The Lion and the Sheep

The five prophecies of the destruction of the gentiles.

As we see the Mexican and other Central American people pushing at our borders it brings to mind the prophecies mentioned in the scriptures about the remnants of the House of Israel harassing and ravaging the latter-day gentiles.  Are we approaching the fulfillment of those prophecies?  This article will analyze these six prophecies.

There is a period of time between Christ's ministry, and the present, known in the scriptures as "The Times of the Gentiles."  This has been an epic in which the gentile nations achieved world ascendancy and dominion over the other nations of the world; in power, knowledge, wisdom and wealth.  These nations correspond to the peoples referred to in Daniel 2:41-45 and consist mainly of the European nations, those countries proceeding from them, and those characterized by their culture.  We are witnessing the termination of this time period referred to as "The End of the Times of the Gentiles."

Lion courtesy Wikipedia

What does the Lord have in store for these latter-day gentiles?  Those who were the last, but are now the first and foremost. There are six separate and specific prophecies relating to these nations which are very interesting, but sobering.  One is from the Old Testament prophet Micah.  Four are found in the Book of Mormon, and one is found in the revelations of the prophet Joseph Smith (D&C 87: 5).  Interestingly, three of these prophecies were given by Jesus Christ after his resurrection, during his appearance among the New World Nephites.  I will present each prophecy separately, and then discuss each one.
But first we need to define the term "remnant" as it is used in the prophecies.  In general the term remnant refers to any of the descendants of the House of Israel.  But there is a more specific definition as used in the Book of Mormon.  In 1Ne.13:34 Nephi tells us that an angel revealed to him that the remnant would be the posterity and descendants of his father Lehi.

In the first prophecy the Lord is speaking to the Nephites at their temple in the Land of Bountiful.  He gives the future gentiles the option of repenting and being numbered among the House of Israel, or of being trodden down by the surviving remnants of the tribes of Jacob.  In the latter case they will be destroyed ignominiously by the once hated, persecuted, and despised remnants of Israel.

If the Gentiles will repent and return unto me, saith the Father, behold they shall be numbered among my people, O house of Israel.  And I will not suffer my people, who are of the house of Israel, to go through among them, and tread them down, saith the Father.  But if they will not turn unto me, and hearken unto my voice, I will suffer them, yea, I will suffer my people, O house of Israel, that they shall go through among them, and shall tread them down, and they shall be as salt that hath lost its savor, which is thenceforth good for nothing but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of my people, O house of Israel (3 Ne 16:13).

In the second of Christ's prophecies we are told that the remnant will initially be scattered and persecuted by the gentiles.  But in the latter days the remnant will rise up and become a scourge to their oppressors.  They are compared to a ravaging lion among a flock of sheep which has no defense against such a powerful predator.  None of the gentiles allies, friends or associates can deliver them from this foe.  Any enemies of the remnant will be defeated, and finally the remnant will destroy many nations.  The remnant will consecrate the spoil gained from the gentiles to the Lord.  The warning is that the Lord's sword will hang over all the gentile nations that don't repent and turn unto him.  The Times of the Gentiles will end with the ruin and destruction of all the unrepentant gentiles.

And I say unto you, that if the Gentiles do not repent after the blessing which they shall receive, after they have scattered my people—Then shall ye, who are a remnant of the house of Jacob, go forth among them; and ye shall be in the midst of them who shall be many; and ye shall be among them as a lion among the beasts of the forest, and as a young lion among the flocks of sheep, who, if he goeth through both treadeth down and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver.  Thy hand shall be lifted up upon thine adversaries, and all thine enemies shall be cut off.  And I will gather my people together as a man gathereth his sheaves into the floor.  For I will make my people with whom the Father hath covenanted, yea, I will make thy horn iron, and I will make thy hoofs brass.  And thou shalt beat in pieces many people; and I will consecrate their gain unto the Lord, and their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth.  And behold, I am he who doeth it.  And it shall come to pass, saith the Father, that the sword of my justice shall hang over them at that day; and except they repent it shall fall upon them, saith the Father, yea, even upon all the nations of the Gentiles (3 Ne. 20:15).

In the third reference, the Lord reiterates the previous prophecies using the visual imagery of the ravenous lion among the defenseless herds and flocks.  Then he repeats the words of the prophet Micah, that the Lord will destroy the horses and chariots of the gentiles (does this refer to modern transportation?).  In addition he will cut off their cities and strongholds; eliminate their witches and soothsayers; destroy any idolatrous images including possessions that might be worshiped; and destroy the groves (or places of idolatrous worship) and even destroy the gentile cities.  All lyings, deceit, envy, strife, priestcraft, and whoredoms will disappear as the millenial reign begins.  He concludes with the warning that he will execute vengeance and fury on the unrepentant gentiles, as has been unheard of in the past.    

