Below are the quotes that were used in the video.
One of the great themes of the Book of Revelation is that God is in control. No matter what is going on in the book, there is always One who has power over all and has an intimate knowledge of everything. In this week’s study of the New Testament, we will study John’s use of symbolism and the promises made to the followers of Christ.
The Revelation of St John the Divine
“Patmos is a small (only about sixteen square miles), rocky island in the Aegean Sea approximately forty miles southwest of Miletus. It was used as a penal colony by Rome. Evidently, Asian authorities took John's preaching to be seditious enough to ban him to the Island. Patmos is a small, roughly butterfly shaped volcanic island southwest of the Turkish city of Ephesus. It measures about ten by five miles.” (Miller, The Book of Revelation, Family Study Notes, p. 10)
“Although frequently called the “Book of Revelations,” it should be noted that the correct English title of this text is the “Book of Revelation” (in the singular). As one commentator put it: “The body of this unusual letter (1:9 through 22:5) consists of the report of a single, but highly segmented, visionary experience.”
“…The title of the book, “Revelation,” comes from the Greek word ap-ok-al'-oop-sis, which means to “remove or take away the covering” or to “unveil so as to make seen.” It means “a disclosure of truth... concerning things before unknown.” Because of this Greek meaning, in English we call it the Book of Revelation – or in other words, “The Book of Revealing Things.” (Gaskill, Commentary on the Book of Revelation)
Joseph Smith: "The book of Revelation is one of the plainest books God ever caused to be written." (Teachings p 288)
Revelation 1:1
“Every page of Revelation testifies that even here, on the one world that has seen the greatest wickedness, the Father and Son have everything in control. The outcome has been determined since the foundation of the world. No matter how powerful the enemy appears, no matter the level of opposition he musters, he shall not prevail. One day our earthly home, as a sea of crystal and in whose central city the fountain of love and the tree of life refresh everlastingly, will take its rightful position among the gleaming stars of the celestial worlds. It's galactic quarantine will end, and another bright, shining light will testify to the Father's wisdom, goodness, and mercy” (Wilcox, Who Shall Be Able to Stand, p. 326-27).
Revelation 1:3 “He states, “the time is at hand.” The Greek says “the time is limited” or “time presses.” Thus, this is less a statement about when Jesus is coming again, and more a statement about the fact that mortality is short.” (Gaskill, Commentary on the Book of Revelation, p.27)
“7 Churches in Asia”
In the first six verses, John teaches that:
Revelation 1:12-13
“In this vision the resurrected Lord appears in the vestments that symbolically suggest both a priest and a king, wearing a robe and a golden girdle (Ex. 28:4; Ex. 39:29). The word paps is an archaic word meaning "breasts." The word girdle could be translated "sash." The New International Version renders this passage as "dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest." (Donald W. Parry and Jay A. Parry, Understanding the Book of Revelation Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1998, 22.)
“In the Old Testament the Mosaic Priests were to wear a sash or girdle around their waist (Exodus 29:9; Leviticus 8:7) when working in the tabernacle. This sash or belt was worn on top of the robe, and with the ends hanging down. It was apparently “tied in an ample bow or loop.” In certain periods and regions the wearing of a sash symbolized chastity, virginity, purity or faithfulness. President John Taylor is said to have taught that making a bow knot represents “the marriage covenant between man and wife.” Similarly, one British typologist indicated that bows on clothing were a symbol of the combination of the “masculine and feminine.” In some Eastern cultures, the tying of a bow knot was a marriage custom that symbolized the binding of the two people, hence the old cliche, “tying the knot.” (Gaskill, Commentary on the Book of Revelation, p.33-34)
Ephesus
Compliment: “I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience” (Rev 2:2).
Weakness: “thou hast left thy first love” (Rev 2:3).
Promise: “To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God” (Rev 2:7).
“Nicholas was at one time an Assistant to the Twelve - appointed along with Stephen (Acts 6:5). The followers of Nicolas, at this point apostates, taught that there was no need to separate Christianity and the Pagan or Graeco Roman philosophies and lifestyle. So they were known to participate in fertility rites and the eating of foods that had been sacrificed to idols. They espoused the enthronement of Christ and Augustus side by side. They taught some doctrines attached to Gnosticism - such as claiming that what was done to the body had no bearing on the soul. They likely had their own false “apostles” and “prophets.” One commentator claimed that they were “those who want their names on the records of the Church, but do not want to devote themselves to the gospel cause with full purpose of heart.” (McConkie DNTC, 3:446)
Smyrna
Compliment: “I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, ” (Rev 2:9).
