NT Lessons 155-156 Revelation 6-11 part 2 and Revelation 12-13

https://www.lds.org/manual/new-testament-seminary-teacher-manual?lang=eng

Lesson 155: Revelation 6–11, Part 2

Introduction

John saw the opening of the seventh seal and learned of his mission to participate in the gathering of Israel in the latter days.

I. Revelation 8–9  John sees the opening of the seventh seal

---Divide students into pairs, and ask students to explain to their partners what they learned in their study of Revelation 6–7 that can help them remain joyful and positive amidst uncertainty and turmoil.

---Write on the board the following principle identified in the previous lesson:

 If we endure tribulation faithfully and become pure through Jesus Christ’s Atonement, we will enjoy celestial glory with God.

---Encourage students to look for how this principle relates to the events they will learn about in today’s lesson.

---Provide the following chart as a handout, or draw it on the board:

(click to view larger)

• According to this chart, how many verses in the book of Revelation deal with events of the first six seals? (25.)
• How many verses deal with events of the seventh seal? (211 + 15 = 226.)

---Point out that John wrote more about events pertaining to the seventh thousand-year period than he did about events pertaining to any of the others. He wrote particularly about the events that would occur from the time of the opening of the seventh seal to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

• Why do you think John focused his writings on the events of the seventh seal?

---Summarize Revelation 8:1–6 by explaining that these verses describe the Savior opening the seventh seal. John saw seven angels who were given seven trumpets. Anciently, trumpets were used to “sound an alarm, signal [an army] for battle, or announce the arrival of royalty” (Gerald N. Lund, “Seeing the Book of Revelation as a Book of Revelation,” Ensign, Dec. 1987, 50). In this instance, blowing the trumpets would signal the onset of various plagues and destruction in preparation for Jesus Christ’s millennial reign.

---Invite students to write “The Seventh Seal” at the top of a piece of paper or in their class notebooks or scripture study journals and to draw seven trumpets down the side of the page.

---Write the following references on the board, but omit the questions that follow each reference. Invite students to write the references next to the trumpets on their papers:

First—Revelation 8:7. What happened as a result of the “hail and fire” that fell to the earth when the first angel sounded his trumpet?

Second—Revelation 8:8–9. What three things were affected when the second trumpet was sounded?

Third—Revelation 8:10–11. What was the name of the star that fell? (Explain that wormwood is a bitter herb used to denote “bitter calamity or sorrow” [Bible Dictionary, “Wormwood”].) What happened when it fell?

Fourth—Revelation 8:12. Following the sounding of the fourth trumpet, what three things were partially darkened?

Fifth—Revelation 9:1–3. What came out of the bottomless pit when the fifth angel opened it?

Sixth—Revelation 9:13–16, 18. How many soldiers were involved in the great battle that John saw after the sixth trumpet had been sounded? What portion of mankind did he see killed in this battle?

Seventh—Revelation 11:15.

---Divide the class into six groups, and assign each group one of the first six scripture references listed on the board (if your class is small, you may need to assign multiple references to some groups). Ask the groups to read their assigned scripture passages aloud together, looking for what happened after the sounding of the trumpets. Invite them to write what they find next to the corresponding trumpet on their papers.

---After sufficient time, invite a student from each group to report what they found. Invite students to write each group’s findings next to the corresponding trumpets on their papers. As students report, if necessary ask the question(s) accompanying their group’s assigned scripture reference.

• How can the principle we identified in the previous lesson help those who are living during the events of the seventh seal?

---Invite a student to read Revelation 9:20–21 aloud. Ask the class to follow along, looking for how the wicked who survive these plagues will respond. Invite students to report what they find.

• What does this teach us about the wickedness of these people?

II. Revelation 10  An angel instructs John about his mission in the latter days

Explain that Revelation 10 contains a pause in the narrative of the seven trumpet soundings and their associated plagues. We read in this chapter that John was instructed by another angel.

---Write on the board the words Sweet and Bitter.

• What are some experiences in life that could be considered both sweet and bitter?

---Invite a student to read Revelation 10:1–3 aloud. Ask the class to follow along, looking for what the angel was holding.

• What was the angel holding?

---Invite two students to take turns reading aloud from Revelation 10:8–11. Ask the class to follow along, looking for what John was told to do with the book.

• What was John told to do with the book? How did it taste?

---Invite a student to read Doctrine and Covenants 77:14 aloud. Ask the class to follow along, looking for what John’s eating of the book represented.

