REVELATION 20:11–13
After the seventh The earth will be D&C 128:6–7
Some Things We Know about the
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seal is opened, cleansed, and
The books (on earth
BOOK OF REVELATION Christ will return,
and the wicked will
the Millennium
will begin (see and in heaven) from
Because of JOSEPH SMITH be destroyed. D&C 88:89–110). which men will be
In addition, Joseph Smith taught that get hung up on a particular interpretation
judged by their works
sometimes a beast is just a beast. He of a figure described in that vision, we may
REVELATION 20:2 include records related
explained that when John said he saw neglect things that matter most.8
1 NEPHI 22:26 to the salvation of the
REVELATION 7:1–8 beasts in heaven (see Revelation 4:6), what As we study the book of Revelation and
dead.
D&C 77:8–11 Satan will be bound he actually saw were . . . beasts in heaven. take advantage of the wonderful light shed
The four angels and the during the Millennium The Prophet thus demonstrated that at least on it through the Prophet Joseph Smith, we
144,000 servants sealed “because of the righ-
some of John’s descriptions of his visions are can see where we stand in the grand scope
from the tribes of Israel teousness of [Christ’s]
literal while others are figurative.6 He also of the world’s history and of God’s dealings
relate to the work of people.”
explained a principle related to such figures: with His children. Knowing this, we can see
the Restoration and REVELATION 17:5
“Whenever God gives a vision of an the importance of our personal testimony
gathering in the last 1 NEPHI 13:6; 14:10
Because of the image, or beast, or figure of any kind, He of Jesus Christ and of participating fully in
days.
additional light The entity identified always holds Himself responsible to give a His work in the latter days. Then we can
revealed through by John as “Babylon revelation or interpretation of the meaning overcome the world and, with Christ, inherit
Joseph Smith, we
the great, the mother thereof, otherwise we are not responsible all things from the Father (see Revelation
are better able
of harlots and abomi- or accountable for our belief in it. Don’t be 3:21; 21:7). ◼
to understand
nations” is the church afraid of being damned for not knowing
Revelation’s NOTES
RESURRECTION of the devil. This the meaning of a vision or figure, if God 1. See, for instance, Revelation 2:1, footnote a; or
theme of the
or.
warri
Revelation 6:14, footnote a.
church encompasses
victory of Christ has not given a revelation or interpretation 2. For instance, Joseph Smith’s rendering of Revelation
ring
and His Saints RESTORATION all forces opposed to 1:7 (in the Bible appendix) reads: “For behold, he
ue
co of the subject.”7
nq
cometh in the clouds with ten thousands of his
over the devil sa Jesus Christ, His gos-
see saints in the kingdom, clothed with the glory of his
1 John Knowing the interpretation of every detail
and the world. r. pel, and His Church, Father. And every eye shall see him; and they who
wa of mysterious visions is not paramount in pierced him, and all kindreds of the earth shall wail
sees
2 John for there are only two
our study of the scriptures. The mysteries
because of him.” The words added by Joseph Smith
e. churches: the Church (in italics) connect this verse with other scriptur-
min
es fa
3 John se
REVELATION 12:4, 7–9 of the Lamb of God of the prophets’ figurative language are not al teachings about Christ’s Second Coming—for
instance, Matthew 16:27 (“the glory of his Father”)
ath. D&C 29:36–37; the same as the mysteries of God, which and Jude 1:14 (“ten thousands of his saints”).
es de and the church of the
4 John se
hris
t.
76:25–29 3. Bible Dictionary, “Revelation of John.”
rs for C devil. are given to the person who “repenteth and 4. History of the Church, 5:342.
rty
es ma
5 John se
John’s vision briefly
exerciseth faith, and bringeth forth good 5. Of course, as Joseph Smith knew, the first five of the
APOSTASY seven seals deal with past events, but these serve to
harks back to the pre-
works, and prayeth continually without highlight the theme of a purpose or an endpoint to
human history, culminating in the events leading up
mortal war in heaven ceasing” (Alma 26:22). to the Second Coming—well beyond John’s day.
REVELATION 5–8
By demystifying the book of Revelation, 6. In this particular example, the beasts themselves
D&C 77:6–7, 12 “The earth shall pass in order to highlight are literal, representing four individual beasts, while
6 away so as by fire” the ongoing war on the Prophet removed potential distractions John’s description of them contains figurative ele-
ments (multiple eyes and wings) representing their
The seven seals (see D&C 43:32–33). earth between God’s from the weightier matters of the gospel of abstract attributes rather than their appearance (see
represent seven time and Satan’s forces. Jesus Christ. Of course, John’s vision gives Revelation 4:6–8; D&C 77:4).
REVELATION 20:5 7. History of the Church, 5:343.
periods. The final two us important information about the latter 8. Joseph Smith apparently felt this was particularly
deal with our day and D&C 76:81–85 true for missionaries. He said: “Oh, ye elders of
days: the Apostasy and Restoration, the Israel, hearken to my voice; and when you are
beyond. Those who will not be sent into the world to preach, tell those things you
Second Coming of Jesus Christ, His triumph
are sent to tell; preach and cry aloud, ‘Repent ye,
resurrected until after over the devil, His millennial reign, and the for the kingdom of heaven is at hand; repent and
7 the Millennium are
Resurrection and Final Judgment. These
believe the Gospel.’ Declare the first principles,
and let mysteries alone, lest ye be overthrown.
those who will inherit “And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, Never meddle with the visions of beasts and
things can help us as we strive to find the
the telestial kingdom. coming down from God out of heaven” subjects you do not understand” (History of the
(Revelation 21:2). This could refer to the return of
truth and follow the Lord’s will. But if we Church, 5:344).
the city of Enoch (see Moses 7:63).
64 E n s i g n December 2015 65