Weakness:
Promise: “A crown of life” (Rev 2:10).
“He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.” (re. 2:11).
As a promise to those who endure, the Lord says He will give them a “crown of life.” The Greek says a “laurel wreath crown” like those given to an Olympian who won a competition. Apparently, the Lord was using a symbol that would have meaning and impact for the people of Smyrna – since they had participated in the Olympics.
Pergamos
Compliment: “thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith” (Rev 2:13).
Weakness: “hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication” (Rev 2:14).
Promise: “to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.” (Rev 2:17).
“The white stone is a urim and thummim for each individual who enters the celestial kingdom; written upon this white stone will be a new name. D&C 130:8 11 explains: "The place where God resides is a great Urim and Thummim. This earth, in its sanctified and immortal state, will be made like unto crystal and will be a Urim and Thummim to the inhabitants who dwell thereon, whereby all things pertaining to an inferior kingdom, or all kingdoms of a lower order, will be manifest to those who dwell on it; and this earth will be Christ's. Then the white stone mentioned in Rev. 2:17, will become a Urim and Thummim to each individual who receives one, whereby things pertaining to a higher order of kingdoms, will be made known; and a white stone is given to each of those who come into the celestial kingdom, whereon is a new name written, which no man knoweth save he that receiveth it. The new name is the key word." (Donald W. Parry and Jay A. Parry, Understanding the Book of Revelation Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1998, 37.)
Thyatira
Compliment: “thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works” (Rev 2:19).
"I know how you are still making progress." (Jerusalem bible Rev 2:19)
Weakness: Following “that woman Jezebel” being seduced “to commit fornication” (Rev 2:20)
Promise: “power over the nations” (Rev 2:26).
“This expression may have at least two meanings. First, Jesus Christ is "the bright and morning star" (22:16). The promise of "the morning star" may be the promise of the Second Comforter, which is that "when any man obtains this Second Comforter, he will have the personage of Jesus Christ to attend him, or appear unto him from time to time, and even He will manifest the Father unto him, and they will take up their abode with him, and the visions of the heavens will be opened unto him, and the Lord will teach him face to face." Second, God gives eternal life to those who overcome; they will become like Christ, who is the "bright and morning star." (Donald W. Parry and Jay A. Parry, Understanding the Book of Revelation Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1998, 42.)
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland: “In moments of fear or doubt or troubling times, hold the ground you have already won, even if that ground is limited. In the growth we all have to experience in mortality, the spiritual equivalent of this boy’s affliction or this parent’s desperation is going to come to all of us. When those moments come and issues surface, the resolution of which is not immediately forthcoming, hold fast to what you already know and stand strong until additional knowledge comes.” (https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2013/04/lord-i-believe?)
Elder Dieter F. Uchdorf: “One of the purposes of the Church is to nurture and cultivate the seed of faith—even in the sometimes sandy soil of doubt and uncertainty. Faith is to hope for things which are not seen but which are true.
Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters—my dear friends—please, first doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith. We must never allow doubt to hold us prisoner and keep us from the divine love, peace, and gifts that come through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.” (https://site.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2013/10/come-join-with-us?)
Sardis
Compliment: “thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.” (Rev 3:1). (i.e. You have a reputation for righteousness and spiritual strength, but are in fact spiritually dead.)
Weakness: spiritually dead (Rev 3:1)
Promise: “clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.” (Rev 3:5).
Philadelphia
Compliment: “open door … for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name” (Rev 3:8).
Weakness:
Promise: “a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name” (Rev 3:12).
“A “pillar” in the “temple” of Christ’s God. The “temple” is the Celestial Kingdom. The “pillar” motif suggests stability and permanence… One commentator noted: “The city was constantly threatened with earthquakes. Often the only parts of a city left standing after a severe quake were the huge stone temple columns. Christ promises to set believers in his temple in such a secure fashion that no disturbance can ever force them out…”
“To have God’s name written upon you means that you belong to Him (kind of like “Andy” in Toy Story II). It also implies that you have become what He is – and thus have the same name as he does (i.e., “god”).
To have the name of the “Heavenly City” upon you implies that you are a resident of that city … To have Christ’s “new name” [written upon them]– which normally would be kept secret – suggests that we have become one with Him.” (Gaskill, Commentary on the Book of Revelation, p.59)
Laodicea
Compliment:
Weakness: “that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot” (Rev 3:15)
Promise: “grant to sit with me in my throne” (Rev 3:21).
