9 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ; 10 For the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. Most scholars agree that it is one of the most difficult books in either the Old or new Testaments. Hebrew masculine plurals generally end in -im. [25]. The most significant one I have found occurs in chapter 2. Elder Bruce R. McConkie said that these two prophets would be “followers of that humble man, Joseph Smith. Paperback $45, eBook $40. . We have not made that spiritual progression which qualifies us to understand its doctrines. But the opening of the seventh seal begins in the first verse of chapter 8. Reference (JST) Summary/Quotation. Studying that chronological structure carefully, we can see that John’s Revelation focuses most heavily on that short period of time between when the last period of a thousand years begins and when Christ comes. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man. [4] Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, comp. 16 And the earth helpeth the woman, and the earth openeth her mouth, and swalloweth up the flood which the dragon casteth out of his mouth. [3] Hence its title in English, the book of Revelation (or the uncovering or unveiling). Now the imagery is consistent and logical. The JST clearly identifies is as being given to John, a servant of God, from Jesus Christ. Grant Building . He [the Lord] has withheld the sealed portion of the Book of Mormon from us because it is beyond our present ability to comprehend. Our eighth article of faith states that “we believe the Bible to be the word of God, as far as it is translated correctly.” Joseph, in relating this belief, stated: Certainly more than any other single thing, his answers to those questions (see D&C 77:6–7) become the key to gaining access to the “house” of Revelation. As noted above, throughout these letters the Prophet changed the wording to make it clear that each letter was addressed to the presiding authority of each church. [1] Typically, modern readers, including Latter-day Saints, find its imagery strange, its prophecies filled with the bizarre and baffling imagery, its message unclear. Space allows discussion of only the most significant of the contributions from all four areas. To illustrate the confusion and babble of interpretive voices, let us just take one example of the world’s attempt to explain a highly symbolical passage found in chapter 9 of Revelation. Monte S. Nyman and Robert L. Millet (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1985), 251–70. He was told that he could not write them because it was a stewardship that belonged to another (see 1 Nephi 14:20–21, 25). About the Project Joseph Smith and His Papers Awards Endorsements Reviews Editorial Method Note on Transcriptions Note on Images of People and Places Referencing the Project Citing This Website Project Team Contact Us. Published Volumes. This seems puzzling at first, but again the information revealed through the Prophet Joseph Smith helps us with the interpretation. Similarly, the rather ingenious interpretation mentioned above—the locusts not hurting grass and trees being interpreted as the Arab general’s order to his troops to leave vegetation alone—can now be rejected, since the events described occurred midway in the fifth seal, and John sees the locusts appear after the opening of the seventh seal. Because the Lord revealed to Joseph certain truths that the original authors had once recorded, the Joseph Smith Translation is unlike any other Bible translation in the world. In this sense, the word translation is used in a broader and different way than usual, for Joseph’s translation was more revelation than literal translation from one language into another. During the meridian of time, the Church was not able to bring forth that political kingdom, but itself was taken into the wilderness, or went into apostasy (see JST Revelation 12:14; D&C 86:3). It is the first time all of the changes Joseph Smith made have ever been in print. It is a book of eminent importance to Latter-day Saints. They know all of that, and yet there is till no consensus as to what is truly revealed by John. (See D&C 77:2–3; see also the Prophet’s discourse on the meaning of the beasts. John saw in the right had of the father a book (most likely a scroll) which was sealed with seven seals (see 5:1). Joseph Smith has evoked wide acclaim from his devotees as well as strong criticism from those who became disillusioned with him for reasons that begin with skepticism about his testable scriptural and religious claims, financial dealings, extend to his infidelity and polygamous “revelations,” his relationships to close associates that so frequently soured, and his psychology. 4. It is in his right hand to suggest he controls everything in and about our world. Joseph Smith is perhaps best known for his translation of the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1954–56), 1:229. But, one asks, doesn’t this very confusion disprove your statement that the book of Revelation was meant to be understood? JESUS is speaking the following words. The dragon is clearly identified as Satan (see JST v. 8) Most commentators agree that the woman represents the Church of Jesus Christ, a fact which Joseph Smith definitely confirmed (see JST v. 7). Chapter 12 contains three great figures or signs “in the likeness of things on the earth” (JST v. 1)—a woman who is pregnant, a man child to whom she gives birth, and a great red dragon. [21] The whole sermon is an exposition of John’s revelation. Accordingly, on the 16th of February, 