青少年教程 (启示录教导什么*第3课) | 七印
- 羊之门-编译组
- 5 days ago
- 14 min read
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
帮助学生明白七印所代表的意义
鼓励学生像历世历代在他们以前的信徒一样忠信生活
主题
天国、神的审判、逼迫
背诵经文
启示录 7:14下
开始祷告(5-10分钟)
团队建立(10分钟)
准备七个封好的信封。每个信封里面放一项小组挑战的指示。例如：“按照身高从矮到高排成一列”，或者“大家一个人唱一个词，轮流唱完《玛丽有只小羊羔》”。
具体是什么挑战并不重要，只要准备七项即可。为小组计时，看看他们能多快完成每一项挑战。
如果人数较多，可以分成两组，让他们面对面比赛。
开始(5分钟)
刚才的活动中，我们有七个信封。每拆开一个封口，就会出现一项新的挑战。
今天，我们要讨论启示录中的七印。每一个印带来的不是挑战，而是一个信息。这个信息不只给最初的读者，也同样给我们。
一般讨论：
• 让我们复习一下已经学过的内容。启示录是谁写的？（耶稣把这一切显给约翰看，约翰把它写下来。）
• 启示录写成时，第一世纪的教会正在经历什么？（遭受罗马帝国严重的逼迫和敌对。）
• 约翰写作时在哪里？（被放逐在拔摩岛。）
• 启示录属于哪一种文学体裁？（启示文学。）
• 因此，我们应当怎样解释它？（其中有大量象征和比喻性的语言。）
今天我们会遇到许多象征性的语言。如果不了解其中的象征，启示录第6至7章可能会令人非常困惑。
但事实上，当我们把这两章中的象征一一拆解来看-这也是今天大部分课程所要做的-其中的信息其实十分清楚。
深入学习(30分钟)
读 启示录 6:1-2
讨论问题：
根据我们目前所学的内容，再加上英文中“Lamb”的首字母大写，我们可以知道“羔羊”是谁？（耶稣。）
第1节中，羔羊做了什么？（揭开七印中的第一印。）
约翰听见什么？（一个活物说：“你来！”）
约翰看见什么？（一匹白马，骑马的人拿着弓，并有冠冕赐给他。）
这是七印中第一个被揭开的印。在继续学习其余六印之前，我们需要先明白“印”是什么。记住，象征在启示录中非常重要。这里并不是真的有一只羔羊在拆信封。耶稣是在向约翰、第一世纪遭受逼迫的基督徒，以及今天的我们，显明一件重要的事。
我们也需要注意，一共有七个印。之后，我们还会谈到七枝号，接下来有七个异象和灾祸，最后还有七个异象。“七”在启示录中非常重要，我们应当把它理解为完全、完整和圆满。
这一点尤其重要：启示录中这一连串的“七”，分布在第12章两边，而第12章具有特别重要的意义。第12章是理解整卷启示录的关键。这些“七”都在以不同方式重述同一件事：那些不像第4至5章所描绘的那样向耶稣屈膝的人，将要面对审判。
那么，七印是什么？
七印是拦阻神审判临到的最后屏障。
第一印带出骑白马的人，他“胜了又要胜”。明白这一点之后，让我们继续学习。
读 启示录 6:3-8
讨论问题：
每一个印有哪些共同之处？（都有一匹马；活物会说“你来”；马以颜色命名；骑马的人会得到某样东西等。）
每一位骑马的人分别得到什么？（第一位：弓；第二位：大刀；第三位：天平；第四位：杀人的权柄。）
这四位骑马者要做什么？（毁灭、审判、杀戮、征服等。）
谁揭开每一个印？（羔羊。）
最终是谁拥有并赐下审判的权柄？（耶稣。）
谁受到审判？（人。）
是什么带来审判？（罪。）
读 启示录 6:9-11
讨论问题：
第五印揭示了什么？（殉道者向神呼求公义。）
这些殉道者在哪里？（在天上，“祭坛底下”。）
殉道者得到什么？（白衣。）
他们向神求什么？（还要等多久，神才审判地上的人，为他们所流的血伸冤？）
值得注意的是，殉道者问的是：“还要等多久？”按照这段经文，苦难仍然会继续。因此，这里与其说是在预言末世，不如说是在描绘所有时代中跟随耶稣的人都会经历的苦难，而不只是末世才会发生的事。
读 启示录 6:12-17
讨论问题：
第六印与前面的印有什么不同？（受到影响的不只是人，整个宇宙都受到影响。）
具体发生了什么？（大地震、太阳变黑、月亮变红、众星坠落到地上等。）
你认为这一切都会按字面发生吗？为什么？（让学生讨论。）
一共发生了多少件事？（七件。）
第15节中，一共有多少类人受到影响？（七类。）
这些人想要做什么？（他们想躲避耶稣的忿怒。）
七代表完全。约翰两次使用数字七-七件发生的事，以及七类受影响的人-是为了指出，这场毁灭是全面的。
这段经文最后提出一个问题：“谁能站得住呢？” 这是一个很重要的问题，也把我们带进第7章，以及第七印。
读 启示录 7:1-8
讨论问题：
