The seventh seal opens in chapter 8. But the prediction of Christ's return does not occur until chapter 19. Thus, a major portion of the book focuses on the time just prior to Jesus' second coming (cf. D&C 77:13). Peter declared that Christ would not come again "until the times of restitution of all things" (Acts 3:21). It is central to this latter-day restitution that angelic ministers (Moroni 2, John the Baptist, Peter, James, John, Moses, etc.) brought back not only the fulness of the everlasting gospel and its keys and ordinances but also the "sealing power," which is the power to bind things on earth and have them be binding in heaven (Matt. 16:19; see Sealing). The restoration of the gospel and the power of sealing are important conditions for Christ's coming. During this period three characteristics will prevail: judgments, the kingdom of Christ versus the kingdoms of the world, and the destruction of latter-day Babylon.
As trumpets sound and "vials" of destruction are poured out, one devastating scourge follows another, including vast pollutions, rampant wickedness, and the battle of Armageddon (Rev. 8-11, 16). In the midst of these judgments allowed by God, a voice declares that "the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ" (Rev. 11:15). Chapter 12 portrays the Church of Christ and the kingdom of God (JST Rev. 12:7; McConkie, 1973, Vol. 3, p. 516). In chapter 13, Satan's kingdoms oppose the Saints and the work of God. Chapter 14 then shows the triumph of Christ's kingdom and what leads to that victory. Christ comes to Mount Zion with his servants (14:1-5), and an angel, having the everlasting gospel to preach to the earth, flies through the heavens (14:6-7). (Verse 6 provides the inspiration for the well-known angel Moroni statue placed atop some LDS temples.) Then the fall of Babylon is announced (14:8-11). Like the angel from the east (Rev. 7:2), this angel is interpreted to represent the work of the restoration (McConkie, 1973, Vol. 3, p. 530). It is this work, directed by Christ and his servants, which brings about the eventual destruction of all worldly kingdoms. The fall of Babylon (Rev. 16-18) is so dramatic that all the hosts of heaven spontaneously shout, "Alleluia" (Rev. 19:1-6).
After Christ's coming (Rev. 19:7-21), the vision concludes in quick succession with the Millennium (Rev. 20:1-6), the loosing of Satan for a "little season" (Rev. 20:7-10; D&C 88:111-115), the great Judgment (Rev. 20:11-15), and the celestialization of the earth (Rev. 21:22-5). Thus, the Revelation of John shows that in spite of all of Satan's efforts to the contrary, God's work will triumph and Christ will come again to reign with his Saints for a thousand years during the Millennium and throughout eternity.
