 |
| The Revelation of John the Apostle by Richard Draper and Michael D. Rhodes Questions answered in this book. |
2. Who is first Beast, the whore of the earth, the mother of abominations?
3. Who is the second Beast?
4. How many churches are there today?
Timeline:
1. Persecution2. The Beasts fights the Lamb of God
3. That great pit which hath been digged for the destruction of men shall be filled by those who digged it
4. The righteous need not fear
5. The wrath of God
6. Adam-onidi-Ahman
7. New Jerusalem built
8. Many flee to Zion
9. Enoch and 10 Tribes return
10. Armageddon
11. Millennium
12. End of the Millennium
13. Kingdom's of Glory
1. Who is the dragon spoken of in Revelation?
Rev 12:7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
Later, in Revelation 20:2, the text calls Satan a dragon. It states that the dragon will be bound for a thousand years.
2. Who is first beast, the whore of the earth, the mother of abominations?
Revelation 13:1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. (The JST says the beast from the sea symbolizes "kingdoms of the earth." "The beast is not a real beast but is the image of evil" - Joseph Smith)Rev 13:4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
Rev 13:16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
"Now in the last days, the beast is once again gaining power. Its emanations include drug cartels, organized crime, and secret combinations, but its greatest manifestations is the secular state in all its various forms and radical religious systems." p 501 The Revelation of John the Apostle by Richard D. Draper and Michael D. Rhodes, published - 2016"The first beast speaks blasphemy. It makes bold statements and ascribes to itself characteristics and attributes of Deity and demands the reverence due them. These acts are the very essence of blasphemy. The task of the second beast is to make the claims of the first beast persuasive and plausible." p 522 The Revelation of John the Apostle by Richard D. Draper and Michael D. Rhodes, published - 2016
 |
| Second beast on left, first on right |
Revelation 13:11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.But the only reason that the beasts have gained ascendancy is because of the fallen and spiritual degenerate state of modern society. This condition has been carefully orchestrated by those three over the ages. The result is that evil has been able to impose itself on the earth dwellers because of their growing indifference and ambivalence toward the good. They are willing victims of a growing normalization of aberrant behavior. That have been seduced by the ideological sophistry that the false lamb spews through all forms of media, the "image" the inhabitants of the earth willingly created for it. As a result their love has waxed cold and along with it their ability to feel, to sympathize, and to empathize. Being touched by nothing, they can be reached by nothing, and therefore saved by nothing, not even the terrible beating of "the army of horsemen...having breastplates of fire and jacinth and brimstone," who killed "the third part of men." See: Rev 9:16-18 p 522 first paragraph,The Revelation of John the Apostle by Richard D. Draper and Michael D. Rhodes, published - 2016
4. How many churches are there today?
1 Nephi 14:10 And he said unto me: Behold there are save two churches only; the one is the church of the Lamb of God, and the other is the church of the devil; wherefore, whoso belongeth not to the church of the Lamb of God belongeth to that great church, which is the mother of abominations; and she is the whore of all the earth.
Even though there are two churches, many people don't belong to either. In time they will chose. Even during the millennium there will be non church members who are good people. KG
Abominations in the scriptures are something that causes disgust or hatred to the righteous and pure.
Lying lips are abomination to the Lord, Prov. 12:22.
Pride is abominable in the sight of the Lord, Jacob 2:13–22.
The wicked are consigned to a view of their own abominations, Mosiah 3:25.
Unchastity is most abominable above all sins save murder and denying the Holy Ghost, Alma 39:3–5.
