"Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, whose glorious beauty is a fading flower, which are on the head of the fat valleys of them that are overcome with wine!
"Behold, the Lord hath a mighty and strong one, which as a tempest of hail and a destroying storm, as a flood of mighty waters overflowing, shall cast down to the earth with the hand.
"The crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, shall be trodden under feet:
"And the glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fat valley, shall be a fading flower, and as the hasty fruit before the summer; which when he that looketh upon it seeth, while it is yet in his hand he eateth it up" (Isa. 28:4).
Gileadi's translation of the original Hebrew is helpful:
"Woe to the garlands of glory of the drunkards of Ephraim! Their crowning splendor has become as fading wreaths on the heads of the opulent overcome with wine.
"My Lord has in store one mighty and strong: as a ravaging hailstorm sweeping down, or like an inundating deluge of mighty waters, he will hurl them to the ground by his hand.
"The proud garlands of the drunkards of Ephraim shall be trodden underfoot.
"And the fading wreaths, the crowns of glory on the heads of the opulent, shall be like the first-ripe fruit before summer harvest: he who sees it devours it the moment he has hold of it" (Gileadi, The Apocalyptic Book of Isaiah 28:1-4).
The drunkenness with which Ephraim stumbles is not from wine or strong drink. Rather, it is error and blindness (Isa. 29:9-10). The sun has gone down over the prophets, and the day is dark over them (Micah 3:6). There is no answer from God (Micah 3:7). "They build up Zion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity. The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the Lord, and say, Is not the Lord among us? none evil can come upon us" (Micah 3:10-11). "And thus, with the sword and by bloodshed the inhabitants of the earth shall mourn" (D&C 87:6).
The crown of pride is above all, yea is more proud than all the earth (3 Ne. 16:10). It shall be trodden under foot (Isa. 28:3; 3 Ne. 16:15). That which was beautiful has become a fading flower. The valleys are fat. The consumption decreed shall make an end of all nations (Isa. 28:22; D&C 87:6).
"Is it not yet a very little while, and Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest?
"For the terrible one is brought to nought, and the scorner is consumed, and all that watch for iniquity are cut off:
"That make a man an offender for a word, and lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate, and turn aside the just for a thing of nought.
"Therefore thus saith the Lord, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob, Jacob shall not now be ashamed, neither shall his face now wax pale" (Isa. 29:17, 20-22).
Showing posts with label false prophets. Show all posts
Showing posts with label false prophets. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Monday, August 27, 2012
Prophets, Churchmen, and the Testimony of Jesus
Joseph Smith was asked if he believed himself "to be a Prophet?" His reply was:
"Yes, and every other man who has the testimony of Jesus. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy" (TPJS, p. 119; also Rev. 19:10).
Possessing "the testimony of Jesus" is more than we think it is. "Testimony" is so common a thing among us we think we understand the phrase "testimony of Jesus." Merely saying you know Christ lives or loves you, doesn't mean you possess the testimony of Jesus spoken of by John and Joseph. We read that even the devils possess that testimony (James 2:19; Matt. 8:29). Therefore, declaring that Jesus is Christ, even if you know such is the case, is not what is meant - though that may be where it begins.
Latter-day Saints aren't the only churchgoers who have such a testimony. There are believing Christians everywhere that believe in and serve the same Christ we proclaim we know. Yet, Jesus said:
"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
"Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
"And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity" (Matt 7:21-23).
Those Christ spoke of, who thus testified, had not the "testimony of Jesus," and will not "enter into the kingdom of heaven." Though they believed they pleased him with their "wonderful works," they were workers of "iniquity" according to Christ. These are the churchmen, not the prophets. These are those who are religious, but who know not the mind and will of God. They are "professors," and are all corrupt (JSH 1:19). Their creeds are an abomination to God (ibid.). They are led in masses to believe they are correct, but their hearts are far from God. They have entered in at the "broad gate," and many there be that go in thereat (Matt. 7:13). They belong to the telestial kingdom (D&C 76:99-101).
We should pause to consider what the Lord is saying here. How is it that those Christ spoke of believed they did "wonderful works" but did not "the will of the Father?" How is it that they thought they "prophesied in [his] name" but weren't found pleasing to God? How is it that they "cast out devils" but were called workers of "iniquity?" What is this "testimony of Jesus," and how does it differ from testifying that you have done "wonderful works" and saying "Lord, Lord."
Prophets and prophetesses are a different type of people than the religious who only profess to know Christ. They are unlike the masses. Historically, the prophets did not please the majority. Words like "anger," and "offended" are used in scripture to denote the reaction of the people to their message (3 Ne. 6:20-21; Matt. 15:12). "Mad," and "wild" are used by the religious to describe their demeanor (Mosiah 13:1; Moses 6:38). And yet, these are they who possessed the "testimony of Jesus." How could this be?
