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> 7. JST-Mark 9 cross-ref. to Isaiah 66:24 |
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7. JST-Mark 9:40-48 Cross Reference to Isaiah 66:24
Joseph Smith's inspired rendering of Mark 9:43-48 (JST-Mark 9:40-48) is perhaps the most poignant scripture of all for verifying the need for a person's anchor to be foremost in the Lord, not man, whether he be kindred, spouse, best friend, hero, king, priest, or even a holy prophet. Jesus Christ is the only sure foundation upon which to build. There is no other name under heaven whereby salvation comes.
This point is obvious to most professing Christians, reflecting their most basic doctrine taught frequently and piously over their pulpits. However, in practice the trust in man and his institutions, especially religious, all too often takes precedence over trusting in the Lord. For some reason, we are easily blinded to our duplicity in this regard. "If the Lord be God, then worship him," needs to be our constant reminder.
In JST-Mark 9:40-48, the Savior addressed this situation, equating the hand, the foot, and the eye with the three categories of people we might tend to trust more than God. The hand is "thy brother," which could be rendered, "blood relations," as well as "spouse." The foot is "thy standard, by whom thou walkest," or, we might say, "closest friends and heroes." The final category -- and this is the one that hits devout sectarians the hardest, especially Mormons -- is the eye "which seeth for thee, him that is appointed to shew thee light." There can be no mistaking that this has reference to ecclesiastical leadership. We might also broaden this into the civil sector to apply to government leaders.
The point is that if any one of these should "offend," becoming a "transgressor," and "confess not and forsake not," then our obligation is to "cut them off" from us. It is better to go without that member than to go with them to hell. In other words, the Mormon dogma is flawed which says, "Even if your leader (e.g. the prophet) were to say something wrong and you were to do it, you would be blessed."(15)
The key, set in the middle of this discourse, lost from the King James Version but restored in the Joseph Smith Translation, is this:
Therefore, let every man stand or fall, by himself, and not for another, or not trusting another. Seek unto my Father, and it shall be done in that very moment what ye shall ask, if ye ask it in faith, believing that ye shall receive. -- JST-Mark 9:44,45
Otherwise, the Savior warns, we will be "cast into hell with thy brother, where their worm dieth not, and where the fire is not quenched."
It is in this concluding phraseology that the wording connection is made to Isaiah 66. Note the similarity: "...for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched." (66:24b.)
This is the ending
of the very last verse
of the very last chapter
of the book of books, Isaiah.
That has to count for something.
Adding more to the significance of this connection of wording, there is only one other place in the entire standard works that has wording similar to this. That is D&C 76:44, which also includes the phrase, "where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched."
The context of that verse is most sobering to consider, especially for Latter-day Saints, many of whom have entered into the highest covenants with the Lord, which have been ratified by the Holy Spirit of Promise, but whom can chose notwithstanding to then embrace Satan's program of compulsion and abrogation of personal responsibility (D&C 76:31,32(28-38)), which is at the heart of the "just follow the Prophet" infallible anti-Christ delusion.
"Through [Christ] all might be saved whom the Father had put into his power and made by him; who glorifies the Father, and saves all the works of his hands, except those sons of perdition who deny the Son after the Father has revealed him. Wherefore, he saves all except them--they shall go away into everlasting punishment, which is endless punishment, which is eternal punishment, to reign with the devil and his angels in eternity, where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched, which is their torment--and the end thereof, neither the place thereof, nor their torment, no man knows; neither was it revealed, neither is, neither will be revealed unto man, except to them who are made partakers thereof." (D&C 76:42-46.)
I will not attempt to elaborate in this present treatise the connection between the kingdom of the devil and what many stalwart members of the Mormon and other Christian Churches are promoting because of the condemnation that rests upon the people and the delusions which accompany that condemnation. This topic has been treated at length elsewhere, such as in the essay, "Will the Gentiles Also Look Beyond the Mark." All I will suggest at this point is that you take a look at the wording in D&C 76:28-38, especially verse 31, and compare that to the prophecies in Daniel 7 and Revelation 13. These speak of the rise of the international kingdom of the devil prior to and concurrent with the day of God's power, when the kingdoms of this world will become the kingdom of our God and of his Christ.
