NEPHI AND THE FEAST OF TRUMPETS IN THE LAND OF BOUNTIFUL

“And we did sojourn for the space of many years, yea, even eight years in the wilderness. And we did come to the land which we called Bountiful, because of its much fruit and also wild honey; and all these things were prepared of the Lord that we might not perish. And we beheld the sea, which we called Irreantum, which, being interpreted, is many waters. And it came to pass that we did pitch our tents by the seashore; and notwithstanding we had suffered many afflictions and much difficulty, yea, even so much that we cannot write them all, we were exceedingly rejoiced when we came to the seashore; and we called the place Bountiful, because of its much fruit.  ” (1 Nephi 17:4-6)

Lehi and his family traveled in the wilderness of correction for eight years prior to coming to the land they called Bountiful.  In the wilderness our carnal/natural state is revealed. It is also the place where we can correct and come into greater connection with God here in our temporary tabernacle/tent of wandering.  The number eight represents the culmination or fulfillment of their correction.  It represents a time when the person is prepared to receive the light.  It represents a time when the person’s soul is large enough and pure enough to receive eternal life or the land of promise.  Eight years in the wilderness represent the end of correction (tikkun).

After their travel in the wilderness, Lehi and his family arrive at a land that they called Bountiful because of its much fruit and wild honey.  The symbol of fruit and honey is reminiscent of the Feast of Yom Teruah/ Rosh Hashanah.  This Feast of Israel occurs in the seventh month (Tishri) right after the sixth month (named the month of Elul post Babylonian Captivity).  This month is a time of repentance in preparation for the Fall Feasts (Appointed Times) of Israel that commence with Rosh Hashanah.

According to tradition, after the incident of the Golden Calf and Moses breaking of the first set of tablets, Moses ascended Mount Sinai on the first day of Elul for a period of forty days.  After he ascended the Mountain of the Lord, he then descended to the camp of Israel at the base of the mountain forty days later on Yom Teruah/Rosh Hashanah.  To this day, Jewish tradition celebrates Rosh Hashanah by dipping fruit (apples) in honey.  In ancient Israel the symbol of fruit dipped in honey was a symbol of correction and the putting off of the natural man.  It represented the sweetness of a restored relationship, and a place of serenity and plenty.  This place of serenity and plenty is represented by Nephi’s declaration of Bountiful.

Like Israel who went through a period of correction, Nephi records that they too came to a place of bounty, sweetness, and serenity after their period of correction as represented by the afflictions and difficulties they experienced.   The spiritual state of correction and change leads to a condition of bounty, sweetness, and serenity where they could see the many waters that separated them from the land of promise; the waters representing the barrier that separates the earth from the Throne of God as demonstrated in Genesis:

And God said, Let there be a firmament (dome or barrier) in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so. And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.” (Genesis 1:6-8)

This place of Bountiful serves as a place of ascending the mountain of God. Here in Bountiful Nephi ascends the Mountain of the Lord to receive instructions.  Later this ascension is paralleled by his descendants in third Nephi who ascended the Mountain of Lord at the Temple in the Land of Bountiful where the Lord manifested himself to all the people.  The physical temple in ancient Israel being a symbol for the Mountain of the Lord:

“And now it came to pass that there were a great multitude gathered together, of the people of Nephi, round about the temple which was in the land Bountiful; and they were marveling and wondering one with another, and were showing one to another the great and marvelous change which had taken place.” (3 Nephi 11:1)

“And it came to pass that after I, Nephi, had been in the land of Bountiful for the space of many days, the voice of the Lord came unto me, saying: Arise, and get thee into the mountain. And it came to pass that I arose and went up into the mountain, and cried unto the Lord. And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto me, saying: Thou shalt construct a ship, after the manner which I shall show thee, that I may carry thy people across these waters.” ( 1 Nephi 17:7-8)

The Prophet Nephi had ascended the Mountain of the Lord in varying degrees of intimacy during his correction in the wilderness.  In Bountiful he is once again commanded to ascend in preparation for their journey to the Land of Promise that represents the Throne of God. With each ascent into the mountain Nephi is also ascending in intimacy with God.  This is also known as ascending the tree of life or ascending the rungs of Jacob’s ladder.  In typical Israelite fashion Nephi draws upon the imagery and incident of these high and holy appointed times that restores key insights into increasing our intimacy of God.

© 2018 Robert Kay

All rights reserved. No portion of this article may be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law.

Understanding The Jewish Book of Revelation (Part 1)

"And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise." (Revelation 8:12)

Much of Christian and Mormon theology finds its roots in varying interpretations of the Book of Revelation.  Every year we see books and fiery preachers arrive on the scene with new interpretations of this Book for the current audience of the day.  These books and sermons are filled with warnings, admonitions, and interpretations usually relating the many symbols and scenes portrayed in the Book of Mormon as applying to our current situation.  We hear interpretations that like, "The Mark of the Beast is your Social Security Number or A giant computer located in Washington, or A system of forced microchip identification system."  We hear interpretations like Barrack Obama is the Anti-Christ or Hilary Clinton is the Anti-Christ...."  and on and on and on.

