“Revelation 15–22,” New Testament Institute Teacher Manual (2025)
The Last Judgment, by John Scott
Revelation 15–22
In his vision, John saw the fall of spiritual Babylon. He saw the glory of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. In addition, John witnessed the blessings of exaltation for those who keep God’s commandments. John also saw that the righteous people on the earth and those of the First Resurrection will enjoy a thousand years of peace in the Millennium. The earth will receive its celestial glory and become the eternal home for the righteous.
Additional Resources
Scripture Helps: New Testament, “Revelation 15–22”
Note: The “Introduction to the Course” provides guidance on how to use the four standard lesson elements that follow.
Encouraging Personal Study
Before class, consider sending students one or more of the following messages or some of your own:
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Have you ever wondered why we are told to get out of Babylon, an ancient city that no longer exists? Read Revelation 17:1–7, 12–14; 18:1–4 to learn more about Babylon.
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What do you think the Final Judgment will be like? Study Revelation 20:11–15, looking for how the Savior will judge us.
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Do you ever worry about the future? Read Revelation 21–22, looking for what you can know for certain about the future.
Questions and Sharing
Provide time for students to ask questions and share insights and truths they discovered in their personal study of Revelation 15–22.
Skill Training
Revelation 17:1–7 might be a helpful place to use the skill “Understanding the Scriptures in Context” in Scripture Study Skills. You could also practice the skill “Maintaining Doctrinal Balance” in Scripture Study Skills when studying Revelation 20:11–15.
Learning Activity Options
Multiple learning options are provided for you and your students. Prayerfully choose which option or options will be most meaningful for your class.
Revelation 17:1–7, 12–14; 18:1–4
How can I overcome the influence of Babylon in my life?
You could sing, listen to, or read verse 1 of “Israel, Israel, God Is Calling” (Hymns, no. 7) and verse 1 of “Ye Elders of Israel” (Hymns, no. 319). Then have students read Revelation 18:1–4 and Doctrine and Covenants 133:5.
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Why do these verses talk about people in our day getting out of Babylon, when the city of Babylon was destroyed thousands of years ago?
Explain that to understand the symbolism of Babylon in John’s revelation and other scriptures, it helps to understand the historical context of Babylon in the ancient world (see the skill “Understanding the Scriptures in Context” in Scripture Study Skills). Students could read “Revelation 17–18. Why is Babylon a symbol of wickedness?” in Scripture Helps: New Testament to better understand the historical context for Babylon.
With this context in mind, invite students to read Revelation 17:1–7, 12–14 and identify symbols that indicate the wickedness of Babylon.
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What do you learn about Babylon from these symbols? (If students need help with imagery of Babylon as a harlot, they could read “Revelation 17:4–5. Why did John describe Babylon as ‘the mother of harlots’?” in Scripture Helps: New Testament.)
Invite students to think about examples of Babylon that are prevalent in our day or that they witness on a regular basis.
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What do you learn about the Savior from the titles John wrote in verse 14? (From this verse, students could identify a truth like the following: Jesus Christ—the Lamb of God, the Lord of lords, the King of kings—overcomes all wickedness represented by Babylon.)
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How do you think this truth can help you overcome the wickedness you confront?
Remind students of the hymns and verses you read at the beginning of class about leaving Babylon and coming to Zion. (If necessary, you could explain that Zion is the scriptural opposite of Babylon. Zion refers to “the pure in heart” [Doctrine and Covenants 97:21] as well as a geographic place.)
To help students study and better understand the Savior’s direction to leave Babylon (see Revelation 18:4; Doctrine and Covenants 133:5), consider sharing the following statement by Elder D. Todd Christofferson. You could divide students into small groups to read the statement and discuss the question that follows.
To come to Zion, it is not enough for you or me to be somewhat less wicked than others. We are to become not only good but holy men and women. Recalling Elder Neal A. Maxwell’s phrase, let us once and for all establish our residence in Zion and give up the summer cottage in Babylon. (“Come to Zion,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2008, 39)
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What do you think Elder Maxwell meant when he referred to establishing our residence in Zion and giving up “the summer cottage in Babylon”?
