Reconciling the book of revelation with mormon prophecies

Visions, prophecy and politics princeton religious scholar elaine pagels puts the new testaments last book in historical context. Prediction of the three witnesses to the book of mormon. The pinnacle event in the book of mormon is a visitation from christ, himself. Soon i plan to update some of these posts, especially those pertaining to the beast of revelation. In march of 1829, joseph smith received a revelation about the need to have three witnesses to see the gold plates that he was about to translate. If a single one of those prophecies fail to come to pass, the speaker is identified as a false prophet and we are not to pay. Like the prophets of the bible, josephs prophetic claims cannot be tested by looking for a failure in foretellingwe must, as with the biblical prophets, decide if. Visions, prophecy, and politics in the book of revelation by elaine h. We have the book of revelation to warn us about the wars of the last days. This will be necessary for god to deal with a sinful and rebellious world. The book of revelation concludes with the angels testimony and additional counsel from the lord. Visions, prophecy, and politics in the book of revelation pagels, elaine on.

I told the brethren that the book of mormon was more correct than any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to god by abiding its precepts, than by any other book teachings of the prophet joseph smith, p. Most christian faiths espouse the belief that revelation ceased with the death of christs apostles. Number 1 divine authenticity of the book of mormon by orson pratt one of the twelve apostles of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Most chapter studies below contain a versebyverse commentary. The book of mormon seminary helps for the church of jesus christ of latterday saints youth saturday, september 23, 2017 201718 lesson 37 prophecy of the book of mormon 2 nephi 27. The testimony of christ, a testimony of the most solemn character, is to be borne to the world. A chinese man decodes the 2,000year mystery of the book of.

He sent an angel to present this revelation to his servant john. Bible prophecies of the book of mormon bible prophecies of the book of mormon another testament of jesus christ one stick for judah which is the bible and for joseph one stick of ephriam which is the book of mormon shall be one in the hand of the lord. Several other books whose canonicity was not disputed could not claim such evidence. The bible, the book of mormon, and the concept of scripture. It is to be treated as the literal and specific words of the god ofcreation to mankind. In section of the doctrine and covenants is recorded a revelation received by joseph smith in 1843. This is the word of god and the testimony of jesus christ. Yet it has a clear and definite historical background. Joseph smith prophecy by the authority of jesus christ of a soon to come time of bloodshed, pestilence, hail, famine and earthquake. Mormon transhumanism and the immortality upgrade the new. Book of revelation mormonism, the mormon church, beliefs. All through the book of revelation there are the most precious, elevating promises, and there are also warnings of the most fearfully solemn import.

It is the last book of the bible because it explains, the first book. A journal of western inner traditions, spring 1995. It is a record of gods dealings with ancient inhabitants of the americas and contains the fulness of the everlasting gospel. Well before the 24yearold prophet organized a church in 1830, he was a biblebelieving christian with a difference, setting a. This list deals with messianic prophecies that have already been fulfilled. Interpretive essays on joseph smith edited by bryan waterman, signature books, 1999. One is not totreat is as a book of general truths open to interpretation as is so common today. It is also striking that the book of revelation s colored horses become colored races in the mormon prophecy. With the benefit of my lifes experiences and with my greater familiarity with revelation, i can learn things that were not available to me yesterday by reading the scriptures today. That cessation of revelation would mean that scripture is closed, and that there is no current prophecy or prophets. When the bible and book of mormon are studied together, as illustrated here, they shall grow together, unto the confounding of false doctrines and laying down of contentions, and establishing peace 2 nephi 3. So, the divine author of revelation is jesus christ and the human author is the apostle john. Mormon reliance on prophecy mormons, and those to whom the missionaries are giving an introduction to mormonism, often hear how the restoration of the true church through joseph smith was prophesied in the bible. The white horse prophecy is the popular name of an influential but disputed version of a statement on the future of the latter day saints popularly called mormons and the united states.

