Lesson 46

"Lesson 46: “He Will Dwell with Them, and They Shall Be His People”," New Testament Gospel Doctrine Teacher’s Manual, (2002)

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 A few  Highlights from the Book of Revelation: 

Did you know that Revelation contains a set of beatitudes?  Watch for them.

Check out some of the names and accomplishments of Christ in chapter 1, verses 5-8 and 17-18. 

Watch for the two doors in chapter 3.

Don't miss the visit to the throne room in chapter 4.

Hear the verses of the New Song in chapter 5. 

Get a quick summary of the history of the world in chapter 6 (the seven seals).

Learn in chapter 7 about those whose robes will be made white in the Blood of the Lamb, and the other great blessings that will come to them.

Learn more about our times in chapters 8-14.

In chapter 15 the God of Justice is revealed and praised.

In chapters 16-18,  great battles take place between good and evil and good triumph!  We know how this war will turn out.  [We should do all we can to stand firmly on the winning side.]

See  great symbols from the Old and New Testaments (never before seen all together in one chapter) brought together in chapter 19 as Lamb of God takes his Bride, there is a marriage feast, and the bride and all those who attend are arrayed in spotless white.  

Chapters 19-22 take us into the Millennium and on into Celestial Glory.

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Purpose

To encourage class members to face the future with hope because they know that the forces of evil will be overcome and the Savior will reign in triumph.

The Book of Revelation contains Good Tidings of Great Joy.
Revelation = Good Tidings of Great Joy

Preparation

Chart/Puzzles for Seven Seals

Illustration of the Lion/Lamb of God

1. 1. Read, ponder, and pray about the following scriptures:
   
   1. a. Revelation 5:1–5; 6.  John sees through revelation a book with seven seals and observes some of the events of the first six seals, or time periods. He sees that Satan has fought against the righteous in all time periods.  We are invited into the throne room of God.  He has invited us into HIS room.  What a privilege!  What awe and gratitude we should feel! (Institute -- Brother VanDyke -- Dec. 7, 2011)
      
   2. b. Revelation 19:1–9; 20:1–11. John sees that Satan will be bound and Christ will reign in triumph during the Millennium.    http://emp.byui.edu/WightmanG/Bom_122/Class_Articles/4Nephi.htm
      
   3. c. Revelation 20:12–22:21. John learns that after the last judgment takes place, the righteous will dwell with God.
      
2. 2. Additional reading: Doctrine and Covenants 77; Bible Dictionary, “Revelation of John,” 762–63.
   
3. 3. Suggestion for teaching: “Above all, the most important preparation is of yourself. Prepare so as to have the influence of the Holy Ghost” (Boyd K. Packer, Teach Ye Diligently [1975], 219). Each of us should be striving to live as the Savior lived and to teach as he taught. Prayerfully consider what you can do to ensure that you are teaching with the influence of the Holy Ghost.
   

Suggested Lesson Development

Attention Activity

As appropriate, use the following activity or one of your own to begin the lesson.

Display a recent newspaper, and point out two or three distressing articles, such as accounts of crimes or natural disasters.

• • How do you feel when you read about incidents such as these? (Do not discuss individual incidents in detail.)
  

Have a class member read 2 Timothy 3:1.

Point out that we are living in the last days, in the times the Apostle Paul described as “perilous.” Explain that one of the challenges of living in the last days is learning to conquer fear and despair so we can overcome trials and temptations. This lesson will discuss how we can find hope and courage through an understanding of the events to come in the last days.

Scripture Discussion and Application

Discuss how the following scripture passages can help us have hope as we face the difficulties of the last days. Help class members understand that the righteous do not need to fear the Second Coming.

1. Satan fights against the righteous.

Discuss Revelation 5:1–5; 6. Invite class members to read selected verses aloud. Explain that the first three chapters of the book of Revelation pertain to John’s time (see lesson 45). The rest of the book deals with events that were future to John, from the Apostasy that occurred after the death of the Apostles to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ and the final judgment.

Explain that chapters 5 and 6 of Revelation use the symbol of a book “sealed with seven seals” (Revelation 5:1). Each seal represents a thousand-year period of the earth’s temporal existence (D&C 77:6–7; see the third additional teaching idea for more information on the seven seals). In chapter 6, the Lamb (Jesus Christ) opens the first six seals, showing John some of the events associated with each time period.

• • One thing we learn from chapter 6 is that Satan has fought against the righteous throughout the history of the earth. According to Revelation 6:4–11, what are some ways he has done this? (Answers may include those listed below.)
  