The indignation of the Lord is kindled against their abominations, D&C 97:24.
 |
| President Russell M. Nelson |
6. What has President Nelson prophesied?
Answer: contention, persecution, and deception
Why do we need such resilient faith? Because difficult days are ahead. Rarely in the future will it be easy or popular to be a faithful Latter-day Saint. Each of us will be tested. The Apostle Paul warned that in the latter days, those who diligently follow the Lord “shall suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12). That very persecution can either crush you into silent weakness or motivate you to be more exemplary and courageous in your daily lives.President Nelson: ” The Future of the Church: Preparing the World for the Savior Second Coming, Liahona, April 2020
“We live in a world that is complex and increasingly contentious. The constant availability of social media and a 24-hour news cycle bombard us with relentless messages. If we are to have any hope of sifting through the myriad of voices and the philosophies of men that attack truth, we must learn to receive revelation.” ‘Hear Him’, April, 2020 GC
“Church members in the Samoan Islands will not be immune from being persecuted,” he said, warning them to “prepare to be persecuted, even every day,” and telling them they have a solemn duty to prepare for it
“Please protect your families from the deception you will see in your future,” he said. “That’s why we are all busily engaged in this work. We have to fortify our people against attacks of the adversary.” Russell M Nelson, May 18, 2019 Apia, Samoa
 |
| Nephi |
7. What else did President Nelson predict?
"We live in the day that “our forefathers have awaited with anxious expectation.” We have front-row seats to witness live what the prophet Nephi saw only in vision, that “the power of the Lamb of God” would descend “upon the covenant people of the Lord, who were scattered upon all the face of the earth; and they were armed with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory. "You, my brothers and sisters, are among those men, women, and children whom Nephi saw. Think of that!" Hear Him, April 2020 Conference talk by President Russell M. Nelson |
| Pit |
1 Nephi 14:3 And that great pit, which hath been digged for them by that great and abominable church, which was founded by the devil and his children, that he might lead away the souls of men down to hell—yea, that great pit which hath been digged for the destruction of men shall be filled by those who digged it, unto their utter destruction, saith the Lamb of God; not the destruction of the soul, save it be the casting of it into that hell which hath no end.
1 Nephi 14:15 And it came to pass that I beheld that the wrath of God was poured out upon that great and abominable church, insomuch that there were wars and rumors of wars among all the nations and kindreds of the earth.
1 Nephi 22:14 And every nation which shall war against thee, O house of Israel, shall be turned one against another, and they shall fall into the pit which they digged to ensnare the people of the Lord. And all that fight against Zion shall be destroyed, and that great whore, who hath perverted the right ways of the Lord, yea, that great and abominable church, shall tumble to the dust and great shall be the fall of it
D&C 88:94 And another angel shall sound his trump, saying: That great church, the mother of abominations, that made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, that persecuteth the saints of God, that shed their blood—she who sitteth upon many waters, and upon the islands of the sea—behold, she is the tares of the earth; she is bound in bundles; her bands are made strong, no man can loose them; therefore, she is ready to be burned. And he (the angel shall sound his trump both long and loud, and all nations shall hear it.
9. What forms will the "Wrath of God," take?
The end of all nations
D&C 87:6 And thus, with the sword and by bloodshed the inhabitants of the earth shall mourn; and with famine, and plague, and earthquake, and the thunder of heaven, and the fierce and vivid lightning also, shall the inhabitants of the earth be made to feel the wrath, and indignation, and chastening hand of an Almighty God, until the consumption decreed hath made a full end of all nations; (God has righteous indignation – holy anger, fury, and jealousy – at sinful behavior .)D&C 45:31 And there shall be men standing in that generation, that shall not pass until they shall see an overflowing scourge; for a desolating sickness shall cover the land.
32 But my disciples shall stand in holy places, and shall not be moved; but among the wicked, men shall lift up their voices and curse God and die.
Rev 16:2 First bowl: "And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth;' and there fell a noisome and grevious sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshiped his image.
2 Nephi 27:2 And when that day shall come they shall be visited of the Lord of Hosts, with thunder and with earthquake, and with a great noise, and with storm, and with tempest, and with the flame of devouring fire.
D&C 112:24 Behold, vengeance cometh speedily upon the inhabitants of the earth, a day of wrath, a day of burning, a day of desolation, of weeping, of mourning, and of lamentation; and as a whirlwind it shall come upon all the face of the earth, saith the Lord.