• According to this verse, what did John’s eating of the book represent? (John’s acceptance of his mission to help “gather the tribes of Israel” and “restore all things” in the latter days.)

---Point out that John had been blessed that he would not die so that he could bring individuals to the Savior (see D&C 7:1–4).

• What might John experience in fulfilling his mission that would be sweet? What might be bitter?

III. Revelation 11  John sees two prophets slain in Jerusalem and the sounding of the seventh trumpet

---Explain that Revelation 11 begins with John’s description of the events that will precede the sounding of the seventh trumpet and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. During this time, the wicked will have more power and control over the earth, and an army will seek to overrun Jerusalem.

---Invite a student to read Revelation 11:3–6 aloud. Ask the class to follow along, looking for what two witnesses will do in Jerusalem during this time.

• What will the two witnesses do?
• What might it mean that “fire [will proceed] out of their mouth”? (verse 5). (This could be symbolic of the power of the testimonies they will bear [see Jeremiah 5:14; 20:9].)

---Invite a student to read Doctrine and Covenants 77:15 aloud. Ask the class to follow along, looking for who these two witnesses will be. Ask students to report what they find.

---Invite a student to read Revelation 11:7–12 aloud. Ask the class to follow along, looking for what will happen to these two prophets after they have finished their ministry among the Jews.

• How will the wicked react when the two witnesses are killed?
• What will happen to the two witnesses after being dead for three and a half days?
• How will the people react when the two witnesses are raised from the dead and taken into heaven?

---Invite a student to read Revelation 11:13–15 aloud. Ask the class to follow along, looking for what will happen prior to and when the seventh trumpet is sounded. Invite students to write what they find on their papers next to the seventh trumpet.

• After the sounding of the seventh trumpet, who will reign over “the kingdoms of this world”? (verse 15).

---Summarize Revelation 11:16–19 by explaining that the 24 elders gave thanks and praise to God for rewarding the just and punishing the wicked. John also saw in vision the heavenly temple of God and the ark of the covenant, which represents God’s presence.

---Conclude today’s lesson by sharing your own feelings of thanks and praise to God for His goodness and justice.

Commentary and Background Information

Revelation 8–11. Additional commentary

For additional information on the contents of Revelation 8–11, see the commentary for these chapters found in the New Testament Student Manual (Church Educational System manual, 2014) on pages 545–49.

Revelation 10:1–3, 8–11. The little book that John was given to eat

Elder Bruce R. McConkie of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

“John’s act of eating a book containing the word of God to him was in keeping with the custom and tradition of ancient Israel. The act signified that he was eating the bread of life, that he was partaking of the good word of God, that he was feasting upon the word of Christ—which was in his ‘mouth sweet as honey.’ But it made his ‘belly bitter’; that is the judgments and plagues promised those to whom the Lord’s word was sent caused him to despair and have sorrow of soul” (Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3 vols. [1965–73], 3:507).

“That the book was ‘sweet as honey’ in John’s mouth but ‘bitter’ in his belly (Revelation 10:10) may suggest that his mission would involve many sweet and joyous experiences but also rejection and painful experiences (see also Psalm 119:103)” (New Testament Student Manual [Church Educational System manual, 2014], 548).

Supplemental Teaching Idea

Overview of the book of Revelation

To help students better understand the chronology and events described in Revelation 6–11, consider providing as a handout copies of the “Overview of the Book of Revelation” found in the New Testament Student Manual (Church Educational System manual, 2014) on pages 538–39. For this lesson you could invite students to read the information pertaining to Revelation 8:1–13; 9:1–21; 11:1–14; 11:15–19 located on page 538 in the section entitled “Chronology of the Events in the Last Two Seals, Including Teaching Interludes.” You might also want to invite them to read the box entitled “The ‘Little Book’ Interlude: Revelation 10:1–11,” located in the same section.

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Encourage students to study the scriptures daily and read the text for the course

At the beginning of this course students were encouraged to read the entire New Testament. Find out how your students are doing with this goal, and offer support and encouragement as needed. As students complete this goal, encourage them to continue to study the scriptures daily so they can continue to receive the blessings that come from doing so.

Lesson 156: Revelation 12–13

Introduction

John saw a vision of a dragon threatening a woman and her child, which symbolizes Satan’s attempts to destroy the Lord’s Church and its faithful members. John wrote about the War in Heaven and about the kingdoms of the world that would fight against the followers of God.

