Revelation: Joseph Smith's Commentary on the Bible

Revelation

Revelation 1-22

This is the first time I have ever taken a text in Revelation, and if the young elders would let such things alone, it would be far better. fn

I have seldom spoken from the revelations, and I do it now to do away [with] divisions and not that the knowledge is so much needed. fn

Revelation is one of the plainest books God ever caused to be written. fn

Revelation 1:1

There is a grand difference and distinction between the visions and figures spoken of by the prophets and those spoken of in the revelations of John. None of the things John saw had any allusion to the scenes of the days of Adam or of Enoch or of Abraham or Jesus, only as far as is plainly represented by John and clearly set forth. John only saw that which was "shortly to come to pass" and that which was yet in futurity. Now I make this declaration, that those things which John saw in heaven had no allusion to anything that had been on the earth, because John says he saw what was "shortly to come to pass" and not what had already transpired. John saw beasts that had to do with things on the earth, but not in past ages. The beasts which he saw had to devour the inhabitants of the earth in days to come. The revelations do not give us to understand anything of the past in relation to the kingdom of God.

What John saw and spoke of were things which were in heaven. What the prophets saw and spoke of were things pertaining to the earth. fn

The things John saw had no allusion to the day of Adam, Enoch, Abraham, or Jesus, only as clearly specified and set forth to John. [He] saw that which was lying in futurity. Revelation 1:1 is [the] key to the whole subject. fn

Revelation 1:6

It is altogether correct in the translation. . . . The apostles have discovered that there were Gods above. God was the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. My object was to preach the scripture and preach the doctrine, there being a God above the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. I am bold to declare I have taught all the strong doctrines publicly, and always stronger than what I preach in private. John was one of the men and the apostles [to] declare they were made kings and priests unto God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It reads just so, hence the doctrine of a plurality of Gods is as prominent in the Bible as any doctrine. It is all over the face of the Bible. It stands beyond the power of controversy. . . . Paul says, "There are gods many, and lords many" [1 Cor. 8:5]. I want to set it in a plain, simple manner. But to us, there is but one God pertaining to us, in all, through all. . . .

No man can limit the bounds, or the eternal existence, of eternal time. Hath he beheld the eternal world? And is he authorized to say that there is only God? He makes himself a fool, and there is an end of his career in knowledge. He cannot obtain all knowledge, for he has sealed up the gate to [it]. . . . In the very beginning there is a plurality of Gods. [It is] beyond the power of refutation. It is a great subject I am dwelling on. . . . The heads of the Gods appointed one God for us. When you take a view of the subject, it sets one free to see all the beauty, holiness, and perfection of the Gods. All I want is to get the simple truth, [the] naked and the whole truth. . . .

I want to reason. I learned it by translating the papyrus now in my house. I learned a testimony concerning Abraham. He reasoned concerning the God of Heaven. In order to do that, said he, "Suppose we have two facts. That supposes that another fact may exist. Two men on the earth, one wiser than the other, would show that another who is wiser than the wisest may exist. Intelligences exist one above another, that there is no end to it" [Abr. 3:16-19]. If Abraham reasoned thus, if Jesus Christ was the Son of God and John discovered that God the Father of Jesus Christ had a father, you may suppose that he had a father also. Where was there ever a son without a father? Where ever did [a] tree or anything spring into existence without a progenitor? Everything comes in this way. Paul says, that which is earthly is in likeness of that which is heavenly [1 Cor. 15:46-48]. Hence if Jesus had a father, can we not believe that he had a father also? . . .

When things that are great are passed over without even a thought, I want to see all, in all its bearings, and hug it to my bosom. I believe all that God ever revealed, and I never hear of a man being damned for believing too much, but they are damned for unbelief. fn

Rev 1 6See also under 1 Corinthians 8:5-6.

