Posted by:
RPackham
(
)
Date: July 20, 2018 02:49PM
It has always been so:
The Saints were going to see the end in 1890 or 1891, according to the Prophet:
Nov 3, 1831. D&C 133:17. "The hour of [Christ's Second] coming is nigh."
April 23, 1834. D&C 104:59. "...to prepare my people for the time when I shall dwell with them, which is nigh at hand."
Nov 25, 1834. D&C 106:4. "The coming of the Lord draweth nigh..."
Apr 3, 1836, D&C 110:16. "The great and dreadful day of the Lord is near, even at the doors."
Feb 14, 1835. HC 2:182. Joseph Smith preached that the coming of the Lord would be in 56 years (i.e., about 1891). This prophecy also occurs in his diary for April 6, 1843 and HC 5:336. See also D&C 130:14-17. Joseph Smith prophesies that "there of those of the rising generation who shall not taste death till Christ comes." He prophesies "in the name of the Lord God - let it be written: that the Son of Man will not come in the heavens till I am 85 years old, 48 years hence or about 1890." (The official historians have deleted the last phrase, beginning with "48 years" from the church history, but it is contained in the original diary.) The version in D&C 130 is phrased negatively, i.e., Christ will not come before 1890. It is also made conditional on Joseph Smith living to the age of 85. Joseph Smith says (v 16) that it might merely mean that if he lives to 85 he will go where Christ is, and therefore see his face. But that interpretation would not make sense if the revelation is in response to Joseph Smith's inquiry about the time of the second coming (v 14).
But then, just to be safe, he prophesied that the Lord would NOT come in any year in which a rainbow appears. (March 10, 1844, HC 6:249-254, TJS p 341 - one of the very few prophecies of his which has been fulfilled)
Revelation 1:1-3 predicted that the upheavals described would "soon" come to pass.
The Second Coming (and the End of the World) was promised by Jesus to be within the generation contemporary with him (Matt 10:7, 23, 16:28, 24:32-34, Mark 9:1, 13:24-30, Luke 9:27, 21:25-32). Paul also said this (1 Thess 4:15, 17, Heb 1:2, 10:37, 9:26 ["now in the end of the world he hath appeared"], 1 Cor 7:29; also 1 John 2:18, James 5:8, 1 Pet 4:7 ["end of all things is at hand"]). Jesus says that some of his listeners will "not taste death" until he returns in glory (Matt 16:28, Mark 9:1, 13:30, Luke 9:27). See also Matt 4:17, John 5:25, 12:31 on the imminence of the last days ("soon", "shortly"). Luke is the only one to hedge, saying "the end is not by and by" (Luke 21:9, 19:11).
Joel said (4th cent. B.C.) that Judgment Day was "near" even then (Joel 3:14, 2:1).
Paul and John say that their own time is the end of the world because the signs have already appeared (Heb 9:26, 1 John 2:18).
Daniel said the End was when the Book of Daniel was "unsealed" (Dan 12:4, written about 165 BC).