The book of Revelation is full of symbolism that—similiar to Jesus’ parables—can take effort to unravel but feels rewarding to make plain.
The War in Heaven continues on earth
By keeping our first estate, we came to earth. On earth we’re blessed with a body, something that not everyone present in the pre-earth council will have.
Nephi saw the last days and how the war would continue to rage on:
The numbers of the church of the Lamb of God “were few”, meaning it would be increasingly difficult to stay true to path that the Savior set. Knowing we kept our first estate is promising because it means we’ve already once chosen to follow the Savior instead of the adversary. Having done so once makes it feel like there’s a little more easiness accepting the idea that it’s very much possible to do again. The reward for keeping the first estate was a body, the reward for keeping the second estate is eternal life.
The Lord invites me to flee Babylon and her sins
What John saw parallels with todays world in many ways, including in the desires of much of the world.
In Revelation 18, the invitation from the Lord is clear:
We are to avoid the sins of Babylon, which could include vices like addiction, dishonesty, greed, corruption, lust, and a slew of other things. King Benjamin said he couldn’t list all the ways one could sin:
As there is opposition in all things, there are also innumerable ways that we can do good and serve others. A simple way to avoid the sins of Babyon is to occupy your time serving the children of God. Just as God doesn’t need to tell us all the ways that we can commit sin, He allows us to become a little more like Him by exercising agency in finding individualized ways to reach His children, just like He does.
If I am faithful, I will receive celestial glory
Because God honors his promises, we can know that keeping the commandments will result in our eventual exaltation.
To “he that overcometh”, God is waiting to receive them.