Elder Neal A. Maxwell: "The absence of any keen desire-merely being lukewarm-causes a terrible flattening" (https://site.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1996/10/according-to-the-desire-of-our-hearts?)
President Spencer W. Kimball: “William Holman Hunt, the artist, felt inspired in England,1853 to capture this stirring scripture on canvas. One day he was showing his picture of "Christ Knocking at the Door" to a friend when the friend suddenly exclaimed: "There is one thing wrong about your picture."
"What is it?" inquired the artist.
"The door on which Jesus knocks has no handle," replied his friend.
"Ah," responded Mr. Hunt, "that is not a mistake. You see, this is the door to the human heart. It can only be opened from the inside."
“And thus it is. Jesus may stand and knock, but each of us decides whether to open. (Spencer W. Kimball, The Miracle of Forgiveness , p.212)
Revelation 4:2-4
“Green is a standard symbol of life. The Egyptians placed “greenstone” amulets in their tombs as representative of eternal youth and as a type for that which is “everlasting, evergreen, fresh, young, and immortal.” They also spoke of God as “The Great Green One” because He is in possession of and the giver of eternal life. One authority in the field of Semitic symbolism noted that, “Green, as the colour of plants - growths to which people look forward in winter - symbolized hope and resurrection ... Hammurabi tells us that he “bedecked the grave of Malkat with green,’ the colour of resurrection” (see David Fontana The Secret Language of Symbols (San Francisco: Chronicle Books, 1993), 67; Smith (1998), 289; Draper (1991), 45; Parry and Parry (1998), 58; Joseph Fielding McConkie and Donald Parry, A Guide to Scriptural Symbols (Salt Lake City, UT: Bookcraft, 1990), 62.)
“There is said to be a “rainbow round about” God’s throne – a rainbow that is emerald in color. One source records: “It is [best] to understand [the] rainbow in its usual sense and see a reference to the sign of God’s covenant (Genesis 9:16). The rainbow round the very throne of God then is a way of saying that the covenant is eternal. It will never be repudiated.” The Greek word translated “rainbow” can also be translated “halo” or “radiance.” When the two images of 1. green and 2. a halo or radiance from God are combined, one gets an image of the life promoting nature of God’s covenants. God is the source of eternal life – indeed, of all life.” (Gaskill, Commentary on the Book of Revelation, p.67-68)
The “sea of glass” – upon which God’s throne rests – is the earth in a Celestial or exalted state – in the which, it acts as a great Urim and Thummim for all those who dwell thereon (see Doc and Cov 77:1).
“The angels do not reside on a planet like this earth; But they reside in the presence of God, on a globe like a sea of glass and fire, where all things for their glory are manifest, past, present, and future, and are continually before the Lord. The place where God resides is a great Urim and Thummim. This earth, in its sanctified and immortal state, will be made like unto crystal and will be a Urim and Thummim to the inhabitants who dwell thereon, whereby all things pertaining to an inferior kingdom, or all kingdoms of a lower order, will be manifest to those who dwell on it” (Doc and Cov 130:6-9).
President Brigham Young stated: “This earth will become a celestial body—be like a sea of glass, or like a Urim and Thummim; and when you wish to know anything, you can look in this earth and see all the eternities of God.” (Brigham Young, “Joys of Eternity,” October 6, 1860, Journal of Discourses 8:200.)
The Four Beasts
“The book with seven seals is in Heavenly Father's right hand, which is the hand "associated with righteousness (Ps. 48:10; Isa. 41:10), power (Ex. 15:6, 12; Ps. 89:13), and covenant making (Isa. 62:8). With his right hand, the Lord executes justice (3 Ne. 29:4, 9), dispenses the law (Deut. 33:2), and saves his people (Ps. 17:7; 20:6) with his right hand he created the heavens and the earth (Isa. 48:13)." (Donald W. Parry and Jay A. Parry, Understanding the Book of Revelation Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1998, 66.)
Revelation 5:1 - A Seal
Who is worthy to Open the book?
“This lamb is a symbol for Christ. He found in the midst (or middle) of the throne of God, meaning that Christ is in the center of all of God’s works and creations.
“You’ll notice that the KJV of “7 horns,” “7 eyes,” and “7 spirits” has been changed in the JST to “12 horns,” “12 eyes,” and “12 servants.” Both the KJV and the JST version are applicable to Christ. Horns symbols for power, and eyes symbols for light, knowledge, truth, revelation, omniscience. The number twelve is a standard symbol for priesthood, and priesthood power. The number seven, as we noted above, represents wholeness, completeness, entirety, etc. Thus, according to the JST, John speaks of Jesus as having 12 horns (or “priesthood power), and 12 eyes (likely a reference to the discernment associated with the office of Prophet, Seer, and Revelator), and 12 servants (or 12 apostles).
