Scripture Blog

This weblog is my personal online scripture journal. I try to read the scriptures each morning as I exercise on my cross-trainer. It has a great impact on my life and my testimony of the Savior and his restored church. The journal is really for my own benefit but I have set it up as a web log in hopes to benefit anyone else that may be interested. "For he that diligently seeketh shall find; and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy Ghost..." 1 Nephi 10:19

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Revelations 7

By revelation, we learn from the question -

"...What are we to understand by the seven seals with which it was sealed?
A[nswer]. 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." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 77:7)

After the sixth seal was opened which is in the millenium we live, John saw -

"...four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree." (New Testament Revelation 7:1)

"...to whom is given power over the four parts of the earth, to save life and to destroy..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 77:8)

John then sees -

"...another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,
3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads." (New Testament Revelation 7:2 - 3)

From Moroni, another ministering angel it was revealed -

"BEHOLD, I will reveal unto you the Priesthood, by the hand of Elijah the prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.
2 And he shall plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers, and the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers.
3 If it were not so, the whole earth would be utterly wasted at his coming." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 2:1 - 3)

It was Elijah that returned in modern day with the keys and power of sealing spoken of by John. John then witnesses -

"...I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel." (New Testament Revelation 7:4)

These being -

"...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." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 77:11)

But it doesn't seem limited to these high priests for John wrote -

"...I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands..." (New Testament Revelation 7:9)

Who were these individuals -

"...These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." (New Testament Revelation 7:14)

No question in my mind these individuals were also sealed. It is these that -

"...serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.
16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any hat.
17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes." (New Testament Revelation 7:15 - 17)

These great blessings are reserved for those that serve regularly in His temple. It is of these -

"To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne." (New Testament Revelation 3:21)

I think this verse provides a great incite on the throne of God as He says - "I will grant to sit with "in" my throne.