I dont believe that anyone has problems with the fact that revelation is a prophecy, but the fact that the modern term used for revelation is end day prophecy has people thrown off on how to study the book. If youve ever found bible prophecy difficult to understand, prophecies of revelation made simple is a perfect book for you. Last, by layering the prophecies, god hid the meaning of these prophecies in the book of daniel until the time of the end would arrive. Either he was a prophet in the almost fundamen talist sense. Jesus said that john the baptist was the greatest prophet, but lehi proves him wrong by prophesying the details of jesus life, death, and resurrection 600 years before he was born.

Millet the book of mormon bears testimony of the critical nature of record keeping and particularly of the necessity for scriptural records in the development and preservation of a civilization. Revelations used to be printed in church periodicals such as the times and seasons and the evening and morning star. Pagels then shows how john of patmos revelation was used throughout history. Bible prophecies of the book of mormon scotts world.

Many christians wonder if this passage speaks directly to the extra biblical books of mormonism, specifically the book of mormon. How do mormons interpret the following passage and justify the addition of the book of mormon to the canon of scripture. It has been testified of extensively in my articles. The purpose of both revelation and the response of faith is to assist the children of men to come to christ and learn to love one another with that same pure love with which christ loves them. Have any aspects of end times prophecy been fulfilled. Missionaries for the mormon church have converted millions of people to the church of jesus christ of latterday saints by convincing them that the book of mormon is true and superior to the bible. A strange vision given to john of a world racked by geophysical upheaval and spiritual transformation, it is a book cloaked in allegory and metaphor. For i testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, if any man shall add unto these things, god shall add unto him the plagues that. Revelation given to each person for his personal life, both in the spiritual and temporal context, are called personal revelation. The book of revelation starts with this is a revelation from jesus christ, which god gave him to show his servants the events that must soon take place. After this is a vision of the new heavens and new earththe world in its celestial state revelation 21. The context of verse 18 seems to speak directly to the book of revelation, the last book of the bible written by the apostle john while he was in exile on the island of patmos. The book of revelation is the final book of the new testament, a stark account of the apocalypse and a prophecy of the world coming to an end.

The book of revelation predictions of coming disaster. In addition to these formal revelations, joseph smith also left accounts of visions, produced inspired prayers and sermons, and translated the book of mormon and the book of abraham and completed a new translation of the bible by means of revelation. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant john, 2 who testifies to everything he saw. Mormonism and prophetsrevelation after joseph smith. Joseph smith, founder of the latter day saint movement, is viewed by the movements adherents as a prophet in the tradition of the ancient prophets recorded in. The influence of the brass plates on the teachings of nephi.

However, the word revelation comes from the greek name apokalypsis, which means a disclosure, a revelation or manifestation and to be revealed. Prophecies of more to come many people are discovering the epochal revelation found in the urantia book and wondering what it is, and how it. The prophetic seals and plagues of the book of revelation when studying the prophecies concerning the prophetic seals and plagues of the book of revelation, it is good to keep the following in mind. Abinadi replies by quoting and then commenting on two biblical passages. Many people view revelation, sometimes called the apocalypse, as a mysterious book of strange symbols and images. Join us on a journey through the pages of this letter from christ to his people. These prophecies were given to john during the demise of the early church, after the destruction of jerusalem in 70 a. At the time he received this revelation, there was no inkling whatsoever that the slave question might lead to war. In the book of revelation, which contains an account of visions which symbolise and foretell what it says will happen in the future, it says. The book of mormon never mentions quetzalcoatl or any of ethans details of quetzalcoatls indian traditionssuch as bare feet, pierced ears, fieryflying serpents, green plumage, and more. This page contains a list of our bible studies on the book of revelation, and how the prophecies in this book were fulfilled in the first century ad. Many have considered the book of revelation to be a sealed book and unable to be understood.

The book of revelationhistory and prophecy united church of god. While the red and black identifications are predictable, its interesting that mormons have begun to think of themselves as the true whites separated out from the pale horse of other americans because mormons have pure israelite. Mar 07, 2012 revelations npr coverage of revelations. The most likely scenario is that chad and lori expected to translate the sealed portion of the book of mormon, a part of this quintessential lds scripture thats been held back for the last days. This demand or invitation is not that people become prophets to a nation. Dawn chan on the mormon transhumanist association, which seeks to reconcile technological progress with religious prophecy. Book of mormon pushes personal revelation deseret news.