But while the purveyors of Christian and Mormon books hear their cash registers go CHA-CHING$$$$ everytime there is a new "BLOOD MOON" or shooting star, it may help our sanity and our pocket books to understand that the Book of Revelation is a Jewish Book.  It was received and communicated by the Apostle John who was a Jew and communicated in classic Jewish Fashion.  To understand the message of this Jewish Book means we need to understand not only the nature of Jewish Prophecy but also the nature of Jewish Prophetic/Poetic language.

TO WHOM WAS THE BOOK WRITTEN AND WHEN:

Despite all the rhetoric and misinterpretation over the past two thousand years Jewish Prophetic tradition teaches that the prophecy and its' content must be interpretated first in relation to the people and the time period in which the prophecy/vision was delivered.  While the book teaches cyclical patterns that repeat throughout past and the future, it was meant to be understood in the context of the people and time it was given.

TO WHOM:

"I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star."  (Revelation 22:16)

This testimony of John was given to the "churches" or assemblies of believers in Messiah (both Jew and Gentile) in the various locations such as Ephesus, Smyrna, Thyatira, Pergamos, etc. that existed at that time.


THE WHEN:

When God communicated the vision to the Apostle John it was literally meant as instruction and warning for the people in his day.  As the record relates at both the beginning and the end of the record:

"The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John..." (Revelation 1:1)

and

"And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done." (Revelation 22:6)


Despite what many say when the YHVH or the Angel of YHVH states unto John in approximately somewhere between 35 and 70 AD that these things are SHORTLY TO COME TO PASS.  He may actually mean what he says in that these things are meant to be immediately understood to occur in that generation in which it was given.  SHORTLY IS NOT 2000 YEARS LATER.

So to properly understand the JEWISH BOOK OF REVELATION the p'shat or literal level of the record should be taken and read at face value.  In other words all of the prophecy recorded in what we call the Book of Revelation had an immediate fulfillment in the generation in which it was given. This does not mean that the Book does not have a futuristic application.  It means that we must understand the message, the cycle being taught, and the definition of the symbols in the time, culture, and language including the people to whom it was delivered first.

Now this may sound strange because if the Book of Revelation has already taken place then where is Christ coming in the clouds of Heaven and What Happened to the Millenium?  We will get to that!

Before we can understand the rich Jewish symbolism contained in the book we must also understand the nature of the Jewish Prophetic Poetry in which the vision is communicated.

JEWISH PROPHETIC/POETIC LANGUAGE:

"And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise." (Revelation 8:12)


Over the years there have been many interpretations given of this scripture.  At face value it has been interpreted to mean the sun will not shine, volcanic or nuclear clouds will blot out the sun, meteors and comets will pelt the earth, etc etc.  In fact in the last decade alone we have had such a frenzy of OMEN and SIGN salesmen appear on the scene scaring the hell out of people because of Blood Moons, Eclipses, and other varying "signs" or astronomical events in the Heavens.

In doing so they are often unaware of the rich poetic language of Ancient Israel and the methods of communication used to convey messages of importance and severity to the audience of that day.  Unlike we who can turn on the  television and SEE visible images of death, murder, destruction, hurricanes, bad weather, and warfare wherein our minds are able to directly comprehend the importance and severity of the events we see now with our eyes, the believers in the days of apostle John did not have these methods of communication.

As a result, a rich  language of metaphor and symbol developed in Israel that was used by the prophets to convey the same importance and severity.   It was a way of telling a story or an event that occurred using the "artwork" of prophetic language and symbol.  So in exploring this scripture in Revelations 8:12 it may also be useful to know that these same symbols were used by earlier Israelite prophets in regard to other events:

In regard to the political downfall of Babylon, the Prophet Isaiah uses the same artistic prophetic devices:

"The burden of Babylon...

Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man's heart shall melt: And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames.

Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.

For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine." (Isaiah 13: 1, 8-10)

The Kingdom of Babylon existed as a kingdom both before and after its fall.  The language of the stars of heavens and the constellatoins not giving light and the sun darkened actually refer political fall of the political rulers and government of the kingdom of Babylon.  The use of images such as stars in the heavnes, constellations, and the sun were common Middle Eastern symbols for rulers/governments.

Lest we think this type of prophetic/poetic language is unique, consider that the prophet Ezekiel prophesied the same thing in regard to Egypt in regard to their political fall:

"And I will set fire in Egypt: Sin shall have great pain, and No shall be rent asunder, and Noph shall have distresses daily.

