Israel Awakes and Arises - Part 3 : The Covenant of Christ and the Perfect Type for Israel’s Gathering

          The Covenant of Christ [modern English version of the Book of Mormon] speaks plainly to latter-day Gentiles in many ways. It is a mistake to consider it purely historical. The purpose of the record is to inform us and affirm the Savior’s divinity and the legitimacy of the Bible as a record of God’s dealings with mankind. Providing further elaboration on a less understood use of the Covenant of Christ, Denver Snuffer said:

“I’ve thought the Book of Mormon [Covenant of Christ] was more a Urim and Thummim than a book. It is a tremendous source of subject matter upon which to ponder, oftentimes drawing a veil at critical moments while inviting the reader to ponder, pray and ask to see more. Used in that fashion, the Book of Mormon can open the heavens and make any person a seer indeed.

The words of a prophet are best understood by a prophet. If you can come to understand the Book of Mormon’s words, you can become a prophet. Or, more correctly, a seer before whom scenes of God’s dealings with mankind, past, present and future, will be put on display. Mosiah 8: 17 reports: “But a seer can know of things which are past, and also of things which are to come, and by them shall all things be revealed, or, rather, shall secret things be made manifest, and hidden things shall come to light, and things which are not known shall be made known by them, and also things shall be made known by them which otherwise could not be known” (1 Nephi 13:36 blogpost, Denver Snuffer Jr., July 1, 2010; emphasis added).

One account in the Covenant of Christ acts as a type for the prophecies of Israel’s gathering accomplished by the latter-day David. The details in this account mirror those of the prophecies in Part 2. The Lord’s works through His servants shows how history not only rhymes, it repeats.

Mosiah, Benjamin, and Mosiah

          It is unlikely a casual reader of the Covenant of Christ recognizes and appreciates the depth of the Lord’s wisdom as they read this record in modern English. The language in the Book of Mormon may at times be an obstacle to plumbing the depths of content in the record.

          The details of these accounts are considered in the context that has been discussed in part 2. The word of the Lord to Isaiah says:

“Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto the Lord and he will have mercy upon him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. . .” (Isaiah 20:2; emphasis added).   

Contrasting prophecies of David with Covenant of Christ accounts of the reigns of Mosiah, Benjamin, and Mosiah places on display the Lord’s higher way of thinking.

“. . .The thing that has been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done, and there is no new thing under the sun. Is there anything whereof it may be said, See, this is new? It has been already of old time, which was before us. There is no remembrance of former things, neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come, with those that shall come after” (RE Ecclesiastes 1:1; emphasis added).

This passage declares the experiences of mankind may in the moment seem without precedent. The past events are repeated in the future. The contrast of Davidic prophecies bears more than similarities to events thereafter.

          Similarities between Davidic prophecies reviewed previously and accounts of the three Nephite kings begin with lineage. Two lineages from Israel are pre-eminent in Davidic prophecies. RE Isaiah 5 points to a union between Ephraim [Joseph, birthright] and Judah [Israel’s throne].

          King Mosiah fled the land of Nephi into the wilderness. Mosiah and a group of prophets, led righteous Nephites who shared Lehi’s lineage:

“. . .I’m Amulek, the son of Gidanah, the son of Ishmael, a descendant of Aminadi — the same Aminadi who interpreted the writing on the temple wall, written by God’s finger. And Aminadi was a descendant of Nephi, the son of Lehi, who came from the land of Jerusalem and was a descendant of Manasseh, the son of Joseph, who was sold into Egypt by his brothers” (RE Alma 8:1; emphasis added).

Descendants of Lehi came from Joseph of Egypt’s lineage through Ephraim’s elder brother Manasseh. Joseph of Egypt passed the birthright to Ephraim, not Manasseh. Birthright blessings extend to Manasseh from Ephraim [Gentile converts] when Gentiles carry the Covenant of Christ to Lehi’s descendants [Lamanites] in the last days.

