Gulf war activities both in 1991 and in 1998 have brought the Middle East to the forefront of discussions and prompted many questions being sent to me asking if the current events are pointing toward the Battle of Armageddon scene. I have recently received several questions concerning the Battle of Armageddon. Rather than answering all of these questions separately I thought this subject needed further focus resulting in the inclusion of this section on this site.
Contents:
There is perhaps no other event in history that has received more prophetic attention than the Battle of Armageddon. We will go through detailed descriptions of over 50 specific events that will surround this conflict. This is one of my favorite topics in regard to prophecy mainly because the Lord has foretold so many of the details.
No matter how often I go through these events I am always in awe and my heart is continually full and thankful to the Lord for His mercy in blessing me with the gospel and the prophets. I echo what Wilford Woodruff said:
There never was a generation of the inhabitants of the earth in any age of the world who had greater events awaiting them than the present. As I before remarked, the fulfillment of this whole volume of revelation points to our day. The building up of the kingdom of God, the building up of the Zion of God, in the mountains of Israel, the erection of a standard for the Gentiles to flee unto, the warning of the nations of the earth to prepare them for the great judgments of our God, the building up of the Church, the sanctifying of the people, the building of Temples to the Most High God, that his servants may enter therein and become saviors on Mount Zion, redeeming both the living and the dead, all these things are to be performed in our day. And an age fraught with greater interest to the children of men than the one in which we live never dawned since the creation of the world. (Journal of Discourses, Wilford Woodruff 18:111)
Orson F. Whitney often used the phrase that we are in the Saturday Evening of Time. To assist us in our understanding of the timeline of the earth we do know that certain events must occur in a sequential order. For example, the Battle of Armageddon cannot and will not occur until the Jerusalem Temple has been rebuilt.
I have often heard it said that Christ can return at any time. It is true that no man knows the hour or the day of the Lord's coming. We do need to be prepared for the Lord to return at any time by having oil in our lamps; but, we also know that Christ cannot return until all that Christ said is fulfilled. Christ will not jump the gun and mislead us by telling us certain events will occur and then ignore those prophecies.
34 Although, the days will come, that heaven and earth shall pass away; yet my words shall not pass away, but all shall be fulfilled. (JS Matt 1:34)
As a foundation for this section it is important that the reader have an understanding of the information on the seals and the events of the sixth seal. If there is a need for any clarification refer to the following sections for additional information on these subjects.
Some people claim that we are not to understand prophecy. It is interesting to hear some people say that our understanding of prophecy and the signs of the times is not that important. Revelation 1:3 currently reads, "Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy." The inspired translation reads:
3 Blessed are they who read, and they who hear and understand the words of this prophesy. (Revelation 1:3, Inspired version)
Parley P Pratt wrote:
Others declare that these prophecies can never be understood until they are fulfilled. If this be the case, then we can never escape the judgments predicted in them, but must continue the children of darkness, until they come upon us unawares and sweep us from the earth. Then where will be the consolation in looking back and seeing them fulfilled? But blessed be God, he has told us by the mouth of Daniel that many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased, and that the wise shall understand, but none of the wicked shall understand. (Daniel 12:4, 10) And now, I would ask, who are more wicked than the wilfully blind leaders of the blind, who tell us we cannot understand the scriptures? (Parley P. Pratt, A Voice of Warning, 1847, pp. 40)
In one of the great talks regarding the signs of our times Marion G Romney said the following in General Conference:
I hope we are all familiar with these words of the Lord and with his predictions concerning other coming events, such as the building of the new Jerusalem and the redemption of the old, the return of Enoch's Zion, and Christ's millennial reign. Not only do I hope that we are familiar with these coming events; I hope also that we keep the vision of them continually before our minds. This I do because upon a knowledge of them, and an assurance of their reality and a witness that each of us may have part therein, rests the efficacy of Christ's admonition, "be not troubled." (D&C 45:34-35). (Elder Marion G. Romney, General Conference, October 1966)
And finally the Lord has said:
38 Even so it shall be in that day when they shall see all these things, then shall they know that the hour is nigh. 39 And it shall come to pass that he that feareth me shall be looking forth for the great day of the Lord to come, even for the signs of the coming of the Son of Man. 40 And they shall see signs and wonders, for they shall be shown forth in the heavens above, and in the earth beneath. 41 And they shall behold blood, and fire, and vapors of smoke. 42 And before the day of the Lord shall come, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon be turned into blood, and the stars fall from heaven. 43 And the remnant shall be gathered unto this place; 44 And then they shall look for me, and, behold, I will come; and they shall see me in the clouds of heaven, clothed with power and great glory; with all the holy angels; and he that watches not for me shall be cut off. (D&C, 45:38-44)
Many of the events surrounding the Battle of Armageddon are difficult to read with sad consequences but I thank God that we have the prophecies. Prophecy is given for several reasons:
