Difference between revisions of "Revelation"

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Home > The New Testament > Revelation

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This page would ideally always be under construction. You are invited to contribute.

Summary

This section should be very brief. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

Relationship to New Testament. The relationship of Revelation to the New Testament as a whole is discussed at ____.

Story. Revelation is treated here in nine major sections:

• Rev 1: John's commission. John is told that Christ will come, and he is shown this vision in order to write it to the seven churches.

• Rev 2-3: The church as it exists in the world. This section portrays the imperfect condition of the church today in a world where Babylon rules.

• Rev 4-7: God and Christ praised by the righteous; the first six seals opened. This section emphasizes that God and Christ are in control of history. This section also describes the imperfect condition of the earth during the time of the first six seals while the kings of the earth rule.

• Rev 8-11: Transition to seventh seal: Seven trumpets sound. This section describes transitional events near the beginning of the seventh seal rather than long term conditions. Seven angels sound trumpets initiating tribulations, but the wicked do not repent.

• Rev 12-14: The conflict between the dragon and the Lamb. This section looks back to Satan's rebellion in the premortal world and his being cast out from heaven. The conflict here in mortality between good and evil is portrayed as a continuation of Lucifer's opposition to God.

• Rev 15-16: Transition to seventh seal: Seven bowls poured out. This section also describes transitional events near the beginning of the seventh seal rather than long term conditions. Seven angels pour out bowls initiating tribulations, but still the wicked do not repent.

• Rev 17-20: Seventh seal: Christ conquers the dragon and reigns on the earth. This section relates Christ's conquest of the dragon, including Babylon. This section also describes the perfect conditions that will prevail during the Millennium. At the end of the Millennium Satan will be loosed for a little season before he is permanently defeated.

• Rev 21-22a: The church as it will exist at the end of time. The description in this section of the New Jerusalem portrays the perfect condition of God's people when Christ rules rather than Babylon.

• Rev 22b: John's commission. John is again told that Christ will come and that he is to write this vision to the churches.

Message. Themes, symbols, and doctrinal points emphasized in Revelation include:

• Christ will return in a Second Coming.

• Christ will conquer Satan and Babylon.

• God will reward those who are faithful to him, while those who belong to Babylon will suffer.

Historical setting

This section should be brief and explain facts about the historical setting that will help a reader to understand the book. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

Discussion

This section is for detailed discussion such as the meaning of a symbol, how a doctrinal point is developed throughout a passage, or insights that can be further developed in the future. Contributions may range from polished paragraphs down to a single bullet point. The focus, however, should always be on understanding the scriptural text consistent with LDS doctrine. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

Relation to other scriptures

Several other books of scripture shed light on Revelation.

• D&C 77. Section 77 consists entirely of keys to the interpretation of Revelation. For those who accept the prophetic calling of Joseph Smith, it is foolish to study Revelation without the benefit of the answers provided in D&C 77. In fact, the wiki page discussing D&C 77 suggests that most discussion of that section should actually occur here on the wiki pages that address Revelation.

• Daniel 2, 7-8. Daniel contains three of the better known Biblical prophecies regarding the sweep of history: (1) the vision of the statute in Daniel 2 (discussion); (2) the vision of four beasts in Daniel 7 (discussion); and (3) the vision of two beasts in Daniel 8 (discussion). There is broad consensus, both LDS and non-LDS, informed by modern day hindsight, about the interpretation of these three visions. It can be helpful, before studying Revelation and its beasts, to become familiar with the use of beasts in Daniel as representations of earthly kingdoms.

• First Nephi 11-14. D&C 77:7 explains that the seven seals in Revelation each represent a single thousand year period of the earth's history since Adam and Eve. The broad consensus is that this means four seals BC, two seals so far AD, and a third Millennial seal to come in the future. Using this framework, the description of Nephi's vision in First Nephi 11-14 (discussion) covers roughly 600 BC to 2,000 AD, or in other words covers the fourth through sixth seals. When Nephi's vision reaches the seventh seal, however, Nephi is told not to write any more, and that John will write the rest of the vision (here in Revelation). (1 Ne 14:18-28). John, on the other hand, spends only two verses on each of the first four seals (Rev 6:1-8), three verses on the fifth seal (Rev 6:9-11), about a chapter on the sixth seal (6:12-7:8), and most of the remainder of his book on the seventh seal. Since Nephi explicitly describes the record of his vision as being a complementary prologue to Revelation, it can make sense to read First Nephi 11-14 prior to Revelation.

• Ezekiel. Revelation owes the most to Ezekiel's prophecy. The most obvious parallel is that both end with descriptions of the eternal city, the temple, and fountains of water. But comparative outlines have been proposed for the entire books of Ezekiel and Revelation. Ezekiel cannot be tackled by a Sunday School teacher as merely one of many supplementary materials reviewed in the course of just a week or two. But for personal study that is not on a deadline, Ezekiel and Revelation can be fruitfully studied side by side.

