For video of this presentation: click here
-For other critical quotes on the subject, see also document “Second Coming Timing, LDS Quotes” (click here)
-key books for more research on the subject: “Prophecy: Key to the Future” by Dwayne S. Crowther (click here); “Understanding the Signs of the Times” by Donald Parry (click here).
-There is a period of time “after the opening of the seventh seal, before the coming of Christ” (D&C 77:13). This means that The Millennium won’t happen right at year 2,000 AD, but a little bit after!
-The New Jerusalem will be built so that the Lord’s people can be gathered there LOOKING FORWARD to the time of His coming (Moses 7:62)
-“D&C 77:9. What Is the Significance of the Angel from the East Sealing the Servants of God? The four angels who are given power over the earth are kept from sending forth desolations upon the earth until God’s servants are sealed in their foreheads. The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that this sealing “signifies sealing the blessing upon their heads, meaning the everlasting covenant, thereby making their calling and election sure” (Teachings, p. 321). Elder Orson Pratt gave this additional explanation: “When the Temple is built [in the New Jerusalem] the sons of the two Priesthoods [Melchizedek and Aaronic] … will enter into that Temple … and all of them who are pure in heart will behold the face of the Lord and that too before he comes in his glory in the clouds of heaven, for he will suddenly come to his Temple, and he will purify the sons of Moses and of Aaron, until they shall be prepared to offer in that Temple an offering that shall be acceptable in the sight of the Lord. In doing this, he will purify not only the minds of the Priesthood in that Temple, but he will purify their bodies until they shall be quickened, and renewed and strengthened, and they will be partially changed, not to immortality, but changed in part that they can be filled with the power of God, and they can stand in the presence of Jesus, and behold his face in the midst of that Temple.
“This will prepare them for further ministrations among the nations of the earth, it will prepare them to go forth in the days of tribulation and vengeance upon the nations of the wicked, when God will smite them with pestilence, plague and earthquake, such as former generations never knew. Then the servants of God will need to be armed with the power of God, they will need to have that sealing blessing pronounced upon their foreheads that they can stand forth in the midst of these desolations and plagues and not be overcome by them. When John the Revelator describes this scene he says he saw four angels sent forth, ready to hold the four winds that should blow from the four quarters of heaven. Another angel ascended from the east and cried to the four angels, and said, ‘Smite not the earth now, but wait a little while.’ ‘How long?’ ‘Until the servants of our God are sealed in their foreheads.’ What for? To prepare them to stand forth in the midst of these desolations and plagues, and not be overcome. When they are prepared, when they have received a renewal of their bodies in the Lord’s temple, and have been filled with the Holy Ghost and purified as gold and silver in a furnace of fire, then they will be prepared to stand before the nations of the earth and preach glad tidings of salvation in the midst of judgments that are to come like a whirlwind upon the wicked.” (In Journal of Discourses, 15:365–66.) (Section 77 Questions and Answers on the Book of Revelation, Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual, (2002), 167–171; https://www.lds.org/manual/doctrine-and-covenants-student-manual/section-69-80/section-77-questions-and-answers-on-the-book-of-revelation?lang=eng)
-“D&C 77:11. Who Are the 144,000? “Before the Lord shall come … there is to be a great work among the nations. … The ten tribes will have to come forth and come to this land, to be crowned with glory in the midst of Zion by the hands of the servants of God, even the Children of Ephraim; and twelve thousand High Priests will be elected from each of these ten tribes, as well as from the scattered tribes, and sealed in their foreheads, and will be ordained and receive power to gather out of all nations, kindreds, tongues and people as many as will come unto the general assemblage of the Church of the first-born.” (Orson Pratt, in Journal of Discourses, 16:325.)” (Section 77 Questions and Answers on the Book of Revelation, Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual, (2002), 167–171; https://www.lds.org/manual/doctrine-and-covenants-student-manual/section-69-80/section-77-questions-and-answers-on-the-book-of-revelation?lang=eng)
-“D&C 77:12. What Is the Purpose for the Sounding of Trumpets by Seven Angels? Trumpets were used anciently to herald or announce something or to draw attention to something. The seven angels who sound trumpets in Revelation 8–10will signal events that will take place in the beginning of the seventh thousand years (after the seventh seal is opened; see Revelation 8:1), before the Lord comes in His glory.“ (Section 77 Questions and Answers on the Book of Revelation, Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual, (2002), 167–171; https://www.lds.org/manual/doctrine-and-covenants-student-manual/section-69-80/section-77-questions-and-answers-on-the-book-of-revelation?lang=eng)
