Section 65-
A Prayer Received by Revelation
Calling for the Kingdom of God to Go Forth at a Future Time.
That will be Prayed
&
Answered in the 3rd Watch
Have you ever wondered why the phrase “Thy kingdom come” was contained in the Lords prayer that he taught to the Jews, in Matthew 6 but it was left out of the Lords prayer that he taught to the Nephites as contained in 3rd Nephi 13:10?
After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Matthew 6
After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 3rd Nephi 13:10
It may seem strange that the Jews were commanded to pray for the kingdom to come while the Nephites weren’t.
I would suggest that the Jews during the 1st watch, were under the preparatory gospel rather than the fulness of the Gospel while Jesus was in their midst. Therefore they had not yet been given the keys and ordinances by which they could enter into the kingdom of God.
They did not have access to the baptism of fire and of the Spirit. Hence, they were unable to enter into the kingdom, into the rest of the Lord and were still waiting for the keys of the kingdom. I speculate that is why they were commanded to pray for the kingdom to come.
The Nephites, that were visited by Christ in 3rd Nephi on the other hand did have the fulness of the Gospel and did enjoy the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost. They therefore already had the keys and ordinances by which to enter into of the kingdom and into the rest of the Lord and therefore, had no need to pray for the Kingdom of God to come.
Having acknowledged that distinction, let us observe that the Church of Christ that was restored to the earth through the prophet Joseph Smith was initially given the fulness of the Gospel and did not need to pray for the kingdom to come. Perhaps this is why the Lord did not command the Saints to pray for the kingdom to come when the New Testament Church was restored to the earth in 1830.
The Lord did not reveal to the Prophet Joseph Smith that the Gentile Saints needed to pray for the kingdom to come because they had been given the keys of the kingdom;
Fear not, little flock the kingdom is yours until I come. Behold, I come quickly. Even so. Amen. D&C 35: 27
Wherefore, gird up your loins and be prepared. Behold, the kingdom is yours…Therefore, be ye strong from henceforth; fear not, for the kingdom is yours. D&C 38: 9, 15
Since the Saints already had the keys of the kingdom and the Gospel or “stone” was beginning to go forth between 1830 and 1836, the revelation known as section 65 may have been somewhat of a puzzlement to some because it was a prayer that was obviously pertaining to a future time when a mighty one would be sent to enable the kingdom to go forth.
This mystical section was identified by Joseph Smith as a “prayer” that was received by revelation. He gave no other explanation. Again, the content must have been confusing to some of the more discerning of the Saints since it is clearly speaking of a mighty servant that comes down from heaven in the future to start the Gospel Stone going forth unto the ends of the earth.
Like John the Baptist, this Servant who comes down from heaven at a future time is preparing the way before the Lord.
Perhaps the most disconcerting thing about this inspired prayer is that even though it acknowledges that the keys of the kingdom have been committed to man on the earth, it prays that the kingdom of God will go forth, that the kingdom of heaven may come!
It reveals that the kingdom of Heaven cannot come down until after the kingdom of God has gone forth unto the ends of the earth!
I submit to you that even though the inspired prayer contained in section 65 was received by revelation during the 2nd watch, the content within, like many of the revelations Joseph Smith received, including the majority of the content found in sections 1 & 133, was to be fulfilled during the 3rd watch.
Even though this section is extremely short, containing just six verses, there is a lot of valuable information in it.
I am going to dissect each verse and make a few comments;
Verse One
1- Hearken, and lo, a voice as of one sent down from on high, who is mighty and powerful, whose going forth is unto the ends of the earth, yea, whose voice is unto men—Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
Observation 1- MIGHTY AND STRONG: A key word search of “Mighty” and “Mighty and Strong” pertaining to a future appearance of Gods messenger that comes forth in the 3rd watch brings us to Isaiah 28:2 and Section 85:7. ( as well as others)
According to these passages, this person will show forth great power that will cause the drunkards of Ephraim that don’t repent to be trodden under foot. Additionally, this servant will utter eternal words and will set in order the house of God.
At the time this prayer was revealed to Joseph Smith, Isaiah 28 probably had little meaning to the Saints at that time. The Church was in it’s infancy and they certainly would not have considered themselves to be the “drunkards of Ephraim”.
Section 85 was not in existence at the time Joseph Smith received section 65. It came about one year later. The amazing prophesy contained in section 85 was taken from a letter that Joseph Smith sent to WW Phelps and the Saints in Jackson County but it was not published in the D&C until many, many years later. It was not until 1876 that Orson Pratt, acting under the direction of Brigham Young extracted a portion of the letter and published it in the D&C.
