Azazel -- One Mighty and Strong

by
Patrick Luke
James Luke

Contact:
email the Luke Family
Ground Mail:
Box 395, Kingston, UT 84743

No one has ever looked at ancient Hebrew traditions to find what events will transpire in the last days. We know very little of the mission of the ‘One Mighty and Strong’ from conventional sources. A letter written by Joseph Smith to W.W. Phelps became the 85 section of the Doctrine and Covenants. As early as 1905, Joseph F. Smith, John Winder, and Anton Lund published a statement in which they concluded the issue is CLOSED, or it MAY BE a future event, or WILL COME in the future. Today, they simply don’t talk about the ‘One Mighty and Strong’, and when they do they attribute the title to Joseph Smith.

Imposters have come claiming to be the ‘One Mighty and Strong’.

There have arisen from time to time men of doubtful intelligence who have laid claim to be the ‘One Mighty and Strong’ (CHMR 1:350)

It has been used by vain and foolish men to bolster up their vagaries of speculation, and in some cases their pretensions to great power and high positions they were to attain in the Church (Des. News, Nov 13, 1905)

Ogden Kraut claims over 50 people claiming to be the ‘One Mighty and Strong’ or the ‘Keeper of the Keys’ have approached him. These people claim to be the one to set the Church in order as well as the government. They sometimes have a following of people and other times they act independently.

Many have decided the ‘One Mighty and Strong’ has already lived and fulfilled his mission. W.W. Phelps claimed Adam was the ‘One Mighty and Strong’. G.D. Cole presented an argument that Jesus is the ‘One Mighty and Strong’. Cole wrote twenty columns in the Evening and Morning Star on the subject. Others have claimed John the Baptist, Brigham Young, An Indian Prophet, James Strong, James Brighouse, Samuel Eastman, Paul Feil, Leroy Wilson, John Tanner Clark, Benjamin LaBaron, Joel LeBaron, John Bryant, Elden Hollis, Sherman Russell Lloyd, Frank Miller, Jasper No. 7, Art Bulla, Alonzo Langford and others were or are the ‘One Mighty and Strong’. All these claims have one thing in common, they fail to fulfill the prophecies of the ‘One Mighty and Strong’.

Believers like to think salvation came directly from Christ. The other night Billy Gram was on the T.V. and people were coming down from the audience to be saved because Jesus hears and forgives those who move themselves from point A to B. I looked in the dictionary for the word saved: the first definition was ‘to deliver from sin.’ All Christianity and the other major religions in the world claim the Word of God will eventually save them. They trust in the word as if their future depended upon it.

They leave out the role of the ‘One Mighty and Strong’, plainly taught in Hebrew tradition. The prophecy of Christ would not have transpired without the free consent of the savior. The flood would not have happened without Noah. The Book of Mormon could never have occurred without Joseph Smith. Likewise the redemption of Zion, the doorway to salvation, will not happen without the one Mighty and Strong. Scriptures only prophecy future events, scriptures by themselves do not bring about the future. Salvation and the mission of the ‘One Mighty and Strong’ are intrinsically linked as I will show.

By way of comparison look at the way the Jews rejected Christ. Jesus did so many miracles his fame extended past Rome. No one dared to imprison him for fear of the people. Today the Jews still reject him even if the calendar is determined from his birth. They cannot debate against the Old Testament but they reject the New Testament.

Author Unknown (change in the ending of the poem)

The Jews remember the Talmud and forgot the savior. The Christians remember Christ and forget the Book of Mormon. The Latter Day Saints Remember Joseph and forget the one ‘Mighty and Strong’. Apparently, preventing people from repenting is the goal of wicked.

What questions do I address in this pamphlet?

We must have the correct information so that we might be looking to the coming of Jesus Christ; it is a message of both the Bible and the Book of Mormon. The Christians and the Jews likewise believe. Lately, there have been books written called ‘Left behind’, ‘Apocalypse’, ‘Armageddon’, and others. We as a people are beginning to be afraid because we can see the end coming close. I am not writing of the psychology of people or trying to paint a rosy picture of the future. I am concerned with the overall message of all the scriptures: The Book of Mormon and the Bible. I will use the Holy Scriptures commonly called the Joseph Smith translation to predict the future day; I will also draw on ancient customs previously overlooked by others.

The Fundamentalists and the official Church doctrine differ. The Fundamentalists point to a quote by Brigham Young in 1867 supporting the idea a messenger or a leader would be raised up.

“Brethren, this Church will be led onto the very brink of hell by the leaders of this people, then God will raise up the one “Mighty and Strong” spoken of in the 85^th Section of the Doctrine & Covenants to save and redeem this Church.”

Joshua Jones diary

The official announcement of 1905 concerning D&C 85 indicates if the one “Mighty and Strong” is a future event then the Latter-day saints are to know:

That he will be a future bishop of the Church who will be with the saints in Zion, Jackson County Missouri, when the Lord shall establish them in that land… His coming will not be the result of a wild, erratic movement…

(Des. News, Nov. 13, 1905, Mess. of First Pres. 4:108-120)

Fundamentalists claim setting the house of God in order will require the power and authority of a higher office then that of a bishop. The quote by Brigham Young at the Bowery House is descriptive of the fundamentalists and early church teachings. Apostle Orson Pratt, about two years after the death of Brigham Young, made a public statement in which he said:

In fact, until 1921 the Doctrine and Covenants had a footnote to the words “One Mighty and Strong” in section 85 stating “a future messenger”. This was added by Orson Pratt with official Church approval at the time, and remained in the Doctrine and Covenants for over 40 years.

The one “Mighty and Strong” is a future event. A few have claimed the one Mighty and Strong was Joseph Smith or Brigham Young. The statement that the one ‘Mighty and Strong’ is not future is frivolous. Official doctrine indicates it is a future event. However, Max Anderson questions the meaning of certain key words in section 85:

Fundamentalists have repeatedly claimed that the “House of God” as referred to specifically in the revelation in question included the whole church, and therefore a bishop would not be qualified for such a task…(Max Anderson statement)

Max Anderson believes a future messenger will come, but he does not believe he will come to set the whole church in order. He believes the one ‘Mighty and Strong’ will function as a bishop in the church without challenging the church leadership. His beliefs reflect the accepted church doctrine.

Dr. Sidney Sperry wrote a statement and considered the matter closed because no one came to take over the responsibility of Bishop Partridge. He further explains when one comes acting in his proper role as a bishop, the one “Mighty and Strong” will divide the inheritances to the faithful. (D&C Compendium, Sperry, p. 412-413)

No section of the D&C or any of the scriptures has produced so much speculation. No section is more damaging to Latter Day Saint doctrine. Theologians say the scripture refers only to Jackson County Missouri and bishop Partridge, even when the section is about the entire House of God. Fundamentalists claim the scripture refers to the future even when everything seems to be normal and there is little they can see which needs to be put in order. The Church is not in financial bondage as it was in president Grants time. Besides accepting the fashions of Babylon they have very little to point at.

Avraham Gileadi and Ludlow both talk of a Latter Day deliverer, the kind envisioned by the Fundamentalists. The one “Mighty and Strong” may have other names and other responsibilities besides dividing by lot the inheritances of the saints. By comparing the other scriptures and their messages then you can arrive at a new understanding of future events. Even specific dates can be arrived at.