4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. 6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. 7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and heshall be my son. (Revelation 21:4-7)
16 Therefore, let your hearts be comforted concerning Zion; for all flesh is in mine hands; be still and know that I am God. (D&C 101:16)
23 Behold, I speak these things unto you for the elect's sake; and you also shall hear of wars, and rumors of wars; see that ye be not troubled, for all I have told you must come to pass; but the end is not yet. (JS-Matt 1:23)
3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. (1 Cor. 14:3)
I know these are unpleasant things. It is not a pleasant thing even for me to stand here and tell you that this is written in the scriptures. If the Lord has a controversy with the nations, He will put them to the sword. Their bodies shall lie unburied like dung upon the earth. That is not nice, is it, but should we not know it? Is it not our duty to read these things and understand them? Don’t you think the Lord has given us these things that we might know and we might prepare ourselves through humility, through repentance, through faith, that we might escape from these dreadful conditions that are portrayed by these ancient prophets? That is why I am reading them. I feel just as keenly as you do about the condition, and I pray for it to come to an end, but I want it to come to an end right. (Joseph Fielding Smith, Signs of the Times,p. 154-155)
4 And the voice of warning shall be unto all people, by the mouths of my disciples, whom I have chosen in these last days. (D&C 1:4, also 1 Thes 5:2-8)
29 And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe. (John 14:29)
5 Telling them of things which must shortly come, that they might know and remember at the time of their coming that they had been made known unto them beforehand, to the intent that they might believe. (Helaman 16:5)
2 And they knew that it must be expedient that Christ had come, because of the many signs which had been given, according to the words of the prophets; and because of the things which had come to pass already they knew that it must needs be that all things should come to pass according to that which had been spoken. (3 Nephi 5:2)
28 And the angel said unto me that many shall see greater things than these, to the intent that they might believe that these signs and these wonders should come to pass upon all the face of this land, to the intent that there should be no cause for unbelief among the children of men. (Helaman 14:28)
37 And whoso treasureth up my word, shall not be deceived, for the Son of Man shall come, and he shall send his angels before him with the great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together the remainder of his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. (JS Matt 1:37)
6 For many shall come in my name, saying--I am Christ--and shall deceive many; 21 Behold, these things I have spoken unto you concerning the Jews; and again, after the tribulation of those days which shall come upon Jerusalem, if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there, believe him not; 22 For in those days there shall also arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders, insomuch, that, if possible, they shall deceive the very elect, who are the elect according to the covenant. 23 Behold, I speak these things unto you for the elect's sake; and you also shall hear of wars, and rumors of wars; see that ye be not troubled, for ALL I have told you must come to pass; but the end is not yet. (JS Matt 1:6,21-3)
Joseph Smith said:
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, Etc.; and all this must be done before the Son of Man will make his appearance. 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 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, which will be as the light of the morning cometh out of the east. (History of the Church 5:337)
Wilford Woodruff:
The people called Millerites, believe in the second coming of the Savior, and they have set a great many days when it should take place. But he did not come; and he never will come until the revelations of God are fulfilled and a people are prepared for his coming. He will never come until the Jews are gathered home and have re-built their Temple and city, and the Gentiles have gone up there to battle against them. He will never come until his Saints have built up Zion, and have fulfilled the revelations which have been spoken concerning it. He will never come until the Gentiles throughout the whole Christian world have been warned by the inspired elders of Israel. (Wilford Woodruff, Journal of Discourses, 18:111-112, September 12, 1875) ...Christ will not come until these things come to pass. Jerusalem has got to be rebuilt. The temple has got to be built...These things have been revealed by the prophets; they will have their fulfillment.(Wilford Woodruff, MS, vol. 52:p. 740, Oct. 6, 1890)
President Joseph Fielding Smith:
One thing we are given by these prophets definitely to understand is that the great last conflict before Christ shall come will end at the siege of Jerusalem. So said Ezekiel and Daniel, and the Lord declared to Joel: "For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem [i.e. the return from captivity], I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land. (Joel 3:2)
Before the coming of Christ, the great war, sometimes called Armageddon, will take place as spoken of by Ezekiel, chapters 38 and 39. Another war of Gog and Magog will be after the millennium. (Joseph Fielding Smith Jr., Doctrines of Salvation, Vol.3, p.45)
Joseph Smith said
Judah must return... and all this must be done before the Son of Man will make his appearance. (History of the Church 5:337)
When the Jews BEGIN to believe in Christ they shall BEGIN to gather to their land.
7 And it shall come to pass that the Jews which are scattered also shall begin to believe in Christ; and they shall begin to gather in upon the face of the land; and as many as shall believe in Christ shall also become a delightsome people. (2 Nephi 30:7, also 2 Nephi 10:7-9)
But as a people as a whole, the Jews will not believe in Christ as they gather.