          King Mosiah and his people are led by the Lord through the wilderness to the city Zarahemla. Citizens of Zarahemla, like Lehi’s descendants come from Jerusalem. There is a difference in lineage. The people of Zarahemla are Mulochites from Judah. Muloch is the only surviving son of Zedekiah, king of Judah making him heir to their throne.

“. . .Now the land to the south was called Lehi; and to the north was called Muloch, after Zedekiah’s son. Because the Lord originally led Muloch to settle the land to the north and Lehi settled the south. . .” (CofC Helaman 2:29; emphasis added).

“Jeremiah was the prophet testifying about Jerusalem’s destruction. We’ve learned Jerusalem was destroyed according to Jeremiah’s words. So why won’t the Son of God come according to his prophecy? Will you argue Jerusalem wasn’t destroyed? Will you say Zedekiah’s sons weren’t killed, all except for Muloch? Indeed, can’t you see Zedekiah’s descendants are here and they were led from the land of Jerusalem. . .” (CofC Helaman 3:9; emphasis added).

When Mosiah arrived at Zarahemla they found another people who fled Jerusalem. The condition Mosiah’s people [Joseph] found the Mulochites [Judah] of Zarahemla was different from Lehi’s descendants.

“Mosiah discovered Zarahemla’s people left Jerusalem at the time Zedekiah, king of Judah, was taken away as a prisoner to Babylon. They traveled across the wilderness and were brought by the Lord’s hand across the sea to the land where Mosiah discovered them; and they had lived there since their arrival. When Mosiah discovered them, they had become very numerous. Nevertheless, they had many wars and serious conflicts and had been killed by the sword from time to time. Their language had become corrupted, and they hadn’t brought any records with them. In addition, they denied their Creator’s existence, and Mosiah and his people couldn’t understand them. But Mosiah had them taught to understand his language. After they were taught Mosiah’s language, Zarahemla gave his ancestors’ genealogy from memory; and it’s written down, but not in these plates [because their record belongs to Judah]. Zarahemla’s people [Judah] and Mosiah’s people [Joseph] united, and Mosiah was accepted as their king.” (CofC Omni 1:7-8; emphasis added).

Conditions found in Zarahemla are not unlike the scattered of Israel when the Lord gathers them. Consider how they relate to Isaiah’s prophecy when the “root of Jesse” raises an “ensign” and Ephraim [second son of Joseph of Egypt and bearer of the birthright] is united with Manasseh and then Judah.

“. . .And he [“root of Jesse,” descendant of Jesse and Joseph] shall set up an ensign for the nations [all Gentile nations] and shall assemble the outcasts [scattered] of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah, from the four corners of the earth. The envy also of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off. Ephraim [birth right] shall not envy Judah [right to the throne] and Judah shall not vex Ephraim. But they [unitedly] shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines [Israel’s enemies] toward the west, they shall spoil them of the east together, they shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab, and the children of Ammon shall obey them . . .” (CofC Isaiah 5:5; emphasis added).

A descendant of Jesse and Joseph raises an “ensign” [1] gathering repentant Gentiles and Israel. Israel’s reunification is explained as uniting Ephraim [Joseph with Gentiles] with Judah [Jesse with all Israel]. This is the fruit from the Lord setting “his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people.” Isaiah describes these events in this manner, as when Mosiah gathers with Mulochites of Zarahemla and becomes king over the collective.

          Ezekiel describes the Lord’s work of setting “his hand again the second time” as combining records of Judah with Joseph as opposed to the people in Isaiah and Mosiah. In addition to Mosiah, Isaiah, and Ezekiel, the record of Joseph of Egypt unite the words of Joseph and Judah. For Joseph of Egypt the prophecy suggests the combination is accomplished over time with extraordinary results.

