Today's Favorite Verse: Revelation 9:4
"And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads."
This chapter continues with the last three angels sounding their trumpets and wo's being pour out upon the wicked. I once again tried to find where should I be? Then I spotted where the righteous are, they have the seal of God in their foreheads. Which I will take to mean their focus and aim is to do what is pleasing to God. They have the Holy Spirit of Promise. They are not focused on the world and its destruction and the great fear coming upon man, for what is prophesied will come to pass. The focus is on the Lord's second coming. We are taking the Spirit as our guide for both physical and spiritual protection. Yes, we may get caught up in events as the wicked are destroyed, but that is not the destruction of our souls. It really doesn't matter which side of the veil we are one when the Lord appears again. The difference is in what direction is our focus.
"The Apostle John saw that certain calamities preceding the Second Coming would not affect all the earth or its inhabitants, “but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads” (Revelation 9:4). This corresponds with other scriptural promises that in the last days, those who are faithful will ultimately be protected (see 1 Nephi 22:17–19; D&C 115:5–6). President Gordon B. Hinckley (1910–2008) emphasized that spiritual preparation should be our first priority when seeking protection from the calamities of the last days:
“Someone has said it was not raining when Noah built the ark. But he built it, and the rains came.
“The Lord has said, ‘If ye are prepared ye shall not fear’ (D&C 38:30).
“The primary preparation is also set forth in the Doctrine and Covenants, wherein it says, ‘Wherefore, stand ye in holy places, and be not moved, until the day of the Lord come’ (D&C 87:8). …
“We can so live that we can call upon the Lord for His protection and guidance. This is a first priority. We cannot expect His help if we are unwilling to keep His commandments” (“If Ye Are Prepared Ye Shall Not Fear,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2005, 62).
Though the Lord promises protection to the righteous in the last days, the Prophet Joseph Smith clarified that some who are righteous may lose their lives in the trials and calamities of the last days: “[I] explained concerning the coming of the Son of Man; also that it is a false idea that the Saints will escape all the judgments, whilst the wicked suffer; for all flesh is subject to suffer, and ‘the righteous shall hardly escape’ [see D&C 63:34]; still many of the Saints will escape, for the just shall live by faith [see Habakkuk 2:4]; yet many of the righteous shall fall a prey to disease, to pestilence, etc., by reason of the weakness of the flesh, and yet be saved in the Kingdom of God” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith [2007], 253)."
(New Testament Student Manual, Chapter 54: Revelation 4-11, "Revelation 9:4 The Righteous Will Be Protected")
No comments:
Post a Comment