青少年教程 (启示录教导什么*第4课) | 七号
- 羊之门-编译组
- 4 days ago
- 13 min read
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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
帮助学生明白七号所代表的意义
激励学生忠信生活
主题
信心、天国、神的审判、怜悯、悔改
背诵经文
启示录 11:15
开始祷告(5-10分钟)
团队建立(5分钟)
让我们来玩一个数字游戏。
永远都是1089
• 选一个三位数，每一位数字都不相同。
• 把这个数字倒过来。例如，789变成987。
• 用较大的数字减去较小的数字。例如，987－789＝198。
• 把答案再倒过来。例如，198变成891。
• 把最后两个数字相加：198＋891＝1089。
只要按照上面的规则来做，不论一开始选的是哪一个三位数，最后的答案都会是1089。
开始(3分钟)
这周我们有很多内容要讲，所以马上进入主题。不过，在开始以前，我们需要先复习几件与数字有关的事。
一般讨论:
• 数字7代表什么？（完全、圆满。）
• 数字4代表什么？（完全。）
在今天的学习中，数字和其他象征都会非常重要。
深入学习(45分钟)
读 启示录 8:6
我们接下来要读的是七号。这一部分紧接在七印之后。记得，这些部分分布在启示录第12章两边，而第12章正是整卷书的中心。七印讲的是审判；以后我们会读到的第17至18章也是如此。七号讲的是灾祸，第13至16章中的七灾也是如此。这些内容彼此平行，并共同把重点指向第12章。
七号分为两个部分。我们先来看前四号。
读 启示录 8:7-13
讨论问题：
第一号吹响时发生了什么？（有雹子与火搀着血降下来。）
结果怎样？（地、树木和青草的三分之一被烧毁。）
第二号吹响时发生了什么？（好像一座燃烧的大山被扔进海里。）
结果怎样？（海的三分之一变成血，海中活物的三分之一死了，船只的三分之一也被毁坏。）
第三号吹响时发生了什么？（有一颗大星从天上坠落，落在江河和众水的三分之一上。）
结果怎样？（水的三分之一变苦，许多人因此死亡。）
第枝号吹响时发生了什么？（太阳的三分之一、月亮的三分之一和众星的三分之一都受到击打。）
结果怎样？（白昼的三分之一没有光，黑夜也是如此。）
接下来发生了什么？（一只飞鹰大声发出警告，宣告后面的号声将带来灾祸。）
我们再次看见，在这一组四枝号中有明显的象征性。所有东西都受到三分之一的损害，而且所有损害都发生在地上。这一部分有四号，也表明完全，就像启示录中的7、12等数字一样。约翰刚刚看见了地上一切事物的全面毁坏——人、动物、水等都包括在内。
读 启示录 9:1-12
讨论问题：
你认为真的有带着蝎子尾刺的蝗虫，连续五个月攻击神的仇敌吗？（让学生讨论。）
为什么约翰两次描述这些生物？（他要尽可能清楚地描述这个象征，以及这个象征所发挥的作用。）
这些蝗虫不被允许做什么？（不能杀死人，只能折磨他们。）
你认为为什么会这样？（神要人悔改。）
圣经中，神常常使用蝗灾作为审判，有时是实际的，有时是象征性的。然而，这里的审判不是为了使人死亡，而是为了使人悔改。在出埃及记、约珥书以及圣经其他地方，都可以看见这样的例子。在古代中东，蝗灾也是人们非常熟悉的现实。最初的读者会明白，这个象征代表审判；但其目的，是使人悔改，而不是将人毁灭。
读 启示录 9:13-21
讨论问题：
第六号吹响以后发生了什么？（有声音从神面前金坛的四角发出。）
有几位天使被释放？这个数字代表什么？（四位，代表完全。）
这些天使的任务是什么？（杀死三分之一的人。）
骑兵有多少？这是字面数字吗？（两万万，也就是一万乘一万再乘二。不是按字面理解，只表示数量非常多。）
这段经文三次提到“烟”“火”和“硫磺”。你认为为什么？（这是一段关于审判的经文。这些灾祸是为了使人悔改；如果他们仍不悔改，就会灭亡。邪恶正在受到审判。）
根据第20至21节，那些没有被灾祸杀死的人后来怎样？（他们仍然不悔改，继续拜偶像、犯罪等。）
为什么在最后一号吹响以前，要特别强调这一点？（这些灾祸的目的始终是使人悔改，但许多人仍然拒绝悔改。）
读 启示录 10:1-11
第六号和第七号之间，有一段插入的内容。
讨论问题：
这位天使怎样被描述？（充满光辉、腿像火柱、脸面像太阳、两脚分别踏海踏地等。）
这样的描述让你想到谁？（许多相同的词也被用来描述主。）
这位天使说将会发生什么？（神的奥秘将要成全，就像祂从前借着众先知所宣告的。）
约翰被吩咐怎样处理那小书卷？之后会发生什么？（把它吃下去。吃的时候甘甜，到了肚子里却发苦。）