The prophecies of the book of revelation are among the most important parts of the bible, and understanding these words is a crucial component of understanding how the end times will unfold. The book of revelation has much to teach us about the events of the end times, and about our own hearts. In the waning days of the roman empire, militant jews in jerusalem had waged an allout war against romes occupation of judea, and their defeat resulted in the desecration of the great temple in jerusalem. The revelation is recorded in doctrine and covenants 5. The influence of the brass plates on the teachings of nephi robert l. The book of revelation also called the revelation of john or the revelation of st. Ethan equates the whitebearded god, quetzalcoatl, with moses.

In slightly revised form, it also appears in the book the prophet puzzle. Enos mission, though not fruitful in his own time, has proved beneficial to the nephite and lamanite posterity of today in the form of his short but vital message in the book of mormon. Why were afraid of mormons bu today boston university. How do mormons interpret the warning in revelation about.

He sent an angel to present this revelation to his servant john nlt. Lehi even knew the elizabethan english words that the king james version would ascribe to john the baptist 2200 years before that translation existed. The seven letters to the seven churches revelation the seven letters to the seven churches not only contained the messages of christ for the early churches, but also contained the prophetic meaning for the seven historical periods in the christian history in the last two thousand years. And even though the church of jesus christ of latterday saints renounced polygamy in the 1890s with the exception of a militant sliver, some. If every president of the church is a prophet, seer, and revelator, why have so few revelations after joseph smith been added to the doctrine and covenants. Revelation, written by the apostle john, prophecies certain events at the end of the old world, and the birth of a new world. Joseph smithprophetalleged false prophecies fairmormon. A second major question is sometimes raised about the isaiah material in the book of mormon. Mormon prophecy its a little known disturbing fact that the mormons have a set of prophecies that foretell that the mormons will take over the leadership of the us.

This cry from the dust witnesses of the divinity of jesus christ to us today. Volumes of commentary have been written around it in order to increase our understanding. Mormon challenges could the book of mormon story have come. Orson pratt, 18111881 divine authenticity of the book of mormon numbers liverpool, 1850. Studying the bible and book of mormon together helps us. Mormonism and prophetsrevelation after joseph smith fairmormon. Revelation fulfilled, unveiling the mystery of the book of. The revelation of peter, and the revelation of paul, and the revelation of zostrianos and almost anyone you can mention. The book of revelation has become more than just a symbolic text but a metaphor for conflicting factions. Now, a chinese man with the knowledge of both eastern religions and western religions finally decodes the mystery of the prophecies in the book of revelation.

We are all familiar with the great apocalyptic pronouncements of the book of revelation. The book of revelation s prophecies about the seven last plagues are terrifying and show there will be massive suffering and destruction around the world in the end times. It is the only biblical book that is wholly composed of apocalyptic literature. In need of a revelation about the book of revelation. A candidate for the governor of idaho has brought this out into the open hes having meetings to talk about saving america by having the mormon leadership intervene. John the divine is an example of apocalyptic writing a form that delivers a message using symbols, images and numbers. Some of these factions have even believed they were experiencing the prophecies of john of patmos. Some scholars believe that some of the chapters of the current book of isaiah were not written by that prophet but by one or more different authors long after isaiahs timein fact, after the time that lehi and his family left jerusalem.

Joseph smith, the nineteenthcentury mormon founder, is often accounted for in one of three ways. Visions, prophecy, and politics in the book of revelation. The book of revelation, a prophecy of warning and hope. Indeed, many people throughout the ages have asked, just what does revelation mean or what message does it encode. Isaiah in the book of mormon religious studies center. Either he was a prophet in the almost fundamentalist sense. A new revelation from the lord announced today states that those who claim to be of his church have had a year to notice that this prophecy has been. His mission and his message religious studies center. Elaine pagels explores the surprising history of the most controversial book of the bible. The book of revelation, the final book of the new testament, has some of the most dramatic and frightening language in the bible. The book of mormon is a volume of holy scripture comparable to the bible. The book of revelation, part 1 the book of revelation is rich in symbolism, so much so, that most christians find it difficult to understand. There is a radical insistence in the book of mormon that people seek personal revelation. If anyone adds anything to them, god will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll.

