This book critically examines key historical documents, personal testimonies, and records of 19thcentury mormon history concluding that the book of mormon is an adaptation of an obscure historical novel written by revolutionary war veteran solomon spalding during the war of 1812. Apocalypticism was not a new phenomenon among christians. Perhaps more than any other new testament book, the date for the writing of revelation is important for interpreting the book. Thus, revelation was not just for john and the saints of the seven churches but for other saints then and now.
The apostle john, the beloved disciple of jesus christ, is the author of this book. Here are just a few places that have highlighted latterday saints. Tradition has long held that john the apostle, whom we have seen penned the fourth gospel and the three letters attributed to him, wrote the last book of scripture. John, revelations of the encyclopedia of mormonism. For those parts which are prophetic, it will be much easier to see meaning after the events have transpired. Beginning in the late 1840s, individuals of black african descent were prohibited from ordination to the lds. Johns testimony is preserved while serving in ephesus in asia minor. The author was probably a christian from ephesus known as john the elder. Joseph smith said, the book of revelation is one of the plainest books god ever. He wrote it when he was about 92 years old, while a prisoner of rome on the remote desert penal colony of patmos, an island in the aegean sea. It was translated by revelation, and the power of god.
The central figure of the book of mormon is jesus christ. It was brought forth to light by revelation, and the power of god, revealed by an angel, under the direction of god. Different sections were written at different times. Chapters 15 address seven established christian churches in asia minor.
The revelation of john the apostle byu new testament. Four times the author identifies himself as john 1. These manuscript revelation books are among the most important documents owned by the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. This article will conclude our series titled who wrote the new testament. John the beloved, he who wrote the gospel of john and the three epistles that bear his name. Mar 09, 2007 to me the book of mormon is about revelation, powerful miracles, and miraculous power. And then in the days when the lord has restored the covenant shall my revelations which i have caused to be written by my servant john be unfolded in the eyes of all the people.
The story is developed around a people, the nephites, who believed in jesus christ as the son of god. The book of mormon states that john the apostle is the author of revelation and that he was foreordained by god to write it. Truths about him and his final victory, that the rest of scripture merely allude to, become clearly visible through revelation about jesus christ see historical and theological themes. A comparison of revelation book 1 with the book of commandments and with the 1835 doctrine and covenants indicates that revelation book 1 is a relatively comprehensive collection of revelations. But, who was it that penned the word of revelation. The book of revelation takes an approach to the plan of salvation that is found nowhere else in all of our inspired writings. The book of revelation was written before ad 70 hubpages. I know, i know, thats easy for a prophet and seer to say, but it can be done and its important to try. The revelation of the lord in chapter one also teaches us much about the nature and qualifications of the one who heads the church and drives history. Yet the book of revelation need not remain closed, at least for latterday saints who accept modern revelation.
Reading the book of revelation is like stepping inside a red corvette, strapping on the seat belt. Lds personal faith crisis oct 30, 2018 rebranding revelation october 9, 2018 am i true september 19, 2018 abuse in the lds church and sam young september 12, 2018. Reading the book of revelation is like stepping inside a red corvette, strapping on the seat belt, and holding on for dear life as the car drives itselfroaring up precipitous ascents, flying down steep hills, accelerating through short, bumpy straightaways, and banking sharply on an endless series of tight corners. It contains 64 of the 65 items published in the 1833 book of commandments, 11. Johns book, however, shows him working not only through the holy spirit but also and more directly through inspiration to the church leaders whom he symbolically lovingly cups in his hands. Seeing the book of revelation as a book of revelation. Draper in revelation, john finishes what luke set out to do in acts. Because of its deep symbolism, the book of revelation is one of the most controversial books of scripture. Joseph smith said, the book of revelation is one of the plainest books god. Koester, author of the anchor bible commentary on the book of revelation, as well as the shorter and cheaperso everyone should buy it book. All realize that at the time john wrote the book of revelation the principal world empire was rome.
The prophet nephi writes in the book of mormon 1 nephi 14. May 25, 2017 4 places latterday saints have made the news recently danielle christensen the church of jesus christ of latterday saints has been receiving some positive attention lately for how its members are handling the coivd19 pandemic, whether that entails food storage, sharing the gospel, or looking out for ones neighbor. Speaking of the apocalypse from the previous post giving that odd video. Rns what the lds curriculum attempts to do with revelation.
