Nine Sabbath School Lessons
in the Book of Revelation
In John’s time the members of the church all had the Spirit of Prophecy, each received the Holy Ghost without some measure…and with it they studied Sabbath School lessons, if you will, based on everything Christ had taught.
Our church in this time is to have the Spirit of Prophecy, each one will receive the latter rain without some measure…and for us too, there are lessons to study.
The Book of Revelation gives application to both time periods, but specifically the Book of Revelation was written for our time…and thus, in the future, it will be specifically applied to His church, from the first words of this book to the very last.
A modeling outline of nine Sabbath School lessons in the book of Revelation:
Chapter 2 and chapter 3: We can think of these two chapters as one Sabbath School lesson. It is about the Church’s visitation. In it the church collective is present, and we can visibly see this; Christ is also present and is the one instructing the church with 7 daily studies using these words: he that hath an ear, let him hear what the spirit sayeth until the churches. All seven lessons are to be studied as one set. All the lessons here are applicable to one ‘ear’, one person. It is not separated out into seven dispensations alone where each dispensation has just that particular problem or lack. All the conditions of sin and excellence apply simultaneously, as it were; for each condition was alive to some degree in each of the churches in Asia. And so, now as well.
Chapter 4 in chapter 5: the lesson here is about the offering and the reception of the sealed book in the presence of the heavenly church, and Christ is here again in the midst of the church—the heavenly church.
Chapter 6 and chapter 7: here again the lesson delineates events which directly involve the church, her Christ and her God as they go out to overcome the world together. The 7th chapter highlights the sealing time which prepares the horse for the last promulgation of the gospel; and this happens just before the four winds are let loose at the time of trouble.
Chapter 8 and chapter 9: this lesson shows when the church receives the Holy Spirit whose outpouring fire purifies the mouth of the church; this happens during the final atonement, the last atonement to ever occur. Here this period of time is full of rain to ripen the grain: the same image of horse and rider in the 6th chapter is augmented here as the church-militant rides out to warn the world through trumpets. The present church on earth is given the Spirit of Prophecy; angels of our heavenly brethren are given seven trumpets to blow.
Chapter 10 and chapter 11: same repeating illustration: the church is shown receiving the little-book-open and the church eats it completely. John, the church, eats the little book in verse 17 of chapter 10, and is then given a reed; the two witnesses are heavenly components sent as agencies from God to work with the church.
Chapter 12 and chapter 13: the composite beast’s wound is now healed (this is no longer the time of the prophetic 1260 days) and the beast combats the church over a thing called worship. This is again the picture of the white horse riding, and tells of the martyrdom that accompanies the church when it rides out conquering and to conquer in advance of the other three horses—the same scene augmented, but yes still here. We see also that the wounds of God’s church are healed: the church is full of the Spirit of Prophecy: full of the spirit of Elijah. Again, this is the same lesson just underscored and told from a different angle, and with more detail.
Chapter 14 and chapter 15 and chapter 16: we see the church with Christ giving the three angels messages (the gospel, the riding of the white horse again), and Babylon is now fallen and has become a cage of spiritualism. Within this scene, the plague period, is reviewed a recapitulating display of the fourth horse and its rider.
Chapter 17 and chapter 18 and chapter 19: the judgment of the whore, etc.; this is her final lesson where she shall know that He is God; the church lives and sees her final lesson through to the end. The final lesson here is not just about the wrath of God in seven plagues, but also about an eternal judgment given to the heads of Satan’s army, where they are cast into a lake of fire.
Chapter 20 and chapter 21 and chapter 22: this lesson is about heaven, the church within the city of God, the final forever-judgment of books opened (Sabbath School, as it were). We see God’s church united in singing with the rest of the universal family. In this lesson we see that the unfallen brethren get a renewal: a rebuilding of their entire sinless estate, at the same time that the earth is made new. In this lesson we see for all who believe, some of the end time heights of the Spirit of Prophecy: this is that beginning of the Eternity reserved for the saved communities of God. Save= heal; here the groaning creation is healed and made new.
Addendum
The connections:
In chapter 2 and chapter 3 the connective relationship between the two chapters is quite easily seen, and should need no comment.
