During a routine trip to the pediatrician, my six-year-old was working on her BSF lesson.
Walking in, the doctor asked, “What are you working on?”
“My Bible study,” answered my daughter while putting away her BSF lesson.
“Oh! And what are you studying?” she inquired.
“Revelation!”
The pediatrician turned to me in surprise, exclaiming, “Revelation?!? What six-year-old studies Revelation?”
Maybe you’re wondering the same thing. How can children study the book of Revelation? I’d love to tell you three reasons why my husband and I chose to allow our children—who were one, four, six, and ten at the time—to study this often-avoided book through BSF.
1. “These words are trustworthy and true”
(Revelation 22:6)
BSF Kids and Students have always prioritized this biblical truth: God is the hero of every story. While the book of Revelation may seem full of confusing imagery and difficult events, the conclusion is always the same: Jesus can and will make everything right. As my preschoolers went through the BSF Kids study, I appreciated that they always walked away with the truth that Jesus conquers all.
BSF Kids and Students have always prioritized this biblical truth: God is the hero of every story.
When a passage from Revelation was too mature or unclear for little hearts, BSF chose a parallel passage to teach the same truths, but at an age-appropriate level.
In BSF Students, my older children read the same Scripture that the adults read, but their lesson questions focused on what is clearly understood as opposed to grappling with what God has purposely kept a mystery. There were times our older children came to us asking questions about things they read, and we saw these as opportunities to explain what we knew, as well as admit to what we still couldn’t comprehend. We didn’t view this as something to fear or explain away, but as a chance to model our trust in the Lord’s sovereignty and character.
2. “Blessed is the one who reads”
(Revelation 1:3, 22:7)
John begins and ends the book of Revelation with a promise of blessings. He states that the one who hears, the one who reads aloud, and the one who takes to heart what is written in this book will be blessed. John also opens the book with a unique assurance that what he has written is from Jesus, given by God, to be shown to Jesus’s servants.
I don’t have to wonder what my child will get out of studying Revelation because John, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, has assured me that we will get God’s blessings. I will not withhold from my children the good that God intends from the reading and studying of this book. He had Revelation written with them in mind.
3. “Only he is worthy”
(Revelation 4:11)
A good friend once taught some of our children to ride a bike. She held the back of the bike and the handlebar while running alongside, repeatedly reminding them that they needed to look up to stay balanced. “If you look down, you’ll get wobbly,” she warned. Even after she let go, she kept reminding them to look up; when they got nervous and looked down, they would start to fall. While the metaphor isn’t perfect, it’s the same for us. To live an abundant life on earth, our children need to be trained to look up at Jesus.
To live an abundant life on earth, our children need to be trained to look up at Jesus.
The world wants us to look in, look down, and look around for fulfillment, but the book of Revelation demonstrates that creation is most satisfied in the presence of our Savior. Revelation teaches us that to live life abundantly here on earth, we need to keep our eyes and hearts fixed on Jesus. He is coming soon to condemn sin and bring His children home to spend eternity with Him.
Scripture says that every knee will bow in heaven and on earth one day, but what a blessing to choose to bend our hearts and knees to Him now. He deserves to be glorified now as much as He will deserve all glory when sin has been removed. I want my children to know what reverence looks like, and Revelation gives us a beautiful glimpse.
Lord willing, our family of seven (we had one more child in 2017) will study the book of Revelation again in September. As a mom who prays for her children to place their hope in Christ alone, I can’t think of a timelier study than Revelation: The Hope.