青少年教程 (启示录不是什么*第3课) | 它不是为了使我们分裂

​编者按
这是一套在美国很受欢迎的教材，按年龄共分三部分：0-6岁学龄前儿童教程，6-12岁学龄儿童教程，和12岁以上青少年教程。我们将陆续翻译成中文，分享给大家。
这套教材里的每一篇，无论是教程还是各种活动，都独立成篇，没有先后顺序，大家可以按需要和负担选择使用。
*更多内容：thedoorofsheep.com/青少年 

课程目的

• 帮助学生对启示录有整体的认识

• 加深学生对启示录不同解释方式的了解

• 激励学生围绕启示录的目的合一，而不是因对它的不同解释彼此分裂

主题

分辨、知识、预言、合一、智慧

背诵经文

启示录 21:5

开始祷告(5-10分钟)

团队建立(10分钟)

这个小组活动会帮助学生思考：什么是重要的、更加重要的，以及最重要的。活动也可能引起一些争论。

（读出下面的情境，请学生按照“重要、更加重要、最重要”来排列各项选择。鼓励他们讨论，但不要在这个活动上花太多时间。）

• 你正从一个游泳池旁经过。你的手机、钱包或手提包，以及不会游泳的弟弟或妹妹，同时掉进了水里。你会按照什么顺序去救或捞起它们？

• 你起床晚了，没有时间完成整个晨间程序。距离必须出门只剩十分钟。以下事情中，你会按照重要程度选择哪三件来做：洗澡、上厕所、刷牙、擦除臭剂、穿衣服，还是吃早餐？

• 你正在为旅行收拾行李，但行李箱太小，装不下所有东西。以下物品中，你会选择哪三类：额外的鞋、额外的上衣、额外的裤子、额外的洗漱用品、额外的电子产品，还是额外的内衣？

开始(5分钟)

一般讨论:

• 在任何情境中，你怎样判断什么是最重要的？（每个人的判断可能不同，但我们都会按照自己的经历、道德观、喜好、舒适程度等作出选择。）

• 当不同的价值彼此竞争，而我们必须作出选择时，怎样才能专注于最重要的事？（我们必须舍弃那些没有那么重要的事。）

当我们继续学习启示录时，会谈到一些人们经常争论的问题。就像今天的活动一样，人们产生争论，是因为他们看重的事情彼此冲突。

我们也要尝试找出什么是最重要的，并让这最重要的事使我们合一。

深入学习(40分钟)

启示录是圣经。因此，它的目的不是使教会分裂，也不是在神的百姓中制造敌意。人们可以用多种方式解释启示录，而持守每一种观点的人中，都有深爱基督的信徒。我们要谈谈理解这卷书时几种根本不同的方式，并尝试看见：即使我们在细节上有不同意见，仍然可以围绕这卷书的信息合一。

字面解释

我们必须明白，没有人会百分之百按照字面解释启示录。如果真有人这样做，下面的一些经文就会显得非常荒诞！

读 启示录 9:7-10

讨论问题：

1. 如果完全按照字面理解，蝗虫头上戴着什么？（金冠冕。）

2. 如果完全按照字面理解，它们的脸像什么？（人的脸。）

3. 如果完全按照字面理解，它们的牙齿像什么？（狮子的牙齿。）

再加上女人的头发、铁胸甲和蝎子的尾刺，这些实在是极其可怕的生物！让我们再看一个例子，说明完全按照字面解释启示录会带来怎样的问题。

读 启示录 1:12-16

讨论问题：

1. 如果完全按照字面理解，这里所描绘的基督是什么样子？（眼目如火焰，口中出来一把剑，白衣外束着金带，在灯台之间行走。）

2. 你认为耶稣真实的外貌就是这样吗？为什么是，或为什么不是？（让学生讨论。）

3. 哪一个词提醒我们，这些画面并不是要按照字面理解？（“好像”或“如同”表明这些是象征性的描述。）

许多人同意约翰使用的是象征性语言，却认为这些象征所表达的意义仍然应该按字面实现。例如，有些人承认前面提到的蝗虫可能不是真正的蝗虫，而是发射导弹的直升机，因为第一世纪的先知不认识这种科技。也就是说，描述可以是象征性的，但事件本身可能是真实发生的。

换句话说，字面解释认为，无论约翰是按字面还是用象征来描述，这些形象所代表的行为和毁灭最终都会实际发生。他们认为约翰用象征性的方式加以描述，但类似或相应的事情会真实发生。

