Thursday, May 19, 2011

Signs of the Lord's Second Coming and the Last Days

I received this when I was investigating the church in 1993 from my seminary teacher.   I since typed it up and thought I would publish it here.  I'm typing this in response to the declaration floating around that the Lord's coming will be on May 21st of 2011 which we can see here is not true because of what remains to be fulfilled.  Respectfully, to those false prophets who have no authority to declare such things, let alone that scripture its self declares it will not be declared as to the date, I find they are destructors of faith and they have been deceived.  What happens to the people who go willy-nilly following after them and then this doesn't happen?  Will their hearts be hardened and they will give up, perish and fall away until it is too late?  Ahhh....the devil is a cunning worker my friends.  This is why we've been told to "Watch" and be prepared and beware of the blind leading the blind.   

Matthew 7: 20Wherefore by their afruits ye shall know them.
 21¶Not every one that asaith unto me, bLord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that cdoeth the dwill of my Father which is in heaven.e
 22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not aprophesied in thy name? and in thy bname have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
 23And then will I profess unto them, I never aknew you: bdepart from me, ye that work ciniquity.
 

The Lord's commentary on the Last days
REFERENCES                              COMMENTS
Matthew 24      Prophecies of the last days (Versus 21-55 refer to our time specifically)
JST Matthew
(PoGP, p.43)   

D&C 20           Summary of the judgments upon man before earth's destiny

D&C 45           Documentation of the signs of the times

D&C 88           Step by step events leading up to coming of the Savior
D&C 101
D&C 133        

D&C 38           Promises made to the righteous when judgments shall come upon the wicked

Joel 2:28-32     Further signs of the last days
Rev 6:12
Rev 16:18-21  

Book of Mormon: the events in 3 Nephi are a pattern for the Second Coming.  There are similarities between the appearance of Christ to the Nephites and the prophecies of His Second Coming.
3 Nephi 2:14-16           Lamanites become a mighty people
3 Nephi 3:22                Righteous to gather
3 Nephi 3-4                 Wars & rumors of wars
3 Nephi 6:17-18, 7:7    Increased wickedness
3 Nephi 7:14                Rejection of the Prophet
3 Nephi 8:4                  Increased skepticism of Christ's coming
3 Nephi 8:6, 10-19       Earthquakes and other disturbances
3 Nephi 8:20-23           Darkness covering the earth
3 Nephi 9:1-13, 10-12Wicked destroyed and righteous preserved
3 Nephi 11:8                Christ coming from heaven
3 Nephi 11:1-11           Christ at His temple
3 Nephi 11:14              Christ displaying His wounds
3 Nephi 23:9-14           Resurrection of the righteous

A PROPHET'S WARNING - “There are among us many loose writings predicting the calamities which are about to overtake us.  Some of these have been publicized as though they were necessary to wake up the world to the horrors about to overtake us.  Many of these are from sources upon which there cannot be unquestioned reliance....We need no such publications to be forewarned, if we were only conversant with what the scriptures have already spoken to us in plainness.” (Harold B. Lee, Conference Report, Oct. 1972 p.128, or Ensign, Jan. 1973, p. 106)





THE PROPHETIC DESTINY OF THE HOLY LAND
Prepared by Gerald N. Lund of the 70

            It should be noted that the line between history and prophecy is constantly shifting.  While one could logically divide between prophetic promises into three divisions – the fulfilled, the fulfilling,, and the yet-to-be-fulfilled – placing of specific promises in the first two is not always that easy.   Therefore, the first two areas are combined into one.  Also note that only some of the more significant references have been included.
1.  
2.I.  THE FULLFILLED AND THE FULFILLING

A. Israel will be smitten and scattered because of their wickedness
1.Lev 26:33
2.Deut 28:63-64

B. The unbelieving of the House of Judah will suffer for rejecting their messiah.
1.2 Nephi 6:9-11
2.1 Nephi 19:13-14
3.  
C. Elijah the prophet will return before Christ comes again
1.Malachi 4:5-6
2.D&C 110:13-16

D. The people of Israel will return to the Lands of their inheritance
1.Isaiah 5:26; 11:12
2.2 Nephi 21:26-29
3.D&C 39:11

E. The House of Israel will accept the covenant and be God's People again
1.Ezekiel 20:24-28; 26:25-28
2.Jeremiah 21:18-20, 31-34
3.Isaiah 59:20-21; 60:1-5

F. The “Jews” will “Begin” to believe in Christ again
1.2 Nephi 6:14; 10:7; 25:16; 30:7
2.1 Nephi 19:14

G. The Holy Land to become productive and fruitful again
1.Isaiah 30:23-25; 35:1-2
2.Jeremiah 31:2-5, 9-12; 32:15
3.Ezekiel 36:34-35

H. Jerusalem to be rebuilt and become the capitol of Israel again
1.3 Nephi 20:46
2.Zechariah 1:16-17; 2:12;  8:3; 12:6
3.Luke 21:24