  1. a. Violence and warfare (Revelation 6:4, 8)
     
  2. b. Hunger and famine (Revelation 6:5–6, 8. Explain that the Roman penny was an average day’s wages and a measure of wheat was one day’s worth of food for one person; verse 6 indicates that a day’s wages would only buy a day’s worth of food for one person.)
     
  3. c. Persecution (Revelation 6:9–11)
     
• • What tactics does Satan use today to try to overcome the righteous?
  President Gordon B. Hinckley stated:
  “That war, so bitter, so intense, has gone on, and it has never ceased. It is the war between truth and error, between agency and compulsion, between the followers of Christ and those who have denied Him. His enemies have used every stratagem in that conflict. They’ve indulged in lying and deceit. They’ve employed money and wealth. They’ve tricked the minds of men. They’ve murdered and destroyed and engaged in every other unholy and impure practice to thwart the work of Christ. …
  “[Opposition] has been felt in the undying efforts of many, both within and without the Church, to destroy faith, to belittle, to demean, to bear false witness, to tempt and allure and induce our people to practices inconsistent with the teachings and standards of this work of God. …
  “The war goes on. It is waged across the world over the issues of agency and compulsion. It is waged by an army of missionaries over the issues of truth and error. It is waged in our own lives, day in and day out, in our homes, in our work, in our school associations; it is waged over questions of love and respect, of loyalty and fidelity, of obedience and integrity. We are all involved in it” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1986, 55–58; or Ensign, Nov. 1986, 42, 44–45).
  
• • After making the comments quoted above, President Hinckley added, “We are winning [the war against Satan], and the future never looked brighter” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1986, 58; or Ensign, Nov. 1986, 45). How can we maintain hope and a positive outlook as we fight the war against Satan? What resources do we have to strengthen us against the power of Satan and his followers? (Answers may include the scriptures and the teachings of living prophets, priesthood authority, temples, and association with other members of the Church.)
  

2. Satan will be bound, and Christ will reign in triumph during the Millennium.

Read and discuss Revelation 19:1–9 and 20:1–11.

• • John identified many plagues, wars, and judgments that would occur before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ (Revelation 8–16). Then, in Revelation 19, he described the coming of the Lord, symbolized by a marriage supper (Revelation 19:7–9). What does the wife of the Lamb represent? (The Church of Jesus Christ.) What does the symbol of the marriage supper, with Christ as the bridegroom and the Church as the bride, suggest about the relationship between the Lord and his Church?
  
• • What must we do to be invited to this marriage supper?
  Elder Bruce R. McConkie explained: “The elders of Israel are now issuing the invitations to the marriage supper of the Lord; those who believe and obey the gospel thereby accept the invitation and shall sit in due course … at the marriage feast” (Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3 vols. [1966–73], 3:563–64).
  
• • The Second Coming of Jesus Christ will usher in the Millennium, a thousand-year period when Christ will reign personally upon the earth. What will happen to Satan during the Millennium? (See Revelation 20:1–3.) What will life be like when Satan is bound? (See 1 Nephi 22:26; D&C 45:55, 58.) How can we limit the power of Satan in our lives right now?
  
• • After the Millennium, Satan will be loosed for a season, and one last great battle will be fought between the armies of God and the armies of Satan (Revelation 20:7–8; D&C 88:111–13). This is sometimes called the battle of Gog and Magog. What will be the result of this great battle at the end of the Millennium? (See Revelation 20:9–11; D&C 88:114–15.) Since the result of the battle is already known, what is our responsibility regarding this victory?
  President Ezra Taft Benson said: “Each day the forces of evil and the forces of good enlist new recruits. Each day we personally make many decisions showing the cause we support. The final outcome is certain—the forces of righteousness will win. But what remains to be seen is where each of us personally, now and in the future, will stand in this battle—and how tall we will stand. Will we be true to our last days and fulfill our foreordained missions?” (“In His Steps,” Ensign, Sept. 1988, 2).
  

3. After the last judgment, the righteous will dwell with God.

Read and discuss selected verses from Revelation 20:12–22:21.

• • After the last great battle, the final judgment will occur. What can we learn from Revelation 20:12 about how we will be judged? What blessings will come to those who are judged to be righteous? (See Revelation 21:3–7. List class members’ responses on the chalkboard. Answers may include those listed on the next page.)
  

