The Book of Revelation and Restoration Scriptures

As members of the Church we can’t ignore the book of Revelation given its importance in the other scriptures of the Restoration.  For example, Nephi alluded to it near the beginning of the Book of Mormon after detailed a similar vision that he had to what John would have: “And I looked and beheld a man, and he was dressed in a white robe. And the angel said unto me: Behold one of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. Behold, he shall see and write the remainder of these things; yea, and also many things which have been. And he shall also write concerning the end of the world. Wherefore, the things which he shall write are just and true…. And I, Nephi, heard and bear record, that the name of the apostle of the Lamb was John, according to the word of the angel” (1 Nephi 14:19-27).  Not only did Nephi see that John would write the book of Revelation, but he testified to us that what he would write is “just and true.”  If we believe the Book of Mormon, then we must likewise believe its witness of the book of Revelation. 

               The Doctrine and Covenants also stands as another witness of the importance and truthfulness of the book of Revelation.  For example, section 77 is entirely devoted to explaining passages from Revelation, clearly giving a stamp of approval on the book itself.  Other passages use very similar language as John’s book.  In his letter to the Saints about baptisms for the dead, Joseph Smith quoted Revelation 20:12 and used this to teach about salvation for the dead (Doctrine and Covenants 128:6).  In another section the prophet described his vision of the Lord in these terms: “His eyes were as a flame of fire; the hair of his head was white like the pure snow; his countenance shone above the brightness of the sun; and his voice was as the sound of the rushing of great waters, even the voice of Jehovah, saying: I am the first and the last; I am he who liveth, I am he who was slain; I am your advocate with the Father” (Doctrine and Covenants 110:3-4).  Clearly he was paralleling John’s language: “His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters…. I am he that liveth, and was dead” (Revelation 1:14-15,18).  One of the names of the Savior used in the Book of Revelation is “Alpha and Omega”, and this is not used elsewhere in the Bible (Revelation 1:8, 11; 21:6; 22:13).  But it is used over a dozen times in the Doctrine and Covenants, such as when the Lord declared: “Behold, I am Alpha and Omega, and I come quickly” (Doctrine and Covenants 68:35).  In the book of Revelation the Lord declared, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten” (Revelation 3:19).  Similarly in our dispensation He said, “Thus saith the Lord unto you whom I love, and whom I love I also chasten that their sins may be forgiven” (Doctrine and Covenants 95:1).  These and other passages all witness to the importance of the book of Revelation for Latter-day Saints, and we have Nephi’s witness and the Lord’s affirmation that they are indeed “just and true.”