一般讨论：

• 按照字面解释启示录，会带来哪些问题？（有些经文明显是在使用象征。）

• 如果这些象征是比喻性的，那么启示录所教导的一些内容是否仍可以按字面理解？我们怎样分辨？（我们需要明白启示录怎样使用象征。）

• 你认为第一世纪的读者，比我们更容易明白约翰在说什么吗？为什么？（约翰使用了许多旧约象征，并以第一世纪人对事物的理解为背景。我们距离启示录写成的年代非常遥远，因此很难完全掌握其中的意义。）

学习启示录时，我们可以采用这样一个基本原则：先思想第一世纪的读者会怎样理解经文，然后再把它应用到今天的文化中。启示录起初不是直接写给今天的我们，因此，不宜把这些经文直接快进到现代。

象征解释

既然我们不应完全按照字面理解启示录，那么大概需要以象征的方式来阅读。启示录与其他启示文学一样，充满了象征。其中有些象征可能是为了隐藏某些话的真实含义。

一般讨论：

• 根据你目前对启示录的了解，约翰为什么可能想隐藏自己所表达的一些意思？（教会正遭受严重逼迫；约翰本人也因为传讲耶稣而被放逐。他可能不愿公开批评罗马政府。）

• 一个人使用象征来写作，是否意味着他所写的内容不是真实的？（当然不是。）

• 按照象征的方式解释启示录，是否会削弱它的意义？（不会，象征本身有意义，有时甚至更有力量。）

我们也必须明白，最初的读者对旧约非常熟悉，而启示录中的许多象征都取自旧约。有时，我们之所以感到困惑，是因为自己不够了解圣经其他部分；这些内容对最初的读者来说，可能一点也不难理解。

再次读 启示录 1:12-16

我要使用我们刚才读过的同一段经文，进一步说明这个原则。约翰想要表达什么，你们大概已经能够猜到了。

讨论问题：

1. 白衣表明耶稣具有怎样的属性？（祂是纯洁、圣洁、无可指责的。）

2. 基督在白衣外束着金带，这个象征可能有什么含义？（祂是君王，拥有王权。）

3. 那把锋利的两刃剑象征什么？（权柄、神的话。）

圣经其他地方也把神的话称为两刃的剑（以弗所书第6章）。要明白启示录中的意象，有时需要查考圣经其他部分。这再次说明，第一世纪读者对这些内容的理解，也能帮助我们明白经文。有些象征很直观，例如白色代表纯洁；另一些象征，则由圣经其他地方解释，例如两刃的剑。

启示录中另一个可能引起分歧的方面，是所谓的千禧年观点。主要有三种千禧年观点，每一种都会使读者以不同方式理解整卷启示录。我们没有时间详细讲解，只能快速概览这三种观点：前千禧年论、后千禧年论和无千禧年论。

阅读时，请思考哪一种观点对启示录采用了最合适的解释方式。

前千禧年论

读 启示录 20:1-7

讨论问题：

1. 谁被捆绑一千年？（撒但。）

2. 在这段时期，撒但不能做什么？（迷惑列国。）

3. 在这一千年中，谁掌权作王？（耶稣。）

4. 谁与祂一同作王？（那些殉道后复活的人；这就是第一次复活。）

5. 其他死去的人什么时候复活？（一千年结束以后。）

这里第一次向我们提到一千年的时期。顺便说一下，这是启示录，甚至整本圣经中唯一提到这段时期的地方。然而，正是这段经文塑造了人们对于千禧年的不同观点。

三种主要千禧年观点的前缀，表明他们认为基督会在什么时候再来。前千禧年论认为，基督会在一千年开始以前再来。祂再来以后要掌权作王，撒但会被捆绑，并在一千年结束时暂时获释；殉道者会复活，与基督一同作王。其他已经死去的信徒，则在一千年结束时复活。

关于前千禧年论，还有以下几点：

1. 它是唯一把一千年的作王掌权按字面理解的末世观点。

2. 前千禧年论内部也有许多不同形式，包括历史前千禧年论和时代论前千禧年论。

3. 《末日迷踪》系列电影所推广的是前千禧年论。

4. 这个观点在历史上可以追溯到帕皮亚的教导。帕皮亚是约翰的门徒。许多初期教父似乎也接受这一观点，他们等候基督回到耶路撒冷，推翻罗马，并统治一个实际存在的国度。

（提示：前千禧年论也认为，这一切发生在被提以后。在基督的一千年统治期间，被提的人归来，已经死去的信徒也复活，与基督一同作王。一千年以后才有最后的审判和永恒的天国。）