The Jews have got to gather to their own land in unbelief. They do not believe in Jesus of Nazareth now, nor ever will until he comes and sets his foot on Mount Olivet. They (as a nation) will remain in unbelief until that day. (Wilford Woodruff, Journal of Discourses, 15:277-279, January 12, 1873)
Israel has in part been gathered. In 1882 there were 25,000 Jews in Israel. When Israel became a nation in 1948 there were 650,000 Jews in Israel. In 1952 there were 1.4 million. As of today only 37% or 4.9 million of the Jews are in Israel. There are still 43% of the Jewish population or 5.7 million, still living in the United States. (American Jewish Year Book, Vol. 100, New York)
Eventually the Jews will be in multitudes in the Holy Land. There will be villages throughout the area from Jerusalem up to Megiddo. There are indications that the villages will be unwalled or unprotected.
11 And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates (Ezekiel 38:11)
4...Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein. (Zechariah 2:4)
But there is also a reference to the cities being fenced or fortified.
35 And they shall say, This land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are become fenced, and are inhabited. (Ezekiel 36:35)
Regardless, the multitudes will be gathered to the area. Jerusalem will prosper and will be fruitful.
8 But ye, O mountains of Israel, ye shall shoot forth your branches, and yield your fruit to my people of Israel; for they are at hand to come. 29 I will also save you from all your uncleannesses: and I will call for the corn, and will increase it, and lay no famine upon you. 30 And I will multiply the fruit of the tree, and the increase of the field, that ye shall receive no more reproach of famine among the heathen. 34 And the desolate land shall be tilled, whereas it lay desolate in the sight of all that passed by. 35 And they shall say, This land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are become fenced, and are inhabited. (Ezekiel 36:8,29-30,34-35)
Megiddo which is approximately 60 miles north of Jerusalem will apparently be where the Battle of Armageddon will begin. The term Armageddon is used only once in the Bible, in Revelation 16:16. The name Armageddon is a Greek transliteration of the Hebrew "har Megiddo", meaning mountain of Megiddo. Scripture also refers to this area as the Valley of Jezreel or the Plain of Esdraelon and is known by several names including Megiddo valley, Megiddo plain , Esdraelon valley and Jezreel Esdraelon. Generally this is referring to the entire flat and fertile plain stretching southeast from the coast north of Mount Carmel to the Jordan River at Beth-shan.In the 14th century BC Pharoah Thutmose III who was a brillient general and never lost a battle for Egypt said "...every chief of every country that has revolted is within [Megiddo]; and because of it is the capture of a thousand cities, this capture of Megiddo." (James Henry Breasted, Ancient Records of Egypt: Historical Documents. vol. II pp. 175-178) It is this area of land that Napoleon said is an ideal battleground, saying "all the armies of the world could maneuver their forces on this vast plain." (Hal Lindsey with C.C. Carlson, The Late Great Planet Earth, p. 164)
Holy Land Map Armageddon will start at Megiddo.
It is at this prosperous time of the Jews that Ezekiel prophecies that the nations will combine their forces against Israel. Gog will be the ruler or rulers over these forces. In Ezekiel we read:
1 And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 2 Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him, 3 And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal: (Ezekiel 38:1-3)
In subsequent verses Ezekiel mentions other nations such as Persia, Ethiopia, Libya, Gomer, Togarmah and "many nations with you." What are the regions Ezekiel has reference to in these verses? Prophecies often refer to latter-day peoples by indicating regions settled by the descendants of Noah. In the third chapter of Genesis, there is a list of the sons of Japheth, who was a son of Noah: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubul, Meshech, and Tiras, who repopulated the Earth after the Flood. Magog's descendants settled in the area of Armenia, which is in southern Russia. This race came to be known as the Scythians, and were called 'Magogites' by the Greeks. The Chinese name for the Caucasus mountains running through Russia mean 'Fort of Gog', while the Russians call their peaks, the 'Gogh.' The Arabic term for the Great Wall of China is 'the wall of Al Magog', because it was erected with the intention of keeping out the armies of Magog. Their descendants include the Tarters, Cossacks, Kalmuks, and the Mongols. The Kesses HaSofer, a Jewish commentary, indicates that the word 'Mongol', which identifies the Siberian-Russian people, comes from the word 'Magog.'