25 And upon my house shall it begin, and from my house shall it go forth, saith the Lord;
10. How will the righteous preserved?
1 Nephi 22:17 Wherefore, he will preserve the righteous by his power, even if it so be that the fulness of his wrath must come, and the righteous be preserved, even unto the destruction of their enemies by fire. Wherefore, the righteous need not fear; for thus saith the prophet, they shall be saved, even if it so be as by fire.
18 Behold, my brethren, I say unto you, that these things must shortly come; yea, even blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke must come; and it must needs be upon the face of this earth; and it cometh unto men according to the flesh if it so be that they will harden their hearts against the Holy One of Israel.
19 For behold, the righteous shall not perish; for the time surely must come that all they who fight against Zion shall be cut off.
D&C 63:54 And until that hour there will be foolish virgins among the wise; and at that hour cometh an entire separation of the righteous and the wicked; and in that day will I send mine angels to pluck out the wicked and cast them into unquenchable fire.
11. When and what will happen at Adam-ondi-Ahman?
When?On one occasion the Prophet spoke of "war, and fires, burning and earthquake, one pestilence after another etc until the Ancient of Days come(s), then judgment will be given to the Saints." (thus the coming of Adam occurs after a period of great tribulation. Words of Joseph Smith 8-9
Orson Pratt: "This prophecy relates to a period of time in the history of our race, when thrones are to be cast down, when kingdoms and the various governments which exist upon the face of the earth are to be overthrown. JD18:336
10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened. (100 million attend, secret meeting in terms of the world and the church)
Christ made King
12. When will the New Jerusalem be built?
The Prophet Joseph Smith, explains that the New Jerusalem will occur sometime before the Second Coming: "Zion and Jerusalem must both be built up before the coming of Christ...and when these cities are built then shall the coming of the Son of Man be." p 417 Words of Joseph Smith, p53 Prophecies by Matthew Brown
69 And there shall be gathered unto it out of every nation under heaven; and it shall be the only people that shall not be at war one with another.
2 Nephi 12:3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
Moses 7:62 And righteousness will I send down out of heaven; and truth will I send forth out of the earth, to bear testimony of mine Only Begotten; his resurrection from the dead; yea, and also the resurrection of all men; and righteousness and truth will I cause to sweep the earth as with a flood, to gather out mine elect from the four quarters of the earth, unto a place which I shall prepare, an Holy City, that my people may gird up their loins, and be looking forth for the time of my coming; for there shall be my tabernacle, and it shall be called Zion, a New Jerusalem.16. And it shall be said in days to come that none is able to go up to the land of Zion upon the waters, but he that is upright in heart. (Safety in the New Jerusalem)
63 And the Lord said unto Enoch: Then shalt thou and all thy city meet them there, and we will receive them into our bosom, and they shall see us; and we will fall upon their necks, and they shall fall upon our necks, and we will kiss each other;
Saints are safe to do missionary work/build New Jerusalem
Return of 10 Tribes and City of Enoch after the New Jerusalem built?
Remnant of Jacob to help build New Jerusalem ?
D&C 45:49 And the Lord shall utter his voice, and all the ends of the earth shall hear it; and the nations of the earth shall mourn, and they that have laughed shall see their folly.
D&C 45:50 And calamity shall cover the mocker, and the scorner shall be consumed; and they that have watched for iniquity shall be hewn down and bcast into the cfire.
Zech 14:12 And this shall be the plague wherewith the Lord will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth.
Rev 16 21 And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.
"The Jews gather home, and rebuild Jerusalem. The nations gather against them to barttle. Their armies encompass the city, and have more or less power over it for three and a half. A couple of ...prophets by their mighty miracles, keep them from utterly overcoming the Jews, uintil at length they are slain., and the city is left in a great measure to the mercy of their enemies for three days and a half. The two prophets rise from the dead and ascend up to heaven. The Messiah comes, convulses the earth, overthrows the army of the Gentiles, delivers the Jews, and cleanses Jerusalem." (Parley P. Pratt, A voice of Warning and Instruction to All People p 49)
Rev 21:23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
16. What are the events surrounding Christ's appearance to the world?
D&C 88:91 And all things shall be in commotion; (natural calamities)and surely, men’s hearts shall fail them; for fear shall come upon all people.
