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Armageddon, End of days, Apocalypse, Second Coming the scariest words in any language on earth, or are they really? We've been taught by the world to fear these words for they speak of impending doom. We've been taught also that there is no Christ or that His coming is one to cause great anxiety and complete fear for it will be the end of the world. This is what the world teaches but is this what we know?
As disciples of Jesus Christ and members of His church we have had the great privilege of an expounding of scripture by the Lord's prophets that teach the opposite of the world. Yes there will be great and even terrible things to come before that great day. But as we focus on the solid teachings from the New Testament as well as supporting scripture we can be believing. Finding that sure thing, and knowledge that we don't have to be afraid.
This week we will focus on the important aspects of the Second Coming found in Joseph Smith—Matthew 1; Matthew 25; Mark 12–13; Luke 21 to help strengthen us for these days that lay quickly ahead and protect us from the misleading views of the world. To give us the chance to put our trust in something wonderful and permanent, not scary...
Prophesies about the Second Coming can be hard to understand, even Jesus disciples found them startling at times. In teachings concerning the Lord's return things that we know as permanent will become unstable, for example the moon, stars and sun, the sea, nations and even the heavens will be shaken. This can be particularly scary, yet if we are spiritually aware, the commotion can teach us to put our trust in something permanent as Jesus promised “Heaven and earth shall pass away; yet my words shall not pass away. … And whoso treasureth up my word, shall not be deceived” (Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:35, 37).
Joseph Smith—Matthew
Joseph Smith Matthew is an excerpt of the book of Matthew translated and revised by Joseph Smith Jr. It comes from the Joseph Smith translation Bible and is located in the Pearl of Great Price. It contains revisions to the last verse of Matthew 23 and all of Matthew 24 and contain inspired revisions that restore precious truths which had been lost. Verses 12–21 of Joseph Smith—Matthew refer to the destruction of Jerusalem anciently; verses 21–55 contain prophecies about the last days.
21 Behold, these things I have spoken unto you concerning the Jews; and again, after the tribulation of those days which shall come upon Jerusalem, if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there, believe him not;
22 For in those days there shall also arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders, insomuch, that, if possible, they shall deceive the very elect, who are the elect according to the covenant.
23 Behold, I speak these things unto you for the elect’s sake; and you also shall hear of wars, and rumors of wars; see that ye be not troubled, for all I have told you must come to pass; but the end is not yet.
24 Behold, I have told you before;
25 Wherefore, if they shall say unto you: Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: Behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not;
26 For as the light of the morning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west, and covereth the whole earth, so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be.
27 And now I show unto you a parable. Behold, wheresoever the carcass is, there will the eagles be gathered together; so likewise shall mine elect be gathered from the four quarters of the earth.
28 And they shall hear of wars, and rumors of wars.
29 Behold I speak for mine elect’s sake; for nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
30 And again, because iniquity shall abound, the love of men shall wax cold; but he that shall not be overcome, the same shall be saved.
31 And again, this Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world, for a witness unto all nations, and then shall the end come, or the destruction of the wicked;
32 And again shall the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, be fulfilled.
33 And immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
34 Verily, I say unto you, this generation, in which these things shall be shown forth, shall not pass away until all I have told you shall be fulfilled.
35 Although, the days will come, that heaven and earth shall pass away; yet my words shall not pass away, but all shall be fulfilled.
36 And, as I said before, after the tribulation of those days, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken, then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven, and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn; and they shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory;
37 And whoso treasureth up my word, shall not be deceived, for the Son of Man shall come, and he shall send his angels before him with the great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together the remainder of his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Signs of the Savior’s Second Coming may be difficult for some to understand. Lets identify signs found in Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:21–37 that help us better understand their importance.
What sign of the Savior’s Second Coming is described in Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:22? In the last days false Christs and false prophets will show great signs and wonders, deceiving many people (see Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:22; see also 2 Nephi 25:18; Helaman 13:26–29; D&C 64:38–39).
