(All of my own thoughts are in blue type.4/20 Green 1/21 Orange 4/22 Brown 2023)
CHAPTER 22
Israel shall be scattered upon all the face of the earth—The
gentiles shall nurse and nourish Israel
with the gospel in the last days—Israel shall be gathered and saved,
and the wicked shall burn as stubble—The kingdom of the devil shall be
destroyed, and Satan shall be bound. Between 588 and 570 B.C.
1 And now it came to pass that after I, Nephi, had read
these things which were engraven upon the aplates
of brass, my brethren came unto me and said unto me: What bmeaneth
these things which ye have read? Most people read Isaiah and say the same thing:) Did Nephi read it to them? ("ye" have read)
Behold, are they to be understood according to things which are cspiritual,
which shall come to pass according to the spirit and not the flesh? At least they are asking questions….for that is the beginning of all learning. One must invite it. You have the key to unlock the door. The key is called "desire". The question they ask, "is what you have just read us literal or symbolic" is an important one and asked by every serious student of the scriptures. An example in our day could be... When we partake of the sacrament, do we 'literally' eat the body of Christ and drink his blood, or is that symbolic? Seems like a silly example, but I heard Catholics believe it's literal? The question most on Laman and Lemuel's mind is...will Jerusalem really be scattered or is it more of a spiritual wandering? Remember, they have had a hard time accepting that Jerusalem would be destroyed ever since Lehi told them they had to leave their homes.
2 And I, Nephi, said
unto them: Behold they were amanifest
unto the prophet by the voice of the bSpirit;
for by the Spirit are all
things made known unto the cprophets,
which shall come upon the children of men according to the flesh. Things given by the Spirit must be understood by the Spirit. Nephi is teaching them that Isaiah prophesied of the future according to the Spirit of Revelation.
Something tells me that the "prophets, which shall come" he is talking about are not limited to the prophet. Moses said, "would that ALL people were prophets" meaning they also had things made known unto them by the Spirit. Remember we are taught the Holy Ghost will tell you ALL things which you should do"(after you are born again, I think...)
3 Wherefore, the
things of which I have read are things pertaining to things both atemporal
and spiritual; for it appears that the house of Israel, sooner or later, will
be bscattered
upon all the face of the earth, and also camong
all nations. A common answer is 'both'. The scattering is temporal; literal, but the reason they are scattered is because of a spiritual wandering. Their gathering is literal, for they will be gathered to their promised land, but it is spiritual as well, for they will be gathered back into the true Church. We would do well to consider temporal and spiritual implications of the counsel and instruction the Lord has given us in our day as well. We are taught that the parable of the Ten Virgins has temporal and spiritual application: (Oaks, Conference April 2004)
We are living in the prophesied time “when peace shall be taken from the earth” (D&C 1:35), when “all things shall be in commotion” and “men’s hearts shall fail them” (D&C 88:91). There are many temporal causes of commotion, including wars and natural disasters, but an even greater cause of current “commotion” is spiritual.
I testify of Jesus Christ. I testify that He shall come, as He has promised. And I pray that we will be prepared to meet Him, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen."
We would do well to consider our own spiritual condition. Have we been 'lost' from the truth we claim to know? Do we reject the temporal meaning of our preparations and only focus on the spiritual? Do we reject the spiritual application and only focus on the temporal? Remember, all learning begins with a question...
"Four matters are indisputable to Latter-day Saints: (1) The Savior will
return to the earth in power and great glory to reign personally during a
millennium of righteousness and peace. (2) At the time of His coming
there will be a destruction of the wicked and a resurrection
of the righteous. (3) No one knows the time of His coming, but (4) the
faithful are taught to study the signs of it and to be prepared for it...
(signs) ALL these are evident or soon coming in our world today!
1.The fulness of the gospel restored and preached in all the world for a witness to all nations. I think this may be more literally fulfilled by the end time servant...
