1. Revelation 1- Overview & Intro into the Book of Revelation
Principle: The Father and our Savior love us so much they want to give us hope and instruction in order to prepare us for the Savior’s Second Coming
This message was so important John was ordained before mortality to write them.
He who has eyes to see - let them see
He who is prepared shall not fear
Apocalypse - put word up on screen - ask them using ONE WORD - come up with a single word that best describes what they think of when they hear the word Apocalypse -
List the words the students come up with - on the board - (Have a student be the scribe)
Click through the following slides showing images of common connections to the word Apocalypse
The Apocalypse

3. 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse?

4. That will bring on great destruction?

5. maybe just a lot of confusion - the book of Revelation is JUST TOO CONFUSING?!?!?!
Perhaps it would help to understand what the WORD actually means?
Apocalypse -

6. APOCALYPSE The Revealing The Unveiling The Unfolding
Click for Greek definitions -
the revealing, the unveiling, the unfolding
OF WHAT????
Click for pictures of Christ -
The revealing, unveiling, of Christ -
The Revealing
The Unveiling
The Unfolding

7. and the unfolding of His Kingdom...
So if that’s what the word really means WHY have we associated it with such NEGATIVE images???
Perhaps because we don’t understand WHAT the Book of Revelation is all about

8. https://youtu.be/eklSV-T6DEY
Watch Rev Video segment #1, 3:02 min
Rev. Video segment #1 - 3:02 min

9. So in order to understand we need to:
Ask the right questions - & need to understand HOW the book was written.
Let’s start with some:
Background on John and the Book of Revelation -
The island of Patmos was mainly a Roman prison camp. Christians were greatly persecuted during the last part of the first century.
John himself was banished to the Isle of Patmos for preaching the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ (see Revelation 1:9).
Even in those circumstances, however, John sought the Spirit “on the Lord’s day” (Revelation 1:10) and had a marvelous vision of Jesus Christ, which we read about in Revelation 1.

10. Vision of John’s day Vision of the future
Chapter 1-3
Vision of
the future
Chapter 4-22
The book of Revelation can be divided into two sections: a vision of John’s day ( chapters 1–3 ) and a vision of the future ( chapters 4–22 ).

11. Read JST Rev 1:1-3 (page 812 of JST in the middle after the bible dictionary)
The book begins with John’s vision, received on a Sabbath day, of Jesus Christ standing in glory amid seven candlesticks representing “the seven churches which are in Asia” ( Revelation 1:11 ).
Though the Saints of John’s day suffered through apostasy and persecution, they could take comfort in this image of the Lord standing with them.
Read JST Rev 1:5-8 (page 812 of JST in the middle after the bible dictionary)
JST Rev. 1:1-3
JST Rev. 1:5-8

12. How Important is this Revelation?
1 Ne 14:18-22
1 Ne 14:24-27
The Lord told Nephi about the book of Revelation centuries before it was written.
Read 1 Ne 14:18–22 - Nephi sees John in a vision.
Read 1 Nephi 14:24–27 - What do we learn from Nephi’s vision regarding John & the Revelation John received?
What does that teach us about the importance of the Book of Revelation?
This message was so important John was ordained to write it.

13. How do we Understand it? How to understand it!
So if it is that important - cause the Lord has taken great care to make the book of Revelation available to us....
BUT -- it also CONFUSING - HOW do we UNDERSTAND IT? - click for pictures
It is like understanding the difference between the benefits of using a microscope or a magnifying glass... both are useful - we just need to know which to use in which situation.

14. Emphasis in the Revelation
Event
# of Verses
Events before the Fall. 5
Seals 1-5 11
Seal 6 14
Seal 7 until the 2nd Coming
211
The Millennium 6
The Final Scenes 9
Celestial Earth 33
Click for Event & # of verses headers
Click once for table of events & verses
By looking at this chart - what is the emphasis of The Revelation?
Note that the first five seals (representing the history of the earth from Adam’s to John’s day) are treated in eleven verses, while the last two seals (representing our day to the end of the world) take 273 verses.
The Lord has taken great care to make the Revelation available to us - it was obviously written for our day -
And since it was - we should TRY harder to understand it.
Next slide: Rev. Video Segment #2 - 1:39 min

15. https://youtu.be/t7eBK_LybOM
Watch Rev Video segment #2, 1:39 min
Rev. Video segment #2 - 1:39 min

16. Becoming familiar with Symbols
Churches
Spirits 7
Stars
Candlesticks
Becoming familiar with symbols in the book of Revelation helps unlock its meanings.
John’s vision is rich in imagery and symbols. Becoming familiar with Jewish use of imagery can help us better understand the book of Revelation
Click for the #7
Where are some places we see the number seven? (Days in a week, periods of the earth’s existence).
Explain that in Hebrew culture the number seven represents completion or perfection.
think about how this understanding relates to
days of the week?
the periods of Creation?
the periods of the earth’s history?
The #7 occurs repeatedly in the Book of Revelation -
Click for words - churches, spirits, stars, candlesticks, seals, angels, trumpets, vials, heads
All these images have meanings and are important to John’s vision but how do we know WHAT the meaning is???
Seals
Trumpets
Vials
Heads

17. Understanding the Symbolism
Symbolism Activity
Pass out a picture of each symbol to one or two students. Have the Interpretation reference written on back of the picture
Have students look up the interpretation scripture & write the interpretation on the front of the picture and then come up one at a time and post their picture and have them read the interpretation
Quote:
Symbols are the timeless and universal language in which God, in his wisdom, has chosen to teach his gospel and bear witness of his Son. - Joseph Fielding McConkie, Gospel Symbolism [1985], 1
Next slide - Rev. Video Segment #3 - 3:07 min
Understanding the Symbolism

18. https://youtu.be/QIBz_HM1Sqo
Watch Rev Video segment #3, 3:07 min
Rev. Video Segment #3 - 3:07 min

19. He that liveth & was dead
Faithful Witness
Alpha & Omega
He that liveth & was dead
Son of Man
First Begotten
The Almighty
The main emphasis of the book of Revelation is on the last days and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ
Just look at some of the words and phrases from Rev chp 1 that describe Jesus Christ. (“faithful witness” [ v. 5 ], “Alpha and Omega” [ v. 8 ], “the Son of Man” [ v. 13 ], “he that liveth, and was dead” [ v. 18 ].)
The book of Revelation is a testimony of the mission of Jesus Christ to conquer Satan and save the children of God.
If we remember this emphasis - we will be able to remember what the whole point of the Revelation is
And instead of being filled with dread we will look forward to the great “Unveiling” that is ahead and we will know what we have to do to be one the winning side.
I have the keys
of hell & death

20. Watch Elder Neal A. Maxwell 1:16min
Elder Maxwell Video segment 1:16 min
O divine Redeemer, Oct 1981 Gen Conf.
Soon, however, all flesh shall see Him together. All knees shall bow in His presence, and all tongues confess His name. Knees which never before have assumed that posture for that purpose will do so then—and promptly. Tongues which have never before spoken His name except in gross profanity will do so then—and worshipfully.
Soon, He who was once mockingly dressed in purple will come again, attired in red apparel, reminding us whose blood redeemed us
Before that reckoning moment, however, both your ministry and mine will unfold in the grim but also glorious circumstances of the last days.
Yes, there will be wrenching polarization on this planet, but also the remarkable reunion with our colleagues in Christ from the City of Enoch. Yes, nation after nation will become a house divided, but more and more unifying Houses of the Lord will grace this planet. Yes, Armageddon lies ahead. But so does Adam-ondi-Ahman!

21. Yes, Armageddon lies ahead, but so does Adam-ondi-Ahman