这一切对第一世纪的教会意味着什么？对我们又意味着什么？（神拥有权柄；祂不会再迟延；祂已经把信息交给我们，我们需要把这信息传出去。）
这不是圣经第一次记载神吩咐祂的使者“吃下”祂的话。以西结和耶利米都曾被吩咐这样做。第一世纪的读者会明白这个象征。
现在，我们必须进入第11章。有些人认为，这是整本圣经中最难理解的章节之一。不过，我们要记得：第枝号马上就要吹响，而启示录第12章也即将来到。第12章是整卷书交错结构的中心，也给我们一个非常重要的提示，使我们明白前面这一切究竟在讲什么。
读 启示录 11:1-14
这段经文中有许多象征。我们必须记得，启示录不是为了使你困惑。让我们尽可能把这段经文简化来看。
讨论问题：
约翰被吩咐量什么？（圣殿。）
根据新约，圣殿代表什么？（教会。这是新约以及初期教会历史中常见的教导。）
外邦人和外院代表谁？（所有不属于耶稣的人。在启示录中，“以色列”代表神的百姓，而“外邦人”则不是。）
这段经文中谁得胜，谁失败？（神的百姓得以进入天堂；不属于神的人只能观看，被留在地上，并经历大地震。这就是“第二样灾祸”。）
学者认为，从第3节开始所说的“两位见证人”，是为了代表以利亚，也就是先知；以及摩西，也就是律法。但更完整地说，他们代表基督——祂成全了律法和先知，完全代表两者——以及祂的教会。基督和基督的身体，也就是教会，是在邪恶世界中为真理作见证的人。
再说一些数字。四十二个月等于一千二百六十天，也就是三年半。从象征意义来看，这是七的一半，也就是“完全的一半”。这段传道的时期也是受逼迫的时期。另外，这段经文也提到三天半。这里涉及的内容太多，不可能在这一课中充分而负责任地处理。最终，这段经文的重点也并不在这些数字本身。
读 启示录 11:15-19
讨论问题：
再说一次，数字7在启示录中代表什么？（完全、圆满。）
从天上来的声音说了什么？（世上的国成了我主和主基督的国，祂要作王，直到永永远远。）
启示录常常形容主是“昔在、今在、以后永在的”。这段经文少了哪一部分？（“以后永在”或“将要来的”。）
为什么这里没有“将要来的”？（因为祂已经来了。）
这幅画面描绘的是什么？（终局。神的国已经完全实现。）
谁坐在神面前？他们正在做什么？（二十四位长老，他们正在敬拜主。）
根据第18节，什么时候已经来到？（审判死人、赏赐神仆人的时候。）
什么被打开了？（天上神的殿。）
联系实际（10分钟）
一般讨论:
• 七枝号所带来的这些灾祸，尤其是前四枝号，让你想到旧约中的哪一个事件？（出埃及记中的十灾。）
• 在出埃及记中，那些灾祸体现了什么？（神的审判。）
• 出埃及记中最后一个灾是什么？（长子之死。）
• 那些灾祸给埃及人什么机会？（悔改。）
• 既然有机会悔改，你认为人为什么仍然不愿悔改？（因为骄傲、心里刚硬、自私的野心等。）
苦难是一个很有力量的教导工具。无论苦难是神审判的一部分，还是单纯来自人生中的试炼，神都给我们时间悔改。忠信之人的生活中，必须有持续悔改的操练。
一般讨论：
• 悔改是什么意思？（离开罪，改变方向，改变自己的心、思想和行为。）
• 根据启示录，我们有多少时间可以悔改？（直到终局来到。）
• 你认为今天的信徒是否经常操练悔改？悔改与只是感到后悔有什么不同？（悔改需要实际行动，而不只是一种情绪。）
• 你上一次真正为某件事悔改是什么时候？（这个问题可以让学生自己在心里思想。）
七号提醒我们：神是我们的审判者。和启示录中其他与“七”有关的内容一样，七号表面看来可能令人害怕。然而，在第11章结尾，我们读到，天国正在等候那些忠信的人。
结束祷告(2分钟)
请一位学生带领结束祷告。
****** 英文版 *******
Revelation: What Revelation Teaches
Lesson 4: The Seven Trumpets
LESSON OBJECTIVES
Goals
1. To inform students of the overview of the book of Revelation
2. To help students understand the meaning of the seven trumpets
3. To inspire students to live faithfully
Topics
Faith, Heaven, Judgement of God, Mercy, Repentance
Scripture Memorization
Revelation 11:15
OPENING PRAYER (5 to 10 minutes)
GROUP BUILDING (5 minutes)
Let’s have some fun with numbers.
