12/17/2023
Composite art by Eric Johnson: The Grand Council, by Robert T. Barrett; star cluster courtesy of European Space Agency
December 11–17
Revelation 6–14
“They Overcame … by the Blood of the Lamb”
President Boyd K. Packer counseled: “If the language of the scriptures at first seems strange to you, keep reading. Soon you will come to recognize the beauty and power found on those pages” (“The Key to Spiritual Protection,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2013, 27).
Record Your Impressions
Imagine a woman “travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.” Now imagine “a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns” hovering over the woman, poised to “devour her child as soon as it was born” (Revelation 12:2–4). To understand these verses of John’s revelation, remember that these images represent the Church and kingdom of God and the peril they would face. For the Saints who experienced intense persecution in John’s day, victory over evil may not have seemed likely. This victory can also be hard to foresee in a day like ours, when the adversary is at “war with the saints” and has “power … over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations” (Revelation 13:7). But the end of John’s revelation gloriously shows that good will prevail over evil. Babylon will fall. And the Saints will come “out of great tribulation” with robes of white—not because their robes were never stained but because the Saints will “have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (Revelation 7:14).
Ideas for Personal Scripture Study
Revelation 6–11
John saw many events of earth’s history, especially those of the latter days.
In these chapters you will read about a book with seven seals. If you wonder what that means, you aren’t alone. The Prophet Joseph Smith did too. The Lord revealed to Joseph that this book and its seals represent the story of the earth’s “temporal existence,” with each seal representing a thousand years (see Doctrine and Covenants 77:6–7). You might be interested to know that the events of the first four seals are summarized in John’s vision in only eight verses (Revelation 6:1–8). The next three verses describe the fifth seal (verses 9–11). The events of the last two seals take up most of the rest of the book of Revelation. In other words, the main focus of John’s vision is the last days—our days. As you read, ponder why it is valuable to know what John wrote about the latter days.
As you read about the events John prophesied of, consider the following suggestions and questions:
Read Revelation 7 with the work of gathering Israel in mind. What thoughts do you have about this work? (see also Doctrine and Covenants 77:8–11). What do you learn from verses 13–17 about Jesus Christ and those who come to Him?
What do chapters 8; 9; and 11 teach you about the events of the last days? (see also Doctrine and Covenants 77:12–13, 15). How can we prepare spiritually for these events?
Revelation 10 tells of a book that an angel gives to John and commands him to eat. What might this symbolize? (see Doctrine and Covenants 77:14).
Revelation 12–13
The War in Heaven continues on earth.
We don’t know a lot about the War in Heaven, but there is a vivid though brief description of it in Revelation 12:7–11. As you read these verses, picture yourself as part of that premortal conflict. What do you learn about how Satan is overcome? (see verse 11).
The war that started in heaven continues on earth, as Satan persists to “make war with [those who] have the testimony of Jesus Christ” (Revelation 12:17). What do you learn from Revelation 13 about how he is waging that war today? How do “the blood of the Lamb” and “the word of [your] testimony” (Revelation 12:11) continue to help you in this war?
See also 1 Nephi 14:12–14; Moroni 7:12–13; Moses 4:1–4; Doctrine and Covenants 29:36–37; Gospel Topics, “War in Heaven,” topics.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
Revelation 14:6–7
“I saw another angel … having the everlasting gospel.”
One fulfillment of the prophecy in these verses occurred when Moroni appeared to Joseph Smith and led him to the records that he translated and published as the Book of Mormon. This book contains the “everlasting gospel” that we are charged with preaching unto “every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people” (Revelation 14:6).
To learn about other angels who have participated in restoring the everlasting gospel, see Doctrine and Covenants 13; 27:5–13; 110:11–16; 128:20–21.
See also “The Restoration of the Fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: A Bicentennial Proclamation to the World,” ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
Ideas for Family Scripture Study and Home Evening
Revelation 7:9, 13–15. What can these verses teach us about why we wear white for baptismal and temple ordinances?
Revelation 7:14–17. Consider inviting family members to share their feelings about the Lord’s promises in these verses. How can His promises help us when we are in “great tribulation”? (verse 14).
Revelation 12:7–11; 14:6. Some family members might enjoy drawing pictures of the visions described in Revelation. For example, drawing pictures based on Revelation 12 could lead to discussions about the War in Heaven (see verses 7–11). Pictures based on Revelation 14:6 could lead to discussions about the Restoration of the gospel.
After reading Revelation 14:6 together, consider showing pictures of the angel Moroni and of other angels who helped restore the gospel in our day (see the pictures at the end of this outline). Perhaps family members could take turns holding up one of the pictures and sharing reasons they are thankful that angels came “having the everlasting gospel to preach unto [us].”
Revelation 12:11. What might the phrase “the word of their testimony” mean? How do our testimonies of Jesus Christ help us and others overcome Satan?
Revelation 13:11–14. What thoughts do your family members have about the deceiving beast? How do we detect and avoid deceptions we see in the world today?
For more ideas for teaching children, see this week’s outline in Come, Follow Me—For Primary.
Suggested song: “I Will Be Valiant,” Children’s Songbook, 162.
Improving Personal Study
Immerse yourself in the scriptures. President Russell M. Nelson taught, “Daily immersion in the word of God is crucial for spiritual survival, especially in these days of increasing upheaval” (“Hear Him,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2020, 89). What does “immersion in the word of God” mean to you?
Moroni Delivering the Golden Plates, by Gary L. Kapp; Upon You My Fellow Servants, by Linda Curley Christensen and Michael T. Malm (John the Baptist confers the Aaronic Priesthood on Joseph Smith); Keys of the Kingdom, by Linda Curley Christensen and Michael T. Malm (Peter, James, and John confer the Melchizedek Priesthood on Joseph Smith; Vision in the Kirtland Temple, by Gary E. Smith (Moses, Elias, and Elijah appear to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery).
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