后千禧年论

如果说前千禧年论认为“一切会先变得更糟，然后才会变好”，那么后千禧年论则认为，在基督再来以前，世界会逐渐变好。在我们所生活的世界中，要主张事情正在改善，并且正在加速基督再来，似乎很困难。不过，后千禧年论者会指出以下几点：

1. 后千禧年论在讨论神国的扩展时，不把地缘政治事件作为主要衡量标准，而是认为即使全球局势令人不安，神的国仍在增长。

2. 随着越来越多的人归信基督，世界会因此变得更好。

3. 这种改善会逐渐发生，并最终使大使命得以完成。

4. 基督会在象征性的一千年结束后再来；在这段时期，基督在地上的作王掌权不断扩展。

5. 这一观点的历史根源，可以追溯到教父希波的奥古斯丁。

（提示：后千禧年论仍然认为，基督会以身体再临地上，开启一个由祂作王掌权的神国的新时代，也就是新天新地。这个统治是永恒的，而不只是持续一千年。）

无千禧年论

前缀“无”表示否定，也就是说，无千禧年论认为并不存在一个按字面理解的千禧年。与后千禧年论一样，它把一千年理解为象征；但与前千禧年论相似的是，无千禧年论认为末后的日子会越来越艰难，不过基督可以在任何时候再来。祂再来以后，会发生死人复活、审判和天堂中的永生。

无千禧年论最主要的观点之一，是神的国现在已经真实存在，而不只是将来的现实。基督此刻已经在宝座上掌权，虽然不是以肉眼可见的身体同在，而不是要等到将来某个一千年的时期才开始掌权。

（提示：无千禧年论最具说服力的一点，也许是这个问题：“你是否相信基督现在就可以，或在祂愿意的任何时候再来？”其他观点认为，在基督再来以前必须先发生某些事情，并认为基督也曾这样说。只有无千禧年论容许基督随时再来。）

联系实际（10分钟）

正如你们所看见的，启示录中有许多可以产生不同意见的地方。

一般讨论：

• 你们中有多少人认为启示录应该按照字面理解？（请持这种观点的学生举手。）

• 有多少人认为启示录应该按照象征理解？（同样请学生举手表态。）

• 有多少人认为自己属于前千禧年论、后千禧年论或无千禧年论？（让学生举手，并说明原因。）

即使在我们这个小组中，也存在不同意见，这一点并不令人意外。也许你还不确定，或者同时接受几种观点中的部分内容，这同样不奇怪。几百年来，阅读启示录的人一直在思想并争论这些问题！

这正是为什么我们需要记住前面所说的基本原则。

一般讨论:

• 我们需要像谁一样来阅读启示录？（最初的读者。）

• 你认为最初的读者明白启示录中的象征吗？（大体上明白。）

• 他们为什么能明白？（他们了解自己的时代，也熟悉圣经等。）

• 那么，我们怎样才能更好地理解这些象征？（研究圣经、他们的文化、圣经文学等。）

• 你认为启示录最初的读者属于前千禧年论、后千禧年论，还是无千禧年论？（这个问题很难回答。我们并不知道，而这正是重点！）

• 对最初的读者来说，最重要的是什么？（知道耶稣最终必定得胜。）

• 根据启示录写作的原因和对象，为什么这是最重要的信息？（他们正在遭受逼迫和威胁。他们不会争论信徒什么时候会遭遇可怕的时期，因为他们当时已经身处其中！知道耶稣必定得胜，会带给他们鼓励。）

• 如果这对他们来说是最主要的信息，那么对我们来说，最主要的信息应当是什么？（耶稣得胜；我们应当保持忠心，并像最初的信徒一样怀有盼望。）

与此同时，研究这些问题，并且能够谈论它们，并不是错误的。以下是一些有助于阅读和解释启示录的资料：

www.shanejwood.com

Robert Clouse，《千禧年的意义：四种观点》

www.blueletterbible.org/faq/mill.cfm

再说一次，最重要的并不是你接受哪一种千禧年观点，甚至也不是你采用哪一种解释方法。虽然人们在这些事情上的意见可能不同，但启示录最初的读者，却因最终的结局得到鼓励：神必得胜，忠于祂的人必得奖赏，任何暂时的试炼或艰难都无法改变这一点。因此，要坚定持守。

