Doctrine and Covenants 77

Mormon History: 1830 to 1839

Doctrine and Covenants 77

March [20], 1832, Hiram, Ohio.
Explanations of Revelation imagery. Sea of glass. Four beasts. Twenty-four elders. Seven seals §. Elias to gather the Twelve Tribes will gather them and restore all things. 144,000 sealed high priests §. Trumpets §. Elias gathers and restores § Two prophets §.

First published in the 1876 D&C.

		Manuscript History	MH-A, 192–195.
		About the first of march, in connection with the translation of the scriptures, I recived the following explanation of the Revelations of Saint John.	I have omitted the Q. and A. at the beginning of each paragraph in the current LDS D&C. "And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind." Rev. 4:6
Sea of glass	1	What is the sea of glass spoken of by John 4th chapter, and 6th verse of the Revelations?
Sanctified earth		It is the earth, in its sanctified, immortal and eternal state.
Four beasts	2	What are we to understand by the four beasts spoken of by John 4th chapter, and 6th verse of Revelation in the same verse?
Figures for heaven, paradise, human happiness, animals		They are figurative expressions, used by the Revelator, John, in describing heaven, the paradise of God, the happiness of man, and of beasts, and of creeping things, and of the fowls of the air; that which is spiritual being in the [193] likeness of that which is temporal; and that which is temporal in the likeness of that which is spiritual. the spirit of man in the likeness of his person; as also the spirit of the beast, and ~~also~~ every other creature which God has created.
	3	Are the four beasts limited to individual beasts, or do they represent classes or orders?
Four classes of beings		They are limited to four individual beasts, which were shewn to John to represent the glory of the classes of beings in their destined order, or sphere of creation, in the enjoyment of their eternal felicity.	Four spheres of creation?
Eyes and wings	4	What are we to understand by the eyes and wings, which the beasts had?
Light and knowledge, and power to move		Their eyes are a representation of light and knowledge, that is, they are full of knowledge; and their wings are a representation of power, to move, to act etc.
24 elders	5	What are we to understand by the four and twenty elders spoken of by John?	" I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold. … The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, … And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb …" Rev. 4:4, 10; 5:8.
Belonged to 7 churches		We are to understand that these elders whom John saw, were elders who had been faithful in the work of the ministry, and were dead, who belonged to the seven churches, and were then in the Paradise of God.
Book	6	What are we to understand by the book which John saw, which was sealed on the back with seven seals?	"And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. … And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof." Rev. 5:5, 7.
Revelations		We are to understand that it contains the revealed will, mysteries and the works of God: the hidden things of his economy concerning this earth during the seven thousand years of its continuance, or its temporal existence.
7 seals	7	What are we to understand by the seven seals with which it was sealed?
1000 years		We are to understand that the first seal contains the things of the first thousand years, and the second also of the second thousand years, and so on until the seventh.
4 angels	8	[194] What are we to understand by the four angels, spoken of by John in the 7th chapter and first 1st verse of Revelations?	"And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. " Rev. 7:1.
Angels rule thee earth		We are to understand that they are four angels sent forth from God, to whom is given power over the four parts of the earth, to save life and to destroy; these are they who have the everlasting gospel to commit to every Nation, kindred, tongue, and people, having power to shut up the heavens, to seal up unto life, or to cast down to the regions of darkness.
Angel rising in the east	9	What are we to understand by the angel ascending from the east, Revelations seventh 7th chapter, and sechond 2nd verse?	And I saw another angel and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. " Rev. 7:2.
Elias over 12 tribes Tribes gather		We are to understand that the angel ascending from the east is he to whom is given the seal of the living God over the twelve tribes of Israel, wherefore he crieth unto the four angels having the everlasting gospel, saying, hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads; and. if you will receive it, this is Elias which was to come, to gather together the tribes of Israel, and restore all things.
When	10	What time are the things spoken of in this chapter to be accomplished?
6th thousand years		They are to be accomplished in the sixth thousandth years, or the opening of the sixth seal.
144,000	11	What are we to understand by sealing the one hundred and forty four thousand out of all the tribes of Israel, Twelve thousand out of every tribe?	"And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand." Rev. 7:4-5. Also referenced in 14:1, 3.
Sealed by high priests		We are to understand that those who are sealed are high priests ordained unto the holy order of God to administer the everlasting gospel, for they are they who are ordained out of every nation, kindred, tongue and people by the angels to whom is given power over the nations of the earth to bring as many as will come, to the church of the first born Firstborn.
Trumpets	12	[195] What are we to understand by the sounding of the trumpets mentioned in the 8th chapter of Revelations?	Rev. 8. "The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth …" Rev. 8:7.
Creation in 6 days, rest on the 7th Redemption after 7,000 years		We are to understand that as God made the world in six days, and on the seventh day he finished his work and sanctified it, and also formed man out of the dust of the earth; even so in the beginning of the seventh thousandth years will the Lord God sanctify the earth and complete the salvation of man, and judge all things, and shall redeem all things, except that which he hath not put into his power when he shall have sealed all things unto the end of all things: and the sounding of the trumpets of the seven angels, are the preparing and finishing <of> his work in the beginning of the seventh thousandth years, the preparing of the way before the time of his coming.
When	13	When are the things to be accomplished, which are written in the 9th chapter of Revelations?	Rev. 9.
Before Christ comes		They are to be accomplished after the opening of the seventh seal, before the coming of christ.
Little book	14	What are we to understand by the little book, which was eaten by John, as mentioned in the tenth 10th chapter of Revelations?
Elias		We are to understand that it was a mission and an ordinance for him to gather the tribes of Israel. Behold this is Elias, who, as it is written, must come and restore all things.
Two witnesses	15	What is to be understood by the two witnesses in the eleventh chapter of Revelations?	Rev. 11 .
Jews to rebuild Jerusalem		They are two prophets that are to be raised up to the Jewish nation in the last days, at the time of the restoration, and to prophecy to the Jews after they are gathered and have built the City of Jerusalem, in the land of their fathers.
		D&C 78 D&C 76 Ohio Revelations Doctrine and Covenants