The one “Mighty and Strong” may have other names. He is often confused with Christ, Joseph Smith, Partridge, and Satan. The doctrine of the one “Mighty and Strong” is not new; it was taught in Isaiah and through out the Old Testament. Because the doctrine was confusing people have thought the ancient traditions were describing Satan or Christ when they were referring to the one “Mighty and Strong”. Even the name “Might and Strong” has a reference in Isaiah 28:2-3.

The role the one “Mighty and Strong” has played through time especially in the pre-existence sets him apart as a leader of the Gentiles. They who fought valiantly before this earth life were given important roles in this life. They were not necessarily born into rich and powerful families. But they were born into families of critical importance to overcome Satan. The time and place could be anywhere according to God’s wisdom. The righteous ones were born into Latter Day Saint families, or perhaps they are born into good families located strategically to balance out the powers of evil around the world. The scriptures teach the house of Israel is scattered among all nations of the world.

Joseph Smith taught of the pre-existence, unknown to him other books also taught the same doctrine. The books of Abraham were virtually unknown in Joseph Smiths day. They teach the valiant and noble ones were selected before this earth life. In the pre-existence, like Abraham there were many noble and great ones.

These books of Abraham confirm the Pearl of Great Price. Together they teach division occurred in the pre-existence, so God knew beforehand who would be righteous and who would not. Azazel was shown to Abraham to be a leader of the people and a descendant of Abraham.

The one “Mighty and Strong” also known as Azazel was righteous and intelligent. One of the most important qualities to possess is intelligence. Because Satan was the most intelligent, he became the leader of the rebellious spirits. One third of the hosts of heaven wanted no part in the plan of salvation. They believed freedom should be controlled here on earth. Satan believed and promoted an individual centered government. Peoples most private concerns, goals, and desires would be handled by the central government. Because the one “Mighty and Strong” was also intelligent he challenged and corrected Satan. Satan and his hosts were cast out of heaven. Only those who were intelligent and righteous became the noble and great ones.

Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the Lord; awake, as in the ancient days, in the generations of old. Art thou not it that hath cut Rahab, and wounded the dragon?

(Isaiah 51:9)

This scripture describes the war in heaven when Satan and his hosts were called the dragon. Rahab refers to the prostitute who betrayed the city when Joshua and the children of Israel went to spy out the city. Taken in this context, Rahab refers to those who were in favor of Satan’ plan in the pre-existence. Certain Sons of Perdition decided Satan would defeat God so they chose to be born where they could be more useful. Rahab was not a part of the Children of Israel, yet she benefited because of them. The one “Mighty and Strong” cut Rahab and wounded the dragon. Satan’ great seat of power in the pre-existence was challenged and the one “Mighty and Strong” was responsible for helping to win the war in heaven.

I don’t believe the task of casting Satan and his Hosts out of heaven was simple. They had to be identified as evil. They were liars and cunning persecutors. Simply separating them by distance would hardly accomplish anything. Satan has freedom to communicate with Job and God. He would still have freedom if he were cast onto earth. Only by convincing people to have no respect for Satan would he be cast out of heaven. The one “Mighty and Strong” was intelligent enough to teach the hosts of heaven Satan was actually weak and could be defeated. They chose to be born with the hope of freeing themselves of persecution. The separation was spiritual before it was literal.

Satan taught he could redeem mankind by force. The loss of freedom would have taken place at the level of government. In Jewish sacrifices, the first fruit offerings, are given for the individual and others are given for the nation. Because a nation can sin, causing all its people to sin, an offering to the Lord was necessary. Acknowledging the sin is the first step the nation of Israel was required to make. The offering made for both the individual and nation shared meaning in that both constituted an acknowledgement of Israel’s indebtedness to God. Obviously, Satan would have been the ruler leading the government causing people to sin.

How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!

For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north;

I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most High.

Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

If the one “Mighty and Strong” was responsible for the partial defeat of Satan and his hosts he could be responsible for the complete defeat of Satan for a thousand years. God alone understood his potential from all that took place in the pre-existence. He became a trusted leader and teacher, especially to the house of Israel who would always follow Christ. The plan of salvation in the pre-existence was a perfect plan. He was the blessed one to conquer evil. His name was Azazel as I will show.

The one “Mighty and Strong” certainly qualified for a difficult mission. With Gods help it was prophesied he would do much good. Besides being the one to cast down the pride of Ephraim he was to set the government in order. And according to Brigham Young, he was to set the Church in order. Those who repented are to be gathered out of all nations. He was born at a critical time in a strategic place to fulfill a great mission.

The one “Mighty and Strong” was the angel of the Lord who led the children of Israel out of bondage. The Lord said to Moses He could not lead the children of Israel out personally because of their wickedness. He therefore, sent an angel who led them and was responsible for them when they ceased to be a nation.

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.

D&C 103:19

Behold, I send an angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared.

Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions; for my name is in him.

Exodus 23:20-21

The term for my name is in him refers to salvation. Christ uses his name to depict a time when people will repent of their sins. In the Book of Mormon they never accepted any one for baptism unless they had taken upon themselves the name of Christ. Salvation is linked to his name. The apostle Peter wrote that "there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). The one “Mighty and Strong” was the angel responsible for leading the children of Israel out of bondage because he was also given the name leading people to repentance. The one “Mighty and Strong” was given the name and Moses taught the children of Israel of his importance.

In Jewish customs, Yom Kippur, the Day of the Atonement, represents a time in the last days when the sins of people will be removed entirely through the name of God. Two goats are used in the ceremony of Yom Kippur. The high priest selected two goats without blemish. The high priest would first bathe and then put on white undergarments and a white tunic; he would not wear the ceremonial insignia of the high priest. The high priest went to the eastern side of the court in front of the Temple. Facing him were two identical goats. Nearby was a lottery box especially designed for this ceremony. In the box were two gold tablets (lots). One bore the name “For God,” the other “For azazel” (the scapegoat). The high priest shook the box and withdrew the tablets, putting one tablet in front of each goat. The goat labeled “for God” was sacrificed and the priest blessed the holy of holies using the blood from the first goat. The Levitical high priest took the blood of one of the goats (which represented the blood of Christ) into the Holy of Holies. The children of Israel assumed the blood was an offering to God. The priest then came back out of the Holy of Holies and "layed both his hands on the head of the live goat, [and] confessed over it all the iniquities of the children of Israel." Afterward, all the blood was cleaned, Azazel, the second goat, was then driven into the desert. After putting the sins of Israel on the head of the Azazel goat, he sent the goat "away into the wilderness by the hand of a suitable man”. This goat symbolically carried away the sins of the people. “The goat shall bear on itself all their iniquities to an uninhabited land; and he shall release the goat in the wilderness" (Leviticus 16:21, 22)

In Leviticus, the first lot said, "La YHVH" For (or to) Lord. The second lot said, "La Azazel" for (or to) the Azazel. (Leviticus 16:8) “And Aaron will caste two lots upon two goats, one for YHVH and the other for Azazel”. Two parts were included in salvation: The first was a new understanding and respect for the Lord. The second was forgetting and removing the sin entirely. When done correctly the sin could be overcome (removed) and a less offensive understanding of God could be adopted by the sinner.

Azazel: the “goat of separation” carried off all the sins of everyone who repented. Azazel did not carry off all the sins of all people. Because the goat was taken to a wilderness, the goat could not transfer the sins of Israel onto others it might come into contact with. The closest translation of the word is literally "dismissal," or "the one to be sent away,". Azazel, the goat was driven into the wilderness (at that time, the Sinai, later Judean wilderness) for the purpose of getting rid of the sins. The Jewish ceremony teaches sins are fluid in nature. If a fly landed on the high priest he was considered unclean. If he touched something unclean he was unclean. Likewise, if the goat had touched someone the sins would be transferred. The Day of Atonement ceremony taught how delicate and difficult it was to remove the sins of those who repented. The process had to be done carefully to prevent the sins from spreading to others.

