The Latter-day Saint view of the End-Times, empowered by the Infinite Atonement and the infinite love of Elohim, is very different from the traditional Christian worldview.
The Lord has promised to the faithful: “And he that believeth shall be blest with signs following, even as it is written. And unto you it shall be given to know the signs of the times, and the signs of the coming of the Son of Man” (D&C 68:10-11);
In all that happens in the End-Times, we know that Elohim will never take away the Divine given agency—the right to use our intelligence to choose. Robert Burns profoundly observed, “Man’s inhumanity to man makes countless thousands mourn.” People listening to adversarial voices make it so.”
Warnings for our Day
The Prophet Nephi clearly warns regarding adversarial forces in our day: “For behold, at that day shall he rage in the hearts of the children of men, and stir them up to anger against that which is good. And behold, others he flattereth away, and telleth them there is no hell; and he saith unto them: I am no devil, for there is none—and thus he whispereth in their ears, until he grasps them with his awful chains, from whence there is no deliverance” (2 Nephi 28:20, 22).
Satan is ramping up evil because he knows it is his last hour before the Millennium. This he is doing because he doesn’t know or see the grand plan of happiness. In the premortal world, he wouldn’t have rebelled in the first place if he had appreciated the Father’s grand plan for all of His children. In his pride, he led one third away from the plan of happiness, saying to Heavenly Father, “give me thine honor” (D&C 29:36).
Elohim, in His perfection, turns evil into good. As the people of the world become more wicked, they will be destroyed to keep them from becoming more wicked and adding to their sins. Then, during their spirit prison hell, they will have an opportunity to be purged and repent. Then, at the end of the Millennium, they will gratefully bow the knee and accept Christ and be deeply grateful for Heavenly Father’s Plan.
Three Kingdoms
The Apostle Paul tells us of three degrees of glory in the resurrection, like unto the sun, the moon, and the stars (1 Corinthians 15:40-42). They are called Celestial, Terrestrial, and Telestial. Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery were given a vision of the three degrees of glory. Regarding the Celestial Kingdom, the Savior declared, “Strait is the gate, and narrow the way,… and few there be that find it (Matt. 7:14).
Regarding the Terrestrial Kingdom, “These are they who are not valiant in the testimony of Jesus…(D&C 76:79). D&C 76:71-79 describes the character traits of those in this kingdom. Given the character traits described, there will be a large number in the Terrestrial Kingdom.
Because of the wickedness of the world, a vast number of people will end up in the Telestial Kingdom. “But behold, and lo, we saw the glory and the inhabitants of the telestial world, that they were as innumerable as the stars in the firmament of heaven, or as the sand upon the seashore” (D&C 76:109); But our infinitely loving and totally fair Elohim promises them, “And thus we saw, in the heavenly vision, the glory of the telestial, which surpasses all understanding” (D&C 76:89);
Many of the prophecies in the Bible of the last days seem dire, as they often describe the wickedness of the people of the world. Now that we know some of the grand blessings coming from the Infinite Atonement of Jesus the Christ, we view them in the brilliant light of Elohim’s infinite love for all of their children.
Satan’s Pride
We see Satan’s pride described in 2 Timothy 3:1–5 and in 2 Peter 3:3–4 for the people of the world in the last days:
· Self-centeredness
· Greed
· Violence
· Rejection of truth·
. Mockery of faith
Latter-day scripture canon adds greatly to what God will be doing to counter all of the wickedness of the world. We have the great promises of 1 Nephi, chapter 22, as Nephi does a Hebrew Midrash on Isaiah 48 and 49; “And the righteous need not fear (verse 22). Then the Savior does a massive Midrash on several scriptures in the Old Testament in 3 Nephi 20-23, explaining the End-Times. The Book of Revelations and the LDS canon explain how the great and abominable church meets its demise. The New Jerusalem will be built in the promised land of North America. The Lord will bring about Zion–a people prepared to meet the Lord at His Coming.
Doctrine and Covenants sections 45, 88, and 133 are “gold” in this regard. The Lord has made grand promises to the House of Israel. He will keep every covenant He has made, and the blessings will be enormous. His every loving kindness will shine through beyond our current comprehension.
Before He Comes Again
Before He comes again, He has this amazing promise of His perfect fairness that everyone (no one excluded) will have a chance to hear the fullness of the gospel: “For it shall come to pass in that day, that every man shall hear the fulness of the gospel in his own tongue, and in his own language, through those who are ordained unto this power, by the administration of the Comforter, shed forth upon them for the revelation of Jesus Christ” (D&C 90:11).
Then, for those who reject the fullness of the gospel but who accept Christ and make it into the Millennium by following the light of Christ, which we all received at birth (John 1:9), they will be given the opportunity again to receive the fullness of the gospel. And if they receive it, their promise is a fullness of joy in the Celestial Kingdom. Can you imagine a God who is more fair and loving? Elohim is perfect in their infinite love for each of us.
The End Times
We have these two fascinating prophecies of the Apostle Paul of about the End-Times: “Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God” (2 Thessalonians 2:1-4).