The righteous will:

1. a. Dwell in God’s presence (Revelation 21:3).
   
2. b. No longer experience death, sorrow, crying, or pain (Revelation 21:4).
   
3. c. Inherit all things as sons and daughters of God (Revelation 21:7).
   
4. • How can knowledge of these great blessings help us as we face difficulties in mortality?
   
5. • Revelation 21:10–22:5 describes the celestial glory of the earth and the city in which those who have attained celestial glory will reside. Why is there no temple in the celestial city? (See Revelation 21:22. The purpose of the temple is to bring us closer to God and teach us of his plan. When we live with him again, temples will no longer be necessary.) What does Revelation 22:14 tell us we must do to be able to enter the gates of the eternal city?
   President David O. McKay told of a vision in which he saw a beautiful city, many people dressed in white, and the Savior:
   “The city, I understood, was [the Savior’s]. It was the City Eternal; and the people following him were to abide there in peace and eternal happiness.
   “But who were they?
   “As if the Savior read my thoughts, he answered by pointing to a semicircle that then appeared above them, and on which were written in gold the words: These Are They Who Have Overcome the World—Who Have Truly Been Born Again!” (Cherished Experiences from the Writings of President David O. McKay, comp. Clare Middlemiss [1976], 60).
   

Conclusion

Point out that the New Testament ends with a message of great hope. Prophets like John the Revelator have seen the things that are to come and have told us of the blessings we will receive if we remain righteous and endure to the end. Testify that the righteous will triumph at the end of the world. Encourage class members to take courage and hope from this knowledge as they stand against wickedness and seek to overcome the obstacles of this life.

Additional Teaching Ideas

The following material supplements the suggested lesson outline. You may want to use one or more of these ideas as part of the lesson.

1. The dangers of setting our hearts on worldly possessions

• • Revelation 18:11–18 teaches that the wicked will mourn the loss of their worldly possessions and be amazed that a great worldly kingdom could be destroyed in a brief time. When have you seen worldly possessions destroyed or lost in a brief amount of time?
  
• • What are the dangers of setting our hearts on worldly things? In what ways do worldly things distract us from spiritual things?
  

2. The First Resurrection

Have a class member read Revelation 20:4–6. To help class members understand these verses, share the following information (on the next page):

The First Resurrection, or the resurrection of the just, will begin at the Savior’s Second Coming. Those who will receive a celestial or terrestrial reward will come forward in this resurrection (D&C 88:98–99). The Second Resurrection, or the resurrection of the unjust, will not begin until the end of the Millennium. Those who will receive a telestial reward and the sons of perdition will come forward in this resurrection (D&C 88:100–102).

3. The seven seals in the book of Revelation

The following chart provides additional information about each of the seven seals. The chart may also be useful in understanding the structure of the book of Revelation. Note that events are listed chronologically, according to the time periods in which they occurred. They should not be confused with the dispensations of the gospel.

(My teaching idea: Create strips/posters for each of these  and have students match them.  You could do small word strips and have them do it in pairs or threes.)

First seal	The creation and fall of Adam and Eve; the ministry of Enoch and the translation of his city into heaven (Revelation 6:1–2).
Second seal	Noah and the Flood (Revelation 6:3–4).
Third seal	Ministries of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and Moses; the Exodus; the period of reign by judges (Revelation 6:5–6).
Fourth seal	The period of reign by kings; the division of the kingdom; the conquering of the kingdoms (Revelation 6:7–8).
Fifth seal	The birth, ministry, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus Christ; the establishment of his Church and the ministry of the Apostles; martyrdom of the Apostles; the Apostasy (Revelation 6:9–11).
Sixth seal	Continuation of the Apostasy; restoration of the gospel through the Prophet Joseph Smith; signs of the times manifest (Revelation 6:12–17; 7:1–8).
Seventh seal	Wars, plagues, and desolation; Second Coming of the Lord (Revelation 8:1–19:21). Millennium of peace (Revelation 20:1–6). Satan loosed for a season, the last great battle, and the final judgment (Revelation 20:7–15).
After the seventh seal	The earth is celestialized (Revelation 21:1–22:6).

• • Point out that the first five seals are covered in 11 verses, the sixth seal is covered in 14 verses, and the seventh seal is covered in 226 verses. What does this emphasis teach us?
  

Point out that John gave the most attention to the events of our time period and the one to come. The book of Revelation was written for our day, and our lives will be blessed as we study it and prepare for the Second Coming of the Savior.

