Many who read in the scriptures of people “fighting against Zion” may assume they refer only to non-members of the church. A search, however, may disabuse our minds on that subject. First, “He that fighteth against Zion, both Jew and Gentile, both bond and free, both male and female, shall perish; for they are they […]
Will Many Mormon Gentiles End up Fighting against Zion? Read More »
Question: I was intrigued by your email concerning VOG. I have no problem at all believing in visions, NDEs, etc. What gives me pause are those who purport to see things that happen to the world at large. Isn’t that what prophets are for? Do regular Joes like you and I have standing to receive
Are Endtime Visions Reserved for a Select Few? Read More »
The book Visions of Glory by John Pontius, based on the near death experiences of “Spencer,” has been the cause of much division and condemnation from people who find it incredulous or who feel threatened by its graphic depictions of the earth’s endtime phase we have now entered. Because of that, soon after its publication,
Those with Visions Read More »
Though each of our journeys through life is different—which I appreciate more and more—the principles on which our lives operate are the same: practical, universal, and eternal. Because they cut through differences in personalities, principles unite us when we live by them but divide us when we don’t. Those who live by them may thus
Question: Are we currently in the tribulation period? If not, how shall we I know when it begins? Answer: Judging by the current worldwide pandemic, the demise of world economies, the increase of rumors of war, natural disasters and food shortages, it does seem we have entered the prophesied Time of Trouble and that the
How Will We Know When the Tribulation Period Begins? Read More »
As “God will do nothing unless he reveals his secret to his servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7), he gives ample warning before cleansing the earth of wickedness—in the endtime as anciently. In Isaiah’s day, for example, God commands Isaiah to go naked and barefoot for three years as a portent of Assyria’s invasion of Egypt
Three Years’ Warning Followed by Judgment Read More »
Question: Who are designated as “the Gentiles” in the Book of Mormon? Answer: Two main categories of people identify as “the Gentiles” in the Book of Mormon: (1) those who come from the old world to the new to inherit this land (1 Nephi 13:12–15); and (2) those among them called “the fulness of the
Who are designated as “the Gentiles” in the Book of Mormon? Read More »
When I reached a point where it no longer seemed enough to search the scriptures, pray morning and night, and meditate sporadically, I set aside a time before retiring at night to meditate on the things of God. Aren’t the scriptures full of examples of such meditation? “My soul yearns for you in the night;
Question: What is the “spirit of prophecy” that helps understand Isaiah? Answer: As “the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (Revelation 19:10), people to whom the Holy Ghost testifies that Jesus is the Christ have a greater advantage in understanding Isaiah’s words than those who don’t. That vertical approach, however, is but one
What is the “spirit of prophecy” that helps understand Isaiah? Read More »
One of several layered holistic literary structures of the Book of Isaiah—this one based on Egyptian narrative patterns—divides the book into Trouble at Home (Isaiah 1–39), Exile Abroad (Isaiah 40–54), and Happy Homecoming (Isaiah 55–66). These three different historical settings, rather than being grounds for multiple authors of the Book of Isaiah, demonstrate its literary
Israel from National to Universal to Individual Read More »
Question: What does Isaiah say about my role as part of God’s covenant people? Answer: Because each step on Isaiah’s spiritual ladder is determined by God’s law on that particular level, the entire human family fits somewhere on this ladder. From Perdition through Babylon, Jacob/Israel, Zion/Jerusalem, sons/servants, seraphim, and Jehovah, ascent or descent on the
What does Isaiah say about my role as part of God’s covenant people? Read More »
While scriptural role models for women are few compared with those for men, Isaiah offers a preeminent role model: the Woman Zion. She not only represents God’s people—Jehovah’s wife under the terms of the covenant—she also typifies the ideal woman. Like all humankind, she is subject to sin and transgression. But by repenting and “serving
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