92 And angels shall fly through the midst of heaven, crying with a loud voice, (similar to when Christ first came) sounding the trump of God, saying: Prepare ye, prepare ye, O inhabitants of the earth; for the judgment of our God is come. Behold, and lo, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
93 And immediately there shall appear a great sign in heaven, and all people shall see it together. (like the star it will be a bright light. For as the light of the morning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west, and covereth the whole earth, so shall the coming of the Son of Man Be JST Matt 24:26-27)
94 And another angel shall sound his trump,(first of seven angels) saying: That great church, the mother of abominations, that made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, that persecuteth the saints of God, that shed their blood—she who sitteth upon many waters, and upon the islands of the sea—behold, she is the tares of the earth; she is bound in bundles; her bands are made strong, no man can loose them; therefore, she is ready to be burned. And he shall sound his trump both long and loud, and all nations shall hear it. ("the great and abominable church, which is the whore of all the earth, shall be cast down by devouring fire...for abominations shall not reign. Ezek 38:23 This is also called the desolation of abominations in the last days. D&C 84:117 It is also called the Wrath of God D&C88:85)
Resurrection of the faithful.
96 And the saints that are upon the earth, who are alive, shall be quickened and be caught up to meet him.
97 And they who have slept in their graves shall come forth, for their graves shall be opened; and they also shall be caught up to meet him in the midst of the pillar of heaven— (pillar of heaven into which resurrected celestial personages will be caught up when Christ comes is undoubtedly the same as pillar of fire in which Christ will arrive D&C88:97)
98 They are Christ’s, the first fruits, they who shall descend with him first, and they who are on the earth and in their graves, who are first caught up to meet him; and all this by the voice of the sounding of the trump of the angel of God. (The Lord will return with all the hosts of heaven D&C45:44 They will return to rule and reign with Christ. D&C 76:63)
(The burning of the wicked will happen because the wicked cannot see the Lord's face and live. D&C 67:11-12 The wicked will be burned with fire D&C 86 1-7)
17. What happens during the Millennium?
Christ rules and reigns and all telestial people are removed. After his second coming when Jesus rules, it is incredulous but some men and women will degenerate to such a level that they will freely choose a path leading them indictable to destruction. After the millennium Satan will be loosed for a time and there will be a final war and some will die. p 88 Prophicies by Matthew Brown
Moses 7:62 And righteousness will I send down out of heaven; and truth will I send forth out of the earth, to bear testimony of mine Only Begotten; his resurrection from the dead; yea, and also the resurrection of all men; and righteousness and truth will I cause to sweep the earth as with a flood, to gather out mine elect from the four quarters of the earth, unto a place which I shall prepare, an Holy City, that my people may gird up their loins, and be looking forth for the time of my coming; for there shall be my tabernacle, and it shall be called Zion, a New Jerusalem.64 And there shall be mine abode, and it shall be Zion, which shall come forth out of all the creations which I have made; and for the space of a thousand years the earth shall rest.
D&C 29:11 For I will reveal myself from heaven with power and great glory, with all the hosts thereof, and dwell in righteousness with men on earth a thousand years, and the wicked shall not stand.
Changes in the earth, all the land in one place, emnity gone
D&C 133:23 He shall command the great deep, and it shall be driven back into the north countries, and the islands shall become one land;
24 And the land of Jerusalem and the land of Zion shall be turned back into their own place, and the cearth shall be like as it was in the days before it was divided.
Isaiah 51:3 For the Lord shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.How much emnity will there be?
D&C 101:26 And in that day the enmity of man, and the enmity of beasts, yea, the enmity of all flesh, shall cease from before my face.