I. Revelation 12  John is shown that Satan and his angels have always warred against the Lord and His Church

---Before class, copy the following matching activity on the board. After class begins, invite a few students to draw connecting lines between each of the threats listed in the left-hand column and the ways to combat them listed in the right-hand column.

Threats	Ways to Combat Threats
Sunburn	Truths in Revelation 12
Enemy soldiers	Medicine or rest
Sickness	Sunscreen or clothing
Sin and guilt	Repentance and trust in Jesus Christ
Influences of Satan	Weapons of war

• Which of these threats have you had to combat lately? Which one do you think is the most dangerous? Why?

---Invite students to look for truths as they study Revelation 12 that can help them combat Satan’s influences. Explain that Revelation 12–14 records an interlude, or pause, in John’s vision of the events of the seventh seal. The Lord may have been helping John understand the meaning of the phrases “the kingdoms of this world” and “the kingdoms of our Lord” in Revelation 11:15.

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---Show students the accompanying picture of the woman with the dragon behind her. Invite students to consider what these symbols might represent.

---Invite a student to read Revelation 12:1–2, 5 aloud. Ask the class to follow along, looking for what happened to the woman. Explain that the Joseph Smith Translation places verse 5 directly after verse 2.

• What happened to the woman? (She gave birth to a son “who was to rule all nations” [verse 5].)
• What do you think it means that he would “rule all nations with a rod of iron”? (verse 5). (The child would use the rod of iron, which may symbolize the gospel, the priesthood, and the word and power of God, to righteously govern the nations of the world [see Bruce R. McConkie, Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3 vols. (1965–73), 3:517].)

---Invite a student to read Revelation 12:3–4 aloud. Ask the class to follow along, looking for the symbols described in these verses.

• What do you think the symbols described in verses 1–5 could represent?

---Invite students to read silently Joseph Smith Translation, Revelation 12:7–8 (in the Bible appendix). Ask them to look for what the dragon, the woman, and the child represent.

• According to Joseph Smith Translation, Revelation 12:7–8, what do the dragon, the woman, and the child in John’s vision represent? (The dragon represents Satan [see verse 8]; the woman represents “the church of God;” and the child represents the “kingdom of our God and his Christ” [verse 7], which is a political kingdom that the Lord will establish during the Millennium, through which He will rule all nations. [See New Testament Student Manual (Church Educational System manual, 2014), 550–52, for more explanation of the symbolism in these passages.])
• According to Revelation 12:4, what was the dragon’s intent? Why do you think Satan seeks so diligently to destroy the kingdom of God and Christ?

---Invite a student to read Revelation 12:6 aloud. Ask the class to follow along, looking for what the woman did because of the threatening dragon.

• What happened to the woman? What might this symbolize? (The woman fleeing into the wilderness represents the Church entering the Great Apostasy and the priesthood being taken from the earth after the Apostles’ deaths [see also D&C 86:3].)

---Explain that after John saw the dragon threatening the woman and her child, he witnessed the War in Heaven between Satan and the Saints of God. Invite a few students to take turns reading aloud from Joseph Smith Translation, Revelation 12:6–11 (in the Bible appendix). Ask half of the class to look for what happened to Satan in the War in Heaven and the other half of the class to look for how the Saints of God overcame Satan and his followers.

• What happened to Satan and his followers? (You might point out that Revelation 12:4 says that the dragon’s tail “drew the third part of the stars of heaven.” This is symbolic of the large number of Heavenly Father’s spirit children who chose to follow Satan. You may also want to explain that “Michael and his angels” [Joseph Smith Translation, Revelation 12:6] are Adam and other righteous spirit children of God.)
• According to verse 11, how did the righteous hosts of heaven overcome Satan? (“By the blood of the Lamb,” or through the Savior’s Atonement, and by remaining true to their testimonies of the gospel. Write these answers on the board.)
• According to verse 8, where were Satan and his followers sent following their rebellion?

---Invite a student to read aloud Joseph Smith Translation, Revelation 12:12, 17 (in the Bible appendix). Ask the class to follow along, looking for whom Satan made war against after he was cast out of heaven.

• Whom did Satan make war against after he was cast out of heaven?
• Based on what we learn from verse 11, what can we do to overcome the influences and attacks of Satan in our day? (Help students identify a principle similar to the following: We can overcome Satan’s influences through the Savior’s Atonement and by remaining true to our testimonies of the gospel. Write this principle on the board.)