All Christians, who have become the sons and daughters of Christ through the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost, will not fare well if they jump ships and embrace the New World Order that is currently upon us. Devout Mormons especially will be culpable because of how much additional light they have had available to them by which to discern. It is a sobering reality that per capita, because of the level of spiritual growth attainable, the Mormon Church, by far, will also produce the most sons of perdition.
Probably one of the most ironic and potent ways that some will be lulled into denying Christ as the only sure foundation is that in their misdirected religious zeal, they praise their prophet and their church more than they praise the Lord, worshiping man with his tendency to unrighteous dominion rather than God, lifting up the anti-Christ. Having adopted and promulgated this subtle yet damning idolatry, it will be easy for them then to also adopt the international "new order" of the devil's kingdom, which is as old as Cain.
7a. Carrion
The first half of the key Isaiah 66:24 verse that links to JST-Mark 9:40-48 states: "And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcasses of the men that have transgressed against me." (Isa. 66:24a.) Note that the phrase "the men that have transgressed against me" is identical in concept (as well as having overlapping wording) that occurs twice in JST-Mark 9:42,46 "if he become a transgressor." Thus is another witnessing link between these two sources.
Note also the mentioning of "carcasses." Another word that might be used here, which would actually depict the scene even more accurately, would be
carrion(16): 1. A dead body; a carcass or corpse. 2. The dead and putrefying body or flesh of an animal; flesh so corrupted as to be unfit for food. 3. Figuratively, something corrupt, vile, loathsome or rotten.
For what it is worth,
"carrion" is pronounced the same as "Carry on!"(17)
That is, "all is well." "Carry on" has been this man's thematic statement since his maiden press conference on the wake of the death of his predecessor, when he was asked the question: "What will be your focus? What will be the theme of your administration?"(18)
One of the quorum of the Twelve's commentary about this press conference exudes,
"That simple answer -- crisp, clear, unpremeditated, inspiring -- says much about our new prophet, seer, and revelator. `Carry on' is a familiar phrase taken from the text of a hymn.... `Firm as the mountains around us'! [a debatable point in coming cataclysms] ...`Stalwart and brave we stand'! Where? `On the rock our fathers planted For us in this goodly land. ...Carry on, carry on, carry on!' (Hymns, 1985, no. 255)(19)
What ever happened to the rock of Jesus Christ, unchangeable and everlasting?
The rock of the tradition of our fathers, though it includes significant mention "of faith in our living God,"(20) does not focus primarily on that. Marvelous though it has been for the preparatory purposes it was meant to serve, these traditions as a whole may not prove so firm in the coming days.
In light of our present theme about anti-Christs and temples, these lyrics from the second verse of this hymn are ominous.
We'll build on the rock they planted A palace to the King.Into its shining corridors, Our songs of praise we'll bring.
Speaking of tradition and building on rocks, especially in this year of commemorating the 150th year since the Saints arrived in the Salt Lake Valley, the history behind the location of Solomon's temple is highly relevant. The site had once been Ornan the Jebusite's threshing floor, where the Lord appeared to David.(21) This appearance came after a very humbled David bowed himself before the Lord.
He had disobeyed the Lord's command not the number the people. The Lord then gave him three choices: 1) famine for three years, 2) war in which his enemies prevail for three months, or 3) pestilence for three days. Choosing the third option, David was then astonished to see 70,000 of the elders of Israel die (not to mention the women and children). This is a staggering number even in today's terms. That is two foot-ball stadiums chuck full.
Why would the Lord be so harsh for something so seemingly insignificant as numbering the people? We do that all the time.
That is the point.
A focus on numbers causes the people to falsely equate righteousness and providence with growth of the institution, ironically measured by such things as the number of temples being built. The focus should be on the quality of our relationship with the Lord. When numbers become the indicator, then popularity rather than principle becomes the primary tool. In establishing a policy to bring the church "out of obscurity,"(22) being a peculiar people becomes obscured. The rock of Christ is replaced by the "rock our fathers planted."