The word Azazel, is not a proper name, but is a Hebrew noun. It's the ancient technical term for the entire removal of the sin and guilt of the community or congregation. ‘Azazel’ was symbolized by the sending away the goat into the wilderness. In the Talmud the goat was sent to “Stick Mountain”; the place is a rock in the wilderness to which the animal was herded.

The important thing to note is that this goat was not used for atonement but rather atonement was made for it. The Hebrew says for him. The Hebrew does not say with him. Thus, the goat was let free and was not killed. The Atonement was not a free gift to all mankind but a very specific gift to one individual who was responsible for carrying away the sins and burdens of the repentant. Where there is atonement there must be forgiveness.

The book of Hebrews explains the Day of Atonement. The Old Testament tabernacle was designed, in part, to teach Israel that sin hindered access to the presence of God. Only the high priest, and he only once a year, could enter the Holy of Holies, and then not without taking blood offered to atone for sins (Heb. 9:7). The children of Israel saw Yom Kippur as their only connection to God. They had rejected him in the desert and refused to talk to God face to face. To overcome their separation from God the Day of Atonement was necessary. The children of Israel were taught the Day of Atonement was necessary to progress. After this life, in the next world, they would not be allowed to communicate with God unless they were forgiven of their sins, which they abhorred.

Jewish men always wear a skullcap. The small round hat is called a yarmulke, kippah, or kippur. Yom Kippur literally means “Day of covering.” The first ‘Day of covering’ took place in the garden of Eden when Adam and Eve were naked before God. The first ‘day of covering’ was a way to be forgiven of sin with Gods help. Yom or ‘Day’ could refer to the thousand year period of time when Satan is bound and people forgive readily. Kippur or ‘covering’ is a solution to the problem, a solution invented by God. Just as Adam and Eve were given a covering to overcome shame so will people who repent be given a covering to overcome sin. Thus the ‘Day of Atonement’ and its constant reminder is engrained in the Jewish memory.

Yom Kippur means day of COVERING as the blood covers the sin! It is commonly called Day of Atonement. The children of Israel were to think about their sins on that day and upbraid themselves for any desires to sin. If they failed to repent; then their sins would not be born away on Azazel, the scapegoat. The Day of Atonement was not intended to forgive them of their sins for another year, but to remind them of God’s plan for the future. The Jews say their “Kol Nidre” meaning “all my vows” in an attempt to confess sins. Before the setting of the sun on the Day of Atonement, people gather in synagogue to worship. They dressed in white kittels, or robes that will eventually become the worshiper’s funeral shroud. The shroud is a solomn gesture indicative of the repentance process.

Not all is gloom and doom in Yom Kippur. It is also the custom following Yom Kippur for young singles to go dancing in the vineyards to find mates. The maidens wear white so money cannot play a role in the decision process.

The last Yom Kippur ceremony is called neilah, the closing of the gates, and is the concluding ceremony to Yom Kippur. At this point, it is too late to make a decision to accept Yeshua the Messiah into your life. Thus Yom Kippur is meant to be a final division between the righteous and the wicked. Even though God knew beforehand who would repent and who would not, the wicked prevented the people from repenting because of corrupt government. The final ceremony showed the people they were now either beginning the process of repentance or forever damned. The closing of the gates symbolized a great division and a day of judgment on the wicked.

Today the Jewish people still celebrate Yom Kippur. A Rabbi uses a chicken in place of the goat. Kapporot, the chicken, is swung over the head and the Rabbi prays to God that all his sins during the year be transferred onto the head of the chicken. (In some communities the chicken is replaced with money earmarked for charity.) Actually, there has been much debate whether sins can be transferred onto the head of any animal. The decaying Jewish religion has resorted to money to obtain forgiveness.

The Yom Kippur celebration is the greatest event in the year. The Day of Atonement symbolizes God giving man a law to gain salvation. According to the Jews, Moses returned from the Mount the second time and decreed the tenth of Tishri would remain a Day of Atonement for all generations. He found the Jews in a state of repentance indicating the wicked whom had rejected the higher law were no longer a burden on the house of Israel. Moses had the sacred Ten Commandments with him and the lower law was enough to establish a religion dictated by God. From its’ first beginnings Yom Kippur has remained the most important day in history.

The time of Yom Kippur was in the tenth day of the Hebrew month of Tishri. September or early October in the secular calendar. In the middle east they write the day then the month then the year. In the USA we write the month then the day and then the year. I know this to be true because of the Anthrax letter sent to the White House. They pointed out the date on the letter was written like an American would write the date and not like a middle easterner would write the date.

Because the customs are different it is possible to conclude the tradition of the Day of Atonement was handed down incorrectly. Instead of the traditional timeframe of the seventh month the actual day of atonement took place on the tenth month... Scholars believe the Jewish new year began on September 30. The Jewish calendar has only seven months. Then the dates in Hebrew are 7/10 and converting to English we have 10/7.

The first Sabbath of a new year is a sacred time because the first Sabbath was the time of Yom Kippur. The New Year began on September 30 and October the 6 and 7 was the first Sabbath of the new year. Yom Kippur must have been October 6 and 7 because the Sabbath is a time of forgiveness and repentance. On that date, the Jews were forgiven of the previous year if their sacrifice was pleasing before god. The first Sabbath fell on October 6,7 of the secular calendar.

In the fall of each year on the tenth day of the seventh month, Israel observes its Sabbath of Sabbaths, its most holy day, one which signified that the sins of Israel had been atoned for and that the nation and its people were restored to a state of fellowship with God. It was a day replete with types and shadows, a day of cleansing and a day of renewal.

Commentators all say the Atonement of Jesus covered everyone. All Christianity and the other major religions in the world claim the Word of God will eventually save them. They trust in the word as if there future depended upon it. Some become Christians trusting in the Bible only, some become Mormons trusting in Book of Mormon only. When I was on a mission in Pennsylvania I discovered a pumpkin in the lawn of one house, it said ‘Jesus saves’. I certainly thought ‘how strange’ when I glanced at the pumpkin the second time. Halloween is a time of trick or treat, a time of temptation and deception. One hardly expects a Jack O’ Lantern to be an advertisement for something so dear to the soul. In light of the Day of Atonement I can resoundingly say: “The Atonement does not cover everyone even if everyone receives some benefit”.

Those who are unborn are included as well as those who have died. The Atonement of Christ and his life took place in Judea but not everyone’s sins were covered. Judas, for example, hung himself. Many of the saints were resurrected and I assume like anyone else, their sins were covered with the atonement. The city of Enoch was translated and they seemed to obtain salvation even before the Atonement. The Atonement was not necessarily intended to give peace and happiness to everyone. Nor did the full effects of ‘It’ come all at once. I believe the Atonement covered the sins of those saints in the Old Testament times and also those who repented in Christ’ life. The Atonement never covered those who had not been born. Their forgiveness would come after they had been tested.

Those being born during the millennium are certainly blest, but they will not necessarily be covered by the Atonement. Some will grow up to eternal life and others will choose to reject the gospel and all other attempts at repentance. They will die a normal death if they are wicked and will be changed in a twinkling of an eye if they are not wicked.