---Invite a student to read aloud the following statement by Elder James J. Hamula of the Seventy. Ask the class to listen for how Satan is attacking their generation.

“Reserved to come forth in these last days and labor for our Father and His Son are some of the most valiant and noble of our Father’s sons and daughters. Their valiance and nobility were demonstrated in the pre-earth struggle with Satan. …

“With God’s kingdom restored to the earth and your entry into the world, Satan knows that ‘he hath but a short time’ [Revelation 12:12]. Therefore, Satan is marshalling every resource at his disposal to entice you into transgression. He knows that if he can draw you into transgression, he may prevent you from serving a full-time mission, marrying in the temple, and securing your future children in the faith, all of which weakens not only you but the Church. He knows that nothing can overthrow God’s kingdom ‘save it [be] the transgression of [his] people’ [Mosiah 27:13]. Make no mistake about it—the focus of his war is now on you” (“Winning the War against Evil,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2008, 50, 51).

• How do Satan and his followers seek to weaken us?

---Invite students to consider how Satan is waging war against them personally.

• What are some things we can do to increase our faith in Jesus Christ and strengthen our testimonies of Him? (List students’ responses on the board.)

---Read the following two statements aloud, and invite students to respond to one of them in their class notebooks or scripture study journals:

1. Write about an experience when your testimony of and faith in the Savior’s Atonement helped you combat Satan’s influences.
2. Record your testimony of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and explain how the Atonement can help us in our war against Satan and his followers.

---After sufficient time, invite a few students to share what they wrote.

---Encourage students to select one or more of the ideas listed on the board and apply them in their battles against Satan and his followers.

II. Revelation 13  John writes about kingdoms of the earth that will receive power from Satan

---Summarize Revelation 13 by inviting a student to read the chapter summary aloud. (If you prefer, you could explain that John saw a vision of fierce-looking beasts that represent wicked earthly kingdoms controlled by Satan. John also saw that through these kingdoms, Satan would work wonders and false miracles to deceive the inhabitants of the earth.

Scripture Mastery Review

During the last week of seminary, consider giving students a final scripture mastery test. You might encourage students to study at home or immediately before the test. The following are a few types of tests you could use (you may adapt these ideas to meet students’ needs):

Reference test: Give students clues from the scripture mastery passages. These clues could be key words, doctrines or principles, or passage summaries. Invite students to write the reference to the passage on a piece of paper after you provide each clue.

Doctrine test: List the Basic Doctrines on the board. Ask students to list corresponding scripture mastery references under each doctrine. They could do this by recalling the scripture mastery passages from memory or by using a list of the mastery passages.

Memorization test: Invite students to use memorized words and principles from the scripture mastery passages to explain some of the Basic Doctrines. Invite them to write out their explanations and read them aloud to the class.

Remember to commend your class for their efforts to master these key scripture passages and the Basic Doctrines. Testify of the spiritual power and testimony we can receive as we master scripture passages and doctrines.

Commentary and Background Information

Revelation 13. Fierce-looking beasts

Apart from the knowledge that the beasts represent worldly kingdoms, we do not have any interpretation from the Lord concerning the beasts. While speaking about the mysteries of the book of Revelation, the Prophet Joseph Smith said the following:

“Whenever God gives a vision of an image, or beast, or figure of any kind, He always holds Himself responsible to give a revelation or interpretation of the meaning thereof, otherwise we are not responsible or accountable for our belief in it. …

“… Never meddle with the visions of beasts and subjects you do not understand” (in History of the Church, 5:343, 344).

Revelation 13:8. “The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world”

The phrase “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:8) refers to Jesus Christ and His Atonement. “From the foundation of the world” refers to the premortal life, before the world was created. Therefore, we can understand from this verse that the effects of the Savior’s Atonement were in place before Jesus was even born. For example, people who lived before the time of Christ could exercise faith in Christ, repent, and have their sins forgiven through the power of His Atonement, even though the Savior had yet to be born (see D&C 20:25–26).

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Study the scripture block before you teach

President Ezra Taft Benson taught: “Before you can strengthen your students, it is essential that you study the doctrines of the kingdom and learn the gospel by both study and faith” (“The Gospel Teacher and His Message” [address to religious educators, Sept. 17, 1976], 5, Church History Library, Salt Lake City). Carefully study each lesson’s scripture block, and ponder the doctrines and principles contained in it. Seek to increase your faith in those truths.