-“Revelation’s Seven Seals: John’s seven seals give an overview of the seven thousand years of earth’s “temporal existence,” as follows: 1. (Rev. 6:1–2—about 4000 B.C. to 3000 B.C.) John sees a warrior, conquering. 2. (Rev. 6:3–4—about 3000 B.C. to 2000 B.C.) John sees a representation of human contention and death. 3. (Rev. 6:5–6—about 2000 B.C. to 1000 B.C.) John sees images of famine. 4. (Rev. 6:7–8—about 1000 B.C. to A.D. 1) John sees death by war, famine, beasts. 5. (Rev. 6:9–11—about A.D. 1 to A.D. 1000) John sees the martyrs for Christ of the early Christian era. 6. (About A.D. 1000 to A.D. 2000) Great Earthquake (Rev. 6:12–17) John sees a great earthquake; the sun darkens, the moon turns to blood, stars appear to fall; the wicked mistakenly fear that it is the end of the world. (See also JS—M 1:33; D&C 29:14; D&C 88:87.) 144,000 Sealed (Rev. 7:1–8) A scene shows that angels are held back from sending further judgment until 144,000 high priests can be “sealed” and called to “administer the everlasting gospel.” (See D&C 77:9–11.) Rewards for Those Who Endure Tribulations (Rev. 7:9–17) A heavenly scene, “before the throne”; John sees that a “great multitude, which no man could number” will obtain the rewards of the faithful through righteously enduring “tribulation.” 7. (About A.D. 2000 to A.D. 3000) Six Judgments (Rev. 8 and Rev. 9) Six of seven trumps now sound, signaling six coming judgments on the earth: (1) hail and fire mingled with blood are cast upon the earth (cf. Ex. 9:22–26; Ezek. 38:22); (2) a great burning mountain is cast into the sea (cf. Ex. 7:19–25); (3) a great star falls, affecting 1/3 of fresh water; (4) 1/3 of heavenly bodies turn dark (cf. Ex. 10:21–23); (5) sun is darkened by smoke; 5-month battle plagues mankind, of such extent it is called a “woe”; (6) a 13-month war plagues mankind, but men still don’t repent, suggesting clearly the purposes for the “judgments of God.” An Assignment to John (Rev. 10) At this point, an angel informs John of a “sweet” but “bitter” assignment for him to gather Israel “before the time of [Christ’s] coming .” (See D&C 77:12, 14.) Two Witnesses in Jerusalem (Rev. 11:1–14) John sees the gentiles “tread” Jerusalem “under foot” for 42 months. During that same period two witnesses of the Lord testify with great power. The period ends with an earthquake. Conditions now are such that the period is called a second “woe.” (See D&C 77:15.) Seventh Judgment (Rev. 11:14–19) The seventh angel trumps, and voices in heaven proclaim the coming earthly reign of Christ; lightnings, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail follow—a “third woe” of mankind.” (Oct. 1983 Ensign “Book of Revelation Overview” https://www.lds.org/ensign/1983/10/book-of-revelation-overview?lang=eng)
-“D&C 77:15. Who Are the Two Witnesses Referred to by John? Elder Parley P. Pratt wrote: “John, in the eleventh chapter of Revelation, gives us many more particulars concerning [the great war in Israel after the Jews are gathered there]. He informs us that after the city and temple are rebuilt by the Jews, the Gentiles will tread it under foot forty and two months, during which time there will be two prophets continually prophesying and working mighty miracles. And it seems that the Gentile army shall be hindered from utterly destroying and overthrowing the city, while these two prophets continue. But, after a struggle of three years and a half, they will at length succeed in destroying these two prophets and then overrunning much of the city; they will send gifts to each other because of the death of the two prophets, and in the meantime will not allow their dead bodies to be put in graves, but suffer them to lie in the streets of Jerusalem three days and a half, during which time the armies of the Gentiles, consisting of many kindreds, tongues and nations, passing through the city, plundering the Jews, will see their dead bodies lying in the street. But after three days and a half, on a sudden, the spirit of life from God will enter them; they will arise and stand upon their feet, and great fear will fall upon them that see them. And then they shall hear a voice from heaven saying, ‘Come up hither,’ and they will ascend up to heaven in a cloud, with enemies beholding them.” (Voice of Warning, p. 33.) Elder Bruce R. McConkie identified the two prophets as “followers of that humble man Joseph Smith, through whom the Lord of Heaven restored the fullness of his everlasting gospel in this final dispensation of grace. No doubt they will be members of the Council of the Twelve or of the First Presidency of the Church.” (Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3:509.) The two witnesses are raised up “to the Jewish nation” and are not necessarily from the Jewish nation (see D&C 77:15–16; italics added.)” (Section 77 Questions and Answers on the Book of Revelation, Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual, (2002), 167–171; https://www.lds.org/manual/doctrine-and-covenants-student-manual/section-69-80/section-77-questions-and-answers-on-the-book-of-revelation?lang=eng)
-“The Savior will make several appearances before His Second Coming to all the world.