The scriptures describe the agent of separation as a conflict between good and evil. By struggling to teach people the gospel the missionaries themselves lay up store for the salvation of their souls. The city of Enoch separated literally and they gained salvation because they were one. Only with the aid of a physical body can people choose between good and evil.

And there stood one among them that was like unto God, and he said unto those who were with him: We will go down for there is space there, and we will take of these materials, and we will make an earth whereon these may dwell;

And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them.

From the time of Adam and Eve this earth has been a place of preparation, a time to prepare to meet God. The Day of Atonement is not the agent to prepare people to meet God. Only the righteous acts of faith can help people to repent. The Day of Atonement is a time of setting in order, a time when the kingdom of heaven becomes the kingdom of this earth; the ground work for the return of Christ.

Churches send out missionaries and promote the scriptures. For what purpose are these things done? The fact they teach people does not indicate they will gain salvation. Only the scriptures and true teachings lead a person towards freedom of choice. The story of the iron rod in the Book of Mormon is one example. Nephi followed the rod of iron to the tree, but his brothers did not. Without the church, in Nephi’s case the brass plates, no one not even Nephi would know what God wanted as a penitence. Missionaries are not sent to gather in the wheat, God forbid, such a task is reserved strictly for the angels in the day of burning. Missionaries are sent out to give people a choice.

Much of the confusion comes by way of comparing unrelated parables. Christ compared the souls of men to wheat sown in a field. His parable says the disciples are the sowers of the seed. D&C 4 compares the latter day work of spreading the gospel to a field white and ready to harvest. The field being white does not mean everyone has repented, or even has had a chance to repent. Even if the symbols of Christ’ parable and D&C 4 are the same the message is completely different. A person is freed by the gospel to choose whom he will serve God or mammon. D&C 4 cannot be confused with the mission of the disciples. The gospel does not lead a person step by step toward salvation.

The few thousand missionaries efforts is feeble. Billions of people have lived without hearing the gospel and only a few of them have heard of the gospel. Many have died without any knowledge and they also must be taught and accept the gospel to be released from spirit prison. The Day of Atonement does not put an end or change the true gospel of Christ in any way. A mystical force does not suddenly decide to cleanse some souls from sin while leaving others alone. Yom Kippur does not suddenly convince the Jews to believe in Christ.

Missionaries would often say, “If God can do his own work let us let him do it!” The statement was intended to be funny, for some unknown reason it always turned my stomach and I was glad when my mission ended. The Day of Atonement does not relieve us of our responsibility to teach the gospel. The Day of Atonement does not diminish our desire to do the Lords work. We cannot dismiss the importance of this critical celebration in Jewish custom. Mankind obtains hope through the diffusion of ideas and teachings from the master.

The apocalyptic language of Revelations points to the Day of Atonement and the events following. The book of Revelations begins with an exhortation to one person to overcome.

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

Not everyone would overcome. The scripture in Revelations is talking of one person overcoming evil with the promise of reward. The tree of life is the same one talked of by Nephi and also the tree of life in the garden of Eden, but unlike the tree of life vision not everyone is requested to overcome. This specific individual is the one “Mighty and Strong”. The sacred name of God was in the one “Mighty and Strong” when he led the children of Israel out of bondage. The one “Mighty and Strong” alone knew the way to unlock a great division. Overcoming evil takes place at the level of the soul.

The scriptures and the information provided teach of a deeper meaning. The name of salvation provided a way that the sins of all people could be forgotten. As people learned the theories and commandments they could rely on; they gained in faith. As their knowledge and desire to repent increased they overcome weaknesses. The scriptures are the path to forgiveness and the body is the vehicle. The Day of Salvation was intended to be a warning and a way God planned to prepare the world for his coming. I believe the Day of Salvation was intended for God more then man.

The apocalyptic language of the Book of Mormon also points to the Day of Atonement and the events following. The Book of Mormon is about a literal separation of good from evil. In the Day of Atonement all humanity and everyone who exists will be faced with the decision of a furious God.

The Jews also believe the time of Yom Kippur is a day of division. The Jews call it the great Day of Judgment. Rosh Hashanah or Judgment Day, begins 10 days before Yom Kippur. Rosh Hashanah is a time when the books in heaven are opened and God decides who has done evil in his sight. In Jerusalem trumpets blow and people eat apples dipped in honey and pomegranates. The wicked are punished on that day and the righteous are set free.

Concerning the subject of the Great and Marvelous work, Avraham Gileadi believed like most LDS students.

I had always assumed that the great and marvelous work of which the Book of Mormon speaks was the restoration of the gospel through the Prophet Joseph Smith. Yet, now, looking at Nephi’s words more carefully, I found that he seems to speak of the great and marvelous work as another event, one that follows and transcends what happened in Joseph Smith’s day.

Just because Isaiah 29 is about the Book of Mormon doesn’t mean the great and marvelous work is the restored gospel. I agree with Avraham Gileadi, the great and marvelous work is yet to come forth.

And again it shall come to pass that the Lord shall say unto him that shall read the words that shall be delivered him, Forasmuch as this people draw near unto me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their hearts far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precepts of men, therefore I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people; yea, a marvelous work and a wonder; for the wisdom of their wise and learned shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent shall be hid.

(Isaiah 29:26)

The marvelous work and a wonder is described; the wisdom of their wise and learned shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent shall be hid. This chapter in Isaiah is about the Book of Mormon so many have concluded the Book of Mormon somehow causes the understanding of the wise to perish. By drawing a comparison between what the world knows and what the Book of Mormon teaches commentators say the Book of Mormon casts a shadow on the wisdom of the world. The rhetoric of Isaiah is merely drawing a comparison between what the world knows and what God brings forth.

But the Book of Mormon and the restored gospel alone would not fill the description of the great and marvelous work. The work includes a reversal of circumstances of all people. Before the great and marvelous work the wicked and those with no faith lead the people. The understanding of the prudent being hid depicts a time when the weak break down the strong; a time when the last will be first and the first last.

People who join the church only begin to choose one way or the other provided they have freedom in their government. Their membership alone does not free them. Those who do not join the church are not brought down into ‘captivity both temporally and spiritually’. Nephi says because government can limit and control religion, the ‘understanding of the prudent’ is lost in a literal way. I heard a radio program one time, the announcer said the Jews are without law. The Romans could not bind the Jews with imperialism laws. Hitler could not force the Jews to serve him. America gives three billion dollars a year to the Jews and they cannot buy them into serving the Arabs. The Jews are free of government, their religion has existed regardless of the governments they live under. As long as the Jews have freedom to repent their government is unable to control them. The great and marvelous work is a great division around the world to allow people to repent. ‘salvation is of the Jews’.

Not only does the Book of Mormon begin to teach of the Day of Salvation so do others. Ezekiel gives the exact date of the Day of Atonement. Isaiah is constantly referring to the Day of the Lord. Both the Septuagint and Vulgate talk of the “goat that is dispatched.” I found well over a thousand websites about Azazel. Every other denomination besides the Mormons have heard about the Day of Atonement.

In the Christian world, Azazel is either Satan or Jesus Christ. I am looking at one website now that says.

Azazel (The Scapegoat): A Shadow of Messiah or Satan?

The debate is as follows: If “Azazel” is the Messiah why does their need to be two goats in the ceremony?

If “Azazel” is Satan why do both goats need to be unblemished goats?

If both goats are the same person why would the priest cast lots as if there are two distinct persons represented in the symbolism of the goats?