Always 1089
• Pick a three-digit number, with each digit being a different number.
• Reverse this number. For example, 789 would become 987.
• Subtract the smaller number from the larger. For example, 987-789 = 198.
• Reverse the answer. For example, 198 would become 891.
• Add the last two numbers together, 198+891 = 1089
Following the rules above the answer to the equation will always be 1089, no matter which three-digit number you begin with.
GETTING STARTED (3 minutes)
We have a lot to cover this week, so we are going to jump right in, but before we do, we need to be reminded of a couple things as it relates to numbers.
General Discussion:
• What does the number 7 indicate? (Perfection, completion.)
• What does the number 4 mean? (Completion.)
Numbers, along with other symbols, are going to mean a lot in today's study.
DIGGING IN (45 minutes)
Read Revelation 8:6
We are about to read about the Seven Trumpets. This section of Revelation follows on the heels of the Seven Seals. Remember that these sections flank Revelation 12 (the point of Revelation). The seven seals were about judgment, as are chapters 17 and 18, which we'll read later. The Seven Trumpets talk about plagues, as do the seven plagues in chapters 13-16. As they parallel one another, they point to chapter 12 for emphasis.
The trumpets are named in two pieces. Let’s look at the first four to begin.
Read Revelation 8:7-13
Discussion Questions:
1. What came with the first trumpet? (Hail and fire mixed with blood.)
2. What was the result? (A third of the earth, trees, and green grass was burned up.)
3. What came with the second trumpet? (Something like a blazing huge mountain was thrown in the sea.)
4. What was the result? (A third of the sea turned to blood, a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of ships were destroyed.)
5. What came with the third trumpet? (A great star fell from the sky and landed on a third of the rivers and sources of water.)
6. What was the result? (A third of the waters turned bitter, many people died.)
7. What came with the fourth trumpet? (A third of the sun was struck as was a third of the moon and stars.)
8. What was the result? (A third of the day was without light, and also a third of the night.)
9. What happened next? (A flying eagle called out a warning about the future trumpet blasts.)
Again, in this grouping of four, we can conclude that there is some symbolism at work. Everything is damaged by a third, and the damage is all done on earth. The fact that there are four trumpets in this section indicate completion (as do the numbers 7 and 12, etc. in Revelation). John has just seen the complete destruction of earthly things, people, animals, water, etc.
Read Revelation 9:1-12
Discussion Questions:
1. Do you think actual locusts with a scorpion stinger struck God’s enemies for five months? (Allow for discussion.)
2. Why does John describe these creatures twice? (He is trying to describe his symbol clearly and describe the function of the symbol.)
3. What are the locusts not allowed to do? (They could not kill people, only torture them.)
4. Why do you think that is? (God wants people to repent.)
In the Bible, God often uses plagues of locusts as judgment, both literally and figuratively. However, this is not a judgment that results in death, but repentance. It happens in Exodus, Joel, and elsewhere in the Bible. It was a real thing in the ancient Middle East. The original reader would’ve understood that this symbol meant judgment, but it was an attempt to get people to repent, not be destroyed.
Read Revelation 9:13-21
Discussion Questions:
1. What follows the sixth trumpet? (A voice from the four horns of the altar of God.)
2. How many angels are released? What does that number mean? (Four, it means completion.)
3. What is the function of the angels? (To kill a third of mankind.)
4. How many mounted troops were there? Is this a literal number? (10,000 x 10,000 x 2. No, it should not be taken literally; it just means a lot.)
5. He writes “smoke,” “fire,” and “sulfur” three times in this passage. Why do you think so? (This is a judgment passage. These plagues are meant to bring about repentance but if they do not then people will perish. Evil is being judged.)
6. What happens to the rest of humanity who are not killed by the plagues according to verses to 20-21? (People still did not repent of their idolatry, sin, etc.)
