“Lesson 54: Revelation 4–11,” New Testament Teacher Manual (2018)
“Lesson 54,” New Testament Teacher Manual
54
Revelation 4–11
Introduction and Timeline
Following his vision of the Savior and his letters to the seven churches (see Revelation 1–3), John wrote about his visions concerning “things which must be hereafter” (Revelation 4:1). In the first of John’s visions that are recorded in Revelation 4–11, he saw God the Father enthroned in heaven, exalted beings who worship Him, and a book sealed with seven seals. John saw that the One who could open the book was Jesus Christ. John saw visions associated with the opening of the first six seals of the book, which symbolize the earth’s first six thousand years of temporal existence.
In spite of the plagues and judgments that would come upon the earth’s inhabitants in the last days, John saw that those who were washed clean through the blood of the Lamb would be spared many of the destructions. John also recorded that prior to Christ’s Second Coming, two prophets would be slain in Jerusalem and then resurrected after three and a half days. Doctrine and Covenants 77 records the Lord’s answers to 15 key questions that help unlock some of the symbolism in chapters 4–11 of Revelation.
Chapter Overviews
John saw a vision of God the Father sitting upon His throne surrounded by 24 elders and 4 beasts. John also saw the celestialized earth and all of God’s exalted creations worshipping Him.
John saw in God’s right hand a book sealed with seven seals, and he wept because no man was found worthy to open the sealed book. The heavenly hosts sang praises to the Lamb of God because He is worthy to open the sealed book.
John saw a vision of the Lamb of God opening the first six seals of the sealed book. John saw events after the opening of each of the first six seals.
Continuing his vision of the opening of the sixth seal, John saw 144,000 servants of God who had the seal of God in their foreheads. The innumerable multitude surrounding God’s throne had come out of great tribulation, having washed their robes white in the blood of the Lamb.
The seventh seal was opened, there was silence in heaven, and the prayers of the Saints ascended to heaven. Angels poured out plagues upon the earth, resulting in the destruction of one-third part of the earth’s vegetation, its sea creatures, and its rivers and waters.
John saw more wars and plagues poured out after the seventh seal was opened, including the destruction of one-third of mankind. These events will occur before the Second Coming. The wicked will still refuse to repent.
John saw many things relative to the events of the last days. He was given a book to eat, which symbolizes his acceptance of a divine mission. He was told that he will prophesy before many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings.
Prior to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, two prophets in Jerusalem will exercise great power and be slain in the streets of Jerusalem. Those who kill the prophets will refuse to allow them to be buried. After three and a half days, the two prophets will be resurrected and will ascend into heaven. Voices in heaven will proclaim the reign of Jesus Christ on the earth.
Suggestions for Teaching
Revelation 4–5
John Saw a Vision of God upon His Throne, a Sealed Book, and Jesus Christ
For the opening hymn, consider singing “All Creatures of Our God and King” (Hymns, no. 62) or another hymn that gives praise and honor to God. As you start the lesson, invite students to take a moment and ponder the words they sang, or invite them to suggest words from other hymns that praise Heavenly Father or Jesus Christ. Explain to students that in Revelation 4–5, John recorded his vision of heavenly beings worshipping and singing praises to God the Father and Jesus Christ.
Have students read Revelation 4:1–5 and summarize in their own words what the verses describe. If necessary, help them understand that John saw God the Father upon His throne and 24 elders worshipping Him. Remind the students to use the Bible footnotes to help them understand these verses. After calling on a few students to state their summaries, ask a student to read aloud Revelation 4:6–8 while the class follows along and identifies what those before the throne of God proclaim. (You might use D&C 77:1 and the student manual commentaries for Revelation 4:6, for Revelation 4:6–9, and for Revelation 4:8–11 to help explain the symbolism in these verses.) Then ask:
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What do the four beasts proclaim before the throne of God?
Have a student read Revelation 4:9–11 aloud while students follow along and mark words or phrases that further indicate how those assembled around God the Father feel toward Him. Ask a few students to tell the class what they marked in their scriptures. Then ask questions like the following to help students understand these verses and identify doctrines taught in them:
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What do the words and phrases indicate about how exalted beings feel toward God?
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What do the white raiment and the crowns mentioned in verses 4 and 10 suggest about those who are worshipping Father in Heaven? (They have been cleansed through the Atonement and have now received an eternal reward.)
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What do these verses teach about our relationship with Heavenly Father after we die? (As students share their ideas, help them understand this doctrine: Exalted beings will continue to worship God the Father throughout eternity. You might write this doctrine on the board.)
Give students a moment to study Revelation 5:1–4 and Doctrine and Covenants 77:6–7 and to visualize in their minds what John saw next and what caused him to weep. After asking a student to share what he or she found, ask the class:
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According to Doctrine and Covenants 77:6, what did the book contain?
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According to Doctrine and Covenants 77:7, what is meant by the seven seals?