Revelation 2:17

There is no angel [who] ministers to this earth [but who] either does belong or has belonged to this earth. And the angels do not reside on a planet like our earth, but they dwell with God, and the planet where he dwells is like crystal, and like a sea of glass before the throne. This is the great urim and thummim whereon all things are manifest—both things past, present, and future—and are continually before the Lord. The urim and thummim is a small representation of this globe. The earth, when it is purified, will be made like unto crystal and will be a urim and thummim whereby all things pertaining to an inferior kingdom, or all kingdoms of a lower order, will be manifest to those who dwell on it. And this earth will be with Christ. Then, the white stone mentioned in Revelation 2:17 is the urim and thummim whereby all things pertaining to a higher order of kingdoms, even all kingdoms, will be made known. And a white stone is given to each of those who come into this celestial kingdom, whereon is a new name written which no man knoweth save he that receiveth it. The new name is the key word. fn

Revelation 3:5

We find [a] promise to individuals living in the church at Sardis which will show something of the blessings held out to the ancients who walked worthily before the Lord. . . . The ancients, though persecuted and afflicted by men, obtained from God promises of such weight and glory that our hearts are often filled with gratitude that we are even permitted to look upon them, while we contemplate that there is no respect of persons in his sight and that "in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is acceptable with him" [Acts 10:34-35]. But . . . we can draw the conclusion that there is to be a day when all will be judged of their works and rewarded according to the same, that those who have kept the faith will be crowned with a crown of righteousness [2 Tim. 4:8], be clothed in white raiment [Rev. 3:5], be admitted to the marriage feast [Rev. 19:7-8], be free from every affliction, and reign with Christ on the earth [Rev. 20:4], where, according to the ancient promise, they will partake of the fruit of the vine new in the glorious kingdom with him [Matt. 26:29; Mark 14:25].

At least we find that such promises were made to the ancient Saints. And though we cannot claim these promises which were made to the ancients, or that they are our property merely because they were made to them, yet if we are the children of the Most High and are called with the same calling with which they were called and embrace the same covenant that they embraced and are faithful to the testimony of our Lord as they were, we can approach the Father in the name of Christ as they approached him and for ourselves obtain the same promises. These promises, when obtained if ever by us, will not be because Peter, John, and the other apostles, with the churches at Sardis, Pergamos, Philadelphia, and elsewhere, walked in the fear of God and had power and faith to prevail and obtain them. But it will be because we ourselves have faith and approach God in the name of his Son Jesus Christ, even as they did. And when these promises are obtained, they will be promises directly to us or they will do us no good—communicated for our benefit, being our own property (though the gift of God), earned by our own diligence in keeping his commandments and walking uprightly before him. If not, to what end serves the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, and why was it ever communicated to us? fn

Revelation 4:6

The angels do not reside on a planet like this earth, but they reside in the presence of God, on a globe like a sea of glass and fire, [a] sea of glass before the throne, where all things are manifest—past, present, and to come. The place where God resides is a great urim and thummim. This earth, in its sanctified and immortal state, will be a urim and thummim for all things below it in the scale of creation, but not above it. fn

Rev 4 6See also under Revelation 2:17.

Revelation 5:6

Probably those were beasts which had lived on another planet than ours. fn

To have knowledge in relation to the meaning of beasts and heads and horns and other figures made use of in the revelations is not very essential to the elders. fn

Revelation 5:10

You have got to learn how to be a God yourself and be a king and priest to God, same as all have done, by going from a small capacity to another, from grace to grace, until the resurrection, and sit in everlasting power as they who have gone before. fn

You have got to learn how to be a God yourself in order to save yourself, to be priests and kings as all Gods have done, by going from a small degree to another, from exaltation to exaltation, until you are able to sit in glory as with those who sit enthroned. fn
You have got to know how to make yourselves Gods, kings, priests, by going from a small to [a] great capacity, till you are able to dwell in everlasting burning and everlasting power. fn

You have got to learn how to make yourselves God, king, and priest, by going from a small capacity to a great capacity, to the resurrection of the dead, to dwelling in everlasting burnings. fn

Revelation 5:11-14

John saw the actual beast in heaven, to show to John that that being did actually exist there. When the prophets speak of seeing beasts in their visions, they saw the images—types to represent certain things. And at the same time they received the interpretation as to what those images or types were designed to represent. I make this broad declaration, that where God ever gives a vision of an image, or beast, or figure of any kind, he always holds himself responsible to give a revelation or interpretation of the meaning thereof, otherwise we are not responsible or accountable for our belief in it. Don't be afraid of being damned for not knowing the meaning of a vision or figure where God has not given a revelation or interpretation on the subject.

