Revelation

OBJECTIVE

To gain a deeper understanding of the seven Epistles in the New Testament that will serve to guide students to a life of righteousness and holiness. This lesson will focus on the book of Revelation and various messages that Christ gave to each of the seven churches.

INTRODUCTION - 5 Minutes

Revelations is a book about the future and about the present. It offers future hope to all believers, especially those who have suffered for their faith, by proclaiming Christ's final victory over evil and the reality of eternal life with Him.

HOLY SCRIPTURE - 5 Minutes

Revelations 2-3

CONTENT (KEY POINTS) - 10 Minutes

The author of this book is St. John, the evangelist. He was the brother of James, and author of the Gospel of John and three epistles.

It was written from a small island called Patmos (Revelation 1:9) 25 miles away from Asia Minor (Turkey) where John was exiled.

The seven churches were located on a major Roman road. A letter carrier would leave the island of Patmos arriving first at Ephesus. He would travel north to Smyrna and Pergamos, turn southeast to Thyatira, and continue on to Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea - in the exact order in which the letters were dictated.

The word "revelation" (apokalupsis in Greek) means "an uncovering" or "unveiling."

It is a prophetic book. It is the only prophetic book in the New Testament. It prophesied on spiritual and heavenly facts that cannot be expressed with a human language.

DISCUSSION (Challenge) - 15 Minutes

The following is an outline from Father Tadros Malaty summarizing the book of Revelation:

"In this book the Holy Spirit accompanies the human soul on the eternal road, revealing to its inner senses how to see, hear, touch and grow stronger until it reaches the eternal wedding."

  • It begins by showing an "open door in heaven" to ascend to it through our Lord Jesus, the Lamb standing as if slain, ... and what do we see?
  • We see first "the state of the Seven Churches," that reveals the extent of the human weakness and how powerful the work of grace in the Church. Here our Lord Jesus comes to announce that He is the only cure to our weaknesses.
  • Then He carries the human soul up as if with a dove's wings, towards eternity, on the road of the cross, the road of pain; to see the Lamb opening "the Seven Seals," proclaiming a state of permanent war between God who cares for His children and Satan who never ceases fighting against the children of God.
  • And we hear "the Seven Trumpets," proclaiming God's warnings to mankind in order not to accept Satan's deception, but to be attached to God. They also proclaim the power of the woman clothed with the Sun, against her enemy the sea monster and whoever he arouses, "the sea beast and the land beast."
  • And you see the "Seven Strokes" to discipline the wrongdoers, that they might repent; revealing the destruction befalling the adulteress and her lovers. Every time the soul discovers a bitterness that prevails mankind or a difficulty that encompasses the faithful, we find that the Person of our Lord Jesus immediately appears in one way or another to encourage, sympathize and strengthen His children in order to accomplish their struggle in peace.
  • At last, the Spirit accompanies the soul into the "Heavenly Jerusalem" to see and get dazzled by what must be for her sake and what God has planned for mankind; as she watches with her eyes, Satan, the enemy of humanity, thrown down into the lake burning with fire.

ACTIVITY (Action) - 25 Minutes

You will need 7 large poster papers for this activity. Hang them on the wall prior to the lesson. Replicate the chart from the attached activity (The 7 Churches Chart) on each poster OR enlarge the chart at a local office supply store and laminate to use again in the future.

After you have given a brief introduction on the book of Revelation, split students into 6 groups.

Each groups will be assigned one of the churches except for the first one because you will model how to complete the chart by filling in the information on the first poster board:

  1. Ephesus (Rev 2:1-7)
  2. Smyrna (Rev 2:8-11)
  3. Pergamum (Rev 2:12-17)
  4. Thyatira (Rev 2:18-29)
  5. Sardis (Rev 3:1-6)
  6. Philadelphia (Rev 3:7-13)
  7. Laodicea (Rev 3:14-22)

Randomly assign which group will get which church. Distribute copies of the activity handout chart The 7 Churches. Tell students that in their groups, they will have 20 mins to skim the bible section in the book of Revelations that corresponds to their assigned church.

Have them fill out the sections on their charts.

When all the groups have completed their charts, have them fill out the information on the large poster papers.

APPLICATION - 10 Minutes

After students have written their information on the poster papers, ask each group to answer the following question and allow 1 student to represent the group when answering:

What was the main message that was given to the church you represented?

CONCLUSION - 5 Minutes

The messages that were given to the seven churches were from Christ Himself. We should listen as Christ warns the churches not to abandon our first love, not to accept false teachings, and to avoid being spiritually lukewarm. Rather be full of hope, knowing that God is in control, Christ's victory is assured, and all who trust Him will be saved.

RESOURCES

PARENTS CORNER/HOMEWORK

Read the rest of the Book of Revelation with their child.

Students will complete the last column of their charts from week 1.

APPENDIX

LESSON ATTACHMENTS

Grade 6 Week 4 Activity (New Testament).pdf