约翰接下来看见什么？（四位天使站在地的四角。）
你认为这应该按字面理解吗？（不应该。地球是圆的，并没有四个角。）
那么，这里正在发生什么？（神吩咐天使暂时拦住对地的审判，直到祂为自己的百姓盖上印。）
约翰所看见的是在天上还是地上？（经文多次提到地，所以是在地上。）
指出这一点，是为了说明十四万四千人并不是某些非基督教宗教所声称的那样，只有这些人能够进入天国。这里所说的是地上的人，而不是天上的人。
十四万四千人是“以色列人各支派中受印的”。按照新约的背景，尤其是在启示录中，以色列指的是教会。这里不是在谈以色列这个国家，而是在谈基督徒。耶稣把祂的教会分别出来。他们会受苦，却会得救。这个数字是象征性的，而不是字面的。
读 启示录 7:9-17
讨论问题：
这个异象发生在哪里？（在宝座周围、羔羊面前，在天上。）
有多少人在那里？（从各国、各族而来的“许多的人，没有人能数过来”。换句话说，不要相信只有十四万四千人能够进入天国。）
他们穿着什么？又在呼喊什么？（穿着白衣，呼喊：“愿救恩归与坐在宝座上我们的神……”）
这幅画面描绘的是什么？（敬拜。）
根据第14节，这些人经历过什么？（他们从大患难中出来。）
什么使他们的衣服变白？（羔羊的血。）
因此，有两群人能够在前六印所释放的可怕审判中“站立得住”：地上的基督徒，以及天上的那一大群人。这些人都是忠信的人。他们逃脱了审判。
这里也让人想到政治性的画面。白衣和棕树枝，是王进入一座城市时所使用的象征。耶稣荣耀进入耶路撒冷，也带有政治性的意义。但耶稣的道路不同，殉道者的道路也不同。他们的地位不是借着权力得来的，而是借着受苦。
读 启示录 8:1-5
讨论问题：
第七印揭开以后，发生了什么与前面完全不同的事？（天上寂静了约有半小时。前六印揭开时，总会听见“你来”或其他声音。）
约翰看见什么？（七位天使站在神面前，有七枝号赐给他们。）
还有另一位天使，他拿着什么？（金香炉。）
香炉里有什么？（香的烟，也就是神百姓的祷告。）
天使做了什么？（把香炉扔在地上。）
结果发生了什么？（有雷轰、声音、闪电和地震。）
祷告会在地上带来影响。而这些祷告，是为公义和审判而发出的。
下周我们会谈到七枝号。现在，我们需要先弄清楚，七印对最初的读者意味着什么，又应该对我们意味着什么。
联系实际（15分钟）
总结来说，七印讲述了一个故事，也传达了一个重点。
这个故事，是每一个基督徒的故事。这是忠信的故事。这是受苦的故事。这是历世历代、各族各民基督徒的故事。这个故事的重点是：因为羔羊的血，忠信的人能够在六印所释放的审判之下站立得住。大患难是可以忍受的。他们-也包括我们-不一定在身体上受到保护，却会在属灵上受到保护。
一般讨论：
• 第一世纪那些正在阅读启示录第6至7章的基督徒，他们的处境怎样？（遭受严重逼迫，因为信仰被杀，在经济上受苦等。）
• 你认为今天的教会也以同样方式受苦吗？（美国的教会未必如此，但全球教会中确实有许多人这样受苦。）
• 这些印给谁带来审判？（神的仇敌。）
• 这些审判怎样临到？（战争、经济困境等。）
• 你认为这样的审判今天仍然存在吗？（当然。历史上从来没有一个时代完全没有战争或经济困境，而这些正是前六印所描述的事。）
• 那么，你认为这种审判只针对过去世代的人吗？（让学生讨论。）
• 你认为这种审判只针对未来世代的人吗？（让学生讨论。）
神的审判仍在持续，而能够坚持到底只有一条路：忠信。
一般讨论：
• 你认为第一世纪的基督徒是怎样保持忠信的？（他们不向王屈膝，不依靠权力来坚持，而是甘愿为耶稣受苦。）
• 这与我们今天保持忠信有什么相似之处？（我们也不能向那些次等的“神”屈膝，也不能依靠自己的力量。）
• 根据今天所读的经文，在神的国中，什么带来得胜？（在受苦中仍然忠信。）
• 顺境中保持忠信很容易。你认为自己已经预备好，在受苦时仍然保持忠信吗？为什么？（这是一个很难的问题，但要鼓励学生诚实回答。）
学习启示录的一个益处，就是当我们明白它并不只是在谈未来的事件时，就会发现，历世历代已经有许多信徒忠信地经历了大患难。他们的故事能够鼓励我们。
（可以花一些时间，与小组一起在 www.persecution.com 上查找一些忠信信徒的故事。Voice of the Martyrs 是一个非常优秀的机构，致力于支持受逼迫的教会。可以阅读这些故事，并了解我们能够怎样提供帮助。）
当我们开始关心今天正在受苦的人，也会更加珍惜那些在我们以前走过这条道路的人。这一切加在一起，都能够帮助我们预备自己，在自己的生命中保持忠信。
结束祷告(2分钟)
花一些时间，为今天正在遭受逼迫的人、过去曾遭受逼迫的人，以及将来会因耶稣而受苦的人祷告。也邀请学生彼此代祷。求神帮助他们在各自的艰难中站立得住，并始终忠于基督。