2.False Christs and false prophets, deceiving many. Haven't heard of false Christs, unless you count the governments and WHO and WEF that want to be our "saviors" after they manufacter crisis and then "sell" us the solutions.
3.Wars and rumors of wars, with nation rising against nation.
4.Earthquakes in divers places. Turkey just had an 8.3 (probably manmade)
5.Famine and pestilence. Food supply is under attack; chickens being killed because they "might" have bird flu; farm land being contaminated (train with toxic chemicals derailed then purposely blown up in Ohio)
6.An overflowing scourge, a desolating sickness covering the land. "they" are telling us something like "smallpox" will be coming soon..
7.Iniquity abounding. The transgender movement is in full swing
8.The whole earth in commotion. One definition is "civil disturbance, or insurrection". This is becoming more and more widespread. Citizens are rising up in various places protesting their governments actions. It hasn't hit the USA in a "widespread" way...yet.
9.Men’s hearts failing them. Literally, hearts are failing from the vax
1.The fulness of the gospel restored and preached in all the world for a witness to all nations. I think this may be more literally fulfilled by the end time servant...
2.False Christs and false prophets, deceiving many. Haven't heard of false Christs, unless you count the governments and WHO and WEF that want to be our "saviors" after they manufacter crisis and then "sell" us the solutions.
3.Wars and rumors of wars, with nation rising against nation.
4.Earthquakes in divers places. Turkey just had an 8.3 (probably manmade)
5.Famine and pestilence. Food supply is under attack; chickens being killed because they "might" have bird flu; farm land being contaminated (train with toxic chemicals derailed then purposely blown up in Ohio)
6.An overflowing scourge, a desolating sickness covering the land. "they" are telling us something like "smallpox" will be coming soon..
7.Iniquity abounding. The transgender movement is in full swing
8.The whole earth in commotion. One definition is "civil disturbance, or insurrection". This is becoming more and more widespread. Citizens are rising up in various places protesting their governments actions. It hasn't hit the USA in a "widespread" way...yet.
9.Men’s hearts failing them. Literally, hearts are failing from the vax
While we are powerless to alter the fact of the Second Coming and unable
to know its exact time, we can accelerate our own preparation and try
to influence the preparation of those around us. Yeah...tell that to my ward! I have had a PLAYgroup (Provident Living All Year) for about 8 years weekly at my house with about 8 sisters. I give my kids preparedness gifts for Christmas and birthdays.
We
need to make both temporal and spiritual preparation for the events
prophesied at the time think "period of time" not "exact moment in time" of the Second Coming. And the preparation most
likely to be neglected is the one less visible and more difficult—the
spiritual. A 72-hour kit of temporal supplies may prove valuable for
earthly challenges, but, as the foolish virgins learned to their sorrow,
a 24-hour kit of spiritual preparation is of greater and more enduring
value. I wish his example was "a year's supply of food, clothing, fuel, savings, and other necessities" instead of a "72 hour kit". Most members will take his example to mean that's all we need. As for the spiritual kit mentioned, the wise virgins "took the Holy Spirit for their guide (24/7) and were not deceived".
We are living in the prophesied time “when peace shall be taken from the earth” (D&C 1:35), when “all things shall be in commotion” and “men’s hearts shall fail them” (D&C 88:91). There are many temporal causes of commotion, including wars and natural disasters, but an even greater cause of current “commotion” is spiritual.
I testify of Jesus Christ. I testify that He shall come, as He has promised. And I pray that we will be prepared to meet Him, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen."
We would do well to consider our own spiritual condition. Have we been 'lost' from the truth we claim to know? Do we reject the temporal meaning of our preparations and only focus on the spiritual? Do we reject the spiritual application and only focus on the temporal? Remember, all learning begins with a question...