“The JST shows us that John looked to the foundation of the Church, the apostles and prophets, as the means through whom the Lamb exercises His authority upon the earth.” God is omnipresent, omnipotent, and omniscient via these individuals. They are “sent forth” – which is exactly what the Greek word for apostle means (i.e., “sent one”). If you read the verse as the KJV has it, then Jesus is said to have 7 horns (“all power”), and 7 eyes (“all knowledge”), and 7 leaders (i.e., He works through all of His priesthood leaders here upon the earth).”” (Gaskill, Commentary on the Book of Revelation, p.76-77)
“Here John sees 100,000,000, plus thousands of thousands. Later he shall see “a great multitude of saved persons, which no man could number.’ (Rev. 7:9.) The expansion of world population being what it is, we can suppose that the billions who live on earth during the Millennium - and who “grow up without sin unto salvation’ (D. & C. 45:58) - shall far exceed in number the total hosts of men who have lived during the preceding six thousand years. Truly ... there are many who shall be saved.” (McConkie (1987 1988), 3:475.)
How many people really will make the Celestial Kingdom?
Joseph Smith: “I suppose John saw beings there of a thousand forms, that had been saved from ten thousand earths like this, strange beasts of which we have no conception: all might be seen in heaven. The grand secret was to show John what there was in heaven. John learned that God glorified Himself by saving all that His hands had made, whether beasts, fowls, fishes or men; and He will glorify Himself with them.
“Says one, “I cannot believe in the salvation of beasts.’ Any man who would tell you that this could not be, would tell you that the revelations are not true. John heard the words of the beasts giving glory to God, and understood them. God who made the beasts could understand every language spoken by them. The four beasts were four of the most noble animals that had filled the measure of their creation, and had been saved from other worlds, because they were perfect; they were like angels in their sphere. We are not told where they came from, and I do not know; but they were seen and heard by John praising and glorifying God.” (Smith, Teachings, pp. 291-92. Compare D&C 77:2, 3.)
Joseph Fielding Smith: "As to where the beasts, birds, and fish, and all other creatures will go after the resurrection we can only express an opinion. John saw many of them in heaven in the presence of God (Rev. 5:13). It is very probable that they, like mankind, will be distributed in the various kingdoms, celestial, terrestrial, and telestial. We may well believe that in each of these kingdoms such creatures will be assigned." (Answers to Gospel Questions, vol. 2, p.51)
Teaching Thoughts:
The Revelation of St John the Divine
- Written by apostle John in approx. 95 A.D.
- John is working on Earth (Doc. & Cov 7:1-3).
- Working with lost ten tribes (H.C. 1:176; see also (Diary of Oliver Boardman Huntington, Typescript in BYU Library, 1847–1900, part 2, p. 162).
- Ch 1-3 mainly John’s day.
- Ch 4-22 Mainly future.
- Given on isle of Patmos.
“Patmos is a small (only about sixteen square miles), rocky island in the Aegean Sea approximately forty miles southwest of Miletus. It was used as a penal colony by Rome. Evidently, Asian authorities took John's preaching to be seditious enough to ban him to the Island. Patmos is a small, roughly butterfly shaped volcanic island southwest of the Turkish city of Ephesus. It measures about ten by five miles.” (Miller, The Book of Revelation, Family Study Notes, p. 10)
“Although frequently called the “Book of Revelations,” it should be noted that the correct English title of this text is the “Book of Revelation” (in the singular). As one commentator put it: “The body of this unusual letter (1:9 through 22:5) consists of the report of a single, but highly segmented, visionary experience.”
“…The title of the book, “Revelation,” comes from the Greek word ap-ok-al'-oop-sis, which means to “remove or take away the covering” or to “unveil so as to make seen.” It means “a disclosure of truth... concerning things before unknown.” Because of this Greek meaning, in English we call it the Book of Revelation – or in other words, “The Book of Revealing Things.” (Gaskill, Commentary on the Book of Revelation)
Joseph Smith: "The book of Revelation is one of the plainest books God ever caused to be written." (Teachings p 288)
Revelation 1:1
- God (the Father) gave this revelation to Jesus Christ.
- To shew to his servants – given to members of the Church with a gospel background.
