Answers to Questions, between circa 4 and circa 20 March 1832 [D&C 77]
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Source Note
Answers to Questions, [, OH, ca. Mar. 1832]. Featured version, titled “Revelation Explained,” copied [between 26 Apr. and ca. Aug. 1832] in Revelation Book 1, pp. 141–144; handwriting of ; CHL. Includes redactions. For more complete source information, see the source note for Revelation Book 1.
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Historical Introduction
As JS continued his revision of the New Testament in February and March 1832, he reached the book of Revelation with its abundance of symbolic language. “About the first of march, in connection with the of the ,” a later JS history explains, “I received the following explanation of the Revelations of Saint John.” Given that JS was in , Ohio, and was not working on the New Testament revisions between 29 February and 4 March 1832, this document was likely written sometime between 4 March and 20 March, when another revelation told JS and (who was serving as JS’s scribe) to “omit the translation for the present time” so that they could travel to . By the night of 24–25 March 1832, when the pair was attacked by a group of men in , Ohio, JS and Rigdon were working on the eleventh chapter of the book of Revelation, the last chapter mentioned in the explanation.Because he was inscribing the New Testament revision, probably served as the original scribe for the explanation, but could have been the scribe instead. The earliest surviving copy is an undated one made by in Revelation Book 1, where it is identified only as “Revelation Explained.” Whitmer, who was residing in at the time, probably made the copy sometime after April 1832, when JS likely brought a copy of the original document to Missouri along with copies of revelations dictated in March.
Footnotes
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1
JS History, vol. A-1, 192.
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3
Faulring et al., Joseph Smith’s New Translation of the Bible, 422.
Faulring, Scott H., Kent P. Jackson, and Robert J. Matthews, eds. Joseph Smith’s New Translation of the Bible: Original Manuscripts. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 2004.
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4
Gause apparently served as scribe for JS’s Bible revision between 8 March and 20 March, during which time JS revised the first and second chapters of the book of Revelation. (Faulring et al., Joseph Smith’s New Translation of the Bible, 70; Jennings, “Consequential Counselor,” 183.)
Faulring, Scott H., Kent P. Jackson, and Robert J. Matthews, eds. Joseph Smith’s New Translation of the Bible: Original Manuscripts. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 2004.
Jennings, Erin B. “The Consequential Counselor: Restoring the Root(s) of Jesse Gause.” Journal of Mormon History 34 (Spring 2008): 182–227.
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5
See Historical Introduction to Revelation Book 1.
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1

A | They are to be accomplished in the sixth thousandth year or the opening of the Sixth seal. |
Q | What are we to understand by the one hundred and forty four thousand out of all the tribes of Israel twelve thousand out of every tribe? |
A | We are to understand that those who are sealed are 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 first born. |
Q | What are we to understand by the sounding of the trumpets mentioned in the 8th. Chap. of Rev. |
A | We are to understand that as God made the world in six days and on the seventh day he finished his work and sanctified it and also formed man out of the dust of the earth even so in the begining of the seven thousandth year will the Lord God Sanctify the earth and to complete the Salvation of man and Judge all things and shall redeem all things except that which he hath not put into his power when he shall have sealed all things unto the end of all things and the sounding of the trumpets of the seven angels are the preparing and finishing of his work in the begining of the seven thousandth year the preparing of the way before the time of his coming |
Q | When are the things to be accomplished which are written in the ninth Chap. of Rev. |
A | They are to be accomplished after the opening of the seventh seal before the coming of Christ |
Q | What are we to understand by the little book which was eaten by John as mentioned in the 10th. Chapt. of Rev. |
A | We are to undeerstand that it was a Mission and an for him to the tribes of Israel Behold this is Elias who as it is written must come and restore all things. |