“HE THAT OVERCOMETH SHALL INHERIT ALL THINGS” Lesson 45 Revelation 1-3, 12

JOHN  Son of Zebedee and brother of James  One of the Sons of Thunder  In his early life he was a fisherman in fairly comfortable circumstances  One of the inner circle of three with Peter and James  “The disciple whom Jesus loved”  Banished by the Roman Emperor Domitian (81 – 96AD) to the Isle of Patmos for preaching of Christ (This is at least 50 years after he was with Jesus)  Did not die but has been allowed to remain on the earth as a ministering servant until the time of the Lord’s Second Coming (3 Ne. 28:6; D&C 7).

P ATMOS Patmos is located in the Aegean Sea and has a total area of only 13 square miles. Ephesus, where John had lived before, is the closest of the seven churches to the island.

R EV. 1:10-19 J OHN IS INSTRUCTED TO RECORD THE REVELATION HE RECEIVES FROM THE L ORD THROUGH AN ANGEL. H E SEES IN REVELATION SEVERAL SYMBOLS REPRESENTING PARTS OF THE C HURCH OF J ESUS C HRIST : SEVEN GOLDEN CANDLESTICKS SEVEN STARS A SHARP TWO - EDGED SWORD KEYS

The book of Revelation is written primarily in symbolic language. Its theme is that “there will be an eventual triumph on this earth of God over the devil; a permanent victory of good over evil, of the saints over their persecutors, of the kingdom of God over the kingdoms of men and of Satan. … The details about the beasts, the wars, the angels, the men, etc., contribute to the development of this theme. By a little study, the theme can be perceived even if the details are not completely identified” (Bible Dictionary, “Revelation of John,” 762).

REVELATION 1:20  7 candlesticks = the 7 branches of the church Elder Bruce R. McConkie said: “Candlesticks carry light; they do not create it. Their function is to make it available, not to bring it into being. So by using seven candlesticks to portray the seven churches to whom John is now to give counsel, the Lord is showing that his congregations on earth are to carry his light to the world” (Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3 vols. [1966–73], 3:442).

REVELATION 1:20  Seven candlesticks = the seven branches of the church  Seven stars = the branch presidents (angels) of those seven branches

 Seven candlesticks = the seven branches of the church  Seven stars = the branch presidents (angels) of those seven branches  The sharp two-edged sword coming out of the mouth of the Lord = the Word of God (1:16)  Keys of hell and death (1:18)

The three introductory chapters record John’s testimony of the truthfulness of the revelation, John’s instructions from the Lord, and John’s counsel to the seven branches of the Church in Asia. Chapter 4 records John’s vision of heaven, and Chapters 5 through 20 record his vision of the triumphant destiny of God’s kingdom. This vision shows the battles against Satan’s kingdom, the destruction of Satan’s kingdom, and the final scenes in the world’s history. After this is a vision of the new heavens and new earth—the world in its celestial state (Revelation 21:1–5). The book of Revelation concludes with the angel’s testimony and additional counsel from the Lord. Understanding the Book of Revelation

R EV T HE L ORD TELLS THE SEVEN BRANCHES IN A SIA ABOUT THE BLESSINGS PROMISED TO THOSE WHO OVERCOME.

WHAT IS THE FINAL OUTCOME OF OVERCOMING THE WORLD? Then shall they be gods, because they have no end; therefore shall they be from everlasting to everlasting, because they continue; then shall they be above all, because all things are subject unto them. Then shall they be gods, because they have all power, and the angels are subject unto them. DOCTRINE & COVENANTS 132:20

Revelation 12: A description of the war in heaven and its continuation on earth  He sees a vision of a woman about to give birth  She brings forth a manchild  He sees a great red dragon who takes 1/3 of the stars of heaven after him and tries to eat up the child  The woman represents the Church of God  The child represents the Kingdom of God—the political government that will be in place during the Millennium  The dragon is Satan, who tries to obstruct the work of the Kingdom

 President Wilford Woodruff said: “There are two powers on the earth and in the midst of the inhabitants of the earth— the power of God and the power of the devil. … When God has had a people on the earth, it matters not in what age, Lucifer, the son of the morning, and the millions of fallen spirits that were cast out of heaven, have warred against God, against Christ, against the work of God, and against the people of God. And they are not backward in doing it in our day and generation. Whenever the Lord set His hand to perform any work, those powers labored to overthrow it” (in Deseret Evening News, 17 Oct. 1896, 9; quoted by Gordon B. Hinckley, in Conference Report, Oct. 1986, 56; or Ensign, Nov. 1986, 43).

R EVELATION 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. How can the Atonement of Christ and our testimonies of it help us in our individual struggles against Satan?