- Signified (Gr. Sēmaínō) – to give a sign or token
- Angel signified it – see D&C 129:4-8
“Every page of Revelation testifies that even here, on the one world that has seen the greatest wickedness, the Father and Son have everything in control. The outcome has been determined since the foundation of the world. No matter how powerful the enemy appears, no matter the level of opposition he musters, he shall not prevail. One day our earthly home, as a sea of crystal and in whose central city the fountain of love and the tree of life refresh everlastingly, will take its rightful position among the gleaming stars of the celestial worlds. It's galactic quarantine will end, and another bright, shining light will testify to the Father's wisdom, goodness, and mercy” (Wilcox, Who Shall Be Able to Stand, p. 326-27).
Revelation 1:3 “He states, “the time is at hand.” The Greek says “the time is limited” or “time presses.” Thus, this is less a statement about when Jesus is coming again, and more a statement about the fact that mortality is short.” (Gaskill, Commentary on the Book of Revelation, p.27)
“7 Churches in Asia”
- Seven is symbolic of wholeness and completeness.
- The seven churches may, represent all of Church in John’s day.
- “These were cities, roughly thirty to forty-five miles apart, located in Asia Minor, or what is now present day Turkey. Other branches of the Church known to exist in Asia during this time include Hierapolis (Col. 4:13), Colossae (Col. 1:2), Troas (2 Cor. 2:12), Magnesia, and Tralles.” (Donald W. Parry and Jay A. Parry, Understanding the Book of Revelation Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1998, 14.)
- If you visit these churches in order it is almost in the shape of a circle. The circle is a figure of completeness and is symbolic of eternity and returning to an eternal home.
In the first six verses, John teaches that:
- God the Father is in control.
- Jesus is the Revealer and the focus of this revelation.
- Time is a limited quantity.
- There is a complete or perfect way back to a heavenly home.
- Christ “has made us.” Or as Moroni taught “…Come unto Christ, and be perfected in him … by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ;” (Moroni 10:32).
Revelation 1:12-13
- Candlesticks carry light; they do not create it.
- Seven – symbolic for whole or complete.
- Candlesticks – symbols for churches (wards) (Rev. 1:20).
- Mist of … - Christ is with His Church.
- Paps (Grk. mastos) – breasts.
“In this vision the resurrected Lord appears in the vestments that symbolically suggest both a priest and a king, wearing a robe and a golden girdle (Ex. 28:4; Ex. 39:29). The word paps is an archaic word meaning "breasts." The word girdle could be translated "sash." The New International Version renders this passage as "dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest." (Donald W. Parry and Jay A. Parry, Understanding the Book of Revelation Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1998, 22.)
“In the Old Testament the Mosaic Priests were to wear a sash or girdle around their waist (Exodus 29:9; Leviticus 8:7) when working in the tabernacle. This sash or belt was worn on top of the robe, and with the ends hanging down. It was apparently “tied in an ample bow or loop.” In certain periods and regions the wearing of a sash symbolized chastity, virginity, purity or faithfulness. President John Taylor is said to have taught that making a bow knot represents “the marriage covenant between man and wife.” Similarly, one British typologist indicated that bows on clothing were a symbol of the combination of the “masculine and feminine.” In some Eastern cultures, the tying of a bow knot was a marriage custom that symbolized the binding of the two people, hence the old cliche, “tying the knot.” (Gaskill, Commentary on the Book of Revelation, p.33-34)
Ephesus
Compliment: “I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience” (Rev 2:2).
Weakness: “thou hast left thy first love” (Rev 2:3).
Promise: “To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God” (Rev 2:7).
“Nicholas was at one time an Assistant to the Twelve - appointed along with Stephen (Acts 6:5). The followers of Nicolas, at this point apostates, taught that there was no need to separate Christianity and the Pagan or Graeco Roman philosophies and lifestyle. So they were known to participate in fertility rites and the eating of foods that had been sacrificed to idols. They espoused the enthronement of Christ and Augustus side by side. They taught some doctrines attached to Gnosticism - such as claiming that what was done to the body had no bearing on the soul. They likely had their own false “apostles” and “prophets.” One commentator claimed that they were “those who want their names on the records of the Church, but do not want to devote themselves to the gospel cause with full purpose of heart.” (McConkie DNTC, 3:446)
Smyrna
Compliment: “I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, ” (Rev 2:9).
Weakness:
Promise: “A crown of life” (Rev 2:10).
“He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.” (re. 2:11).
As a promise to those who endure, the Lord says He will give them a “crown of life.” The Greek says a “laurel wreath crown” like those given to an Olympian who won a competition. Apparently, the Lord was using a symbol that would have meaning and impact for the people of Smyrna – since they had participated in the Olympics.
