Gospel topic
Signs in the Heavens: Sign of the Son of Man
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Christ says no man knoweth the day or the hour when the Son of man cometh. This is a sweeping argument for sectarianism against Latterdayism Did Christ speak this as a general principle throughout all generations Oh no he spake in the present tense no man that was then liveing upon the footstool of God knew the day or the hour But he did not say that there was no man throughout all generations that should not know the day or the hour No for this would be in flat contradection with other scripture for the prophet says that God will do nothing but what he will reveal unto his Servants the prophets consequently if it is not made known to the Prophets it will not come to pass; again we find Paul 1rst of Thessilonians 5th chapter expressly points out the characters who shall not know the day nor the hour the when the Son of Man cometh for says he it will come upon them as the theif or unawares. Who are they they are the children of darkness or night. But to the Saints he says yea are not of the night nor of darkness that that day should come upon you unawares. John the revelator says 14 chap 7th verse that the hour of his judgements is come they are precursers or forerunners of the comeing of Christ. Read Mathew 24 Chap and all the Prophets. He says then shall they see the sign of the comeing of the Son of Man in the clouds of Heaven. How are we to see it ans[wer], As the lighting up of the morning or the dawning of the morning cometh from the east and Shineth unto the west— So also is the comeing of the Son of Man. The dawning of the morning makes its appearance in the east and moves along gradualy s[o] also will the comeing of the Son of Man be. it will be small at its first appearance and gradually becomes large<r> untill every eye shall see it. Shall the Saints understand it Oh yes, Paul says so. Shall the wicked understand Oh no they attribute it to a natural cause. They will probably suppose it is too great Comets comeing in contact with each other It will be small at first and will grow larger and larger untill it will be all in a blaze so that every eye shall see it. Discourse, 6 April 1843–B, as Reported by James Burgess, 6-8, josephsmithpapers.org. ISH
Joseph Smith
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Sir,—Among the many signs of the times, and other strange things, which are continually agitating the minds of men, I notice a small speculation in the Chicago Express, upon the certificate of one Hiram Redding, of Ogle co. stating that he has seen the sign of the son of man in heaven, as foretold in the 24th of Matt. The slanderous allusion of a “seraglio,” like the Grand Turk, which the editor applies to me, he may take to himself, for “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” Every honest man, who has visited the city of Nauvoo, since it existed, can bear record of better things, and place me in the front ranks of those who are known to do good for the sake of goodness, and show all liars, hypocrites, and abominable creatures, that while vice sinks them down to darkness and wo, virtue exalts me and the saints to light and immortality. The editor, as well as some others, “thinks that Jo Smith has his match at last,” because Mr. Redding certifies that he has seen the sign of the son of man. But I shall use my right, and declare, that. notwithstanding Mr. Redding may have seen a wonderful appearance in the clouds, one morning about sun-rise, (which is nothing very uncommon in the winter season) he has not seen the sign of the son of man, as foretold by Jesus; neither has any man, nor will any man, till after the sun shall have been darkened and the moon bathed in blood, for the Lord hath not shown me any such sign, and, as the prophet saith, so it must be: Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. (See Amos 3: 7). Therefore, hear this, O earth, the Lord will not come to reign over the righteous, in this world, in 1843, nor until every thing for the bridegroom is ready. Letter to Editor, 28 February 1843, 113, josephsmithpapers.org.
Joseph Smith
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Were I going to Prophecy
Joseph Smith
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Thus, Jesus on Olivet spoke of the gospel of the kingdom being preached in all the world in the last days and of a second ‘‘abomination of desolation’’ being ‘‘fulfilled.’’ Then, using language that establishes a definite time frame and that sets forth an order of chronology, he said: *‘And immediately after the tribulation of those days’’—the plagues and wars and abominable desolation that shall destroy again the city of Jerusalem in the final great war— ‘‘the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven shall be shaken.’’ He is speaking thus of the final great signs, the wonders and marvels that are yet to be, the final signs that shall be shown forth in heaven and on earth. And then comes this word: ‘‘ And, as I said before, after the tribulation of those days, and the powers of heaven shall be shaken’’— with some deliberation and by emphasis born of repetition he is identifying the time frame—‘‘then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven, and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn; and they shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.’’ (JS-M 1:31-36.) The sign of the coming of the Son of Man—what is it? We do not know. Our revelation says simply: ‘‘And immediately there shall appear a great sign in heaven, and all people shall see it together.’’ (D&C 88:93.) In 1843 someone by the name of Redding claimed to have seen this promised sign. In response to this claim, the Prophet Joseph Smith said: *‘I shall use my right’’—his right as a prophet to know and identify the signs of the times—‘‘and declare that, notwithstanding Mr. Redding may have seen a wonderful appearance in the clouds one morning about sunrise (which is nothing very uncommon in the winter season) he has not seen the sign of the Son of Man, as foretold by Jesus; neither has any man, nor will any man, until after the sun shall have been darkened and the moon bathed in blood; for the Lord hath not shown me any such sign.’’ (Teachings, p. 280.) Then the Prophet quoted the famous statement from Amos, ‘‘Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets’’ (Amos 3:7), indicating that when the sign is given, the Lord’s servants the prophets, including all the faithful saints, will know it for what it is, and thus be made aware that the long-expected day has arrived. On another occasion the Prophet, after reciting that before our Lord returns, Jerusalem and her temple must be built and the waters of the Dead Sea healed, continued by saying: ‘‘There will be wars and rumors of wars, signs in the heavens above and on the earth beneath, the sun turned into darkness and the moon to blood, earthquakes in divers places, the seas heaving beyond their bounds; then’’— meaning after all these things —‘‘then will appear one grand sign of the Son of Man in heaven. But what will the world do? They will say it is a planet, a comet, etc. But the Son of Man will come as the sign of the coming of the Son of Man, which will be as the light of the morning cometh out of the east.’’ (Teachings, pp. 286-87.) All people shall see it together! It shall spread over all the earth as the morning light! ‘‘For as the light of the morning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west, and covereth the whole earth, so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be.”’ (JS-M 1:26.) Surely this is that of which Isaiah said: ‘‘And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.’’ (Isa. 40:5.) Surely this is that of _ which our revelation speaks: ‘‘Prepare for the revelation which is to come, when the veil of the covering of my temple, in my tabernacle, which hideth the earth, shall be taken off, and all flesh shall see me together.’’ (D&C 101:23.) Surely this is that day of which Zechariah prophesied: ‘‘The Lord my God shall come, and all the saints with thee. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark: But it shall be one day which shall be known to the Lord, not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light... And the Lord shall be king over all the earth.’’ (Zech. 14:5-9.)
Elder Bruce R. McConkie
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