John saw curious-looking beasts in heaven. He saw every creature that was in heaven—all the beasts, fowls, and fish in heaven, actually there, giving glory to God. I suppose John saw beings there that had been saved from ten thousand times ten thousand earths like this, strange beasts of which we have no conception. All might be seen in heaven. John learned that God glorified himself by saving all that his hands had made, whether beasts, fowl, fishes, or man. Any man who would tell you that this could not be would tell you that the revelations are not true. John heard the words of the beasts giving glory to God and understood them. God, who made the beasts, could understand every language spoken by them. The beasts were intelligent beings and were seen and heard by John praising and glorifying God. The popular religionists of the day say that the beasts spoken of in the revelations represent kingdoms. Very well, on the same principle we can say that the twenty-four elders spoken of represent beasts, for they are all spoken of at the same time and [are] represented as all uniting in the same acts of praise and devotion. . . .

Ye elders of Israel, hearken to my voice. When ye are sent into the world to preach, preach and cry aloud, "Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Repent and believe the gospel!" Never meddle with the visions of beasts and subjects you do not understand. fn

Revelation 5:13 proves that John saw beasts in heaven and heard them speak praise to God. [I] do not know what language they speak. fn

John saw the actual beast itself. It was to let John know that beasts existed there and not to represent figures of things on the earth.

The prophets always had interpretations of their visions, and God always holds himself responsible to give revelations of his visions. If he does it not, we are not responsible. . . .

John saw all beasts in heaven, for I expect he saw the beasts of one thousand forms from ten thousand worlds like this. The grand secret was to tell what was in heaven. God will glorify himself with all these animals. Says one, "I cannot believe in salvation of beasts." I suppose God could understand the beasts in certain worlds. The four beasts were angels there. [I] don't know where they come from. They were intelligent. . . . There is no revelation anywhere to show that the beasts meant any thing but beasts. . . .

O ye elders of Israel, hearken to my voice. When ye are sent into the world to preach, tell them things you are sent to tell. Declare the first principles and let mysteries alone, lest you be overthrown. fn

Revelation 7:2-3

It means to seal the blessing on their heads, meaning the everlasting covenant, thereby making their calling and election sure. When a seal is put upon the father and mother, it secures their posterity so that they cannot be lost but will be saved by virtue of the covenant of their father. fn

Now I would ask, Who knows the seal of the living God? Behold the ignorance of the world! A measure of this sealing is to confirm upon their head in common with Elijah the doctrine of election, or the covenant with Abraham, which when a father and mother of a family have entered into, their children who have not transgressed are secured by the seal wherewith the parents have been sealed. And this is the oath of God unto our father Abraham, and this doctrine shall stand forever. fn

What is the seal spoken of in Revelation 7:3? Find it out if you can. I will not reveal it now but will drop an idea that I have never revealed concerning election connected with the sealing of the servants of God in the fore or top of the head. . . . Covenants, either there or here, must be made in view of eternity. And the covenant sealed on the foreheads of the parents secures the children from falling, that they shall all sit upon thrones as one with the Godhead, joint heirs of God with Jesus Christ. This principle is revealed also through the covenant of Abraham and his children. fn

Revelation 7:4

See under Revelation 14:1.

Revelation 7:14

[God] will not deliver unless we do prove ourselves faithful to him in the severest trouble. For he that will have his robes washed in the blood of the Lamb must come up through great tribulation, even the greatest of all affliction. fn

Revelation 13:2

The translators have used the term "dragon" for "Devil." . . . There is a mistranslation of the word "dragon" in the second verse. The original word signifies the Devil and not "dragon" as translated. Read chapter 12 verse 9; it there reads, "that old serpent, called the Devil." And it ought to be translated "Devil" in this case, and not "dragon." fn

Revelation 13:3-4

When the old Devil shall give power to the beast to do all his mighty works, all the world will wonder. fn

Revelation 14:1

There will be 144,000 saviors on Mount Zion, and with them an innumerable host that no man can number. fn

Revelation 14:6-7

The angel flying through the midst of heaven: Moroni delivered the Book of Mormon. fn

The scripture is ready to be fulfilled when great wars, famines, pestilence, great distress, judgments, and so forth, are ready to be poured out on the inhabitants of the earth. fn

See also under Matthew 24:14b.

