Addresses the time of Christ, then of King Arthur,
then of Joseph Smith and the prophesied coming of One Might and Strong.
| Sterling's Preface:
This installment is of particular interest as it speaks of the
Restoration and the One Mighty and Strong with a few twists I've not
seen before. It is evident to me, reading between the lines here and
in other of his writings (he does not say so explicitly), that J.J.
views himself as the One Mighty and Strong (as the primary vessel for
the overshadowing of the Christ). This is no surprise. In my opinion,
he is at least of the quorum of those after that order, if not
actually THE one indeed.
As for questions, again I am left to wonder about the "first
shall be last and the last shall be first" scenario. So far he
makes it sound like the Jews blew it permanently. They rejected their
savior so he is finished with them. What of the scripture "The
stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head stone
of THEIR corner"? The same holds true of the Jews regarding
Christ as it does of the Mormons as regarding the Davidic Servant whom
they will reject/mar.
Maybe J.J. will yet get to this in a subsequent chapter. The way he
presents it thus far, however, does not take this very important
prophecy into account -- the first shall be last and the last shall be
first. The Jews/Israel started and they will be the ones who will end
up with the kingdom. This is made clear in a careful study of
JST-Matt. 21 where Jesus expounds on this scripture, "the stone
which the builders rejected." It is also prophesied in the 3 Ne.
16 verse that J.J. quotes below. He omitted that part about the
kingdom being taken from the Gentiles and given back to Israel, the
remnant of Jacob.
Also, as a point of interest, for those of you who are not on the
Keys of Knowledge list, J J has not yet responded to my post yesterday
about "teacher/student and his not ever admitting when he is
wrong." I imagine he plans yet to respond. It would be very
uncharacteristic of him to ignore it. At the same time, I get the
impression that this post is part of his response. In other words, it
is a subtle way of saying, "If you knew who I really am, then you
would not say things like this about me -- that I might be wrong ever
and have to admit it."
Sorry, J.J., but in my understanding of the Davidic Servant, even
he makes mistakes in his progression and in carrying out his mission,
and that he needs to be teachable. It's okay. You can be wrong
sometimes. But to be wrong and not be willing to admit it opens you up
to all the deceptions that accompany such pride. The One Might and
Strong is not beyond reproach, and to set yourself up as being beyond
reproach is to create a deception unbecoming of that calling, for it
smacks of the very thing that calling is supposed to overturn -- the
supposed infallibility of the arm of flesh when it comes to religious
leaders.
Sterling |
Chapter Nine
The Three Excaliburs
Wednesday, January 19, 2000 8:28 AM
Few are aware that Christ in his day made an attempt to literally commence
a literal gathering of Israel. However, little is written of this attempt
because of his lack of success. As he was teaching Jesus said: "He that
is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scatereth."
Luke 11:23
Near the end of his life Jesus exclaimed: "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem,
thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, HOW
OFTEN WOULD I HAVE GATHERED THY CHILDREN TOGETHER, even as a hen gathereth her
chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto
you desolate." Matt 23:37-38
The word "Gathered" here comes from the Greek EPISUNAGO which
literally means "to collect in one location" and is usually
translated as "gathered together" in the King James. A more correct
rendering of the above scripture would be: "How often I would have
gathered into one place thy children, even as a hen gathers into one place her
chickens under her wings."
Even though the people did not respond in his day Jesus prophesied of
success in a day to come: "And he shall send his angels (From the Greek
AGGELOS which means "messenger") with the sound of a trumpet, (Great
power of speech), and they shall gather together (gather into one place) his
elect (Israel) from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other."
Matt 24:31.
Contrary to popular belief, however, this gathering place was not to be in
ancient Israel, and the gathering together of the modern Jews is not the
fulfillment of this prophecy. Because the Jewish people were not malleable
enough for the creation of the Kingdom of God Jesus told them: "The
Kingdom of God shall be TAKEN FROM YOU, and given to a nation bringing forth
the fruits thereof." Matt 21:43.
Because the Jews did not hearken to the gathering message as taught by
Christ their house was left unto them "desolate" as he had
prophesied and the responsibility of the Kingdom of God was "taken"
from them. How can the Christ work through a people that does not accept him?
The responsibility for the kingdom was then shifted to the Christians. In
fact Peter expressed his hope for a successful gathering when he called them
"an holy nation". I Peter 2:9 Such a nation though never
materialized, but sincere Christians in past ages struggled for hundreds of
years to found the kingdom of God on the earth.