The young men of Aven and of Pibeseth shall fall by the sword: and these cities shall go into captivity. At Tehaphnehes also the day shall be darkened, when I shall break there the yokes of Egypt: and the pomp of her strength shall cease in her: as for her, a cloud shall cover her, and her daughters shall go into captivity." (Ezekiel 30:16-18)

It may shock many to find out that the same poetic images were used in describing the political fall/upheaval of Babylon and Egypt as nations (AKA: THE DAY OF THE LORD). If we take the JEWISH BOOK OF REVELATION at it's word the immediate message to the Jews was that their political fall was on its way.  In fact, it was fulfilled every "yod and brush stroke or jot and tittle" in 70 AD in the Jewish wars with Rome, the destruction of the temple, and the relatively immediate events thereafter.  In our western, linear, Greek mind we read this Jewish Record and attempt to take language that was mean to communicate imagery and apply to specific rulers, leaders, and events happening right now.  The nature of Israelite prophecy is that the cycle of pride, corruption, and righteousness is meant to be understood and applied to our time.  The literal labeling of events and people in our time as "THE Battle of Armegeddon/THE Mark of the Beast or THE Anti-Christ" is a misuse, misunderstanding, and misapplication of Israelite Prophetic/Poetic Linguistic devises.

TRADITION!

Christian tradition and theology often clouds (no pun intended) the Israelite understanding of the message of the Jewish Book of Revelation. The "LAST DAYS INDUSTRY" in America is a billion dollar industry and every few years new books with new signs and interpretations appear to appease and scare the frightened masses.  But if we understand the nature of Israelite language and symbolism the message of the Book of Revelation ceases to be a message of the end of the world.  Instead it can be understood as it was meant to be- A REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST wherein it teaches the cycles of Righteousness and Iniquity of varying Nations with whom God has had dealings.  Many people have spent their lives and means in a form of emotional, mental, and spiritual paralysis planning, arming, and waiting for the actual events portrayed in Jewish artistic language to happen.  They hide and plan in fear waiting for these events all the while taking no action to uphold righteous laws, principles, and government because why should they worry we are just waiting for cataclysmic events and planetoids to pelt the earth and in the end Jesus will come and fix it all.  But that is NOT the message of the JEWISH BOOK OF REVELATION.

(TO BE CONTINUED)

© 2018 Robert Kay



All rights reserved. No portion of this article may be reproduced in any form without permission from the author, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law.

THE BEAUTY OF THE BOOK OF MORMON

The Book of Mormon begins:

“I, Nephi, having been born of goodly parents, therefore I was taught somewhat in all the learning of my father; and having seen many afflictions in the course of my days, nevertheless, having been highly favored of the Lord in all my days; yea, having had a great knowledge of the goodness and the mysteries of God, therefore I make a record of my proceedings in my days.” (1 Nephi 1:1)

Everyone who reads these words with searching hearts is moved in some way.  Since its first printing we have been exposed to various interpretations of the Book of Mormon on a literal level. The Book of Mormon has been analyzed in many ways and yet it many ways the Book of Mormon remains a sealed book as its true message often remains veiled from the eyes of our understanding.

It speaks primarily one major message-the relationship between the God of Israel and the inhabitants of the land.  The Book of Mormon doesn’t just recount a history lesson, but give us the ‘how’ to see that relationship.  In it we find the gradual revelation of God, spiritual ascension, and the lessons of progression.  The beauty of the Book of Mormon is that it contains a science that teaches us the knowledge of the Fathers-even Adam and the first civilization of man- using sophisticated language, symbols, and historical accounts.  It describes the beauty of Zion and the creation of sacred space for us in ordinary language.

If we submit ourselves to the will and spirit of God, the language of the Book of Mormon describes for us the creation of Heaven on earth, its structure, the design of its society, and the process whereby those born of the spirit can replicate the condition of oneness with God.  The teachings of the Book of Mormon do not refer to the natural, carnal, or egotistical man but to the creation of the will to receive to bestow, i.e. Loving God and Loving our Neighbor.

The goal of these teachings being the creation of a state of joy, “Adam fell that men might be; and men care, that they might have joy.” (2 Nephi 2:25) The only difference between all men, creatures, and objects both great and small being the different levels of their will to receive and bestow joy-the differing capacities to receive and bestow joy determining the qualities and gifts of each.