There is a slightly better translation of Ezekiel 38:1-3 that gives additional emphasis and meaning. In verse 2 Ezekiel says:
2 Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him (Ezekiel 38:2)
2 Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him
The Hebrew word for chief is "Rosh". Just as in the English language a word can have multiple meanings, the Hebrew word Rosh has different meanings. One meaning for Rosh is: chief, head, captain. Another meaning of Rosh is the name of a foreign nation. (The Interlinear Bible, Hebrew Greek and English, Strongs Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible: Hebrew and Chaldee Dictionary)
The correct translation for these verses is as follows:
2 Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him, 3 And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal: (Ezekiel 38:2-3)
In the Septuagint (Greek) translation of the Bible, it describes 'Gog' as the 'prince of Rosh.' Rosh was the name of a tribe living in the area of the Volga. In some languages, Rosh is the word for the country of Russia. The ancient form of the name Russia, is 'Ros.' The Chinese had called the Scythians 'Rosh.' The King James version translated 'Rosh' to mean 'chief prince', because in Hebrew it means chief or head; but in the Septuagint version, 'Rosh' is used as a proper name, as it should be. The descendants of Meshech (known to the Assyrians as 'Mushku'), settled in western Russia, where they established a city called Meshech, later known as Mosach, then Moscovi (Muscovy or Moscow), which is the capital of Russia. Here are the modern nations accompanying these regions:
Ancient Nation
Modern Area
Magog
Russia (Mongols)
Rosh
Russia
Meschech
Moscow
Tubal
Tobolsk (an area in Russia)
Persia
Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan
Gomer
Germany, Eastern Europe
Togarmah
Turkey, Southeastern Europe
Ancient Near East During the Time of Ezekiel
25 And thus we see that the Lord did visit them in the fulness of his wrath, and their wickedness and abomination had prepared a way for their everlasting destruction. (Ether 14:25)
Do not suppose that God willfully causes that, which for His own purposes, he permits. (Boyd K. Packer, The Play and the Plan)
2 I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat (also known as the Kidron Valley), and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land. (Joel 3:2)
2 For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. (Zech 14:2)
4 ...I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords. (Ezekiel 38:4,9)
3 And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdsensome stone for all people; all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it. (Zechariah 12:3)
16 And He gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon. (Revelation 16:16 JST)
The Battle of Armageddon will assemble an incredible army of unprecedented strength against Israel. John described the forces as two hundred thousand thousand.
16 And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them. (Revelation 9:16)
The more correct translation for "two hundred thousand thousand" in this verse is, two myriads of myriads. (The Interlinear Bible, Hebrew Greek and English, Strongs Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible: Hebrew and Chaldee Dictionary)
Myriads means indefinite number or ten thousand. Rather than a force of 200 million, John may have just been trying to communicate an innumerable force. Joel further describes this army by saying:
2 A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations. (Joel 2:2)
Ezekiel says:
4 And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords. 9 Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee. (Ezekiel 38:4,9)
This army will have all sorts of armor, shields and helmets. The army will ascend and come like a storm. They will be like a cloud and will cover the land. Fire shall devoureth before them and behind them flame burneth. Before them the land is as the Garden of Eden, an indication of how the Jews have developed the land. But after the army passes the land is as a desolate wilderness and nothing shall escape the army.
3 A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them. 4 The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run. 5 Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array. 6 Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness. 7 They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks: 8 Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded. (Joel 2:3-8)
In fact, two thirds of all the Jews will not make it through this conflict. The third part that will be left will be refined and the Lord will try them as gold.
8 And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. 9 And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God. (Zechariah 13:8-9)
The third part that is left is the part that would believe in Jesus Christ as the Messiah.
14 And behold, according to the words of the prophet, the Messiah will set himself again the second time to recover them; wherefore, he will manifest himself unto them in power and great glory, unto the destruction of their enemies, when that day cometh when they shall believe in him; and none will he destroy that believe in him. 15 And they that believe not in him shall be destroyed, both by fire, and by tempest, and by earthquakes, and by bloodsheds, and by pestilence, and by famine. And they shall know that the Lord is God, the Holy One of Israel. (2 Nephi 6:14-15)
Those who are refined will cry upon his name and as we shall see he will hear their cries.
Why would these nations gather against the Jews?
Gog and Magog are motivated by anti-Semitism and the spoils of war. Gog wants to take a spoil and make a prey and take the cattle, gold, silver and goods of the Jews. Judah is very prosperous after the gathering to the Holy Land and there is an indication that Gog and the nations try to justify that the prosperity of the Jews rightfully belonged to the nations since the Jews, "gathered out of the nations."
12 To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land. (Ezekiel 38:12)
1 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. 2 For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. (Zechariah 14:1-2)
Gog and Magog are further enticed by the Jews being unprotected. Joel describes the situation that the forces of Gog will march right through the Jews with relatively little resistance. In fact it is mentioned that one of the factors in waging this war against Israel is that Gog thought the Jews would be easy pickings.
11 And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates. (Ezekiel 38:11)
Satan also adds his own personal touch by sending spirits of the devil before kings of the whole earth, working miracles, to convince them to go to war.
