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The Bright and Morning Star: Finding and Following Christ in the Book of Revelation

The Bright and Morning Star: Finding and Following Christ in the Book of Revelation
Author: breckengland
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The book of Revelation has baffled readers for centuries. But Latter-day Saints can understand Revelation in a way no others can--because we have the temple! In fact, the temple is the key to understanding Revelation. Listen every Sunday as we study Revelation through the lens of the temple.
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In 2 Nephi 1:15, Lehi announces to his family that he is "encircled about eternally in the arms of His love." In this episode, we explore the meaning of the Savior's tender embrace in light of temple promises.
1 Nephi recounts the “great tribulation” of Lehi’s family as they cross desert and ocean, echoing the ordeal of mortality that we all experience. But the Lord doesn’t leave them without his “tender mercies,” symbolized by the “L’yah'ona,” the world sphere with the sign of the compass pointing the way to Jehovah and the promise of exaltation.
We close our study of the Book of Revelation with the last few verses. The Lord promises the faithful saints eternal light, the living water. and the tree of life. He says, "I am coming soon!" And with John the Revelator, we say, "Even so, come, Lord Jesus." Thanks for being with us through this series, and we invite you to listen to our next series, "Encircled in the Arms of His Love: The Temple and the Book of Mormon," starting January 14.
Revelation 22:5 says, “And they [the saints] shall reign forever and ever.” Reign over what? Their own family kingdoms. It is this "fulness and continuation of the lives" that makes a man and woman not just a king and queen, priest and priestess, but a god and a goddess. Listen . . .
The last part of Revelation is about a wedding, a sealing between a Bride and a Bridegroom. The highest purpose of the Atonement of Christ is fulfilled in marriage. Remember that atonement means “at-one-ment.” Here husbands and wives unite as “one flesh,” to love and care for each other forever, as if they were “one body” and a “single personality” (see Mt. 19:6). Listen . . .
In Revelation 19, we read, "Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready." In this episode, Dr. Breck England explores the meaning of the "marriage of the Lamb." What does it signify? Who is the "wife who hath made herself ready"?
In Revelation 21, the apostle John sees a giant glittering cube, "the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God." What's that all about, and how does it concern us?
What happens to the faithful once the last judgment is done? Hear what the book of Revelation tells us about that . . .
In Revelation 20:12, John "saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.” What are these books? And what is written there? Listen . . .
We are now in chapter 20 of Revelation. We’re at the end of the Millennium, and in verse 7 we read: “Satan shall be loosed out of his prison.” Why, after a thousand years of peace, would the Lord free the Devil to raise hell again? And what is the great final "battle of Gog and Magog"?
We’re now into chapter 20. Jesus returns to earth and there is something called the first resurrection. Verse 6 says, “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.” So what will these priests and priestesses do for a thousand years?
"Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection. . . . they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years." (Revelation 20:6) Who are these people? What will they be doing for "a thousand years"? Why are they priests? And what will they reign over? Click here to find out . . .
Now the Bridegroom appears on the scene, and John describes him this way: “His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God” (Revelation 19:12–14). What does all that mean?
"Alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come. And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise anymore" (Revelation 18:11). What's THAT all about? Let's listen . . .
“I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls: And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH” (Revelation 17:3–5). Who is she? And what does she mean for us?
One Passover Eve long ago, priests in the ancient temple of Jerusalem were pouring out the atoning blood of a sacrificial lamb on the altar. At that same moment, across the valley in Gethsemane, the same thing was happening! In this episode, priest-angels pour out the sacrificial blood on the earth--to save some and to plague others. Listen here:
In Revelation chapter 14, three heavenly messengers confront the Dragon and his beasts in a contest for the posterity of Adam and Eve. One side offers money and power, the other side offers "the everlasting gospel." Listen to find out what happens!
In Revelation 13, the followers of the Beast receive “a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads." Over the years there has been a lot of speculation about this "mark of the beast" and its name: 666. Listen to find out what that's all about.
“And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast.” (Revelation 13:11-12)
So, what does this monster represent? And why should we care?
In Revelation 13, the apostle John has a vision of a mighty beast rising from the sea "having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns." We're told that it rules over every "kindred, and tongue, and nation." What does this monster represent? And what does it mean for us?