Delivered by Bishop Orson F. Whitney, in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City.

John, after being told what he should write unto the seven churches, saw a vision of the past and the future. (1)  He beheld a sea of glass like unto a crystal, shining before a heavenly throne, upon which sat a glorious being holding in his hand a book sealed with seven seals.  Joseph Smith declares that that sea of glass was the earth in its sanctified and immortal state, and that the book with seven seals symbolized the history of the earth-its true history-the hidden acts of men and the mysteries of God pertaining to this planet, during the seven thousand years of its temporal existence (2).  The opening of the first seal was the revealing of the acts of the first thousand years (3), the opening of the second seal the revealing of the acts of the second thousand years (4), and so on until the seventh (5).  We gather from this and other teachings of the prophet that this earth has been appointed a certain time in which to accomplish its mortal probation, prior to its glorification.  It was created, not a something out of nothing (6), as many have absurdly taught and supposed, but was organized from everlasting spirit and element (7), and was made for the children of God, firstly as a temporary abode, and lastly as an eternal inheritance (8).  It has been given a certain time in which to fulfill its mission as a mortal creature.  It keeps the law of God, the celestial law, which means that it lives by every word that proceeds from his mouth, and because of this it shall be sanctified (9).  Yea, though it die, yet it shall live again, be resurrected, to shine as a celestial body, as "a sea of glass mingled with fire," (10) and beings of celestial order shall inherit it forever.  We are taught that men and women, the sons and daughters of God, who were spirits in his presence (11), were sent here to take mortal tabernacles and undergo experiences that would in due time exalt them to the plane occupied by their Father and Mother in heaven (12).  Earth is to become a heaven (13).  Man is to become a God (14).  The difference between the human and the divine is a matter of education and development (15).  Gods (16) and men are of the same species, and it is just as reasonable that God's children should attain to the fullness of his spiritual stature, as that man's children should grow to the fullness of his physical stature (17).  The son of God thought it not robbery to be equal with God (18).  Neither need we, his sons and daughters, think it robbery to aspire to that glorious plane where stand God our Father and Jesus Christ, our elder brother (19).  He has made it possible for us all to come unto him and be like him.  He laid down his life to bridge the chasm and enable us to cross it over (20).



1) John the Apostle saw visions of the past, present, and future.
Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this. Revelation 1:19.
 
2) The book with the seven seals denotes future world-wide events.
But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.” Revelation 5:5
 
3) The first seal denotes a future world conqueror.
And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer. Revelation 6:2
 
4) The second seal denotes the future resulting world-wide death.
Another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another; and there was given to him a great sword. Revelation 6:4
 
5) The seventh seal denotes the future wrath of God upon the entire earth.
“For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?” Revelation 6:17
 
6) Creation out of nothing precedes formation out of something.
Isaiah 45:18 For thus says the LORD, Who created (bara') the heavens, Who is God, Who formed (yatsar) the earth and made it, Who has established it, Who did not create (bara') it in vain, Who formed (yatsar) it to be inhabited: "I am the LORD, and there is no other."
 
7) Only God is from everlasting since He was not created.
John 4:24 “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
 
8) Christians will have an everlasting future inheritance in the heavens.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Peter 1:3-5
 
9) Christians have been sanctified by the death of Jesus Christ through faith.
By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Hebrews 10:10
 
10) Christians in heaven will not be the sea of glass but will be standing upon it.
And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God. Revelation 15:2
 
11) Human beings were not angels in a pre-mortal life.
But to which of the angels has He ever said: “Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool”? Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation? Hebrews 1:13-14
 
12) Mormons have provoked God to anger and themselves to shame.
The children gather wood, the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead dough, to make cakes for the queen of heaven; and they pour out drink offerings to other gods, that they may provoke Me to anger. Do they provoke Me to anger?” says the Lord. “Do they not provoke themselves, to the shame of their own faces?” Jeremiah 7:18-19
 
13) Earth should not be confused with heaven.
Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Revelation 21:1
 
14) Saved humans in the resurrection will be like angels during eternity.
For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven. Matthew 22:30
 
15) God was never an uneducated man.
“God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? Numbers 23:19
 
16) There is only one true living God throughout eternity and the universe.
I am the Lord, and there is no other; there is no God besides Me. Isaiah 45:5
 
17) God did not have to grow up to become a god.
“For I am the Lord, I do not change.” Malachi 3:6
 
18) Jesus Christ does not change over time.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Hebrews 13:8
 
19) Worship of the Father and the Son will be forever and not shared.
And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: “Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!” Revelation 5:13
 
20) Jesus Christ laid down His life so that we could be saved from our sins and justified before God through faith.
But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Romans 3:21-26