In my last entry I took a break from the main theme of this blog and shared some speculations I have about the time line pertaining to the possible time frame that the Marvelous Work and the Time of Jacobs Trouble will begin.
I mentioned that Israel has been in a state of darkness from the time the Children of Israel rejected the higher law from Moses until today.
Daniel possibly speaks of a period of 70 Jubilees during which Israel is in darkness but after this time they are brought from under the bondage of sin… the possibility that we and our forefathers could be in darkness for 70 Jubilees probably contradicts what we have come to believe... it is easy for latter day Israel, as a group, to become arrogant and to assume "all is well in Zion", etc.
As you search the scriptures, you will begin to see more and more evidence that latter day Israel is still in a state of apostasy.
The Dead Sea Scrolls inform us that in the end times:
“..the people will neither know, nor understand that I am angry with them because of their rebellion, because they abandoned Me and did what was evil in My eyes…They will rob their neighbors and oppress one another and defile My Temple…” (Pg 56 The Dead Sea Scholls Uncovered.. for an enhanced understanding of this dark saying, study the Kirtland-Far West era of LDS Church History very closely)
Ancient and Modern scripture refers to Gods people as being sleepy, blind and drunk in the latter days!
I have touched on the darkness and apostasy of Latter day Israel in the latter days in several previous entries but I want to point out another scripture that provides another evidence that Israel will continue to be under a partial blindness until the Deliverer comes out of Zion during the Marvelous Work.. (I have made reference to this scripture as a supporting evidence to the primary evidence I was posting about, but this statement deserves is one posting as a major evidence that the Marvelous Work is a future event. In fact this is one of the most clear, understandable and powerful scriptural evidences there is)
The following statement is from the Apostle Paul:
“For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.”(Rom 11 see also section 109 revealing that the LDS Elders are the sons of Jacob)
Paul is revealing a great mystery here... he even prefaces his remarks by stating he is revealing a great mystery! It is interesting how the mystery he tried to reveal essentially has stayed a mystery even though it is hidden in plain sight!
Paul is revealing the following information:
a) The descendants of Jacob/Israel (both houses: Jews/Kingdom of Judah and Gentiles/Kingdom of Israel were in a state of partial blindness back in the New Testament Times
b) They (we) would remain in that state of partial blindness until the fullness of the Gentiles comes in.
c) When the times of the Gentiles comes in, ALL of Israel will be saved!
d) Paul informs us that we can identify when the times of the Gentiles comes in by the fact that Gods Servant who returns to deliver Gods people will come forth out of Zion!
[many think that we are currently in the times of the Gentiles, however, I will show in future posts that the times of the gentiles comes in AGAIN when the 3rd watch begins.]
Paul actually provides an incredible key in knowing when the times of the Gentiles comes in for the last time. It is the time when Gods last Witness comes out of Zion to deliver Jacob from their ungodliness!
Paul's proclamation provides another powerful evidence that the Marvelous Work did not begin in Joseph Smiths first commission in the 2nd Watch, rather it begins when the fullness of the Gentiles comes in for the last time…
Despite some wonderful individual manifestations of the spirit that took place in the 2nd Watch, blindness in part was upon Israel when the church was restored. Section 112 reiterates that gross darkness covers the minds of the people and ALL flesh was corrupt after the church was restored to the earth. (112:23)
Paul clarifies that the Fulness of the Gentiles does not come in until the Deliverer comes out of Zion! The event marks the beginning of the 3rd Watch!