If “Azazel” is Satan why bring that goat into the temple court?

If “Azazel” is evil why do the books of Abraham classify him with the righteous?

The time of Yom Kippur occurs in the fall and not around Easter time. Sacrifices of animals happened throughout the year. No special time was required for the sacrifices. Today, we also remember the sacrifice of the Lord on Sunday when we partake of the sacrament. We remember both his death on the cross, represented by the bread and the atonement represented by the water. The Jewish customs, although more in depth, also reflect on the mission of Christ. The Jews were being taught about salvation and even the time of Yom Kippur was significant.

I found an internet article about Azazel. There are thousands of them. I replaced all words of Satan with the one “Mighty and Strong” and added a paragraph of clarification. Amazingly it all made sense.

While the Seventh-Day Adventists teach Azazel is Satan, most denominations think Azazel is Christ. All denominations are wrong! Only by assuming Azazel is the one “Mighty and Strong” can an understanding of Ezekiel be reached.

If the one “Mighty and Strong” is included in Yom Kippur the impacts are far reaching. The Jews can only come to Christ by understanding their own faith. The Latter Day Saint can only come to understand the Bible with a new appreciation of the Jews. The confusion the Christians feel about Azazel can be overcome. The Christians need to realize the scriptures alone do not provide salvation. If everyone believed in Yom Kippur the Hebrew traditions could change the way people think of the scriptures.

Arguments in favor of the one “Mighty and Strong” are striking. The goat would not be an unblemished lamb if the goat represents Satan. Unblemished indicates purity and free of sin. The Christians all are at a loss to explain why two goats are used to represent one day of Atonement. The fact that lots were drawn indicates the goats were equal. If a blemished goat had been used, the lot for Satan would have been predetermined. Yom Kippur only makes sense if one of the goats in the ceremony is the one “Mighty and Strong”

The one “Mighty and Strong” included in ancient Hebrew tradition is an appealing idea. The goat of separation ‘Azazel’ can be divided into two words: ‘Azaz - el’. Then the meaning to these words becomes ‘self strengthening’ or ‘Mighty and Strong’. Even though most say Azazel means ‘goat of separation’ because they divide the word differently, a valid definition is one ‘Mighty and Strong.’ Most divide the word into ‘Az - azel’; Az meaning (shameless) and azel meaning (gone, dispersed). The more correct translation is ‘Mighty and Strong one’.

Ezekiel began reckoning the burden of the Davidic servant from the time the Assyrians concurred the Northern Kingdom. The ‘word’ that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. (Isaiah 2:1); “ The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see” (Isaiah 13:1); “the burden of Moab” (Isaiah 15:1); “the burden of Damascus”(Isaiah 17:1); “the burden of Egypt” (Isaiah 19:1); “the burden of the desert of the sea” (Isaiah 21:1); “the burden of Dumah” (Isaiah 21:11); “the burden upon Arabia” (Isaiah 21:13); “the burden of the valley of vision,” or the Hizayon valley (Isaiah 22:1); “the burden of Tyre” (Isaiah 23:1); and “the beasts of the south” (Isaiah 30:6). All these phrases are designated burdens, with the exception of the house of Judah and Jerusalem, which is designated a word. The approach is tailored specifically to the nation in question: Judah receives a “word” while the rest receive “burdens,” and Assyria is omitted because the Assyrians are going to conquer or place burdens on all nations. Isaiah lists all the provinces and calls them burdens except Judah and Jerusalem which he designated a “word”.

Like Ezekiel, Isaiah does not claim Judah and Jerusalem to be burdens on the Davidic Servant until Jerusalem becomes an independent nation. Juda maintained a religion established by God and the nation was considered to be free of burden. The Assyrians are able to conquer and destroy all nations with burdens but they were not able to control Jerusalem. In Isaiah, Judah is taken into captivity by the Babylonians even though the Assyrians are defeated. The Jews are exhorted to return to the Lord, but only a remnant will return. The ‘burdens’ of Isaiah are the same as the ‘iniquities’ of Ezekiel. (Ezekiel 4:5,6)

Azazel has other names. For example, the ‘arm of the Lord’ in Isaiah is not the Lord but a vassal servant of the Lord. Isaiah also used metaphors like Hezekiah and Cyrus to show the mission this servant would play. The Davidic King and the Rod are also names of the one “Mighty and Strong”. The one “Mighty and Strong” is included in the allegory of the vineyard. (Jacob 5) Abraham included him in the ‘noble and great ones’. Because his mission is such an important part of salvation he goes by many names and titles, such as righteousness. God redeems His people by the power of his two arms. Isaiah identifies these arms as righteousness and salvation. (Isa. 59:16)

Hezekiah fulfilled the important role of acting as the Lords agent against Assyria. In the book of Isaiah, righteousness precedes, or is a fore runner to, salvation; righteousness fulfills the office of an Elias. In Hezekiah’s day, the Lord destroyed the Assyrian host, at the same time delivering the people in Jerusalem. (Isa. 37:33-36) Only by the obedience of Isaiah and the diligence of Hezekiah were the Israelites spared. The Lord blesses his people because of the actions of a few leaders. Hezekiah fulfilled a role in the protection and return of the Jews.

The Lord answered Hezekiah’ prayer by plaguing the Assyrians so that 185,000 of them died in one night. The Lord did this because a righteous servant stood in the way of devastation. If King Hezekiah had not been righteous and obtained favors of God the city of Jerusalem may have fallen to the Assyrians. Second Kings 25 reports the Babylonian siege led to Jerusalem’ fall because no righteousness stood between Judah and her “terrible ones.”

When the Assyrians besieged Jerusalem they spoke in Hebrew telling the people their God would not save them.

Sennacherib wrote his own account of his siege of Jerusalem:

"As to Hezekiah, the Jew, he did not submit to my yoke, I laid siege to 46 of his strong cities, walled forts and to the countless small villages in their vicinity, and conquered [them] by means of well stamped [earth-]ramps and battering-rams brought [thus] near [to the walls] [combined with] the attack by foot soldiers, [using] mines, breeches as well as sapper work. I drove out [of them] 200,150 people, young and old, male and female, horses, mules, donkeys, camels, big and small cattle beyond counting, and considered [them] booty. Himself I made a prisoner in Jerusalem, his royal residence, like a bird in a cage."The siege of Jerusalem and the campaign of Sennarcherib are recorded on the University of Chicago Oriental Institute's Prism of Sennacherib <http://www-oi.uchicago.edu/OI/MUS/HIGH/OIM_A2793_72dpi.html>.

 

The pride of the Assyrians led to their downfall. In 701 BC the Assyrian ruler Sennacherib marched against Judah and besieged Jerusalem. Hezekiah had built a tunnel a third a mile long from the spring into the city Jerusalem in preparation for war. When the Assyrians defiantly marched against Jerusalem, the Lord decimated Sennacherib’s armies outside Jerusalem’s walls. The King James version quaintly says ‘and when they awoke they were all dead men’.

After Hezekiah had done all he could to protect Jerusalem, the Lord fought their battles. Hezekiah protected the vital source of life before God would spare Jerusalem. Hezekiah had a tunnel cut through the mountain by hands. Later, Jesus would use the symbolism of water to represent salvation. The spring waters flowed into Jerusalem throughout the siege unknown to the Assyrians. God was to provide salvation to his people virtually unknown to the enemy.