再次读 启示录 21:5

讨论问题：

1. 谁坐在宝座上？（神。）

2. 神正在更新什么？（一切。）

3. 神吩咐约翰做什么？为什么？（把这一切写下来，因为这些话是可信的，也是真实的。）

启示录中有许多象征需要讨论，也有许多解释方式可以争辩，但有一件事是我们都可以确定的：耶稣是可信的，祂的话是真实的。在万有的终局，甚至就在现在，祂正在使一切更新。救赎已经临近。我们可以争论细节，但我们的结局已经确定。

属于耶稣的人必定得胜，因为祂得胜了。事实上，祂已经得胜。

结束祷告(2分钟)

求神在学生继续学习时赐给他们智慧，也求神赐给他们清洁的心，使他们谦卑地来到圣经面前，并接受关于基督那无法否认的真理。

****** 英文版 *******

Revelation: What Revelation Is Not

Lesson 3: It Is Not Meant to Divide Us

LESSON OBJECTIVES

Goals

1. To inform students of the overview of the book of Revelation

2. Advance students’ understanding of the various ways Revelation can be interpreted

3. To inspire students to unite around the purpose of Revelation instead of dividing over its interpretation

Topics

Discernment, Knowledge, Prophecy, Unity, Wisdom

Scripture Memorization

Revelation 21:5

OPENING PRAYER (5 to 10 minutes)

GROUP BUILDING (10 minutes)

This group building activity will get kids thinking about what is important, more important, and most important. It may also start a few debates.

(Read the following scenarios and have students rank what is important, more important, and most important. Encourage debate, but don’t spend too much time on this activity.)

• You are walking by a pool. Simultaneously your phone, wallet/purse, and younger sibling who cannot swim all fall in. In what order do you go after them?

• You wakeup late and don’t have time for your whole morning routine. You only have 10 minutes before you must leave. What three things do you make time for, in order of importance: shower, use the bathroom, brush your teeth, put on deodorant, get dressed, or eat breakfast?

• You are packing for a trip but your suitcase is too small for everything. What three things do you include from the following: extra shoes, extra shirts, extra pants, extra toiletries, extra electronics, or extra underwear?

GETTING STARTED (5 minutes)

General Discussion:

• In any scenario, how do you rank what is most important? (It varies from person to person, but we all have values based on experience, morals, preference, comfort, etc.)

• When we have competing values and have to choose, how do we focus on what is most important? (We have to eliminate the things that are not as important.)

As we continue our study of the book of Revelation, we will discuss some things that people argue about. Not unlike today's activity, people argue because of competing values.

We are also going to try to settle on what is most important and let that be what unites us.

DIGGING IN (40 minutes)

The Book of Revelation is Scripture. As such, it is not meant to divide the Church or cause hostility among the people of God. There are multiple ways to interpret the book of Revelation. There are Christ-loving people who espouse each of these views. We are going to talk about the fundamentally different ways this book can be approached and try to see that we can still unite around the message of the book while disagreeing about details.

Literal Interpretation

It is important to understand that no one believes in a 100% literal interpretation of the book of Revelation. If so, some of the following verses would be crazy!

Read Revelation 9:7-10

Discussion Questions:

1. Taken literally, what did the locusts wear on their heads? (Crowns of gold.)

2. Taken literally, what did their faces look like? (Human faces.)

3. Taken literally, what did their teeth look like? (Lion's teeth.)

Along with their women’s hair, iron breastplates, and a scorpion’s stinger, these are incredibly frightening creatures! Let’s look at one more example of how literal interpretation of Revelation is problematic.

Read Revelation 1:12-16

Discussion Questions:

1. Taken literally, what picture of Christ do we get here? (He has fire in His eyes, a sword coming out of His mouth, a golden sash around His white robe, and candles surround Him as He walks.)

2. Do you think that is what Jesus really looked like? Why or why not (Allow for discussion.)

3. What word tips us off that these images aren’t meant to be taken literally? (The word “like” indicates that these are symbolic descriptions.)

Plenty of people agree that John uses symbolic language, but argue that the meaning of these symbols should still be taken literally. For instance, some admit that the locusts mentioned earlier may not actually be locusts, but helicopters firing missiles, as a first century prophet had no knowledge of this technology. The description can be symbolic while the event may be literal.

In other words, literal interpretations insist that the actual behavior and destruction of the figurative locusts will occur whether John literally or figuratively described it. Their interpretation argues that John figuratively describes it, but something similar—or symbolic—will literally happen.

