Week 28: The Revelation of John

Hurricane West Stake Adult Religion Class

The legacy of Revelation

Perhaps no book of scripture

has led to more speculation, spawned more foolishness, and resulted in more spiritual imbalance than the Apocalypse, the Revelation of John the Beloved.
Robert Millet, BYU
Church News, 22 December 1995
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Apocalyptic literature

(apocalupsis / apocalypse) = uncovering, unveiling. Vision of heaven, angelic guide, Gods plan explained with symbols. Popular c. 350 B.C.A.D. 150.

Author & date

John (1:1, 4, 9; 21:2; 22:8). John the Apostle (1 Nephi 14:1827). c. A.D. 9596.

Location & audience

From the island to Patmos (1:9). To seven churches in western Asia Minor (1:11; 2:13:22).
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Interpretative approaches
Preterist: Refers only to events at end of 1st century. Historicist: Presents all of history, 1st century to end of time. Futurist: All the visions yet to be fulfilled. Idealist: Book is purely symbolic.

Symbolic numbers
7 Fulfillment, completion 7 cities, 7 seals, 7 heads, 7 trumpets, 7 plagues, 7 bowls, etc. New Jerusalem: 12 gates, 12 foundations, tree with 12 fruits, is 12,000 cubic stades. Satan bound 1,000 years; 144,000 people sealed (12 12 1,000).
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Order

1,000

A great number

How does this make you feel?

The book of Revelation is one of the plainest books God ever caused to be written. Joseph Smith, April 1843
History of the Church 5:342

Rev 5:1 a book (biblion)

Papyrus scroll

Codex
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Rev. 5:1 sealed with seven seals

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Ezekiel 2:10a (Aramaic)

And he [God] spread it [the scroll] before me [Ezekiel], and behold, it was inscribed on the face of it and on the reverse of it, that which was from the beginning and that which is destined to be in the end.

(Compare D&C 77:67.)

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Opening the seals

Now, I make this declaration, that those
things which John saw in heaven had no allusion to anything that had been on the earth previous to that time, because they were the representation of things which must shortly come to pass, and not of what has already transpired. * * * The revelations do not give us to understand anything of the past in relation to the kingdom of God. Joseph Smith, April 1843
History of the Church 5:342

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Rev. 6:18 The four horsemen

Zechariah 6:16. Revelation 7:1.

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Rev. 4:68 Beasts in heaven

Revelation 4:68. Ezekiel 1:424. Isaiah 6. D&C 77:24.

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Interpreting scriptural symbols

I make this broad declaration, that where God ever 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 them it. Dont be afraid of being damned for not knowing the meaning of a vision or figure where God has not given a revelation or interpretation on the subject. * * * [In the celestial kingdom there are] beings there, that [have] been saved from ten thousand times ten thousand earths like this, strange beasts of which we have no conception all might be seen in heaven. God glorifies himself by saving all that his hands [have] made whether beasts, fowl fishes or man.
Joseph Smith, April 1843 Words of Joseph Smith 185
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The beasts of Rev. 13 & 17

Revelation 13:18. JST Revelation 13:1. Compare Daniel 7:18. Revelation 12:9. Revelation 17:9.

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Sealing the servants of God

Revelation 2:17 (cf. D&C 130:911). Revelation 7:23. Revelation 22:34. Revelation 3:12; 14:1.
[The servants of God being sealed in their foreheads] signifies sealing the blessing upon their heads, meaning the everlasting covenant, thereby making their calling and election sure. Joseph Smith, August 1843
History of the Church 5:530
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Satans counterfeit seal

Revelation 13:1; 17:3, 5. Revelation 9:34. Revelation 13:16. Revelation 14:911; 16:2; 19:20. Revelation 20:4. Mosiah 5:15. Alma 34:3336.
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Summary
Johns book of Revelation gives Christians hope for the future. Despite the difficulties we may face, individually and as a people, God is in control and evil will eventually be put down forever. Jesus Christ will return in power, all men will be judged according to their deeds, and those who have received the Fathers name will dwell with him and the Son forever in celestial glory.
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Next week:
PostPost-New Testament Christianity and the Great Apostasy