At one time it looked as if England was going to be that other nation to
"bring forth the bruits thereof". For several centuries the highest
form of Christianity on the earth struggled there until the days of King
Arthur and Merlin when the Kingdom of God came close to materializing. Much
that is written about those days is fable, but there is also much that is true
of which we know nothing, and also truth which is veiled in symbols. All have
heard about the magic sword that Arthur was supposed to have pulled from a
stone. The stone was a symbol of "the stone which the builders
rejected" or the Christ. The sword called Excalibur, was a symbol of the
commission given to King Arthur, or the "keys of the Kingdom". It
also symbolized the sword wielded by Christ in Rev 19:15 "that with it he
should smite the nations".
The initiate Merlin made the "round table" where there was no
head and no foot so that all the nights and even the King were equal. None in
the kingdom was to think himself better than his brother. There was a council
of fifty Knights that ruled the kingdom, similar to the "council of
fifty" organized by Joseph Smith just before his death.
The Knights were famous for rescuing women in distress, but the true woman
they were attempting to save was the Kingdom of God.
It was during this period that King Arthur sent the Knights in search for
the Holy Grail. This was said to have been the cup used by the Christ in the
last supper brought to England by Joseph of Arimathea. It was said to possess
the magical power to supply food and drink without ever being filled by human
hands. It was also considered a source of healing and life.
The Holy Grail in the legend symbolizes the "fruits" of the
Kingdom of God that they were searching for and attempting to produce at that
time. It is also a symbol of the presence of Christ, for when the Kingdom is
established the Master will appear. Legend has it that only one or possibly
several knights were worthy to see the grail indicating that most knights,
valiant as they were, were not prepared for their Master.
Near the end of Arthur's life he gave his sword, Excalibur, to Sir Bedivere
and told him to throw it into a nearby lake. Bedivere was reluctant to obey,
but finally gave into Arthur's demand and heaved it into the water. It was
said to have been caught by the hand of the Lady of the Lake. The hand waved
the sword three times and then disappeared under the water. The hand
symbolizes the rightful owner of the sword, The Christ, and the fact that he
waved the sword three times is symbolic of the three time periods when the
sword was to be wielded. The first time was in the Jewish kingdom from the
days of Moses. The second was from the days of Christ to King Arthur, and the
third wave was an indication of a future time.
The legends tell us that another Merlin and King Arthur will arise with
another Excalibur and blaze the trail of glory peace and prosperity.
How much of the above legends are actually true is inconsequential here.
What is important is that they represent symbols which portray real truth.
After Excalibur was lost then was fulfilled the scripture which says:
"And the woman (The Kingdom of God) fled into the wilderness, where a
thousand two hundred and threescore days." Rev. 12:6.
Days in prophecy often mean years. Thus we have a period of 1260 years when
no effort was being made to establish the kingdom on the earth, but the
kingdom was fed in the wilderness. In other words, those who were to have the
responsibility to bear off the kingdom incarnated in the wilderness of the
Dark Ages and were strengthened through tribulation, or they were sent to the
remote parts of the earth such as Tibet or the Americas for rest and
preparation.
Finally, some of the greatest Israelites incarnated in America and
established the Republic and promulgated the Constitution and Bill of Rights.
Then the field was right for Excalibur to return and 1260 years after it
was taken by Christ it was given to Joseph Smith, the controversial American
Prophet. He was shown an ancient sword - called the sword of Laban. This was
not the actual sword of King Authur, but a symbol of it. In 1830 Joseph
established the seed of the Kingdom of God, The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-Day Saints.
Joseph was told in a revelation to "take the sword of my Spirit which
I shall pour out upon you". (D&C 27:18) This is the true sword of
Excalibur which is given out from time to time. Excalibur also consists of
certain keys which are revealed through a Master. Joseph once said: "The
Keys are certain signs and words by which false spirits and personages may be
detected from true, which cannot be revealed to the Elders till the (Nauvoo)
temple is completed . . .There are signs in heaven, earth and hell; the Elders
must know them all, to be endowed with power, to finish their work and prevent
imposition." Documentary History of the Church Vol 4:608 He also said
that he planned "to organize the Church in its proper order as soon as
the temple was completed." DHC 4:604. Since he was killed BEFORE the
temple spoken of was completed it seems logical to assume that the church was
not yet in order when he died, and there were certain keys and symbols he did
not impart. It was important to him to set the church in order before he died
and then teach the people how to recognize true servants of God.