1832, while translating St. John’s Gospel, myself and Elder Rigdon saw the following vision.” [9] Then followed section 76. Why is this significant? Nevertheless, a careful study of section 77 shows that these fifteen questions do indeed provide the key so we can enter into the “house” of Revelation and begin to explore. [30] Applying that interpretation to John’s vision makes perfect sense. It is another example of how the Savior views his prophets and apostles. Bible scholars pay the price in terms of time and effort. Taking that as some indication of the number of significant changes, we could say that the prophet significantly altered only 12 percent of the total verses. In Nephi’s grand and glorious vision, he was privileged to see from his own time down through the stream of history to the end of the world. [16] Clearly nervous about that interpretation, Tenney finally only ventures that the locusts “are really an invasion from another world of malicious embodied spirits whose mission is destruction.” [17]. It unlocks the door through which an entrance may be gained, but after the key has been turned, the searcher for treasure must find it for himself. The book of Revelation is one of the most intriguing and controversial books in the biblical library. Reproduced herein are the most significant printed versions of the revelations that were published or in the process of being published during Joseph Smith’s lifetime. [Page 257] Abstract: Producing Ancient Scripture is a collection of sixteen … This revelation marked the beginning of Joseph Smith’s efforts to prepare an inspired revision or translation of the Bible. But when we get to the opening of the sixth and seventh seals—those of our own time, as it were—we are helped immensely and learn the following: 1. Almost instantly the reader is confronted with a baffling array of symbols, figures and images, some of which, on the surface at least, border on the bizarre. Following Hyrum, Joseph Smith said "they make a criminality for a man to have a wife on earth while he has one in heaven" and that "the Revelation was given in view of eternity": 'He received for answer, men in this life must marry in view of eternity, otherwise they must remain as angels, or be single in heaven, which was the amount of the Revelation referred to[.] Brigham Young University 11 For they have overcome him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; for they loved not their own lives, but kept the testimony even unto death. Instead, Joseph Smith’s revelation is thoroughly connected to the Bible, even if his extrapolations from those biblical passages are admittedly unique. [29] And there are other examples of how this key to the chronology becomes a key to the correct interpretation of the symbolism. 2. Revelation Book 1, the spine of which is labeled “Book of Commandments and Revelations,” was begun less than a year after Joseph Smith organized the church. They are not to hurt green things for they are not really locusts. In discussing Joseph Smith’s role as a revelator, I do so in the context of the revelations that were actually written down or transcribed and identified by him as being revelatory documents. 12 And after these things I heard another voice saying, Woe to the inhabiters of the earth, yea, and they who dwell upon the islands of the sea! Thus, clearly, the majority of the revelation focuses on that period “after the opening of the seventh seal, before the coming of Christ” (D&C 77:13). He changed verse 8 in the KJV to read, “And the dragon prevailed not against Michael, neither the child, nor the woman which was the Church of God, who had been delivered of her pains, and brought forth the kingdom of our God and his Christ” (JST v. 7; emphasis added). It is so far overstated that it gives an entirely erroneous feeling about this portion of revealed truth. This seems contradictory in the KJV. The Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible (JST). Though initially the volume was probably intended to be a record book for preserving revelation texts, it was later used as a copy text from which the revelations were published. Yet the book of Revelation gets only three new verses and relatively few other changes. This not only provides us one of the most specific clues we have as to the closeness of the Second Coming, but it also shows that the book of Revelation is basically structured chronologically, unfolding the earth’s history from the time of Adam until the earth is celestialized. The earth in its celestialized future state will become like a massive Urim and Thummim to its inhabitants (see D&C 77:1; 130:7–9). They are a great missionary force of the sixth seal (see D&C 77:10). Since the evidence suggests we have not yet entered that last period of a thousand years, this prophecy is yet future to us. Scorpions may signify archers; and hence the description has been applied to Cestius Gallus, the Roman general who had many archers in his army. [24] Smith, History of the Church, 1:253. A key is a very small part of the house. Published in 1985 Contact. The case of Joseph Smith and his translations. The transcription of this revelation, clear and powerful in content and tone, must have bolstered the twenty-t… 21 Many revelations were received as direct answers to questions Joseph was inspired to ask as his understanding of the gospel expanded during the effort to restore plain and precious parts of the Bible. One simple phrase added by the Prophet in this chapter brings the whole matter into perfect clearness. In sum, volume 4 of The Joseph Smith Papers, Revelations and Translation series, Book of Abraham and Related Transcripts, is an extraordinary scholarly accomplishment. Comment. An understanding of the book comes only when a price is paid in study, pondering and general gospel knowledge. 