Joel 2 28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
D&C 101:27 And in that day whatsoever any man shall ask, it shall be given unto him.
28 And in that day Satan shall not have power to tempt any man.
Will some wicked will remain?
"The wicked will not all be destroyed at the coming of Christ and also there will be wicked [people] during the millennium. Joseph Smith March 15 1841
..The people who can abide a terrestrial kingdom include those who are "honorable men of the earth" but who when they have the gospel of the Son of God preached unto them "while in the flesh, chose not to receive "the testimony of Jesus. D&C 76:71-75
Will men sin in the millennium?
Yes. Why? Because they have not lost thier agency. Agency always continues wherefer intelligent beings are, whether in heaven, on the earth or among any of the creations that God has made: wherever you find intelligent beings, there you will find an agency. Orson Pratt JD 16:319-320
How will death work?
D&C 101:29 And there shall be no sorrow because there is no death.
30 In that day an infant shall not die until he is old; and his life shall be as the age of a tree;
31 And when he dies he shall not sleep, that is to say in the earth, but shall be changed in the twinkling of an eye, and shall be caught up, and his rest shall be glorious. (some will not be changed into a resurrected being)
Will there be increased knowledge?
D&C 101:32 Yea, verily I say unto you, in that day when the Lord shall come, he shall reveal all things—
33 Things which have passed, and hidden things which no man knew, things of the earth, by which it was made, and the purpose and the end thereof
34 Things most precious, things that are above, and things that are beneath, things that are in the earth, and upon the earth, and in heaven.
D&C 121: 28 A time to come in the which nothing shall be withheld, whether there be one God or many gods, they shall be manifest.
29 All thrones and dominions, principalities and powers, shall be revealed and set forth upon all who have endured valiantly for the gospel of Jesus Christ.
30 And also, if there be bounds set to the heavens or to the seas, or to the dry land, or to the sun, moon, or stars—
31 All the times of their revolutions, all the appointed days, months, and years, and all the days of their days, months, and years, and all their glories, laws, and set times, shall be revealed in the days of the dispensation of the fulness of times
2 Nephi 30:16 Wherefore, the things of all nations shall be made known; yea, all things shall be made known unto the children of men.
17 There is nothing which is secret save it shall be revealed; there is no work of darkness save it shall be made manifest in the light; and there is nothing which is sealed upon the earth save it shall be loosed.
18 Wherefore, all things which have been revealed unto the children of men shall at that day be revealed; and Satan shall have power over the hearts of the children of men no more, for a long time. And now, my beloved brethren, I make an end of my sayings.
What will be revealed in the Millennium?
D&C 88: 108 And then shall the first angel again sound his trump in the ears of all living, and reveal the secret acts of men, and the mighty works of God in the first thousand years.
109 And then shall the second angel sound his trump, and reveal the secret acts of men, and the thoughts and intents of their hearts, and the mighty works of God in the second thousand years—
110 And so on, until the seventh angel shall sound his trump; and he shall stand forth upon the land and upon the sea, and swear in the name of him who sitteth upon the throne, that there shall be time no longer; and Satan shall be bound, that old serpent, who is called the devil, and shall not be loosed for the space of a thousand years.
What language will be spoken?
Zeph 3:8 Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the Lord, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.
9 For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve him with one consent.
Who will reign?
D&C 58: 22 Wherefore, be subject to the powers that be, until he reigns whose right it is to reign, and subdues all enemies under his feet.
D&C 43:29 For in mine own due time will I come upon the earth in judgment, and my people shall be redeemed and shall reign with me on earth.
Rev 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
Rev 17:14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.
"If the Latter-day Saints think, when the kingdom of God is established on the earth, that all the inhabitants of the earth will join the Church called Latter-day Saints, they are egregiously mistaken. I presume there will be as many sects and parties than as now. Brigham Young. JD11:275
How many capitols in the Millennium?