In chapter 4 and chapter 5 the relationship between the two chapters is quite apparent as well because of the connective phrase: ‘And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within’…
In chapter 6 and chapter 7 the relationship that binds the sixth and seventh chapters together is the opening of the seventh seal at the beginning of the eighth chapter (The seventh seal really belongs to the 6th chapter but encompasses the 7th chapter which is like an appositive interlude or an explanation about the empowerment of the church). It is quite obvious that the seventh seal belongs with chapter 6 and chapter 7, not chapter 8.
In chapter 8 and chapter 9 we have a sequential type of connecting device that ties the eighth chapter with that of the ninth chapter and continues the storyline of the seven trumpets.
In chapter 10 and chapter 11, although subtle, the relationship between these two chapters is quite strong if we follow its flow, paying particular attention to the word and which begins the 11th chapter.
In chapter 12 and chapter 13 the joining piece between these two chapters is the 17th verse of chapter 12, where the Dragon, after trying to kill the woman for 1260 years, is wroth with the woman still, and goes to make war with the remnant of her seed…The 13th chapter immediately identifies a beast whose deadly wound was healed. This indicates clearly that this scene occurs in a time that is after 1798. We also understand that after 1798 is when the remnant come on the scene of the end time. This is a fairly easy connection to see if we gather up, so that nothing is lost or if we strive to get the small things right. In review: the dragon goes somewhere to make war, the remnant come on the scene after the composite beast’s wound is healed, and the scene states that the dragon is ‘behind’ this beast. Nothing should be lost if we rightly divide and gather up….
In chapter 14, 15, and 16 the lesson study in these three chapters is that they all identify very prominently the details of the wrath of God, i.e., the plagues upon those who worship the beast and his image. The three angel’s messages are sent as the last dire warning to the entire world before the wrath of God appears. The giving of these three messages has grave importance for a world who, like Nineveh, does not truly know its right hand from its left; but they shall unmistakably be made acquainted with God at this time.
In chapters 17, 18, and 19 the subject of study (and restudy) in these three chapters is the judgment of Babylon, that whore who fights against God. In the 19th chapter and in the 20th verse we see the final judgment of this whore’s government in which it is taken and cast alive into a lake of fire.
In chapters 20, 21, and 22: heavenly things, heavenly events, 1000 years, the end of the old and the beginning of the renewed. Because real books are opened, we my think of this as Sabbath School review, or Sabbath School study; each description I think is equally applicable here.
* * *
Our church in this time is to have the Spirit of Prophecy, each one will receive the latter rain without some measure…and for us too, there are lessons to study.
The Book of Revelation gives application to both time periods, but specifically the Book of Revelation was written for our time…and thus, in the future, it will be specifically applied to His church, from the first words of this book to the very last.
A modeling outline of nine Sabbath School lessons in the book of Revelation:
Chapter 2 and chapter 3: We can think of these two chapters as one Sabbath School lesson. It is about the Church’s visitation. In it the church collective is present, and we can visibly see this; Christ is also present and is the one instructing the church with 7 daily studies using these words: he that hath an ear, let him hear what the spirit sayeth until the churches. All seven lessons are to be studied as one set. All the lessons here are applicable to one ‘ear’, one person. It is not separated out into seven dispensations alone where each dispensation has just that particular problem or lack. All the conditions of sin and excellence apply simultaneously, as it were; for each condition was alive to some degree in each of the churches in Asia. And so, now as well.
Chapter 4 in chapter 5: the lesson here is about the offering and the reception of the sealed book in the presence of the heavenly church, and Christ is here again in the midst of the church—the heavenly church.
Chapter 6 and chapter 7: here again the lesson delineates events which directly involve the church, her Christ and her God as they go out to overcome the world together. The 7th chapter highlights the sealing time which prepares the horse for the last promulgation of the gospel; and this happens just before the four winds are let loose at the time of trouble.
Chapter 8 and chapter 9: this lesson shows when the church receives the Holy Spirit whose outpouring fire purifies the mouth of the church; this happens during the final atonement, the last atonement to ever occur. Here this period of time is full of rain to ripen the grain: the same image of horse and rider in the 6th chapter is augmented here as the church-militant rides out to warn the world through trumpets. The present church on earth is given the Spirit of Prophecy; angels of our heavenly brethren are given seven trumpets to blow.
Chapter 10 and chapter 11: same repeating illustration: the church is shown receiving the little-book-open and the church eats it completely. John, the church, eats the little book in verse 17 of chapter 10, and is then given a reed; the two witnesses are heavenly components sent as agencies from God to work with the church.
