Who was God speaking to when he made this unconditional promise?
He was speaking to seven of the first laborers in the last kingdom. This promise was made in 1832. He had previously promised this quorum of Apostles in 1830 that they would gather the elect prior to the Lords coming in glory:
"to prepare their hearts and be prepared in all things against the day when tribulation and desolation are sent forth upon the wicked.." (Section 29)
I recently blogged about the mystical quorum of the seven that God spoke to in sections 29 & 84. These people will rend the kingdoms of the world and gather the elect when the 3rd Watch begins.. These two sections and the unconditional promises contained within them are directed to the "Seven Shepherds" spoken of in Micah and the "Seven Eyes of the Lord" spoken of in Zechariah.
If you believe that God has all knowledge, that he cannot lie, that all time, past present and future are continually before his eyes giving him infinite foreknowledge, then you certainly must believe ALL of the unconditional promises he makes to people in modern revelation.
I offer the promises contained in these two sections of the Doctrine and Covenants as evidence number 50 that the Marvelous Work and a Wonder did not start when the church was restored back in 1830 through the Prophet Joseph Smith... it was to be a future event, one that would take place in the 3rd Watch.
Intrigued about this cryptic quorum of Seven Apostles that had been called to the ministry long before the 12 Apostles were chosen by the three witnesses?
To read more, click here
rend
REND, v.t. pret. and pp. rent. [Eng. cranny, L. crena, Gr.]
5 comments:
I'm back!
I posted a comment after reading your article on LDSA regarding the 7--although I didn't realize it was yours until after I made the comment, so I'm repeating it here... forgive me--I was hoping you would elaborate as to why you think the command to Bishop Whitney to go unto the cities of New York, Albany and Boston was to be fulfilled in the 3rd watch? Accounts seem to show that he and the Prophet went there from late September to early November, soon after the commandment in Section 84 was given. Do you consider this a "shadow", with the literal fulfillment coming later?
One more comment, then it's time to rest my weary eyes. I just read your excellent post on LDSA entitled "Why have ye transfigured the Holy Word of God?" and found a more detailed answer to what I attempted to extract from you in an earlier comment, namely, your views regarding the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the last days. I apologize for not finding your article before posing that question. I can now go to bed satisfied.
One of the interesting things about prophecy is that virtually ALL prophecies have at least a dual fulfillment… often times they have multiple fulfillments.
For instance, the abomination of desolation that Daniel spoke of has multiple fulfillments. We know that it happened in the Old Testament.
The 1 Maccabees usage of the term points to the actions of Antiochus Epiphanes in the mid-second century BC. Specifically, he set up an altar to Zeus in the Second Temple in Jerusalem, and sacrificed swine on it around the year 167 BC.
In addition to the fulfillment in the Old Testament times, Jesus quoted this prophecy in Mark 13:14 as referring to an event in his "1st century disciples's" immediate future, the siege of Jerusalem in 70 AD.[3][4]
when you (1st cent. disciples) see the abomination of desolation standing...then let them that are in Judaea flee unto the mountains", Mark 13:14 (see also Matthew 24:15)
Few Christians are even familiar with the miraculous events having to do with Pella and how the righteous Saints among the Jews in Jerusalem were able to flee just prior to the destruction of Jerusalem.. (Pella was a type of what will happen in the latter days)
In addition to the two fulfillments that have taken place, we know that there will be a third fulfillment of this ominous prophecy in the end times.
Many prophecy scholars have written about an event in the end time future, "the man of lawlessness", or the "Antichrist" affirmed by the writings of the Apostle Paul in 2 Thessalonians will take place in a Temple of God
"When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city." Luke 21:20-21 See the latter day version of this prophecy in section 133
Some equate the upcoming event with the prophecy in 2 thes where the “man of sin” the “son of perdition” sits in the Temple of God, claiming to be God. The third fulfillment of the abomination of Desolation is coming up.
The prophecy in Malachi regarding “he shall send Elijah the prophet before the great and dreadful day of the Lord” is another wonderful example of how prophesies have multiple fulfillment.
We know that John the Baptist was a fulfillment of that prophecy when he prepared the way before Christ in the New Testament times, interestingly, he personally fulfilled it again when he revealed the priesthood to Joseph and Oliver during the LDS foundation movement…
but the Inspired version reveals that there was to be an Elias (greek for Elijah) the “preparer” and an Elias the “restorer”. This prophecy will yet be fulfilled again in the end times.
(Joseph Smiths discourse on Elijah, Elias and Messiah alludes to this as well.)