First posted 12/1/11

Revelation 22

Chapter 22

The Saints will reign in celestial splendor—Christ will come, and men will be judged—Blessed are they who keep his commandments.

1 And he shewed me a pure river of ^awater of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.

Ezekial 47:1

Afterward he brought me again unto the door of the house; and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward: for the forefront of the house stood toward the east, and the waters came down from under from the right side of the house, at the south side of the altar.

2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the ^atree of ^blife, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the ^cleaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

3 And there shall be no more ^acurse: but the ^bthrone of God and of the ^cLamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:

4 And they shall ^asee his ^bface; and his ^cname shall be in their foreheads.

5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the ^asun; for the Lord God giveth them ^blight: and they shall ^creign ^dfor ever and ever.

6 And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and ^atrue: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must ^bshortly be done.

7 Behold, I ^acome quickly: ^bblessed is he that keepeth the ^csayings of the prophecy of this book.

8 And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I ^afell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.

(Do even prophets get mixed up when an angel is representing the Lord?)

9 Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.

10 And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.

11 He that is ^aunjust, let him be ^bunjust still: and he which is ^cfilthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

12 And, behold, I ^acome quickly; and my ^breward is with me, to give every man according as his ^cwork shall be.

13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the ^afirst and the last.

14 Blessed are they that ^ado his ^bcommandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

15 For without are dogs, and ^asorcerers, and ^bwhoremongers, and ^cmurderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a ^dlie.

16 I Jesus have sent mine ^aangel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the ^broot and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning ^cstar.

17 And the Spirit and the bride say, ^aCome. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the ^bwater of life freely.
18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall ^aadd unto these things, God shall add unto him the ^bplagues that are written in this book:

19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the ^abook of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I ^acome quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

 21 The ^agrace of our ^bLord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

The Prophet Joseph Smith said:

“This is good doctrine. It tastes good. I can taste the principle of eternal life, and so can you. . . . I know that when I tell you these words of eternal life . . . you taste them, and I know that you believe them. You say honey is sweet, and so do I. I can also taste the spirit of eternal life. I know it is good . . . and rejoice more and more.” ( Teachings, p. 355.)

First Posted 11/27/11

Revelation 21

Chapter 21

Those who overcome will be sons of God—The earth attains its celestial glory.

1 And I saw a ^anew ^bheaven and a new ^cearth: for the first heaven and the first ^dearth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

2 And I John saw the holy city, ^anew ^bJerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a ^cbride adorned for her husband.

3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will ^adwell with them, and they shall be his people, and ^bGod himself shall be with them, and be their God.

4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more ^adeath, neither ^bsorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more ^cpain: for the former things are passed away.

5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things ^anew. And he said unto me, ^bWrite: for these ^cwords are true and faithful.

6 And he said unto me, It is done. ^aI am ^bAlpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the ^cwater of life freely.

7 He that ^aovercometh shall ^binherit ^call things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my ^dson.

8 But the fearful, and ^aunbelieving, and the abominable, and ^bmurderers, and ^cwhoremongers, and ^dsorcerers, and idolaters, and all ^eliars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the ^fsecond ^gdeath.

9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last ^aplagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife.

10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high ^amountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy ^bJerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,

11 Having the ^aglory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;

12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve ^agates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:

13 On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.

14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

15 And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.

16 And the city lieth foursquare, and the ^alength is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand ^bfurlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.

17 And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.

[Twelve is associated throughout with the holy city, and 144 is twelve squared.] 

18 And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.

19 And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;

20 The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.

21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure ^agold, as it were transparent ^bglass.

22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God ^aAlmighty and the Lamb are the ^btemple of it.

23 And the city had no need of the ^asun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the ^bLamb is the ^clight thereof.

24 And the nations of them which are saved shall ^awalk in the light of it: and the ^bkings of the ^cearth do bring their glory and honour into it.

25 And the ^agates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.

26 And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.

27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that ^adefileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s ^bbook of life.

http://institute.lds.org/manuals/new-testament-institute-student-manual/nt-in-12-12-56.asp


First Posted 11/27/11

Revelation 20

Chapter 20

Satan is bound during the Millennium—The Saints will then live and reign with Christ—The dead stand before God and are judged out of the books according to their works.

1 And I saw an ^aangel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless ^bpit and a great chain in his hand.

2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old ^aserpent, which is the ^bDevil, and Satan, and ^cbound him a thousand years,

3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the ^anations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be ^bloosed a little season.