What are false prophets? “What are false prophets? They are teachers and preachers who profess to speak for the Lord when, in fact, they have received no such appointment. …“False prophets are false teachers; they teach false doctrine; they neither know nor teach the doctrines of salvation. Rather, they have followed cunningly devised fables that they suppose make up the gospel of Christ, and they preach them as such. They are the ministers who proclaim a false way of salvation, the expounders of doctrines that are not of God, and the proclaimers of every man-made system of religion on earth. They are the political leaders … who lead men to accept freedom-destroying systems. They are the philosophers and sages who seek to explain God, existence, right and wrong, agency, immortality, and other religious concepts without reference to revelation. They are all of the political and religious leaders who proclaim philosophies and doctrines that lead men away from God and the salvation he offers to men” (Bruce R.
McConkie, The Millennial Messiah: The Second Coming of the Son of Man [1982], 70–71)
What sign of the Second Coming is mentioned in Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:23 and Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:28? In the last days there will be wars and rumors of war, famines, pestilences, and earthquakes Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:23, 28–29; see also D&C 29:16; 45:26, 33; 63:32–33; 87:2, 6).
Why will wars and rumors of war precede the Second Coming 1 Nephi 22:13–14; 3 Nephi 6:20–30?
The Lord taught that we should “be not troubled” by wars and rumors of war. How can we find peace during such troubled times? 1 John 4:16–18; D&C 6:34–36; 45:34–35; 59:23
Elder M. Russell Ballard gave the following counsel of hope and encouragement: “Although the prophecies tell us that these things are to take place, more and more people are expressing great alarm at what appears to be an acceleration of worldwide calamity. … Admittedly we have ample reason to be deeply concerned because we see no immediate answers to the seemingly unsolvable problems confronting the human family. But regardless of this dark picture, which will ultimately get worse, we must never allow ourselves to give up hope! … The Lord is in control. He knows the end from the beginning. He has given us adequate instruction that, if followed, will see us safely through any crisis. His purposes will be fulfilled, and someday we will understand the eternal reasons for all of these events. Therefore, today we must be careful not to overreact, nor should we be caught up in extreme preparations; but what we must do is keep the commandments of God and never lose hope!
“But where do we find hope in the midst of such turmoil and catastrophe? Quite simply, our one hope for spiritual safety during these turbulent times is to turn our minds and our hearts to Jesus Christ. … Armed with the shield of faith, we can overcome many of our daily challenges and overpower our greatest weaknesses and fears, knowing that if we do our best to keep the commandments of God, come what may, we will be all right” (Conference Report, Oct. 1992, 41–43; or Ensign, Nov. 1992, 31–32).
What signs of the Second Coming are described in Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:27 and Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:31? How are these prophecies being fulfilled today? In the last days the gospel of Jesus Christ will be preached throughout the world and the righteous will be gathered into the kingdom of God Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:27, 31, 37; see also D&C 58:64–65; 65:2; 88:84; 133:37–38). Missionary work is increasing, and the gospel is being taught and accepted in more and more places around the world.
What can each of us do to help fulfill these prophecies?
What signs of the Second Coming are described in Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:29–30?
29 Behold I speak for mine elect’s sake; for nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
30 And again, because iniquity shall abound, the love of men shall wax cold; but he that shall not be overcome, the same shall be saved.
What evidence do you see that these prophecies are being fulfilled?
What have latter-day prophets counseled us to do to prepare for the natural disasters that will precede the Second Coming?
What is told to us about the Second Coming in Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:32? The wicked will be destroyed at Christ’s Second Coming ; see also Isaiah 13:6–11; Malachi 4:1, 3; 2 Thessalonians 1:7–9; 1 Nephi 22:14–16, 23; D&C 29:9, 17; 45:49–50; 133:63–64, 70–71).
What do you think will make the difference when it is decided who will be saved with the righteous and who will be destroyed with the wicked at the Second Coming? Note how listening to and following the Lord’s living prophets becomes a matter of life and death; physically as well as spiritually. We should daily examine our lives and prepare ourselves to ensure that we will be among the righteous at the Second Coming.
President Ezra Taft Benson said, “Holy men and holy women stand in holy places, and these holy places include our temples, our chapels, our homes, and the stakes of Zion, which are, as the Lord declares, ‘for a defense, and for a refuge from the storm, and from wrath when it shall be poured out without mixture upon the whole earth’ (D&C 115:6)” (“Prepare Yourselves for the Great Day of the Lord,” Brigham Young University 1981 Fireside and Devotional Speeches [1981], 68).