“Therefore your [Joseph of Egypt’s] offspring will write, and Judah’s offspring will write [Bible]. The Lord says: The things your offspring write, and the things Judah’s offspring write, will grow together in order to expose false doctrines, settle disputes, and establish peace among your offspring and bring them, in the last days, to understanding their ancestors [Patriarchal Father’s] and comprehending My covenants [promises made to the Father’s]. The Lord said: His [Joseph Smith’s] weakness will be made strong. My work will then begin among all My people. I’ll restore you, O house of Israel” (CofC 2 Nephi 2:4; emphasis added).

When the records “grow together” over time it has a miraculous effect. Two records combine to dispel false doctrines [precepts of men among the Gentiles, restore accurate history for Israel], settle disputes between Joseph and Judah, establish peace [“I will make a covenant of peace” when David is made a “prince for ever” (RE Ezekiel 19:6-7)] among Joseph’s offspring [Gentiles, Ephraim, and Lehi’s seed, Manasseh]. Joseph’s seed begins understanding their ancestors [Patriarchal Father’s], and comprehend the Lord’s covenants with them [righteous Father’s].

          When these matters are settled among Joseph’s descendants, Ephraim [Gentile converts] bring birthright blessings to Manasseh’s seed [Lehi’s repentant descendants, Lamanites] and both tribes from Joseph begin the Lord’s work of gathering scattered tribes of Israel.

          In addition to preceding prophets, Nephi is shown a vision of these events by an angel providing additional detail of how these events unfold.

“Then the Angel of the Lord told me [Nephi]: The Lamb of God says: After I’ve judged the remnant of the house of Israel (referring to your father’s descendants), after punishing them using the Gentiles, I’ll show mercy to the Gentiles [non-Israel]. They’ll make a great many mistakes because of the extremely clear and valuable parts of the Lamb’s gospel that have been removed by that utterly wicked church, which is the mother of harlots. But by My power I’ll bring to light for them [Gentiles] more of My gospel, which will be clear and very valuable, says the Lamb. Indeed, says the Lamb, I’ll personally appear to your descendants so they [Lehi’s descendants] are able to write many things that I’ll provide to them, which will be plain and very valuable. After your [Nephi’s] descendants are destroyed and fall away in unbelief, along with your brothers’ descendants, these writings will be hidden and protected, to later be delivered to the Gentiles by the gift and power of the Lamb. My gospel will be written in them, says the Lamb — My rock and My salvation. I’ll bless those who then want to bring about My Zion [among Gentiles]; they’ll [repentant Gentiles] have the gift and power of the Holy Ghost. And if they continue faithful to the end, they’ll be raised up on the last day and saved in the everlasting kingdom of the Lamb. Therefore, any [Gentile or Israel] who proclaim peace, the joyful news, how beautiful shall be their presence upon the mountains [nations]!

Then I saw my brothers’ descendants [Lamanites] and the book of the Lamb of God, which had come from the Jews [Bible, record of Judah], and that it came from the Gentiles to my brothers’ descendants. After it had come to them, I saw other books that came by the Lamb’s power from the Gentiles to them — these convinced the Gentiles [Ephraim] and my brothers’ descendants [Lamanites, Manasseh], and also the Jews [Judah and scattered Israel] who were scattered throughout the earth, that the records of the prophets and the Lamb’s Twelve witnesses are true. Then the Angel told me: The last records [“other books,” Book of Mormon, Covenant of Christ, the Lord’s additional  revelations] that you’ve seen among the Gentiles will confirm the truth of the first ones [Bible]— which come from the Lamb’s Twelve witnesses [disciples]— and will reveal the clear and valuable things which have been removed from them and reveal to all people of every tribe and language that the Lamb of God is the Son of the Eternal Father and Savior of the world and that all people must come to Him or they cannot be saved. And according to the words of the Lamb they must come to Him. And the Lamb’s words will be revealed in the records of your descendants [Joseph, Book of Mormon, Covenant of Christ] as well as in the records of the Lamb’s Twelve witnesses [Bible]. So they’ll both be witnesses together, because there’s one God and one Shepherd over the whole earth. At a future time, He’ll reveal Himself to all nations, both to the Jews [Judah] and to the Gentiles [Ephraim]. And after He has revealed Himself to the Jews [first] and to the Gentiles [last], He’ll then appear to the Gentiles [first, Joseph Smith] and to the Jews [last, Judah and Israel]. The last will be first [with an offer of covenant] and the first [offer of covenant] will be last” (CofC 1 Nephi 3:24-25; emphasis added).

