Week 1: Revelation 1 — Jesus, Unveiled in Glory

Scripture Focus:

“The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants what must soon take place.” — Revelation 1:1

Revelation doesn’t begin with fear—it begins with Jesus. Not the suffering Savior on the cross, but the risen, glorified King. This chapter is a divine introduction, not to chaos, but to Christ in His full majesty.

John, exiled on the island of Patmos, receives a vision that changes everything. He hears a loud voice like a trumpet and turns to see Jesus—not as he remembered Him, but as He truly is now: eyes like fire, feet like bronze, a face shining like the sun. This is Jesus in His heavenly glory, walking among the churches, holding the keys of death and Hades.

Gary Hamrick emphasizes that this chapter is meant to reintroduce us to Jesus. We often picture Him as gentle and meek—and He is—but Revelation 1 reminds us that He is also powerful, holy, and reigning. He’s not distant. He’s present. He walks among His people. He sees everything. And He speaks.

What Revelation 1 Teaches Us

• Jesus is central — The book isn’t about beasts or battles first. It’s about Jesus.

• He is eternal — Alpha and Omega, beginning and end. Time bows to Him.

• He is personal — He speaks to John by name. He touches him. He says, “Do not be afraid.”

This chapter is a call to reverence, not panic. It’s a reminder that Jesus is in control, even when the world feels out of control.

Reflection & Challenge

This week, ask yourself:

• Do I see Jesus as He truly is—or only as I’ve imagined Him?

• Am I living with the kind of awe and confidence that comes from knowing He reigns?

• What would change in my life if I remembered daily that He walks among His people?

Take time to read Revelation 1 slowly. Let the imagery sink in. Write down what stands out to you—and what Jesus might be saying to you personally.

Closing Prayer

“Jesus, help me see You clearly. Not just as Savior, but as King. Let Your presence calm my fears and Your glory stir my faith. Walk with me this week. Speak to me. I’m listening. Amen.”

Next week, we’ll dive into Revelation 2 and hear what Jesus says to the churches. His words are direct, loving, and full of truth. Let’s keep walking this journey together.

Inspired by Gary Hamrick’s teaching at Cornerstone Chapel.

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Verse by Verse Bible Study | Revelation 1:1-11 | Gary Hamrick

TRUST IN THE LORD

Proverbs 3:5; Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. (KJV)

We are to trust in the Lord with all of our heart, and not lean on our understanding. Our God is a loving God, and He will only lead us down the path that is best for us. That doesn’t mean that it will be easy, the way we want, or even make sense. What it will be is worth it. 

Now, let me just go a bit into what trusting God looks like. It is actually pretty simple. Here it is. Follow God when you don’t know where to go, and keep on having faith that He is faithful to deliver on His promises even when it seems like nothing is going right. Trusting God, in a sense, can look like having the world fall on you, but you still keep going. It can look like having many loved ones die, figuring out people were lying to you, realizing that the world isn’t what you thought it was, and being poor, and despite all that you continue saying, “God may your will be done,” and continue living with Him, and doing everything like it is meant for Him. Trusting God looks like giving up control, which is basically like saying I know my way seems better and can get me out of everything, but I trust that your way is better and I’ll let you choose my path, and giving up having to know everything you could possibly know. It looks like giving Him everything. 

Yeah, pretty simple explanation. Nothing too deep. But that is trust. It flows deep, but it’s mostly just saying that if I am in a life or death situation, this is the person I want by my side. It’s believing they have your best interests at heart, and it’s really just believing in them. Believing that they have your back. Jesus has your back, always has, still does, and always will. So believe that He does.

You might, seemingly, be facing a road block. Maybe, nothing is going your way. Maybe, you are dealing with something heavy. Maybe, you want to step out in faith, but you feel like you can’t move. Maybe, you feel like you will never get out of a certain situation. Maybe, there is something in your life that makes you unsure about whether or not it can be fixed.

But know that God always has you. It may not make sense right now. It may never make sense. But that doesn’t mean God doesn’t still have you. He will never let you go, and He has a plan for everything. So, just trust Him, okay?

CHRISTOPHER HANEY

Leading and Following Part 2: Leading

Last time, I talked about being a follower of Jesus. This time we will talk about being a godly leader.

Jesus is a great example of a leader, and we can find many ways to be a godly leader from him.

1. A godly leader knows what he/she is doing.

If you do not know what you are doing as a leader, it could turn out very bad.

Luke 6:39 And he spoke a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? Shall they not both fall into the ditch? As leaders, we need to make sure that we aren’t blind to what is around us and what we are doing.

2. A Godly Leader Seeks God’s Guidance

God’s word is a powerful tool and can help us become good godly leaders. We shouldn’t think that because we are a leader, we know everything. James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men liberally and upbraids not, and it shall be given him. A leader must first seek God’s wisdom when making decisions.

3. A Godly Leader Serves His/Her Followers

Jesus led the disciples, but he also served them. John 13:5 After that he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. We see here that Jesus washed the disciples' feet. Even though we are a leader, we need to have the heart of a servant.

4. We Need to Edify Our Followers

Not only did Jesus serve the disciples, but he also taught them. We need to do the same thing when we lead people. Mark 9:31 For he taught his disciples and said unto them, "The Son of Man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day." Not only did Jesus teach his disciples, but he also taught other people too. John 8:2 And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down and taught them.

I hope this helps you be a godly leader.

Isaac S.