- Christ will appear at Adam-ondi-Ahman (see Daniel 7:9–10, 13–14; D&C 116).
2. The Savior will appear to those in the New Jerusalem in America (see 3 Nephi 21:23–25; D&C 45:66–67).
3. The Savior will appear to the Jews in Jerusalem (see D&C 45:48, 51–53; Zechariah 12:10; 14:2–5).
4. The Lord will appear in glory to all mankind (see D&C 45:44; 101:23; Matthew 24:30; Isaiah 40:5; JST, Revelation 1:7).”
(The Doctrines of the Gospel Student Manual Ch. 36 “The Lord’s Second Coming”)
–“Before the Lord Jesus descends openly and publicly in the clouds of glory, attended by all the hosts of heaven; before the great and dreadful day of the Lord sends terror and destruction from one end of the earth to the other; before he stands on Mount Zion, or sets his feet on Olivet, or utters his voice from an American Zion or a Jewish Jerusalem; before all flesh shall see him together; before any of his appearances, which taken together comprise the second coming of the Son of God—before all these, there is to be a secret appearance to selected members of his Church. He will come in private to his prophet and to the apostles then living. Those who have held keys and powers and authorities in all ages from Adam to the present will also be present” (Bruce R. McConkie, The Millennial Messiah, 578–79). (The Doctrines of the Gospel Student Manual Ch 36 “The Lord’s Second Coming”)
–“This valley will [be filled with] the scene of warfare and bloodshed before the Lord comes….” said President Benson to brother Law referring to Utah. (See “Two Churches Only” by Christian Markham at http://www.twochurchesonly.com)
-gospel preached in all the world (some may reject and McConkie says the gathering of the 10 lost tribes will be a Millennial event, so much of earth may not have come yet.) -McConkie quoted in Parry understanding the signs of the times pg. 108.
-Temple in New and Old Jerusalem to be built pre-millennium. -McConkie quoted in Parry understanding the signs of the times pg. 126.
– Jerusalem temple and walls to be built and water flow from under the temple literally. This will make us need to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Will take some good bit of time. JS quoted in Parry understanding the signs of the times pg. 129
-2 prophets testifying in Jerusalem with fire ~3.5 yrs. (Rev 11:3) then killed, brought to life, and taken to heaven as called up by God (Rev 11:3-12). This precedes Millennium but is after opening of the 7th seal (D&C77:12-13). Happens after the Jews “are gathered and have built the city of Jerusalem” (D&C 77:15). This is during the events of the 2nd woe John speaks of.
-D&C 77:12 the beginning o the 7th thousand years is the beginning of the preparing of the way for the coming of the Lord (hence it did not happen at year 2000 AD).
-All nations battle against Jerusalem then it falls and Christ appears and saves them – Parry understanding the signs of the times p 139-141 etc. see refs there of Zech14
-battle against Jerusalem may be at same time as prophets minister there see Ezek. 38:16 and Parry Signs pg. 141.
-earth quakes when mount of Olives splits. Valley is formed and the Jews escape thereby at moment of greatest need. Jesus proclaims his divinity with a voice all earth can hear. -Parry Signs pg. 138-145 for refs.
