Elias to Seal 144,000 during Sixth Seal

Revelation 7:2-8; "The everlasting gospel," as restored through Joseph Smith and his associates, is to be preached "to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people," during the sixth seal. (D&C 77:8, 10.) See Revelation 7:1.

Revelation 7:2-8; But the preaching of the restored gospel in all the world is not by any means the whole story. Converts are to be made everywhere. The same things here shown to John had been revealed more than six centuries before to Nephi. That Hebrew prophet beheld that in the last days the church of the devil would have "dominion over all the earth, among all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people," and that "the church of the Lamb, who were the saints of god, were also upon all the face of the earth." (1 Nephi 14:9-27).

Revelation 7:2-8; And now we learn that after the converts are made, after there kindreds of the earth, there will be those among them who advance and progress until they become kings and priests. See Revelation 1:1-6; 5:1-14; 20:4-6. John here sees 144,000 of these kings and priests, 12,000 from each tribe, converted, baptized, endowed, married for eternity, and finally sealed up unto eternal life, having their calling and election made sure. See 2 Peter 1:1-19.

Revelation 7:2-3; 2-3. "Q. What are we to understand by the angel ascending from the east, Revelation 7th chapter and 2nd verse? A. We are to understand that the angel ascending from the east is he to whom is given the seal of the living God over the twelve tribes of Israel; wherefore, he crieth unto the four angels having the everlasting gospel, saying: Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. And, if you will receive it, this is Elias which was to come to gather together the tribes of Israel and restore all things." (D&C 77:9.)

Revelation 7:2-3; "According to the plan and program of the Lord, the dispensation of the fulness of times is 'the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.' (Acts 3:21.) This restoration is to be effected by Elias. Before the winding up of the Lord's work, the promise is: 'Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.' (Matthew 17:11.) With these ancient scriptures before us, these questions arise: Who is the promised Elias who was to come and restore all things? Has the work of restoration taken place? Or is it something that is yet future?

Revelation 7:2-3; "Correcting the Bible by the spirit of revelation, the Prophet restored a statement of John the Baptist which says that Christ is the Elias who was to restore all things. (Inspired Version, John 1:21-28.) By revelation we are also informed that the Elias who was to restore all things is the angel Gabriel who was known in mortality as Noah. (D&C 27:6-7; Luke 1:5-25; Teachings, p. 157.) From the same authentic source we also learn that the promised Elias is John the Revelator. (D&C 77:9, 14.) Thus there are three different revelations which name Elias as being three different persons. What are we to conclude?

Revelation 7:2-3; "By finding answer to the question, by whom has the restoration been effected, we shall find who Elias is and find there is no problem in harmonizing these apparently contradictory revelations. Who has restored all things? Was it one man? Certainly not. Many angelic ministrants have been sent from the courts of glory to confer keys and powers, to commit their dispensations and glories again to men on earth. At least the following have come: Moroni, John the Baptist, Peter, James and John, Moses, Elijah, Elias, Gabriel, Raphael, and Michael. (D&C 13; 110; 128:19-21.) Since it is apparent that no one messenger has carried the whole burden of the restoration, but rather that each has come with a specific endowment from on high, it becomes clear that Elias is a composite personage. The expression must be understood to be a name and a title for those whose mission it was to commit keys and powers to men in this final dispensation. (Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 1, pp. 170-174.)" (Mormon Doctrine, 2nd ed., p. 221.)

Revelation 7:3; 3. Sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads] Of this sealing the Prophet Joseph Smith said: "Four destroying angels holding power over the four quarters of the earth until the servants of God are sealed in their foreheads, which signifies sealing the blessing upon their heads, meaning the everlasting covenant, thereby making their calling and election sure. When a seal is put upon the father and mother, it secures their posterity, so that they cannot be lost, but will be saved by virtue of the covenant of their father and mother." (Teachings, p. 321.) Thus if both parents and children have their calling and election made sure, none so involved shall be lost; all shall come forth to an inheritance of glory and exaltation in the kingdom of God.

