a golden bowl of incense. Why? These breathtaking songs of praise to God and the Slain Lamb represent one of the most dramatic scenes in the entire Bible, and they remain relevant to our daily and weekly worship and prayer life.

Who are the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, and what do they represent? Are they presented in sequence? If not, how should we understand this passage and the subsequent chapters from 6 through 20? Why are these chapters so gloomy and dark?

There are souls under the altar in this passage. Why were they killed? You might also ask, why is judgment necessary? Additionally, we may wonder what evil we have done and what judgment we are experiencing now. Most of all, how can we make sense of the Lamb’s anger?

Here comes the number—144,000. Is this the number of the chosen people who will be saved in the Second Coming? If so, what’s the problem? If not, what does that number mean?

John sees a huge gathering of people in white robes holding palm branches. Why? Verse 14 says, “They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” How is this possible, both then and now?

The Lamb opens the seventh seal, and there is silence. Why? In the Bible, trumpets almost always herald good news—tidings of victory. So, is this silence also good news for everyone? The ensuing judgment is a response to the incense burning at the altar, which represents the prayers of the saints. How do you interpret this?

This is the second round. Out of the seven trumpets come hail, fire, blood, a falling star, and darkness. Doesn’t this sound familiar to you? Where have you seen this before, especially in the Old Testament? The passage ends with a flying eagle shouting, “Woe [Greek, ouai], woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth!” Does the eagle also speak Greek or English?

Things get a little crazy here. The fifth angel opens the Abyss with a key, and locusts emerge. They attack people, but they are allowed to torture them, not to kill them. Some even argue that those locusts foretell the coming of helicopters. Do you agree? John describes the appearance and activity of the locusts. Why is that?

Now the killing begins. The sixth angel unleashes four angels bound by the river Euphrates, and they wipe out a third of the human race with 200 million horsemen. Their appearance and activity resemble modern-day tanks, with fire, smoke, and sulfur coming out of their mouths. Yet, people do not repent. Why is that?

“Eat my shorts,” a famous line by Bart Simpsons was always a mystery to me. John the Seer hears something like that in this passage: “Eat the scroll,” says the angel standing on the shore one foot on the sea and the other on the land. Who is this angel? Why eat the scroll? Why does it taste sweet as honey in the mouth yet bitter in the stomach?

The voice says to John, “Get up and measure God’s temple.” But what temple is he talking about? The Jerusalem temple was already destroyed when Revelation was written. Is it referring to a heavenly temple that God will restore? If not, what does it mean? More importantly, who are the two witnesses in this passage? Why do the nations trample the temple for 42 months? And why are those two witnesses given authority to prophesy only for 1,260 days?

Then, the monster from the Abyss kills the two witnesses. They performed signs and wonders but are lying dead in the streets of the great city. But that’s not the end of the story. God raises them through the spirit of life. A huge earthquake follows, destroying a tenth of the city and killing 7,000 people. Eventually, those who are alive glorify God in fear. Whose story is this?

John the Seer hears the voice say, “Now the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and his Messiah, and he will reign forever and ever.” Is he talking about us going to heaven or about heaven coming down to earth? Speaking of this passage, N.T. Wright writes, “Suffering love conquers all.” Have you seen this in the Bible and in life?

The key question to understanding this passage is simple: “Who are they?” Who is the woman? Who is the baby? Who is the great fiery-red dragon? Furthermore, why is the baby snatched away to God and His throne room immediately after she gives birth? Why does she flee to the desert? Why is she cared for for 1,260 days? The answers to these questions are not so simple. How would you answer?

Why did Paul write his longest and most extensive letter to the church in Rome which he had never visited? What internal conflict was going on and how Paul’s message is related to the historical context the Roman church was facing?

Who is Paul? How does he understand Christ and his calling? How do you understand your calling, and what difference does it make in your life?

Do you know if Romans has a thesis statement that Paul tries to prove? Why does Paul say, “to the Jew first and also to the Greek”? Why does he say, “I’m not ashamed of the gospel”? Have you ever felt ashamed of sharing the gospel with others?

How do you make sense of God’s anger? We humans think we are wise. Really? What human project to build a utopia turned out to be a total disaster?

Why does Paul talk about homosexuality here? Does this passage justify the hatred and rejection of LGBTQ people? What is the bigger picture Paul presents early in his letter? How can we make sense of this much-debated text?

Why does Paul provide such an extensive list of human evils here? Is he trying to alienate his audience or indicate that he no longer seeks their financial support for his mission in Spain? What does it mean when “God gave us up”? Does this imply that we exercise our free will to create a utopia, or does it suggest the opposite?

"You have no excuse." This is not what we want to hear, but it’s true. We often do things we condemn while judging others. "You will face judgment." This is also not what we want to hear, but it’s true. God shows no impartiality. Do you like this view of God?

Is it just for God to send non-believers to hell if they have never heard the gospel? What do the Scriptures—both Jesus and Paul—say about this? If everyone will be judged according to their "works" when the Messiah returns, what is the point of believing in Jesus now?

What’s the problem with the Jews that Paul discusses in this passage? Hypocrisy. This seems to be a problem that can also affect Christians. Paul makes it clear that Israel failed in its role as the light of the world. He quotes Isaiah 52:5: “Because of you, God’s name is blasphemed among the nations.” Don’t we see similar issues in our own lives as Christians?