7. Why do you think this is emphasized before the last trumpet? (The point of the plagues has been to get people to repent. Many still did not do so.)
Read Revelation 10:1-11
Between the sixth and seventh trumpet, we have an interlude.
Discussion Questions:
1. How is this angel described? (Light, fiery legs, face like the sun, feet planted on land and sea, etc.)
2. Who does that sound like? (Many of the same words are used to describe the Lord.)
3. What does this angel say will happen? (The mystery of God would be accomplished as he spoke to the prophets he would make his message known.)
4. What is John told to do with the little scroll? What will happen afterward? (Eat it. It will taste good but turn his stomach sour.)
5. What would all this have meant to the first-century Church? What does it mean to us? (God has authority, He will not delay, He has given us a message, we need to share that message.)
This is not the first time in the Bible that God has commanded messengers to eat His words. Both Ezekiel and Jeremiah are told to do the same. A first-century audience would have understood this.
Now we have to go to chapter 11. Some believe this is one of the hardest chapters in all the Bible to understand. Let’s remember this, though—the seventh trumpet is coming and so too is Revelation 12, the point of the chiastic structure of the book of Revelation and a big hint as to what all this is all about.
Read Revelation 11:1-14
There are a lot of symbols in this passage. We have to remember that Revelation is not meant to confuse you. Let’s simplify this passage as much as possible.
Discussion Questions:
1. What is John told to measure? (The temple.)
2. According to the New Testament, what is the temple? (The Church. This is common teaching in the New Testament and early Church history.)
3. Who are the Gentiles and the outer court? (All those who don’t belong to Jesus. In Revelation “Israel” is the people of God and a “gentile” is not.)
4. Who wins and who loses in this passage? (God’s people escape to Heaven, those who don’t belong to God look on, are left on earth, and endure a great earthquake. This is the “second woe.”)
Scholars believe the “two witnesses” in verse 3 and following are meant to represent Elijah (prophecy) and Moses (law), but more perfectly Christ (who fulfilled the law and the prophets and perfectly represents both) and His Church. Christ and the Body of Christ are the witnesses against the evil that exists.
Some notes on numbers. 42 months is the same as 1,260 days. That’s 3.5 years. Taken symbolically, this is half of 7, or half of completion. This time of prophecy is a time of persecution. Also, three and half days comes up in this passage as well. There’s much too much to handle responsibly here. And this passage, ultimately, is not about the numbers.
Read Revelation 11:15-19
Discussion Questions:
1. Again, what does 7 mean in Revelation? (Completion, perfection.)
2. What does the voice from Heaven say? (That the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of the Lord, and He will reign forever and ever.)
3. In Revelation, it is often said of the Lord that He was and is and is to come. What is missing in this passage? (And is to come.)
4. Why is “and is to come” missing? (Because He has arrived.)
5. Of what is this a picture? (The end. The kingdom has been realized.)
6. Who is seated before God and what are they doing? (The twenty-four elders and they are worshipping the Lord.)
7. What time has come according to verse 18? (For judging the dead and rewarding God’s servants.)
8. What is open? (God’s temple in Heaven.)
MAKING IT REAL (10 minutes)
General Discussion:
• These plagues listed with these trumpets (Especially the first four) are reminiscent of what Old Testament event? (The plagues in Exodus.)
• In Exodus, what were those plagues an exercise in? (God’s judgment.)
• What plague is saved for last in Exodus? (The death of the firstborn son.)
• What did the plagues give Egyptians an opportunity to do? (Repent.)
• Why don’t you think people repent when given the opportunity to do so? (They are prideful, with hardened hearts and selfish ambition, etc.)
Suffering is a great teaching tool. Whether an exercise in God’s judgment or simply trials of life, God gives us time to repent. The lives of the faithful must include the practice of repentance.
General Discussion:
• What does repentance mean? (To turn away from sin, change directions, change your heart, mind, and ways.)
• According to Revelation, how much time do we have to repent? (Until the end.)
• Do you think repentance is a regular practice for believers today? How is repentance different from just feeling sorry? (It requires action, not just an emotion.)
• When was the last time you repented of something? (This may just be something for students to be challenged with privately.)
The seven trumpets are a reminder that God is our judge. Like the other “sevens” they can seem scary on the surface. However, at the end of chapter 11 we read that Heaven awaits those who are faithful.
CLOSING PRAYER (2 minutes)
Ask a student to close you out in prayer.
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