As he was in jail awaiting martyrdom he made the statement: "I would
to God that I could preach to the Saints in Nauvoo once more." DHC 6:601.
Before he was arrested he made every effort to make that a reality, but
failed. He was so anxious to speak one more time he suggested that he speak by
starlight, but it was not to be. This would have been his most important
message to his people for he was going to outline certain things that needed
to be set right and to teach them how to recognize a false leader from a true.
He also wanted to outline certain directions the church was to take.
Joseph was especially concerned about those who would lead the Church after
he died. Concerning a potential candidate, Sidney Rigdon, he said "Were
he to preside he would lead the Church to destruction in less than five
years." DHC 6:592-3.
He also made this prophetic statement to the Nauvoo Legion: "You have
faithfully performed your duty, in preserving the lives of the people as well
as mine. You shall be called the first Elders of this church . . .And your
mission will be to the nations of the earth to preach the gospel, and you will
gather many people to the fastness of the Rocky Mountains, and many of those
who will come in under your ministry because of their learning WILL SEEK FOR
POSITION AND THEY WILL GAIN EMINENCE OVER YOU, and you will walk in low places
unnoticed. Yet you will know all that transpires in your midst. Those who are
your friends are my friends, and I promise you when I come again (referring to
a future incarnation) I will lead your forth, so where I am you shall be with
me." LIFE STORY OF WANDLES MACE, By Himself; Pages 131-132.
Thus for fourteen years the American Prophet Joseph Smith wielded the sword
of the Kingdom, Excalibur and tried to gather a goodly people and establish a
Camelot, which he named Nauvoo, from the Hebrew meaning "the
beautiful".
It is interesting to note that in a past Life Joseph was a High Priest in
the "Temple Beautiful" in Atlantis. His city of Nauvoo and the
temple had many similarities to that ancient time.
Even though Joseph did not get an opportunity to give his final speech and
name a successor in life he was still not denied the opportunity. After
Brigham Young returned to Nauvoo and as he was addressing the Saints thousands
of witnesses were astounded to see the face and hear the voice of Joseph Smith
instead. Of this George Q. Cannon wrote: "If Joseph had risen from the
dead and again spoke in their hearing, the effect could not have been more
startling than it was to many present at that meeting; it was the voice of
Joseph himself; and not only was it the voice of Joseph which was heard, but
it seemed in the eyes of the people as if it were the very person of Joseph
which stood before them. A more wonderful and miraculous event than was
wrought that day in the presence of that congregation we never heard of. The
Lord gave his people a testimony that left no room for doubt as to who was the
man chosen to lead them." LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG, Tullidge, 1877, Pg. 115.
Wilford Woodruff further testified: "If I had not seen him with my own
yes, there is no one that would have convinced me that it (Brigham Young
speaking to the people) was not Joseph Smith." Deseret Evening News March
12, 1892.
This transfiguration of Brigham Young into Joseph Smith right before the
eyes of the people was enough to convince them that he was to be their next
prophet. Brigham had his faults, more than is acknowledged by the church, but
he was Solomon in a previous life, and had a destiny to lead the church.
Brigham tried to adhere to many of the revelations which Joseph Smith had
received. He was obedient to the commandment to build cities and tried to
build another Camelot in Salt Lake. He made every attempt to gather the elect
from the four quarters of the earth. However, he introduced little new
doctrine outside of a few revelations that Joseph had told him in private. He
was also very concerned about the future leaders of the Church. He was
reported to have said: "Brethren, this Church will be lead on to the very
brink of hell by the leaders of this people, then God will raise up one Mighty
and Strong spoken of in the 85th section of the Doctrine and Covenants to save
and redeem this Church." Attested to by Joshua Jones 1861, Provo Bowery.
Even though Brigham Young did an admirable job of leading the people and
maintaining the status quo he was not without fault for he started the trend
toward authoritarianism even though he often preached against it.
His successor was John Taylor, a man who strongly believed every word
revealed By Joseph Smith, and was himself with Joseph on the day he was
killed, and was shot full of holes at the time. Nevertheless, he survived to
become the President of the Church. He fought valiantly to maintain the
doctrines of the Church not only against the outside world, but against his
own people including many of the leaders within the Church. A short time after
it was claimed that he received a personal visitation from Jesus Christ he
made this statement about the future of the Church: "In the time of the
seventh president of this Church, the Church wold go into bondage both
temporally and spiritually and in that day the one Mighty and Strong spoken of
in the 85th section of the Doctrine and Covenants would come." THE KEYS
OF THE PRIESTHOOD ILLUSTRATED, Bishop and Bishop Page 122.