-the Jews asking what are Jesus’ wounds and He telling them will occur in a Millennial time after the destruction of the wicked. That is when the good are left and will seek and find the Lord. -McConkie quoted in Parry Signs pg. 147
-Zion blossoms like a flower -Parry Signs Ch. 4 p 166-9
-Parry Signs p 161 duties of members before Zion is to be redeemed.
-Great battle between the Saints and the powers of evil see D&C 105 for list of war words and Parry Signs pg. 162.
-If we are to build Zion as the prophets have spoken of we must set aside our consuming selfishness.” Hinckley Ensign Nov 1991 p 59; Parry Signs pg. 165.
-destructions in the U.S. soon to come to prepare the way for the return of the 10 tribes says JS. p107.
*This may be fulfilled already I don’t know, but I feel it has not. Brother Robert Gagnon also feels not, he feels that destructions will prepare the way for baptisms as they’ll humble the people. Donald Parry also suggests this interpretation. If it has been fulfilled I would say it is by way of civil war, for that is the only war inside of America I can think of since the time of JS who spoke this prophecy. Since the civil war had little to do with people of other nations, I think that did not fulfill this requirement. I think there is war to be had on USA soil yet to come. I think a prophet has said that. REF?
–Gathering to New Jerusalem list of things about it i.e. it’s pre-millennial p111-2 of Parry Signs of the times;
– Matt 10:23 won’t reach all Israel before Second Coming
-when Christ come we (LDS) shall be a people all living together as one like was the city of Enoch; Pres. Eyring p172 Parry Signs book (see Ensign Nov. 1989 p13 thereof) (I believe this is also found in one of the books published by Eyring.
-fire to protect New and Old Jerusalem causing wicked to fear Zion; Isa. 31:9; p173 Parry Signs book; also D&C 45:70 & D&C 64:43 on how wicked will be afraid of Zion
-“Judah must return, Jerusalem must be rebuilt, and the temple, and water come out from under the temple, and the waters of the Dead Sea be healed. It will take some time to rebuild the walls of the city and the temple, &c.; and all this must be done before the Son of Man will make his appearance.” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 286)
-One purpose of the meeting at Adam-ondi-Ahman is to prepare the Saints for the Second Coming (Dahl and Cannon, Teachings of Joseph Smith, 364)
-“I know that there are many, and even some among the Latter-day Saints, who are saying just as the Lord said they would say, ‘The Lord delayeth his coming.‘ One man said: ‘It is impossible for Jesus Christ to come inside of three or four hundred years.’ But I say unto you, Watch.” (President Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 3:52)
-“We are members of a world church, a church that has the plan of life and salvation, a church set up by the Lord himself in these last days to carry his message of salvation to all his children in all the earth…. Not only shall we preach the gospel in every nation before the second coming of the Son of Man, butt we shall make converts and establish congregations of Saints among them.” (President Joseph Fielding Smith, Manchester Area Conference Report, Aug. 1971, p.5) p66
-“[Christ’s] next appearance [after his appearance in the New Jerusalem] will be among the distressed and nearly vanquished sons of Judah. At the crisis of their fate, when the hostile troops of several nations are ravaging the city and all the horrors of war are overwhelming the people of Jerusalem, he will set his feet upon the Mount of Olives, which will cleave and part asunder at his touch. Attended by a host from heaven, he will overthrow and destroy the combined armies of the Gentiles, and appear to the worshipping Jews as the mighty Deliverer and Conqueror so long expected by their race; and while love, gratitude, awe, and admiration swell their bosoms, the Deliverer will show them the tokens of his crucifixion and disclose himself as Jesus of Nazareth, whom they had reviled and whom their fathers put to death. Then will unbelief depart from their souls, and ‘the blindness in part which has happened unto Israel’ be removed” (Charles W. Penrose, “The Second Advent,” Millennial Star, 10 Sept. 1859, 583).