The book depicts him as the risen, glorified son of god ministering among the churches 1. The first verse in the book of revelation does not say exactly who that particular john is, but it is naturally assumed to be john the apostle since it was the apostles that were given the authority by god to write scripture. John wrote these letters to communicate with people who already understood the basic doctrines of the gospel in order to strengthen them. The book of revelation was written sometime around 96 ce in asia minor. Since several scribes penned revisions in the manuscripts, the handwriting of each scribe is rendered. As the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth 1. The book of mormon affirms that john was foreordained to write the things. The bible dictionary of the lds edition of the king james bible places the. Book of revelation explained scripture by scripture. Mcconkie, understanding the book of revelation, ensign september 1975. Someone recently asked me if the same author could have written both the book of revelation and the gospel of john.
For example, chapters 15 were written at a later date than chapters 614. Who wrote the book of revelation lds the book of revelation was written in the first century a. Of course, joseph smith had a background of angelic tutoring that none of us share. Understanding the book of revelation church of jesus christ. Evidence suggests that johns gospel was the last to be written at some point after 70 ad. Understanding images and symbols in the book of revelation. Indeed, as we will see, the book speaks to our period even more than that of the seven churches. In the book of revelation, the apocalyptic hopes of the early christian community find their clearest and most complete expression. For some parts of the book of revelation, joseph smith, first prophet of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, often inadvertently called the. The text of revelation states that john was on patmos. What this book reveals or unveils is jesus christ in glory. The revelation of john the apostle byu new testament commentary.
The book of revelation was written in the first century a. Draper, understanding images and symbols in the book of revelation, shedding light on the new testament. An american, james adair, wrote a book a history of the american indians in 1775. For example, john wrote in the book of revelation that five rulers had already ceased to have power and that a sixth was then within his sovereignty revelation 17.
This confirms the internal evidence of the book of revelation regarding the place where john wrote revelation. The apostle john is the author of the book of revelation. The name revelation comes from the first word of the book in koine greek. The author of the book of revelation identifies himself by name as john 1. This summary of the book of revelation provides information about the title, author s, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of revelation. Is this the same john who wrote the gospel account and three letters. Some secularist critics of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints claim that the authorship of the book of revelation is evidence that joseph smith wrote. Traditionally, the book of revelation has been dated near the end of the first century, around a.
Continuous revelation provides individual latter day saints with a testimony, described by richard bushman as one of the most potent words in the mormon lexicon. Book of revelation for dummies cheat sheet dummies. He was a jewish christian prophet, probably belonging to a group of such prophets, and was accepted by the. John of patmos also called john the revelator, john the divine, john the theologian, and possibly john the apostle. Traditionally, both books have been identified as coming from the same person, john the son.
John of patmos also called john the revelator, john the divine or john the theologian. So this book is a revelation of jesus christ, not in the sense that matthew, mark, luke and john revealed him, but rather than the humiliated christ, we have. The 1978 revelation on priesthood was a revelation announced by leaders of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church that reversed a longstanding policy excluding men of black african descent from the priesthood. If we diligently use the keys that the lord has given us to interpret the book of revelation, it can truly become a book of revelation for us. As with acts, revelation shows how the lord works with and through his servants. Oct 15, 2014 elder mcconkie once said, if you have already fallen in love with johns presentation of the plan of salvation as it is set out in the apocalypse, you are one of the favored few in the church. Announcing our upcoming articles on the book of abraham nov, 2018 its ok to let go in search of the truth nov 9, 2018 looking at the 20 report. Patmos was a quarry mine for the roman empire, and was home to. He wrote five books against marcion hippolytus 170235 a. In response to an inquiry on the beliefs of the church, joseph smith wrote what came to be called the wentworth letter, the last section of which was canonized as the articles of. One theory, revelation draft hypothesis, sees the book of revelation constructed by forming parallels with several texts in the old testament such as ezekiel, isaiah, zechariah, deuteronomy, joshua, exodus, and daniel. Some writers, however, have advanced the preterist from a latin word meaning that which is past view, contending that the apocalypse was penned around a. Some christian scholars in later centuries questioned its authorship, objected to some of its doctrines for instance, its teachings about the millennium or its teaching that people would be judged according to their works, and found its. The author names himself as john, but modern scholars consider it unlikely that the author of revelation also wrote the gospel of john.
