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Here is a detailed and documented analysis of the most challenging book of the Bible, prepared by a Bible scholar with a Master of Arts degree in the Old and New Testaments from Brigham Young University.
John's Revelation extends from before the creation to the end of this earth's temporal existence. This taped discussion covers the pre-mortal war in heaven, John's messages to the Churches in his day, explanations of the angelic trumps, and the opening of the seven seals.
Drawing numerous interpretive insights from other LDS scriptures, it deals with the terrible plagues of the last days, the "beast" who will oppose the Lord's work, and implications of the prophetic number 666. It also describes the temple to be built in Jerusalem, the Battle of Armageddon, the fate of the great and abominable church, the fall and destruction of Rome, the second coming of Christ, the first and second resurrections, the millennium, the Battle of Gog and Magog, the great "White Throne" judgment, the eventual dissolution of the temporal earth, the descent of the Old and New Jerusalems, and eternal life in the "new heaven and the new earth."
The dramatic painting for the cover was prepared by Crystal Dutson.
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A Promised Blessing
1. Rev. 3:1 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein.
Overview of the Book of Revelation
2. Rev. 1:3 The time is at hand.
3. Rev. 4:1 I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.
Book of Mormon Prophecies of John the Revelator
4. 1 Nephi 11-15 Nephi's panoramic preview: more than 70 events.
5. 1 Nephi 14:18-28 John shall write about the end of the world.
6. Ether 4:13-16 John's revelations unfolded when Israel ends its unbelief.
Background on John the Revelator
John received his revelation while a prisoner on Patmos. He was a banished Roman subject in his late 80's or early 90's at the time. He spent 18 months there.
Visions of the Resurrected Christ
7. Rev. 1:12-19 John's vision of the resurrected Jesus. (See Rev. 1:20, Heb. 4:12, D & C 110:1-4.)
Messages to the Seven Churches
8. Rev. 2:1-7 (Ephesus), 2:8-11 (Smyrna), 2:12-17 (Pergamos), 2:18-29 (Thyatira), 3:1-6 (Sardis), 3:7-13 (Philadelphia) 3:14-22 (Laodicea).
9. Rev. 2:17, D & C 130:9-11. Rev. 3:12,3:4, 1:6 (Rev. 5:10,20:6) Allusions to the temple ceremony and related explanations.
A Vision of the Throne of God
10. Rev. 4 explained. D & C 77 is an important key to Revelation.
11. Rev. 4:10-11 The 24 elders, sea of glass, four beasts explained (see D & C 77:1-5).
12. Rev. 5 explained. The book and seven seals (see D & C 77:6-7).
13. Rev. 5:5-6, 22:16 Christ the lion of Juda.
14. Rev. 5:9-10, 12-13 Christ is worthy and has redeemed us.
Major Events of the First Six Thousand Years
15. Rev. 6 explained. Representative events from each of the earth's first six thousand-year periods. (See D & C 77:6-7).
16. Rev. 6:2 (Adam-Enoch, Gen. 5), 6:3-4 (Noah and the flood), 6:5-6 (Joseph and the famine), 6:7-8 (conquests of Assyria, Babylonia, Rome), 6:9-11 (martyrdom of early Christians), 6:12 (future earthquake in the sixth thousand years, 6:16-17).
The Sealing of the 144,000
17. Rev. 7 explained. Destroying angels restrained while 144,000 high priests are sealed.
(See D & C 77:8-11.) Rev. 7:14, 15-17.
Seven Trumpets and Last-days Plagues
18. Rev. 8 explained. Judgments after the opening of the seventh seal. (See D & C 77:12.)
The angels sound their trumps.
19. Rev. 8:1, 2 Pet. 3:8 Silence in heaven for half an hour.
20. D & C 43:17-26 A parallel passage to Rev. 8.
21. Rev. 8:9-11 Judgments upon the waters. (See D & C 61:14-15.)
22. Rev. 9 explained. (See D & C 77:13.) Judgments continued.
23. Rev. 9:13-21 War beginning at the River Euphrates.
24. Rev. 9:20-21 Men repented not.
The Mission to Gather the Tribes of Israel
25. Rev. 10 explained. John's mission to gather the tribes of Israel. (See D & C 77:14.)
26. Rev. 10:11, John 21:22, HC 1:176 John to tarry till Christ comes; laboring among the ten tribes.
The Battle of Armageddon
27. Rev. 11 explained. The Battle of Armageddon. (See Ezek. 37-39, Zech. 12-14.)
28. Rev. 11:2-12 Jerusalem to be attacked, two prophets to prophesy (see D & C 77:15).
Satan's Continuing War With the Church
29. Rev. 12 explained. The woman (Christ's church), the child (the kingdom of God), and the manchild (Christ) are identified.
30. Rev. 12:4, 7-10 A flashback: the premortal war in heaven.
31. Rev. 12:6, 14 The church functioning in the spirit world during the period of the apostasy.
32. Rev. 12:12, 17 Warnings of Satan's war against the Saints.
Satan's Last-days Persecutions of the Saints
33. Rev. 13 explained. Satan's efforts to overcome the Saints in the last days are prophesied.
34. Rev. 13:7-8 Satan will overcome those whose names aren't written in the book of life of the Lamb.
35. Rev. 13:16-18 The mark of the beast and the number 666.
Visions of Events Immediately Preceding God's Final Judgments Upon the Earth
36. Rev. 14 explained. Angels announce events in connection with Christ's second coming.
37. Rev. 14:1-5 Christ and the 144,000 assembled on Mt. Zion. (See D & C 133:17-18.)
38. Rev. 14:6-7 An angel announces that the hour of God's judgment is come. (See D & C 133:36-38, 27:5, 20:8-9.)
39. Rev. 14:8 The second angel proclaims the fall of a great city called Babylon.
40. Rev. 14:9-12 The third angel warns that those who worship the beast or receive his mark will suffer torment.
41. Rev. 14:13 Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord.
42. Rev. 14:14 Angels tell the Lord it is time to harvest the earth. Rev. 15 explained. Events in heaven in preparation for Christ's coming.