Tell students that in ancient times, important documents were sealed with clay or wax seals. Only the owner of the document and those he authorized were allowed to break the seals and read the text. You might consider referring students to the illustration of a sealed scroll in the student manual commentary for Revelation 5:1.
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Why did John begin to weep? (Because no one was worthy to open the book.)
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Why do you think that the opening and reading of this book mattered so much to John? (The book contained God’s will and works regarding the earth, so when it appeared that no man was worthy to open the book, John may have thought that God’s will and works would not be revealed or carried out.)
Point out that at the center of God’s will and works is the saving mission of His Son, Jesus Christ. If there had been no Savior, there would have been great cause to mourn (see 2 Nephi 9:8–9). Jesus Christ is the center of God’s plan of salvation.
Read Revelation 5:5–6 to your students and ask them to explain what the names and titles of Jesus Christ recorded in these verses reveal about Him. (See the student manual commentaries for Revelation 5:5 and for Revelation 5:6–12.) Giving students a moment to think about their responses before calling on them may help them give more meaningful answers. Help students see that these names and titles emphasize Jesus Christ’s role as the only One who could open the sealed book. He has a position of unique authority in God’s plan.
You may want to write this principle on the board: Jesus Christ is the only One worthy to open the sealed book representing the revealed will and works of God. You might invite students to write this statement in the margin of their scriptures next to Revelation 5:5. You might further explain that Jesus Christ is the only One who is able to put into effect all terms and conditions of the Father’s plan of salvation.
Before class, write the following chart on the board. Divide the class into three groups and have one-third of the students study Revelation 5:8–10, another third study Revelation 5:11–12, and the final third study Revelation 5:13–14. Ask students to read their assigned scripture passage and look for answers to the two questions in the chart.
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Assigned verses |
Who sang a song of praise? |
What was the focus of their praise? |
|---|---|---|
After sufficient time, consider having one student from each group come to the board and write his or her answers to the two questions.
Ask the class:
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As you examine the chart, how would you state a doctrine taught in Revelation 5? (Though the answers will vary, help students to identify these doctrines: All of God’s creations should worship the Lamb of God, who worthily redeems us with His blood. Only the Savior Jesus Christ is worthy to redeem us.)
Consider having students read Revelation 5:9, 12, looking for and marking words describing the worthiness of Jesus Christ. Then invite students to explain the meaning of Revelation 5:9–11 by asking:
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What do you learn from verses 9–11 about how many people will be exalted in God’s kingdom? (Those redeemed of God will come from every nation, and the number will be too large to count.) How does this teaching make you feel?
Depending on the needs of your students and the guidance of the Spirit, consider using one of the following options to help students apply the teachings about worshipping and praising Jesus Christ or to feel the importance of them:
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Ask: If you were to compose a song that praises Jesus Christ, what aspects of His life, character, or sacrifice might you include in your hymn?
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Sing “Glory to God on High” (Hymns, no. 67) or a similar hymn of praise.
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Give students a few minutes to write what they do in their life to worship Jesus Christ, the worthy Lamb of God. Then encourage them to consider whether their efforts to praise Jesus Christ are adequate for this time in their lives. What more could they reasonably be doing?
Revelation 6
John Saw Jesus Christ Open the Sealed Book
Remind students of the book in God’s right hand, described in Revelation 5:1. Ask students to recall what each of the seven seals on the book represented (see D&C 77:7). Tell students that Revelation 6 contains John’s visions of the earth’s first 7,000 years of temporal existence.
Assign each student to learn about one of the six seals described in Revelation 6. Give the students a few minutes to read one set of the following verses and the relevant information in the chart found in the student manual commentary for Revelation 6.
Six Seals Described in Revelation 6
First seal: verses 1–2
Second seal: verses 3–4
Third seal: verses 5–6
Fourth seal: verses 7–8
Fifth seal: verses 9–11
Sixth seal: verses 12–16
After a few minutes, have one student assigned to each seal report what they learned about their assigned thousand-year period. You should expect the reports for the first four time periods to be brief. Conclude by reading aloud Revelation 6:17, and then ask:
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What thoughts do you have when you ponder that “the great day of [God’s] wrath” is coming?
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What question is asked at the end of Revelation 6:17? Why is it important for you to know the answer to this question?
Inform students that Revelation 7 and much of the rest of the book of Revelation will provide answers to the question.
Revelation 7–9
John Saw the Righteous Who Will Be Spared and the Destructions of the Wicked
Have a student read Revelation 7:1 aloud. Lead a discussion on the meaning of some of the phrases in the verse. “After these things” means after the sixth seal is opened and before the seventh seal is opened. The phrase “four angels” is explained in Doctrine and Covenants 77:8. In scripture, the number four often suggests a wholeness or fulness—as in the four directions on a compass—so the phrases “four corners of the earth” and “four winds of the earth” suggest that what John described next would affect the whole earth. You might lead this discussion by writing these terms on the board and asking students what they think the terms mean.
