There seem to be at least nine pages on either side of pages 1458-9 that contain words
which also apply very directly to Zenos' allegory of the vineyard of the Lord. The
series begins with word 5418, phragmos, "A
fence, hedge, a thorn hedge around a vineyard, beside which there was
often a wall," on page 1453. The next word means, "To expound,
explain," (5419) alluding to the fact that the words which follow will not expound
and explain the parable of the vineyard.
Word 5421 phrear means "A well or pit dug
in the earth for water or other purposes. Figuratively [sometimes] meaning hades,
hell." The synonym listed is bothunos (999), "pit, ditch,
cistern." Several things come to mind for me on this one. First, there is
the play on the word "dig," which is mentioned seven times in Jacob 5 in
reference to digging about the trees in their care. Second, there is the idea of the
water source for a vineyard, though this idea is not mentioned in Zenos' allegory. Third,
taking the negative meaning of the word, which implies "hell," the vineyard's
purpose is to ward against the effects of hell. The desired outcome is good, not
evil fruit. Finally, I can't help but see possible intended significance in the
number 999, as it is both 666 turned up-side-down, and we are currently in the year 1999.
Metaphors relevant to 1999 and 666 are not hard to come by with the definition
"pit, ditch, cistern" -- both negative and positive. The idea of
"cistern," for example, connotes storage during times of plenty for inevitable
times of lack.
The next two words in this series, mean, "To deceive" (5422) and "A
deceiver, impostor" (5423). Again, though these words are not mentioned
explicitly in Zenos' allegory, as they would be difficult to fit into the metaphors
allowed in the imagery, they certainly are relevant to the whole plot of the battle
between good and evil. An antonym of the synonym paralogizomai (3884)
"to deceive or beguile by false reasoning," is aletheuo (226), "To
deal honestly, to be truthful or speak truthfully." Hopefully it is the latter,
not the former which is the case in this present exposition. Those who shed light on
corruption within established institutions are inevitably going to be spurned by some.
Remember what the Jews said of Jesus:
John 7:
12 And there was much murmuring among the people concerning him: for some said, He is a
good man: others said, Nay; but he deceiveth the people.
Words 5423, 5426-5430 all have to do with "understanding" and
"prudence," or "wisdom." An antonym meaning given in these words
is "foolish." One antonym along these lines is of particular relevance
here, "asunetos (801), without
understanding," or "foolish." Another write-up found at this web site
(Mormons and 801)
explores at great length the connection between the concept of wise versus foolish
virgins, salt that has lost its savor, and the numbers and names relating to Wasatch Front
Mormonism, where the telephone area code is 801, "foolish."
This is of particular interest here as the Lord has set these people in an
extraordinary way to be a light to the world and the savor of men. Has the salt lost
its savor, hence being good for nothing but to be cast out and trodden under feet?
In the imagery of the vineyard, the Mormon shepherds are called (many are called but few
are chosen) of God to be the husbandmen over the vineyard -- the servants who help the
Lord of the vineyard prune his vineyard for the last time.
A very important parable given in the Doctrine and Covenants, section 101, uses the
same imagery as Zenos' allegory. There too the Lord builds a vineyard and instructs
his servants to place a hedge about it and build a tower. But the servants are
slothful, "seeing as this is a time of peace," and they neglect to build the
tower, whereby they might watch and see the enemy coming a far off, that they might be
able to protect the vineyard from destruction. (101:53,54.)
This is chilling (5425) considering that five of the next eleven words have the meaning
of "watch, guard, take care, be careful, keep watch." (5431, 5432, 5438, 5440,
5441, 5442.) The last of these spills onto page 1458, where this discovery began,
relative to the correlation between Jacob 5 and the definitions found on these pages.
Regarding watching, earlier in D&C 101, the Lord says,
39 When men are called into mine everlasting gospel, and covenant with an everlasting
covenant, they are accounted as the salt of the earth and the savor of men;
40 They are called to be the savor of men; therefore, if that salt of the earth lose its
savor, behold, it is thenceforth good for nothing only to be cast out and trodden under
the feet of men.