And who is the one Mighty and Strong spoken of here? It is referring to a
revelation received by Joseph Smith: "Yea, thus saith the still small
voice, which whispereth through and pierceth all things, and often times it
maketh my bones to quake while it maketh manifest saying: And it shall come to
pass that I, the Lord God, will send one mighty and strong, holding the
scepter of power in his hand, (The symbol of Excalibur), clothed with light
for a covering, whose mouth shall utter words, eternal words; while his bowels
shall be a fountain of truth, to SET IN ORDER THE HOUSE OF GOD, and to arrange
by lot the inheritance of the saints whose names are found, and the names of
their fathers, and of their children, enrolled in the book of the law of God;
while that man, who was called of God, and appointed, that putteth forth his
hand to steady the ark of God shall fall by the shaft of death, like as a tree
that is smitten by the vivid shaft of lightening . . .These things I say not
of myself; therefore as the Lord speaketh, he will also fulfill." D&C
85:6-7, 10.
This person is also mentioned in Isaiah 28. Because Taylor said that the
one Mighty and Strong would come in the days of the seventh president many
Mormon fundamentalists looked for him in the days of Heber J. Grant, the
seventh president of the Church, but to their dismay no one showed up in a
blaze of glory to set the kingdom in order. However, the rest of the prophecy
seemed to be fulfilled for in the days of the seventh president, the doctrine
of the literal gathering of Israel was abandoned by the people and the dream
of Camelot was transferred to a vague future possibility. The Church also had
many financial problems in those days, and that was also the period of the
Great Depression. The seventh president presided from November 23, 1918 to May
14, 1945, but where was the one who was to set in order the house of God?
The answer should be obvious. He came to the earth, or was born in the days
of the seventh president, but has obviously not yet performed his work.
According to Isaiah (Chapter 28) he will be recognized in the days when an
"overflowing scourge" will cover the land. This man is compared to
Moses in several other revelations given to Joseph Smith: "Therefore, I
will raise up unto my people given to a man, who shall lead them like as Moses
led the children of Israel." D&C 103:16 "And the Lord that said:
I will raise up a Moses; and I will give power unto him in a rod" (The
sign of Excalibur) . . .II Nephi 3:17
Who is the true Mighty and Strong One? Even though one or more regular
mortal disciples may provide the body the true Mighty one is the Christ who
will be working through His servants through an overshadowing presence.
In the days of King Arthur Excalibur was taken into a lake of water. Water
is a symbol of the emotions. Thus the same thing happened symbolically in our
era. After the death of Joseph Smith the church began to descend more and more
into the emotional world of glamour and by the days of the seventh president
the keys of power were completely submerged and hidden in the lake of
misguided emotion.
The vision presented by Joseph of a literal gathering and building a
kingdom on the earth to prepare for the coming of Christ was substituted to
building a pretty standard church that encourages its members to just have
faith an not seek the mysteries of God.
They still teach the principle of "modern revelation" yet no
modern revelations are ever presented and there have been no new knowledge
give to the church since John Taylor, over 100 years ago.
When Excalibur was taken from Camelot there was nothing left to either love
or hate and the kingdom drifted into oblivion.
Mormons should not be surprised that they have lost the keys of power and
knowledge for they were consistently warned. Here are a few warnings contained
in their own scriptures:
"Inasmuch as ye do it not (Keep the word of the Lord), IT SHALL BE
TAKEN AWAY, even that which ye have received." D&C 43:10
"Wherefore let the Church repent of her sins, and I the Lord will own
them, otherwise THEY SHALL BE CUT OFF." D&C 63:63
"Beware of pride lest ye become as the Nephites of old." D&C
38:39 (The Nephites were a people in the Book of Mormon who were once a great
and goodly people, but eventually disregarded the commandments of God and were
destroyed.)
"Be diligent in keeping all my commandments lest judgements come upon
you and your faith fail you, and your enemies triumph over you." D&C
136:42
Joseph Smith told the Church that if it was not faithful: "GOD SHALL
TAKE AWAY THEIR TALENT AND GIVE IT TO THOSE WHO HAVE NO TALENT, and shall
prevent them from ever obtaining a place of refuge . . ." DHC 2:48.