4 And behold, there
are many who are already lost from the knowledge of those who are at Jerusalem. Lehi's family was not the first to leave Jerusalem without anyone knowing where they were going. The northern kingdom of Judah had already been scattered. Yea, the more
part Nephi teaches that 10 of the 12 tribes have already been scattered of all the atribes have been bled
away; notice they have been led...not lost and they are cscattered to and fro upon the disles of the sea; To the ancient Hebrews, Asia and Africa were 'the earth' because it was the land they had access to by foot. All the other 'land' that they had to get to by boat were considered 'isles of the sea', so to them, the America's were an 'isle of the sea' and
whither they are none of us knoweth, save that we know that they have been led away. The scriptures teach that the lost tribes are not literally lost, but that they are scattered among all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people. They are temporally lost to the lands of their inheritance and they are spiritually lost to the gospel and it's saving ordinances and the priesthood and its blessings. Or maybe not. I think we're told they bring scriptures with them and we know Jesus visited them, so maybe they do have the gospel and priesthood...We are witnessing the great gathering. The lost tribes are identified as they come into the fold of God and receive their patriarchal blessings. We are also taught of the "restoration of the 10 tribes and in the literal gathering of Israel". Read this chapter (https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/old-testament-student-manual-kings-malachi/enrichment-d?lang=eng)
in the OT Manual where it says much of this.
"At a conference held 3–6 June 1831 in Kirtland, Ohio, the Prophet Joseph
Smith explained that John the Beloved was then ministering among the
lost tribes of Israel, preparing them for their return to again possess
the lands of their fathers (see History of the Church, 1:176; D&C 77:14).
Five years later, Moses appeared in the Kirtland Temple to Joseph Smith
and Oliver Cowdery and committed to them the keys of the priesthood for
“the gathering of Israel from the four parts of the earth, and the
leading of the ten tribes from the land of the north” (D&C 110:11). Notice it say "and"...there is the gathering of the those scattered AND the leading of the ten tribes from the north.
It is apparent from this passage that though the main body of ten of the tribes is lost, there are representatives of all twelve tribes scattered throughout the earth...
It is apparent from this passage that though the main body of ten of the tribes is lost, there are representatives of all twelve tribes scattered throughout the earth...
The Doctrine and Covenants clearly foretells the time when the prophets among these tribes will lead the people back in a great and marvelous show of power (see D&C 133:26–34). Jeremiah promised that so marvelous would be this event that no longer would God be called the Lord who led Israel out of Egypt but the Lord who brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north (see Jeremiah 16:14–15). The appointed time will come when the lost tribes of Israel will return to Zion to receive their blessings at the hands of Ephraim. They must not have temples where they are “This great gathering will take place under the direction of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, for he holds the keys” (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p. 458). However Joseph Smith still has those keys so it could be under his direction, if he is to return, as some people believe. I had a dream the other night that I was in church and the children went up and sang a song about Joseph Smith and the chorus ended with the words "we know he's coming again" repeated 3 or 4 times. I thought it was interesting... The lost tribes, as well as all others who want to be numbered in the house of Israel and receive the blessings of the priesthood, must come to Ephraim, who holds the birthright blessings (see Genesis 48:15–22; 1 Chronicles 5:1–2; Jeremiah 31:9).
Elder Wilford Woodruff taught that when the ten tribes returned, they would come to Ephraim to obtain the priesthood as well as their endowments and sealings (see Journal of Discourses, 4:231–32; 18:127). Elder Orson Pratt stated: “God is determined to raise up Prophets among that people, but he will not bestow upon them all the fulness of the blessings of the Priesthood. The fulness will be reserved to be given to them after they come to Zion.” (In Journal of Discourses, 18:25.