Pergamos
Compliment: “thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith” (Rev 2:13).
Weakness: “hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication” (Rev 2:14).
Promise: “to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.” (Rev 2:17).
“The white stone is a urim and thummim for each individual who enters the celestial kingdom; written upon this white stone will be a new name. D&C 130:8 11 explains: "The place where God resides is a great Urim and Thummim. This earth, in its sanctified and immortal state, will be made like unto crystal and will be a Urim and Thummim to the inhabitants who dwell thereon, whereby all things pertaining to an inferior kingdom, or all kingdoms of a lower order, will be manifest to those who dwell on it; and this earth will be Christ's. Then the white stone mentioned in Rev. 2:17, will become a Urim and Thummim to each individual who receives one, whereby things pertaining to a higher order of kingdoms, will be made known; and a white stone is given to each of those who come into the celestial kingdom, whereon is a new name written, which no man knoweth save he that receiveth it. The new name is the key word." (Donald W. Parry and Jay A. Parry, Understanding the Book of Revelation Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1998, 37.)
Thyatira
Compliment: “thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works” (Rev 2:19).
"I know how you are still making progress." (Jerusalem bible Rev 2:19)
Weakness: Following “that woman Jezebel” being seduced “to commit fornication” (Rev 2:20)
Promise: “power over the nations” (Rev 2:26).
“This expression may have at least two meanings. First, Jesus Christ is "the bright and morning star" (22:16). The promise of "the morning star" may be the promise of the Second Comforter, which is that "when any man obtains this Second Comforter, he will have the personage of Jesus Christ to attend him, or appear unto him from time to time, and even He will manifest the Father unto him, and they will take up their abode with him, and the visions of the heavens will be opened unto him, and the Lord will teach him face to face." Second, God gives eternal life to those who overcome; they will become like Christ, who is the "bright and morning star." (Donald W. Parry and Jay A. Parry, Understanding the Book of Revelation Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1998, 42.)
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland: “In moments of fear or doubt or troubling times, hold the ground you have already won, even if that ground is limited. In the growth we all have to experience in mortality, the spiritual equivalent of this boy’s affliction or this parent’s desperation is going to come to all of us. When those moments come and issues surface, the resolution of which is not immediately forthcoming, hold fast to what you already know and stand strong until additional knowledge comes.” (https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2013/04/lord-i-believe?)
Elder Dieter F. Uchdorf: “One of the purposes of the Church is to nurture and cultivate the seed of faith—even in the sometimes sandy soil of doubt and uncertainty. Faith is to hope for things which are not seen but which are true.
Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters—my dear friends—please, first doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith. We must never allow doubt to hold us prisoner and keep us from the divine love, peace, and gifts that come through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.” (https://site.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2013/10/come-join-with-us?)
Sardis
Compliment: “thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.” (Rev 3:1). (i.e. You have a reputation for righteousness and spiritual strength, but are in fact spiritually dead.)
Weakness: spiritually dead (Rev 3:1)
Promise: “clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.” (Rev 3:5).
Philadelphia
Compliment: “open door … for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name” (Rev 3:8).
Weakness:
Promise: “a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name” (Rev 3:12).
“A “pillar” in the “temple” of Christ’s God. The “temple” is the Celestial Kingdom. The “pillar” motif suggests stability and permanence… One commentator noted: “The city was constantly threatened with earthquakes. Often the only parts of a city left standing after a severe quake were the huge stone temple columns. Christ promises to set believers in his temple in such a secure fashion that no disturbance can ever force them out…”
“To have God’s name written upon you means that you belong to Him (kind of like “Andy” in Toy Story II). It also implies that you have become what He is – and thus have the same name as he does (i.e., “god”).
To have the name of the “Heavenly City” upon you implies that you are a resident of that city … To have Christ’s “new name” [written upon them]– which normally would be kept secret – suggests that we have become one with Him.” (Gaskill, Commentary on the Book of Revelation, p.59)
Laodicea
Compliment:
Weakness: “that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot” (Rev 3:15)
Promise: “grant to sit with me in my throne” (Rev 3:21).
Elder Neal A. Maxwell: "The absence of any keen desire-merely being lukewarm-causes a terrible flattening" (https://site.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1996/10/according-to-the-desire-of-our-hearts?)
President Spencer W. Kimball: “William Holman Hunt, the artist, felt inspired in England,1853 to capture this stirring scripture on canvas. One day he was showing his picture of "Christ Knocking at the Door" to a friend when the friend suddenly exclaimed: "There is one thing wrong about your picture."
"What is it?" inquired the artist.