"But there is a possibility that man may fall from grace and depart from
the living God; Therefore, LET THE CHURCH TAKE HEED and pray always, lest they
fall into temptation." D&C 20:32-33
This final quote is from the Book of Mormon. It is a warning to the
Gentiles. In this book the term "gentile" refers to the people who
will inhabit America in our day, and the people who will receive the Book of
Mormon. In other words, the Mormons themselves. "At that day when the
Gentiles shall sin against my gospel . . .and shall reject the fullness of my
gospel, behold, saith the Father, I WILL BRING THE FULNESS OF MY GOSPEL FROM
AMONG THEM." III Nephi 16:10.
The Mormons rejected greater knowledge and are now satisfied with the
little they have, and that little they have they rarely read. The authorities
are constantly telling them that there will be more revelation when the people
are ready, but first they must live up to what they have. Then they are quick
to point out that the common people in the Church are far from being as worthy
as they should. "Stay away from the mysteries!" is a common
expression echoing through Mormondom. This admonition seems to have done its
job, for the people avoid all new unapproved knowledge like a plague.
This loss of the kingdom was anticipated in the scriptures interestingly
enough for John did not mention only one trip of the Woman into the
wilderness, but two. We have seen that the first one lasted for 1260 years,
but the second one is written in different language: "And to the woman
were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness,
into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time
from the face of the serpent." Rev 12:14.
This second trip of the woman into the wilderness, or the loss of
Excalibur, lasts for "a time, and times, and half a time". This is a
correspondence to the number 1260, for the word times means "a year or a
season, or generation." "A time" can mean one year.
"Times" refers to two years and "a half time" is one half
year. This adds up to three and one half years or about 1260 days. Because
this second trip into the wilderness has the time period in a different
language we may be safe to assume that the second loss of the woman is of a
different duration. Let us hope it will not be another 1260 years! Let us use
months instead and see how this works out. 1260 months equals 105 years. If we
use three and a half generations then we have a period of 160 years if a
generation is the biblical 40 years. But what date do we add this to is the
question? Joseph said the church began to go out of order even before he died,
but there was wholesale abandonment of the founding principles by the days of
the seventh president (November 23, 1918 to May 14, 1945).
I have often said that accurate predictions are difficult to make because
of the free will of humanity - so I will not pick a definite date here except
to state that the power symbolized by Excalibur will soon come again. In
another interesting correspondence in this scripture we are told that this
time "the woman was given two wings of a great eagle". Look on the
back of a U.S. dollar bill and what do you see? Two wings of a great eagle, a
symbol of the United States. This is verification that the second loss of the
kingdom would take place in America. Where else in America can we find a
people that tried to build Zion and failed, but among the Mormons?
Another reference is made to this in the next chapter of Revelations.
Chapter 13 tells us about a beast that will control the world. On the other
hand, the woman is a spiritual order that will replace the authoritarian rule
of the beast. Concerning the beast we are told: "And I saw one of his
heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all
the world wondered after the beast." Rev 13:3
The deadly wound was inflicted on the present spiritual world order when
Excalibur was returned, but when it was lost again "the deadly wound was
healed".
When the woman fled into the wilderness we are told she went "into her
place". This place is within one's own soul for as Jesus said "The
Kingdom of God is within you." The kingdom is never lost to those who are
worthy and when the kingdom without is not available the true lights must rely
on the kingdom within. In this place she is "nourished" in the
hearts of those true seekers who are always scattered to and fro on the earth
until the physical externalization can be born.
Meanwhile the Mormons are fulfilling a prophecy made of them within the
Book of Mormon: "And others he will pacify, and lull them away into
carnal security, that they will say: Al is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth,
all is well - and thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away
carefully down to hell." II Nephi 28:21
If the reader has ever tuned into an LDS conference session on radio or TV
he will recall that about every other discourse extols the wonderful growth
and prosperity of the Church. A better description cannot be found of the
memberships feeling toward the leadership of the Church than "All is
well". It is even a phrase in one of their favorite hymns.
Indeed all is not well with the Mormons or with the rest of the religions
for that matter. In the coming century the religious world will be turned
upside down for the light of a new age is upon us which shall grow in
intensity until even the most dogmatic believers (especially their children)
will see their error and give glory to God instead of man.
Coming Next: Where is the Modern Revelation?
See also:
