Preparatory events that will kick off the latter-day work:

This section is out of place on the main timeline since I believe some of the polarization events (listed on the main page next in line) have already begun. However not knowing where in the timeline these, clearly yet to happen events, belong I have listed them first for discussion.

Key servant figures come forth

It will be interesting to see which servant figure is first identified in the timeline. Could it be that the Muslim Dajjal could be the marred servant?

 

I think both the servant figures coming forth and the next item, new scripture, will cause issues for Christianity as a whole, with the heavens being sealed (no scripture outside of the pared down Bible we now have and no living prophets) this will put any of these type of events inside the antichrist camp in the minds of most. One example I recently saw was the inclusion of new scripture coming forth aligned with the Muslim Mahdi (antichrist).

Additional sacred writings are yet to come forth, "in mine own due time": Isaiah 42:9, To include the sealed portion of the Book of Mormon?: 1 Neph 13:39, 2 Neph 27:21, 26-35, 2 Neph 29:13, Ether 4:5-7.  The lost book of Enoch D&C 107: 56-57,  Ezra’s hidden 70 books (2 Esdras 14:46)? Possibly Alma 37:23 revelation exposing the secret works of man in these later-days?

I don’t like starting out the list of events, that will soon happen, with an item that might be out of place, however this one is a prime suspect. My reasoning for placing this item here are two fold.

One; The restoration of lost truths. This event sets the scene for what I see as the start of the final stage. Many of the Prophets that have seen our day include the restoration of lost truths as a key part of the work. Indeed the Great and Marvelous Work begins with the restoration of lost truths. This last dispensation opened with the restoration of lost truths through the translation of the Book of Mormon and I believe that the final stage or portion of the Great and marvelous work yet to unfold will likewise begin with more lost truths being restored. Isaiah tells us that "Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them." (Isaiah 42:9). We know that plain and precious truths have been removed from the Bible by the great and abominable church and that we stumble because of that fact (1 Neph 13:26,34). We also know that the sealed portion of the BOM contains a history of the world. (2 Nephi 27:10) What better way to tell us of things yet to happen than through the opening of the sealed portion of the BOM. Could some if not most or all the additional writings, outside of the sealed portion of the Book of Mormon etc, be what was identified as the Apocryphal texts in Jonah R Barnes’ book: “The Key to the Keystone” ? “The books the Lord promised to send us are already here” Barnes, Key to the Keystone: Page 249.

I also find it hard to understand the lack of direct writings during Christ's ministry. Of all the books in the New Testament none were written during His ministry, and most 20 years after the fact at best. They all seem to be after thoughts of Oh ya what did Christ actually do and teach, we should write these down.... We only have the book of Mormon because God commanded that the record be kept and people obeyed. Could direct writings during Christ's life be part of revealed truths soon to come? We have the "other books" (1 Nephi 13:39) that will be part of the Great and Marvelous work however it may be limited to exposing the secret works of man, Alma 37:23, with the full vision of the Brother of Jared withheld from the world at large.
 
Two; What has been shall be. This is a Gileadi theme. ( Also possible match for D&C
52:14... I will give unto you a pattern in all things, that ye may not be deceived...) I see the pattern laid out in the opening of this final dispensation repeating itself, thus the first act of the final period might be that of the coming forth of BOM lost (sealed) truths. In the event that the sealed portion of the Book of Mormon is moved into the Millennium (and there are valid reasons to do that) I would at least like to see a place holder for additional writings or Prophecy, dealing with the last days outside of the BOM, coming forth at the beginning of events yet to happen.

 I also find it fascinating that Islamic eschatology contains the coming forth of lost books (from my understanding the Islamic version of the last days are an exact mirror/opposite version of true last days events I.E. Their mahdi/ 12th Imam and His side kick Isa (the return of the prophet Jesus, never crucified and resurrected, just taken to heaven like Elijah, in their teachings) mirror the Antichrist and the false prophet and their bad guy, Dajjal is the returning resurrected Christ or any of the preparatory figures that play an Elias role. They portray the Dajjal as a one eyed miracle worker (possibly the marred servant?) ).

posted 3-19-04 on the yahoo study group site:
"I've been re-reading the web page, and believe the coming forth of

the Brass Plates should be mentioned (in the area of further truths
revealed). It makes sense that these plates would be very valuable
in bringing in the Children of Israel in earnest. From Alma 37:

3 And these plates of brass, which contain these engravings, which
have the records of the holy scriptures upon them, which have the
genealogy of our forefathers, even from the beginning—

4 Behold, it has been prophesied by our fathers, that they should be
kept and handed down from one generation to another, and be kept and
preserved by the hand of the Lord until they should go forth unto
every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, that they shall know of
the mysteries contained thereon.

-Shaun"

 

Gospel preached to all nations of the world: D&C 1:4-5, D&C 58:64, Matt 24:14. Mark 16:15

This will be the one of last acts prior to the close of the Gentile/Restoration period.   We know from D&C 45:54 that many counted among the "Heathen Nations"  will not hear the Gospel until after Christ comes down and "sets his foot upon this mount" (verse 48) D&C 45: 54 "And then shall the heathen nations be redeemed, and they that knew no law shall have part in the first resurrection; and it shall be tolerable for them."  So what is the fate of these peoples? Looking at the verses in Section 90 we see a well defined pattern. First the Gentiles then the House of Israel then the Arm of the Lord is revealed which will cause the "Heathen Nations" to consider the Gospel and the plan of salvation (the Great and Marvelous Work) . So it appears as though the Heathen Nations will not have an open effort until after the House of Israel and a key point here is after the Arm of the Lord is revealed. D&C 90: 10 "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."


Missionaries called home: D&C 88:85-88

The following two quotes point out what will be the final dividing point between the restoration period and the polarization period.


Do you think there is calamity abroad now among the people? Not much. All we have yet heard and all we have experienced is scarcely
a preface to the sermon that is going to be preached. When the testimony of the Elders ceases to be given, and the Lord says to them, "Come home; I will now preach my own sermons to the nations of the earth," all you now know can scarcely be called a preface to the sermon that will be preached with fire and sword, tempests, earthquakes, hail, rain, thunders and lightnings, and fearful destruction. What matters the destruction of a few railway cars? You will hear of magnificent cities, now idolized by the people, sinking in the earth, entombing the inhabitants. The sea will heave itself beyond its bounds, engulfing mighty cities. Famine will spread over the nations, and nation will rise up against nation, kingdom against kingdom, and states against states, in our own country and in foreign lands. (President Brigham Young: Journal of Discourses, Vol. 8, p. 123, July 15, 1860)


When God has called out the righteous, when the warning voice has been sufficiently proclaimed among the Gentile nations, and the Lord says, "It is enough," he will also say to his servants—"O, ye, my servants, come home, come out from the midst of these Gentile nations, where you have labored and borne testimony for so long a period; come out from among them, for they are not worthy; they do not receive the message that I have sent forth, they do not repent of their sins, come out from their midst, their times are fulfilled. Seal up the testimony among them and bind up the law." (Elder Orson Pratt: Journal of Discourses, Vol. 18, p. 64, July 25, 1875)


In my mind the statement by then Elder Kimball points out that this is the final act that will indicate the time of the gentiles has come to a close. 


The judgments of God will be poured out upon the wicked to the extent that our elders from far and near will be called home. Or, in other words, the gospel will be taken from the Gentiles and later on will be carried to the Jews. (Elder Heber C. Kimball: Deseret News, Church Department, May 23, 1931, p. 3)

 

We are now ready to move into the key period that is directed to the House of Israel..  Let’s take a closer look at the key event that will mark this transition.

Times of the Gentiles fulfilled: D&C 45:30, Rom 11, 1 Neph 13:42, Luk 21:24, 3 Neph 16:10

How will we recognize this transitional event? When the Gentiles reject the gospel!; sin against my gospel;

(do the gentiles reject the gospel by accepting the anti Christ, receiving the mark of the beast and join his one world government? Or could it be a subtler act like choosing economic prosperity over moral and righteous leaders? By rejecting the freedoms enjoyed in the world, provided and defend mainly by the inspired constitutional of the Untied States, by electing openly Marxist politicians/parties (08212022: reading 3 Neph 16:10.  I think we match all that is listed there)?  Or will it be outright persecution of the Saints?)

