Moroni here predicts the unfolding of the Revelations by St. John, the beloved Apostle, as a sign of the approaching end of one dispensation and the beginning of another. “Remember,” he says, “When ye see these things—that is the Revelations of John—and when ye shall receive this record—the Book of Ether—ye may know that the work of the Father has commenced upon all the face of the land.” We note that the Prophet now addresses both the Gentiles and the House of Israel, and invites them to accept the Gospel in order that their knowledge of God and spiritual things may increase. (vv. 13-14)
This prophecy concerning the unfolding of the Revelations of John has been fulfilled in our day and age. About March 1, 1832, the Prophet Joseph Smith, who at that time lived in Hiram, Portage County, Ohio, received a marvelous “Key” to the Revelation by John. He and Sidney Rigdon had been studying the Scriptures since some time in December, 1830, when the latter was instructed by revelation (Doctrine and Covenants, 35:20) to act as amanuensis to the Prophet, and it was while they were thus engaged that the unfolding took place.
The Key to Saint John’s Revelations, as given to the Prophet Joseph (Ibid., 77), embraces only the first eleven Chapters of the Book. These form one continuous link of visions concerning “the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter” (Revelation 1:19). The spiritual conditions of the Church at the time of the close of the first century A.D. are depicted in letters to the churches in Asia Minor (Chapters 2:1-3:22). These are a revelation concerning the things which are
The scene now changes from Earth to the sanctuary in Heaven. There the Apostle had a view of the things which must come to pass hereafter. First he saw God, the Father, sitting upon His throne, surrounded by representatives of the entire Creation. There were twenty-four Elders, representing the Church; seven burning lamps, representing the “seven Spirits of God” Revelation 4:1-11)
In the next Chapter we read the account of the vision of John, of a Book written on both sides and sealed with seven seals. This Book contained “the revealed will, mysteries, and works of God; the hidden things of His economy concerning this Earth during the seven thousand years of its continuance, or its temporal existence”; each seal representing a thousand years. (Doctrine and Covenants, 77:6-7). The Lamb, the Son of God, receives the Book from the hands of His Father, whereupon the Elders, representing the Church, the angels, of which there are thousands upon thousands; and every created thing join in worshiping Him, as well as the Father, saying, Unto Him that sitteth on the throne, and unto the Lamb, be the blessing, and the honor, and the glory, and the dominion, for ever and ever. And the four living creatures said, Amen. And the Elders fell down and worshiped. (See, Revelation 5:12-13) That the Lamb was given the Book, to break the seals and unfold the roll, signified that our Lord was made ruler of human history, as the King of kings and the Lord of lords.
The breaking of the seals begins in Chapter 6. The sealing of 144,000 of the Tribes of Israel enumerated, and the worship of an innumerable number of all nations are seen in Chapter 7. (See, Doctrine and Covenants, 77:8-11) In Chapters 8 and 9 events are shown that belong to the sixth millennium, immediately preceding the beginning of the seventh, which is the era of the Reign of our Lord upon the earth (Ibid., 77:12-14). In the 10th Chapter a mighty angel with a little book makes his appearance. This is evidently an outstanding feature of the history of the time of the end. The “little book” is “a mission and an ordinance for him (the angel) to gather the Tribes of Israel.” “Behold, this is Elias, who, as it is written, must come and restore all things.” (Ibid., 77:14)
“That great Prophet, Apostle, and martyr, Joseph Smith, was the Elias, the Restorer, the presiding messenger, holding the keys of the dispensation of the fulness of times, 10 Yes, that extraordinary man ... was the chosen vessel to be a messenger in the spirit and power of Elijah, to prepare the way of the Lord! For behold! He will suddenly come to His Temple.” (Parley P. Pratt, Key to Theology, p. 79)
Concerning the Little Book, See, also, An Introduction to the Study of the Book of Mormon, p. 258. The Book of Mormon is, preeminently, a document authorizing the Gathering of Israel
In the last paragraph of the 10th Chapter of this Revelation, the Apostle John is told: “Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues and kings,” referring to the part he, together with Peter and James, was assigned in the foundation of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The main feature of the 11th Chapter is the testimony of the Two Witnesses, who will perform a mission among the Jews, “after they are gathered and have built the City of Jerusalem in the land of their fathers” (Doctrine and Covenants, 77:15)
This ends the main part of the Book of Revelation. The Key in the Doctrine and Covenants also ends with this Chapter.
The second portion of the Book contains the following additional features, placed there by the inspired author, himself: A vision of a woman and her child, persecuted by a dragon, but miraculously saved (v. 12); a beast persecuting the Saints (v. 13); the Lamb (Son of God) on Mount Zion with 144,000 worshipers (v. 14); seven last plagues (v. 15); seven vails of wrath and the Battle of Armagedden, before the coming of the Lord (v. 16); the judgment of a woman on a scarlet-colored beast (v. 17); the fall of Babylon (v. 18); the union of the Lamb and the Saints (v. 19); the Millennium (v. 20); a New Heaven and a New Earth (v. 21); and Paradise Restored (v. 22).
These additions were made by the Apostle John, himself, by inspiration, in order to make his Revelation a complete and perfect picture of the history of the race. Any unauthorized elimination of some of its contents, or any additions thereto from uninspired apocalyptic literature would destroy the unity of the plan, and, by distorting it; distract from its value. Hence the solemn danger signal: “If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book; And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the Book of Life, and out of the Holy City, and from the things which are written in this book.” (Revelation 22:18-19)