The symbolism does not stop there. Hezekiah fulfilled the role of the Davidic King. He alone was responsible for the preservation of Judah. If the Jews had surrendered or joined the Northern pact then they would never have become an independent nation. The Savior could never have been born at the time appointed. And salvation could never have been possible. (Isaiah 44,45) Without the one “Mighty and Strong” acting in the role of Hezekiah the second coming would not be possible. The siege of Jerusalem represents the threat the Lords people face because of the wicked.

The Lord is not limitless in his abilities. For example, only when Hezekiah was righteous could Lord prevent evil from overcoming good. Even though Isaiah uses metaphors from events in his own day their meaning applies to the Lords covenant people in the Last Days. Symbolically, Jerusalem represents the Lords covenant people, a remnant is scattered around the world. In spiritual terms, the Davidic King is responsible for their protection. The Lord protects them with his spirit because of the suffering and righteous prayers of his servant.

Isaiah uses the siege over and over throughout Isaiah; Isaiah even named his own son “A remnant shall return” in Hebrew. His people bear the burdens of the wicked symbolizing the city of Jerusalem under siege. The scattered remnant represent those who willingly begin the process of repentance in spite of the threat to their security. The Assyrians persecute them and drive them to extinction. Because of their sins they are not free of the wicked. The Assyrians are symbolic of the snares and loss of freedom imposed on the righteous.

The Assyrians were used by the Lord to humble the pride of the Israelites because they were a prideful nation. Who do the Assyrians represent? Isaiah does not include the Assyrians in Isaiah’ metaphors of burdens as he does the other nations. The Assyrians were not just the heathen nations because those nations were included in salvation. The Jews understood many of the heathen were good people who would obey God in the final days. Symbolically, the Assyrians are a threat to salvation. They are the opposition to the remnant. They do not have a part in salvation. I have read some notes of Avraham Gileadi who thinks the Assyrians represent Russia. I asked a seminary teacher and he said they represent Russia. The Assyrians did move north and their descendents became the Russians but they are not the Russians. Politically, the Russians were the authors of communism. Like the Assyrians their government had complete control of religion. In Spiritual terms the Assyrians represent Satan and his demons or they represent all who belong to the Great and Abominable Church of the Devil. Satan’s church may favor communism but their members are in every country of the world. Satan seeks to control government and place burdens on free religion through government.

Government does play a role in the repentance process. The children of Israel taught sacrifices had to be offered for the individual, family and government. Communism or any government seeking to control religion is a threat to salvation. Isaiah called the Assyrian government a burden but the heathen nations were not a burden.

The Assyrians were responsible for subjecting independent nations with what Isaiah calls burdens. The Northern Kingdom, for example, was forced to change laws and customs as well as relocate people and pay taxes. In Church history governments have always tried to control religion. Polygamy was outlawed. People preaching from the bible were burned at the stake. Even those who speak out against dictators are imprisoned.

The conflict between good and evil is strikingly portrayed by Isaiah. The heathen nations were used by the Lord to bring the house of Israel to repentance. However, when Isaiah speaks of burdens he is not talking of the wars and famines caused by invading armies. He is speaking of iniquities a righteous servant, the Davidic Servant, must bear.

Even though the remnant suffer and stumble exceedingly they only suffer because of their own sins. The Davidic Servants suffering extends beyond his own sins to include a redemptive role. He not only suffers because of the abuses of the wicked, he also suffers for the righteous. The suffering is called bearing their iniquities in Ezekiel and bearing their burdens in Isaiah.

For example, King Hezekiah, as a righteous proxy for his people, suffers “sickness” on their behalf in order to merit their salvation (Isa. 38:1-6; compare 53:11)

I discovered a paper relating the one “Mighty and Strong” to Ezekiel. John Jordon’ research brings to life many important ideas in the book of Isaiah. The timeframe of the research is in Isaiah’ life, about 742 BC. (Isaiah prophesied from740 BC to 698 BC) Isaiah was concerned with the cruelty of the Assyrians and the scattering of the Lords covenant people. John Jordon prophesied the work of gathering the Lords covenant people would begin in 1988. John Jordon wrote the paper before 1988. He didn’t include anything about Yom Kippur but later I discovered the connection. He arrived at 1988 in many different ways, but only two ways really stood out clearly. Yom Kippur actually occurred in 1988!

The loss of government of the Northern Kingdom took place in 742 BC when the Ephriam was put in spiritual bondage. One of the dates of John Jordon’s paper has to do with 742 BC. The Assyrian kingdom extended to the Persian Gulf and into Egypt. They were known for their cleverness and cruelty. Assyrian bondage caused all of the Northern Kingdom to sin. Juda remained faithful and escaped bondage but the Northern kingdom accepted Assyrian rule and their iniquities began in 742 BC. Because the Assyrians caused the Northern Kingdom to sin their burden on the Angel of his presence began in 742 BC.

The second date of John Jordon’s paper has to do with the nation of Israel. Ezekiel prophesied Judah would become a burden under the revived Holy Roman empire in the Last Days. Judah was recognized by the USA to be a state not an independent nation. In 1948 the state of Israel was recognized in fulfillment of prophecy.

When Jesus was crucified the earth shook and the veil of the temple was rent from top to bottom. Surely this had significance, along with the strange miracles surrounding the temple after his death. During 200 years before 30 CE, when the high priest picked up one of the lots, again the selection was governed by chance. But for 40 years in a row, beginning in 30 CE, the High Priest always picked the lot for “Azazel” first. The odds against this happening are 5.5 billion to one or 5,479,548,800. (To check this calculation 2^40)

The lot for “Azazel” was chosen first, contrary to all laws of chance. The “Azazel” lot came up 40 times in a row from 30 to 70 AD!

This is not all, for forty years in a row the red thread tied to the temple door and “Azazel” did not turn white. The second Miracle of the Red Strip happened in the same time frame. Each year the red strip turned white until 30 CE when the cloth remained crimson until the destruction of the temple. The Jewish Talmud and the Babylonian Talmud talk of the strange miracles.

The Jewish Talmud:

"Forty years before the destruction of the Temple, the western light went out, the crimson thread remained crimson, and the lot for the Lord always came up in the left hand. They would close the gates of the Temple by night and get up in the morning and find them wide open" (Jacob Neusner, The Yerushalmi, p.156-157). [the Temple was destroyed in 70 CE]

A similar passage in the Babylonian Talmud states:

"Our rabbis taught: During the last forty years before the destruction of the Temple the lot ['For the Lord'] did not come up in the right hand; nor did the crimson-colored strap become white; nor did the western most light shine; and the doors of the Hekel [Temple] would open by themselves" (Soncino version, Yoma 39b).

The Jews began to believe their sins were forgiven for another year when the red strip turned white. They noticed the lot picked by Simon would sometimes be Azazel, and sometimes Yahweh. They noticed the crimson thread would sometimes turn white and sometimes not. The Jews began to believe that if the Red wool turned white, their sins were forgiven for another year.

The next miracle which the Jewish authorities acknowledge, was that the temple doors swung open for 40 years beginning in 30CE. The leading Jewish Authority of that time, Yohanan be Zakkai, warned the Jews of impending doom, that the temple itself would be destroyed.

The Jerusalem Talmud states:

''Said Rabban Yohanan Ben Zakkai to the Temple, 'O Temple, why do you frighten us? We know that you will end up destroyed. For it has been said, 'Open your doors, O Lebanon, that the fire may devour your cedars' '' (Zechariah 11:1)' (Sota 6:3).