13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. (Revelation 16:13-14)
Apparently there will be nations that will object to the Battle of Armageddon. Ezekiel points out that Sheba, and Dedan, the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof will object and question the intentions of Gog. Sheba and Dedan are descendants of Shem and inhabited the region known today as Saudi Arabia. There are questions as to who Ezekiel is referring to as the merchants of Tarshish but we do know that they were a seafaring people that would necessitate a coastal nation. We do know that there was a Tarshish to the north-west of Judea. This appears in the case of Jonah, who was at Joppa on the Mediterranean when he sailed toward Tarshish. Jonah could only sail towards the west.
3 But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. (Jonah 1:3)
Addressing Tyre, Ezekiel says:
12 Tarshish was thy merchant by reason of the multitude of all kinds of riches; with silver, iron, tin, and lead, they traded for thy wares. (Ezekiel 27:12)
These metals are predominantly the products of Britain, referred to by the Phenicians as Baratanac, "the land of tin". Ezekiel gives further clues as to the identity of Tarshish by saying:
13 Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee: Comest thou to take the spoil? hast thou assembled thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take great spoil? (Ezekiel 38:13)
The symbol of Great Britain is the Lion with the mother lion found on Britain's coinage, her royal standard, and in every imperial coat-of-arms. Many modern journalists have referred to the colonies as "young lions." This could certainly apply to the colonies of Great Britain with the United States being a young lion.
It is at this perilous time of the Jews that two prophets are raised up unto the nation of Judah. When will these two prophets be raised up?
15 Q. What is to be understood by the two witnesses, in the eleventh chapter of Revelation? A. They are two prophets that are to be raised up to the Jewish nation in the last days, at the time of the restoration, and to prophesy to the Jews after they are gathered and have built the city of Jerusalem in the land of their fathers. (D&C 77:15)
It is after the Jews have gathered to and restored Jerusalem. After the Jerusalem Temple and the city has been rebuilt. After the restoration of Judah the Lord will then raise up these two prophets. These two prophets will have power given unto them and will prophecy to the Jews for 3 1/2 years. The two prophets 3 1/2 year witness typifies Christ's earthly ministry of 3 1/2 years.
2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months. 3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophecy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. (Revelation 11:2-3)
All the sons of Judah have fainted (weak or exhausted), save these two.
19 THESE TWO SONS (The KJV Isaiah 51:19-20 has "These two things...") are come unto thee, who shall be sorry for thee--thy desolation and destruction, and the famine and the sword--and by whom shall I comfort thee? 20 Thy sons have fainted, save these two; they lie at the head of all the streets; as a wild bull in a net, they are full of the fury of the Lord, the rebuke of thy God. (2 Nephi 8:19-20)
These two prophets will have command over the elements. They will have power to shut the heavens that it not rain. They will have power to turn the waters to blood and to smite the earth with all plagues.
3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses... 4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. 6 These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will. (Revelation 11:3,4,6)
It is at this time that the two prophets will call down six of seven plagues. The plagues will make those who received the mark of the beast receive a grievous sore. One third of the seas will become as blood and one third of all sea life will die. A third part of the rivers will become as blood and many men will die due to the bitterness of the water. One third of the sun, moon and stars are darkened. Men are scorched with great heat and fire. (Revelation chapter 8 and chapter 16)
Do men repent? No, men continue to blaspheme the name of God because of their pains and sores and repent not of their deeds.
9 And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory. 10 And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain, 11 And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds. (Revelation 16:9-11)
Gog and Magog thought that this campaign against the Jews would be a cake walk but they did not factor the Lord into the equation. They have killed two thirds of the Jews and have overtaken half of the city of Jerusalem.
2 For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. (Zechariah 14:2)
Yet for three and a half years these two prophets continue to keep them from certain victory through the power of the Lord.
John gives a prophecy we will later see fulfilled to the letter and says that any man that will hurt these two prophets, fire will proceed out of their mouth and will devour their enemies. Any man that hurts the two prophets must in this manner (by fire) be killed.
5 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. (Revelation 11:5)
Gog and Magog apparently decide to make an all out offensive against the two prophets. The two prophets at this time have finished their testimony and completed their work. John says that Gog and Magog shall make war with the prophets and shall finally overcome them, and kill these two anointed ones.
7 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. (Revelation 11:7)
10 And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth. (Revelation 11:10)
Gog determines that he will rub salt in the wound and commands that the two prophets will not be allowed to be buried. He wants the Jews to see the defeat of the two prophets and anticipate their impending defeat at the hands of Gog and Magog. Gog commands that the two prophets remain dead in the streets for three and a half days, one day for each year that these two tormented his forces and delayed their annihilation of the Jews.
8 And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. 9 And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. (Revelation 11:8-9)
Gog and Magog plot that at the end of the three and a half days they will then complete their mission and extinguish the remaining third of the Jews. At this point the remaining Jews are huddled together in half of the city of Jerusalem in the Kidron Valley, also known as the Valley of Jehoshaphat, against the Mount of Olives. The Jews are surrounded by the forces of the nations of the earth with no way of escape.
