The Triump of Jesus Christ - as shown in Revelation Rev 8-21
The Signs of the Times
Attention Activity:
Christ has overcome all and will triumph over all evil
Pushups - adding weight - again and again - through christ our burdens can be made light
Through the Lord Jesus Christ All things can be overcome. The book of Revelation is a book that emphasises that this can and will occur. In our own individual life as well as in the church and in the world. (Mountains to climb - he will make the difference,He is our Anchor, Through Jesus Christ we can Overcome!, Jesus Christ is the Way, There is a GOD and he has a plan for us. Revelation continues through to today )
How does an understanding that we can overcome any obsticle placed in our way with Jesus's help, help us?
How does an understanding that there really is a God in heaven and that he has a plan for his creations help us?
Jesus is the "Way" the "Truth" and the "Life" it is through him that we can overcome, and only through him.
What Obsticles are before us now? In our personal life, in the church, in our nation, and in our world....
How can an understanding of the book of revelation help us with each?
The Book of Revelation's Theme is this:
Jesus Christ and God will overcome all evil and "Good" will triump in the end.
We have seen that the book of Revelation is divided up into these sections. Here is a basic review of them.
#1. The Introduction and the letters to the church
Each bishop was shown that they can receive exhaltation if they repent - through Christ
#2. The Vision of the throne room of God
He has a plan for us and for this earth
There are many angels/beasts/people involved in his plan each with their own roles
Each of us as well as we fulfill our stewardships fullfill his plan - based upon his foreknowledge
Much of what occured has been evil - war, famine, pestilence, death
Man hasn't really done a very good job of ruling this earth
The Lord will come and rule the earth - he will overcome the world
Today we will discuss the Two great poems in the book of Revelation and how an understanding of the poetic nature of this book can help us understand the signs of the times as well as
Christs victory over Satain, in the pre-existence, in this world, and in the world to come
!As we go through these verses compare each section of the poem with its corresponding anti/corroborative section.
i.e. seven trumpets, seven vials, bottomless pit, celestial glory, Mighty Angel, The Lamb of God etc.
Quick review of the Plan of Salvation:
How Christ Prevailed in Heaven before the world was:
Abr 3:22 Intelligences - organized as spirits - among them all some nobel and great ones
Abr 3:23 God saw they were good -
he stood among them
- these I will make my rulers - spiritsAbr 3:24 One like unto God - said - we will go down - there is space - make an earth
Abr 3:25 We will prove them herewith - obedience? or not?
Abr 3:26 Those who keep estate - added upon - those who keep second - added forever
Abr 3:27 Who shall I send? Son of Man - Here am I send me - Another said here am I - I will send the first
Abr 3:28 Second was angry and kept not his first estate -
War in Heaven
Who was he standing among? Everyone? or just the noble and great ones?
What was the war about? Moses 4:1-3 (The souls of men - who will be saved? who will not return to god...)
Moses 4:1 Satan is the same which said -
Here am I send me I will redeem all - non shall be lost - give me thine honor
Moses 4:2 Beloved Son - Chosen from beginning -
Father thy will be done - glory be thine forever
Moses 4:3 Satan rebelled against me - sought to destroy agency of man - desired my power - cast down by Jesus
Moses 4:4 Satan became the devil - father of all lies - deceive and blind men
D&C 76:25-27 Satan fell -
heavens wept over him - he is fallen a son of the morning!
Could the devil have removed our agency? D&C 93:29-31
Without agency - ability to act for itself - there is no existence!Lead into Poetic form of Revelations
Rev 12:6 Church Driven into wilderness (See D&C 86:1-4 Angels waiting to reap the fields)
Rev 12:9 Dragon- Satan -
deceived whole world
- was cast out into earth - and his angelsRev 12:10 Now is come the salvation of the kingdom of our God -
Accuser of our brethren
is cast downRev 12:11 They
Overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and the word of their testimony
(Loved not their lives unto the death)This war continues for the souls of men today!
The Poetic form of the last two couplets in the Book of Revelation:
Sevel Seals
6:1–2 6:3–4 6:5–6 6:7–8 6:9–11 6:12-17 8:1-2 The first prelude to the poems - the setting up of the Seven Seals ideaCouplet #1 Central is of course Christ's Victory is Complete - Before the world was
Discussion:
Review the format of the poem - show them that the central theme of the poem is Christ victory over satan in pre-existence
Demonstrate the comparisons of ideas between each section of the couplet.
Work out from the central portion of the poem - comparing the similarities and differences as you go. (Some are Emphasis, some are negatives of)
Speak of the Trumps of the Arch Angels of God
symolic of the preparation and finishing of God's work- D&C 77:12
8 -
Seven Angels
- Trumpets Rev 8:7, 8:8 8:10 8:12 9:1 9:13 10:5-69 - Bottomless Pit - Darkness Rev 9:2-3, 4 angels of death, army D&C 77:13 (After 7Seal)
10 - Mighty Angel - Time No Longer - 7 thunders - littel book - calling of John
11:3-12 - Two Prophets in Jerusalem - Authority from God - Miracles, power in mouth - they die
12:7-10 -
War in Heaven - Christ Prevails - Devil Cast out -
Now is the Salvation of Our God
13:1,11 - Two Beasts(Countries) - Arise from sea/earth - Given Power by Devil - Miracles, power in mouth
14 - The Lamb Stands on Mount Zion - 5 angels of light - patience of saints
15 - Celestial Glory - Sea of glass/fire - saints & kings, Temple of God
16 -
Seven Angels
- Vials 16:2-3 16:3 16:4 16:8 16:10 16:12 16:17Symbols:
Olive Leaves - two Prophets in Jerusalem - to prophecy before city falls D&C 77:15
Two Beasts - two Countries JST 13:1 (footnote) to arise - One wounded yet healed, both with power over all nations/kindreds tongues
Mighty Angel - Not sure - perhaps Michael?
Little Book - Mission and Ordinance for him to gether Israel - D&C 77:14
Many Symbols as yet unrevealed... :(
As you can see because of the poetic form of this book some events repeat and are not chonological at all. Because of the chiasmatic form it makes it difficult to form a timeline of events or chonology of events that are to occur. (See Appendix for research into this)
Couplet #2
Central is of course Christ's Victory is Complete - Melenial reign
a. Babylon, the wicked world, is unveiled (Rev. 17:1–18)
Christ’s victory is completed
(Rev. 19:11–21)Duplication of events to emphasize Christs victory can sometimes cloud our understanding of a Chronology.
Christ overcomes before the world was born - War in Heaven
Christ overcomes in the meridian of time - Garden of Gethsemane
Christ overcomes in our lives as we repent and are forgiven
Christ overcomes when he comes again and conquers all nations - Milennial reign
Jesus as King of kings and Lord of Lords overcomes all evil as he exhalts us all