The fourth miracle also had the same time frame. Every night for 40 years (over 12,500 nights in a row) the temple lamp stand (menorah) went out of its own accord. The Levites took precautions without avail.

Earnest Martin states:

''In fact, we are told in the Talmud that at dusk the lamps that were unlit in the daytime (the middle four lamps remained unlit, while the two eastern lamps normally stayed lit during the day) were to be re-lit from the flames of the western lamp (which was a lamp that was supposed to stay lit all the time -- it was like the 'eternal' flame that we see today in some national monuments) . . .

''This 'western lamp' was to be kept lit at all times. For that reason, the priests kept extra reservoirs of olive oil and other implements in ready supply to make sure that the 'western lamp' (under all circumstances) would stay lit. But what happened in the forty years from the very year Messiah said the physical Temple would be destroyed? Every night for forty years the western lamp went out, and this in spite of the priests each evening preparing in a special way the western lamp so that it would remain constantly burning all night!'' (The Significance of the Year CE 30, Ernest Martin, Research Update, April 1994, p.4).

In the bible forty is a significant number. The earth was flooded for forty days as the Lord spared Noah and his family. When Sodom was destroyed Abraham asked the Lord to spare the city if there was found forty righteous people. Israel ate manna forty years in the wilderness. Moses abode on the mount forty days and forty nights fasting for the people before he was given the tablets. Elijah ate the meat the Lord had given to him and lasted forty days on the strength of the meat. Jesus Christ was in the wilderness being tempted of the devil forty days.

The miracles of forty years in the temple seem to be an ominous warning. Forty, in the bible refers to God destroying the wicked at the time of Noah, and Moses fasting forty nights to spare the children of Israel.

The most significant forty is written in Ezekiel:

In this verse Ezekiel was shown the sins of Judah would be born for 40 days, each day for a year. From the time the nation of Israel was formed in 1948, forty years will pass. ( 1948 + 40 = 1988 ) The year 1988 was a significant year in history. The fall of Russia happened in late 1988, forty years after Judah became an independent state, in exactly the year prophesied by Ezekiel.

The miracles were related to Yom Kippur because many of the miracles happened on that day. The 40 years of Ezekiel are related to Yom Kippur. The miracles of the temple happened forty years in a row until 70 AD. From the words of Ezekiel we learn the wicked would not become ripe and ready for destruction before Judah / Israel became a nation. Until 1988 Jerusalem would be under siege or the remnant would be threatened. The city Jerusalem represents those who repent; they would be under siege and their lives would be threatened before 1988. These miracles were teaching the Jews the Day of Salvation was a future event. The thread remained crimson for 40 years, an indication God was in control of when the Day of Salvation would occur.

In the paper written by John Jordon, about the prophecy of Ezekiel, he fixes the date to 1988 in two different ways. To illustrate the siege of Jerusalem, Ezekiel made a model city with trenches, mounds of dirt, miniature battering rams, and so forth. To illustrate the length of the siege he was to lie on his left side one day for each year that the Northern Kingdom would be under siege, and on his right side one day for each year the Southern Kingdom would be under siege. The Lord would lay bands upon him depicting the restraint that would be experienced by each nation. When the siege was first beginning the Lord commanded through Isaiah to tell the people never to respond to the Assyrian’s jeers and taunts. Ezekiel was to eat a diet of half a pound of bread and a pint and a half of water per day for the entire length of the siege, 390 days.

But Ezekiel prophesied in Babylonian times, after the siege of Jerusalem took place and scholars cannot explain the significance of 390 days. The 390 day stage play was to end by Ezekiel cutting the hair from his head and beard and dividing it with the use of scales into three parts. He was to burn one third in the midst of the city, take another third and scatter it to the wind, and take another third and cut it up with a knife. A few hairs would be spared which he sowed into his robe. The remainder was to be cast into the fire. The hairs were symbolic of the house of Israel, their scattering and demise.

Ezekiel was told “Arise, go forth into the plain, and I will there talk with thee”

While in the plain the glory fell on Ezekiel and he was shown the formation of the Great and Abominable Church of the Devil. Ezekiel describes the evil as the city of Jerusalem being besieged. Again the city was symbolic of the righteous remnant. Ezekiel was told the iniquity of the House of Israel was to be laid on himself. “thou shalt bear their iniquity”.

“For I have laid upon thee the years of their iniquity, according to the number of the days, three hundred and ninety days; so shalt thou bear the iniquity of the house of Israel”

Ezekiel was shown how long the one “Mighty and Strong” was to bear the sins of the House of Israel. No doubt, Ezekiel felt compassion for the suffering of the Lords vassal. 390 sabbatical years was a long time for Ezekiel to suffer. 390 days represents 2,730 calendar years. (1 sabatical year = 7 years) (7 x 390 = 2730 years)

The reason I multiply 390 days by 7 in Ezekiels’ prophecy is because John Jordon multiplied those days to get sabbatical years. His paper was not clear enough for me to understanding the reason why. I do have a few ideas. First, 2730 days would have been much too long for Ezekiel to lay on his side, as the Lord instructed him. Second, in Jewish custom every seven years all debt was eliminated. That is, if a Jew went in debt a million he would be forgiven of the debt at the end of seven years. Seven is a number representing liberty and freedom, not necessarily forgiveness because all people both bond and free are equal. But freedom and liberty represent vindication from persecution. The seventh thousand years in the history of the world is known as the Millennium a time of freedom. Third, it is possible 7 years hid the meaning of Ezekiels’ prophecy from the blind until the appointed time.

Starting with the time at which King Menahem of Israel placed Israel subject to Assyria in 742 BC. ( 2730 - 742 BC = 1988 AD )

John Jordon wrote “Israels’ sins will no longer be borne for her in 1988”

When Yom Kippur uses the same symbolism of transferring iniquities onto the goat, Ezekiel understood the symbolism. The one “Mighty and Strong”, the angel of his presence, who was responsible for leading the Children of Israel was also responsible for the burden of their iniquities. He became marred spiritually more then any man (3 Nephi 20) beginning in 742 BC. He was freed of the burden in 1988.

The prophecies of forty are about the future when the Day of Salvation comes. Ezekiel uses the number 40 to predict the Day of Atonement. (Ezekiel 4:5,6) In the last day Ezekiel was shown the time of the Day of Salvation. I believe Ezekiel was prophesying of the exact date the Lord would be giving salvation to the one ‘Mighty and Strong’.

Others I have talked to say 1988 was the turning point in their lives. I personally noticed a spiritual difference in that year. I decided after much prayer to serve a mission. Before then my only desires were not centered on Christ. I began to realize the world was in a desperate condition and I wanted to make Christ’ church true. I read the scriptures and thought long and hard about the meaning. I realized science was not the solution. If people only had faith then they could be healed of their illnesses. Only by learning how to behave before God could lasting happiness be found. Then I realized serving God was not full of rewards but full of hardships. I didn’t care.

James Luke wrote of his experience in 1988:

I am not a prophet, nor do I claim to be. I do claim to be on this earth for a very special mission, however. And this is the history of a sacred experience that happened to me. It was Yom Kippur the 6th of October, 1988. I was attending general priesthood meeting as I heard the choir pounding out the opening hymn. Half way through the opening song I noticed the spirit of the Lord come down in great abundance. The choir was immediately subdued and then I noticed that the Spirit of the Lord came down in such abundance that it began to fill the stake house where I sat. As President Hinkley was attempting to speak the spirit of the Lord was so powerful that he had difficulty speaking. This continued though out the meeting and there was such an ‘out pouring’ of the spirit, a wonderful thing happening, at the time I knew not what.