Revelation 7:4-8; 4-8. "Q. What are we to understand by sealing 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 high priests, ordained 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 Firstborn." (D&C 77:11.) See Revelation 14:1-5.

Revelation 7:5-8; 5-8. What groups of Jacob's descendants make up the tribes of Israel? This depends upon the day and age involved and upon what aspect of Israel's history and destiny is being considered. The house of Israel was, of course, a distinct and chosen people in pre-existence, with great hosts of our Father's favored and faithful children being foreordained to receive mortal birth through this elect lineage. (Deuteronomy 32:7-9.) In this mortal sphere, Father Jacob had twelve sons. Leah bore him Reuben (his firstborn), Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun; Rachel gave him Joseph and Benjamin; Bilhah was the mother of Dan and Naphtali; and Zilpah of Gad and Asher. (Genesis 35:24-26.) In the original and strict sense of the word, these twelve sons became the heads of the Twelve Tribes of Israel.

Revelation 7:5-8; But the Lord and Jacob favored Joseph above his brethren (Gen. 37), and Jacob took Ephraim and Manasseh (the sons of Joseph) as his own, thereby giving Joseph a double portion in Israel. (Genesis 48:1-6.) This made thirteen tribes.

Revelation 7:5-8; In their journeyings to the promised land, the Levites distinguished themselves above all the tribes of Israel (Ex. 32), and were chosen for special ministerial service. (Num. 3 and 8.) When the promised land was divided by lot among the tribes of Israel, Ephraim and Manasseh were counted as two tribes and the Levites were scattered among all the tribes. (Num. 14 to 19.) This left twelve tribes to receive an inheritance in their promised land.

Revelation 7:5-8; Because of sin, Reuben lost, for himself and his posterity, his patriarchal pre-eminence as the firstborn (Genesis 35:22; 49:2-3), and Ephraim was chosen to inherit this favored status. (1 Chronicles 5:1-2; Jeremiah 31:9.) In consequence, it is Ephraim who is being gathered first in this dispensation, and it is he to whom the other gathered tribes will come in due course to receive their blessings. (D&C 133:26-34.)

Revelation 7:5-8; At the death of Solomon, the Lord divided his people into two kingdoms. Judah remained with Solomon's son, Rehoboam, and the other ten tribes (counting Joseph as one tribe and not counting Levi at all) became the kingdom of Ephraim, under the rule of Jeroboam. (1 Kings 11:26-43.) The Ten Tribes were carried into Assyrian captivity in about 721 B.C., were later delivered therefrom by miraculous intervention, and have since been lost to the knowledge of men. (Mormon Doctrine, 2nd ed., pp. 455-458.)

Revelation 7:5-8; The keys and power to restore the Ten Tribes to their former high status in Israel, and to lead them from their unknown places of lodgement in the lands north of Canaan and Assyria, were given by Moses to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery on April 3, 1836. (D&C 110:11.) These keys now reside in the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. That the remnants of Israel shall be restored before the Second Coming of the Son of Man is evident from the fact that 12,000 from each tribe are to receive the restored gospel, and that through the ordinances of the Lord's house they are to become kings and priests, who shall administer the blessings of the everlasting gospel to the Lord's elect. (D&C 77:9-11.)

Revelation 7:5-8; The tribes listed by John include Levi, count Ephraim (Joseph) and Manasseh separately, and omit Dan. Why Dan should lose his inheritance is not clear. Perhaps it is forecast in the patriarchal blessings given by Jacob to the head of the tribe: "Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path." (Genesis 49:17.) Or perhaps it is because a long course of idolatry and warlike conduct dissipated the strength of the Danites and left them less powerful and numerous than their fellows in Israel. (Judges 18; Jeremiah 8:16; Amos 8:11-14.)