5 And since they
have been led away, Is there a difference between being “led away” and being
“scattered”? It seems like the first are
the righteous and the latter are the wicked...but not sure if he's making that distinction...
these things have been prophesied concerning them, At the time Isaiah made this prophesy of the scattering of Israel, the ten Northern tribes had already been scattered and taken captive and also concerning all
those who shall hereafter be scattered
and so this continued scattering applies to the Southern kingdom down to 70 AD when Rome destroys Jerusalem and be confounded, because of the Holy One of Israel; for against him will they
aharden their hearts; Here the scriptures teach that the reason they were/will be scattered is because of apostasy. They reject the gospel, the priesthood, the Abrahamic covenant they had inherited. wherefore, they shall be
scattered among all nations and shall be bhated of all men. As a group, Jews are the only 'identifiable' remains of the tribes of Israel. Sadly, we have seen this prophesy come to pass in the terrible period called 'the holocaust'. Apparently there are some Levites that are identified as a group in Israel that are preparing to officiate in the 3rd temple when it is built. This article calls them 'jews' who trace their ancestry to Aaron.
https://free.messianicbible.com/feature/israels-priests-prepare-third-temple/
https://free.messianicbible.com/feature/israels-priests-prepare-third-temple/
6 Nevertheless,
after they shall be anursed
by the bGentiles, and the Lord has lifted up his hand upon the Gentiles and set
them up for a standard, This is us...
and their cchildren have been carried in
their arms, and their daughters have been carried upon their shoulders, He is using Isaiah's words behold
these things of which are spoken are temporal; for thus are the covenants of
the Lord with our fathers; and it meaneth us in the days to come, and also all
our brethren who are of the house of Israel. Nephi
is testifying that the scattering and gathering of Israel is literal
and temporal. It applies to his seed and all of future Israel.
7 And it meaneth that the time cometh that after all the house of Israel have been scattered and confounded, that the Lord God will raise up a mighty nation among the aGentiles, United States of America yea, even upon the face of this land; and by them shall our seed be bscattered. This is the scattering of the American Indians…This is the part, if interpreted correctly that leads me to believe that the prophesied 'blossoming as a rose' of the Lamanites does not refer to the converts in Latin America. When Nephi says 'this land' he seems to be referring to the land that they stood on (so I think he was in North America, not Central America) and so would be referring to his seed in North America. As far as I know, the Indians that were scattered by the Gentiles were here. I don't know of any scattering in Central and South America by the Gentiles.
7 And it meaneth that the time cometh that after all the house of Israel have been scattered and confounded, that the Lord God will raise up a mighty nation among the aGentiles, United States of America yea, even upon the face of this land; and by them shall our seed be bscattered. This is the scattering of the American Indians…This is the part, if interpreted correctly that leads me to believe that the prophesied 'blossoming as a rose' of the Lamanites does not refer to the converts in Latin America. When Nephi says 'this land' he seems to be referring to the land that they stood on (so I think he was in North America, not Central America) and so would be referring to his seed in North America. As far as I know, the Indians that were scattered by the Gentiles were here. I don't know of any scattering in Central and South America by the Gentiles.
8 And after our seed
is scattered the Lord God will proceed to do a amarvelous
work the Restoration among the bGentiles, which shall
be of great cworth
unto our seed; The Book of Mormon wherefore, it is likened unto their being nourished by
the dGentiles and being carried in
their arms and upon their shoulders. Nephi
personalizes the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy to his own future
seed. Their gathering is certainly 'of great worth' to him, as he has
seen in vision their destruction and the scattering of his brethren,
both temporally and spiritually. Have we seen this 'marvelous work' yet? Have we nourished and carried in our arms and upon our shoulders the American Indians?
9 And it shall also
be of aworth unto the Gentiles; and
not only unto the Gentiles but bunto all the chouse
of Israel, unto the making
known of the dcovenants of the Father of heaven unto Abraham, saying:
In thy eseed shall all the
kindreds of the earth be fblessed. The
worth is the making known the covenants and the restoration of the
priesthood keys that can bring those covenants to all the 'kindreds of
the earth', including the Gentiles. Although, God has a chosen people, they are not to feel better than others. It just means they are chosen to bring the others into the fold. All have the opportunity to become chosen.
