'One of plainest books'
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The Prophet Joseph Smith once said that the book of Revelation "is one of the plainest books God ever caused to be written." In teaching that there is "a grand difference and distinction between the visions and figures spoken of by the ancient prophets, and those spoken of in the revelations of John," the Prophet wrote:
"The things which John saw had no allusion to the scenes of the days of Adam, Enoch, Abraham or Jesus, only so far as is plainly represented by John, and clearly set forth by him. John saw that only which was lying in futurity and which was shortly to come to pass, see Rev. 1:1-3, which is a key to the whole subject: `The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto Him, to show unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass; and He sent and signified it by His angel unto His servant John: who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of his prophecy, and keep those things that are written therein: for the time is at hand.' Also Rev. 4:1: `After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven; and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will show thee things which must be hereafter.'"The four beasts and twenty-four elders were out of every nation; for they sang a new song, saying, `Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seal thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.' (See Rev. 5:9.)
". . . The revelations do not give us to understand anything of the past in relation to the kingdom of God. What John saw and speaks of were things which he saw in heaven; those which Daniel saw were on and pertaining to the earth." (The Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Section 6, 1843-1844, p. 289-290.)