The prophecy shown Nephi follows the pattern of combining both records of Judah and Joseph as well as a reuniting of people from these tribes. The Bible passes through the hands of “that utterly wicked church” described as a “mother of harlots.”  The offspring of the “utterly wicked church” cause Gentiles to make many mistakes because of the “extremely clear and valuable parts of the Lamb’s gospel” removed from the Bible to make it more appealing and less demanding.

          To repair the mischief of the offspring of the “utterly wicked church” the Lord exercises His power to bring to light more of His gospel. The additional light is a process where the Lord restores the “extremely clear and valuable parts” removed by the harlot and her offspring.

          When this new light is shared [Davidic servant] several reactions arise among the Gentiles and then scattered Israel. The first ascribing blame and triggering rebellion. Next is to impugn the integrity of the source of this information because if the assertion is true, it condemns all religions based on the Bible, Jewish or Christian. Each denomination sees flaws in others but resolutely maintains devotion to the religion of their mortal fathers.

          In the first chapter of Ecclesiastes we are told “there is nothing new under the sun.” That is true in the affairs of men as well as the “accuser” and his tactics. By revelation the Lord explained to Joseph Smith the strategy of Satan to remove light and knowledge from mankind:

“. . . And that wicked one [the “accuser”] comes and takes away light and truth, through disobedience, from the children of men, and because of the tradition of their fathers. . .” (RE T&C 93:11; emphasis added).

Satan entices mankind to disobey God’s commandments by deception. Deception about God’s commandments by altering what is plain and valuable, making it less rigorous, vague, and confusing. Altered teachings become false traditions hardening hearts over time. They become fatherly traditions passed through generations. This is why the rabbinical class in the Savior’s day were devoted to scriptural scholarship and remained blind when the Son of God walked among them.

“So, how good a job did the scriptorians, the scribes, the Pharisees, the lawyers, how good a job did those people do with their study, their intensive fidelity to the Scriptures? How well did that help them recognize Jesus Christ when He came? I mean, they killed Him. Clearly, their Scriptures didn’t do… I was going to say it didn’t do a damn thing for them, but it did damn them. So, their Scriptures did a damnation for them. So, it probably worked just like it should have. They didn’t get it. They didn’t get on board with it. They didn’t recognize the Lord. They opposed Him. They criticized Him. They rejected Him. He was too much this, and He was too little that. And He clearly couldn’t be [sigh], “A carpenter from Galilee? Now, what good thing comes out of Galilee?”

So, the Scriptures did not help. In order for the Scriptures to help, it would have required an absolutely dramatic vantage point change. There was a Pharisee. That Pharisee’s name was Saul. He came from Tarsus. He was well-read; he not only opposed, based on scripture, everything that Jesus stood for and did, he also wanted to assist in the process of eradicating Christians. And so he stood by, holding the coat at the time of the stoning of Stephen, consenting to his death because Saul of Tarsus was absolutely secure in his scriptural viewpoint and his scriptural understanding. Then he encountered the Lord on the road to Damascus, got a new name—Paul. And that same Pharisee who was befuddled, misled, enraged, and opposed became a suffering convert who sacrificed to preserve, perpetuate, and spread the Christianity that had come to him only by conversion on the road to Damascus.

So, think about all of the rather grandiose, lofty, impressive descriptions that were given in the prophecies about the coming of the Lord the first time, when He came as a sacrifice. And then think about how modest and how de minimis (it’s a phrase you learn in law school; it means “the minimum”), how almost undetectable the entry of Jesus Christ into the world, His life and teaching, and His death was to the contemporaries. Now, a very small band of the contemporaries preserved and testified of it, and the resurrection of the Lord helped spread it, and Christianity became a dominant—absolutely dominant—cultural, religious, and social juggernaut. But that took centuries and a couple of millennia.

