2000-10-25 10:56:00
I was about to move forward with my book "The Gathering of Lights," but a talk with Susan changed my course. She thought that my book would be incomplete without a chapter on the "One Mighty and Strong" who is prophesied to come. She sees this subject as one of intense interest to Mormons in particular and possibly the list as a whole.
So, we have Susan to thank for me writing this which turned out to be a much longer chapter than I planned and will have to post it in several parts.
Even though I have included some Mormon scriptures, I have tried to make the presentation of popular interest as the prophesies explored here, if they have any validity at all, will affect the whole world.
Isaiah, Chapter 28, speaks to our time as much as perhaps any scripture in the Bible. It is indeed one of the most prophetic chapters in the Bible.
Before elaborating on this we must note that even though Isaiah's prophesies were given to the ancient Jews, most of them had correspondences to the far future such as the first and second coming of Christ and the Millennium (or Age of Peace), and the coming forth of additional revelations. Isaiah wrote in such a way that his words had a meaning to his contemporary Jews as well as speaking of events in the far future.
"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!" (Isaiah 28:1)
First we must note here that Isaiah is speaking to the "drunkards of Ephraim." There is no question that the Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) refer to themselves as "Ephraim," and there is no question that the Church acknowledges that the very next chapter of Isaiah 29 refers to our day or the coming forth of the Church and the Book of Mormon. Therefore, it would seem quite logical by their reasoning that Isaiah 28 would also refer to Ephraim of our day. In addition to this there are other religious groups who see America as the land of Joseph which would include his son Ephriam.
But wait! It calls Ephraim drunkards and Mormons and other purists don't drink! Therefore, it could not refer to them.
On the contrary, a drunkard in the scriptures does not always refer to one drunk with wine. David explains, "Thou hast showed thy people hard things; thou hast made us to drink the wine of astonishment." (Psalms 60:3) Another example is: "And I will tread down the people in my anger, and I will make them drunk in my fury...." (Isaiah 63:6) "They are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink. For the Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of a deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered." (Isaiah 29:9-10)
Thus we see that the "drunkards of Ephraim" refers to a people who error because the little doctrine that God did give them was too much for them to handle and they did stumble as a drunken man.
Concerning the words of Isaiah, the Mormon prophet Nephi said, "The words of Isaiah are not plain unto you, nevertheless they are plain unto all those that are filled with the spirit of prophecy." (2 Nephi 25:4)
Where is there an authorized prophet or apostle in the Churches who can declare that the words of Isaiah are plain unto him? On the contrary, most of them will admit they do not understand them.
Nephi also says, "In the days that the prophecies of Isaiah shall be fulfilled, men shall know of a surety, at the times when they shall come to pass." (2 Nephi 25:7)
Many of the prophesies referred to here by Nephi are approaching fulfillment and the prophesies of Isaiah will be expounded before the people in clearness so they can understand them and actually see them fulfilled. The same is true of the revelation written by John as Moroni said, "And then shall my revelations which I have caused to be written by my servant John be unfolded in the eyes of the people. Remember, when ye see these things, we shall know that the time is at hand that they shall be made manifest in very deed." (Ether 4:16)
The time is verily at hand when these scriptures will be unfolded in the eyes of the people, but not through "authorized channels."
Getting back to Isaiah 28, we see that the drunkards of Ephraim are called the "crown of pride." Being the crown of pride is referred to by Jesus as the day "when the Gentiles shall sin against my gospel and shall be lifted up in the pride of their hearts above all nations and above all the people of the whole earth." (3 Nephi 16: 10) In other words, out of all the peoples of the earth the Book of Mormon predicts that the "gentiles" (the people who receive the Book of Mormon) will be the crown of pride.
"Whose glorious beauty is a fading flower...." (Isaiah 28:1) The glorious beauty of the cities in the valleys established by American pioneers is becoming a fading flower. The rivers and the atmosphere is now becoming polluted above the whole earth and the beauty that was there is fading, not only physically, but spiritually. The inhabitants are no longer bright with the spirit of God and the day is not too far off when desolation could hit and the flower will fade more rapidly.
"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." (Isaiah 28:2)
Even though "The One Mighty and Strong" is mentioned here in the Bible, it almost seems that Mormon students have had a monopoly on this subject. I cannot recall it as a subject of any serious discussion by any other religion. In fact a thorough search of the Internet only turns up Mormons and ex-Mormons talking about the prophecy.
Perhaps it is because of the following Mormon scripture that it has become the topic of such speculation:
"And it shall come to pass that I, the Lord God, will send one Mighty and Strong, holding the scepter of power in his hand, clothed with light for a covering, whose mouth shall utter words, eternal words; while his bowels shall be a fountain of truth to set in order the house of God, and to arrange by lot the inheritances of the saints whose names are found, and the names of their fathers, and of their children, enrolled in the book of the law of God; while that man, who was called of God and appointed, that putteth forth his hand to steady the ark of God, shall fall by the shaft of death, like as a tree that is smitten by a vivid shaft of lightening."
