Saturday, September 12, 2020

The Lamb of God Descending out of Heaven

1 Nephi 12:1 - 6, NC 1 Nephi 3 par. 15


And it came to pass that the angel said unto me, Look and behold thy seed, and also the seed of thy brethren. And I looked and beheld the land of promise; and I beheld multitudes of people, yea, even as it were in number as many as the sand of the sea. And it came to pass that I beheld multitudes gathered together to battle one against the other. And I beheld wars and rumors of wars and great slaughters with the sword among my people. And it came to pass that I beheld many generations pass away after the manner of wars and contentions in the land. And I beheld many cities, yea, even that I did not number them. And it came to pass that I saw a mist of darkness on the face of the land of promise. And I saw lightnings, and I heard thunderings, and earthquakes, and all manner of tumultuous noises. And I saw the earth and the rocks, that they rent, and I saw mountains tumbling into pieces, and I saw the plains of the earth, that they were broken up. And I saw many cities, that they were sunk, and I saw many that they were burnt with fire, and I saw many that did tumble to the earth because of the quaking thereof. And it came to pass after I saw these things, I saw the vapor of darkness, that it passed from off the face of the earth. And behold, I saw the multitudes who had not fallen because of the great and terrible judgments of the Lord. And I saw the Heavens open and the Lamb of God descending out of Heaven, and he came down and he shewed himself unto them.

The Stick of Joseph in the Hand of Ephraim 1 Nefi 3 par. 15

And it came to pass that the angel said unto me, Look and behold your seed, and also the seed of your brothers. And I looked and beheld the land of promise; and I beheld multitudes of people, yes, even as it were in number as many as the sand of the sea. And it came to pass that I beheld multitudes gathered together to battle one against the other. And I beheld wars and rumors of wars and great slaughters with the sword among my people. And it came to pass that I beheld many generations pass away after the manner of wars and contentions in the land. And I beheld many cities, yes, even that I did not number them. And it came to pass that I saw a mist of darkness on the face of the land of promise. And I saw lightnings, and I heard thunderings, and earthquakes, and all manner of tumultuous noises. And I saw the earth and the rocks, that they split, and I saw mountains tumbling into pieces, and I saw the plains of the earth, that they were broken up. And I saw many cities, that they were sunk, and I saw many that they were burnt with fire, and I saw many that did tumble to the earth because of the quaking thereof. And it came to pass after I saw these things, I saw the vapor of darkness, that it passed from off the face of the earth. And behold, I saw the multitudes who had not fallen because of the great and terrible judgments of yhwh. And I saw the Heavens open and the Lamb of Elohim descending out of Heaven, and he came down and he showed himself unto them.

Isn't it interesting that at this point Nephi, who I believe saw everything concerning the future of his posterity including King Benjamin, and Mosiah, and Alma, and the sons of Mosiah, and Abinadi, etc. etc., summarizes all of those experiences into beholding wars and rumors of wars among his seed and the seed of his brethren?

Why pass over the high points of the Nephite history without even touching on it even briefly to only state that I beheld many generations pass away after the manner of wars and contentions in the land?

Our little Book of Mormon study group believes that Nephi is recording this vision by the power of the Holy Ghost after he has had forty years to ponder and consider this vision.

We believe that Nephi is including in the vision what is most critical at this point for us, a gentile audience, as well as a near future Jewish and Native American audience to read and understand.

Notice how the majority of what Nephi describes at this point in the vision has to do with the time immediately preceeding and then during the advent of the Savior to the people of Nephi here on the American continent.

Why?

All of prophecy is essentially focused on two events. You can always find an acception to this because there are all kinds of intermediate events that get covered. But essentially the burden of prophecy focuses upon two and only two events. The first one is the looking forward to the coming of the Lord in the flesh in His mortal ministry. And the second one is looking forward to the coming of the Lord in glory to judge the world. Those are the two primary events that are the burden of prophecy, the burden of scripture, and you’re living on the cusp of the fulfillment of the second of those two events. And therefore, you would be well served to learn as much as you can about those two events. (Podcast #48, "Prophecy", Denver Snuffer Podcast)

If Nephi is following the pattern of the burden of prophecy then what are we to learn concerning what Nephi recorded about the Lord's advent to the Nephites in the promised land?

Is it possible that Nephi focusing attention on the coming of the Lord relates to What Lehi saw concerning the covenants that God made with the Fathers from the beginning?

When Nephi began this event speaking with the spirit of the Lord this was their conversation together.

...And the spirit said unto me, Behold, what desirest thou? And I said, I desire to behold the things which my father saw. And the spirit said unto me, Believest thou that thy father saw the tree of which he hath spoken? And I said, Yea, thou knowest that I believe all the words of my father. And when I had spoken these words, the spirit cried with a loud voice, saying, Hosanna to the Lord, the Most High God, for he is God over all the earth, yea, even above all! And blessed art thou, Nephi, because thou believest in the Son of the Most High God; wherefore, thou shalt behold the things which thou hast desired... (1 Nephi 11:1 - 7, NC 1 Nephi 3 par. 6)

As I have mentioned in an earlier post, I believe that Lehi saw everything just like Nephi.

Why do I believe this?

1) Nephi's statement above that he desired to behold the things which his father saw.

2)Lehi's teachings to his sons which were what caused Nephi to ponder upon his father's words.

For behold, it came to pass after my father had made an end of speaking the words of his dream, and also of exhorting them to all diligence, he spake unto them concerning the Jews, that after they should be destroyed — even that great city Jerusalem — and many be carried away captive into Babylon, according to the own due time of the Lord, they should return again, yea, even should be brought back out of captivity. And after that they should be brought back out of captivity, they should possess again their land of inheritance. Yea, even six hundred years from the time that my father left Jerusalem, a prophet would the Lord God raise up among the Jews, even a messiah, or in other words, a savior of the world. And he also spake concerning the prophets, how great a number had testified of these things concerning this Messiah of whom he had spoken, or this Redeemer of the world. Wherefore, all mankind were in a lost and in a fallen state, and ever would be save they should rely on this Redeemer.  And he spake also concerning a prophet who should come before the Messiah to prepare the way of the Lord. Yea, even he should go forth and cry in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord and make his paths straight! For there standeth one among you whom ye know not; and he is mightier than I, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose. And much spake my father concerning this thing. And my father said he should baptize in Bethabara beyond Jordan; and he also said he should baptize with water, even that he should baptize the Messiah with water. And after he had baptized the Messiah with water, he should behold and bear record that he had baptized the Lamb of God, who should take away the sins of the world.  And it came to pass, after my father had spoken these words, he spake unto my brethren concerning the gospel which should be preached among the Jews, and also concerning the dwindling of the Jews in unbelief. And after they had slain the Messiah who should come, and after he had been slain, he should rise from the dead and should make himself manifest by the holy ghost unto the gentiles. Yea, even my father spake much concerning the gentiles, and also concerning the house of Israel, that they should be compared like unto an olive tree whose branches should be broken off and should be scattered upon all the face of the earth. Wherefore, he said it must needs be that we should be led with one accord into the land of promise, unto the fulfilling of the word of the Lord that we should be scattered upon all the face of the earth. And after the house of Israel should be scattered, they should be gathered together again, or in fine, after the gentiles had received the fullness of the gospel, the natural branches of the olive tree — or the remnants of the house of Israel — should be grafted in, or come to the knowledge of the true Messiah, their Lord and their Redeemer. And after this manner of language did my father prophesy and speak unto my brethren, and also many more things which I do not write in this book; for I have written as many of them as were expedient for me in mine other book. And all these things of which I have spoken were done as my father dwelt in a tent in the valley of Lemuel. ( 1 Nephi 10:2 - 16, NC 1 Nephi 3 pars. 2 - 4)

I believe that as Lehi was teaching his sons concerning the house of Israel being scattered and comparing them to an olive tree who's branches were scattered Lehi was using as a scaffolding to his words the allegory of Zenos because he saw the events all unfold.

We touched on the Zenos' Allegory in an earlier post.

If I am correct in my thinking in this matter, then I believe that Lehi was interested in his sons coming to an understanding of the the covenants that God had made with the original Fathers, starting with Adam, to restore His house or family to the earth in the end just as it was in the beginning.

I intend to address what Nephi spoke of concerning the destruction that occurred among the Nephites and Lamanites at the time of the Lord's crucifixion later on.

Right now I would like to focus on the Lamb of God descending out of heaven among the Nephites who were left.

I believe that Nephi, as well as his father Lehi, was interested in our attention being drawn to those very same promises and so he recorded his vision in a manner that we would focus on what he was shown that would occur through history for God to fulfill His intended purposes of vindicating His original promises.

If we study this event that Nephi is describing can we see anything that the Lord taught or promised to the surviving Nephites that has to do with God's promises to the original Fathers?

Following His instructions to the Nephites concerning His doctrine and His law (the Sermon on the Mount repeated at Bountiful), the Lord began to prophesy concerning the house of Israel which He had scattered.

And now it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words, he said unto those twelve whom he had chosen, Ye are my disciples, and ye are a light unto this people, who are a remnant of the house of Joseph. And behold, this is the land of your inheritance, and the Father hath given it unto you. And not at any time hath the Father given me commandment that I should tell it unto your brethren at Jerusalem; neither at any time hath the Father given me commandment that I should tell unto them concerning the other tribes of the house of Israel whom the Father hath led away out of the land. This much did the Father command me that I should tell unto them, that other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice, and there shall be one fold and one shepherd. And now because of stiffneckedness and unbelief, they understood not my word; therefore, I was commanded to say no more, of the Father, concerning this thing unto them. But verily I say unto you that the Father hath commanded me, and I tell it unto you, that ye were separated from among them because of their iniquity; therefore, it is because of their iniquity that they know not of you. And verily I say unto you again that the other tribes hath the Father separated from them, and it is because of their iniquity that they know not of them. And verily I say unto you that ye are they of whom I said, Other sheep I have, which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice, and there shall be one fold and one shepherd. And they understood me not, for they supposed it had been the gentiles; for they understood not that the gentiles should be converted through their preaching. And they understood me not, that I said, They shall hear my voice, and they understood me not that the gentiles should not at that time hear my voice, that I should not manifest myself unto them save it were by the holy ghost. But behold, ye have both heard my voice and seen me, and ye are my sheep, and ye are numbered among those whom the Father hath given me. And verily, verily I say unto you that I have other sheep which are not of this land, neither of the land of Jerusalem, neither in any parts of that land round about whither I have been to minister. For they of whom I speak are they who have not as yet heard my voice, neither have I at any time manifested myself unto them. But I have received a commandment of the Father that I shall go unto them, and that they shall hear my voice and shall be numbered among my sheep, that there may be one fold and one shepherd; therefore, I go to shew myself unto them.
And I command you that ye shall write these sayings after I am gone, that if it so be that my people at Jerusalem — they who have seen me and been with me in my ministry — do not ask the Father in my name that they may receive a knowledge of you by the holy ghost, and also of the other tribes whom they know not of, that these sayings which ye shall write shall be kept and shall be manifested unto the gentiles; that through the fullness of the gentiles, the remnant of their seed, who shall be scattered forth upon the face of the earth because of their unbelief, may be brought in, or may be brought to a knowledge of me, their Redeemer. And then will I gather them in from the four quarters of the earth, and then will I fulfill the covenant which the Father hath made unto all the people of the house of Israel. And blessed are the gentiles because of their belief in me, in and of the holy ghost, which witness unto them of me and of the Father. Behold, because of their belief in me, saith the Father, and because of the unbelief of you, O house of Israel, in the latter day shall the truth come unto the gentiles, that the fullness of these things shall be made known unto them. (3 Nephi 15:11 - 24, 16:1 - 7, NC 3 Nephi 7 pars. 3 - 4)

As a cultural gentile what should I take away from this?

Who did the Father give this land of America to specifically?

What does that mean for me, a gentile? (this is a huge important subject)

Are the Nephites the only branch of the house of Israel who were separated from the main body?

I would recommend a paper "Other Sheep Indeed" that addresses this topic.  It can be found for free in the downloads section of denversnuffer.com

If I am going to hear the voice of Christ by what power will He manifest Himself to me?

What does that mean and what would that entail for Christ to manifest Himself to me by the power of the holy ghost?

