Dr. Pat's Orthodox Super Sunday School Curriculum

Revelation: Four Living Creatures

THE REVELATION

 

Scripture Verse (Rev. 4:8): “The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying, “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!”

 

Objectives:

  1. Students should memorize the verse.
  2. Students should understand the context of these words in the Divine Liturgy.

 

Background of the book:

            The Revelation was written by St. John the Apostle while in exile on the island of Patmos during the fierce persecution of the Emperor Diocletian around AD 95. The early Church believed that the second coming of Jesus Christ was near, especially in these times of persecution. John is reminding them to hold fast their faith in tribulation and assuring them of the ultimate triumph of the Kingdom of God. While chapters 2 and 3 are clearly letters written to individual churches of the day, much of the book is prophetic and is full of vivid and sensational imagery. Because this book can be so easily misinterpreted (and has been in Church history), it is the only book not read publicly in the services of the Orthodox Church.

 

Possible Lesson Plan:

  1. Open with prayer.

 

  1. Review the background of the book. Find Patmos on the map.

 

  1. Read through chapters 2 and 3, assigning one church to each student:

Ephesus                 2:1-7

Smyrna                  2:8-11

Pergamos               2:12-17

Thyatira                 2:18-29

Sardis                    3:1-6

Philadelphia          3:7-13

Laodicea               3:14-22

Find those places which still exist on a map. What is the Lord’s major message to each?

 

  1. Read Revelation 4:6-11: There are Old Testament references to the four living creatures in Ezekiel (1:5,18,21) and Isaiah (6:2). Who are represented in traditional icons in the form of man, lion, calf, and eagle? (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). A long verse to memorize. After reciting it a few times, get your beach ball out and toss back and forth, with each student giving the next word as he receives the ball.