The testimony of Jesus is more than just your testimony. It is His testimony. It is you receiving Jesus' testimony to you. What is it that Jesus would testify of were he to give you his testimony? Do we begin to learn about this at all in the temple?
What is it about what Christ makes of these men that is so offensive to those who consider themselves God's chosen people? Why is Zion so rarely established, when God has given men opportunities to establish it?
Salvation requires revelation. This is not only true for every individual that is to be saved, but also for those who preach the gospel of salvation. It is vain for a man to attempt to minister without it (TPJS, p. 160). Prophets preach Christ's gospel, and minister to others with power because of the revelations they receive (ibid.). Prophets have the testimony of Jesus, and possess the gift of the spirit of prophecy. They encourage others to receive the same.
Our revelations indicate that there are those who claim to be apostles and prophets, but whose falseness and hypocrisy shall be uncovered when Zion is established (D&C 64:38-39). What does that mean? The Prophet taught that false prophets will testify of heaven and hell, but they have seen neither (ibid.). True prophets, who receive their message from God, always point to Christ and never set themselves up for a light unto others. They teach that unless men repent and come unto Christ, they are lost (1 Ne. 10:5-6).
"Yes, and every other man who has the testimony of Jesus. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy" (TPJS, p. 119; also Rev. 19:10).
Possessing "the testimony of Jesus" is more than we think it is. "Testimony" is so common a thing among us we think we understand the phrase "testimony of Jesus." Merely saying you know Christ lives or loves you, doesn't mean you possess the testimony of Jesus spoken of by John and Joseph. We read that even the devils possess that testimony (James 2:19; Matt. 8:29). Therefore, declaring that Jesus is Christ, even if you know such is the case, is not what is meant - though that may be where it begins.
Latter-day Saints aren't the only churchgoers who have such a testimony. There are believing Christians everywhere that believe in and serve the same Christ we proclaim we know. Yet, Jesus said:
"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
"Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
"And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity" (Matt 7:21-23).
Those Christ spoke of, who thus testified, had not the "testimony of Jesus," and will not "enter into the kingdom of heaven." Though they believed they pleased him with their "wonderful works," they were workers of "iniquity" according to Christ. These are the churchmen, not the prophets. These are those who are religious, but who know not the mind and will of God. They are "professors," and are all corrupt (JSH 1:19). Their creeds are an abomination to God (ibid.). They are led in masses to believe they are correct, but their hearts are far from God. They have entered in at the "broad gate," and many there be that go in thereat (Matt. 7:13). They belong to the telestial kingdom (D&C 76:99-101).
We should pause to consider what the Lord is saying here. How is it that those Christ spoke of believed they did "wonderful works" but did not "the will of the Father?" How is it that they thought they "prophesied in [his] name" but weren't found pleasing to God? How is it that they "cast out devils" but were called workers of "iniquity?" What is this "testimony of Jesus," and how does it differ from testifying that you have done "wonderful works" and saying "Lord, Lord."
Prophets and prophetesses are a different type of people than the religious who only profess to know Christ. They are unlike the masses. Historically, the prophets did not please the majority. Words like "anger," and "offended" are used in scripture to denote the reaction of the people to their message (3 Ne. 6:20-21; Matt. 15:12). "Mad," and "wild" are used by the religious to describe their demeanor (Mosiah 13:1; Moses 6:38). And yet, these are they who possessed the "testimony of Jesus." How could this be?
The testimony of Jesus is more than just your testimony. It is His testimony. It is you receiving Jesus' testimony to you. What is it that Jesus would testify of were he to give you his testimony? Do we begin to learn about this at all in the temple?
What is it about what Christ makes of these men that is so offensive to those who consider themselves God's chosen people? Why is Zion so rarely established, when God has given men opportunities to establish it?
Salvation requires revelation. This is not only true for every individual that is to be saved, but also for those who preach the gospel of salvation. It is vain for a man to attempt to minister without it (TPJS, p. 160). Prophets preach Christ's gospel, and minister to others with power because of the revelations they receive (ibid.). Prophets have the testimony of Jesus, and possess the gift of the spirit of prophecy. They encourage others to receive the same.
Our revelations indicate that there are those who claim to be apostles and prophets, but whose falseness and hypocrisy shall be uncovered when Zion is established (D&C 64:38-39). What does that mean? The Prophet taught that false prophets will testify of heaven and hell, but they have seen neither (ibid.). True prophets, who receive their message from God, always point to Christ and never set themselves up for a light unto others. They teach that unless men repent and come unto Christ, they are lost (1 Ne. 10:5-6).
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