John 11-12

Revelation 11-12 Study Guide – to be discussed March 24
Day 1: Read Revelation 11:1-4, Ezekiel 40:2-5, 43:7-10, D&C 77:15
1. Read Ezekiel 40:2-5 and 43:7-10 with Revelation 11:1-2. Why do you think John was asked to measure the temple and the altar?


2. Using an average of 30 days per month, how many days are in 42 months? About how many years would 42 months be?


3. Read D&C 77:15. Who are the two witnesses described in Revelation 11:3-12? What does sackcloth indicate? Why do you think they are described as both “olive trees” and “candlesticks”?


Day 2: Read Revelation 11:5-10
4. What kind of power do the two witnesses have, as described in Revelation 11:5-6?


5. When will the two witnesses be killed (after what)?


6. What kind of people would be so offended by prophets that they would party over their dead bodies?


Day 3: Read Revelation 11:11-14, Acts 1:9-11
7. List similarities between the death of the two prophets and the death and resurrection of the Savior.


8. Why do you think the witnesses who saw the two prophets rise from the dead were afraid?


9. What did those who were spared death in the earthquake do?


Day 4: Read Revelation 11:15-19 (with footnote 18b), Bible Dictionary entry "Ark of the Covenant"
10. When Jesus returns to rule personally on the earth, how long will his reign last?


11. What is the reward for the servants, prophets and saints who fear God and endure to the end?


12. What did John see and hear as the vision of the heavenly temple was opened to him? Read the Bible Dictionary entry, “Ark of the Covenant.” What did the ark represent?



Day 5: Read Revelation 12:1-5 (with footnote 1a), JST Revelation 12:1-5, D&C 29:36-38, JST Revelation 12:7
[Note: This is the most revised chapter in Revelation by the prophet Joseph Smith in the JST.]
13. What changes to the text of Revelation 12:1-5 are given in the JST? How does the phrase, which is added to Revelation 12:1, help with understanding?


14. Read JST Revelation 12:7. What do the woman and her child represent?*



15. Read D&C 29:36-38. Who or what does the red dragon represent? Why do you think the dragon wants to devour the man-child as soon as he is born?


BONUS: From your knowledge of the New Testament, how did Satan attempt to devour the infant church in the first century AD? How did he try to devour the restored church in this dispensation? How was the child protected?


Day 6: Read Revelation 12:6-11, JST Revelation 12:5-8, D&C 33:5-6
16. How was the woman protected? How does the JST change the last word in Revelation 12:6? Where did Satan and his angels go when they were cast out of heaven?


17. Read D&C 33:5-6. From where did the Lord call forth his church in the latter days?


18. By what two things did the righteous overcome the accuser? How can we use these same two things on a personal basis in order to overcome Satan?



Day 7: Read Revelation 12:12-17, Jacob 5:34-35, 59-61, 75-76, Daniel 7:21-25
19. In an unassisted fight between a woman and a red, seven-headed dragon, whom would you expect to win? What was the woman given in order to escape?


20. Read Jacob 5:34-35, 59-61, 75-76. How did the Lord nourish the woman in the wilderness – or the Church even in apostasy?


21. Who or what helped the woman escape the attack of the serpent? Read Daniel 7:21-25. What is one of the ways Satan wars against the Church?



*From the Institute Manual: “Though at first it may seem confusing to speak of the Church and the kingdom as separate entities, the one giving birth to the other, this in fact is the condition to exist in the Millennium. The Church is a spiritual organization governed by priesthood and revelation. Only those who have covenanted with Christ in the waters of baptism hold membership therein. The kingdom of God is a product of the Church. It is a political organization in which all men who live in the millennial era will belong.
“After Christ comes, all the peoples of the earth will be subject to him, but there will be multitudes of people on the face of the earth who will not be members of the Church; yet all will have to be obedient to the laws of the kingdom of God, for it will have dominion upon the whole face of the earth. These people will be subject to the political government, even though they are not members of the ecclesiastical kingdom which is the Church.
“This government which embraces all the peoples of the earth, both in and out of the Church, is also sometimes spoken of as the kingdom of God, because the people are subject to the kingdom of God which Christ will set up; but they have their agency and thousands will not be members of the Church until they are converted; yet at the same time they will be subject to the theocratic rule.” (Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 1:229.)