And so things continued in the land about as they were. The wicked hardened their hearts and the righteous looked for the sign. The wicked rationalized the signs and the verity of a Savior saying, “…it is not reasonable that such a being as Christ shall come…[1]”
If He were to really come, why in Jerusalem? What are we, the “B” team? If He’s going to come, He should come here as well and prove to us that He is God. The more they thought about it, the angrier they became. Since there were more wicked people than righteous they made very wicked laws, and the most startling law of all time came as the five years were about to expired.
“Now …there was a day set apart by the unbelievers, that all those who believed in those traditions should be put to death, except the sign should come to pass…[2]”
I testify that Jesus was not only born when and how the prophets testified, but that He will return in similar circumstances. His birth or First Coming is but a type of His Second Coming. Our prophets have declared that Sodom and Gomorrah would not be considered the most wicked of cities if they were on earth today. We have exceeded the wickedness of Zarahemla, Babylon, and Nineveh.
It also means there is righteousness to offset the wickedness. Zarahemla was saved because of the righteousness of her people, and I believe the wicked are only around today because of the righteous. But as in the days of Nephi, so it will be for all when He comes again.
“Now…when Nephi, the son of Nephi, saw this wickedness…his heart was exceedingly sorrowful…And he…bowed…down…and cried mightily to his God in behalf of his people, yea, those who were about to be destroyed because of their faith…And it came to pass that he cried mightily unto the Lord all that day; and behold, the voice of the Lord came unto him, saying:
Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night shall the sign be given, and on the morrow come I into the world, to show unto the world that I will fulfill all that which I have cause to be spoken by the mouth of my holy prophets.[3]
…For behold, at the going down of the sun there was no darkness; and the people began to be astonished because there was no darkness when the night came.
And there were many, who had not believed the words of the prophets, who fell to the earth and became as if they were dead, for they knew that the great plan of destruction which they had laid for those who believed in the words of the prophets had been frustrated; for the sign which had been given was already at hand.[4]”
And this Zechariah snapshot of the 2nd Coming comes this testimony as Jerusalem is besieged in the Battle of Armageddon, this same Savior will descend from on high and touch the tip of Olivet and it shall break in twain, east and west, and then north and south: “And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives[5]…And they shall look upon [him] whom they have pierced[6]…And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, those [are the wounds]… which I…received in the house of my friends.[7]”
And so the words of Isaiah and all the prophets were fulfilled, every jot and tittle.
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called, Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”
Christ is come, He is our Lord and Savior and He will most assuredly come again.