This concept of multiple fulfillments of prophecy is addressed as Christ explained to the Nephites that all of the words that Isaiah spoke “have been and shall be”.
In the case of Isaiah, each of his prophecies has both a “shadow” or “typological” fulfillment as well as a “literal” fulfillment.
When Christ stood before the congregation and quoted the prophecy about declaring the “acceptable day of the Lord” and told them that the prophecy had been fulfilled that day.. they of course considered his declaration blasphemous and rejected him and tried to kill him.
Certainly he was fulfilling the words of Isaiah, and yet, if you read that chapter of Isaiah carefully, in context, the literal fulfillment has reference to the future.
Hence in section 98 we see the Lord bestowing the honor of declaring the acceptable year of the Lord upon Sidney Rigdon..
Did the Spokesman from the loins of Judah fulfill his assignment in the 2nd Watch? Will he or someone else fulfill it again in the 3rd watch? I appears so.
So getting back to Bishop Whitney, he was to warn the inhabitant of these cities of the desolation and of their utter abolishment if they do reject the sound of the gospel.
Certainly he did visit them and warn them. Notice however that the consequences of them rejecting the gospel would be the “desolation and utter abolishment”.
In responding to someone else on my blog regarding evidence #52 that the Marvelous Work was to start at a later time after the foundation work:
"One of the fascinating things is that in some ways there almost appears to be a “time warp” between the 2nd and 3rd watch wherein events simply begin in the 3rd watch where they ended in the 2nd watch…"
I would submit that Bishop Whitney will take up in the 3rd Watch where he left off in the 2nd Watch
Clearly, the inhabitants of New York, Albany and Boston as a whole, rejected the sound of the Gospel. One would ask, why did life go on as usual for these people? Why were they not utter abolished? Why were there no consequences of their rejection of the Gospel?
The commandment given to Bishop Whitney merges into the commandment given to the other Elders being spoken to in this commandment and they are told to go the “notable cities and villages reproving the world in righteousness of all their unrighteous and ungodly deeds setting forth clearly and understandingly the desolation of abomination in the last days.”
Finally this great secret is revealed
“for with YOU saith the Lord Almighty, I will rend their kingdom; I will not only shake there earth, but the starry heavens”
From the infallible word of God we are told that the Lord is going to use the first elders of the last kingdom, to rend the kingdoms of the world!
Did that happen back during the 2nd watch? NO!
Do we believe and worship an impotent God that does not deliver on his unconditional promises? NO!
He has turned his face from us for but a short while just has he did anciently when he cast Israel out if his sight but that will change suddenly.
Verily, the word of the Lord shall be fulfilled when the first laborers in the last kingdom return in their second commission to fulfill their callings.
It is interesting to note that later, in section 103 the Lord promised these elders that if they were obedient, they would, from that very hour, begin to prevail against the Kingdoms of the World but that if they were not obedient, the kingdoms of the world would prevail against them.
Notice the following scripture very carefully because it reveals the current state of the world and the “club”
“But verily I say unto you, that I have decreed a decree which my people shall realize, inasmuch as they hearken from this very hour unto the counsel which I, the Lord their God, shall give unto them. Behold they shall, for I have decreed it, begin to prevail against mine enemies from this very hour. And by hearkening to observe all the words which I, the Lord their God, shall speak unto them, they shall never cease to prevail until the kingdoms of the world are subdued under my feet, and the earth is given unto the saints, to possess it forever and ever. But inasmuch as they keep not my commandments, and hearken not to observe all my words, the kingdoms of the world shall prevail against them.”
Who has prevailed during the last 170 years, the kingdom of the world or the kingdom of God?
Clearly, when the light shines forth among those that sit in darkness, and the Marvelous Word begins and the Dispensation of the Fulness of times come in, Bishop Whitney will return and warn the inhabitants of these cities. Those that repent and flee will be saved, those that don’t will be utterly destroyed.
I appreciate the timely response. The key certainly seems to be unlocked by v. 118. Thank you.
Your comments regarding Pella...
"Few Christians are even familiar with the miraculous events having to do with Pella and how the righteous Saints among the Jews in Jerusalem were able to flee just prior to the destruction of Jerusalem.. (Pella was a type of what will happen in the latter days)"
...Josephus?
I don't remember where I first read about it.. it has been decades.
Just use your telestial urim and thummin and punch in a few key words and you will probably find what you are looking for...
Here is one site I just found. Don't let the questionable source bother you..
http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=1dd227cd3f37b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1
Post a Comment