• Prophecies of the signs of the times. Several other passages of scripture address the signs of the times that occur at the beginning of the seventh seal. Among the more prominent passages are: (1) the Olivet Discourse of Matthew 24-25 (discussion), Joseph Smith-Matthew (discussion), D&C 45 (discussion), and Luke 13 (discussion); (2) Malachi 3-4 (discussion) and Third Nephi 24-25 (discussion); and (3) D&C 29 (discussion), D&C 86 (discussion), D&C 88 (discussion), and D&C 133 (discussion).

• Joseph Smith Translation. The Joseph Smith Traslation made changes to the following verses in Revelation. This list is complete.^[1] The text of all changes is included in the Wayment reference below. The text of most changes is included in the footnotes to the LDS Edition of the King James Translation (linked here, select "show footnotes"). Changes not included in the LDS Edition footnotes are italicized (not yet done): Rev 1:1-8, 12, 16, 20 • Rev 2:1, 8, 12, 18-19, 22, 26-27 • Rev 3:1-2, 5, 7, 12, 14 • Rev 4:1, 4-6, 9-10 • Rev 5:1-2, 6 • Rev 6:1, 6, 14 • Rev 7:2, 4 • Rev 8:12 • Rev 9:1, 11, 14, 16 • Rev 10:4 • Rev 12:1-9, 11-17 • Rev 13:1 • Rev 16:7 • Rev 17:17 • Rev 19:2, 5, 10-13, 15-16, 18, 21 • Rev 20:1, 6 • Rev 22:9.

Symbols

• Numbers.

• Seven. The number seven is routinely used in Revelation to indicate completion or perfection.

• Six. The number six, one less than seven, is used in Revelation to indicate the opposite of perfection, namely evil.

• Three and a half. The number three and a half is also used to indicate the opposite of perfection. Periods of three and a half times (time, times, and half a time) or three and a half years (1260 days = 42 months of 30 days each = 3.5 years) often represent temporary conditions, especially periods of tie during which evil prevails.

Beatitudes

• Revelation contains seven beatitudes.

• Rev 1:3. "Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand."

• Rev 14:13. "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: ... they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them."

• Rev 16:15. "Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame."

• Rev 19:9. "Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb."

• Rev 20:6. "Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years."

• Rev 22:7. "Blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book."

• Rev 22:14. "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the [holy] city."

Outline and page map

This section contains an outline for the entire book. Items in blue or purple text indicate hyperlinked pages that address specific portions of the book. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

A. John's commission (Chapter 1 / Verses 1:1-20)

B. The church as it exists in the world (Chapters 2-3)

• 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)

C. God and Christ worshiped by the righteous; the first six seals opened (Chapters 4-7)

• Scene in heaven: God and Christ praised by 24 elders and 4 beasts (4:1-5:14)

• God upon his throne in heaven worshiped by 24 elders and 4 beasts as the creator (4:1-11)
• Christ praised as the one able to open the book with 7 seals (5:1-14)

• the book in God's hand with 7 seals that only Christ can open (5:1-7)
• Christ praised as as the Redeemer of all who is worthy to open the book (5:8-14)

• Scene on earth: Christ opens the first six seals of the book (6:1-7:8)

• 1st-4th seals: four horsemen bringing conquest, warfare, famine, and death (6:1-8)
• 5th seal: martyrs under the altar (6:9-11)
• 6th seal (6:12-7:8)

• the earth in physical commotion, the great hide from the day of wrath (6:12-17)
• before the four angels hurt the earth, 144,000 righteous are sealed (7:1-8)

• Scene in heaven: God and Christ praised by the numerous righteous (7:9-17)

• God and Christ praised by multitudes and by those in heaven (7:9-12)
• those praising God before his throne are the righteous tried in adversity (7:13-17)

D. Transition to seventh seal: Seven trumpets sound (Chapters 8-11)

• censer with prayers of the Saints cast into the earth (8:1-5)
• 1st-4th angels hurt the earth: destruction upon the third part of creation (8:6-13)
• 5th angel (1st woe): armies led by the angel of bottomless pit torment (not kill) the wicked for 5 months (9:1-12)
• 6th angel (2nd woe)

• armies led by four other angels kill the third part of men, but the wicked do not repent (9:13-21)
• another mighty angel: 7 thunders, time will be ended when 7th angel sounds (10:1-7)
• John commissioned to prophesy before many peoples (10:8-11)
• two witnesses in Jerusalem for 3-1/2 years before slain, bodies lie 3-1/2 days before resurrected (11:1-14)

• 7th angel (3rd woe): 24 elders worship God who reigns, day of judgment has arrived (11:15-19)

E. The conflict between the dragon and the Lamb (Chapters 12-14)

• the dragon and the woman (12:1-17)