****** 英文版 *******
Revelation: What Revelation Teaches
Lesson 3: The Seven Seals
LESSON OBJECTIVES
Goals
1. To inform students of the overview of the book of Revelation
2. To help students understand what the seven seals represent
3. To encourage students to live as faithfully as those who have preceded them
Topics
Heaven, Judgment of God, Persecution
Scripture Memorization
Revelation 7:14b
OPENING PRAYER (5 to 10 minutes)
GROUP BUILDING (10 minutes)
Seal up seven envelopes. Inside each, include instructions of a group challenge. Some examples are “stand in height order, shortest to tallest,” or “sing Mary Had a Little Lamb one word at a time, with each person singing one word each." It doesn’t matter what they are, just pick seven. Time your group and see how fast they can complete each challenge.
If you have a larger group, split them into two and have them compete head to head.
GETTING STARTED (5 minutes)
In our activity, we had seven envelopes. Each broken seal brought a new challenge. Today, we’re going to discuss the seven seals of Revelation. Each one brings not a challenge, but a message. Not just for the original audience, but for us as well.
General Discussion:
• Let’s review what we know about Revelation, who wrote it? (Jesus showed John all these things and John wrote it down.)
• What is the first-century Church enduring at the time of the writing? (Great persecution and opposition from the Roman Empire.)
• Where is John as he writes? (Exiled on the island of Patmos.)
• What type of literature is Revelation? (Apocalyptic.)
• As such, how should it be interpreted? (There is a lot of symbolism and figurative language.)
We’ll encounter a lot of figurative language today. Reading Revelation 6 and 7 without understanding its symbols can seem really confusing. But the truth is, when we deconstruct the symbolism of these two chapters (which make up most of what we’ll study), the message is clear.