2. [35] Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 3 vols. But the Prophet changed or explained all references to the seven Spirits and the seven angels to show that the seven Spirits and the seven angels both refer to the leaders of the seven churches (see JST for all of the above verses). However, evil men would remove many of those truths. Chapter 12, where this explanation begins, was altered more by the Prophet in his revision of the book of Revelation than any other chapter. The earliest surviving transcribed revelation by Joseph Smith is Doctrine and Covenants 3. Reproduced herein are the most significant printed versions of the revelations that were published or in the process of being published during Joseph Smith’s lifetime. And it is through the instrumentality of the Prophet Joseph Smith, and especially his work on the new translation of the scriptures, that the book of Revelation has become just that for us. Though the Prophet did not give us specific help in interpreting the various images mentioned under the sounding of the seven trumpets that begin in chapter 8, two things he revealed are of great help as we study this section of Revelation. The problem with this book is it only has the changes, not the entire text of the bible. Since our focus in this paper is primarily on the contribution of the JST to our understanding of Relation, we shall focus on the contributions of section 77 and the actual textual changes of the JST, though where appropriate we may note contributions from Latter-day scripture or the Prophet’s other writings. But if the woman is the Church and the man child the Savior, this is contrary to what we know to be true. This second volume of the Revelations and Translations series of The Joseph Smith Papers presents Joseph Smith’s revelations in the format that early Latter-day Saints most often experienced them. . In chapter 10, there is a brief pause in the description of the judgments in which John is given a little book to eat. However, he could use the term differently, such as with the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible. Provo, UT 84602 3. Zion with the Savior. [18] H. M. S. Richards Jr., What Is in Your Future? All the plain and precious things in the book of Revelation were removed! As the scorpions of the earth have power] Namely, to hurt men by stinging them. The first five (6:1–11) are covered briefly, merely highlighting the thing of greatest import to the covenant people that happened in that time frame. . In fact, once the judgments happen it may be that the imagery used by John in this section will become much more clear. Those who are faithful in Thyatira are promised that they will be given power over nations and will rule them with a rod of iron, smashing them to pieces like clay pots (2:26–27). 299: Haley Lemmon – The Joseph Smith Translation – Revelation or Plagiarism Haley Wilson Lemmon sits down with us today to discuss the Joseph Smith translation of the Bible . As Matthews concludes, It is unlikely that the work would have progressed consecutively in the short of two weeks from Chapter 5 of John to the Book of Revelation. . From those changes we learn the following: 1. [12], All of this is not meant to imply that the book of Revelation is simple or easily understood. Manuscript Revelation Books presents the earliest surviving manuscripts of many of Joseph Smith's revelations, the ones used by Smith and his associates in preparing the published scriptures of their day. (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1966–73), 3:476–77; hereafter cited as DNTC. Joseph Smith Jr. (December 23, 1805 – June 27, 1844) was an American religious leader and founder of Mormonism and the Latter Day Saint movement.When he was 24, Smith published the Book of Mormon.By the time of his death, 14 years later, he had attracted tens of thousands of followers and founded a religion that continues to the present with millions of global adherents. 3. The final contribution of the Prophet to our understanding of the Apocalypse is in the actual work he did on the text of Revelation as part of his inspired translation of the Bible. Some might think those figures could be the result of the fact that the Prophet worked through the Bible sequentially. 00:17:07 - We are assigned sections 6-9 and the brief section about translation from Come Follow Me. These are the acknowledged experts in the New Testament and yet still cannot come to a consensus of opinion. For the textual history of Joseph’s revelations, see Robin Scott Jensen, Robert J. Woodford, and Steven C. Harper, eds., Revelations and Translations, Volume 1: Manuscript Revelation Books, vol. 1 of the Revelations and Translations series of The Joseph Smith Papers, ed. We do have decent evidence that he was translating this way from papyrus, but at the same time, some evidence points to his receiving revelation in a manner more similar to the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible, meaning he may have been looking at the papyrus and receiving revelation regarding something that was not at all present on that document. (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1951), 478. But in chapter 12, if that is the correct interpretation, there is a problem with the imagery. 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