The Second Coming

ofJesus Christ

March 29, 2009

Quick Overview

• Apostasy• Restoration• Gathering of Israel• Great Wickedness• Tribulation• Old/New Jerusalem• Temples• Constitution

• Wicked/Righteous• Adam-ondi-Ahman• Armageddon• Signs in Heaven• Angels• Second Coming• Millennium• New Heaven, Earth

What to Look For

“These things are the things that ye must look for; and, speaking after the manner of the Lord, they are now nigh at hand, and in a time to come, even in the day of the coming of the Son of Man.” —D&C 63:53

Apostasy

• After the death of the apostles at the time of Christ, the Church fell away and the fulness of the gospel was lost.

• As Paul said of the Second Coming, “that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first.” (2 Thessalonians 2:1-4.)

• He also said that "after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you" (Acts 20:29-30), meaning those who would lead the Church astray through wickedness.

“Perilous Times”

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be...”

• Lovers of their own selves• Covetous• Boasters• Proud• Blasphemers• Disobedient to parents• Unthankful• Unholy• Without natural affection• Trucebreakers• False accusers• Incontinent [lacking self-restraint]

• Fierce• Despisers of those that are good• Traitors• Heady [willful, rash]• Highminded• Lovers of pleasures more than

lovers of God• Having a form of godliness, but

denying the power thereof ...• Led away by divers [various] lusts• Ever learning, and never able to

come to the knowledge of the truth

“...from such turn away.” —1 Tim. 3:1–7

Restoration

• As promised, there is a “restitution of all things” (Acts 3:19-21).

• In due season, all the priesthood, keys, and ordinances, including temple ordinances, were restored.

• Many keys restored between 1829 and 1842.

Gathering of Israel

• Since 1830, over a million missionaries have been sent out to gather the elect into the Church—those who hear the Lord’s voice and do not harden their hearts.

• The Lord calls it “the gathering of mine elect.” (D&C 29:7.)

Great Wickedness, Tribulation

• The world is witnessing wars and rumors of wars (D&C 45:26; 63:33).

• Earthquakes (D&C 88:89).• Tempests or storms (D&C 43:25).• Waves of the sea (D&C 88:90).• Great hailstorm (D&C 29:16).• Plague, pestilence or desolating

sickness (D&C 5:19; D&C 45:31).

Old and New Jerusalem

• The old city of Jerusalem will be restored (Ether 13:5).

• The New Jerusalem will be built on the American continent (D&C 45:66, Articles of Faith 13).

Temples

• “We are living in the greatest era of temple building ever witnessed” (Gordon B. Hinckley, Ensign, Nov. 1985, 54).

• 1979: 17 operating temples.• 2009: 129 operating temples with

17 planned, announced, or under construction (146 total).

The US Constitution

• Joseph Smith, on July 19, 1840, said that the Constitution of the United States will be on the brink of ruin, but will be born away from the verge of destruction.

• Reported by Eliza R. Snow, Parley P. Pratt, Orson Hyde, Brigham Young, and others.

Wicked and Righteous

• The righteous will be gathered at Zion, the New Jerusalem.

• All other peoples will be at war with one another, will be afraid to come against the people of Zion (D&C 45:63-75).

• There will be an entire separation of the wicked and righteous (D&C 63:54).

Two Witnesses

• “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; see Rev. 11:3.

Adam-ondi-Ahman

• Possible meaning, “Adam before God.”• High priests and others of Adam's

righteous posterity will gather in the valley of Adam-ondi-Ahman (D&C 116), previous to the Second Coming of Christ.

• Gathering like the one that took place there three years previous to the death of Adam (D&C 107:53-57).

Battle of Armageddon

• All nations will be gathered in a battlein the valley of Megiddo in Palestinefor a great battle against the Jews inIsrael and Jerusalem.

• Joel 3; Zechariah 12; Revelation 16.• Immediate precursor of actual

Second Coming.

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Signs in Heaven

• Among other signs, the sun will refuse its shining.

• The moon will be “turned into blood.”

• Stars will fall from heaven, cast down like “untimely figs” (Rev. 6:13).

• Isaiah 13:10; D&C 133:49.

Angels in Heaven

• Seven angels will announce events related to the coming of Christ (D&C 88:92-106).

• A great sign in heaven (D&C 88:93).

• Silence for half an hour, then the face of the Lord will be unveiled (Rev. 8:1; D&C 88:95).

Second Coming

• People on the earth will think Christ is a comet or a planet (History of the Church 5:337).

• A light will shine from the east to the west (Joseph Smith-Matthew 1:26).

• Christ will descend—dressed in red (Isaiah 63:2; D&C 133:48)—with ten thousands of His saints (Jude 1:14).

• Saints on earth, living and the dead, caught up to meet Him (1 Thes. 4:17; D&C 88:96-98; D&C 109:75).

Second Coming [cont.]

• There will be a great earthquake as the Lord rests His foot upon the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem (Zechariah 14:4; D&C 45:48).

• The mount will split in two, and the people under siege in Jerusalem will escape through this pass.

• Jews will ask what are the wounds in His hands and His feet, and then weep and lament (Zechariah 13:6; D&C 45:51-53).

Second Coming [cont.]

• The wicked will plead for the rocks to fall upon them (Hosea 10:8; Luke 23:30; Revelation 6:16).

• The wicked will be utterly destroyed, but those living a terrestrial or celestial law will be preserved.

• The world as we know it will end, but the earth will continue to stand.

Great Millennium

• Christ will usher in a thousand years of peace (D&C 43:30).

• Satan will be bound (Revelation 20:2; D&C 43:31; D&C 45:55; D&C 88:21).

• Satan have no power because of the righteousness of the people (1 Nephi 22:26).

New Heaven and Earth

• After the thousand years, Satan will be loosed for a little season with his armies (D&C 29:22; D&C 88:111).

• Will fight the saints once more in the battle of the Great God (D&C 88:114).

• Satan and his armies will be utterly defeated by Michael (Adam) and his armies (D&C 88:115).

New Heaven and Earth [cont.]

• Then the old earth will pass away and there will be a new heaven and a new earth (Ether 13:9; D&C 29:23-24).

• The earth will be a sea of glass and fire (D&C 77:1; D&C 130:7), a celestial kingdom to the worthy inhabitants of the earth.

• Earth to become a great Urim and Thummim to all who dwell on it (D&C 130:8-10).

“A Thief in the Night”

• We will all be surprised, as Jesus will come as a “thief in the night” (1 Thes. 5:2; 2 Peter 3:10; D&C 45:19.)

• The Second Coming will shock the world, but not the faithful saints.

• Be prepared and ye shall not fear (D&C 38:30).

“And verily, verily, I say unto you, I come quickly. I am your Lord and your

Redeemer.” (D&C 34:12.)

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