DIGGING IN (30 minutes)
Read Revelation 6:1-2
Discussion Questions:
1. Based on what we’ve studied so far, and the fact that the “L” in lamb is capitalized, who can we understand “the Lamb” to be? (Jesus.)
2. What does the Lamb do in verse 1? (Opens the first of seven seals.)
3. What does John hear? (One of the living creatures say, “Come.”)
4. What does John see? (A white horse with a rider holding a bow, carrying a crown.)
This is the first of seven seals that are broken. Before we study the other six, we need to understand what a seal is. Remember that symbolism is huge in Revelation, we need to understand that an actual lamb is not opening envelopes here. Jesus is trying to show John; the first-century, persecuted Christians; and us something important.
We need to realize there are seven of them. Later, we’ll talk about seven trumpets. Then there will be seven signs and plagues and then seven final visions. Seven is a big deal in Revelation, and we should understand it to mean completion, perfection, and wholeness.
This is important: The series of “sevens” in Revelation flank chapter 12, which is significant. Chapter 12 is key to understanding the book of Revelation. Each is a re-telling of the judgment to come for those who don’t bow down to Jesus like the picture in chapters 4 and 5.
So, what are the seals?
The seals are the only thing holding back God’s judgment. The first seal introduces the rider of the white horse who is “a conqueror bent on conquest.” With that in mind, let’s continue our study.
Read Revelation 6:3-8
Discussion Questions:
1. What does each seal have in common? (There is a horse; the living creatures say, “Come”; the horse is named by color; the riders are given something, etc.)
2. What is each rider given? (Rider One: bow, Rider Two: a large sword, Rider Three: a pair of scales, Rider Four: power to kill.)
3. What are the four horsemen supposed to do? (Destroy, judge, kill, conquer, judge, etc.)
4. Who opens each seal? (The Lamb.)
5. Who ultimately has and gives the authority to judge? (Jesus.)
6. Who is being judged? (People.)
7. What brings about this judgment? (Sin.)
Read Revelation 6:9-11
Discussion Questions:
1. What is revealed by the fifth seal? (Martyrs calling out for justice from God.)
2. Where are the martyrs? (“under the altar” in Heaven.)
3. What are the martyrs given? (A robe.)4. What do the martyrs ask? (How long until the inhabitants of earth are judged and the martyrs' blood is avenged.)
It is noteworthy to point out that the martyrs are asking how long? Suffering will continue according to this passage. This is not an end-times prophecy so much as it is a picture of suffering that will happen for all who follow Jesus in all times, not just the end times.
Read Revelation 6:12-17
Discussion Questions:
1. What is different about the sixth seal? (The cosmos are effected, not just people.)
2. How so? What happens? (A great earthquake, the sun turns black, the moon turns red, the stars fall to earth, etc.)
3. Do you think all this literally happens? Why or why not? (Allow for discussion.)
4. How many things happen? (Seven.)
5. In verse 15, how many groups of people are affected? (Seven.)
6. What do the people want to happen? (They want to hide from Jesus’ wrath.)
Seven means completion. John twice uses the number 7 (things that happen, people groups effected) to point out that everything will be destroyed.
The question asked at the end of the passage is “Who can withstand it?” It’s a good question, and it leads us to chapter 7 and the seventh seal.
Read Revelation 7:1-8
Discussion Questions:
1. What does John see next? (Four angels standing at the four corners of the earth.)
2. Do you think this is meant to be taken literally? (No, the earth doesn’t have four corners, it’s round.)
3. So, what is happening? (God is telling angels to hold back judgment from the earth until He seals His people.)
4. Where is John seeing this: in Heaven or on earth? (Earth is mentioned several times.)
I point this out to say that the 144,000 are not the only ones to get to Heaven, like some non-Christian religions claim. These people are people of earth, not Heaven.
The 144,000 are “from all the tribes of Israel.” Israel, in the New Testament’s context and certainly in Revelation, is the Church. This is not talking about the nation of Israel, it’s talking about Christians. Jesus is setting aside His Church. They will suffer, but they will be saved. The number is figurative, not literal.