[The Doctrine & Covenants (D&C) 85:7-8]
I once heard an LDS [Latter-Day Saint -- Mormon] lecturer declare: "If the authorities knew how many problems this scripture was going to cause them, they would have never let it in the Doctrine and Covenants." This may be true and the present day authorities would love to rip this section out of the book, but since it would bring criticism from the people, they decided to ignore it instead. Even if it were taken out of the D&C (which may possibly happen in the future), it would still be in Isaiah, and all the Bibles in the world cannot be changed.
The question in the minds of many is: Who is this "One Mighty and Strong" and how will we recognize him?
There are dozens of large egos roaming the country claiming to be this chosen one. Could any of these characters be this person?
The answer is, "No."
Why? Surely it has to be someone on the earth today as the new age does seem to be upon us.
The answer is that it is no one who is in the flesh on the earth today. Consider this; not even Jesus claimed to be Mighty and Strong, but instead humbly stated:
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise." (John 5:19)
"Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works." (John 14:10)
The works of Jesus were so great that if anyone should have earned the title of "Mighty and Strong" it should have been him, but instead he told us that of himself he "could do nothing," but the mighty works were credited to his Father.
Even so it is with us. Any mortal man or woman claiming to be Mighty and Strong is really "nothing" from a higher point of view for only the one true Spirit of God manifesting in us is Mighty and Strong.
The manifestation of the one Mighty and Strong is hinted at in the following verse:
"Therefore, let not your hearts faint, for I say not unto you as I said unto your fathers: Mine angel shall go up before you, but not my presence. But I say unto you: Mine angels shall go up before you, and also my presence, and in time ye shall possess the goodly land." (D&C 103:19-20)
What are we told here?
In the days of Moses Israel was redeemed by God sending his angel to go before the people, but when Zion is established something even greater will happen. In addition to having the assistance of angels the actual presence of God will be there.
Check your hearts and souls my friends and you shall have a witness that this presence of God is the One Mighty and Strong.
In the days of Jesus the presence of God descended upon Jesus and made him Mighty and Strong and yet once again the Presence will descend on whomever it chooses, be it one or more individuals, and the arm of the Lord will be revealed to the ends of the earth.
Whoever God chooses to work through will not be Mighty and Strong, but will be one of the weak things of the earth and "marred more than the sons of men" (Isaiah 52:14) as the scripture says.
Rather than looking for a Mighty and Strong individual in the flesh the scriptures instead tell us to look for someone who appears just the opposite, one who is considered insignificant, or one of the "weak things of the earth." God will then endow such who are humble and seeking light and truth with his Spirit which is indeed Mighty and Strong.
Here are some examples of this idea in the scriptures:
"And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them." (Ether 12:27)
"The weak things of the world shall come forth and break down the mighty and strong ones, that man should counsel his fellow man, neither trust in the arm of flesh." (D&C 1:19)
"Wherefore, I call upon the weak things of the world, those who are unlearned and despised, to thrash the nations by the power of my Spirit; And their arm shall be my arm, and I will be their shield and their buckler; I will gird up their loins, and they shall fight manfully for me; and their enemies shall be under their feet; and I will let fall the sword in their behalf, and by the fire of my indignation will I preserve them." (D&C 35:13-14)
That said, let us now examine the Biblical verse in more detail:
"Behold, the Lord hath a Mighty and Strong one...." (Isaiah 28:2)
The word "mighty" comes from the Hebrew CHAZAQ. This word implies much more than the English translation indicates. It indicates "might" in connection with the emotion similar to the indignation that Christ expressed when he chased the money changers out of the temple. His emotion was expressed as "The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up." (John 2:17)
Expressed in human terms the word indicates that the patience of God has run out and he is fed up with the those who claim to represent him and genuine indignation and anger is felt, and a mighty anger it is.
"Strong" comes from the Hebrew AMMIYTS. This word can mean strong or mighty in the normal English sense, but it could also be translated as a strong resolve or one-pointed focused attention.
The words "hath" and "one" are not in the Hebrew and are added by interpolation by the translators.
There are thus two more possible correct translations of this phrase: "The Lord has one who has strong indignation and resolute strength...."
It could also read as: "The Lord comes in his wrath and resolute strength...."
The next phrase supports this translation: "As a tempest of hail and a destroying storm, as a flood of mighty waters overflowing,..." (Isaiah 28:2)
This phrase is very descriptive of the anger of the Lord as expressed in the word "mighty" or the Hebrew CHAZAQ.
In other words God will come with emotions as strong as a "tempest of hail and a destroying storm."
Now even though the One Mighty and Strong is really the Spirit of God we know that his Spirit must manifest through people here on the earth and when his Spirit is placed in an individual, or individuals, and they are one in purpose with the will of God then the two or the three or the many become "One" Mighty and Strong.