And that is what happens in the parable in D&C 101, the vineyard is trodden under
feet because of the slothfulness of the husbandmen.
But not all are slothful. In the parable, the Lord then calls upon "the
residue of my servants..., the strength of my house" to "redeem my
vineyard." (101:55,56.) And who are his servants?
D&C 101:
12 And in that day all who are found upon the watch-tower,
or in other words, all mine Israel, shall be
saved.
13 And they that have been scattered shall be gathered. [see
words 5436 and 5437 below.]
In the midst of these words which mean "to watch, guard, keep," are several
other words relevant to the parable above as well as to Zenos' allegory.
Touching on the idea of the vineyard being trodden down, word 5433, which derives from bruo
(1032), "to overflow," means, "To make such a noise as snorting, neighing,
to be tumultuous, noisy, fierce, to rage." The next word also fits the imagery
of the parable when the vineyard is overrun. Word 5434 means, "A stick for
burning, kindling."
Then word 5436 means "a fugitive," and word 5437 means
"A flight or fleeing," with synonym "exodus (1841),
exit, exodus;" and antonym "epistrophe
(1995), a return.
Though they may not be exact, I sure can't help but think that the word number
values for "exodus" and "return" apply to years in Mormon history.
The 1840's were indeed a year of exodus into the wilderness, and the 1990's have
been a time of great return of a valiant remnant from the midst of Mormonism.
Besides that, the word "exodus" and "return" are key concepts in
Zenos' allegory.
Also in the midst of these words for "watch" is the word 5439.
5439 phulakizo To imprison.
Syn. (4912), to hold fast, (163), to make captive; (1402), to bring into
bondage.
Ant. (3089), to loose, unbind; (1659), to liberate; (3084), to redeem. |
Combining the idea of watching and the idea of imprisonment, I think of II Nephi 28:
21 And others will he pacify, and lull them away into carnal security, that they will
say: All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all is well ["What need hath my Lord
for this tower, seeing this is a time of peace?" (D&C 101:48)]--and thus the
devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell.
22 And behold, others he flattereth away, and telleth them there is no hell; and he saith
unto them: I am no devil, for there is none--and thus he whispereth in their ears, until
he grasps them with his awful chains, from whence there is no deliverance.
"There is no conspiracy to overthrow the Constitution," they say.
"Communism is dead," they repeat after the mantra of the conspirators who seek
to establish world Socialism, their New World Order.
Captivity? Yes, absolutely. It's coming. The mark of the beast. The
plans of these conspirators are almost completely in place. The trap is fully loaded
and primed to be sprung. The bait is about to be taken.
What are Mormons taught about the mark of the beast or the reign of the anti-Christ?
Nothing. Well, hardly anything anyway.
Yet they were called of God to be the watchmen on the tower.
"What need hath my Lord of this tower?"
Yes, there is a treading down in store.
It's noteworthy that in the midst of words about "natural" on pages 1458-1460
is word 5448 phusioo "To inflate, blow or puff up," and word 5450
"A swelling of pride or ambition, arrogance." In this case, the message I
get regards the natural man which is an enemy to God, setting himself up, relying on the
arm of flesh. That is what this socialistic New World Order is about: man thinking
he knows how to run things on a grand scale without placing his trust in God. It's
only when our dispositions are changed through Christ that we become capable of
establishing God's government on earth.
Continuing in the spirit of the parable of the vineyard, words 5451-5453 all have to
with "a planting, to plant, to bring forth, let grow."
Next comes word 5454 "A hole, burrow, a place where animals lurk."
Though this does not fit the vineyard imagery, it does again fit the idea of the lurking
of Satan who would seek to destroy or corrupt the Lord's vineyard.
Thence come eight words concluding the phi section of the lexicon, all of
which have to do with the earlier idea of "watching," except these have to do
with "crying out" (5455), "making a sound" (5456), "light"
(5457-8) and "giving light" (5460-5462). Its interesting that "crying
out" and "giving light" would be so closely juxtaposed, illustrating the
relationship between being a faithful watchman who cries out to the flock against
impending danger, hence giving light to their understanding that they might be adequately
prepared for that danger when it arrives.