Therefore, the prophetic declaration that a mighty and powerful one would be sent down from heaven to resume his stewardship of bringing forth the kingdom, as outlined in section 65 had little significance to anyone at the time it was received because they did not comprehend Isaiah 28 and they did not have section 85. Today, we have a tremendous advantage in understanding the significance of this amazing and prophetic prayer.
Verse one is telling us that at the appointed time, the voice of a mighty and powerful servant of God who comes down from heaven will go forth unto the ends of the earth. This Servant will prepare the way of the Lord, prior to the third time that the Lord comes to his vineyard in secret to labor with his servants for the last time in nourishing his people and preparing them to meet him at his coming.
The entire chapters from which the following two sections of scripture come from are worth reading very closely in conjunction with prophetic events that are about to take place on the earth!
Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, whose glorious beauty is a fading flower, which are on the head of the fat valleys of them that are overcome with wine! Behold, the Lord hath a mighty and strong one, which as a tempest of hail and a destroying storm, as a flood of mighty waters overflowing, shall cast down to the earth with the hand. The crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, shall be trodden under feet: Isa 28:2
And it shall come to pass that I, the Lord God, will send one mighty and strong, holding the scepter of power in his hand, clothed with light for a covering, whose mouth shall utter words, eternal words; while his bowels shall be a fountain of truth, to set in order the house of God, and to arrange by lot the inheritances of the saints whose names are found, and the names of their fathers, and of their children, enrolled in the book of the law of God; 85:7
(There are several other very interesting and pertinent scriptures to be found using the same key words. Mighty and Powerful are used to describe how Moses led the Children of Israel out of bondage)
Observation 2- GO FORTH & ENDS OF THE EARTH: By doing a key word search that contains both “go forth” AND “ends of the earth” we are directed to the promise in section 90 wherein the Lord reveals that the 3rd watch is broken into at least two parts, first the Servants go forth with the word, then, after gathering out the elect, the servant of the Lord will be revealed in power and will convince the heathen nations of the Gospel of their salvation.
This reveals that in the Marvelous Work first the gospel goes to the Gentiles, then to the Jews, then to the remnants of the House of Joseph scattered among the heathen.
It appears that the beginning of the 3rd watch could be a “soft beginning” similar to the beginning of the 1st and 2nd watches wherein the light shined forth quietly and slowly began to evolve. It is not until the gospel goes to the remnants of the house of Joseph among the heathen that the “arm of the Lord” or “Servant of the Lord” is revealed in POWER!
This is very important to understand because the Marvelous Work does not begin in a way that makes it obvious or easy for the Gentiles or the Jews to know what is going on. This is what makes it a test!
Only those who have treasured up Gods word and are led by the Spirit will understand what is going on and how to discern who the true Servants are and the true word of God that is going forth into the world.
And again, verily I say unto thy brethren, Sidney Rigdon and Fredreick G. Williams, their sins are forgiven them also, and they are accounted as equal with thee in holding the keys of this last kingdom;
As also through your administration the keys of the school of the prophets, which I have commanded to be organized; That thereby they may be perfected in their ministry for the salvation of Zion, and of the nations of Israel, and of the Gentiles, as many as will believe; That through your administration they may receive the word, and through their administration the word may go forth unto the ends of the earth, unto the Gentiles first, and then, behold, and lo, they shall turn unto the Jews. And then cometh the day when the arm of the Lord shall be revealed in power in convincing the nations, the heathen nations, the house of Joseph, of the gospel of their salvation.
For it shall come to pass in that day, that every man shall hear the fulness of the gospel in his own tongue, and in his own language, through those who are ordained unto this power, by the administration of the Comforter, shed forth upon them for the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Observation 3- PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT: By doing a key word search, on “preparing the way of the Lord and making his paths straight”, we are directed to one of the most profound sections on latter day prophecy. It is section 133.
Sections 1 and 133 were given within one week of each other at a series of special conferences. Section 1 was given November 1st of 1831. Section 133 was given November 3rd 1831.
Section 1 normally would have been section 67 according to it's chronological order however it was designated as the Preface of the Lords commandments while section 133 was designated as the Appendix to the Lords commandments.
95% of the prophetic content in sections 1 and 133, like many of the revelations in the D&C, pertains to the 3rd watch. It is an amazing experience to read these two sections back to back once you have had your eyes opened to the three watches doctrine.
Sections 1 and 133 are similar to section 65 in that they were revealed in the 2nd watch but their prophetic content becomes fulfilled as soon as the 3rd watch opens.
Verse 5 in section 133 proves that the revelation actuates as soon as the 3rd watch opens because it reveals that section 133 begins the call for the elect to come out of Babylon!