During his life, smith made several prophecies, many documented in the doctrine and covenants, a book of scripture in several of the movements denominations there is much dispute surrounding the known and alleged prophecies. Sacred records, ancient cultural traditions, mythology and cosmology all cry out to us, relating a very different planetary history for our planet earth than the one currently taught in. Revelation chapter 1 tev 1 this book is the record of the events that jesus christ revealed. How the seven missions of the doomsday couple connect. The theme of the book of revelation is that the lord will triumph over satan and over evil and deliver the righteous. In fact, as joseph smith was translating the bible he had a questionandanswer session with the lord about the book of revelation that is preserved in the doctrine and covenants as section 77. The revelation of john is also known as the apocalypse, a greek word meaning revealed or uncovered. The book of mormon is a sacred text of the latter day saint movement, which, according to adherents, contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the. Discover for yourself how enlightening and expansive this information can be. The angel used the symbolism of candlesticks to represent the branches, or congregations, of the church. Mormons claim additional revelation comes through their scriptures. The first part of the sealed portion of the plates of mormon was published to the world over a year ago as the sealed book of mormon on the anniversary of the first vision. By the early 19th century, when god called joseph smith as the prophet of.

The bible, the book of mormon, and continuing revelation. All the prophets worshiped the father in the name of christabrahams offering of isaac was in similitude of god and his only begottenmen. The book was written by many ancient prophets by the spirit of prophecy and revelation. The revelation is not an ineffable expression of the mystery and futility of apprehending god. It was given by edwin rushton, in about 1900, and supposedly made in 1843 by joseph smith, jr. Rapture or second coming daniel revelation bible studies. What the book of revelation reveals about the end times. The book of mormon is a sacred text of the latter day saint movement, which adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the american continent from approximately 2200 bc to ad 421. Mormon beliefs about prophecy, heaven, and celestial marriage. Walking through revelation biblical prophecy revelation. The book of revelation seems to be divided into two parts, the first part being comprised of chapters 1 to 3. Similarly, what a scripture in the book of mormon meant to me when i first read it at age sixteen is not conclusive upon me as i read it at age sixty. Jun 09, 2014 the prophecies contained in the book of revelation are key end time revelations which we must prepare ourselves for, as the end time is happening now. Using creative illustrations and thoughtful questions, author seth pierce makes the symbolism clear and explains what the prophecies meant for the apostle john and what they have to say to us today.

Parts of the old testament, particularly in the book of daniel, are also written in the apocalyptic genre. A dispensation of the gospel of jesus christ is a series of personal revelations from god. See the anecdotal and documentary evidence that joseph smith embraced an entirely different view of past planetary history than we are taught. The holy ghost testifies of jesus christs role as the savior and can also testify of the truthfulness of the bible and the book of mormon, leading men to treasure scripture and to look to christ for salvation. The mormon church claims to receive modernday revelation. The book of revelation, also called revelation to john or apocalypse of john is the last canonical book of the new testament in the bible. Lehi even knew the elizabethan english words that the king james version would ascribe to john the baptist 2200 years. Since joseph smith translated the book of mormon from an ancient record in 1830, latterday saints have looked forward to further scriptures.

We have not yet reached the tribulation, the revelation of the antichrist, or other endtime events. This name indicates the meaning of revelation it uncovers matters that had been hidden and discloses events that would happen long after it was written. Preterists teach that the book of revelation is primarily a prophecy about the roman war against the jews in israel that began in a. Most of the other revelations, and this fascinated me, many of them were found with the gnostic gospels in upper egypt, and they had been censored by church leaders for over a thousand and a half years. A key test is to examine the prophecies he or she has made in the name of the lord. Holland testifies of the truth of the bible, the book of mormon, and continuing revelation from god to his children. God gave him this revelation in order to show to his servants what must happen very soon. Contemporary beliefs of prophecies place the purpose of revelation on foretelling future events.