10 And I would, my
brethren, that ye should know that all the kindreds of the earth cannot be blessed unless he shall make abare
his arm in the eyes of the nations. God “makes bare his arm” by showing forth His power unto men. How are you seeing God's power in your own life? I am praying everyday since this pandemic that God will make bare his arm literally in the eyes of all the nations as He brings this pandemic and the evil agenda of Satan to a halt. Footnote on 'bare': Isaiah 52:10 "The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God." Notice the order. God cannot bless all the kindreds of the earth UNTIL he shall make bare his arm in the eyes of nations. I believe Avraham Gileadi thinks that the "arm" of the Lord is a person/servant of the Lord. I guess we'll see. Either way, someone or something has to come on the scene that is known by the whole world. This pandemic has the attention of the whole world. We ALL need it to end, and however it happens will be done all at the same time. It is the perfect time for God to bless all the kindreds of the earth! So far...Jan 2021 this has not happened....2022 and no "arm made bare yet", though the scamdemic has almost disappeared...2023...no "arm" yet although we may be seeing the beginnings of a new "Jesus Revoltion". The movie "The Chosen" is in it's 4th season and had over 400 million views last month and is being translated into 600 languages. There's a new movie in theaters called "Jesus Revolution" about the movement in the 60's. Some think it is happening again. Maybe God's preparing the hearts of the people for the preaching of the end time servant...
11 Wherefore, the
Lord God will proceed to make bare his arm in the eyes of all the anations,
in bringing about his
covenants and his gospel unto those who are of the house of Israel. We
are witnessing and participating in the fulfillment of this prophecy
today as every member has been called upon to join the over 80,000
full-time missionaries all over the earth, to spread the glorious gospel
message. Is this referring to new scripture? The OT manual I linked to above says that the 10 Tribes will bring their scriptures with them. Are they bringing the gospel they recorded He taught them to us, and the Jews and the Lamanites? Maybe the Ten Tribes are coming soon?
12 Wherefore, he
will abring them (the Jews?) again out of bcaptivity,
and they shall be cgathered together to the lands of
their dinheritance; This
part of the prophecy is temporal. Scattered Israel will continue to
gather to their land of Palestine and to other promised lands of their
inheritance, including North and South America and they shall be ebrought out of obscurity and out of fdarkness;
The
coming forth of the Book of Mormon has brought the promised role of
the House of Israel into the light. This part of the prophecy is about
their spiritual gathering and they shall know that
the gLord is their hSavior
and their Redeemer, the iMighty
One of Israel.
To 'know' Him is different than just knowing 'about' Him. We show that
we 'know' Him, by our level of obedience, and that obedience comes from
trusting Him, and trusting Him, comes from 'knowing him." I found a great talk by an 18th century English preacher that sheds some light on this important circle of understanding. More specifically, the Jews are the ones that don't believe that Jesus was the Messiah. https://www.spurgeon.org/resource-library/ the link now says, page not found, but here's the landing page.
13 And the blood of
that great and aabominable church, which
is the whore of all the earth, shall turn upon their own heads; for they shall bwar among themselves,
and the sword of their cown
hands shall fall upon their own heads, and they shall be drunken with their own
blood. Notice the wicked slay the wicked. Not the righteous. We don't fight against the wicked and destroy them. They do. The
wicked slay the wicked…One thing that is certain about Satan is that,
in the end, he will abandon and turn on all who follow him. They lose;
but even as they lose, Satan will be achieving what he desired for them
all along...their destruction. This passage could be referring to the time spoken of in this scripture: Doctrine and Covenants 45:66–69
and that great whore, who hath perverted the right ways of the Lord, yea, that great and abominable church, shall tumble to the ddust and great shall be the fall of it.