"The door on which Jesus knocks has no handle," replied his friend.
"Ah," responded Mr. Hunt, "that is not a mistake. You see, this is the door to the human heart. It can only be opened from the inside."
“And thus it is. Jesus may stand and knock, but each of us decides whether to open. (Spencer W. Kimball, The Miracle of Forgiveness , p.212)
Revelation 4:2-4
- Jasper is the first stone in the High Priests breastplate and sardine was the last stone listed. (CR Ex 28:15-21)
- Jasper - greenish hugh.
- Sardine - blood red.
- green and red are symbols of life and death. The rainbow is green life overarches all God does.
“Green is a standard symbol of life. The Egyptians placed “greenstone” amulets in their tombs as representative of eternal youth and as a type for that which is “everlasting, evergreen, fresh, young, and immortal.” They also spoke of God as “The Great Green One” because He is in possession of and the giver of eternal life. One authority in the field of Semitic symbolism noted that, “Green, as the colour of plants - growths to which people look forward in winter - symbolized hope and resurrection ... Hammurabi tells us that he “bedecked the grave of Malkat with green,’ the colour of resurrection” (see David Fontana The Secret Language of Symbols (San Francisco: Chronicle Books, 1993), 67; Smith (1998), 289; Draper (1991), 45; Parry and Parry (1998), 58; Joseph Fielding McConkie and Donald Parry, A Guide to Scriptural Symbols (Salt Lake City, UT: Bookcraft, 1990), 62.)
“There is said to be a “rainbow round about” God’s throne – a rainbow that is emerald in color. One source records: “It is [best] to understand [the] rainbow in its usual sense and see a reference to the sign of God’s covenant (Genesis 9:16). The rainbow round the very throne of God then is a way of saying that the covenant is eternal. It will never be repudiated.” The Greek word translated “rainbow” can also be translated “halo” or “radiance.” When the two images of 1. green and 2. a halo or radiance from God are combined, one gets an image of the life promoting nature of God’s covenants. God is the source of eternal life – indeed, of all life.” (Gaskill, Commentary on the Book of Revelation, p.67-68)
The “sea of glass” – upon which God’s throne rests – is the earth in a Celestial or exalted state – in the which, it acts as a great Urim and Thummim for all those who dwell thereon (see Doc and Cov 77:1).
“The angels do not reside on a planet like this earth; But they reside in the presence of God, on a globe like a sea of glass and fire, where all things for their glory are manifest, past, present, and future, and are continually before the Lord. The place where God resides is a great Urim and Thummim. This earth, in its sanctified and immortal state, will be made like unto crystal and will be a Urim and Thummim to the inhabitants who dwell thereon, whereby all things pertaining to an inferior kingdom, or all kingdoms of a lower order, will be manifest to those who dwell on it” (Doc and Cov 130:6-9).
President Brigham Young stated: “This earth will become a celestial body—be like a sea of glass, or like a Urim and Thummim; and when you wish to know anything, you can look in this earth and see all the eternities of God.” (Brigham Young, “Joys of Eternity,” October 6, 1860, Journal of Discourses 8:200.)
The Four Beasts
- Eyes- a symbol for their “light and knowledge” (see Doc and Cov 77:4).
- Four – symbolic of geographic totality.
- Symbols of all animals (see Doc and Cov 77:3).
- Actual beasts that have inherited the Celestial Kingdom (see Doc and Cov 77:3).
- Lion = Wild creatures
- Calf/Ox/Bull = Domestic creatures
- Man = The children of God
- Eagle = Birds
“The book with seven seals is in Heavenly Father's right hand, which is the hand "associated with righteousness (Ps. 48:10; Isa. 41:10), power (Ex. 15:6, 12; Ps. 89:13), and covenant making (Isa. 62:8). With his right hand, the Lord executes justice (3 Ne. 29:4, 9), dispenses the law (Deut. 33:2), and saves his people (Ps. 17:7; 20:6) with his right hand he created the heavens and the earth (Isa. 48:13)." (Donald W. Parry and Jay A. Parry, Understanding the Book of Revelation Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1998, 66.)
Revelation 5:1 - A Seal
- A seal is an impression of a signet in wax.
- In the ancient Near East, kings possessed seals that were unique and not easily duplicated
- Seals “served as a legal protection and guarantee in many ways, especially in relation to property. All objects suitable for sealing could be marked as the property of the owner in this way."
- The seal proved the identity of its owner.
- “The holder of the seal is the holder of power and has his place in a duly constituted order.
- A “seal was also meant to protect a document against inappropriate or premature disclosure."