 Therefore it shall come to pass that whosoever will not believe in my words, who am Jesus Christ, which the Father shall cause him to bring forth unto the Gentiles, and shall give unto him power that he shall bring them forth unto the Gentiles, (it shall be done even as Moses said) they shall be cut off from among my people who are of the covenant.  And my people who are a remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles, yea, in the midst of them as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep, who, if he go through both treadeth down and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver.  Their hand shall be lifted up upon their adversaries, and all their enemies shall be cut off.  Yea, wo be unto the Gentiles except they repent; for it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Father, that I will cut off thy horses out of the midst of thee, and I will destroy thy chariots;  And I will cut off the cities of thy land, and throw down all thy strongholds;  And I will cut off witchcrafts out of thy land, and thou shalt have no more soothsayers;  Thy graven images I will also cut off, and thy standing images out of the midst of thee, and thou shalt no more worship the works of thy hands;  And I will pluck up thy groves out of the midst of thee; so will I destroy thy cities.  And it shall come to pass that all lyings, and deceivings, and envyings, and strifes, and priestcrafts, and whoredoms, shall be done away.  For it shall come to pass, saith the Father, that at that day whosoever will not repent and come unto my Beloved Son, them will I cut off from among my people, O house of Israel;  And I will execute vengeance and fury upon them, even as upon the heathen, such as they have not heard (3 Ne 21:11). 

Now let us consider the other prophecies of the destruction of the unrepentant gentiles, beginning with that of the prophet Micah.  Here we need to point out that all these prophecies refer to all the nations of the gentiles worldwide.  However the prophecies from the Book of Mormon seem to specifically speak of those gentiles inhabiting the former lands of the Lamanites and Nephites.

Micah's prophecies were given between 700-600 BC, shortly before Lehi left Jerusalem.  His was the original prophecy, and the others (including Christ's) use his imagery and words.  He first calls the gentiles to repentance.  He says that when attack they shall be as ashes under the remnants feet.  The remnant will have superior strength (imaged as horns of iron and hoofs of brass) and conquer and destroy many peoples and nations.  The spoil from these conquests will be consecrated to the Lord.  This would seem to indicate that they will be a righteous people at this point in time.  Micah seems to suggest that the remnant will be scattered among the gentiles like dew in the morning, or raindrops after a shower (perhaps not concentrated in a central army).  He then goes on to prophecy about the horses, chariots, witches, etc. that have been discussed above.

And the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many people as a dew from the Lord, as the showers upon the grass, that tarrieth not for man, nor waiteth for the sons of men.  And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles in the midst of many people as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep: who, if he go through, both treadeth down, and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver.  Thine hand shall be lifted up upon thine adversaries, and all thine enemies shall be cut off.  And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord, that I will cut off thy horses out of the midst of thee, and I will destroy thy chariots:  And I will cut off the cities of thy land, and throw down all thy strong holds:  And I will cut off witchcrafts out of thine hand; and thou shalt have no more soothsayers: Thy graven images also will I cut off, and thy standing images out of the midst of thee; and thou shalt no more worship the work of thine hands.  And I will pluck up thy groves out of the midst of thee: so will I destroy thy cities.  And I will execute vengeance in anger and fury upon the heathen, such as they have not heard (Micah 5:7 ).

Now we will conclude with the final two prophecies making five in all.  These last two are not as specific and detailed as the other, but are nevertheless significant.  Mormon's reference is only a brief reference to the prophecy, mentioning the lion and sheep imagery.  The last one is from the prophecy on war in D&C 87 and mentions that the remnant will marshal thenselves (organize for war?)  In their great anger (what will provoke this anger?) they will harass and disturb the gentiles

And then, O ye Gentiles, how can ye stand before the power of God, except ye shall repent and turn from your evil ways?  Know ye not that ye are in the hands of God?  Know ye not that he hath all power, and at his great command the earth shall be rolled together as a scroll?  Therefore, repent ye, and humble yourselves before him, lest he shall come out in justice against you—lest a remnant of the seed of Jacob shall go forth among you as a lion, and tear you in pieces, and there is none to deliver (Morm. 5:22 ).

And it shall come to pass also that the remnants who are left of the land will marshal themselves, and shall become exceedingly angry, and shall vex the Gentiles with a sore vexation (D&C 87:5).

An excellent article on this subject can be found at Mormon Chronicle written by H. Verlan Andersen, a former Seventy