General Discussion:

• What problems do you see with the book of Revelation being interpreted literally? (Some of the passages are clearly meant as symbols.)

• If symbols are figurative, can some of what Revelation teaches be taken literally? How can we tell the difference? (We need to understand Revelation’s use of symbols.)

• Do you think it was easier for the first century reader to understand what John was talking about than it is for us? Why or why not? (He is using a lot of Old Testament symbols which are based on a first-century understanding of things. This is far removed from the writing of Revelation, it’s very difficult for us to capture all that meaning.)

Here’s an operating principle to use as we study Revelation—we need to think about how the first-century readers would’ve understood the text and then apply it to today’s culture. Revelation wasn’t originally written for today, so pressing fast-forward on these passages is not wise.

Figurative Interpretation

If we don’t take Revelation completely literally, then we should probably read it figuratively. Like other apocalyptic literature, Revelation is ripe with symbols. Some of these are meant to disguise the meaning of certain statements.

General Discussion:

• Based on what you know about Revelation so far, why would John want to disguise some of what he was saying? (Church was heavily persecuted. John himself was in exile for speaking about Jesus. John may not have wanted to critique the Roman government openly.)

• Because someone uses symbols to write, does that mean what they are writing about is not true? (Of course not.)

• By interpreting Revelation figuratively, are we stripping it of its meaning? (No, symbols have meaning, sometimes more powerfully so.)

It’s also important to understand that the original readers would’ve had a thorough understanding of the Old Testament, from which many of these symbols were borrowed. Sometimes our confusion comes from our lack of understanding of the rest of Scripture, and it may not have been confusing to the original audience at all.

Re-read Revelation 1:12-16

I want to use the same passage we read earlier to examine this principle. Chances are you can guess what John is trying to communicate as he writes.

Discussion Questions:

1. What does the white robe indicate about Jesus? (He is pure, holy, and blameless)

2. What are some possible meanings of the symbol of Christ having a golden sash around His white robe? (He is the King, royalty.)

3. What does the sword—a sharp, double-edged sword—symbolize? (Authority, the Word of God.)

Elsewhere in the Bible, the Word of God is called a double-edged sword (Ephesians 6). Sometimes to understand Revelation’s use of imagery we need to look elsewhere in Scripture. Again, this indicates that the first-century audience’s understanding of this content informs our own. Sometimes those symbols are intuitive—white representing purity. Other times, the symbol is defined in other Scriptures—like the double-edged sword.

Another possibly divisive aspect of Revelation is what we call a millennial view. There are three main millennial views. Each view causes the reader to understand the entire book of Revelation differently. We will do a fast overview of the three views, understanding that we don't have time to cover them in depth: pre-millennialism, post-millennialism, and a-millennialism.As we read, think about which view uses the most appropriate interpretive approach to Revelation.

Pre-Millennial

Read Revelation 20:1-7

Discussion Questions:

1. Who is bound for 1,000 years? (Satan.)

2. What is Satan restricted from doing during this time? (Deceiving the nations.)

3. Who reigns during these 1,000 years? (Jesus.)

4. Who reigns with Him? (Martyrs who come back to life; this is the first resurrection.)

5. When do all other dead come back to life? (After the end of the 1,000 years.)

This introduces us to the 1,000-year period. Incidentally, this is the only time, this period, is mentioned in the book of Revelation (or the rest of the Bible for that matter). However, it is this passage that shapes ones’ millennial view.

The prefix of the three main millennial views indicates when they think Christ will return. Pre-millennials believe Christ will return before the 1,000-year period. After returning, He will rule and reign, Satan will be bound (to be re-released at the end of the 1,000 years), and martyrs will be resurrected to reign with Christ. Other dead believers will be resurrected at the end of the 1,000 years.

A few more things about pre-millennialism:

1. It is the only end times view which takes the 1,000 year reign literally

2. There are many variations within pre-millennialism, including historic pre-millennialism and dispensational pre-millennialism

3. Pre-millennialism is the view promoted by the Left Behind movies

4. It has historic roots in the teaching of Papias, a disciple of John, and seems to be embraced by many early Church fathers who awaited Christ’s return to Jerusalem to overthrow Rome and rule over a physical Kingdom.

(Note: pre-millennialism also maintains that all of this occurs after the rapture. It is during the 1,000-year reign of Christ that the raptured return as well as the dead believers rise to rule with Christ. The final judgment and eternal Heaven follows the 1,000 years.)