• dragon pursues woman's child, child caught up to heaven, woman preserved 3-1/2 years (12:1-6)
• Satan cast out of heaven by the power of Christ, woe to the earth (12:7-12)
• dragon pursues woman and her righteous seed, woman preserved 3-1/2 years (12:12-17)

• two beasts given power by the dragon (13:1-18)

• leopard blasphemes 3-1/2 years, then mortally wounded and healed (13:1-10)
• second beast (or false prophet) kills those who do not worship the first beast, number 666 in forehead of followers (13:11-18)

• the reaping of the earth (14:1-20)

• Lamb on Mt Zion with 144,000 righteous with name of God in forehead (14:1-5)
• three angels: Gospel is preached, Babylon is fallen, the wicked shall suffer wrath, the righteous enjoy rest (14:6-13)
• Christ and three angels reap the earth (14:14-20)

D. Transition to seventh seal (cont'd): Seven bowls poured out (Chapters 15-16)

• the righteous worship God in heaven (15:1-4)
• one of the four beasts gives the seven vials of God's wrath to the seven angels (15:5-8)
• seven vials poured out upon the wicked, but they do not repent (16:1-21)

C. Seventh seal: Christ conquers the dragon and reigns on the earth (Chapters 17-20)

• fall of Babylon and the kings of the earth (17:1-18:24)

• John sees the whore sitting on a beast representing earthly powers (17:1-18)
• lament of the wicked over the fall of Babylon (18:1-24)

• reign of Christ as king of kings (19:1-16)

• 24 elders and 4 beasts praise God for judging Babylon (19:1-4)
• marriage supper of the Lamb (19:6-10)
• Christ and his armies on white horses defeat the false prophet and the beast and their armies (19:11-21)

• The seventh thousand years (20:1-10)

• Satan bound for a thousand years, then loosed for a little season (20:1-3)
• righteous reign with Christ during Millennial thousand years, first resurrection (20:4-6)
• at end of thousand years Satan loosed and then defeated permanently (20:7-10)

• judgment (20:11-15)

B. The church as it will exist at the end of time (Chapters 21-22a)

• the new Jerusalem comes down out of heaven, God and the Lamb reign there (21:1-22:5)

A. John's commission (Chapter 22b / Verses 22:6-21)

Unanswered questions

This section is for questions along the lines of "I still don't understand ..." Please do not be shy. The point of these questions is to identify things that still need to be addressed on this page. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

Prompts for life application

This section is for prompts that suggest ways in which a passage can influence a person's life. Prompts may be appropriate either for private self reflection or for a class discussion. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

Prompts for further study

This section is for prompts that invite us to think about a passage more deeply or in a new way. These are not necessarily questions that beg for answers, but rather prompts along the lines of "Have you ever thought about ..." Prompts are most helpful when they are developed individually, thoughtfully, and with enough background information to clearly indicate a particular direction for further study or thought. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

Resources

This section is for listing links and print resources, including those that are also cited elsewhere on this page. A short comment about the particular strengths of a resource can be helpful. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

Translations and Lexicons.

• Amplified (The Amplified Bible, 1987 update)

• NASB (New American Standard Bible, 1995 update)

• NIV (New International Version)

• RSV (Revised Standard Version)

• Interlinear text (English-Greek), (Greek-English)

• Strong's Greek Concordance and Lexicon

References cited on this page.

• Wayment, Thomas A., ed. The Complete Joseph Smith Translation of the New Testament. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 2005. (ISBN 1590384393) BX8630 .A2 2005.

Other resources.

• LDS Institute New Testament Student Manual (PDF version): Chapter 53/56: Revelation 1-3  •  Chapter 54/56: Revelation 4-11  •  Chapter 55/56: Revelation 12-16  •  Chapter 56/56: Revelation 17-22. Salt Lake City: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2014.

• Draper, Richard D. Opening the Seven Seals. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company, 1991. (ISBN 9781590386385) (ISBN 0875795471). A slow read that will take time to digest, but the most thorough discussion of Revelation by an LDS scholar.

• "Book of Revelation Overview." Ensign, October 1983. This article is a short and excellent introduction to Revelation from an LDS perspective, especially in its discussion of Revelation 12-14.

Notes

Footnotes are not required but are encouraged for factual assertions that average readers cannot easily evaluate for themselves (such as the date of King Solomon’s death or the nuanced definition of a Greek word). In contrast, insights rarely benefit from footnoting, and the focus of this page should always remain on the scriptures themselves rather than what someone has said about them. Links are actively encouraged on all sections of this page, and links to authoritative sources (such as Strong's Bible Concordance or the Joseph Smith Papers) are preferable to footnotes.

1. ↑ Wayment, The Complete Joseph Smith Translation of the New Testament, p. 316-26.

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