Will the Gentiles Also Look Beyond the Mark?

  A Stone of Stumbling; A Rock of Offense

Ironically, the political salvation from which the Gentiles have shirked is the very salvation that the Jews were so zealous to receive when the true Messiah came among them. Even after the forty days of instruction with Jesus after his resurrection, when Jesus was about to ascend into heaven from the mount of Olives, the Apostles-- his most intimate followers--"still imbued with their conception of the kingdom of God as an earthly establishment of power and dominion, asked of Him, `Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?'"⁽⁴⁶⁾

These devout followers would not have possessed this zeal if there were not abundant prophetic utterances of such a salvation to come. As Jesus' forerunner, John the baptist had proclaimed that Christ would thoroughly "purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."⁽⁴⁷⁾

Just because the Jews missed the mark in understanding when these things would take place, does not mean that the prophecies are no longer valid. As Jesus himself said: "...Because I said unto you that old things have passed away, I do not destroy that which hath been spoken concerning things which are to come. For behold, the covenant which I have made with my people is not all fulfilled; but the law which was given unto Moses hath an end in me."⁽⁴⁸⁾

Those who do not treasure up the word of God, watching for the fulfillment of the signs and preparing for the day of his coming, will not abide that day.⁽⁴⁹⁾ Isaiah said, "Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not."⁽⁵⁰⁾ Jesus quoted these words to his disciples when he explained why he spoke in parables to the Jews.⁽⁵¹⁾ Does this commentary also apply to the current-day Gentiles? Who is Isaiah referring to when he says, "And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken"?⁽⁵²⁾ To whom is the Lord considered "a stone of stumbling and...a rock of offence..., a gin and...a snare"?⁽⁵³⁾ Is he referring to the Jews or the Gentiles...or both?

Those who came after Christ's mission in the meridian of times had the advantage of retrospect to see how he fulfilled prophecy. So also, when the dust of destruction has settled after Christ's second coming, all men will know of a surety that the things which happened were prophesied by all the holy prophets. Those who live at the time of transition are placed in a crucible of most intense irony. The Lord's fierce flame differentiates between the dross and the silver. "They who forsake the Lord shall be consumed."⁽⁵⁴⁾ At the same time, through the purging influence of the fiery crucible will come a people purified who will live with their Lord and King for a thousand years.⁽⁵⁵⁾

As with the children of Israel, whose demise was attributed to their mingling with and gradually adopting the ways of the nations around them, the word of the Lord to us is, "Associate yourselves, O ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces.... Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy."⁽⁵⁶⁾ This caution is warranted, for Isaiah warns that there will be Christian leaders among us who have said:

"We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves. Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation...."⁽⁵⁷⁾

What did Isaiah mean by this?

Nowhere is the thesis of supersession more clear and succinct than in Matthew chapter twenty one. Speaking to the vindictive Jews, Jesus remarked, "Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes?"⁽⁵⁸⁾ This statement was probably as ambiguous to the Jews at that time as it is to most Christians today. Yet a close reading reveals not only what Jesus was saying to the Jews but that he was also prophesying that this riddle would apply to the Gentiles in the latter days as well. Jesus went on to say, "And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder."⁽⁵⁹⁾

The first part of this verse refers to the Jews and the last part refers to the Gentiles. Jesus is the stone, and the wicked among the Jews rejected him. He is the head of the corner.⁽⁶⁰⁾ The Jews fell upon him and were broken.⁽⁶¹⁾ "And the kingdom of God [was] taken from them, and [was] given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof; (meaning the Gentiles.)"⁽⁶²⁾ The Gentiles are the ones on whom the stone shall fall and grind to powder when the Lord descends "out of heaven to reign in his vineyard, which is the earth and the inhabitants thereof."⁽⁶³⁾ When the Gentiles are ground to powder, the Lord "will let again his vineyard unto other husbandmen, even in the last days, who shall render him the fruits in their seasons," referring to that time when the kingdom shall be given back to the Jews, or the house of Israel.⁽⁶⁴⁾

As for the covenant with death, spoken of by Isaiah, "Your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it."⁽⁶⁵⁾ "The crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, shall be trodden under feet."⁽⁶⁶⁾

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Endnotes:

46. Acts 1:6. James E. Talmage, Jesus the Christ, Deseret Book Company, Salt Lake City, Utah, 1974, p. 696.

47. Matt. 3:12.

48. 3 Nephi 15:7,8; Matt. 5:17,18.

49. JST-Matt. 1:46,5; Matt. 24:42,4.

50. Isa. 6:9,10; 2 Nephi 16:9,10.

51. Matt. 13:10,14,15.

52. Isa. 8:15; 28:13; 2 Nephi 18:15.

53. Isa. 8:14,15; 2 Nephi 18:14,15.

54. Isa. 1:28.

55. Isa. 1:25-27; 54:16; 3 Nephi 22:16; Alma 34:29.

56. Isa. 8:9,12; 1:22; 2 Nephi 18:9,12.

57. Isa. 28:15,16,7,14.

58. Matt. 21:42.

59. Matt. 21:44.

60. JST-Matt. 21:51,52.

61. JST-Matt. 21:52.

62. JST-Matt. 21:53; Matt. 21:43.

63. JST-Matt. 21:54,56.

64. JST-Matt. 21:55; Isa. 54:3; 3 Nephi 22:3; Doctrine and Covenants 103:11; Micah 4:13; 3 Nephi 20:19.

65. Isa. 28:18.

66. Isa. 28:3.

"Would God that ALL the Lord's People Were PROPHETS"

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