7b. If Thine Eye
Offend Thee
JST-Mark 9:46 speaks of the "eye which seeth for thee, him that is appointed to watch over thee to show thee light," if he "become a transgressor," the Savior's admonition is to "pluck him out." (Compare D&C 107:83.) There is nothing passive or irresponsible about that. Contrast that with the abominable Mormon heresy on infallibility:
The Lord will never permit me or any other man who stands as President of this Church to lead you astray. It is not in the programme. It is not in the mind of God. If I were to attempt that, the Lord would remove me out of my place, and so He will any other man who attempts to lead the children of men astray from the oracles of God and from their duty.(23)
These statements are mutually exclusive. One was spoken by the Savior, the wording of which was restored by Joseph Smith. The other was uttered by a prophet/president trying to pacify his fold in the context of their giving in to extreme political pressure to make amendments to fundamental beliefs and practices, in order to mollify an enraged nation against this beleaguered people. They were tired of persecution and were ready to embark on the path of popularity. The decisions of this era marked a significant landmark in the beginning of the end.(24)
The prophet is to testify of Christ. But when he allows himself to become god for the people, not fostering their birthright to establish their own foundation on Christ without his check (though his guidance is always welcome), he becomes anti-Christ, and will be removed out of his place -- if not through the agency of the people through the systems that have been revealed,(25) then, yes, by God -- at the last possible moment, according to the desires of the people to abrogate their responsibility. Those involved in creating this environment of idolatry "reject the stone upon which they might build and have safe foundation." (Jacob 4:15.) There is no other way nor means whereby man might be saved except it be through Jesus Christ.
Those who remain after the purgings and have not been destroyed, whose hearts are broken, and whose spirits are contrite, will finally realize this, and a mighty change will come upon these people as a whole. No longer will they be considered Gentiles, for as a people they will have been transformed into Israel, on a level never seen before on earth. "This stone shall become the great, and the last, and the only sure foundation, upon which the Jews [Israelites] can build." (Jacob 4:16.)
Therefore, through the folly of these latter-day chosen people of God will come a grand and glorious triumph, just as came through the Jews rejection of the Messiah at his first coming. The Messianic expectation of all ages will be fulfilled.
For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all. O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! -- Romans 11:32,33
Ed. Note: See Words around Provo in the English Dictionary.
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Endnotes
15. 15 Doctrine and Covenants; Declaration 1.
16. 16 Webster's New International Dictionary, 2nd Ed., Unabridged; 1959.
17. 17 A word shortly after "carrion" in the dictionary is carriwitchet: "An absurd question intended to be facetious; also, a play on words.
18. 18 Ensign of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; June 1995, p. 2.
19. 19 Ibid.
20. 20 Hymns, 1985, no. 255.
21. 21 II Chronicles 3:1.
22. 22 Title of the twenty-fifth and final chapter of The Biography of Gordon B. Hinckley.
23. 23 D&C-Declaration 1. Taken from the Sixty-first Semiannual General Conference of the Church, Monday, October 6, 1890, Salt Lake City, Utah. Reported in Deseret Evening News, October 11, 1890, p. 2. Later adopted as cannon -- the last official "revelation" besides Declaration 2, though no mention is made of the voice of God. What a fittingly paradoxical coincidence!
24. 24 My making of this statement should not be construed as a desire on my part to see the abandoned practice of polygamy restored. I state this as my personal, fallible, opinion. I expect that the correct order of things will see one man paired with one woman. If it is otherwise, I am confident the validity will be clear and the charity profound. Eve has been denigrated enough. Unrighteous dominion will be incompatible with God's kingdom and the people of changed hearts who dwell therein.
25. 25 See the revelations on common consent (D&C 20:32-34,65,67; 124:144; 26:2; 28:13), and the revelation about judging the presiding high priest/prophet/president:
There is not any person belonging to the church who is exempt from this council of the church. And inasmuch as a President of the High Priesthood shall transgress, he shall be had in remembrance before the common council of the church, who shall be assisted by twelve counselors of the High Priesthood; and their decision upon his head shall be an end of controversy concerning him. (D&C 107:83, emphasis added. See also D&C 64:37-40; 114:2.)