4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and ^ajudgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and ^breigned with Christ a ^cthousand years.

5 But the rest of the ^adead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

6 ^aBlessed and holy is he that hath part in the ^bfirst ^cresurrection: on such the ^dsecond death hath no power, but they shall be ^epriests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

7 And when the ^athousand years are expired, ^bSatan shall be loosed out of his prison,

8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, ^aGog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.

[Joseph Fielding Smith clarifies the difference between the battle of Armageddon and the battle of Gog and Magog: “Before the coming of Christ, the great war, sometimes called Armageddon, will take place as spoken of by Ezekiel, chapters 38 and 39. Another war of Gog and Magog will be after the millennium.” ( Doctrines of Salvation, 3:45.)]

9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.

10 And the ^adevil that deceived them was ^bcast into the lake of ^cfire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the ^aearth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no ^bplace for them.

12 And I saw the ^adead, small and great, ^bstand before God; and the ^cbooks were opened: and another book was opened, which is the ^dbook of life: and the dead were ^ejudged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their ^fworks.

13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and ^adeath and ^bhell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

14 And ^adeath and ^bhell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the ^csecond death.

15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

First posted 11/27/11

Revelation 19

Chapter 19

The marriage supper of the Lamb is made ready—The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy—Christ is King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

1 And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God:

2 For true and righteous are his ^ajudgments: for he hath ^bjudged the great ^cwhore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand. [D&C 29:21]

3 And again they said, Alleluia. And her ^asmoke rose up for ever and ever.

4 And the four and twenty elders and the four ^abeasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia.

5 And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great.

6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord ^aGod ^bomnipotent reigneth.

7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the ^amarriage of the ^bLamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.

8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine ^alinen is the ^brighteousness of saints.

9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the ^amarriage ^bsupper of the ^cLamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.

10 And I ^afell at his feet to ^bworship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy ^cfellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the ^dtestimony of Jesus is the spirit of ^eprophecy.

11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white  horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth ^ajudge and make ^bwar.

12 His ^aeyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a ^bname written, that no man knew, but he himself.

13 And he was ^aclothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his ^bname is called The ^cWord of God.

14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white  horses, ^aclothed in fine linen, white and clean.  (see verse 8)

15 ^aAnd out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall ^brule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the ^cwinepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, ^aKing of Kings, and ^bLord of Lords.

17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;

18 That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all ^amen, both free and bond, both small and great.

19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.

20 And the beast was taken, and with him the ^afalse prophet that wrought ^bmiracles before him, with which he ^cdeceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a ^dlake of ^efire burning with brimstone.

21 And the remnant were slain ^awith the sword  [The Inspired Version changes the word sword in this verse to word.] of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.

http://institute.lds.org/manuals/new-testament-institute-student-manual/nt-in-12-12-56.asp 

“My hopes in reference to the future life are supremely grand and glorious, and I try to keep these prospects bright continually; and that is the privilege and the duty of every Latter-day Saint." -- Lorenzo Snow -- found in the institute manual, see link above


First Posted 11/27/11

Revelation 6

Chapter 6

Christ opens the six seals, and John sees the events therein—In the fifth seal, he sees the Christian martyrs; and in the sixth, he sees the signs of the times.

1 ^aAnd I saw when the Lamb opened one of the ^bseals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four ^cbeasts saying, Come and see.

Beasts: Cherubim. Figures representing heavenly creatures, the exact form being unknown. They are found in the Holy of Holies, on the Mercy Seat of the Ark (Ex. 25:18, 22; 1 Kgs. 6:23–28; Heb. 9:5), and in the visions of Ezekiel (Ezek. 10; 11:22). In the account of the Fall, cherubim are represented as keeping “the way of the tree of life” (Gen. 3:24).

First Seal

2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.
[“Truly, never was there a ministry such as Enoch’s, and never a conqueror and general who was his equal! How appropriate that he should ride the white horse of victory in John’s apocalyptic vision!” (McConkie, DNTC, 3:476–78.)]

Second Seal

3 And when he had opened the ^asecond seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see.

4 And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.
[the era from 3000 B.C. , to 2000 B.C. , was one of war and destruction, these being the favorite weapons of Satan for creating those social conditions in which men lose their souls. bad enough that the Lord had to cleanse the earth with a flood --  McConkie says the figure on the red horse could have been Satan himself, or a wicked warrior represent the many.]