That single generation to whom Christ came and personally ministered, He was hardly a ripple on the surface of the pond, because so few were believing; and those who believed in the same religion as Him did not believe the form the religion took in Him. They wanted nothing of it” (This, That, and The Other, Denver Snuffer Jr., pp.16-17; emphasis added).

No matter how diligent one may be in their efforts, if the recipe [scripture] is altered the outcome is less desirable, possibly damnable. That is not to say Jews bear all responsibility for scripture alteration. Gentiles are guilty of mischief in how they impose interpretation and alterations to sacred writ. Lack of consistency in doctrine among Christian religions is evidence liberties are taken. Hundreds of years of altered teachings become a foundational legacy creating fatherly traditions that mislead. This is the second means for Satan to remove light and truth. Few question familial traditions allowing them to become default beliefs in future generations.

          If the Lord uses His power to restore “extremely clear and valuable parts” removed from the Bible, the restored parts run head on into traditions established over centuries of time. Fatherly traditions are the primary substance of the “mists of darkness” in Lehi’s dream of the Tree of Life.

“. . . And the dark mists are the temptations of the accuser, who blinds people’s eyes [to truth], hardens their hearts [disbelief], and [mis] leads them away into wide roads, to perish and be lost. . .” (CofC 1 Nephi 3:17; emphasis added).

The only way out of dark mists is accepting additional light when the Lord reveals “more of my gospel.” More of the Lord’s gospel appears in “other books” following the Bible or record of Judah to the Gentiles. Within “other books” is the Book of Mormon, Covenant of Christ, Doctrine and Covenants, Teachings and Commandments with Lectures on Faith, Testimony of Saint John, revelations of Denver Snuffer, A Glossary of Gospel Topics. The “other books” is not limited to this collection. It is anticipated to grow as the Lord continues to bring additional light and knowledge. So much so waters from the flood in Noah’s day become a metaphor for knowledge the Lord’s covers the earth with.

          What is fascinating is the Lord’s choice of words when He describes the effects of “other books” on the Gentiles, Lehi’s seed, and Israel, including Judah. The “other books” “convinced the Gentiles and my brother’s descendants [Lamanites], and the Jews who were scattered throughout the earth” of the veracity of the Bible.

          When the prophetic accounts are viewed in the context of one another a picture emerges portraying the Lord’s efforts to restore what was removed by the “utterly wicked church” and her offspring.

          The Lord’s efforts at restoration create a clear line of demarcation for the Gentiles. A choice must be made and each side of the matter carries good and bad consequences. There is no middle ground to claim.

Day of Decision for the Gentiles

          Since the days of Joseph Smith the Gentiles have had two centuries to react to the Lord’s offer of covenant given at the Restorations beginning. Since that day there are approximately 150 variations of the religion claiming Joseph Smith as their founder. Just like their mainstream Christian brethren. That is inconvenient to address because each offshoot claim, “I, I am the Lord’s.”

“Now, my people, I’ve spoken to you as the Spirit has inspired me; so I know these things will certainly happen. The things that will be written from the book [Covenant of Christ] will be very valuable for mankind and especially for our descendants, who are a remnant of the house of Israel. Then at that time, among churches that aren’t established by the Lord, one church will say to the other: I, I’m the Lord’s! And the other will reply: I, I’m the Lord’s! — this is how everyone will talk who’s built up churches that aren’t established by the Lord. They’ll argue with each other, and their priests will contradict each other. They’ll teach according to what they’ve learned and deny the Holy Ghost, which inspires people to speak truth. And they’ll deny the power of God, the Holy One of Israel. They’ll tell the people: Listen to us and follow our directions. God isn’t around today; the Lord and the Redeemer has done His work, and He’s given men His power. Believe what we teach: If they say that there’s a miracle performed by the hand of the Lord, don’t believe it! He’s not a God of miracles today; He’s finished His work. There will be many who will say: Eat, drink, and enjoy yourselves; because we’ll soon die and it will turn out fine for us. And there will also be many who will say: Eat, drink, and enjoy yourselves, but praise God. He’ll justify committing a little sin. Lie a little, take advantage of someone because of their mistakes, set a trap for your neighbor; there’s no harm in any of this. And do all these things, because we’ll soon die. But if it turns out we’re guilty, God will spank us with a few strokes, and in the end, we’ll be saved in God’s kingdom. Many will teach in this way false, powerless, and foolish doctrines, and will be filled with pride to their very center and go to great lengths to hide their secret plans from the Lord. They’ll try to hide the things they do from public view. And the blood of the holy ones will cry out from the ground against them [because those who meet Nephi’s description persecute, reject, and kill those sent by God with more of His gospel].