Just as Gog and Magog are ready to mount their final assault against the Jews, the two prophets are resurrected causing great fear among those that saw them rise up. Imagine the forces of Gog and Magog as they see the Two Prophets rise. This will truly cause great fear.
11 And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. 12 And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them. (Revelation 11:11-12)
At this same time there is a local earthquake causing a tenth part of the city of Jerusalem to fall resulting in seven thousand deaths. The remnant of the Jews know that something is happening and are frightened, yet gain some degree of hope and give glory to the God of heaven.
13 And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven. (Revelation 11:13)
An angel will sound his trump and the saints that have slept shall also be resurrected and shall come forth and meet the Savior in the cloud.
45 But before the arm of the Lord shall fall, an angel shall sound his trump, and the saints that have slept shall come forth to meet me in the cloud (D&C 45:45)
At this point there is an actual sign that the Lord's arm will fall signaling distress will come among the nations. The Lord's arm or sword is double-edged in the sense that it will both protect those that accept the Savior and punish those who reject the Savior.
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. 31 For through the voice of the LORD shall the Assyrian be beaten down, which smote with a rod. (Isaiah 30:30-31)
As is stated in 2 Nephi, "all things which have been given" are the typifying of Christ.
4 Behold, my soul delighteth in proving unto my people the truth of the coming of Christ; for, for this end hath the law of Moses been given; and all things which have been given of God from the beginning of the world, unto man, are the typifying of him. (2 Nephi 11:4)
21 And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. 22 And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left. (Exodus 14:21-22)
These events "were types of things to come" (Mosiah 13:31) and are representative of how the Saviour will again provide a way of escape for Israel during the Battle of Armageddon. With the Jews huddled in a mass in the Kidron Valley, also known as the Valley of Jehoshaphat, against the Mount of Olives the Savior will descend and set his foot upon the Mount of Olives. The Lord's arm will fall and the Mount will divide with half moving to the south and half moving to the north causing a very great valley. This causes a way of escape for the Jews and the Jews flee the armies of Gog and Magog.
4 And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south. 5 And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee. (Zechariah 14:4-5)
Map of Jerusalem
There will accompany the dividing of the Mount of Olives a great earthquake that will be the greatest earthquake since men were upon the earth. This earthquake will divide the city of Jerusalem into three parts. All things shall shake at the Savior's presence. The cities of the nations will fall. Every mountain shall be thrown down. All the steep places shall fall. Every island shall flee.
18 And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. 19 And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. (Revelation 16:18-19) 20 So that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, and all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground. (Ezekiel 38:20)
There shall fall upon men a great hail out of heaven every stone about the weight of a talent (70 lbs.). Do men repent? No, they blaspheme God because of the plague of the hail. Remember John's prophecy that those that hurt the two prophets would die by fire, Revelation 11:5? The Lord shall rain upon Gog and Magog. An overflowing rain, great hailstones (meteorites?), fire and brimstone.
21 And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great. (Revelation 16:21)
The sun will be darkened and the moon shall turn to blood. The Lord shall show wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood and fire and pillars of smoke. The mountains and islands are removed. The earth shall reel to and fro.
10 The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining. (Joel 2:10)
The seventh plague will rain fury upon the forces of Gog and Magog. There will be such confusion in the battle that Magog will turn among themselves.
13 And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great tumult from the LORD shall be among them; and they shall lay hold every one on the hand of his neighbour, and his hand shall rise up against the hand of his neighbour. (Zechariah 14:13) 21 And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, saith the Lord GOD: every man's sword shall be against his brother. (Ezekiel 38:21)
2 And I will turn thee back, and leave but the sixth part of thee, and will cause thee to come up from the north parts, and will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel. (Ezekiel 39:2) 20 But I will remove far off from you the northern army, and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the east sea, and his hinder part toward the utmost sea, and his stink shall come up, and his ill savour shall come up, because he hath done great things. (Joel 2:20)
After the destruction of the forces of Gog and Magog the Savior appears to the Jews who have fled to the other side of the Mount of Olives. The Jews are in amazement as their Messiah has finally appeared after all these thousands of years. After all the visits to the Temple Mount and visits to the Wailing Wall. After all the dedicated prayers for deliverance their Savior has finally come.
As the Jews gather around Jesus and look upon him they realize that Christ is everything that the prophets have prophesied through the years. They then notice that he has wounds in his hands and his feet. They ask, "What are these wounds in thine hands and in thy feet?" The Savior will then answer,
"These wounds are the wounds with which I was wounded in the house of my friends. I am he who was lifted up. I am Jesus that was crucified. I am the Son of God." (D&C 45:51-53)
Then there will be a great mourning among the Jews that Jesus Christ is the Messiah. They will mourn for the Savior as one mourneth for his only son. Judah will realize that they persecuted their Savior and that Jesus Christ was in fact the Son of God. They will weep because of their iniquities and lament because they persecuted their King.