The Book of Mormon in true Hebraic fashion reveals these teachings divided into five sublevels:

1. The revelation of God and his throne to Lehi -1 Nephi 5-15 (Keter)
2. The revelation of Wisdom – 1 Nephi 2: 15- 4:38 (Chokmah)
3. The revelation of Understanding -  1 Nephi 7:21 – 9:1 (Binah)
4. The revelation of Beauty-  1 Nephi 10:16- 16: 5 (Tipheret)
5. The revelation of the Kingdom-  1 Nephi 16:6- 18:24 (Malkut)

Taken together these revelations form the path or progression found in the name (YHVH) of God. It was the desire of God to bring Lehi and his family from the darkness of the world that existed in the land of Israel to a fullness of joy symbolized by the Land of Promise. It is the desire of God to fill his creation with the fullness of joy like a cup filled to the brim with fine wine.  It is the ascension of man from the base desires of the natural man to God’s state of being symbolized by the spiritual child of God.  In doing so God wants to give us to his state of being-his perfection and the ability to receive what he wants to bestow upon us.

The first seven books of the Book of Mormon follow the pattern of the seven days of creation.  The first six- 1 Nephi, 2 Nephi, Jacob, Enos, Jarom, and Omni corresponding to the six days of the week during which humanity commences in light goes through ongoing correction until it reaches a fullness with the seventh day (symbolized by the Words of Mormon) as a millennium, Sabbath, or Seventh day wherein a remnant of mankind is delivered and a renewal commences. This pattern is demonstrated by Lehi who receives the Light of the Creator as it came down and dwelt upon a rock progressing step by step or book by book to the destruction of the Nephites in Omni (the sixth day) followed by a deliverance by a Mosiah (a Moshiach-Messiah) and the establishment of “all things made new” in city of Zarahemla (a New Jerusalem) as described by Mormon.   The generation that experienced this destruction and deliverance also points to the time when the conscious ascension of the world should begin.  In the years leading up to the Day of YHVH (judgment) upon the people, those of the Remnant of Jacob, Jews, and Gentiles who follow these teachings and embrace the Messiah must complete the path of repentance that commences the Seventh Day, the Great Sabbath, or Millennium.

As we ponder these things in our hearts, we may find ourselves wondering, “What is this path of Repentance or correction?”  Is there a way to walk this path in a progressive ascent? Or is it a path of suffering characterized by stubbornness, unyielding hearts, and kicking and screaming?  The answer is that it can be a progressive path with stability offered by an iron rod, but we must make a conscious choice to do that which is unnatural to the natural man. Those who walk this path will connect heaven and earth in their own lives.

Just as the story of Abraham teaches us about the progression of our souls and our purpose on earth, the story of Lehi and Nephi provides us with the essential teachings of growing toward God, knowing him, fulfilling our life’s purpose and coming into his presence symbolized by the Land of Promise.  Those who ascend from this world to God and become “AT-ONE-MENT” with him must take the same path that Lehi and Nephi took.  This is why they are seen as the Fathers or Patriarchs of the Book of Mormon.

The following account gives us the deeper meaning of their amazing exodus:

“For behold, it came to pass that the Lord spake unto my father, yea, even in a dream, and said unto him: Blessed art thou Lehi, because of the things which thou hast done; and because thou hast been faithful and declared unto this people the things which I commanded thee, behold, they seek to take away thy life. And it came to pass that the Lord commanded my father, even in a dream, that he should take his family and depart into the wilderness. And it came to pass that he was obedient unto the word of the Lord, wherefore he did as the Lord commanded him.

And it came to pass that he departed into the wilderness. And he left his house, and the land of his inheritance, and his gold, and his silver, and his precious things, and took nothing with him, save it were his family, and provisions, and tents, and departed into the wilderness.

And he came down by the borders near the shore of the Red Sea; and he traveled in the wilderness in the borders which are nearer the Red Sea; and he did travel in the wilderness with his family, which consisted of my mother, Sariah, and my elder brothers, who were Laman, Lemuel, and Sam.

And it came to pass that when he had traveled three days in the wilderness, he pitched his tent in a valley by the side of a river of water. And it came to pass that he built an altar of stones, and made an offering unto the Lord, and gave thanks unto the Lord our God…” (1 Nephi 2: 1-7) and “But behold, I have obtained a land of promise, in the which things I do rejoice; yea, and I know that the Lord will deliver my sons out of the hands of Laban, and bring them down again unto us in the wilderness.” (1 Nephi 5:5)

If we view the Book of Mormon as solely a historical account, we will find that it is really not very different from the histories of other nations.  They experienced their rises and their falls, their squabbles and their warring, their corruption and their renewals. But while related in a historical account, the science of the Fathers contained in the Book of Mormon deals with us.  It deals with the salvation and progression of each of us.  It deals with the questions of, “Who am I?”, “What am I?”, and “What is the purpose of my life?”  In doing so, God appeals to each and every person.

This is how the Hebraic writings of both the Bible and the Book of Mormon explains the entire purpose of creation. Each person being a symbolic world or entire universe. Men and women being representative of God’s creation or worlds both past, present, and future.

© 2018 Robert Kay


All rights reserved. No portion of this article may be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law.