What sign do we find in Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:33–3? Shortly before Christ comes again, great signs and wonders will appear in the heavens Joel 2:30–31; 3:14–16; Revelation 6:12–17; D&C 29:14; 34:9; 45:40–42; Moses 7:61
What guidance did Jesus give to help us not be deceived in the last days before his Second Coming? Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:37 Those who treasure up the word of God will recognize the signs of Christ’s coming and will gather with the elect. See also D&C 84:54–58
How can we treasure up the Lord’s word?
Why is it a blessing to know about the events leading to the Savior’s Second Coming?
What will happen to the righteous when the Savior comes again? Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:37, 44–45, 50; 1 Thessalonians 4:16–18; D&C 88:96–98.)
Part 2 Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:26–27, 38–55; Matthew 25:1–13 We must always be ready for the Savior’s Second Coming
Even though the Savior has asked us to always be ready for His Second Coming, it’s easy to become involved in daily life and not think much about it. The parables in Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:26–27, 38–55 and Matthew 25:1–13 can help us recognize the importance of being prepared for the Second Coming.
26 For as the light of the morning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west, and covereth the whole earth, so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be.
27 And now I show unto you a parable. Behold, wheresoever the carcass is, there will the eagles be gathered together; so likewise shall mine elect be gathered from the four quarters of the earth.
38 Now learn a parable of the fig tree—When its branches are yet tender, and it begins to put forth leaves, you know that summer is nigh at hand;
39 So likewise, mine elect, when they shall see all these things, they shall know that he is near, even at the doors;
40 But of that day, and hour, no one knoweth; no, not the angels of God in heaven, but my Father only.
41 But as it was in the days of Noah, so it shall be also at the coming of the Son of Man;
42 For it shall be with them, as it was in the days which were before the flood; for until the day that Noah entered into the ark they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage;
43 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be.
44 Then shall be fulfilled that which is written, that in the last days, two shall be in the field, the one shall be taken, and the other left;
45 Two shall be grinding at the mill, the one shall be taken, and the other left;
46 And what I say unto one, I say unto all men; watch, therefore, for you know not at what hour your Lord doth come.
47 But know this, if the good man of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to have been broken up, but would have been ready.
48 Therefore be ye also ready, for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of Man cometh.
49 Who, then, is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
50 Blessed is that servant whom his lord, when he cometh, shall find so doing; and verily I say unto you, he shall make him ruler over all his goods.
51 But if that evil servant shall say in his heart: My lord delayeth his coming,
52 And shall begin to smite his fellow-servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken,
53 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,
54 And shall cut him asunder, and shall appoint him his portion with the hypocrites; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
55 And thus cometh the end of the wicked, according to the prophecy of Moses, saying: They shall be cut off from among the people; but the end of the earth is not yet, but by and by.
The parable of the fig tree (Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:38–40).
38 Now learn a parable of the fig tree—When its branches are yet tender, and it begins to put forth leaves, you know that summer is nigh at hand;
39 So likewise, mine elect, when they shall see all these things, they shall know that he is near, even at the doors;
40 But of that day, and hour, no one knoweth; no, not the angels of God in heaven, but my Father only.
The comparison of the Second Coming to the days of Noah (verses 41–43).
41 But as it was in the days of Noah, so it shall be also at the coming of the Son of Man;
42 For it shall be with them, as it was in the days which were before the flood; for until the day that Noah entered into the ark they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage;
43 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be.
The prophecy of two people working in the field and two people grinding at the mill (verses 44–46). 44 Then shall be fulfilled that which is written, that in the last days, two shall be in the field, the one shall be taken, and the other left;
45 Two shall be grinding at the mill, the one shall be taken, and the other left;
46 And what I say unto one, I say unto all men; watch, therefore, for you know not at what hour your Lord doth come.
The Apostle Paul wrote that at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, “the dead in Christ shall rise,” and the Saints who are alive upon the earth “shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:16–17; see also D&C 27:18; 76:102; 88:96; 109:75). On the other hand, “all the proud and they that do wickedly” will not abide the Lord’s coming, which will cleanse the earth by fire (D&C 64:24; see also Malachi 3:2; 4:1; D&C 101:24–25).
The parable of the good man and the thief (verses 47–48).
47 But know this, if the good man of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to have been broken up, but would have been ready.