After students discuss together, you could give them time to ponder on their own how they might be maintaining a summer cottage in Babylon—in other words, how they might be focusing too much on worldly things.
After giving students time to ponder, you could invite them to reverently ponder how they could more fully establish their residence in Zion.
How will God judge me?
You could begin by displaying the following scenario:
Imagine you have a friend named Joel who has been thinking a lot about life after death since a close family member died in an accident. Turning to the Bible for comfort, he read Revelation 20:11–15. This passage about the Final Judgment made him upset. When you ask why he is upset, he says, “I am in so much trouble. If God were to judge me today by my works, I would end up in hell. I have done some really bad things. I don’t think I can ever do enough good things to get to heaven.”
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What misunderstandings might Joel have about the Final Judgment?
Invite students to use the handout “Understanding the Final Judgment” to better understand the Final Judgment. This activity will help students practice the skill “Maintaining Doctrinal Balance” in Scripture Study Skills.
After giving students time to study, invite them to prepare a brief message that could give Joel a more complete, balanced, and hopeful understanding of the Final Judgment. Then invite them to take turns sharing the message they prepared for Joel. They could do this in small groups or as a class.
After students have shared their messages, you could discuss the following questions as a class:
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What gospel truths helped you to better understand the Final Judgment? (Students may identify truths like the following: We will each be judged by Jesus Christ. We will be judged according to our works and the desires of our hearts. The Final Judgment will reveal the effect of our acts and thoughts—what we have become. Jesus Christ is a righteous judge.)
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Why can you trust Jesus Christ to be your judge?
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How can having a more complete and balanced understanding of the Final Judgment inspire you to repent and do better?
You could give students time to ponder what type of person they are becoming. Students could think of something they could start or stop doing so they can become the type of person the Lord wants them to become.
Improving Our Teaching and Learning
Creating opportunities for students to receive revelation. To survive spiritually, those you teach will need personal revelation through the Holy Ghost. Look for ways to help students learn how the Spirit communicates with them. Give them plenty of time to ponder and write about what the Holy Ghost teaches them.
How can I face the future with faith?
You could display the following image:
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How could this image be a metaphor for your life?
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What is unknown about your future?
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How can worrying about the future influence your daily life?
Explain that John saw in vision the kingdom of God’s triumphant destiny. You could display the following summary and provide a brief overview of these events.
Invite students to read Revelation 21; 22:1–5 on their own or with a partner, pausing to discuss verses that interest them. Have students mark phrases, events, or truths that teach what we can know with certainty about the future.
After giving students time to search, invite them to share what they found. After students share their insights, consider asking:
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Based on John’s vision, what does the Lord want you to know about your future? (Students may identify a truth like the following: If I am obedient and faithful to Jesus Christ, I will be blessed with celestial glory.)
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How can knowing this truth influence your feelings about the future?
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How can Jesus Christ help you to be faithful as you face the future?
Consider sharing the following statement by President Jeffrey R. Holland:
The future of this world has long been declared; the final outcome between good and evil is already known. There is absolutely no question as to who wins because the victory has already been posted on the scoreboard. The only really strange thing in all of this is that we are still down here on the field trying to decide which team’s jersey we want to wear! (in John Bytheway, When Times Are Tough: 5 Scriptures That Will Help You Get through Almost Anything [2004], 30–31, quoted in Amy Carlin, “Put On the Jersey,” The Daily [podcast], Aug. 13, 2024, ChurchofJesusChrist.org)
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What might President Holland mean by team jerseys? (Help students understand that the jersey we wear can symbolize our commitments and priorities.)
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What are some examples of team jerseys young adults might wear?
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How can you know if you have made being on the Lord’s team your highest priority?
Invite students to ponder how they can make the Savior their highest priority. They could share blessings and challenges that have come from choosing to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. You can testify that we can achieve celestial glory if we strive to be faithful to Jesus Christ.