Post-Millennial

If pre-millennialism claims that “everything is going to get worse before it gets better,’ then post-millennials assert that everything will actually get better before Christ returns. In a world lsuch as ours, it can be difficult to argue that things are improving and hastening the return of Christ. However, post-millennials point to a few factors:

1. Post millennials ignore geo-political factors when discussing Kingdom improvement, and claim that the Kingdom of God is growing in spite of troubling global events.

2. As more and more people convert to Christianity, this will result in global good.

3. This improvement will be gradual, but will result in the Great Commission being fulfilled.

4. Christ’s return will follow this symbolic period of 1,000 years where Christ’s rule and reign grows on earth.

5. Historical roots for this view are found in the Church father Augustine of Hippo.

(Note: post-millennialism still maintains that Christ will bodily return to earth, ushering in a new age where He reigns over His Kingdom. This is the new Heaven and new earth. This reign is eternal, not 1,000 years long.)

A-millennial

The pre-fix “a” indicates the negative. That is, there is no millennium in the a-millennial view. Like post-millennialism, the 1,000 years is interpreted as symbolic. Like pre-millennialism, though, a-millennials believe that things will get worse in the last days, but that Christ can occur at any point. After His return comes the resurrection of the dead, judgment, and eternal life in Heaven.

Chief among its assertions are that the Kingdom is a present reality, not a future one. Christ reigns on the throne (albeit in a figurative sense, not in physical presence) right now, not in some future 1,000 year period.

(Note: Perhaps the most compelling aspect of a-millennialism is the question “Do you believe Christ could return right now or at any point He desires. Other views insist certain things must occur before Christ’s return—and that Christ said as much. Only a-millennialism allows for Christ’s return at any moment.)

 

MAKING IT REAL (10 minutes)

As you can see, there is plenty to disagree upon in Revelation.

General Discussion:

• How many of you think the book of Revelation should be taken literally? (Ask students with this view to raise their hands.)

• How many of you think the book of Revelation should be taken figuratively? (Again, ask students to vote, by raising their hands.)

• How many of you think you’re pre-millennials? Post-millennial? A-millennial? (Let students vote by a show hands and discuss why.)

Even among our group, we have some disagreement, which is not surprising! Perhaps you’re not sure, or have a combination of the views. Again, not a shocker. People who read Revelation have been thinking through and arguing about these things for hundreds of years!

That’s why we need to remember our operating principle.

General Discussion:

• Whom do we need to read Revelation like? (The original readers.)

• Do you think the first readers understood the symbols of Revelation? (For the most part, yes.)

• How did they understand them? (They understood their time, the Scriptures, etc.)

• How can we better understand them, then? (By studying the Scriptures, their culture, Biblical literature, etc.)

• Do you think the first readers of Revelation were pre-millennial, post-millennial, or a-millennial? (This is a tough one to answer. We just don’t know. That’s the point!)

• What do you think was most important to the original readers? (Knowing that Jesus will prevail.)

• Based on why and to whom Revelation was written, why was this the most important point? (They were persecuted, threatened. They weren’t arguing about when horrible times would befall them as believers—they were already living them! Knowing Jesus wins was encouraging.)

• So, if that was the main point for them, what should be the main point for us? (Jesus wins, we should remain faithful, and we should have hope as the first believers did.)

At the same time, it’s not wrong to study this stuff and be able to talk about it. Here are some helpful resources as you think about reading Revelation and understanding how to interpret it:

www.shanejwood.com

The Meaning of the Millennium: Four Views by Robert Clouse

https://www.blueletterbible.org/faq/mill.cfm

Again, the main thing is not which millennial view you espouse, or even which interpretive method you embrace. While opinions about those things may vary, the original reader was encouraged by the outcome. God wins. His faithful are rewarded. No temporary trial or hardship can change that. So hold firm.

Re-read Revelation 21:5

Discussion Questions:

1. Who is seated on the throne? (God.)

2. What is God making new? (Everything.)

3. What does God instruct John to do and why? (Write everything down because it is trustworthy and true.)

There are symbols to fuss over and interpretive methods to debate, but there is one thing that we can all know for sure. Jesus is trustworthy. His Word is true. And at the end of all things—and even now—He is busy making all things new. Redemption is at hand. We can debate the details, but our destiny is decided.

Those that belong to Jesus win because He wins. Indeed, He has already won.

CLOSING PRAYER (2 minutes)

Pray for wisdom for your students as they study more, but pray for purity of heart that they can approach Scripture humbly and that they embrace the undeniable truth of Christ.