Section 77

1–4, Beasts have spirits and will dwell in eternal felicity; 5–7, This earth has a temporal existence of 7,000 years; 8–10, Various angels restore the gospel and minister on earth; 11, The sealing of the 144,000; 12–14, Christ will come in the beginning of the seventh thousand years; 15, Two prophets will be raised up to the Jewish nation.

1. Q. What is the

sea of glass spoken of by John, 4th chapter, and 6th verse of the Revelation?
A. It is the

earth, in its

sanctified,

immortal, and

eternal state.

2. Q. What are we to understand by the four beasts, spoken of in the same verse?
A. They are

figurative expressions, used by the Revelator, John, in describing

heaven, the

paradise of God, the

happiness of man, and of beasts, and of creeping things, and of the fowls of the air; that which is spiritual being in the likeness of that which is temporal; and that which is temporal in the likeness of that which is spiritual; the

spirit of man in the likeness of his person, as also the spirit of the

beast, and every other creature which God has created.

3. Q. Are the four beasts limited to individual beasts, or do they represent classes or

orders?
A. They are limited to four individual beasts, which were shown to John, to represent the glory of the classes of beings in their destined

order or

sphere of creation, in the enjoyment of their

eternal

felicity.

4. Q. What are we to understand by the

eyes and

wings, which the beasts had?
A. Their eyes are a representation of light and knowledge, that is, they are full of

knowledge; and their wings are a

representation of

power, to move, to act, etc.

5. Q. What are we to understand by the four and twenty

elders, spoken of by John?
A. We are to understand that these elders whom John saw, were elders who had been

faithful in the work of the ministry and were dead; who belonged to the

seven churches, and were then in the paradise of God.

6. Q. What are we to understand by the book which John saw, which was

sealed on the back with seven seals?
A. We are to understand that it contains the revealed will,

mysteries, and the works of God; the hidden things of his economy concerning this

earth during the seven thousand years of its continuance, or its temporal existence.

7. Q. What are we to understand by the seven

seals with which it was sealed?
A. We are to understand that the first seal contains the things of the

first thousand years, and the

second also of the second thousand years, and so on until the seventh.

8. Q. What are we to understand by the four

angels, spoken of in the 7th chapter and 1st verse of Revelation?
A. We are to understand that they are four angels sent forth from God, to whom is given power over the four parts of the earth, to save life and to destroy; these are they who have the

everlasting gospel to commit to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people; having power to

shut up the heavens, to seal up unto life, or to cast down to the

regions of darkness.

9. Q. What are we to understand by the angel

ascending from the east, Revelation 7th chapter and 2nd verse?
A. We are to understand that the angel ascending from the east is he to whom is given the seal of the living God over the twelve tribes of

Israel; wherefore, he crieth unto the four angels having the everlasting gospel, saying: Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their

foreheads. And, if you will receive it, this is

Elias which was to come to gather together the tribes of Israel and

restore all things.

10. Q. What time are the things spoken of in this chapter to be accomplished?
A. They are to be accomplished in the

sixth thousand years, or the opening of the sixth seal.

11. Q. What are we to understand by sealing the

one hundred and forty-four thousand, out of all the tribes of Israel—twelve thousand out of every tribe?
A. We are to understand that those who are sealed are

high priests, ordained unto the holy order of God, to administer the everlasting gospel; for they are they who are ordained out of every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, by the angels to whom is given power over the nations of the earth, to bring as many as will come to the church of the

Firstborn.

12. Q. What are we to understand by the sounding of the

trumpets, mentioned in the 8th chapter of Revelation?
A. We are to understand that as God

made the world in six days, and on the seventh day he finished his work, and

sanctified it, and also formed man out of the

dust of the earth, even so, in the beginning of the seventh thousand years will the Lord God

sanctify the earth, and complete the salvation of man, and

judge all things, and shall

redeem all things, except that which he hath not put into his power, when he shall have sealed all things, unto the end of all things; and the sounding of the trumpets of the seven angels are the preparing and finishing of his work, in the beginning of the seventh thousand years—the

preparing of the way before the time of his coming.

13. Q. When are the things to be accomplished, which are written in the 9th chapter of Revelation?
A. They are to be accomplished after the

opening of the seventh seal,

before the coming of Christ.

14. Q. What are we to understand by the little book which was

eaten by John, as mentioned in the 10th chapter of Revelation?
A. We are to understand that it was a mission, and an ordinance, for him to

gather the tribes of Israel; behold, this is Elias, who, as it is written, must come and

restore all things.

15. Q. What is to be understood by the two

witnesses, in the eleventh chapter of Revelation?
A. They are two prophets that are to be raised up to the

Jewish nation in the last days, at the time of the

restoration, and to prophesy to the Jews after they are gathered and have built the city of Jerusalem in the

land of their fathers.

1a. Ezek. 1:22.