I. Judah to show forth great power in battle
1.Isaiah 19:16-17
2.Zechariah 10:5-6; 12:6-8

J. Judah and Ephraim to be reunited and become one again
1.Isaiah 11:13
2.Jeremiah 3:18; 50:4-5
3.Ezekiel 37:16-17, 22

II  THE YET TO BE FULFILLED

A. Temple to be built again in Jerusalem
1.D&C 124:36-37
2.Amos 9:11
3.Zechariah 1:16
4.Ezekiel 41-48

B. The lost tribes of Israel to return, first to Zion, then Jerusalem
1.Jeremiah 16:14-15; 31:6-12
2.Isaiah 35:10
3.D&C 133:26-34

C. All nations will gather together against Jerusalem
1.Jeremiah 25:15-26
2.Ezekiel 38:1-16
3.Joel 2:1-11; 3:1-2
4.Zechariah 14:2
5.Revelation 9:1-21

D. Two prophets will prophesy in Jerusalem and help the House of Israel
1.Isaiah 51:17-20 (See JST corrections)
2.Revelation 11:1-12

E. The Savior will appear on the Mount of Olives and deliver Israel
1.Ezekiel 38:17-23
2.Zechariah 12:9-14; 13:6;  14:1-7
3.D&C 45:43-53

F. A great river will appear in Jerusalem, the Dead Sea will be healed
1.Ezekiel 47:1-12
2.Zechariah 14:8

G. Babylon and all earthly kingdoms will be overthrown and destroyed
1.Isaiah 34:1-10
2.Ezekiel 39:1-22
3.Zechariah 14:12-15
4.Revelation 18:1-24; 19:11-21

H. The New David (Jesus Christ) will rule over Israel
1.Isaiah 55:2-4
2.Jeremiah 23:5-6; 33:15-17; Hosea 3:4-5
3.Ezekiel 37:21-25, 34
4.Luke 1:32

I. Zion will be established as a world wide kingdom and Christ will reign for a thousand years
1.Isaiah 65:17-25; 66:1-14
2.Joel 3:16-21
3.Zechariah 14:116-21
4.Revelation 20:1-6
5.D&C 101:23-32

CHRIST'S APPEARANCE TO MAN BEFORE THE 2ND COMING

            When the Lord returns he will make some appearances to specific groups and then culminate his return by his appearance in great power, majesty and glory, in such a manner that all the world will see him (D&C 133:17-22; 101:22-23).  Four appearances of the Lord have particular mention by the prophets:  two of these appearances will be to the Saints; one appearance will be to the Jews; and the fourth will be his final coming to the world.

(1)THE APPARANCE AT THE CITY OF NEW JERUSALEM
(2)The Lord “shall suddenly come to his temple”  (D&C 133:2) a temple yet to be built in Jackson county, Missouri, (D&C 84:1-5; 97:10, 15-16).  Elder Charles W. Penrose said that the Lord would make his appearance first among the saints and “that appearance will be unknown to the rest of mankind.  He will come to the temple prepared for Him, and his faithful people will behold his face, hear his voice and gaze upon his glory.  From his own lips they will receive further instructions for the development and beautifying of Zion and for the extension and sure stability of His kingdom.”  (Charles W. Penrose, Millennial Star, 10 Sept. 1859, p. 582-583.
(3)THE APPEARANCE AT ADAM-ONDI-AHMAN.
(4)The Prophet Joseph Smith said that “Daniel in his seventh chapter speaks of the Ancient of Days; he means the oldest man, our father Adam, Michael.  He will call his children together and hold a council with them to prepare them for the  coming of the Son of Man.  He (Adam) is the father of the human family and presides over the spirits of all men, and all that have had the keys must stand before him in this grand council” (History of the Church 3:386-387; D&C 116).  The Lord will appear to the saints in a solemn assembly of the Priesthood to be held at Adam-ondi-Adhman in Daviess County, Missouri, attended only by those who have held the keys of the priesthood during all the gospel dispensations and by others living who are specially invited.  “This council shall precede the coming of Jesus Christ as a thief in the night, unbeknown to all the world” Joseph Fielding Smith, Way to Perfection, p. 289-291).
(5)THE APPEARANCE AT THE MOUNT OF OLIVES
            The Savior's appearance to the Jews will occur when Jerusalem and its environs are besieged by            many nations.  At the close of a long and costly war, know as the Battle of Armageddon, the   Jews will flee for safety to the Mount of Olives.  There the savior will make his appearance      (D&C 45:48-52; 77:15; 133:35; Revelation 11:1-12; Zechariah 14:1-9).
(4)THE SECOND COMING: THE APPEARANCE TO THE WHOLE WORLD
(5)As the Lord's second coming approaches, signs will mark this epochal event.  One of the last of these signs is the Sign of the Son of Man (D&C 88:92; 101:23; JSM 1:36).  Following the sign there will be “silence in Heaven for the space of half an hour, and immediately after shall the curtain of  Heaven be unfolded” and the Lord will make his glorious appearance (D&C 88:95). So great will be the glory and power of His coming that the earth will tremble, the sun shall hide his face in shame (D&C 133:40-42, 49; 101:25).  All that is corruptible shall be consumed and destroyed by the brightness of his glorious presence (D&C 5:19; 101:24-25).  The Lord will wear red apparel, signifying his great atoning sacrifice and also  his Judgments upon the wicked (D&C 133:48-51).  Both the righteous living and the celestial dead will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air to be rewarded while the wicked are destroyed (D&C 88:96-97; 101:89-91)( Manual, religion 325-325 (Doctrine and Covenants) p 404).