48 Therefore be ye also ready, for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of Man cometh.
The parable of the lord and his servants (verses 49–54).
49 Who, then, is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
50 Blessed is that servant whom his lord, when he cometh, shall find so doing; and verily I say unto you, he shall make him ruler over all his goods.
51 But if that evil servant shall say in his heart: My lord delayeth his coming,
52 And shall begin to smite his fellow-servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken,
53 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,
54 And shall cut him asunder, and shall appoint him his portion with the hypocrites; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
As recorded in Matthew 24:42–51, the Savior taught His disciples to be watchful and ready for His coming. In modern revelation we are told that if we are prepared, we need not fear D&C 38:30. President Dallin H. Oaks encouraged us to be prepared always for the Second Coming:
“While we are powerless to alter the fact of the Second Coming and unable to know its exact time, we can accelerate our own preparation and try to influence the preparation of those around us. …
“What if the day of His coming were tomorrow? If we knew that we would meet the Lord tomorrow—through our premature death or through His unexpected coming—what would we do today? What confessions would we make? What practices would we discontinue? What accounts would we settle? What forgivenesses would we extend? What testimonies would we bear?
“If we would do those things then, why not now? Why not seek peace while peace can be obtained? If our lamps of preparation are drawn down, let us start immediately to replenish them” (“Preparation for the Second Coming,” 8–9)
Why is it important that we continuously watch and prepare for the Lord’s coming?
How can we watch and prepare to meet the Lord?
The parable of the ten virgins can help us reflect on our spiritual preparation to meet the Savior:
1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
As you study the parable of the ten virgins (Matthew 25:1–13), what can you learn from the detail that the bridegroom came at “midnight,” while the wedding guests “slumbered and slept”?
How does this apply to our preparation for the Savior’s Second Coming?
What we can do in our daily lives to become fully converted to the gospel?
Why must each of us experience conversion for ourselves?
What does Doctrine and Covenants 45:56–57 add to our understanding of this parable?
Elder David A. Bednar suggested this possible interpretation of the parable of the ten virgins: Consider the oil to be the oil of conversion [see Matthew 25:4–9]. …“Were the five wise virgins selfish and unwilling to share, or were they indicating correctly that the oil of conversion cannot be borrowed? Can the spiritual strength that results from consistent obedience to the commandments be given to another person? Can the knowledge obtained through diligent study and pondering of the scriptures be conveyed to one who is in need? Can the peace the gospel brings to a faithful Latter-day Saint be transferred to an individual experiencing adversity or great challenge? The clear answer to each of these questions is no. As the wise virgins emphasized properly, each of us must ‘buy for ourselves.’ These inspired women were not describing a business transaction; rather, they were emphasizing our individual responsibility to keep our lamp of testimony burning and to obtain an ample supply of the oil of conversion. This precious oil is acquired one drop at a time—‘line upon line [and] precept upon precept’ (2 Nephi 28:30), patiently and persistently” (“Converted unto the Lord,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2012, 109)
President Spencer W. Kimball (1899–1985) discussed what the oil symbolizes and why it cannot be shared with those who are foolish: “The
kind of oil that is needed to illuminate the way and light up the
darkness is not shareable. How can one share obedience to the principle
of tithing; a mind at peace from righteous living; an accumulation of
knowledge? How can one share faith or testimony? How can one share
attitudes or chastity, or the experience of a mission? How can one share
temple privileges? Each must obtain that kind of oil for himself. …
“In
the parable, oil can be purchased at the market. In our lives the oil
of preparedness is accumulated drop by drop in righteous living.
Attendance at sacrament meetings adds oil to our lamps, drop by drop
over the years. Fasting, family prayer, home teaching, control of bodily
appetites, preaching the gospel, studying the scriptures—each act of
dedication and obedience is a drop added to our store. Deeds of
kindness, payment of offerings and tithes, chaste thoughts and actions,
marriage in the covenant for eternity—these, too, contribute
importantly to the oil with which we can at midnight refuel our
exhausted lamps” (Faith Precedes the Miracle [1972], 255–56).
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The parable of the talents and the parable of the sheep and goats can inspire us to think about the account of our lives we will give to the Lord at the Final Judgment.
14 ¶ For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.