The book of revelation is traditionally said to be written by john. If so, john penned much of the new testament, with only paul and luke writing more than him. This book is a mustread for anyone, lds or otherwise, to understand the evidence supporting the divine authenticity of the book of mormon volume. The author of revelation mentioned his name, john, four times throughout the book revelation 1. So, the book of mormon, brought forth through the prophet joseph smith, teaches us that we were meant to have johns description of the events leading up to the. And remember what joseph smith said, the book of revelation is one of the plainest books god ever caused to be written smith, teachings of the prophet joseph smith, p. The book of revelation was not written at one time by a single author.
In all its uses, revelation refers to something or someone, once hidden, becoming visible. In the evangelists history, he indicated that what motivated him to write his gospel was his desire to preserve all that jesus began both to do and to teach acts 1. The book of the revelation pastor david legge 4 reign of righteousness. This book cracks the mystery of the elaborate, and highly formulaic procedure john used, and gives readers the opportunity to observe how the book of revelation was written, line by line, as though they were peering. Such is the view of the latterday saints relative to this most misunderstood of all. It appears that john may have been written in the mid80s to early 90s as he may have served as pastor of the church of ephesus. The writer of revelation identifies himself as john. If the book was written in the 90s, then the immediate background for the book is persecution of christians under domitian. Is it possible for the book to be made easier for latterday saints to understand. 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. The first five seals described in the book of revelation are dealt with in 11 verses see revelation 6. Book of revelation mormonism, the mormon church, beliefs. Reading the book of revelation is like stepping inside a red corvette, strapping on the seat belt, and holding on for dear life as the car drives itselfroaring up precipitous ascents, flying down steep hills, accelerating through short, bumpy straightaways, and banking sharply on.
The 1978 revelation on priesthood was a revelation announced by leaders of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church that reversed a longstanding policy excluding men of black african descent from the priesthood beginning in the late 1840s, individuals of black african descent were prohibited from ordination to the lds churchs priesthoodnormally held by all male. Oct 10, 2017 4 places latterday saints have made the news recently danielle christensen the church of jesus christ of latterday saints has been receiving some positive attention lately for how its members are handling the coivd19 pandemic, whether that entails food storage, sharing the gospel, or looking out for ones neighbor. Book of revelation overview church of jesus christ. It is the only biblical book that is wholly composed of apocalyptic literature. Book of revelation overview insight for living ministries. Watch our overview video on the book of revelation, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. Christians throughout history have given almost unanimous affirmation to the identity of the books author as john the apostle, who had been exiled to the island of patmos by the authorities for preaching the gospel in asia. John the beloved, he who wrote the gospel of john and the.
Religious studies center, brigham young university, 2009, 27189. Two book of mormon passages underscore the importance of the revelation of john for the latter days. Dec 14, 2016 watch our overview video on the book of revelation, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. The lds restorationist movement, including the mormon churches part 2. And they wrote the doctrines that were given to them via revelation. Apr 07, 2018 perhaps more than any other new testament book, the date for the writing of revelation is important for interpreting the book. From as early as justin martyr in the second century a. The book of revelation is the final book of the new. How john wrote the book of revelation is a behindthescenes look at the literary process used to create the book of revelation. The following historical events were significant to john the apostle and his audience. When was the book of revelation written by the apostle john.
It attempted to prove that natives had descended from the ancient israelites. The language and imagery is so chosen as to appeal to the maturing gospel scholar, to those who already love the lord and have some knowledge of his goodness and grace. Revelation is first and foremost a revelation about jesus christ 1. The sixth seal covers the sixth thousand year period, which generally would be. The book of mormon affirms that john was foreordained to write the things recorded in the apostle john wrote a message of hope and encouragement to the.
For whom was the book of revelation written and why. What the lds curriculum generally attempts to do with revelation is a fascinating reflection of our own mecentered, therapeutic era. When you consider the wide agreement among biblical scholars about who wrote every other book of the new testament, its a little mysterious that we dont know who wrote hebrews. In revelation, johns visions reveal that jesus has overcome evil by. When john wrote the book of revelation in the latter part of the first century a. Joseph smith said, the book of revelation is one of the plainest books god ever caused to be written.
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