“Go ye out from Babylon, Be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord. Call your solemn assemblies and speak often one to another…”
This section is typological in the sense that the Saints were being called out of Babylon in the 2nd watch, however they failed in that commandment. It is in the 3rd watch that the righteous are successful in gathering out of Babylon.
It is critical to put section 133 in context, and realize that the literal fulfillment of the prophecies and commandments in it become actuating and binding upon the Saints in the 3rd watch, when the Servants return.
Verse three is acknowledging that the second part of the Marvelous Work when the Lord reveals his servant in POWER is still future, yet verse 17 announced that the Servant who comes to prepare the way has now returned to the earth!
In other words, as mentioned previously, the Marvelous Work has at least two main parts to it, first the Servants go forth with the gospel message among the Gentiles and the Jews and commands them to come out of Babylon. Then, after that, the arm of the Lord is revealed in power unto the convincing of the heathen nations.
Notice the similar wording in section 133 to the wording in verse one of section 65;
Hearken and hear, O ye inhabitants of the earth. Listen, ye elders of my church together, and hear the voice of the Lord; for he calleth upon all men, and he commandeth all men everywhere to repent.
For behold, the Lord God hath sent forth the angel crying through the midst of heaven, saying: Prepare ye the way of the Lord, and make his paths straight, for the hour of his coming is nigh—
When the Lamb shall stand upon Mount Zion, and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand, having his Father’s name written on their foreheads.
Once the 3rd watch opens up, section 133 becomes actuated and the Lord is announcing that he has sent forth the mighty and strong angel crying “Prepare ye the way of the Lord”
The return of the one who is might will take the sleeping virgins by surprise, yet those who are wise will have been praying for it and will receive the kingdom;
“And a commandment I give unto thee—that thou shalt write for him; and the scriptures shall be given, even as they are in mine own bosom, to the salvation of mine own elect; For they will hear my voice, and shall see me, and shall not be asleep, and shall abide the day of my coming; for they shall be purified, even as I am pure.” D&C35:20-21
Not only does the above scripture reveal that the elect will not be asleep, when the Lord of the Vineyard returns in the 3rd watch, it reveals that the Lord who returns in secret will be revealing himself to them. Furthermore, the nourishing that takes place at that time involves the inspired version of the Bible which will finally be published and sent to the world.
Verse Two
2 The keys of the kingdom of God are committed unto man on the earth, and from thence [from those same men] shall the gospel roll forth unto the ends of the earth, as the stone which is cut out of the mountain without hands shall roll forth, until it has filled the whole earth.
Observation 4: The Keys Stay with Joseph. He and those that held them jointly with him in the 2nd watch will return to the earth with the keys- It was common knowledge that the keys of the kingdom had been committed to Joseph the Seer in the 2nd watch and he held them Jointly with Sidney and others.
What wasn’t common knowledge was that Joseph and the rest of the first laborers of the last kingdom would need to return at a later time with those same keys to begin the Gospel Stone rolling forth again.
As you study the apostasy during the Kirtland years and the events that followed, it is very important to realize that while the Saints were temporarily overcome, the kingdom wasn’t. The keys of the kingdom lay dormant within key individuals and it would enable them to come forth triumphantly in the 3rd watch.
Within a few years, the Lord revealed that the keys would remain with Joseph in both life and death.
Now, let me ask you, if the keys of the kingdom remained on the earth, after Joseph and those that held them jointly with him died, why did the Lord feel it was necessary to declare and emphasize at least twice, in modern revelation that the keys would remain with Joseph in life and in death?
And why did the Lord leave so much evidence, as we have documented in this blog, revealing that Joseph Smith would need to return to the earth from the dead?
This is very, very significant. Please ponder the significance of the following verses;
“Thus saith the Lord, verily, verily I say unto you my son, thy sins are forgiven thee, according to thy petition, for thy prayers and the prayers of thy brethren have come up into my ears. Therefore, thou art blessed from henceforth that bear the keys of the kingdom given unto you; which kingdom is coming forth for the last time. Verily I say unto you, the keys of this kingdom shall never be taken from you, while thou art in the world, neither in the world to come” D&C 90:1-3
Now, I say unto you, and what I say unto you, I say unto all the Twelve: Arise and gird up your loins, take up your cross, follow me, and feed my sheep.