Read Revelation 7:9-17
Discussion Questions:
1. Where is this vision located? (Around the throne, before the Lamb, in Heaven.)
2. How many are present? (“multitudes, count” from every nation and tribe. In other words, do not believe that only 144,000 people will be allowed into Heaven.)
3. What are they wearing? What are they crying out? (Robes, “Salvation belongs to our God…”)
4. Of what is this is a picture? (Worship.)5
. What have these people endured according to verse 14? (They have endured great tribulation.)
6. What makes them white? (The blood of the Lamb.)
So two groups can “withstand” the horrific judgment unleashed by the first six seals, Christians on earth and the multitude. These are the faithful. They escape judgment.
This also brings to mind political imagery. A white robe and palm branches is how an emperor entered a city. The Triumphal Entry of Jesus was a political move. However, His purpose is different, and so are the martyrs. Their position came through suffering, not power.
Read Revelation 8:1-5
Discussion Questions:
1. What happens after the seventh seal is opened that is so different? (There is silence in Heaven for about half an hour. Each of the first six said “Come” or some other statement.)
2. What does John see? (Seven angels standing before God and seven trumpets were given to them.)
3. There is another angel. What does it have? (A golden censor.)
4. What is in the censor? (Smoke from incense, prayers of God’s people.)
5. What does the angel do? (Hurls it to the earth.)
6. What results from this? (Thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.)
The prayers make a difference on earth. And the prayers are for justice and judgment.
We will talk about the seven trumpets next week. For now, we need to figure out what the seven seals meant to the first audience and what they should mean to us.
MAKING IT REAL (15 minutes)
In summary, the Seven Seals tell a story and make a point.
The story is the story of every Christian. It is a story of faithfulness. It is a story of suffering. It is the story of Christians in every age, of every ethnicity. The point of the story is that the faithful can stand up under the judgment dished out (the six seals) because of the blood of the Lamb. Great tribulation can be endured. They—we—will not be protected physically, but we will be protected spiritually.
General Discussion:
• What is the fate of the first-century Christians who are reading Revelation 6 and 7? (They are heavily persecuted, being killed for their faith, suffering economically, etc.)
• Do you think the Church suffers in the same way today? (Not the Church in the United States, but the global Church certainly does.)
• These seals bring judgment for whom? (The enemies of God.)
• How does that judgment come about? (War, economic trouble, etc.)
• Do you think that time of judgment is still being exercised today? (Certainly, there has never been an age where there was no war or economic trouble the likes of which are talked about in the first six seals.)
• So do you think this judgment is reserved for past populations of the earth? (Allow for discussion.)
• Do you think this judgment is reserved for future populations of the earth? (Allow for discussion.)
God’s judgment is ongoing, and there is only one way to persevere: faithfulness.
General Discussion:
• How do you think first-century Christians remained faithful? (They did not bow their knee to the Emperor, they did not rely on power to endure, they willingly suffered for Jesus.)
• How is that similar to how we remain faithful? (We must not bow to lesser gods or rely on our own strength.)
• What brings about victory in the Kingdom of God according to what we read today? (Faithfulness in the face of suffering.)
• It is easy to remain faithful when things are good. Do you think you are equipped to remain faithful while suffering? Why or why not? (This is a tough question, but encourage honesty.)
One of the benefits of Revelation—and realizing it’s not talking all about future events—is to understand that there are many believers who have withstood great tribulation faithfully. Their stories can encourage us.
(Take some time with your group to look up some stories of faithfulness on www.persecution.com. Voice of the Martyrs is a fantastic organization supporting the persecuted Church. Read stories and discover ways you can help.)
As we engage with those suffering in our modern times, we grow in our appreciation of those who have gone before us. All of that combined can help equip us for faithfulness in our own lives.
CLOSING PRAYER (2 minutes)
Spend some time praying for the persecuted of today, the persecuted of days gone by, and those that will suffer because of Jesus. Ask students to pray for one another. Pray that they withstand their personal hardships and remain faithful to Christ.
Comments