Revelation 14:13

They rest from their labors for a long time, and yet their work is held in reserve for them, that they are permitted to do the same works after they receive a resurrection for their bodies. fn

We have again the warning voice sounded in our midst which shows the uncertainty of human life. And in my leisure moments I have meditated upon the subject and asked the question, Why is it that infants, innocent children, are taken away from us, especially those that seem to be most intelligent beings? Answer: This world is a very wicked world. It is a proverb that the world grows weaker and wiser, but if it is the case, the world grows more wicked and corrupt. In the early ages of the world a righteous man—a man of God and intelligence—had a better chance to do good, to be received and believed, than at the present day. But in these days such a man is much opposed and persecuted by most of the inhabitants of the earth, and he has much sorrow to pass through. Hence the Lord takes many away, even in infancy, that they may escape the envy of man, the sorrows and evils of this present world. They were too pure and too lovely to live on earth. Therefore, if rightly considered, instead of mourning we have reason to rejoice, as they are delivered from evil. And we shall soon have them again. fn

Revelation 15:2

See under Revelation 2:17; 4:6.

Revelation 19:7-8

See under Matthew 22:1-14.

Revelation 19:10

No man is a minister of Jesus Christ without being a prophet. No man can be the minister of Jesus Christ except he has the testimony of Jesus, and this is the spirit of prophecy. Whenever salvation has been administered it has been by testimony. fn

[The] spirit of prophecy, which is the testimony of Jesus, is necessary to constitute a witness, or a preacher, or a prophet. fn

God in his superior wisdom has always given his Saints, wherever he had any on the earth, the same spirit, and that spirit, as John says, is the true spirit of prophecy. fn

Now if any man has the testimony of Jesus, has he not the spirit of prophecy? And if he has the spirit of prophecy, I ask, is he not a prophet? And if a prophet, he can receive revelation. And any man that does not receive revelation for himself must be damned, for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. For Christ says, "Ask and you shall receive" [Matt. 7:7]. And if he happens to receive anything, I ask, will it not be a revelation? And if any man has not the testimony of Jesus or the Spirit of God, "he is none of his" [Rom. 8:9], namely Christ's. And if not his, he must be damned. fn

Rev 19 10See also under Revelation 22:8-9.

Revelation 20:1-6

Iniquity will hide its hoary head, Satan will be bound, and the works of darkness destroyed. Righteousness will be put to the line and judgment to the plummet, and he that fears the Lord will alone be exalted in that day. fn

Revelation 20:7-10

The Battle of Gog and Magog is after the Millennium. fn

Revelation 20:12

You will discover in this quotation that the books were opened; and another book was opened, which was the book of life; but the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works; consequently, the books spoken of must be the books which contained the record of their works, and refer to the records which are kept on the earth. And the book which was the book of life is the record which is kept in heaven. fn

Revelation 21:2, 9-10

Now we learn from the Book of Mormon the very identical continent and spot of land upon which the New Jerusalem is to stand [3 Ne. 20:22], and it must be caught up, according to the vision of John upon the isle of Patmos. Now many will be disposed to say that this New Jerusalem spoken of is the Jerusalem that was built by the Jews on the eastern continent. But you will see from Revelation 21:2 [that] there was a New Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven, adorned as a bride for her husband. After this, the Revelator was caught away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain and saw the great and holy city descending out of heaven from God. Now there are two cities spoken of here. . . . I shall say with brevity that there is a New Jerusalem to be established on this continent, and also that Jerusalem shall be rebuilt on the eastern continent. "Behold, Ether saw the days of Christ, and he spake concerning a New Jerusalem upon this land. And he spake also concerning the house of Israel, and the Jerusalem from whence Lehi should come—after it should be destroyed it should be built up again, a holy city unto the Lord; wherefore, it could not be a new Jerusalem for it had been in a time of old" [Ether 13:4-5]. fn

Revelation 21:3

I discover by this quotation that John upon the isle of Patmos saw the same things concerning the last days which Enoch saw [see Moses 7:62]. But before the tabernacle can be with men, the elect must be gathered from the four quarters of the earth. fn

Revelation 21:4

After the "little season" [Rev. 20:3] is expired and the earth undergoes its last change and is glorified, then will all the meek inherit the earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. fn

Revelation 21:9-10

See under Revelation 21:2, 9-10.

Revelation 22:8-9

The angel that appeared to John on the Isle of Patmos was a translated or resurrected body. fn

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(Kent P. Jackson, comp. and ed., Joseph Smith's Commentary on the Bible [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1994], 228 - 229.)