Revelation Moving Parts It's Your Move Road Work and Trek Groups Gather in the gym. Welcome, & introductions Ask for someone to make the announcements. (See if anyone knows what's going on?)   Which Way Are We Moving Work Zone & High Way Begin with a large group&ldots;  Move to fellowship hall. Show the over view Power Point of the Book of Revelation. Pause for light discussion as the slides progress.   Break into Journey Groups   Moving In Work Zone & High Way 'Divide and Conquer' SAY: Revelation may seem to be 22 chapters of complex symbolism, but it is not. Chapters 1-5 are effectively an introduction, and chapters 19-22 are a narrative of what happens after Christ returns. That leaves the middle 14 chapters for all kinds of symbolism. The First Five Chapters: Chapter 1 is the introduction - John sees a vision of Jesus, and is commanded to write what he sees. Nothing complicated here. Chapters 2-3 are letters to the seven churches in Asia. No predictive prophecy here. Chapter 4 is where John is introduced to the heavenly throne of God, and chapter 5 introduces the book with seven seals, which only the Lion of Judah is worthy to open. There is some wonderful symbolism here. It does not take a great Bible scholar to see that the lion of Judah is Jesus Christ.   Moving In Road Work & High Way Can anyone name a Hollywood movie that revolves around the theme of Revelation? Describe what happens in the movie and what makes it similar. Some examples:     Independence Day    Armageddon    Deep Impact    Water World    The Fifth Element    Micheal   Moving on Work Zone  Clumps Say: By listening closly and moving quickly you can survive this game.  We are going to play a game called clumps. When I say "Go" everyone should walk around near each other. I'll shout a number and a body part, you then quickly get in groups with as many people as I say and touch that body part with the others. For example, if I call out three elbows you get in groups of three and touch elbows. Play a few rounds.   Moving on High Way The Main Four Chapters Chapter 6 - The Seven Seals: In chapter 5, it seems that the seven seals are the main feature of the Book of Revelation. The simplest explanation of the seven seals is that they represent the seven thousand years of earth's sacred history. Chapter 7 - The Sealing of the Twelve Tribes: Throughout the Old Testament, God promised that he would not forget his covenant people, Israel. Here is the fulfillment of that. The ones who are known by their tribe are not some special group of Jews, but are simply described as the faithful believers (v.13-14) - presumably Christians.   Moving on High Way The Discussion Ask:    How do you rate our society? The world? >>>>Take a poll and come to a group consensus on this question.    Are we experiencing the plagues right now?    Are we supposed to figure out revelation in order to survive through the second coming?    What about peer pressure and its influence on Christianity?    What do you struggle most with regarding Revelation?    Why is it hard to decide what's right and wrong?    What warnings if any would you have for others?   Moving up Work Zone  Armageddon Wink Um This game is played just like regular Wink Um except the ones standing behind the seated may follow their "pray" across the circle until they touch the winker. Start with a circle of seated girls and have the boys stand behind the girls with one boy having an open seat in front of them. The one with the open seat tries to wink at a girl to single her to try to reach the chair of the winker with out being tagged by the boy behind and chasing her. Play a few rounds then switch boys to the seats and have the girls behind them. Before you start the second round ask the following question:    How is this game like the Book of Revelation? Wait for some answers then play again.   Moving up High Way Chapters 8-9 - The Seven Trumpets: The seven trumpets are almost identical to the seven bowls (or vials) that are discussed later. (Only the first one is described differently). Therefore the simplest explanation is that the trumpets and the bowls describe the same events. The trumpets (various plagues) take place at the opening of the seventh seal -e.g. the start of the seventh thousand years of people on Earth. The plagues climax in a great battle. Many people think that 9:17-19 is John's efforts to describe modern war machinery. In these four chapters (Revelation 6 through 9) we have pretty much the entire history of the world, from the point of view of mankind's trials. The rest of Revelation simply returns to key issues, shows the history of the church over the same period, and shows what will happen when Jesus returns and after. It really isn't very complicated, as you can see.   Moving out Work Zone  A Sticky Situation Creatively divide into two teams. The idea here is for each team to move marshmallows in a relay race. The course can be as complicated or simple as needed. First move the marshmallow from the table using only a toothpick in your mouth and carry it as quickly as possible to another table, depositing it on the table toothpick included. If it falls on the floor at any point it must be picked up using only the toothpick and mouth. First to stick and move the marshmallow with every member wins. Then continue  Looking at the Heavens  Next race; pick up the marshmallow from the table using only a straw in your mouth on the "Spikes" (Players may use their elbow if needed to keep the mallow from moving). The straw is not allowed to stick in the marshmallow. The toothpick should act as a good device to slide into the straw and keep the marshmallow balance at the top. The carrying position will be head tilted back, straw in the mouth marshmallow setting on top of the straw for the ride. It should be carried as quickly as possible to another table, and deposited on the table. If it falls on the floor at any point it must be picked up using only the toothpick in the marshmallow, the straw in the mouth and elbow if needed.   Moving out High Way  Chapter 11 - The Church at the Very End: Now John carries on with the last trumpet - the very end. The Beast had unopposed power for 1260 years, the two witnesses' mission ends in Jerusalem with resurrection and rising to heaven, then a great earthquake, and the Second Coming of Christ. Chapter 12 - The Church at an Earlier Time: This chapter talks about the church and the fight of the church against evil. It is jumping back in time giving a general overview of the most important points. The "woman" is a well-established symbol for the church. The rest of this chapter describes evil trying to destroy the (church) woman and her child (the leaders of the church). A Note on Chronology, and the War in Heaven: People are sometimes confused by the chronology - did the war in heaven happen after the events with the church on earth? It is two parallel stories: one on earth, and one on heaven. The war in heaven, took place before human history. The Flood of Water (12:15 and on): The dragon could not kill the woman, even though he killed her man child and other offspring. Chapters 13 to 16 - The Beast, etc: These chapters end with the bowls of God's wrath (like the earlier trumpets), and it seems that we now get to see it from the point of view of the church. Chapter 13 - The Beast, Again: Briefly, the beast is probably Rome and its successors. The second beast is probably the modern world economy, based on the Greek/Roman ideas of democracy for the elite, pride, and the pursuit of wealth and power. Chapter 14 - Angels Harvest the Earth: After the power of the beast, we have the return of the church. The destruction of the vine after the harvest is presumably another reference to Armageddon, which helps to date this chapter - after the fall of the beast, but before the final war. Chapter 15 - The End Again, From Heaven's Point of View: A short chapter showing what is happening in heaven at this point. Chapter 16 - The Trumpets Again, and What Comes Next: Continuing the account of what we already saw in chapters 6-9, but from the church's point of view, we have the seven plagues again. This time they are described as coming from bowls, and since we have now seen something of the beast, the first plague is seen in terms of its effect on the beast. Chapter 17-18 - Flashback to Details About Babylon: This Chapter shows more detail about the fate of the beast.  The Last Four Chapters: After the bulk of the prophecy is completed, chapter 19 describes the second coming of the Lord, chapter 20 shows the millenium and judgement, and chapters 21 and 22 show the final state, the "new heavens and new earth", together with a final few verses to wind it all up.   Come back together in the FLC   Closing Work Zone & High Way The Leader Closes: Sit in a circle, use candle light and ask for any prayer concerns, sum up - Fear & Faith.   UMYF Benediction to close.