9 And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. 10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. 11 In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon. 12 And the land shall mourn, every family apart; the family of the house of David apart, and their wives apart; the family of the house of Nathan apart, and their wives apart; 13 The family of the house of Levi apart, and their wives apart; the family of Shimei apart, and their wives apart; 14 All the families that remain, every family apart, and their wives apart. (Zechariah 12:9-14)
After the many miracles at Armageddon the house of Israel will know that Jesus is the Lord their God from that day and forward. The Jews will be converted as a nation in one day.
22 So the house of Israel shall know that I am the LORD their God from that day and forward. (Ezekiel 39:22)
Dome of the Rock and the East Gate
The Jews will then have a huge Hosanna parade as Jesus and the throngs move toward Jerusalem through the Mount of Olives. The Savior will enter through the Golden Gate and enter His rebuilt Temple. The last time the Savior entered Jerusalem during his earthly ministry he entered through the East Gate. Now as he enters through the beautified Golden Gate the Jews finally do recognize him as the King of the Jews. After the Lord enters into His Temple on this day, the East Gate will be shut, never to be opened again.
2 And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and his voice was like a noise of many waters: and the earth shined with his glory. 3 And it was according to the appearance of the vision which I saw, even according to the vision that I saw when I came to destroy the city: and the visions were like the vision that I saw by the river Chebar; and I fell upon my face. 4 And the glory of the LORD came into the house by the way of the gate whose prospect is toward the east. (Ezekiel 43:2-4)
The Turks in the 1500's blocked the East Gate in an attempt to keep the Messiah from entering and saving the Jews. The Moslems buried their dead in front of the East Gate hoping that their spirits would keep Christ from fulfilling the prophecies. This was all to no avail as the Son of God returns.
As if the day hasn't already had enough significant events to make it a special day, there are a few more miracles. On this day come evening time it will not be dark but it shall be light. Just as was the case in the Book of Mormon when Christ was born there will be a day, a night and a day with no darkness.
6 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark: 7 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. (Zechariah 14: 6-7)
Living water will go out from the Jerusalem Temple. Half toward the Mediterranean Sea and half toward the Dead Sea.
18 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth of the house of the LORD, and shall water the valley of Shittim. (Joel 3:18)
1 AFTERWARD he brought me again unto the door of the house; and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward: for the forefront of the house stood toward the east, and the waters came down from under from the right side of the house, at the south side of the altar. 2 Then brought he me out of the way of the gate northward, and led me about the way without unto the utter gate by the way that looketh eastward; and, behold, there ran out waters on the right side. 3 And when the man that had the line in his hand went forth eastward, he measured a thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the waters were to the ankles. 4 Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through the waters; the waters were to the knees. Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through; the waters were to the loins. 5 Afterward he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass over: for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over. 6 And he said unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen this? Then he brought me, and caused me to return to the brink of the river. 7 Now when I had returned, behold, at the bank of the river were very many trees on the one side and on the other. 8 Then said he unto me, These waters issue out toward the east country, and go down into the desert, and go into the sea: which being brought forth into the sea, the waters shall be healed. (Ezekiel 47:1-8)
Joseph Smith referred to this same prophecy when he stated:
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, Etc.; and all this must be done before the Son of Man will make his appearance. (History of the Church 5: 336-37)
The magnitude of the events of the Battle of Armageddon and the return of the Savior to the Jews will cause Jerusalem to have a new name. Jerusalem from that day forward will be called, "Holy, for the Lord is there."
35 It was round about eighteen thousand measures: and the name of the city from that day shall be, Holy, for the LORD is there. (Ezekiel 48:35 JST)
This was in deed a great and terrible day of the Lord. Great for those that were spared and terrible for the wicked. The haunting memories of this day will be lasting as the dead are buried for seven months afterwards and the weapons of destruction are burned for the next seven years.
9 And they that dwell in the cities of Israel shall go forth, and shall set on fire and burn the weapons, both the shields and the bucklers, the bows and the arrows, and the handstaves, and the spears, and they shall burn them with fire seven years. (Ezekiel 39:9)
Each year those who were left of all the nations that came against Jerusalem will go up from year to year in the millennium and visit Jerusalem which at this time is called, "Holy, for the Lord is there" and worship the Lord. Those who do not go up yearly will have famine and plague.
