Revelation 8–11
The Opening of the Seventh Seal
The scriptures provide many opportunities to learn important lessons from those who lived in the past. They also teach us of prophesied events that will occur in the future. In Revelation 8–11, John recorded prophecies about important and troubling events that will occur just before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. This lesson is intended to help you feel the Lord’s power and His ability to protect us from the calamities and evil of the last days.
Avoiding speculation. While the Lord has provided us with important prophecies about His Second Coming, there are many details He has not revealed. Avoid speculating about details that are unknown.
Student preparation: Consider sharing the statement by President Russell M. Nelson from the beginning of this lesson and inviting students to study about some of the mighty works the Lord will perform before His Second Coming. The entries “Last Days, Latter Days” in Guide to the Scriptures and “Last Days” in the Topical Guide (both available at scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org) could be useful resources for this.
Possible Learning Activities
Miraculous events of the last days
Consider inviting students to share responses to the following question before reading the statement by President Russell M. Nelson.
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What are some of the mighty works the Lord has performed in the past, either for others or in your own life?
President Russell M. Nelson shared an important insight about the events that will occur before the Savior’s Second Coming:
Our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, will perform some of His mightiest works between now and when He comes again. We will see miraculous indications that God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, preside over this Church in majesty and glory.
(Russell M. Nelson, “Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2018, 96)
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What thoughts or feelings did you have as you read this statement?
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What are some of the mighty works you know of that the Lord will perform before His Second Coming?
From President Nelson’s statement, we learn that the Lord will perform some of His mightiest works before He comes again. In this lesson you will study about some of these mighty works. Pay attention to what you learn about God, His power, and His love for us as you study.
John sees the opening of the seventh seal
You might remember that in his vision recorded in the book of Revelation, John saw a book with seven seals. Each seal represented a period of 1,000 years on the earth (see Revelation 5; Doctrine and Covenants 77:6–7). The following image can help you visualize the emphasis John placed on each of these periods.
Consider providing students with a copy of the following image or displaying it in class.
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Why might it be helpful for you to know that John focused most of his writings on the events related to the Savior’s Second Coming, rather than on events related to the previous seals?
In Revelation 11, John foresaw a time when a mighty army consisting of many “people and kindreds and tongues and nations” (Revelation 11:9) will attempt to destroy Jerusalem (see also Ezekiel 38:4–6, 14–16; Joel 2:1–9; Revelation 9:16–17; 11:2). But John’s writings indicate that two witnesses sent from God will prevent this army from accomplishing its purpose for 42 months (see Revelation 11:2–3).
Read Revelation 11:3–6 and Doctrine and Covenants 77:15, looking for details about these two witnesses.
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What did you learn about these two witnesses?
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What evidence do you see that the power of God will be with them?
Read Revelation 11:7–10, looking for what John prophesied will happen to these two prophets after they have finished their ministry among the Jews.
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What do these verses suggest about the spiritual condition of many who will be living on earth at that time?
The scriptures indicate that during the “three days and an half” (Revelation 11:9) when these prophets will lie dead in the streets, the mighty army will again turn their attention to conquering Jerusalem (see Zechariah 14:2).
Display an image of the Mount of Olives, or invite the students to find Bible photograph 11, “Mount of Olives,” in their scriptures or at scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
This is an image of the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. On this mountain, the Savior suffered in the Garden of Gethsemane as part of His Atonement (see Luke 22:39–44). The Mount of Olives is also where the Savior will “go forth, and fight against those nations” (Zechariah 14:3–4) that seek to destroy the Jews before His appearance to all the world.
Consider dividing the class into small groups. Each group could study one of the following scripture passages and summarize what they learned for the class.
Read the following passages, looking for details about the mighty works the Lord will perform in Jerusalem and at the Mount of Olives prior to His Second Coming.
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What impact will the events recorded in these passages have on the people who experience them?
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What do these prophesied events help you to understand or feel about the Savior?
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Why is it important for you to understand and feel these things about the Savior right now in your life?