43. Rev. 15:2-4 The righteous sing praises to the Lamb, saying that his judgments are just and true and are made manifest.
44. Rev. 15:6-8 Angels are sent to pour out their judgments.
45. Rev. 16 explained. This chapter appears to be a restatement of the judgments described in chapters 8 and 9.
46. Rev. 16:18-21 The most destructive earthquake since men were on the earth is prophesied.
The Destruction of Rome
47. Rev. 17 explained. It gives the scenario for the destruction of Rome explained in chapter 18.
48. Rev 17:1 The judgment of the great whore to be shown.
49. Rev. 17:3 The woman (17:18, a great city), 17:1 many waters (17:15, peoples and multitudes), 17:8 the beast is no longer in existence, 17:3, seven heads (17:9, seven mountains upon which the city sits), 17:3 ten horns (17:12-14, ten kings who will rise up for a short time and will make war with the Lamb), 18:17-18 the city is located close to an ocean.
50. 1 Pet. 5:13 Peter refers to Rome as Babylon.
51. Rev. 17:16 The ten kings will hate the whore (the city) and burn her with fire.
52. Rev. 18 explained. The fall and destruction of the city is prophesied.
53. Rev. 18:2-3 All the nations have drunk of her fornication.
54. Rev 18:8 Plagues, death and famine come in one day.
55. Rev. 18:10 In one hour is thy judgment come.
56. Rev. 18:21 The great city will be thrown down and shall be found no more at all.
57. 1 Nephi 22:13-14 The nations that fight against Israel will turn one on another and war among themselves. The whore shall be destroyed. (See 1 Nephi 14:3-4, 9-17; 2 Nephi 6:12-18.)
The Coming of the Lord in Glory
58. Rev. 19:11-16 Christ comes in glory, seated on a white horse, and dressed in red, followed by the armies of heaven.
59. D & C 133:46-53 The Lord shall be red in his apparel.
60. Rev. 19:7-8 The marriage of the Lamb.
61. Rev. 19:17-19 The supper of the great God.
62. Mt. 24:21-31 They shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
63. D & C 88:84-116 Details of the Lord's coming in glory.
Satan is Bound
64. Rev. 20 explained. Events before and after Christ's millennial reign.
65. Rev. 20:1-3 Satan to be bound and cast out.
66. 1 Nephi 22:26 Because of righteousness Satan has no power.
67. Rev. 20:4-6 The first resurrection, of the righteous.
68. Rev. 20:7-10 The Battle of Gog and Magog: a conflict at the end of the millennium when Satan is finally defeated.
69. D & C 88:110-116 Another description: the battle of the great God.
70. Rev. 20:11-12 The final judgment.
71. D & C 128:6-7 The dead to be judged from the books.
72. Rev. 20:13 The second resurrection, of the wicked who have been in hell.
73. D & C 76:98-112 A description of those who will inherit the telestial kingdom.
74. D & C 88:18-24 There is a kingdom which is not a kingdom of glory.
75. D & C 76:25-38 The sons of perdition described.
The New Heaven and the New Earth
76. Rev. 21 explained. Events which will take place as the earth passes away and is recreated as a celestial kingdom.
77. D & C 88:25-26 The earth will be quickened and the righteous shall inherit it.
78. Ether 13:8-12 The earth shall pass away, and all things will become new.
79. Rev. 21:2-5 The descent of the New Jerusalem.
80. Rev. 21:10-27 The description of the holy Jerusalem.
81. Ether 13:9-12 The descent of both cities is described.
82. Rev. 21:10 The descent of the holy Jerusalem.
83. Rev. 21:16 The holy Jerusalem will be cube-shaped: 1,500 miles long, wide, and high.
84. Rev. 21:3-5 The status of those who attain eternal glory with God.
85. Rev. 21:6-7 The righteous shall inherit all things.
86. Rev. 21:21-26 A description of life in the celestial kingdom.
87. Rev. 22:1-5 A description of life in the celestial kingdom.
Exalted Beings Will Reign as Joint Heirs With Christ
88. Rev. 3:21 The righteous will sit with Christ in his throne.
89. Rom. 8:16-19 The righteous will be joint-heirs with Christ.
90. Gal. 4:4-7 An heir of God through Christ.
91. 1 Cor. 3:21-23 All are yours, and ye are Christ's, and Christ is God's.
92. 1 Cor. 15:22-28 Christ will subdue all things, then be subject unto God.
93. D & C 76:106-119 All shall bow the knee to Christ and receive his own dominion in the mansions which are prepared.
John's Warning About Altering His Words
94. Rev. 22:18-19 If any man shall add unto these things, God will add unto him the plagues written in this book.
95. Deut. 12:32, 4:2 Don't add to the book of Deuteronomy.
Conclusion and Testimony
96. Rev. 22:6-17 These sayings are faithful and true. Blessed is he that keeps the prophecy of this book. Christ will come quickly.
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