Have you ever been deceived by a label when buying something from the marketplace? What if I told you that the label in question is "Jew" or "Christian," and the product is you or us? Furthermore, in this passage, Paul mentions the uncircumcised who "fulfill" the law. Is this possible? Who is he referring to here?

Israel failed God. So, does that mean God’s entire plan has failed? “No,” says the Apostle Paul. Instead, God is judging the fallen world. If that’s the case, is it justifiable to destroy God’s creation to make His restoration more just? You might find yourself dizzy from Paul’s logic. What exactly is he getting at here?

Paul declares that “Jews as well as Greeks” — meaning both Jews and Gentiles — “are all under the power of sin.” Yet, modern people often have difficulty accepting this proposition. Why is that? What happens when people have no fear of God? Furthermore, if no one can be justified by their works, what do we truly need?

Paul makes it clear in the previous section that “all are guilty,” as he famously declares in this passage: “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” But is this the end of the story? He also states, “God’s righteousness has been revealed.” How is this so? What is the difference between faith in Jesus and the faith of Jesus?

Paul says, “God presented Christ as the Mercy Seat” in verse 25. What does that mean? He also states that through the shedding of His blood, God demonstrated His righteousness.

Paul is often viewed as someone who opposes the law of Moses in support of faith. Is this what he says in this passage? If not, what does it mean to fulfill the law through faith, rather than through works?

Are we—Christians—children of Abraham? If so, how? If we are part of Abraham’s family, what is the nature of God’s covenant with Abraham, and what defines Abraham’s family? Abraham was a pagan, a non-believer before being called by God. How does this change our view of Judaism and help us overcome Christian supersessionism?

Why is Abraham’s status as uncircumcised important in Paul’s argument here? How does placing faith at the center of membership in the covenant community both widen and narrow the criteria for inclusion? How can the church maintain a balance between keeping the door open for all and ensuring that members meet the essential requirement of faith in Jesus?

The Apostle Paul says, “The law brings wrath.” Is this the point of having a law? What if we were to demolish it altogether? What if God’s goal in giving the law is not to punish but to reveal His righteousness? What if God’s intelligent design is beyond the law? Do you remember that God promised Abraham he would be the father of all nations, not just a Jewish nation? Do you recall that God reckoned him as righteous based on his faith, not on his works?

Hoping against hope” or “Against all hope”—that’s how Paul begins this section, because Abraham was 99 years old and Sarah’s womb was closed when he received the promise from God. He still believed and became the father of all nations. We are his descendants who share his faith and faith in Jesus. Now, what is your story? What has faith done in your life?

Why does Paul say in this passage, “We have peace with God”? Despite this bold acclamation, he acknowledges that there will be suffering in our lives. What does it mean to “celebrate in our suffering,” and how is it different from “celebrating our suffering”? Have you experienced that “suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope”?

Everybody likes Romans 5:8, where Paul declares, “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” But not everyone likes the following verse, 9, where he talks about God’s coming anger. He asks, “How much more?” What is at stake here, and how can we, as believers, be so sure of our rescue (i.e., salvation) on judgment day?

Through one man, Adam, sin came into the world. Through one man, Jesus, the grace and gift of God came into the world. Paul’s reading of the Genesis story is neither purely literary nor historical, but rather allegorical. How do you interpret this passage? Is Jesus the second Adam? If so, in what sense?

Does it make sense that through one man’s sin, all humanity is condemned, or that through one man’s obedience, all humanity will be justified? What does that mean? Paul says, in particular, “Where sin increased, grace increased all the more.” Does this mean that we need to sin more in order to receive more grace?

There is a popular belief: “Once saved, always saved.” What does Paul say about that? We know that we died to sin through baptism, but we find ourselves sinning again. Does that mean we have to be baptized again? Can we undo our baptism?

The famous phrase, "No longer slaves," comes from this passage and signifies our declaration of freedom from sin. But is this a reality for you? If so, or if not, why? Who or what is the ultimate enemy of humanity? How did Jesus conquer that enemy?

Paul says in v. 12, “So, don’t allow sin to rule in your mortal body,” as if sin is a suprahuman power, not merely a moral failure or the breaking of rules. Nobel Prize laureate Bob Dylan famously said and sang, “You’ve Gotta Serve Somebody.” Have you ever experienced sin exercising power over you? Have you witnessed someone presenting their body to God, for His glory (Rom. 6:13)?

Increasingly in progressive circles, Paul is viewed as a stern moralist telling Christians what to do and what not to do. Yet, he makes it clear time and time again that we are freed from sin and the law (e.g., Rom. 6:18a; cf. Gal. 5:1-6). Therefore, it is somewhat confusing that he declares we are enslaved again to God (Rom. 6:18b). What does that mean? What does receiving a driver’s license and the freedom it brings teach us about the restrictions and responsibilities that come with it?

Here comes a famous verse: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Have you seen sin leading to death? Or have you seen people receiving eternal life in Christ Jesus? Does Paul allude to heaven or hell in outer space or under the earth? If not, what is eternal life—or more accurately, “the life of the ages to come” (Rom. 6:23)?

Do you have anything you used to enjoy in your old Adamic self but don’t anymore? How did that change happen? There is a tendency in all of us to revert to our old selves and old habits, just like Ellis, played by Morgan Freeman in The Shawshank Redemption, who, after being released from prison, asks his boss at a local retail store, “Bathroom break?” What are your old habits that keep you from enjoying the true freedom Christ has given you?