Why did Christ command the Nephites to record His sayings here so they could be manifest to the gentiles?

What is the fullness of the gentiles?

How is it that the Lord will use the fullness of the gentiles to bring those parts of the house of Israel who have been scattered back in to a knowledge of their Redeemer Jesus Christ?

What does that look like?

What if these events are unfolding in a way that is completely different than what we have culturally been taught?

Would we be able to recognize what is going on?

Christ calls these believing gentiles blessed.

What does it mean to be a believing gentile?

When Christ speaks of a fullness of "these things" being made known to the believing gentiles what are "these things" that Christ is talking about?

Are "these things" related to what the Lord said a little later during His visit?

And verily I say unto you, I give unto you a sign, that ye may know the time when these things shall be about to take place, that I shall gather in from their long dispersion my people, O house of Israel, and shall establish again among them my Zion. And behold, this is the thing which I will give unto you for a sign: for verily I say unto you that when these things which I declare unto you — and which I shall declare unto you hereafter of myself and by the power of the holy ghost, which shall be given unto you of the Father — shall be made known unto the gentiles, that they may know concerning this people who are a remnant of the house of Jacob, and concerning this my people who shall be scattered by them, verily, verily I say unto you, when these things shall be made known unto them of the Father and shall come forth of the Father from them unto you — for it is wisdom in the Father that they should be established in this land and be set up as a free people by the power of the Father, that these things might come forth from them unto a remnant of your seed, that the covenant of the Father may be fulfilled which he hath covenanted with his people, O house of Israel — therefore, when these works and the works which shall be wrought among you hereafter shall come forth from the gentiles unto your seed which shall dwindle in unbelief because of iniquity — for thus it behooveth the Father that it should come forth from the gentiles, that he may shew forth his power unto the gentiles for this cause, that the gentiles, if they will not harden their hearts, that they may repent, and come unto me, and be baptized in my name, and know of the true points of my doctrine, that they may be numbered among my people, O house of Israel — and when these things come to pass, that thy seed shall begin to know these things, it shall be a sign unto them that they may know that the work of the Father hath already commenced unto the fulfilling of the covenant which he hath made unto the people who are of the house of Israel. And when that day shall come, it shall come to pass that kings shall shut their mouths, for that which had not been told them shall they see, and that which they had not heard shall they consider. (3 Nephi 21:1 - 8, NC 3 Nephi 9 par. 11)

What were the things that Christ declared unto the Nephites here and what did He declare "hereafter" during His visit among them?

Do the things He declared include those things that are unlawful to be written that He declared unto them and that He prayed for them?

What were the works wrought among the Nephites at this time?

Did they include the ministry of angels and manifestations and things that pertain to the other side of the veil?

Christ declares that it is by "these things" that the scattered remnant of the house of Israel will recognize that what the believing gentiles are bringing to them come from Him.

If I look around me do I see the works that Christ performed among the Nephites occurring in my worship tradition?

Do I receive all the words that Christ declared among the Nephites in my worship tradition?

What are the true points of Christ's doctrine? He declared it.

In my worship tradition are the true points of Christ's doctrine observed or is there more or less than the true points of Christ's doctrine taught?

Am I a "believing gentile" if these things are not part of my worship tradition?

Why is this important?

What is the reason for these things coming to believing gentiles?

What is driving everything the Lord is speaking of here?

We have talked about it before. What are the covenants the Father has made with the house of Israel?

How does He intend to use believing gentiles to vindicate these covenants?

The Lord continues.

But if they will repent, and hearken unto my words, and harden not their hearts, I will establish my church among them, and they shall come in unto the covenant and be numbered among this the remnant of Jacob, unto whom I have given this land for their inheritance. And they shall assist my people, the remnant of Jacob, and also as many of the house of Israel as shall come, that they may build a city which shall be called the New Jerusalem. And then shall they assist my people, that they may be gathered in, who are scattered upon all the face of the land, in unto the New Jerusalem. And then shall the Powers of Heaven come down among them, and I also will be in the midst. And then shall the work of the Father commence at that day, even when this gospel shall be preached among the remnant of this people. Verily I say unto you, at that day shall the work of the Father commence among all the dispersed of my people, yea, even the tribes which have been lost, which the Father hath led away out of Jerusalem. Yea, the work shall commence among all the dispersed of my people, with the Father to prepare the way whereby they may come unto me, that they may call on the Father in my name. Yea, and then shall the work commence with the Father among all nations, in preparing the way whereby his people may be gathered home to the land of their inheritance. And they shall go out from all nations, and they shall not go out in haste nor go by flight, for I will go before them, saith the Father, and I will be their rearward. (3 Nephi 21:22 - 29, NC 3 Nephi 10 par. 1)