“But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore, let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation” (1 Thessalonians 5:1-6, 8)
Let Us Be Children of LIGHT
Let us be children of LIGHT! Then the Lord will show us the signs of the times and take us out of fear and into faith in Him.
We can expect evil people using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to simulate signs in the heavens. But they cannot replicate what happened on the 23 of September 2017 as Revelation Chapter 12 was played out in the heavens. In that revelation from the heavens for all the world to see, the Lord promised to bring forth ZION—a pure in heart people!
For example, before the resurrected Christ came to America, His voice was heard from the heavens detailing why the cities were destroyed and that the Law of Moses had been fulfilled in Him. Telling them to no longer offer sacrifices under the Law of Moses, “And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit” (3 Nephi 9:20). As prophesied by Isaiah, this will happen again before He comes and for the whole world:
Isa. 30:30 “And the LORD shall cause his glorious voice to be heard, and shall shew the lighting down of his arm, with the indignation of his anger, and with the flame of a devouring fire, with scattering, and tempest, and hailstones. Avraham Gileadi’s translation shares, “The Lord will cause his voice to resound, and make visible his arm descending in furious rage, with flashes of devouring fire, explosive discharges, and pounding hail.”
Summing It UP
The Prophet Micah sums it up beautifully: Micah 6:8 “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?”
This is just the opposite of the world’s materialism, relativism, socialism, wokism, transgenderism, including the pride and self-centeredness of the people of the world. And because of their wickedness, Babylon the Great shall fall. (See the Book of Revelations chapters 14, 16, 17, and 18) And great will be the fall thereof.
Before Babylon falls, they will introduce the “Mark of the Beast.” “And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name” (Rev. 13:16-17). Don’t take the mark!!!
Great Signs To Come
One of the great signs will be as John the Beloved shares, “And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters” (Rev. 14:6-7). We have the very poignant question, “Why would the angel need to come in the last days to bring the ‘everlasting gospel’ if it were already here with the Bible?”
The Lord shares, “and with Moroni, whom I have sent unto you to reveal the Book of Mormon, containing the fullness of my everlasting gospel, to whom I have committed the keys of the record of the stick of Ephraim” (D&C 27:5);
Ezekiel prophesies of this great event: “The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying, Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions: And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand” (Ezekiel 37:15-17). A “stick” is like a scroll containing the word of the Lord.
Then we have the additional important clarification: “And now, verily saith the Lord, that these things might be known among you, O inhabitants of the earth, I have sent forth mine angel flying through the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel, who hath appeared unto some and hath committed it unto man, who shall appear unto many that dwell on the earth. And this gospel shall be preached unto every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people. And the servants of God shall go forth, saying with a loud voice: Fear God and give glory to him, for the hour of his judgment is come; And worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters—“ (D&C 133:36-39). I know of others who have seen Moroni in our time.
Stick of Ephraim
Moroni has important keys of the “Stick of Ephraim” to help in gathering Israel in the last days. He spent thirty-six years after the last great civil war battles, when all the Nephites were destroyed except him. He had custodianship of all their sacred records and gave us the abridged Jaredite record as recorded in the Book of Ether in the Book of Mormon. Because the great Jaredite Prophet, Mahonri Moriancumer, was shown the end-from-the-beginning of world history, Moroni knew it as well. He had the Urim and Thummim to translate. Interestingly, they spoke the Adamic language. Moroni says talking to us, “Behold, I speak unto you as if ye were present, and yet ye are not. But behold, Jesus Christ hath shown you unto me, and I know your doing” (Mormon 8:35).
Another Sign
Another grand sign of the End-Times, as the Lord prepares this earth for its thousand-year Millennial glory, missed by most, is the continents coming together. In the time table of the Lord,
· The fall of Adam and Eve was 4,000 B.C.
· The ministry of Enoch was 3,000 B.C.
· The ministry of Noah and the flood was 2,400 B.C.
· According to the well-accepted (17th century) Bible chronologist James Ussher, the Flood was 2348 B.C. and Peleg was born 2247 B.C.
· The Tower of Babel was 2,200 B.C.
· Ministry of Melchizedek was 2,100 B.C.
· The death of Noah was 1,998 B.C. (Gen. 3:2).
· The birth of Abraham was 1,996 B.C.
· The birth of Isaac was 1,896 B.C. (Abraham was 100 years old)
· The birth of Jacob was 1,836 B.C.
· The birth of Joseph was 1,745 B.C.
Then we have this momentous scripture tying things together for the End-Times:
“For behold, the Lord God hath sent forth the angel crying through the midst of heaven, saying: Prepare ye the way of the Lord, and make his paths straight, for the hour of his coming is nigh— When the Lamb shall stand upon Mount Zion, and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand, having his Father’s name written on their foreheads. Wherefore, prepare ye for the coming of the Bridegroom; go ye, go ye out to meet him. For behold, he shall stand upon the mount of Olivet, and upon the mighty ocean, even the great deep, and upon the islands of the sea, and upon the land of Zion.