- A “seal makes a document legally valid." (see Donald W. Parry and Jay A. Parry, Understanding the Book of Revelation Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1998, 67 68.)
Who is worthy to Open the book?
- "To look and open meant to comprehend, disclose and execute the contents of the document." (Draper (1991), 54 55.)
- “No man can atone” (Alma 38:10)
- “God himself shall atone for the sins (CR Mosiah 13:28, 34)
- “No angel in heaven, no saintly man on earth, no prophet in the realm of the departed was sufficient for this.” (Leon Morris, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries: Revelation, revised edition (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1999), 93.)
“This lamb is a symbol for Christ. He found in the midst (or middle) of the throne of God, meaning that Christ is in the center of all of God’s works and creations.
“You’ll notice that the KJV of “7 horns,” “7 eyes,” and “7 spirits” has been changed in the JST to “12 horns,” “12 eyes,” and “12 servants.” Both the KJV and the JST version are applicable to Christ. Horns symbols for power, and eyes symbols for light, knowledge, truth, revelation, omniscience. The number twelve is a standard symbol for priesthood, and priesthood power. The number seven, as we noted above, represents wholeness, completeness, entirety, etc. Thus, according to the JST, John speaks of Jesus as having 12 horns (or “priesthood power), and 12 eyes (likely a reference to the discernment associated with the office of Prophet, Seer, and Revelator), and 12 servants (or 12 apostles).
“The JST shows us that John looked to the foundation of the Church, the apostles and prophets, as the means through whom the Lamb exercises His authority upon the earth.” God is omnipresent, omnipotent, and omniscient via these individuals. They are “sent forth” – which is exactly what the Greek word for apostle means (i.e., “sent one”). If you read the verse as the KJV has it, then Jesus is said to have 7 horns (“all power”), and 7 eyes (“all knowledge”), and 7 leaders (i.e., He works through all of His priesthood leaders here upon the earth).”” (Gaskill, Commentary on the Book of Revelation, p.76-77)
“Here John sees 100,000,000, plus thousands of thousands. Later he shall see “a great multitude of saved persons, which no man could number.’ (Rev. 7:9.) The expansion of world population being what it is, we can suppose that the billions who live on earth during the Millennium - and who “grow up without sin unto salvation’ (D. & C. 45:58) - shall far exceed in number the total hosts of men who have lived during the preceding six thousand years. Truly ... there are many who shall be saved.” (McConkie (1987 1988), 3:475.)
How many people really will make the Celestial Kingdom?
- “An innumerable company” (Section 76:67).
- “Great multitude which no man could number” (Rev 7:7-9).
- “A multitude of nations” (Section 107:55).
- “Thousand thousands” i.e. infinite (Daniel 7:10).
- “Innumerable company of the spirits of the just” (Section 138:12).
- “An innumerable company” in the heavenly Jerusalem (Heb 12:22).
- Children who die before the age of 8 and all those who die without gospel, who would have received it if they had the chance.(Section 137:7-10).
Joseph Smith: “I suppose John saw beings there of a thousand forms, that had been saved from ten thousand earths like this, strange beasts of which we have no conception: all might be seen in heaven. The grand secret was to show John what there was in heaven. John learned that God glorified Himself by saving all that His hands had made, whether beasts, fowls, fishes or men; and He will glorify Himself with them.
“Says one, “I cannot believe in the salvation of beasts.’ Any man who would tell you that this could not be, would tell you that the revelations are not true. John heard the words of the beasts giving glory to God, and understood them. God who made the beasts could understand every language spoken by them. The four beasts were four of the most noble animals that had filled the measure of their creation, and had been saved from other worlds, because they were perfect; they were like angels in their sphere. We are not told where they came from, and I do not know; but they were seen and heard by John praising and glorifying God.” (Smith, Teachings, pp. 291-92. Compare D&C 77:2, 3.)
Joseph Fielding Smith: "As to where the beasts, birds, and fish, and all other creatures will go after the resurrection we can only express an opinion. John saw many of them in heaven in the presence of God (Rev. 5:13). It is very probable that they, like mankind, will be distributed in the various kingdoms, celestial, terrestrial, and telestial. We may well believe that in each of these kingdoms such creatures will be assigned." (Answers to Gospel Questions, vol. 2, p.51)
Teaching Thoughts:
- Teach with themes like God is in control.
- Search for promises made to the faithful in Revelations chapters 2-3. Relate those promises to us.
- Look for symbols and what they mean. This adds depth to your study.
- Emphasis that a place is prepared for each of us in the Celestial kingdom.