Isaiah 2:3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
18. What happens at the end of the Millennium?
Satan loosed
Rev 20: 7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. (see a parallel in 4th Nephi of how saints turned to sin)
9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them
Judgment:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
Resurrection of the unjust
Rev 20:5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
They are those who love lies and make them, engage in unlawful sexual conduct and advocate false power. They will have to suffer the wrath of Almighty God in hell until Christ will have subdued all enemies and perfected his work. p 114 Prophecies by Matthew Brown
Rev 22:11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
The Earth is Celestialized
D&C 88:18 Therefore, it must needs be sanctified from all unrighteousness, that it may be prepared for the celestial glory;
19 For after it hath filled the measure of its creation, it shall be crowned with glory, even with the presence of God the Father;
20 That bodies who are of the celestial kingdom may possess it forever and ever; for, for this intent was it made and created, and for this intent are they sanctified.
D&C 29:23 And the end shall come, and the heaven and the earth shall be consumed and pass away, and there shall be a new heaven and a new earth.
24 For all old things shall pass away, and all things shall become new, even the heaven and the earth, and all the fulness thereof, both men and beasts, the fowls of the air, and the fishes of the sea;
What will the celestial orb be like?
"When [the earth] becomes celestialized it will be like the sun, and be prepared for the habitation of Saints, and be brought back into the presence of the Father and the Son. It will not then be an opaque body as it now is, but it will be...full of light and glory; it will be a body of light. Brigham Young. JD 7:163
"This earth in its sanctified and immortal state will be made like unto crystal and will be a Urim and Thummim to the inhabitants who dwell thereon, whereby all things pertaining to an inferior kingdom or all kingdoms of a lower order will be manifest to those who dwell on it. D&C 130:9
"A Saint who is one in deed and truth, does not look for an immaterial heaven, but he expects a heaven with lands, houses, cities, vegetation, rivers and animals with thrones, temples, palaces, kings, princes, priests and angels; with food raiment musical instruments etc. Orson Pratt, Masterful Discourses and Writings of Orson Peratt Bookcraft 1962: p62-63
On it they expect to live, with body, parts, and holy passions, on it they expect to move and have their being to eat, drink, converse, worship, sing, play on musical instruments, engage in joyful innocent, social amusements, visit neighboring towns and neighboring world, indeed matter and it qualitis an properties are the only beings or things with which they expect to associate. Orson Pratt, Masterful Discourses and Writings of Orson Peratt Bookcraft 1962: p62-63
Rev 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life."All the [celestial] creations that are redeemed can enjoy the continued and eternal presence of the Lord their God though He be millions of miles distant from their physical location. JD 17:332-33
Terrestrial
For example, those in the terrestrial kingdom—comparable to the popular concept of heaven—“are they who receive of the presence of the Son, but not of the fulness of the Father.” They were “honorable men of the earth, who were blinded by the craftiness of men,” but “not valiant in the testimony of Jesus.” Dallen H. Oaks, Three Degrees of Glory Video on LDS.org, 2021
Telestial
The revealing description of those assigned to the lowest of the kingdoms of glory, the telestial, is “he who cannot abide … a terrestrial glory.” That describes those who reject the Savior and have observed no divine limits on their behavior. This is the kingdom where the wicked abide, after they have suffered for their sins. These are described in modern revelation as “they who received not the gospel of Christ, neither the testimony of Jesus. Dallen H. Oaks Oct 2023
Sons of Perdition
D&C 76:32 They are they who are the sons of perdition, of whom I say that it had been better for them never to have been born;
33 For they are vessels of wrath, doomed to suffer the wrath of God, with the devil and his angels in eternity;
34 Concerning whom I have said there is no forgiveness in this world nor in the world to come—
35 Having denied the Holy Spirit after having received it, and having denied the Only Begotten Son of the Father, having crucified him unto themselves and put him to an open shame.
36 These are they who shall go away into the lake of fire and brimstone, with the devil and his angels
“These are they who are liars, and sorcerers, and adulterers, and whoremongers, and whosoever loves and makes a lie.” Dallen H. Oaks Oct 2023
|
| President Russell M. Nelson |