Protection for the Saints of God
Although wickedness, war, and destruction will precede the Second Coming, it is also important to remember that the Lord has promised assistance and spiritual protection to those who choose to follow Him (see Revelation 17:14; 1 Nephi 22:16–17). One place of peace, refuge, and safety will be Zion, the New Jerusalem, which will be located on the American continent (see Doctrine and Covenants 45:66; Articles of Faith 1:10). The Lord has not yet revealed many details concerning this future city, but He has taught about the protection that will be available there.
Read Doctrine and Covenants 45:66–71, looking for how the Lord described the city of Zion.
If students have further questions about Zion, consider using “What is Zion?” in the “Commentary and Background Information” section of this lesson.
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What words or phrases did you find to be significant from these verses?
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Where will the righteous people of Zion come from?
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What is the Lord doing now to prepare us for this future time and to protect us from the evils and dangers of our day?
Thinking about what you learned
Refer to President Nelson’s statement at the beginning of the lesson, and think about what you have studied today about the mighty works the Lord will perform.
Consider displaying the following prompts as headings on different areas of the board and inviting numerous students to choose a prompt to complete. Students could then be invited to share why they wrote what they did.
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Some things that stood out most to me from my studies today were …
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Today I learned or felt that the Lord …
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Because of what I learned or felt today, I want to …
Commentary and Background Information
What do we know about the two prophets who will be in Jerusalem?
Elder Bruce R. McConkie (1915–85) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles provided the following insights:
Who will these witnesses be? We do not know, except that they will be followers of Joseph Smith; they will hold the holy Melchizedek Priesthood; they will be members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is reasonable to suppose, knowing how the Lord has always dealt with his people in all ages, that they will be two members of the Council of the Twelve or of the First Presidency of the Church.
(Bruce R. McConkie, The Millennial Messiah: The Second Coming of the Son of Man [1982], 390)
For more information about these two prophets, see Doctrine and Covenants 77:15.
What will it be like when Jesus Christ comes again?
President Russell M. Nelson taught:
[Jesus Christ] shall return to the Holy City (see Doctrine and Covenants 133:46–48). There and elsewhere, “the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together” (Isaiah 40:5; see also Doctrine and Covenants 101:23). His “name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). …
In that day He will bear new titles and be surrounded by special Saints. He will be known as “Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that [will be] with him [will be those who] are called, and chosen, and faithful” (Revelation 17:14) to their trust here in mortality. Then He “shall reign for ever and ever” (Revelation 11:15).
(Russell M. Nelson, “The Future of the Church: Preparing the World for the Savior’s Second Coming,” Ensign, Apr. 2020, 16–17)
What is Zion?
The word Zion is used in the scriptures to mean different things. Sometimes the word refers to the people of Zion and describes them as “the pure in heart” (Doctrine and Covenants 97:21). Zion can also refer to the entire Church and its stakes all over the world (see Doctrine and Covenants 82:14). The word Zion can also refer to specific geographic locations, such as the city of Enoch (see Moses 7:18–21), ancient Jerusalem (see 2 Samuel 5:7; 1 Kings 8:1), and the latter-day New Jerusalem (see Doctrine and Covenants 45:66–67; 57:1–3; Articles of Faith 1:10). For more information, see Gospel Topics, “Zion,” topics.ChurchofJesusChrist.org).
Where can I learn more about the events of the last days?
To learn more about the prophesied events of the last days, consider studying “The Battle of Armageddon: A Prophetic View,” Old Testament Student Manual: 1 Kings–Malachi (2003), 291–95.
How can I feel peace amidst the calamities of the last days?
Watch the video “Men’s Hearts Shall Fail Them” (3:24), available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org. As you watch, look for teachings from President Russell M. Nelson about how we can overcome fear or anxiety about living in the last days.
Supplemental Learning Activity
Revelation 10. John’s mission
Consider writing the words Sweet and Bitter on the board and then asking students to think of and share some experiences in life that could be considered both sweet and bitter.
Invite students to read Revelation 10:1–3, 8–11 and Doctrine and Covenants 77:14, looking for what John was given, what he did with it, and what this act represented. Point out that John had been blessed that he would not die so that he could bring individuals to the Savior (see Doctrine and Covenants 7:1–4).
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How could the events of the last days that John prophesied about be described as both sweet and bitter?
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What responsibilities might the Lord give us that could lead to both sweet and bitter experiences?
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Why do you think the Lord allows us to experience both?