Today's Favorite Verse: Isaiah 9:6

Today's Favorite Verse: Isaiah 9:6

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."

My mind is still on my Sunday School class today. We discussed Matthew 2, and Luke 2. The teacher put on the board the four witnesses of Christ's birth.

Shepherds (Luke 2:8-20)

Simeon (Luke 2:25-35)

Anna (Luke 2:36-28)

Wise Men (Matthew 2:1-12)

We were divided into four sections and each assigned a part. My group was the wise men. As I was reading I found something I never notice before. All the wise men were into physical things. They sought the sign of the new star. They were prepared to worship the King of the Jews with physical gifts. They did bow down and recognize the two year old child as the promised Messiah. Yet, they did not know the scriptures and had to go to Herod to inquire where to find the King of the Jews. Herod had to ask the chief priests and scribes and then told them Bethlehem. The wise men were worthy to be warned in a dream not to return to Herod, and they departed into their own country another way. Which means they didn't share their testimony with others.

As I came home from church thinking about what I had just discovered a thought came to me. The four witnesses of Christ's birth will be like the groups prepared for His return. Christ will appear four times, Adam-ondi-Ahman, New Jerusalem, old Jerusalem, and the world as a whole.

The Shepherds are like the Lord appearing at Adam-ondi-Ahman. Those that were officially called. The Lord will appear to Adam and his righteous posterity. These have been the shepherds through all dispensations that make an accounting of their stewardships and prepare the world for His second coming. (Daniel 7:9-14)

Simeon is like the Lord's appearance at the New Jerusalem. The righteous saints at His temple. (Doctrine and Covenants 57; 84; 97; 136)

Anna is like old Jerusalem. She is very old, I estimate around 106. She is like the Jews that have been waiting for the promised Messiah, those looking for redemption in Jerusalem.

Wise men is the world as a whole. This final appearance is the great and dreadful day of the Lord. Some are seeking signs but not fully spiritually prepared. Herod's reaction of trying to destroy the young child, is now the Lords turn to remove wicked men like him. I also like to think of Joseph being warned in a dream having fled with the young child and Mary before this destruction came. If we are spiritually prepared we should know of the Lord's coming before the rest of the world. I know which group I want to be in.

Day 2847