[§216] John’s Vision of the Two Beasts Compared with Nephi’s Visions

This podcast compares the apocalyptic writings of Nephi found in 1 Nephi 13 and 14 in the Book of Mormon with the apocalyptic writings of John found in Revelation 13. 1 Nephi 13 covers the period of time from the death of the apostles no later than 70 AD, until the restoration of the gospel in 1830. John's description of this same period of time can be found in Revelation 13:1-11. John and Nephi both describe Satan's kingdom on earth after 70 AD, which John identifies as the symbolic First Beast, and which Nephi identifies as the great and abominable church. The devil is the foundation for the great and abominable church, which was formed after the apostles died and apostate members of the ancient church introduced false doctrines and false ordinances among church members until the true Church ceased to exist during the period of the great apostasy. Both John and Nephi describe this in Revelation 13 and 1 Nephi 13, respectively. 1 Nephi 14 covers the period of time from the restoration of the gospel in 1830 until the Second Coming. John's description of the same time can be found in Revelation 13:12-18. After 1830, Nephi states that there are only two churches on earth. One is the church of the Lamb which is the only true and living church upon the earth that offers salvation. All other churches are called the church of the devil‒not because all other churches are wholly evil‒but because they take people away from salvation offered in the church of the Lamb. John describes these other churches, including both secular and religious institutions, as a Second Beast that looks like a lamb, but speaks like a dragon. John’s symbolism of the Second Beast in Revelation 13:12 matches perfectly the description of the church of the devil given in 1 Nephi 14:10. Nephi confirms that his apocalyptic visions are the same as those seen by John in the Book of Revelation. However, Nephi was forbidden to write the details of his complimentary vision because John was foreordained to write the vision.