 Third Seal

5 And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.

6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine. [A day's wages will buy only enough to feed one person for a day.]
[“. . . Truly the third seal was a millennium in which hunger among men affected the whole course of God’s dealings with his people.” (McConkie, DNTC, 3:479–80.) ]

Fourth Seal

7 And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.

8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with ^asword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.
[This is the millennium of those great kingdoms and nations whose wars and treacheries tormented and overran, again and again, the people whom Jehovah had chosen to bear his name. This is also the general era in which the Lord’s own people warred among themselves and sent countless numbers of their own brethren to untimely graves.” (McConkie, DNTC, 3:481.)]

Fifth Seal  - The Dispensation of Martyrdom

9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the ^aaltar the souls of them that were ^bslain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:

10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and ^aavenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?

11 And ^awhite ^brobes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should ^crest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

Sixth Seal

12 And I beheld when he had opened the ^asixth seal, and, lo, there was a great ^bearthquake; and the ^csun became ^dblack as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as ^eblood;

13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her ^auntimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.

14 ^aAnd the heaven departed as a ^bscroll when it is rolled together; and every ^cmountain and island were moved out of their places.

15 And the ^akings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the ^bdens and in the rocks of the mountains;

16 And said to the ^amountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:

17 For the great ^aday of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to ^bstand?
[Answer: The righteous of God -- His loyal Priesthood -- Wilford Woodruff, see Institute Manual, 55-13] 

First posted 11-27-11

Revelation 5

Chapter 5

John sees the book sealed with seven seals, and he sees those people redeemed out of every nation—He hears every creature praising God and the Lamb.

1 And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book ^awritten within and on the backside, ^bsealed with seven ^cseals.  [a scroll written with writing on both sides, overflowing with his revealed will, mysteries, . . . works"  D&C 77:6  See Parry, p. 67]

2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is ^aworthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?

3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.

4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.

5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the ^aLion of the tribe of ^bJuda, the ^cRoot of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
[The phrase  "one of the elders"  refers to one of the 24 elders described in Revelation 4. See Parry, pg. 59.]

6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a ^aLamb as it had been slain, ^bhaving seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. = apostle  [JST says 12 horns (power) and 12 eyes (perhaps seership) -- representing his 12 apostles (leaders) Parry p. 70.]

7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.

8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of ^aodours, which are the ^bprayers of saints.

9 And they ^asung a new song, saying,  [first stanza] Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast ^bredeemed us to God by thy blood out of every ^ckindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

10 And hast made us unto our God kings and ^apriests: and we shall reign on the earth.

11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and ^athousands of thousands;

12 Saying with a loud voice,  [second stanza] Worthy is the ^aLamb that was slain to receive ^bpower, and riches, and ^cwisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.  [Seven terms symbolize the fullness of the praise. -- Parry p. 73]

13 And every ^acreature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying,  [third stanza]  Blessing, and honour, and glory, and ^bpower, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

14 And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.

This song reminiscent of D&C 128:23


http://institute.lds.org/manuals/new-testament-institute-student-manual/nt-in-12-12-55.asp
Illustration: http://lionsofzion.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/11-4-10-lion-lamb-big-of-judah.jpg

Parry indicates Understanding the Book of Revelation by Jay A. Parry and Donald W. Parry, Deseret Book, 1998. 

First posted 11/27/11.

Revelaion 18

Chapter 18

The Saints are called out of Babylon lest they partake of her sins—She falls and is lamented by her supporters.

 1 And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was ^alightened with his glory.

 2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, ^aBabylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the ^bhold of every foul spirit, and a ^ccage of every unclean and hateful bird.

 3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her ^afornication, and the kings of the earth have committed ^bfornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the ^cabundance of her delicacies.

 4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, ^aCome ^bout of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her ^csins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

 5 For her ^asins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.

 6 ^aReward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.

 7 How much she hath glorified herself, and lived ^adeliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.

 8 Therefore shall her ^aplagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly ^bburned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who ^cjudgeth her.

 9 And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall ^abewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the ^bsmoke of her burning,

 10 Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.

 11 And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more:

 12 The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble,

 13 And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and ^aslaves, and souls of men.

 14 And the fruits that thy soul ^alusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all.

 15 The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,

 16 And saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls!

 17 For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off,

 18 And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city!

 19 And they cast ^adust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.

 20 Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her.

 21 And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city ^aBabylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.

 22 And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee;

 23 And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the ^avoice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy ^bsorceries were all nations deceived.

 24 And in her was found the ^ablood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.