CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
In this writing I speak to my family, friends, associates and fellow latter-day-saints and those thoughtful Christian colleagues, who bring pamphlets to my door.
Chapters 2-5 review scriptures that specifically apply to the "Last Days". This review illustrate events that will one day, impact the entire world. These chapters are an evaluation of existing scripture and review the methods the Lord will use to neutralize Satan and prepare the earth for the Lords millennial reign.
All of the circumstances illustrated in chapters 2-5 speak of dire and terrible things that will befall man, in the ... last days. Events that will virtually kill many, many people who refuse to humble themselves and repent of their sins and change their life.
Chapters 6 through 14 were written, originally as white papers, for my library and my family and also shared with a number of close friends. Later the thought come ... why not form these papers into a book?
Chapter 7, "Warning", is somewhat unique as it is a brief summary of last day events and associated timing, written to the world at large over the issue of the Mayan calendar. In fact an effort was made to publish this "Warning" to local communities through several newspapers.
The devastation described in these chapters is unprecedented in the history of the world. I believe the apocalypse will very literally isolate all people from communities, and local and Federal government ... even from Churches. These horrific events will force us to recognize that there is indeed a God and He is not pleased with us.
I am certain ... the Lord takes no delight in these prophesized devastations. Peter the Chief Apostle, a man who walked and talked with the Lord, and knew Him personally writes in 2 Peter 3:8-9, "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should parish, but that all should come to repentance".
The key thought here is repentance. If we don't repent we cannot qualify for the Lords atonement.
The remainder of this introduction is divided into four sections; Pre-Apocalyptic Events, The Apocalyptic Events, Contemporary Tribulation and Summary.
Pre-Apocalyptic Events
Preparation of the Elect
The Lord has told the LDS Church in a number of different ways and places how to meet the standard of excellence that He has set as criteria for exaltation in His kingdom. For example in the parable of the ten virgins in Matt 25:1-12, the Lord illustrates very clearly what His expectations are to meet His standard of excellence. This parable likens His Church to 10 virgins. Five of these virgins were not adequately prepared to enter into the marriage and were rejected, and labeled as foolish, because they were unprepared and had ignored counsel to be prepared.
And again, in Luke 17:5-10, the Apostles ask the Lord ... "Lord increase our faith". And then He tells them a parable, of a servant working in the field for his master. And at the end of the day the servant comes in from the field, and does the master say sit down and have something to eat? No! The Lord replies. The master says to the servant, first fix my dinner, then fix one for yourself. Does the master then thank the servant for all that he has done, and the Lord answered ... no! Because the servant has only done his duty ... he is still an unprofitable servant. What then is a profitable servant ... one may ask? And I answer. One who takes the initiative to add to the build-up and growth of the kingdom on both sides of the veil.
In modern revelation the Lord provides clear insight into His expectations of a servant. In D/C 58:26-29, the Lord declares that it is not right that He must command in all things, and that he who must be commanded in all things is a slothful servant. The Lord then explains that men should be anxiously engaged, in a good cause, and bring to pass many good things of their own free will, because the power is in them to do that, because of their agency. The Lord gave us agency and a reasoning intellect, and He does not expect to have to lead us around as children. The Lord then explains that anyone who does nothing until he is commanded, and receives that commandment with a doubtful heart, and keeps the commandment slothfully, the same is damned. Notwithstanding that person is a virgin. In this scripture the guiding thought is "where much is given, much is expected". These foregoing paragraphs illustrate the Lords expectations of His Saints in these last days.
The Apocalyptic Events
3rd Nephi 21 of the book of Mormon
This chapter summarizes 3rd Nephi 21:13-29, which occurred about 34 AD. I find it interesting that Micah, in Micah 5:8-14, a prophet of the Old Testament who ministered about 721 BC, speaks to the identical prophesies of verses 14-18 of 3rd Nephi 21. These scriptures are basically a warning to the gentiles, of the last days, to repent. And also a strong warning is issued to the remnants of the house of Israel who also refuse to repent and join the Church.
These scriptures prophesy that the sons of Jacob, in the last days, are going to go forth among the gentiles as a young Lion among sheep that will kill and tear with impunity and nothing will stop them. Such destruction by the "Sons of Jacob", is not without precedence.
Just exactly who these sons of Jacob are, other than of the house of Israel, is plainly discussed in the following writing.
Now who are the "remnants" of the house of Israel, and who are the "Gentiles"?
Background
But first a little explanation. The Lord in ancient days made great covenants or promises to Abraham, the great Patriarch, his son Isaac and his grandson Jacob (Israel)
A summary of these covenants are as follows:
Covenant of Salvation, ... Baptism
Covenant of exaltation ... To receive the Melchizedek Priesthood and Celestial Marriage and eternal increase.
Covenant that Christ would come through his lineage.
Covenants of possession of certain choice lands for eternity.
Covenant of an enormous posterity.
Covenant that all of these covenants would be offered to his mortal posterity.
(See Mormon Doctrine, pg. 13, by Bruce R McConkie).
These covenants are recited here to illustrate just how much the Lord loved these three Patriarchs. And the "Restoration" demonstrates how zealous the Lord is in fulfilling these covenants to the descendants of these Patriarchs.
These same covenants were made with Abraham's son Isaac, and his grandson Jacob. The Lord later named Jacob, ......