THE PROPHET JOSEPH SMITH ON THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST

            “...The coming of the Son of Man never will be == never can be till the judgment spoken of for this hour are poured out;  which judgments are commenced.  Paul says, “Ye are the children of light, and not of the darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief in the night (I Thes. 5:4-5).”  It is not for the design of the Almighty to come upon the earth and crush it and grind it to powder, but he will reveal it to His servants the prophets.
            “Judah must return, Jerusalem must be rebuilt, and the temple, and water come out from under the temple, and the waters of the Dead Sea healed.  It will take some time to rebuild the walls of the city and the temple, etc.;  and all this must be done before the Son of Man will make His appearance.  There will be wars and rumors of wars, signs in the heavens above and on the earth beneath, the sun turned into darkness and the moon to blood, earthquakes in divers places, the seas heaving beyond their bounds; then will appear one grand sign of the Son of Man in Heaven.  But what will the world do?   They will say it is a planet, a comet, etc.  But the Son of Man will come as the sign of the coming of the Son of Man, which will be as the light of the morning cometh out of the east.  (April 6, 1843.) DHC 5:336-337.
            “...The inhabitants of the earth are asleep, they know not the day of their visitations.  The Lord set the bow in the cloud for a sign that while it shall be seen, seed time and harvest, summer and winter shall not fail;  but when it shall disappear, woe to that generation, for behold the end cometh quickly.” (TPJS, p. 305).

WHY ARE WE TOLD OF THE GREAT...AND TERRIBLE EVENTS?

(1)HOPE!   In D&C 45:38 we read, “Even so it shall be in that day when they shall see all these things, then shall they know that the hour is nigh.”
(2)REWARD!   If the Saints are not to reign, for what purpose are they crowned?   In an exhortation of the Lord through his servant John he said, Behold, I come quickly: Hold fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.”  For he that is worthy, the Lord says, he shall be clothed in white raiment, and Christ will present our names to His Father and before angels.
(3)PREPARATION!  NOW  is the time.  Those who “have taken the Holy Spirit for their guide...shall abide the day” (D&C 45:57).  President Hinkley said in April Conference (1995), “The time has come for us to stand a little taller, to lift our eyes and stretch our minds to a greater comprehension and understanding of the grand millennial mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
“This is a time to be strong.
“It is a time to move forward without hesitation, knowing well the meaning, the breadth and the importance of our mission.
“It is a time to do what is right regardless of the consequences that might follow.
“It is a time to be found keeping the commandments.
“It is a season to reach out with kindness and love those in distress and to those who are wandering in darkness and pain.
“It is a time to be considerate and good, decent and courteous toward one another in all our relationships.  In other words, to become more like Christlike.”

Signs of the times (GOOD!) 

(A “-” afterwards means it's a bad thing or a negative event that won't be happy)

1.Spirit to be poured out on all flesh
2.Discovery and use of printing
3.Protestant reformation and age of renaissance
4.Discovery and colonizaation of America
5.Establishment of the American nation
6.Translation and printing of the bible
7.Establishment of the U.S. Constitution
8.Latter-day revelation
9.Coming forth of the Book of Mormon
10.Opposition to the Book of Mormon -
11.Restoration fo the keys/priesthood
12.Restoration of the gospel
13.Messenger to precede Second Coming
14.Church and Kingdom set up again
15.Growth of the Church
16.Gathering of Israel
17.Ten tribes to return
18.Times of gentiles being fulfilled
19.Return of Judah to Jerusalem
20.Jews to begin to believe in Christlike
21.Building of latter-day temples
22.Lord to come suddenly to His temple
23.Spirit of Elijah and genealogical research
24.Persecution of the Saints -
25.Persecution of the Jews -
26.True gospel to be preached to all the world
27.Worldly knowledge to increase
28.Scientific and inventive progress
29.Disease, plague and pestilence weep earth -
30.Elements in commotion -
31.Disasters to abound -
32.Strikes, anarchy, violence increase -
33.Latter-day wickedness
34.Spirit ceasing to strive with wicked -
35.Peace taken from the earth -
36.Angels reaping the earth -
37.Wars and rumors of wars -
38.Famines, depressons and economic turmoil -
39.Apostate darkness covers earth -
40.Many false churches in latter-days -
41.Refusal of men to believe signs of times -
42.Signs on earth and in heaven
43.Lamanites to blossom as the rose
44.Gathering at Adam-ondi-Ahman
45.Final great war to attend second coming -
46.Sorrow and fear precede and accompany second coming
47.Fall of the great and abominable church
48.Special mission in Jerusalem of two latter-day prophets
49.Wicked to be burned
50.Final restitution of all things to be completed
51.Christ to reign personally upon earth

(Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, page 715-734)