14 And every anation
which shall war against thee, O house of Israel, shall be turned one against
another, and they shall bfall
into the pit which they digged to ensnare the people of the Lord. And all that cfight
against Zion
shall be destroyed, Whewh! There
is safety and peace only in Zion. This is our great latter-day work. To
become and then build Zion. How do we do that? What lies before us? I was hoping the "falling in to the pit" by the wicked would be sooner...
"Zion is not born in a moment, nor even a generation. “Zion cannot be built up unless it is by the principles of the law of the celestial kingdom.” (D&C 105:5) A standard of holiness equivalent to that of Enoch’s people must be achieved. That will not happen without effort and tribulation: “My people must be tried in all things, that they may be prepared to receive the glory that I have for them, even the glory of Zion.” (D&C 136:31) We know "as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be at the coming of the son of Man". What came from Noah's day? The city of Enoch or total destruction. So it will be in our day. Zion or total destruction.
But what, then, of the redemption of Zion? The redemption of Zion involves more than a location, more than a city or a temple. It requires the purging of one’s heart and soul by the Holy Ghost of all un-Christlike motives; it means overcoming selfishness, covetousness, greediness, and idleness—problems specifically condemned by the Lord in these early revelations; it means overcoming tendencies to complain, criticize, and backbite; it means serving God with all one’s heart, might, mind, and strength; it means self-mastery; it means being endowed with the power of God through keeping covenants; it means willingly sacrificing all that one has for the sake of the kingdom of God; it means taking on the divine nature; it requires becoming a holy person. Zion’s redemption must await a generation of Saints equal to this standard. (1979) Sounds like all in Zion will have been "born again".
There’s an urgency, my brethren and sisters, about our relationship with our Heavenly Father, an urgency such as I have never felt before in my life. I feel that urgency primarily through the urgency expressed by President Kimball. May we be blessed to understand our relationship with our Heavenly Father. May we understand that we are preparing the world for the second coming of the Savior. No man knows the day nor the hour, but it isn’t very far off. (1976 byu speeches Victor L. Brown, The Law of Consecration,
https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/victor-l-brown/law-consecration/)
"Zion is not born in a moment, nor even a generation. “Zion cannot be built up unless it is by the principles of the law of the celestial kingdom.” (D&C 105:5) A standard of holiness equivalent to that of Enoch’s people must be achieved. That will not happen without effort and tribulation: “My people must be tried in all things, that they may be prepared to receive the glory that I have for them, even the glory of Zion.” (D&C 136:31) We know "as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be at the coming of the son of Man". What came from Noah's day? The city of Enoch or total destruction. So it will be in our day. Zion or total destruction.
But what, then, of the redemption of Zion? The redemption of Zion involves more than a location, more than a city or a temple. It requires the purging of one’s heart and soul by the Holy Ghost of all un-Christlike motives; it means overcoming selfishness, covetousness, greediness, and idleness—problems specifically condemned by the Lord in these early revelations; it means overcoming tendencies to complain, criticize, and backbite; it means serving God with all one’s heart, might, mind, and strength; it means self-mastery; it means being endowed with the power of God through keeping covenants; it means willingly sacrificing all that one has for the sake of the kingdom of God; it means taking on the divine nature; it requires becoming a holy person. Zion’s redemption must await a generation of Saints equal to this standard. (1979) Sounds like all in Zion will have been "born again".
Consecration therefore means repentance.
Stubbornness, rebellion, and rationalization must be abandoned, and in their
place submission, a desire for correction, and acceptance of all that the Lord
may require. This is what King Benjamin called putting off the natural man,
yielding to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and becoming “a saint through the
atonement of Christ the Lord” ("Reflections on a Consecrated Life Oct 2010)
There’s an urgency, my brethren and sisters, about our relationship with our Heavenly Father, an urgency such as I have never felt before in my life. I feel that urgency primarily through the urgency expressed by President Kimball. May we be blessed to understand our relationship with our Heavenly Father. May we understand that we are preparing the world for the second coming of the Savior. No man knows the day nor the hour, but it isn’t very far off. (1976 byu speeches Victor L. Brown, The Law of Consecration,
https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/victor-l-brown/law-consecration/)
and that great whore, who hath perverted the right ways of the Lord, yea, that great and abominable church, shall tumble to the ddust and great shall be the fall of it.
