Discourse, 8 April 1843, as Reported by William Clayton–B
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responsible or accountable for our belief in them <it>. Dont be afraid of being damned for not knowing the meaning of a vision or figure where God has not given a revelation or interpretation on the subject (He here read Rev. ch 5 v 11 to 13) John saw curious looking beasts in heaven, he saw every creature that was in heaven, all the beasts, fowls, & fish in heaven, actually there, giving glory to God. I suppose John saw beings there, that had been saved from ten thousand times ten thousand earths like this, strange beasts of which we have no conception <all> might be seen in heaven. John learned that God glorified himself by saving all that his hands had made whether beasts, fowl fishes or man. Any man who would tell you that this could not be, would tell you that the revelations are not true. John heard the words did they <of the> beasts giving glory to God and understood them. God who made the beasts could understand every language spoken by them. The beings beasts were intelligent beings and were seen <and heard> by John praising and glorifying God.
The popular religionists of the day say that the beasts spoken of in the revelations represent kingdoms! Very well, on the same principle we can say that the twenty four Elders spoken of represent beasts, for they are all spoken of at the same time and represented as all joining <uniting> in the same acts of praise and devotion. [blank] <Deacon Hornespun—> said the earth was flat as a pan cake, but science has proved to the contrary. The world is full of, technicalities and misrepresentation, but I calculate to overthrow the technicalities of the world and speak of things as they actually exist. Again there is no revelation to prove that things do not exist, in heaven as I have set forth, and we never can comprehend the things of God and of heaven but by revelation. We may spiritualize and express opinions to all eternity but that is no authority.
Ye Elders of Israel hearken to my voice and when ye are sent into the world to preach, preach and cry aloud “repent ye for the kingdom of heaven is at hand repent and believe the gospel”. Never meddle with the visions of beasts and subjects you do not understand. when you go to dont say any thing about the beast, but preach [p. 4]