Revelation, Past, Present, And Future

Latter-day Revelation --

In the light of our knowledge concerning the continuity of revelation as an essential characteristic of the Church, it is as reasonable to look for new revelation today as to believe in the actuality of the gift during ancient times. "Where there is no vision, the people perish"* was declared of old; and it is proper to include with vision, revelation also, since the latter gift is often manifested through dreams and visions. Nevertheless, in spite of abundant and most explicit testimony of scripture, so-called Christian sects of the day are practically a unit in declaring that direct revelation ceased with the apostles or even before their time; that further communication from the heavens is unnecessary; and that to expect such is unscriptural. In assuming this position the discordant sects of the day are but following the path that was trodden by unbelievers in earlier times. The recreant Jews rejected the Savior because He came to them with a new revelation. Had they not Moses and the prophets to guide them, and what more could they need? They openly boasted: "We are Moses' disciples" and added: "We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is."*

The scriptures, far from asserting a cessation of revelation in latter times, expressly declare the restoration and latter-day operation of that gift. John foresaw the bringing anew of the Gospel in the last days, through angelic ministration; and having seen in vision what was then future, he voiced the prediction in the past tense as though already accomplished: "And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people."* He knew further that the voice of God would be heard in the last days, calling His people from Babylon to a place of safety: "And I heard another voice from heaven saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues."*

The Book of Mormon is not less explicit in declaring that direct revelation shall abide as a blessing upon the Church in the latter days. Note the prophecy given through Ether the Jaredite; the context shows that the time spoken of is that of the last dispensation: "And in that day that they [the Gentiles] shall exercise faith in me, saith the Lord, even as the brother of Jared did, that they may become sanctified in me, then will I manifest unto them the things which the brother of Jared saw, even to the unfolding unto them all my revelations, saith Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of the heavens and of the earth, and all things that in them are. * * * But he that believeth these things which I have spoken, him will I visit with the manifestations of my Spirit, and he shall know and bear record."*

Lehi, instructing his sons, quoted a prophecy of Joseph the son of Jacob, which is not recorded in the Bible; it has special reference to the work of Joseph the modern prophet: "Yea, Joseph truly said: thus saith the Lord unto me: A choice seer will I raise up out of the fruit of thy loins; and he shall be esteemed highly among the fruit of thy loins. And unto him will I give commandment that he shall do a work for the fruit of thy loins, his brethren, which shall be of great worth unto them, even to the bringing of them to the knowledge of the covenants which I have made with thy fathers."*

Nephi, son of Lehi, spoke by prophecy of the last days, in which the Gentiles should receive a testimony of Christ with many signs and wondrous manifestations: "He manifesteth himself unto all those who believe in him, by the power of the Holy Ghost; yea, unto every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, working mighty miracles, signs, and wonders, among the children of men according to their faith. But behold, I prophesy unto you concerning the last days; concerning the days when the Lord God shall bring these things forth unto the children of men."*

The same prophet, apostrophizing with warning words the unbelievers of the last days, predicted the coming forth of additional scriptures: "And it shall come to pass that the Lord God shall bring forth unto you the words of a book, and they shall be the words of them which have slumbered.

And behold the book shall be a revelation from God, from the beginning of the world to the ending thereof."*

The Savior, addressing the Nephites, repeated the prediction of Malachi concerning the revelation to be given through Elijah, before the day of the Lord's second coming: "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord; And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse."*

By revelation in the present day the Lord has confirmed and fulfilled His earlier promises, and has specifically rebuked those who would close His mouth and estrange His people from Him. His voice is heard today, "proving to the world that the holy scriptures are true, and that God does inspire men and call them to his holy work in this age and generation, as well as in generations of old; Thereby showing that he is the same God yesterday, today, and forever."*

Revelation Yet Future --

In view of the demonstrated facts that revelation between God and man has ever been and is a characteristic of the Church of Jesus Christ, it is reasonable to await with confident expectation the coming of other messages from heaven, even until the end of man's probation on earth. The Church is, and shall continue to be, as truly founded on the rock of revelation as it was in the day of Christ's prophetic blessing upon Peter, who through this gift of God was able to testify of his Lord's divinity.* Current revelation is equally plain with that of former days in predicting the yet future manifestations of God through this appointed channel.* The canon of scripture is still open; many lines, many precepts, are yet to be added; revelation, surpassing in importance and glorious fulness any that has been recorded, is yet to be given to the Church and declared to the world.

What justification or pretense of consistency can man claim for denying the power and purposes of God to reveal Himself and His will in these days as He assuredly did in former times? In every department of human knowledge and activity, in everything for which man arrogates glory to himself, he prides himself in the possibilities of enlargement and growth; yet in the divine science of theology he holds that progress is impossible and advancement forbidden. Against such heresy and blasphemous denial of divine prerogatives and power, God has proclaimed His edict in words of piercing import: "Wo be unto him that shall say: We have received the word of God, and we need no more of the word of God, for we have enough!"* "Deny not the spirit of revelation, nor the spirit of prophecy, for wo unto him that denieth these things."*