15 For behold, saith
the prophet, the time
cometh speedily what does “cometh speedily ” mean? Certainly hundreds of years cannot be the same as "speedily"….
perhaps it means that the most significant, life-changing events that
lead up to the Savior's return will "come quickly"; change will seem to
happen almost overnight; as a "whirlwind". that Satan shall have no more power over the hearts of
the children of men; for the day soon cometh that all the proud and they who do
wickedly shall be as astubble;
and the day cometh that they must be bburned.
16 For the time soon cometh I
guess you use this phrase to keep people in a state of
readiness, as if there is value in that condition whether he comes in
your lifetime or not. The day you die is your personal "second coming"… that the fulness of the awrath of God nothing held back shall be poured
out upon all the children of men; for he will not suffer that the wicked shall destroy the
righteous. Must
mean “totally” since we know
some of the righteous will die …but we also know that ALL the wicked
will die. The important thing is your personal condition when you die.
For, to the righteous, it has been promised that death will be "sweet to them".
17 Wherefore, he will apreserve
the brighteous by his power, I want to see/participate in that… even
if it so be that the fulness of his wrath must come, and the righteous be
preserved, even unto the
destruction of their enemies by fire. What a scene!… Wherefore, the righteous need not fear; for thus saith the
prophet, they shall be saved, even if it so be as by fire. Does
this mean “encircled” like Alma was, or is it fire that destroys our
enemies then it becomes “by” fire that they were saved since the wicked
are no longer alive to hurt us? I learned once, that just as the earth
was baptized and cleansed at the time of Noah literally by water, so it
will be sanctified by the gift and power of the Holy Ghost which will
come by a literal fire. If you are wicked, the fire will consume you. If
you are righteous, the fire will save you. In Noah's day, the water
destroyed the wicked, but it saved Noah and his family and therefore
mankind. Thus, the Second Coming is both a Great and a Dreadful Day,
depending on your personal condition. Remember, you cannot be both a
saint and a sinner. Righteousness is not perfection, but continual
repentance. Sinning is ignoring the voice of the Lord as it comes
through the scriptures, the prophet, and the conscience and refusing to
repent.
18 Behold, my brethren,
I say unto you, that these things must shortly come; Shortly? Again...seems to make more sense if it refers to the speed with which they happen when they begin. yea, even blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke must come;
and it must needs be upon the face of this earth; and it cometh unto men
according to the flesh if it
so be that they will harden their hearts
If this is you…beware and repent...soften your heart! against
the Holy One of Israel.
19 For behold, the righteous shall not perish;
I like that this promise is reiterated…for the time surely must come I know you get
tired of hearing about it and waiting…but know this…it WILL come! that all they who fight against Zion shall be cut off.
20 And the Lord will surely aprepare a way for his people,
I know, in spite of our status of preparation
that God keeps THIS promise…of preparing a way...unto
the fulfilling of the words of Moses, which he spake, This
is one of the most oft quoted messianic prophecies in all of scripture.
It was quoted by Moses, Nephi, Peter, Christ, Stephen, Moroni and is in
two places in the D&C saying: A bprophet
shall the Lord your God raise up unto you, like unto me; him shall ye hear in
all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. And it shall come to pass that all
those who will not hear that prophet shall be ccut
off from among the people. Okay…there is
your promise. Don’t pick and choose what
you listen to from that prophet. You have
to hear him in ALL things. If you don’t,
you will be cut off. NO PROTECTION! I think this "prophet" is actually Jesus Christ. It also could be Joseph Smith, for I think he was told he was the prophet like unto Moses. Or...it could be the Davidic Servant and if we don't hear him, we will be cut off... Clearly it does not mean just the living prophets, because I did not hear him in ALL things with regards to the pandemic and I don't think I've been cut off... (side thought, maybe "David" is the servant's new name...)