(The Doctrines of the Gospel Student Manual Ch 36 “The Lord’s Second Coming”)
-“The great and crowning advent of the Lord will be subsequent to these two appearances [to the New Jerusalem and to the Jews]; but who can describe it in the language of mortals? The tongue of man falters, and the pen drops from the hand of the writer, as the mind is rapt in contemplation of the sublime and awful majesty of his coming to take vengeance on the ungodly and to reign as King of the whole earth. “He comes! The earth shakes, and the tall mountains tremble; the mighty deep rolls back to the north as in fear, and the rent skies glow like molten brass. He comes! The dead Saints burst forth from their tombs, and ‘those who are alive and remain’ are ‘caught up’ with them to meet him. The ungodly rush to hide themselves from his presence, and call upon the quivering rocks to cover them. He comes! with all the hosts of the righteous glorified. The breath of his lips strikes death to the wicked. His glory is a consuming fire. The proud and rebellious are as stubble; they are burned and ‘left neither root nor branch.’ He sweeps the earth ‘as with the besom of destruction.’ He deluges the earth with the fiery floods of his wrath, and the filthiness and abominations of the world are consumed. Satan and his dark hosts are taken and bound—the prince of the power of the air has lost his dominion, for He whose right it is to reign has come, and ‘the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ.’” (Penrose, “Second Advent,” 583).
(The Doctrines of the Gospel Student Manual Ch. 36 “The Lord’s Second Coming”)
-“His first appearance will be to the righteous Saints who have gathered to the New Jerusalem. In this place of refuge they will be safe from the wrath of the Lord, which will be poured out without measure on all nations. …“The second appearance of the Lord will be to the Jews. To these beleaguered sons of Judah, surrounded by hostile Gentile armies, who again threaten to overrun Jerusalem, the Savior—their Messiah—will appear and set His feet on the Mount of Olives, ‘and it shall cleave in twain, and the earth shall tremble, and reel to and fro, and the heavens also shall shake’ (D&C 45:48).
“The Lord Himself will then rout the Gentile armies, decimating their forces (see Ezek. 38, 39). Judah will be spared, no longer to be persecuted and scattered. …
“The third appearance of Christ will be to the rest of the world. …
“All nations will see Him ‘in the clouds of heaven, clothed with power and great glory; with all the holy angels; …
“‘And the Lord shall utter his voice, and all the ends of the earth shall hear it; and the nations of the earth shall mourn, and they that have laughed shall see their folly.
“‘And calamity shall cover the mocker, and the scorner shall be consumed; and they that have watched for iniquity shall be hewn down and cast into the fire.’ (D&C 45:44, 49–50.)
“Yes, come He will!” (Ezra Taft Benson, “Five Marks of the Divinity of Jesus Christ,” New Era, Dec. 1980, 49–50). (The Doctrines of the Gospel Student Manual Ch. 36 “The Lord’s Second Coming”)
During Millennial Reign of Christ:
-10 tribes gathered -McConkie above
-gospel preached to the rest of the world -Matt. 28:19-20 and Matt. 10:23
-see also LDS Gospel Principals manual
–“At the time appointed by the Father, the Son of Man will come in the clouds of heaven. It is an unknown day in the beginning of the seventh thousand years of the earth’s temporal continuance. War, such as has not been known from the beginning of time, is in progress. All nations are assembled at Armageddon. “All things are in commotion. Never has there been such a day as this. The newspapers of the world, as well as radio and television, speak only of war and calamity and the dread that hangs like a millstone around every neck. …
“And the signs in heaven above are like nothing man has ever seen. Blood is everywhere; fire and vapors of smoke fill the atmospheric heavens. No man has seen a rainbow this year. …
“And above all are the vexing words of those Mormon Elders! They are everywhere preaching their strange doctrine, saying that the coming of the Lord is near, and that unless men repent and believe the gospel they will be destroyed by the brightness of his coming.
“In this setting, as these and ten thousand like things are in progress, suddenly, quickly, as from the midst of eternity, He comes! Fire burns before him; tempests spread destruction; the earth trembles and reels to and fro as a drunken man. Every corruptible thing is consumed. He sets his foot on the Mount called Olivet; it cleaves in twain. The Lord has returned and the great millennium is here! The year of his redeemed has arrived!” (McConkie, Millennial Messiah, 21–22).
(The Doctrines of the Gospel Student Manual Ch 36 “The Lord’s Second Coming”)
-“the Book of Mormon, brought forth through the Prophet Joseph Smith, teaches us that we were meant to have John’s description of the events leading up to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ and that it is worthy of our study.” (Dec. 2015 Ensign “Joseph Smith and the Book of Revelation” by David A. Edward Church Magazines; https://www.lds.org/ensign/2015/12/joseph-smith-and-the-book-of-revelation?lang=eng)