After the general priesthood meeting was over, I could still feel the spirit of the Lord in great abundance. I felt as if I should not go to bed, and I used my last $10 dollars to fill my gas tank and go down to Southern Utah, my home town. I drove all the way and parked out in front of my parents trailer. My brother noticed that I was home and he came out and told me to come in, but; I could not because I still felt the spirit of the Lord so strongly. I walked down across the field and crossed the north fork of the Sevier River and walked down into the reservoir country. I walked directly to the only small seep spring in the reservoir country and refreshed myself at the spring then I climbed the hill next to the spring. As I reached the top of the hill, I knew that God was allowing one of his mighty miracles to be performed. I did not know what is was however. I kept my vigil all night long and I tried to do what was right as I welcomed in the Day of Atonement of Yom Kippur, October 7^th.

As the day dawned I came down off the mountain and refreshed myself at the sip spring and then I went beck to my parents house and rested. I borrowed $10 dollars from my mom and drove back to Salt Lake City after I filled the tank with gas. As I approached Provo, Utah I saw a most remarkable sight. There was a man driving a Bronco, the sun was up and cast no shadow, this man was completely surrounded with darkness out to a length of approximately one meter. His eyes were completely wide open and he could not believe, in my opinion, what was happening to him. Even the sun being up could not penetrate the darkness and I still could feel the spirit of the Lord strongly, even out on the freeway. He was traveling approximately 40 mph and I stayed with him wishing that I had a camera to document the experience.

As we approached I15 / I215 Junction in Salt Lake City, we had to part because my home was over by the valley fair mall. It was then that my mind opened wide and I could see way up high thru my spirit eyes. I could see a round structure what I later found out was a seal and I heard billions of devils roaring like dragons at the beginning of the seal, in the opening. I perceived that the spirit of the Lord kept the evil spirits in and perceived my spirit was directing the spirit of the Lord. When, all of a sudden, I was jerked up straight and I said, “The seal is set”. I said this at the same time my spirit said it. I then witnessed the seal close shut. Then I drove home and rested from my experience.

Hezekiah led Juda righteously against the Assyrians and the Lord protected Jerusalem. Then Isaiah was told Hezekiah he would die, but Hezekiah pleaded with God to spare his life. The reason he wanted to live is not mentioned, however his life mission had always been to protect the city. The Lord heard his prayer and added 15 years to his life. Not only did he add 15 years to his life, but the Lord promised to defeat the Assyrians.

If the Davidic Servant also had a similar spiritual experience in 1988; if he plead with the Lord to spare his life so he might protect the remnant, as did Hezekiah, then the scriptures are significant. When the Lord healed Isaiah, he mentions ‘I will add 15 years to your life and I will defeat the Assyrians’. (Add 15 + 1988 = 2003)

The Assyrians were to be defeated in fifteen years, within Hezekiah’s lifetime. Today Hezekiah’s mission is similar to the one “Mighty and Strong”. He too must protect the righteous from an invading army of the wicked. In these last days many become everlastingly wicked. They don’t die as did Judas, but they seek to control others through government. Only the Lord can defeat them but their demise takes time. Russia fell months after the Day of Atonement, so too must the Great and Abominable Church of the Devil fall within fifteen years. Fifteen years is the prophesied time to there collapse.

The Assyrians are the opposition to the Lord. When they fall God can begin the redemption of Zion. Possibly more scriptures and the power to receive revelations will come. The remnant will begin to discern between the righteous and the wicked. The remnant will be gathered from all the earth. The wicked will be unable to coordinate activities. The Day of the Lord will put an end to persecution of Saints. Wars will overthrow all the governments of the world.

Governments must be overthrown because they cause people to sin. The Jews offered sacrifices for the entire nation not just the individual. Isaiah taught that if Assyria had conquered Judah they would have caused Judah to sin against God. H. Verlan Andersen wrote a book called ‘The Great and Abominable Church of the Devil’ in which he said Governments fit the description of Satan’s church because Governments can prevent people from repenting. Satan claims he will gain control of government to promote wickedness. The overthrow of all governments is necessary to allow people freedom.

How will governments react to the remnant after the Assyrians are conquered? Cyrus, King of the Babylonians returned the Jews to their homeland. The Lord was able to influence Cyrus to show mercy on the Jews because the Babylonians were not like the Assyrians. Like Hezekiah, Cyrus was righteous and the Lord was capable of influencing him. After WWI a British Mandate called the Balfour Declaration gave the Jews back their homeland. The Mandate signaled the approval of Zionism. Like Cyrus, who returned the Jews to Jerusalem, in 1948 the Jews began again a government of their own choosing. President Harry Truman signed into law the state of Israel on May 14, 1948. Down through the ages the Jews have remained distinct as a people until 1948 when Ezekiel says there burdens began.

Governments around the world will fall into support of the Lords chosen people. 2003 is the prophesied date.

If knowledge is power, then this book is a power house.

Who is the one mighty and strong? Controversy surrounds this legendary giant and yet many in authority claim he was nothing more than an itinerant farmer, the prophet of the early church who got involved in controversy over some land scandals and angry with the early bishop. This book proves conclusively that the prophet Joseph Smith could not have been nor ever will be the One Mighty and Strong. It does prove that Edward Partridge could never have been involved with the One Mighty and Strong.

Does he live today? Do the authorities know who he is and that he is one of the best kept secrets of our time. Perhaps they are so jealous of their own power that they will not give him his due. Perhaps they are waiting for the hot breath of hell to catch up with them as they get old.

When did all these things come to pass and when were they prophesied by the Old Testament prophets? So little has been said of this King of the Jews and how he could literally pull Palestine out of the quagmire she finds herself in today should he come forth with healing in his wings. But those in power do not want him to come forth and are secretly working with Satan to retire this One Mighty and Strong.

There are other names he goes by: The arm of the Lord, the Davidic Servant, the angel simply known as Azazel.

Why are true prophets not accepted by their own people? When and Why does the Lord say his church needs to be redeemed? Sacrifice according to Moses requires that two unblemished goats be sacrificed according to Yom Kippur. One goat is sacrificed to the Messiah the other goat is sacrificed for the One Mighty and Strong. The Day of Atonement falls on October the 7^th of each year. How does this reflect to future Israel? Why and how come Satan became to powerful in the last days and how did the Davidic Servant take upon the sins and protect Israel and was this prophesied by Ezekiel the prophet? Why is forty years significant and how in the past was it prophesied by the angel Azazel in his own peculiar way? These and other definitive questions are answered and covered in this one book: The One Mighty and Strong by Patrick Luke and James Luke.

Why and how did the Soviet Union Fall? If the Soviet Union was prophesied to fall in December of 1988, what happened on October 7^th 1988? Why was Satan becoming too powerful? If atonement for our sins was brought exclusively by Jesus Christ then why is Yom Kippur celebrated on October 7^th each year, instead of April 7^th? Why did the veil in the early temple of Harod rip? Why did the rope on the goat cast off into the great and abominable pit turn white for centuries and then why did it remain red for only forty years after the death of Jesus Christ and his infinite sacrifice for our sins? What made Satan so strong and why did he have to be locked away early? Why is the nuclear genie so dangerous?

This authentic work written by one of the churches young historians should cause us to rejoice and give thanks.

End of Booklet by Patrick and James Luke

See also