Discourse, 8 April 1843, as Reported by William Clayton–A
Source Note
JS, Discourse, , Hancock Co., IL, 8 Apr. 1843; handwriting of ; notation in unidentified handwriting; docket in handwriting of ; three pages; JS Collection, CHL.
When God made use of the figure of a beast to the prophets he did it to rep. that portion, who had degenerated— the k’s of the [[world]]. Daniel says when he saw bear— angel interpreted— had no allusion to the k. of God— all the figure of beast rep. the k of the [[world]] beastly & abominable charcters— they were murderous corrupt carniverous in their dispositions. Make mention of the prophets to qualify any declaration I am about to make— that the young Ers may not choke me like hornets— dif between the prophets & the Rev of John— none of the things John saw had any allusion the days of Adam, Enock Ab[raham] or Jesus— only as represented to John & clearly set forth— John saw that which was shortly to come to pass futurity read Rev c 1 v 1— declaration— those things that John saw in h[eaven] had no allusion to any thing that had been on the earth because John saw what was to shortly come to pass— John saw beasts that had to do with things on the earth— but not in past ages The beast had to devour the inhabitants, The Rev. do not give us to understand any thing past in relation of the k of God— what John saw was in heaven— prophets on the earth— going to take exceptions to the translation— distinction pro[phets] do not declare the[y] saw beast but that they saw the image or figure of a beast. they did not see an actual bear or lion— should have been rendered image instead of beast in every instance— John saw the actual beast in heaven, to shew that that being did exist there. when p saw they were images types to represent & they received an interpretation. I set it forth by this broad dec— where God ever gives a vision of an image &c he always holds himself responsible to give a Rev. or interpretation. otherwise we are not responsible— dont be afraid of being damned for not knowing this where God has not given a Rev. read Rev 5— 11— particularly verse 13, John saw curious looking beasts in heaven— saw every creature that was in heaven &c— all the beast foul fish in heaven— actually their giving glory to God. I suppose John saw beings there that had been saved from 10000 times 10000 earths like this— strange beasts— might be seen them in heaven.— John learned that God glorified himself by saving all that his hands made— a man who would tell you that this could not be would tell you that the Revelation [p. [2]]