Ask one student to read aloud Revelation 7:2–3; 9:4 and another student to read aloud the student manual commentary for Revelation 7:3; 9:4. Have the class listen for who will not be hurt by the four destroying angels.
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What does it mean for someone to have “the seal of God” in his or her forehead?
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How would you state as a principle the importance of obtaining the seal of God? (Allow students to share their statements of principle, and then share this statement with them: If we faithfully keep the covenants we have made with God, we can receive spiritual protection amid the destructions that will be poured out upon the wicked in the last days.)
You may want to summarize Revelation 7:4–8 for your students and then have them read Doctrine and Covenants 77:11. Explain that the information provided in the Doctrine and Covenants clarifies that the 144,000 people will be Church leaders with important responsibilities given to them by God. Revelation 7:4 is sometimes misunderstood to mean that only 144,000 people will enter God’s presence, but this is not true. Invite students to study Revelation 7:9 to discover everything they can about the “great multitude” before God’s throne. The following questions may help students analyze and further understand these verses:
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What phrases in this verse indicate the spiritual condition of the people in the presence of the Lord? (“White robes” show that the people have been cleansed by the Atonement of Jesus Christ. “Palms in their hands” symbolize victory and joy and are reminiscent of Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem; see Matthew 21:8.)
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What does Revelation 7:9 teach about how many people will enter the celestial kingdom? (The number of people before God’s throne is too large to number, and the people come from every nation [see also D&C 76:67]. You might remind students that all baptized members of the Church who are striving to keep their covenants are on the right path.)
After class members respond to these questions, have a student read Revelation 7:10–13. As soon as the student has finished reading, have students close their scriptures, keeping a finger or bookmark in the page, or cover the screen of their electronic device. Then ask:
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How would you answer the questions, “What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?”
After students have responded, ask them to find the answers by silently reading verse 14. Then ask:
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What does it mean to have our robes washed “white in the blood of the Lamb”? (If students need help answering, you might refer them to the student manual commentary for Revelation 7:9, 13–14.)
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How does Revelation 7:3, 14 answer the question found in Revelation 6:17 about who will be able to stand in the great day of God’s wrath? (Help students see this principle: If we are cleansed through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we will be able to faithfully endure the tribulations of the last days.)
Have students read Revelation 7:15–17, looking for the eternal blessings that will come to those who are cleansed through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Ask students what ideas in these verses motivate them to strive to live eternally in the presence of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. You might want to invite students to mark phrases that are meaningful to them.
Explain to students that the events of the seventh seal include events that will occur preceding the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Consider reading to your students the chapter overviews for Revelation 8 and 9 found at the beginning of this lesson. While the meaning of the symbols found in these chapters is not always certain, this principle is clear: The Lord’s judgments will come upon the wicked. Before moving on, you may want to invite a few students to share a brief testimony regarding the truths taught thus far in the lesson, particularly their feelings toward the Savior and His worthiness to redeem us.
Revelation 11
Two Prophets in Jerusalem
Prepare students to study Revelation 11 by explaining that the events described in Revelation 11 appear to be some of the last to occur before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. John described a battle in which “people and kindreds and tongues and nations” will be seeking to destroy the city of Jerusalem (Revelation 11:9). Jerusalem’s inhabitants will be protected for 42 months by two prophets (see Revelation 11:3). Display the following scripture references and discussion questions on the board, a handout, or a slide. The suggested answers in parentheses should not be displayed:
Two Prophets in Jerusalem
Revelation 11:3–6. What will these two prophets be able to do with the power that is given to them? Based on these abilities, what authority do you think these prophets will hold? (They will hold off their enemies, seal the heavens so that rain does not fall, and smite the earth with plagues. They will hold the sealing power of the Melchizedek Priesthood.)
Revelation 11:7–10. What do these verses suggest about the spiritual condition of those who go to war against Jerusalem and the two prophets? (The extreme wickedness of the people is shown by their refusal to allow the two prophets to be buried—a very disrespectful act in biblical times—and by their celebrations at the time of the prophets’ deaths; see also 2 Nephi 8:17–20.)
Revelation 11:11–13. How might this manifestation of divine power affect both the righteous and the wicked who see it? (When these two prophets are resurrected, great fear will come upon the wicked. Beholding this miracle would cause the righteous to rejoice and be filled with hope.)
Ask each student to pair up with another student and then read and discuss the verses and questions written on the board. You might also encourage students to read the student manual commentary for Revelation 11:3–12. Explain that Revelation 11:14–15 teaches that following the resurrection of these two prophets, voices in heaven will proclaim the imminent coming of Jesus Christ to reign personally upon the earth. Those living in Jerusalem at the time of the Second Coming will have the privilege of meeting the Savior face to face (see D&C 45:48–53).
Conclude the lesson by sharing your testimony of the message of hope found in these chapters of Revelation. An innumerable number of Heavenly Father’s children will return to live with Him someday. If we rely on the teachings and Atonement of Jesus Christ, we will be clean and will be sealed up for eternal blessings.