Chapter 12 and chapter 13: the composite beast’s wound is now healed (this is no longer the time of the prophetic 1260 days) and the beast combats the church over a thing called worship. This is again the picture of the white horse riding, and tells of the martyrdom that accompanies the church when it rides out conquering and to conquer in advance of the other three horses—the same scene augmented, but yes still here. We see also that the wounds of God’s church are healed: the church is full of the Spirit of Prophecy: full of the spirit of Elijah. Again, this is the same lesson just underscored and told from a different angle, and with more detail.
Chapter 14 and chapter 15 and chapter 16: we see the church with Christ giving the three angels messages (the gospel, the riding of the white horse again), and Babylon is now fallen and has become a cage of spiritualism. Within this scene, the plague period, is reviewed a recapitulating display of the fourth horse and its rider.
Chapter 17 and chapter 18 and chapter 19: the judgment of the whore, etc.; this is her final lesson where she shall know that He is God; the church lives and sees her final lesson through to the end. The final lesson here is not just about the wrath of God in seven plagues, but also about an eternal judgment given to the heads of Satan’s army, where they are cast into a lake of fire.
Chapter 20 and chapter 21 and chapter 22: this lesson is about heaven, the church within the city of God, the final forever-judgment of books opened (Sabbath School, as it were). We see God’s church united in singing with the rest of the universal family. In this lesson we see that the unfallen brethren get a renewal: a rebuilding of their entire sinless estate, at the same time that the earth is made new. In this lesson we see for all who believe, some of the end time heights of the Spirit of Prophecy: this is that beginning of the Eternity reserved for the saved communities of God. Save= heal; here the groaning creation is healed and made new.
Addendum
The connections:
In chapter 2 and chapter 3 the connective relationship between the two chapters is quite easily seen, and should need no comment.
In chapter 4 and chapter 5 the relationship between the two chapters is quite apparent as well because of the connective phrase: ‘And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within’…
In chapter 6 and chapter 7 the relationship that binds the sixth and seventh chapters together is the opening of the seventh seal at the beginning of the eighth chapter (The seventh seal really belongs to the 6th chapter but encompasses the 7th chapter which is like an appositive interlude or an explanation about the empowerment of the church). It is quite obvious that the seventh seal belongs with chapter 6 and chapter 7, not chapter 8.
In chapter 8 and chapter 9 we have a sequential type of connecting device that ties the eighth chapter with that of the ninth chapter and continues the storyline of the seven trumpets.
In chapter 10 and chapter 11, although subtle, the relationship between these two chapters is quite strong if we follow its flow, paying particular attention to the word and which begins the 11th chapter.
In chapter 12 and chapter 13 the joining piece between these two chapters is the 17th verse of chapter 12, where the Dragon, after trying to kill the woman for 1260 years, is wroth with the woman still, and goes to make war with the remnant of her seed…The 13th chapter immediately identifies a beast whose deadly wound was healed. This indicates clearly that this scene occurs in a time that is after 1798. We also understand that after 1798 is when the remnant come on the scene of the end time. This is a fairly easy connection to see if we gather up, so that nothing is lost or if we strive to get the small things right. In review: the dragon goes somewhere to make war, the remnant come on the scene after the composite beast’s wound is healed, and the scene states that the dragon is ‘behind’ this beast. Nothing should be lost if we rightly divide and gather up….
In chapter 14, 15, and 16 the lesson study in these three chapters is that they all identify very prominently the details of the wrath of God, i.e., the plagues upon those who worship the beast and his image. The three angel’s messages are sent as the last dire warning to the entire world before the wrath of God appears. The giving of these three messages has grave importance for a world who, like Nineveh, does not truly know its right hand from its left; but they shall unmistakably be made acquainted with God at this time.
In chapters 17, 18, and 19 the subject of study (and restudy) in these three chapters is the judgment of Babylon, that whore who fights against God. In the 19th chapter and in the 20th verse we see the final judgment of this whore’s government in which it is taken and cast alive into a lake of fire.
In chapters 20, 21, and 22: heavenly things, heavenly events, 1000 years, the end of the old and the beginning of the renewed. Because real books are opened, we my think of this as Sabbath School review, or Sabbath School study; each description I think is equally applicable here.
* * *