“And he shall utter his voice out of Zion, and he shall speak from Jerusalem, and his voice shall be heard among all people; And it shall be a voice as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder, which shall break down the mountains, and the valleys shall not be found. He shall command the great deep, and it shall be driven back into the north countries, and the islands shall become one land; And the land of Jerusalem and the land of Zion shall be turned back into their own place, and the earth shall be like as it was in the days before it was divided” (D&C 133:17-24). This is what the Lord is doing in preparation for His Glorious Millennial reign as “KING OF KINGS and LORD OF LORDS” (Rev. 19:16).
Moroni Shares
“And now I, Moroni, proceed to finish my record concerning the destruction of the people of whom I have been writing [Jaredites in North America]. For behold, they rejected all the words of Ether; for he truly told them of all things, from the beginning of man; and that after the waters had receded from off the face of this land it became a choice land above all other lands, a chosen land of the Lord; wherefore the Lord would have that all men should serve him who dwell upon the face thereof; And that it was the place of the New Jerusalem, which should come down out of heaven, and the holy sanctuary of the Lord. Behold, Ether saw the days of Christ, and he spake concerning a New Jerusalem upon this land.
“And he spake also concerning the house of Israel, and the Jerusalem from whence Lehi should come—after it should be destroyed it should be built up again, a holy city unto the Lord; wherefore, it could not be a new Jerusalem for it had been in a time of old; but it should be built up again, and become a holy city of the Lord; and it should be built unto the house of Israel. And that a New Jerusalem should be built up upon this land, unto the remnant of the seed of Joseph, for which things there has been a type.
“For as Joseph brought his father down into the land of Egypt, even so he died there; wherefore, the Lord brought a remnant of the seed of Joseph out of the land of Jerusalem, that he might be merciful unto the seed of Joseph that they should perish not, even as he was merciful unto the father of Joseph that he should perish not. Wherefore, the remnant of the house of Joseph shall be built upon this land; and it shall be a land of their inheritance; and they shall build up a holy city unto the Lord, like unto the Jerusalem of old; and they shall no more be confounded, until the end come when the earth shall pass away.
And there shall be a new heaven and a new earth; and they shall be like unto the old save the old have passed away, and all things have become new.
“And then cometh the New Jerusalem; and blessed are they who dwell therein, for it is they whose garments are white through the blood of the Lamb; and they are they who are numbered among the remnant of the seed of Joseph, who were of the house of Israel. And then also cometh the Jerusalem of old; and the inhabitants thereof, blessed are they, for they have been washed in the blood of the Lamb; and they are they who were scattered and gathered in from the four quarters of the earth, and from the north countries, and are partakers of the fulfilling of the covenant which God made with their father, Abraham. And when these things come, bringeth to pass the scripture which saith, there are they who were first, who shall be last; and there are they who were last, who shall be first” (Ether 13:1-12).
As Joseph saved the House of Israel from the seven years of famine in Egypt, so the descendants of Ephraim will help in saving the House of Israel temporally and spiritually in the End-Times.
The Apostle Paul
The Apostle Paul prophesied, “That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him” (Eph. 1:10): And Peter declared that that dispensation and “restitution” would occur before the Savior comes again. The Prophet Joseph Smith began that last dispensation of the fullness of the gospel when Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son gave him that commission in the first vision on 26 March 1820. And it is still ongoing, as we now witness the hand of the Lord and His angels in our lives and across the globe. And for the future, the Savior prophesied, “For in that day, for my sake shall the Father work a work, which shall be a great and a marvelous work among them; and there shall be among them those who will not believe it, although a man shall declare it unto them (3 Nephi 21:9).
Joseph Smith Was Told
And Joseph was told, “Which our forefathers have awaited with anxious expectation to be revealed in the last times, which their minds were pointed to by the angels, as held in reserve for the fulness of their glory; A time to come in the which nothing shall be withheld, whether there be one God or many gods, they shall be manifest” (D&C 121:27-28).
Matthew records the Savior warning of the last days of “wars and rumors of wars” (Matt. 24:6-8): “And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.”
“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 3:1-7).
As we view all of the above empowered by the infinite love of the Infinite Atonement, we are promised that we need not fear, but know that we can totally trust in Him. (1 Nephi 22:21-22) Trust in the Lord and Be Lifted Up. JS-Matt. 14:56 “And thus cometh the end of the wicked according to the prophecy of Moses, saying, They should be cut off from among the people. But the end of the earth is not yet, but by and by.”
“And there shall be silence in heaven for the space of half an hour; and immediately after shall the curtain of heaven be unfolded, as a scroll is unfolded after it is rolled up, and the face of the Lord shall be unveiled; And the saints that are upon the earth, who are alive, shall be quickened and be caught up to meet him. And they who have slept in their graves shall come forth, for their graves shall be opened; and they also shall be caught up to meet him in the midst of the pillar of heaven—” (D&C 88:95-97).
“O that cunning plan of the evil one! O the vainness, and the frailties, and the foolishness of men! When they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not. And they shall perish. But to be learned is good if they hearken unto the counsels of God” (2 Nephi 9:28-29).
David W. Allan