Weekly E-mail Reminder

	HIDDEN LDS/JEWISH INSIGHTS #46 New Testament Gospel Doctrine Supplement by Daniel Rona Weekly E-mail Reminder “HE WILL DWELL WITH THEM AND THEY SHALL BE HIS PEOPLE” Revelation 5–6; 19–22 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (1.) ISRAEL DWELLING AS A TEMPLE SOCIETY: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- See the Lord’s people as a "temple society," a "Zion" as they lived in the wilderness with three "circles" of the camp. Eleven tribes were on the outside circle. They circled the priestly Levites, who made a ring around the Lord’s "presence," his tabernacle. Israel’s dwelling centered on the Lord. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (2.) TEMPLE REDUCED TO A HOLY PLACE WITH THREE COURTYARDS: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- As Israel wandered from unity that a temple society required, a system of capital cities began to develop. The capital city had the tabernacle with three temple courtyards large enough to handle tens of thousands of worthy Israelites to teach and remind them of ordinances that still applied to the whole Zion society. Only worthy members were able to be brought through the priestly courtyard to participate in ordinances and sacrifices that occurred in the higher priestly part of the temple with its altar in front of the "Holy of Holies." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (3.) TEMPLE COURTYARDS CHANGED TO SACRED TEMPLE BUILDINGS: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- They kept a telestial, terrestrial, and celestial identity and instructions are given to prepare the people to become a Zion society again. Its priestly environment band ordinances are designed to bring us back into the Lord’s presence not only in the life to come but in the present. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (4.) A RETURN TO TEMPLE CITIES AND A TEMPLE SOCIETY: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- We will once again have two capital cities, the Lord’s cities of new and old Jerusalem. "It is ordained that in Zion . . . and in Jerusalem . . . shall be the places for your baptisms of your dead." (D & C 124:35) ". . . should be built up again, and become a holy city of the Lord . . ." (Ether 13:5) There is a parallel of old Zion and new Zion. The Lord will come and He will dwell in his cities. That means that the highest degree of sanctity and cleanliness must exist in these cities. It is the same sacredness that any temple building requires. It will require us to be a "temple society." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (5.) TWO HEADQUARTERS: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Now there are two cites spoken of here . . . I shall say with brevity, that there is a New Jerusalem to be established on this continent, and also Jerusalem shall be rebuilt on the eastern continent (see Book of Mormon, Ether 13:1-12)" (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Section Two 1834-37 p.86) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (6.) SIGNS OF THE TIMES, A PREPARATION: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The conflicts that precede this great era are a refining fire. We are fortunate to have prophetic indications so that we can prepare ourselves for the future. As for the land of Israel and the city of Jerusalem, there are specific signs and even time frames to guide us through future peril. As some see it, a five-phase era brings us to and through the "Armageddon" scenario. (1) The world turns against Israel. Hasn’t the UN practiced this already? (2) Armies of 200,000,000 gather against Israel - two prophets hold them back for three-and-a-half years. (They will have political, military as well as spiritual influence.) (3) Prophets killed, lie dead three and a Half Days: A great holocaust ensues where the prophets will lie dead in the streets for three-and-a-half days. (One third of the population of Israel as well as two thirds of the population of Jerusalem perishes.) (4) Heavenly manifestation and deliverance follow: The Mount of Olives cleaves in two, the besieged of Jerusalem are freed. (5) A great healing begins: It will take seven months to bury the dead and the instruments of war will provide seven years of fuel for the survivors. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (7.) SAFETY THROUGH SPIRITUAL STRENGTH: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The inspiration that carries us through all of the Signs of the Times comes from the worthiness to dwell with our God, here and now. In picturing the "city temple" scene from our own home in Jerusalem, my sweetheart, Marilyn, said to me, "Daniel, that means you’ll have to have a temple recommend to carry out the trash!" Our goal is to make our home worthy of being part of a temple city, always open to welcome our Savior.
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