The Lord declared that if the gentiles repent.  Repent of what? (This is a huge and important subject in and of itself. I would recommend reading and studying the entire 40 years in Mormonism series you can find for free in the downloads section of www.denversnuffer.com to address this question. )

What is the Lord's church that will be established among a group of believing gentiles?

Here's how the Lord defined His "church".

Behold, this is my doctrine: whosoever repents and comes unto me, the same is my church. Whosoever declares more or less than this, the same is not of me, but is against me. Therefore, he is not of my church. (D&C 10:67 - 68, T&C 1, Joseph Smith History, part 10 par. 19)

Does this sound like an institution or organization?

Could this "church" exist among people who belong to many different religious denominations?

The Lord declares that this group of believing gentiles comes in unto the covenant.

What does that look like?

How do these believing gentiles receive a covenant from God?

Now the Lord declares that they are no longer gentiles but that they have now transitioned to be numbered among the remnant of Jacob.

So, you can change your identity. You can change your identity from being a Nephite into becoming a Lamanite. You can change your identity from being a Lamanite to being a Nephite. But more importantly, you can change your identity from being a Gentile into being of the house of Israel. (Podcast #123, "Numbered Among", Denver Snuffer Podcast, www.denversnuffer.com)

There is a podcast that was just recently released which sheds such great light on this matter.  I plead with you to listen to it again and again and ponder what is being taught.

The podcast is Podcast #123 "Numbered Among" on the Denver Snuffer Podcast at www.denversnuffer.com.

It is through changing believing gentiles into the house of Israel so that they become the remnant of Jacob and are made part of the house of Joseph that the Lord uses them to take the fullness of His gospel, with His works, to the scattered remnants of Israel all over the earth to bring them back in to His fold.

The Lord uses this group, now adopted into the house of Israel, to build the New Jerusalem and a temple that He will commission that He will come to in order to restore what has been lost, which is necessary to redeem all the house of Israel.

My understanding is that the believing gentiles are benefiting because of the Father's desire to vindicate His promises to the original Fathers that He would bring about all of these above events.

The gentiles cannot drive the show.  It is the promises and only the promises that are driving the show.  The believing gentiles are blessed and adopted into the house of Israel as they work cooperatively with God to accomplish His work.  They cannot be on their own errand.

I give great thanks to God for showing these things to Nephi for my benefit as well as for the benefit of everyone.

I give great thanks that Nephi's vision is given to focus my attention on this event where the Savior prophesied concerning the gentiles and the house of Israel so that I can find my bearings and hopefully be true to the covenant He God has now extended to believing gentiles.

If you want to know concerning this covenant you can read everything about it in sections 156, 157, and 158 in the Teachings and Commandments found for free at scriptures.info.

Please, as you read the scriptures let them inform you.  Do not read traditions and cultures into the book.

Until six years ago I read my traditions and culture into the Book of Mormon.

Since ceasing to do so I have learned soo much.  The Book of Mormon is a book I had never really read before.

I still know nothing.  I am seeking after truth and so I consider that what I presently understand may change even in the next little bit of time.

What God has given and is willing to give is so vast and so glorious.

It's such a shame that anyone outside our little Book of Mormon study group only sees what little I can share on this blog.

God is working a work right now among a small number of believing gentiles, as unlikely as it may seem.  This work is a direct fulfillment of the prophesies of Christ here among the Nephites.

As we continue to view the rest of what Nephi recorded from his vision I suspect that we will see in everything Nephi recorded a pattern of Nephi showing how the Lord intends to work among the gentiles to vindicate His promises to restore His house or in other words His family again upon the earth as it was in the beginning.

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