17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.
19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
31 ¶ When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
The definition of the Final Judgment found in Guide to the Scriptures, “Judgment, The Last,” scriptures.lds.org. reads as follows: The Final Judgment that will occur after the Resurrection. God, through Jesus Christ, will judge each person to determine the eternal glory he will receive. This judgment will be based on each person’s obedience to God’s commands, including his acceptance of the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
What is one question the Savior might ask when we give an account of our lives?
What the Final Judgment will be like? Alma 5:17–25.
17 Or do ye imagine to yourselves that ye can lie unto the Lord in that day, and say—Lord, our works have been righteous works upon the face of the earth—and that he will save you?
18 Or otherwise, can ye imagine yourselves brought before the tribunal of God with your souls filled with guilt and remorse, having a remembrance of all your guilt, yea, a perfect remembrance of all your wickedness, yea, a remembrance that ye have set at defiance the commandments of God?
19 I say unto you, can ye look up to God at that day with a pure heart and clean hands? I say unto you, can you look up, having the image of God engraven upon your countenances?
20 I say unto you, can ye think of being saved when you have yielded yourselves to become subjects to the devil?
21 I say unto you, ye will know at that day that ye cannot be saved; for there can no man be saved except his garments are washed white; yea, his garments must be purified until they are cleansed from all stain, through the blood of him of whom it has been spoken by our fathers, who should come to redeem his people from their sins.
22 And now I ask of you, my brethren, how will any of you feel, if ye shall stand before the bar of God, having your garments stained with blood and all manner of filthiness? Behold, what will these things testify against you?
23 Behold will they not testify that ye are murderers, yea, and also that ye are guilty of all manner of wickedness?
24 Behold, my brethren, do ye suppose that such an one can have a place to sit down in the kingdom of God, with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob, and also all the holy prophets, whose garments are cleansed and are spotless, pure and white?
25 I say unto you, Nay; except ye make our Creator a liar from the beginning, or suppose that he is a liar from the beginning, ye cannot suppose that such can have place in the kingdom of heaven; but they shall be cast out for they are the children of the kingdom of the devil.
What do these scriptures inspire us to do to prepare for that day? In the Savior’s time, a “talent” was a unit of weight and also a large sum of money. In modern usage, the word “talent,” as used in this parable, has come to represent any spiritual gift or any skill or ability given to us by God, and the parable teaches that we are responsible to use these gifts wisely and profitably. The Second Coming is represented by the arrival, “after a long time,” of a master who had entrusted his servants with talents (Matthew 25:19). The servant who doubled his two talents received the same commendation as the one who doubled his five talents (see Matthew 25:21, 23); each was expected to try to improve on what he had been given. Thus, in the end, only the servant who did nothing with his talent was rejected by his master. President James E. Faust explained that the Lord will hold all people accountable for what they do with their talents:
“Some of us are too content with what we may already be doing. We stand back in the ‘eat, drink, and be merry’ mode when opportunities for growth and development abound. We miss opportunities to build up the kingdom of God because we have the passive notion that someone else will take care of it. The Lord tells us that He will give more to those who are willing. They will be magnified in their efforts. … But to those who say, ‘We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have’ [2 Nephi 28:30].
“The Lord entrusts all of His servants, including every priesthood holder, with spiritual talents. … While we are not all equal in experience, aptitude, and strength, we have different opportunities to employ these spiritual gifts, and we will all be accountable for the use of the gifts and opportunities given to us” (“I Believe I Can, I Knew I Could,” Ensign, Nov. 2002, 50).
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How does knowing the signs of the Savior’s Second Coming help you to have hope and confidence in the Savior and prepare for the last days? Knowledge is power, with this knowledge we have the advantage and can be prepared, when we are prepared we need not fear but look forward to that great day. What must we do? (1) Doing things that invite the Holy Spirit into our lives. (2) Doing good with the gifts and opportunities the Lord has given us. (3) Caring for those around us who are in need. Doing these things while staying on the straight and narrow will give us the peace we need to be confident and unafraid for the last days.
Resources
New Testament Student Manual
Seminary Manual
Ensign
Conference Report
Bible Dictionary
Book of Mormon
Doctrine and Covenants
Pearl of Great Price
Faith Preceeds the Miracle
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