This event warrants further exploration. let's look at an analysis of 3 Nephi 16:10 by Hugh Nibley. Brother Nibley starts the analysis by looking at the statement  "Israel shall go through among them, and shall tread them down". He then frames this event by looking at the following statement:
 

  "Jack Anderson has said all along that he's far more frightened of what will come up from the south against this land than of the Russian threat to us. He said the Russians don't really threaten us, and, as we see now, they don't. But the threat will come when we're so weak they can go through us like a knife through butter, and this sort of thing. If our morals are weak and our economy breaks down, since we have nothing to live for except the economy [they can do it]."  (Hugh Nibley. Teachings of the Book of Mormon. Semester 4, p.104)

 

At first look this seems to be completely out of place.  I ask you to follow the footnotes associated with the Time of the Gentiles and the qualifier for rejecting the Gospel.  The statement that "Israel shall go through among them" requires our attention and understanding throughout this project.  I believe we have just been introduced to a key concept that carries throughout the work and that is the cleansing role of Israel, or a remnant of Israel, "The Lion of Jacob".  This idea will be explored later, but please keep it in mind, we will see it often and it appears to be the key to understanding when the Time of the Gentiles has come to a close.

 

Let’s list the key requirements for this event:

·  Gentiles reject the restored Gospel (D&C 45:28-29)

·   Lifted up in pride, full of wickedness and secret abominations (3 Nephi 16:10)

 

The main item we need to look at from the above items is the trigger for the time of the gentiles coming to an end.  The time of the gentiles was brought into the world with Paul and will end when the requirements above are met.
In exploring this idea let's look into the recent past. Do we see a type of what is to be with what has been? Orson Pratt explained, in the Journal of Discourses, a type of the future event that is yet to come. He reviewed the prophecy concerning the Gentiles in this latter day and the wicked condition they will be in, having rejected the fullness of the Gospel and being filled with all manner of lyings, mischiefs and whoredoms, commiting abominations of every kind at which point the Lord will bring the Gospel from among them.  He then goes on to point out that this prophecy was fulfilled in the mid 1800’s with the exodus to the Rocky Mountains:

  "You might have passed through the land therefor hundreds and hundreds of miles, from city to city, and inquired for an Elder who had authority to baptize for the remission of sins and to buildup the Church and kingdom of God, and the answer would have been--"There is not such person here." "Where are they?" "They have gone away beyond the Rocky Mountains," more than a thousand miles away from civilization as they called it. When we got here and again searched the prophecies we found that the Lord had been as good as his word, and had literally fulfilled that which he had spoken concerning taking his Gospel from the midst of those who had sinned against and rejected it. "  (Orson Pratt. Journal of Discourses: Vol.17, p.299 - p.300,  February 7, 1875)

Orson Pratt saw the removal of the Saints, from the gentiles (those not having been converted to the restored truths), as a fulfillment of that spoken of in 3 Nephi. Some today might even reference that event to show that the prophecy has been fulfilled.  I look to it as a type of the future event that will fulfill all of the prophecies.  When we see the gospel taken from the gentiles and then given to the House of Israel then we will know that the time of the gentiles has come to an end.  I also look for a replication of the type sited by Orson Pratt at that time.


In addition to what we have seen in the past I also think the following areas are indications of the Time of the Gentiles and help further define this key event.

 

The parable of the Ten Virgins was written for our time and about the members of the Church. The warning provided in Luke 21:36 and  Acts 2:21 should be headed by all. In the parable the Virgins represent members of the Church and only 50% of them make it through the troubled times that will come. During that period the righteous will be watching the signs of the times and will call upon the Lord and seek to be worthy to abide the day of his coming.  They will also take the Holy Spirit for their guide (D&C 45:57) and will stand in holy places (D&C 45:32).  The oil in their lamps will not be able to be shared, it will be their relationship with the Holy Ghost and their participation in sacred events like attending the Temple


This section needs further exploration.  Let's keep in mind this pivotal event that marks the close to this key period "The time of the Gentiles" and what events will accompany it.  Where will we find ourselves when this event actually happens?  Will this come at a point when we find ourselves setting on the outside of the door asking the Lord to open up and let us in?  If we do what will the Lord's response be?  To help answer that let's look at other key factors that might decide our fate.  The polarization phase
….

 

Return to index.