Scripture Blog

This weblog is my personal online scripture journal. I try to read the scriptures each morning as I exercise on my cross-trainer. It has a great impact on my life and my testimony of the Savior and his restored church. The journal is really for my own benefit but I have set it up as a web log in hopes to benefit anyone else that may be interested. "For he that diligently seeketh shall find; and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy Ghost..." 1 Nephi 10:19

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

D&C 88

As I have studied the scriptures over the years, I have found that many revelations sometimes jump chronologically in their message which at times may confuse us.  Sometimes we do the same thing when we are telling and explaing a story even though we may not be aware of it.  It is in this revelation that the Lord details the order of resurrection, the order order of judgement.  Afterwards, He then jumps back and proveds the order of events in the millenium.

The first to be resurrected are those to receive celestial bodies where at His second coming -

"...the saints that are upon the earth, who are alive, shall be quickened and be caught up to meet him.
97 And they who have slept in their graves shall come forth, for their graves shall be opened; and they also shall be caught up to meet him in the midst of the pillar of heaven—
98 They are Christ's, the first fruits, they who shall descend with him first, and they who are on the earth and in their graves, who are first caught up to meet him; and all this by the voice of the sounding of the trump of the angel of God."  (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 88:96 - 98)

Many call this the morning of the first resurrection.  This first resurrection began with the Savior's resurrection.  After the resurrection of the just -

"...another angel shall sound, which is the second trump; and then cometh the redemption of those who are Christ's at his coming; who have received their part in that prison which is prepared for them, that they might receive the gospel, and be judged according to men in the flesh."  (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 88:99)

In my mind, these are those receiving a terrestrial body.  Though they received the gospel, the point is -

"These are they who are not valiant in the testimony of Jesus..."  (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 76:79)

"In other words, was not valian in making and keeping sacred covenants.  Then follows those that receive a body of telestial glory -

"...again, another trump shall sound, which is the third trump; and then come the spirits of men who are to be judged, and are found under condemnation;
101 And these are the rest of the dead; and they live not again until the thousand years are ended, neither again, until the end of the earth."  (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 88:100 - 101)

Obviously, these are they that would not repent which therefore thererore are they that no redemption was made.  They will suffer for there sins.  And last will be those that receive no glorified body where  -

"...another trump shall sound, which is the fourth trump, saying: There are found among those who are to remain until that great and last day, even the end, who shall remain filthy still."  (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 88:102)

They will be filthy forever in that they will forever rebel against goodness.  After these resurrections -

"...another trump shall sound, which is the fifth trump, which is the fifth angel who committeth the everlasting gospel—flying through the midst of heaven, unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people;
104 And this shall be the sound of his trump, saying to all people, both in heaven and in earth, and that are under the earth—for every ear shall hear it, and every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall confess, while they hear the sound of the trump, saying: Fear God, and give glory to him who sitteth upon the throne, forever and ever; for the hour of his judgment is come.
105 And again, another angel shall sound his trump, which is the sixth angel, saying: She is fallen who made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication; she is fallen, is fallen!
106 And again, another angel shall sound his trump, which is the seventh angel, saying: It is finished; it is finished! The Lamb of God hath overcome and trodden the wine-press alone, even the wine-press of the fierceness of the wrath of Almighty God."   (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 88:103 - 106)

And then those that are of the first resurrection -

"...shall the angels be crowned with the glory of his might, and the saints shall be filled with his glory, and receive their inheritance and be made equal with him."  (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 88:107)

Of the judgement, the Lord provides the order in that -

"And then shall the first angel again sound his trump in the ears of all living, and reveal the secret acts of men, and the mighty works of God in the first thousand years.
109 And then shall the second angel sound his trump, and reveal the secret acts of men, and the thoughts and intents of their hearts, and the mighty works of God in the second thousand years—
110 And so on, until the seventh angel shall sound his trump..."  (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 88:108 - 110)

It will be quite revealing of those that will not repent that all secret acts of men will be revealed.

Then we are taught the order of the millenium -

"...he shall stand forth upon the land and upon the sea, and swear in the name of him who sitteth upon the throne, that there shall be time no longer; and Satan shall be bound, that old serpent, who is called the devil, and shall not be loosed for the space of a thousand years.
111 And then he shall be loosed for a little season, that he may gather together his armies.
112 And Michael, the seventh angel, even the archangel, shall gather together his armies, even the hosts of heaven.
113 And the devil shall gather together his armies; even the hosts of hell, and shall come up to battle against Michael and his armies.
114 And then cometh the battle of the great God; and the devil and his armies shall be cast away into their own place, that they shall not have power over the saints any more at all.
115 For Michael shall fight their battles, and shall overcome him who seeketh the throne of him who sitteth upon the throne, even the Lamb."  (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 88:110 - 115)

There is a plan and order in all things.