A mandate we have received from the pulpit to prepare for the second coming of Jesus Christ resonates in a big way with the scriptures narrative epitomized by the words of Isaiah and Book of Mormon prophets. These shed light on the question of how to prepare for that event as both scriptures essentially define Isaiah’s end-time scenario. Indeed, when predicting end-time events, Book of Mormon prophets rely on the words of Isaiah as nuanced by their own personal visions.
Fourteen events characterize the Book of Mormon’s end-time scenario that is grounded in the prophecies of Isaiah. For details, see Endtime Prophecy: A Judeo-Mormon Analysis, p 355, et al. These show the necessary interaction between (1) “the Gentiles”—specifically the Ephraimite Gentiles or Latter-day Saints, who are God’s people of the covenant today; and (2) “the house of Israel”—Israel’s natural lineages, who constitute the Jews, Ten Tribes, and Lamanites of today.
(1) God’s “setting his hand the second time” to restore the house of Israel (Isaiah 11:10–12; 2 Nephi 21:10–12; 25:17; 29:1; Jacob 6:2; cf. Doctrine & Covenants 137:6).
(2) God’s “baring his arm” in the eyes of all nations (Isaiah 51:9; 52:10; 53:1; 1 Nephi 22:10–11; 3 Nephi 16:17, 20; 20:35; cf. Doctrine & Covenants 133:3).
(3) God’s servant fulfilling a mission to the Gentiles (Isaiah 41:27; 42:1–4; 44:26; 49:1–10; 50:10; 52:13–15; 53:10–12; 55:3–5; 3 Nephi 21:1–10; 2 Nephi 7:10; Jacob 5:7–77; 3 Nephi 20:43–45; 3 Nephi 21:10–11; cf. Doctrine & Covenants 103:15–20).
(4) God’s end-time people of the Gentiles rejecting the fulness of the gospel sometime after having received it (Isaiah 1:2–4; 5:1–2, 24; 24:5; 29:13; 30:8–11; 31:6; 2 Nephi 28:11–32; Jacob 5:32; 3 Nephi 16:10; 20:15, 20, 28; 21:11).
(5) God’s performing his “great and marvelous work” among the nations of restoring the house of Israel (Isaiah 29:14; 1 Nephi 14:7; 1 Nephi 22:8; 2 Nephi 25:17; 27:16; 29:1; 3 Nephi 21:9).
(6) God’s end-time people of the Gentiles, including many believers, “fighting against Zion” (Isaiah 29:7–8; 1 Nephi 22:14, 19; 2 Nephi 6:13; 27:3).
(7) The spiritual kings and queens of the Gentiles’ nurturing the house of Israel (Isaiah 49:22–23; 1 Nephi 21:22–23; 2 Nephi 6:6–7; 10:9).
(8) The house of Israel’s receiving the fulness of the gospel (Isaiah 29:18–19; 32:3–4; 40:9–11; 41:27; 1 Nephi 10:14; 15:13–14; 22:11; 2 Nephi 30:5; 3 Nephi 5:25; 16:11–12; 20:31–32; 21:26; cf. Doctrine & Covenants 14:10; 39:11).
(9) The saints and God’s covenant people of the house of Israel being endowed with divine power (Isaiah 12:1–2; 28:6; 40:10; 41:10; 49:6; 51:9–11; 52:1–3; 54:17; 1 Nephi 14:14; 22:17; 2 Nephi 3:5; 6:14; Jacob 6:2; 3 Nephi 21:11–21, 25; cf. Doctrine & Covenants 105:9–13).
(10) The house of Israel’s returning from the four directions of the earth (Isaiah 11:11–12; 35:10; 40:11; 43:5–8; 49:5–6, 18–19; 51:11; 56:8; 57:1; 60:3–9; 1 Nephi 19:16; 21:7, 18; 2 Nephi 21:10–12; 30:7; 3 Nephi 16:5; 20:18, 29–33; 21:1).
(11) The destruction of the wicked (Isaiah 1:7–10, 24, 28–31; 5:5–6; 6:11; 9:18–20; 10:1–7, 22–23; 13:4–19; 24:1–6; 28:21–22; 1 Nephi 14:3–5; 22:16–17; 2 Nephi 6:14–15; 10:13–16; 23:6; 24:23; 30:10).
(12) The deliverance of the righteous (Isaiah 19:18–22; 25:9; 31:5; 35:4; 46:13; 49:24–26; 1 Nephi 21:24–26; 22:17; 2 Nephi 6:16–18).
(13) The house of Israel’s receiving lands of inheritance (Isaiah 49:8; 54:2–3; 57:13; 60:21; 65:8–9; 1 Nephi 21:8; 22:12; 2 Nephi 6:11; 9:1–2; 10:7–10; 25:11; 3 Nephi 20:29–33, 46; 21:28).
(14) The Father’s fulfilling his covenants with the house of Israel (Isaiah 54:10; 55:3–5; 59:21; 61:8–9; 1 Nephi 14:17; 15:18; 19:15; 22:11; 2 Nephi 10:7, 15; 29:1, 14; 3 Nephi 5:25; 16:5, 11–12; 20:12, 22, 27, 29, 46; 21:4, 7; 22:10).
Understanding these end-time events as prophesied by Isaiah, Book of Mormon prophets, and Jesus himself, then learning which covenants they operate under and how to participate in them, will go a long way toward preparing for Jesus’ second coming. Ignorance of these events, on the other hand, will leave people wondering what is happening when they start occurring in rapid succession. Predictably, such ignorance is what will cause many to end up fighting against Zion.