The Mormon scriptures uses the standard phrase "One Mighty and Strong" (D&C 85:7-8) in their prophesy and most see its fulfillment as coming through a chosen individual with the support of other faithful.
If we go by Mormon scriptures, then it must be accepted that Joseph Smith is to be the initial representative of the One Mighty and Strong Spirit.
Since this person will set the house of God in order, then that must mean that it will be out of order. In fact the LDS church was not in order even in the days of Joseph. The Prophet said he planned "to organize the Church in its PROPER ORDER as soon as the (Nauvoo) temple is completed." [Documentary History of the Church (DHC) 4:604]
Unfortunately, he was killed before the temple was completed so he never had a chance to set the church in order as he had hoped, and no one since that time has claimed to have had any sensible revelation concerning the setting in order.
Joseph explained that the setting in order would be after the similitude of the parable of the wheat and the tares and that "the corruptions of the church are represented by the tares, which are sown by the enemy." He said that the tares will be removed when the wheat gets sufficiently strong.
A conclusive proof that Joseph was to be this chosen one is found in another revelation which tells us he will spend numerous lifetimes setting the church and kingdom in order. "And this shall be your business and mission ALL YOUR LIVES, to preside in council, AND SET IN ORDER ALL THE AFFAIRS OF THIS CHURCH AND KINGDOM." (D&C 90:16)
Since the scripture tells us that the One Mighty and Strong is to set the house of God in order and then a few chapters later we are told that this is Joseph's mission, then obviously he is the designated one.
Some who have studied this expect him to come back as a resurrected immortal being. Others expect him to be reincarnated.
Isaiah indicates that the representative of the Mighty and Strong Presence will be very much like Moses on a higher turn of the spiral. This corresponds to the Mormon scriptures which also tells us of one like Moses who is to come:
"Therefore, I will raise up unto my people a man, who shall lead them like as Moses led the children of Israel. For ye are the children of Israel, and of the seed of Abraham, and ye must needs be led out of bondage by power, and with a stretched-out arm. And as your fathers were led at the first, even so shall the redemption of Zion be." (D&C 103:16-18)
There are many indications that it is Joseph Smith who is to fulfill this prophesy. One of the clearest is a blessing given to him by his father. He said his father "anointed my head, and sealed upon me the blessings of Moses, to lead Israel in the latter days, even as Moses led them in days of old." (DHC 2:380)
It is interesting to note that there are probably over a hundred people of Mormon belief who have proclaimed themselves to be this one Mighty and Strong and hundreds more of other faiths who make similar claims to be a mighty prophet or messiah, or even God himself. It is also interesting to note that none of them are mighty and none of them have more than normal strength.
Some who believe themselves to be Joseph Smith come again have even changed their name to Joseph to be a more credible prophet.
Many others expect a messiah type prophet to bear the name of David because of numerous prophesies of one like David who is to come.
Speaking of a time when the Kingdom of God is established it is written:
"But they shall serve the LORD their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them." (Jeremiah 30:9)
Again it is written:
"Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will perform that good thing which I have promised unto the house of Israel and to the house of Judah. In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land.
"In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The LORD our righteousness. For thus saith the LORD; David shall never want a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel;" (Jeremiah 33:14-17)
In addition to this Joseph Smith predicted:
"Although David was a king, he never did obtain the spirit and power of Elijah and the fullness of the Priesthood; and the Priesthood that he received, and the throne and kingdom of David is to be taken from him and given to another by the name of David in the last days, raised up out of his lineage." (History of the Church, Vol. 6, Ch. 10, p. 253)
Because of these prophesies about David there are a number of would be Messiahs and Mighty and Strong Ones who have helped the prophecy along by changing their name to David.
We all remember David Koresh of the Branch Davidians. His real name was Vernon Wayne Howell. Such a name did not fit in with any prophecy, so Mr. Howell changed Vernon to David and Howell to Koresh. Koresh is Hebrew for Cyrus, an honored Persian king who is called a Messiah in the Old Testament.
So by changing his name from Vernon Wayne Howell to David Koresh what was he proclaiming to the world? Just that he was the King David who was to come and a messiah to boot.
Another who came to a similar end was Charles Bruce Longo. Mr. Longo not only thought he was the prophesied David and the One Mighty and Strong, but he also thought he was God himself. Somehow Charles Bruce Longo did not seem a name matching the exalted status he saw for himself so he changed his name to "Immanuel David."
The news report reads:
"On an August morning in 1978, Rachel David marched her seven children to an 11th-floor balcony of a Salt Lake City hotel. One by one, she threw or coaxed them over the railing. Then she jumped.
"Three days earlier, her husband, Immanuel David, who believed he was God, killed himself because the FBI was investigating his cult."
These are only two of many who have attempted to distort reality to make them themselves the center of prophesy.
The one who fulfills these prophesies may or may not bear the natural names of Joseph and David. It is even possible that one could fail and another could take his place, for if the time comes for certain events to happen then God will use whoever is available and is willing to serve.
-- End Of Chapter 34 --
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