The Prophet Joseph Smith said, "The book of Revelation is one of the plainest books God ever caused to be written." Why, then, do so many people consider it to be so difficult? In Who Shall Be Able to Stand? author S. Michael Wilcox helps open our minds and our hearts to understand the eternal message of this supernal book of scripture. In a clear, conversational way, he explains how we can use the Joseph Smith Translation, the words of modern scripture, allusions from the Old Testament, poetic and parallel imagery, and the whisperings of the Spirit to unlock the passages of this seemingly sealed book. But understanding the book is not enough; we must also apply its teachings to our lives. Brother Wilcox notes, "Though Revelation has a great deal to do with prophecy, I am not convinced that predicting the future is its primary purpose. John is helping us make choices. As we see the kingdom of the dragon set parallel to the kingdom of the Lamb, we are better able to detect the one and hold fast to the other." Revelation does look to the future, and its ultimate message is a positive one: "John's message is universal. It is a timeless view of life, designed to be likened to any period yet always ending in the joyful knowledge that all will be well. The Savior will execute the Father's will, the earth will be cleansed to become an orb of lights and perfections, and our tears will be wiped away as sorrow, grief, pain, and death become only memory as the cycling rounds of eternity progress from age to timeless age." If you want to better comprehend the Lord's purposes, understand His words, and prepare for His glorious coming, you'll appreciate the powerful message of Who Shall Be Able to Stand?