16 And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles. 17 And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain. 18 And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith the LORD will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles. 19 This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles. (Zechariah 14:16-19)
One appearance will be to the righteous Saints who have gathered to the New Jerusalem here in America. 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. Modern revelation provides this description: And the glory of the Lord shall be there, and the terror of the Lord also shall be there, insomuch that the wicked will not come unto it, and it shall be called Zion. And it shall come to pass among the wicked, that every man that will not take his sword against his neighbor must needs flee unto Zion for safety. And there shall be gathered unto it out of every nation under heaven; and it shall be the only people that shall not be at war one with another. (D&C 45:67-69) Another 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 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 45:47) The Lord himself will then rout the Gentile armies, decimating their forces (see Ezekiel 38, 39). Judah will be spared, no longer to be persecuted and scattered. The Jews will then approach their Deliverer and ask, "What are these wounds in thine hands and in thy feet?" I will say unto them: These wounds are the wounds with which I was wounded in the house of my friends. I am he who was lifted up. I am Jesus that was crucified. I am the Son of God. And then shall they weep because of their iniquities; then shall they lament because they persecuted their king. (D&C 45: 52-53) What a touching drama this will be! Jesus--Prophet, Messiah, King--will be welcomed in his own country! Jerusalem will become an eternal city of peace! The sons of Judah will see this promise fulfilled: After their pain the tribe of Judah shall be sanctified in holiness before the Lord, to dwell in his presence day and night, forever and ever. (D&C 133:25) Yet another appearance of Christ will be to the rest of the world. Here is his description of his coming: The Lord shall be red in his apparel, and his garments like him that treadeth in the wine-vat. And so great shall be the glory of his presence that the sun shall withhold its light, and the stars shall be hurled from their places.(D&C 133:48-49)
and it shall cleave in twain, and the earth shall tremble, and reel to and fro, and the heavens also shall shake.(D&C 45:47)
I will say unto them: These wounds are the wounds with which I was wounded in the house of my friends. I am he who was lifted up. I am Jesus that was crucified. I am the Son of God. And then shall they weep because of their iniquities; then shall they lament because they persecuted their king. (D&C 45: 52-53)
The Lord shall be red in his apparel, and his garments like him that treadeth in the wine-vat. And so great shall be the glory of his presence that the sun shall withhold its light, and the stars shall be hurled from their places.(D&C 133:48-49)
In another great talk regarding the Second Coming, Elder Charles W. Penrose wrote the following regarding the various appearances of the Savior in the latter-days.
Three Divisions of People We may consider the inhabitants of the earth at the time immediately preceding the coming of Christ under three general divisions: First, the Saints of God gathered to one place on the western continent, called Zion, busily preparing for his appearance in their midst as their redeemer, who had shed his blood for their salvation, now coming to reign over them and to reward them for their labours in establishing his government: Second, the Jews gathered to Jerusalem and also expecting the Messiah, but not believing that Jesus of Nazareth was the Son of God, and being in danger of destruction from their Gentile enemies: Third, the corrupt nations and kingdoms of men, who, rejecting the light of the Gospel, are unprepared for the Lord’s advent and are almost ripe for destruction. First Appearance is Among Saints at Zion Among the first-mentioned of these three classes of men the Lord will make his appearance first; and that appearance will be unknown to the rest of mankind. He will come to the Temple prepared for him, and his faithful people will behold his face, hear his voice, and gaze upon his glory. From his own lips they will receive further instructions for the development and beautifying of Zion and for the extension and sure stability of his kingdom. Second Appearance is Among the Jews His next appearance 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. "A fountain for sin and uncleanness shall be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem," and "a nation will be born" unto God "in a day." They will be baptized for the remission of their sins, and will receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, and the government of God as established in Zion will be set up among them, no more to be thrown down for ever. Third Appearance is the Savior's Coming in Glory The great and crowning advent of the Lord will be subsequent to these two appearances; 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 our Lord and his Christ." "The people of the Saints of the Most High" will dwell on the earth, which shall bring forth her strength as in the days of her youth; they will build cities and plant gardens; those who have been faithful over a few things will be made rulers over many things; Eden will bloom, and the fruits and flowers of Paradise display their loveliness as at the first; Jesus shall reign "in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem and before his ancients gloriously," and all created things shall "praise the Lord."
Over the days that I have spent on this project I have once again been reminded of the mercy my Heavenly Father has had on me to bless me with the gospel. Some of the Battle of Armageddon prophecies are sad. It is sad to hear of plagues and death. It is sad to hear that the people will continue to blaspheme God despite his outstretched arms and that the people will not repent. Over the years when I have read the scene of the Saviors appearance to the Jews, it pains me to remember the suffering and the persecution that the Son of God went through during his earthly ministry on our behalf.
My heart is also full to an extent that is indescribable as I come to a more full understanding of the love Christ has for us. I can not imagine the pain and mourning in the hearts of the Jews as they come to realize that Jesus is in fact who he claimed to be, "The Son of Man", "King of the Jews", the "Great I Am."
We are blessed to have prophecy. We are blessed to know that Satan will not win out. We know who will overcome and that righteousness will prevail over wickedness.
MD