Exalt not yourselves; rebel not against my servant Joseph; for verily I say unto you, I am with him, and my hand shall be over him; and the keys which I have given unto him, and also to youward, shall not be taken from him till I come. D&C 112:14-15
Verse Three
3 Yea, a voice crying— Prepare ye the way of the Lord, prepare ye the supper of the Lamb, make ready for the Bridegroom.
Observation 5: The One Mighty and Strong is the one who prepares the Saints for the Bridegroom. He is the one mentioned in the parable of the ten virgins;
“And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Matt Matt. 25: 1, 5-6, 10
He is also mentioned in section 88:92 and 133:10;
“And angels shall fly through the midst of heaven, crying with a loud voice, sounding the trump of God, saying: Prepare ye, prepare ye, O inhabitants of the earth; for the judgment of our God is come. Behold, and lo, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. D&C 88: 92 “ (this shows that it is the one mighty and strong and his fellow laborers that prepare the Saints for the Bridegroom)
“Yea, let the cry go forth among all people: Awake and arise and go forth to meet the Bridegroom; behold and lo, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Prepare yourselves for the great day of the Lord.” D&C 133: 10, 19
Verse 4
4 Pray unto the Lord, call upon his holy name, make known his wonderful works among the people.
Observation 6: This inspired prayer is commanding us to pray! We are commanded to call upon the holy name of the Lord and to make known his wonderful works among the people.
In the literal sense, this verse seems to be commanding the Saints to pray for and testify of the wonderful works being done by the Lords servants AFTER they have returned! Our present responsibility is to pray for the servants to return.
Verse 5
5 Call upon the Lord, that his kingdom may go forth upon the earth, that the inhabitants thereof may receive it, and be prepared for the days to come, in the which the Son of Man shall come down in heaven, clothed in the brightness of his glory, to meet the kingdom of God which is set up on the earth.
Observation 7: This inspired prayer is commanding us to call upon the Lord and pray that his kingdom may go forth upon the earth.
As mentioned in previous comments, the woman delivers the man-child BEFORE the tribulation hits and before Zion is redeemed! This prayer is making it known that the reason the kingdom of God needs to go forth upon the earth is to prepare us for the days to come that will bring the wrath of God and tribulation upon the earth. The return of the Lord and his servants will ultimately result in wiping the wicked off the face of the earth and it will culminate in the coming of the Lord in GLORY!
How sobering is it that we are to be praying that the inhabitants of the earth will receive the kingdom when it goes forth! How many people will accept Joseph the Seer? How many people will accept Sidney the Spokesman? How many people will perceive that the Lord of the Vineyard has returned for the third time in secret and is in our midst and that he and his main Servant are leading and guiding the Seer and the Spokesman?
How many LDS people will be able to change their paradigm when the kingdom rolls forth?
How many Christians and non-Christians will be able to believe, repent and consecrate?
Truly we are not in charge, God is. He can and will do miracles in converting those who will be converted, but for us, we are to pray that the inhabitants will receive the gospel.
Verse 6
6 Wherefore, may the kingdom of God go forth, that the kingdom of heaven may come, that thou, O God, mayest be glorified in heaven so on earth, that thine enemies may be subdued; for thine is the honor, power and glory, forever and ever. Amen.
Observation 8: The Lord reveals that the kingdom of God on earth must first go forth BEFORE the kingdom of Heaven may come down!
Notice that the Kingdom of God which is set up on earth needs to first go forth so that it can prepare the Saints to meet the Kingdom of Heaven when it descends. This is also described in the following passages from section 84;
“The Lord hath brought down Zion from above, the Lord hath brought up Zion from beneath”
Section 88 also speaks of this event when the righteous Saints from below are caught up to meet h Christ and the city of Enoch and other righteous Saints from above and then descend with them back to the earth;
“And the saints that are upon the earth, who are alive, shall be quickened and be caught up to meet him. And they who have slept in their graves shall come forth, for their graves shall be opened; and they also shall be caught up to meet him in the midst of the pillar of heaven— They are Christ’s, the first fruits, they who shall descend with him first, and they who are on the earth and in their graves, who are first caught up to meet him; and all this by the voice of the sounding of the trump of the angel of God.” D&C 88: 96-98
This is a brief summary of how I interpret section 65 and a few thoughts pertaining to it.
The prophetic events mentioned in section 65 will be fulfilled in the 3rd watch. The Lord of the Vineyard will send his servants to prepare the way before him when the Marvelous Work begins.
The One Mighty and Strong will return. It appears that his full powers may not become obvious to the world until after the great test and after the elect have been gathered out of Babylon.
It may well be that this specific prayer is to be uttered after the 3rd watch begins, when the Servant has returned.
It is my opinion that those who want to be found waiting, watching, and willing to obey the Gospel, will also be praying for the keys of the kingdom to be returned to the earth and for the kingdom to go forth.
In a future post I will review a few of the signs indicating that the time for the 3rd watch to open is very near. I will also suggest some specific dates that are coming up which I think would be appropriate for those who want to unite in prayer.