21 And now I, Nephi,
declare unto you, that this
aprophet
of whom Moses spake was the
Holy One The ultimate prophet is
Christ. When our prophet speaks in Christ's name by the power of the Spirit, Christ
says it’s the same as if He says it… of Israel;
wherefore, he shall execute bjudgment in
righteousness.
22 And the righteous need not fear, Remember this… for they
are those who shall not be
confounded. But it is the kingdom of the devil, which shall be built up
among the children of men, which kingdom is established among them which are in
the flesh—
23 For the time speedily shall come there’s that phrase again..
that all achurches
which are built up to get gain, and all those who are built up to get power
over the flesh, and those who are built up to become bpopular
in the eyes of the world, and those who seek the lusts of the flesh this is screaming at us right now! There is such a loud voice in favor of the LGBTQIA+ and even pornography! and the
things of the world, and to do all manner of iniquity; yea, in fine, all those
who belong to the kingdom of the cdevil
are they who need fear,
and tremble, and dquake; they are those who must be brought low
in the dust; they are those who must be econsumed as stubble; and this
is according to the words
of the prophet. And so it SHALL BE!
24 And the time cometh speedily that the righteous must be led up as acalves
of the stall, and the Holy One of Israel must reign in dominion, and might, and
power, and great bglory.
25 And he agathereth
his children from the four quarters of the earth; and he numbereth his bsheep, and
they know him; and there shall be one fold and one shepherd; We are only "one" with the "shepherd" when our faith and our actions are in perfect unity with Christ and he shall feed
his sheep, and in him they shall find cpasture. This is a
literal gathering and the greater part of them will be gathered by Christ during the millennium. I am beginning to believe that to really be His sheep and to know Him we must be baptized by the Holy Spirit and by Fire, which only He performs....but I think there may be some mass experiences coming like King Benjamin's people had.
26 And because of the arighteousness of his
people, bSatan
has no power; WE bind Satan with our righteousness. He only has the power that we GIVE him. wherefore,
he cannot be loosed for the space of cmany
years; Millenium…
for he hath no power over the hearts of the people, for they dwell in
righteousness, and the Holy One of Israel dreigneth.
27 And now behold,
I, Nephi, say unto you that all these things must come aaccording to the
flesh. These prophesied events are literal, not figurative or symbolic. They WILL come to pass physically and temporally!
28 But, behold, all nations, kindreds,
tongues, and people shall
dwell safely in the Holy One of Israel if it so be that they will arepent. Repentance is the key to safety…
29 And now I, Nephi,
make an end; for I durst
not speak further As detailed as Nephi was, there is yet more he was shown that he could have said... as yet concerning these things.
30 Wherefore, my
brethren, I would that ye should consider that the things which have been
written upon the aplates of brass are true; and they
testify that a man must be
obedient to the commandments of God.
31 Wherefore, ye
need not suppose that I and my father are the only ones that have testified,
and also taught them. Wherefore, if ye shall be obedient to the acommandments, and endure to
the end, ye shall be saved at the last day That’s
our ultimate goal…to be saved.
We do that by being obedient and enduring to the end..in obedience! And how do you learn obedience? By first listening to the voice of your
conscience...quickly, and consistently. I doubt there is a one of us
that does not hear the voice of the Spirit whisper daily to read your
scriptures; say your prayers. If you are not listening to this "first"
voice of the Spirit, how can you expect to receive the greater voice of
the Holy Ghost or greater revelations? But learn to follow this voice
and it will lead you back, step by step, revelation by revelation obeyed, to the Father. For "everyone that hearkenth (obeys) to the voice of the spirit cometh unto God; even the Father" And thus it is. Amen.
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