Indeed, they’ve all departed from the pathway and become corrupted because of pride. And because of false teachers and false doctrines, their churches will have become corrupted and prideful; because of pride they’re full of conceit. They rob the poor because of their fine places of worship and they rob the poor because of their expensive clothing. They persecute the humble and poor in heart because they’re inflated with pride. They’re unyielding and arrogant; and because of pride, wickedness, abominations, and whoredoms, they’ve all gone astray except for a few who are Christ’s humble followers. However, they’re [humble followers of Christ] led by false teachings, so that in many cases they go astray because they’re taught to obey man-made rules and principles [precepts of men].

The Lord God Almighty has said: Woe, woe, woe [condition of deep suffering x3] to the wise, the well educated, and the rich who are prideful to their very center, and to all those who preach false doctrines, practice whoredoms, worship idols, and corrupt and pervert the Lord’s right way! They will be thrown down to hell.

Woe to those who disregard the just for something of no value and loudly condemn what’s good and say it’s worthless, because the time is soon coming when the Lord God will visit the inhabitants of the earth in judgment. And when they’re [everyone who fails to repent] fully ripe in iniquity, they will be destroyed. However, the Lord of Hosts has said, if the inhabitants of the earth repent of their wickedness and abominations, they won’t be destroyed. But that powerful and utterly wicked church — the whore of all the earth — will fall to the ground in ruins; and its fall will be impressive. Indeed, the accuser’s kingdom must shake. And those who belong to it must be motivated to repent, or the accuser will grab them with his everlasting chains and they’ll become angry and be lost, since at that time he’ll rage in mankind’s hearts and cause them to be angry against all that is good. And he’ll pacify others, lulling them into worldly security, so that they’ll say: Everything is fine in Zion [self-assured, self-righteous people, certain they are the Lord’s chosen]; in fact, Zion is prospering [in name and wealth only, but not in righteousness]. Everything is fine! And so the accuser swindles them and leads them away carefully down to hell. And he beguiles others, telling them: There’s no hell. He says to them: I’m not the accuser — because there isn’t one. This is how he whispers in their ears until he imprisons them with his awful chains, from which there’s no rescue [if they fail to repent]. They’re imprisoned by death and hell and the accuser; and all those who have been captured by these will stand before God’s throne and be judged according to their works. From there they’ll go to the place prepared for them — a fiery lake that burns like lava [Metaphorical description of the pains of guilt], which is endless [God’s] torment. Therefore, woe to those who are at ease in Zion [those who falsely believe they are God’s chosen people]!

Woe to those who cry out: Everything is fine! Woe [single, less severe] to those who follow the worthless teachings of men and deny God’s power and the gift of the Holy Ghost [God is more merciful to them because of the precepts of men]. Woe to those who say: We’ve received enough of the truth and we don’t need any more. In short, woe to all those who shake with anger because of God’s truth. Because those built on God’s rock are glad to receive truth. But those built on a sandy foundation are afraid of falling.

Woe to those who say: We’ve received God’s word; we don’t need more of God’s word because we have enough. This is what the Lord God has said: I’ll give mankind line upon line, a teaching here and a teaching there, a little here and a little there. Those who follow My teachings and listen to My counsel are blessed since they’ll learn wisdom. And I’ll give more to those who receive; but from those who say we have enough, even what they have will be taken away. Those who put their trust in the scholarly arrogance of men or follow the false teachings of a man are cursed, because only those teachings given by the power of the Holy Ghost are true.

The Lord God of Hosts has said: Woe to the Gentiles [those first to receive the Restoration and Lord’s offer of covenant through Joseph Smith]; because despite extending My welcoming arm to them from day to day, they will deny Me. Nevertheless, I’ll be merciful to them, says the Lord God, if they repent and come to Me. My arm beckons to them all day long, says the Lord God of Hosts” (CofC 2 Nephi 12:1-7; emphasis added).

Pride or prideful appears seven times in Nephi’s recitation of conditions among Gentiles in the last days. Each claims to be of the Lord but the Lord declares they are not His. There is plenty to condemn about the latter-day Gentiles and in the end of the prophecy he makes a sobering declaration about latter-day Gentiles:

“. . .Woe to the Gentiles because despite extending My welcoming arm to them from day to day, they will deny Me. . .” (Ibid).

The Lord’s arm of mercy remains extended to the Gentiles if they repent. A few Gentiles will repent. Probably similar in number to those few who acknowledged the divine Sonship of the Savior in His earthly ministry and sacrifice.

          Nephi addresses the prophetic fate of the Gentiles and how the Lord extends His “arm of mercy” to them. It begins with a promise to those Gentiles who repent and are numbered among Lehi’s seed as inheritors of Israel’s blessings:

“If the Gentiles then obey the Lamb of God, He’ll reveal Himself to them in word [more of His gospel] and power [Spirit of Elijah] and in person [Spirit of Messiah], in order to remove barriers to their belief, and if they don’t harden their hearts against the Lamb of God, they’ll be included with your father’s [Lehi’s] descendants — indeed, they’ll be included as part of the house of Israel. And they’ll become a blessed family in the promised land forever [inheritance is sealed upon the Gentiles like Israel]. They won’t be enslaved [by their barriers of unbelief] anymore, and the house of Israel won’t be embarrassed anymore. And the great pit [precepts of men] dug for them by that utterly wicked church, which the accuser and his followers founded so that he could take people’s souls down to hell — that great pit dug for people’s destruction will be filled with those who dug it, to their complete destruction, says the Lamb of God — not the destruction of the soul, but throwing it into that endless hell. This is according to the accuser’s imprisonment, and according to God’s justice as well, upon all those who insist on doing wicked and corrupt things in God’s sight.

Then the Angel told me: You’ve seen that if the Gentiles repent, it will turn out well for them. You also know about the Lord’s covenants with the house of Israel. And you’ve also heard that whoever [Gentile or Israel] doesn’t repent must perish. As a result, if the Gentiles harden their hearts against the Lamb of God, I will afflict them. Because the time will come, says the Lamb of God, when I’ll bring about a great and awe-inspiring work among mankind, one that will be everlasting — one way or the other — either to convince them, resulting in peace and life eternal; or to give them up to their hard hearts and blind minds, bringing about their slavery and temporal and spiritual destruction, under the accuser’s enslavement which I’ve spoken about” (CofC 1 Nephi 3:25-26; emphasis added).

Two outcomes are placed before the Gentiles in the time the Lord decides to do “a great and awe-inspiring work among mankind.” For the Gentiles it is the final offer of covenant. Choosing to receive the Lord’s offer joins them with Israel and covenant blessings enduring in perpetuity. Rejection of the Lord’s offer of covenant leads to “their slavery and temporal and spiritual destruction, under the accuser’s enslavement. . .” (Ibid).

          The Lord’s plan is laid out plainly with the assistance of the Covenant of Christ in modern English. The Lord speaking to the Gentiles in their contemporary language is a manifestation of the Lord extending His arm of mercy to the Gentiles. It is part of the “great and awe-inspiring work” He performs for the salvation of mankind in the last days. The consequences lie before you. Believe or reject the prophecies, the outcome is decidedly up to us.

The Voice of Warning

“Scriptures anchor God’s Word. Without them, changing leaders provide changing messages. Leaders always sound an unsteady note if they are not controlled by, subordinate to, and respectful of scripture. The problem that institutions that allow men to speak, propound, and declare is that once you unanchor it from scripture, you’re tossed by every wind of doctrine. These Scriptures—and we know they’re not perfect; we know that there are weaknesses in men, and there are weaknesses in everything that we do here on this side of the veil—but these Scriptures, and these alone, are endorsed by the Lord. “These scriptures…” and I’m quoting the Lord, These scriptures are sent forth to be my warning to the world, my comfort to the faithful, my counsel to the meek, my reproof to the proud, my rebuke to the contentious, and my condemnation of the wicked. They are my invitation to all mankind to flee from corruption, repent, and be baptized in my name, and prepare for the coming judgment. (T&C 177:3)

After years of effort… I tried to do the math; it was only based upon estimates, based upon all those that were involved. A century of effort, of combined effort by the people, went into producing these. After years of effort, I’m now in a position to tell the world, you have been warned!

First, the Joseph Smith fullness of the scriptures is now available.

Second, if you don’t understand the scriptures, we’ve provided you a glossary of terms that will help you comprehend their content.

Third, if you don’t understand the history of the Restoration following Joseph and Hyrum Smith’s murders, Teachings and Commandments section 156 is an inspired prayer on 9 July 2017 that recounts the history. That prayer was given by God to us as the prayer we offered, and that prayer is the Lord’s retelling of the history of the Restoration. You want to know what went on? Read Teachings and Commandments section 156.

Fourth, if you don’t understand the Book of Mormon language because it’s turgid and early modern English, our Scriptures include the Covenant of Christ written in modern English.

Access to the Scriptures is available free to anyone, anywhere in the world, at the website www.scriptures.info. You can purchase print-on-demand copies of the Scriptures through Amazon. There is a body of materials available through the Restoration Archives at www.restorationarchives.com. They preserve numerous talks, including the ones that will be given… well, the ones that are ending today. So, I can say with absolute confidence to anyone, anywhere in the world, you have been warned!

Now, it doesn’t matter that you don’t care, that you’ve ignored it, or that it didn’t come to your attention. The Lord’s obligation is to sound the warning. Then the burden shifts.

If you were really interested in Him and what He’s up to, you would have paid attention. You would have done something to inform yourself. Failing to do that, it is not His fault that He is going to proceed with exactly what He has foretold He intended to do. So, you are now accountable” (This, That, and the Other Thing, Denver Snuffer Jr., pp.13-14; emphasis added)

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When the Savior came to mortality it was with little to no fanfare. If our Lord was understated when He taught and died for His people in His first coming, when He brings forth His “great and awe-inspiring work” the effort is likely with similar modesty to the worldly.

          Part 4 returns to the accounts of kings Mosiah, Benjamin, and Mosiah as types for how the Lord blesses those who receive instruction from the Lord’s anointed and obtain covenant blessings promised to Israel.

“If the Gentiles then obey the Lamb of God, He’ll reveal Himself to them in word and power and in person, in order to remove barriers to their

emphasis added).

[1] “. . .The ensign Isaiah prophesied refers to a zodiacal map, or to the constellations overhead. This is a depiction of the heavens themselves. The ensign to be reared will tell those in Zion how to walk in the paths of God, through the heavens, back into God’s presence. Zion will be a connection between heaven and earth, where those living will learn the ways of the God of Jacob. They will walk in His paths. Heaven and earth will be connected. The stairway connecting the two will be opened. The heavens and the earth will be reunited. This will happen in the top of the mountains” (Snuffer, Denver. Preserving the Restoration (Function). Kindle Edition.

Scott Roderick

4/21/2026

Israel Awakes and Arises Part 3.pdf

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