Like A Thief In The Night

 

The Day of the Lord 

Ever since the fall, in which we lost paradise, the minds of the righteous have been pointed toward the creation of a new heaven and new earth.  This creation is marked by two events: the Lord's redemption of us from sin and the establishment of God's kingdom.

When faced with the scene of utter wickedness, it was the fulfillment of these two events that buttressed Enoch's faith, removing his despair and giving him a fullness of joy. 

54 And it came to pass that Enoch cried unto the Lord, saying: When the Son of Man cometh in the flesh, shall the earth rest? I pray thee, show me these things. 55 And the Lord said unto Enoch: Look, and he looked and beheld the Son of Man lifted up on the cross, after the manner of men...

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 And it came to pass that Enoch saw the day of the coming of the Son of Man, in the last days, to dwell on the earth in righteousness for the space of a thousand years; 66 But before that day he saw great tribulations among the wicked; and he also saw the sea, that it was troubled, and men’s hearts failing them, looking forth with fear for the judgments of the Almighty God, which should come upon the wicked. 67 And the Lord showed Enoch all things, even unto the end of the world; and he saw the day of the righteous, the hour of their redemption, and received a fulness of joy... (Moses 7)

This day of the earth's rest -- or sabbath -- is referred to in the scriptures as either the day of the coming of the son of man or the day of the Lord. 

Like a Thief

When speaking about the timeline for this momentous event, the Lord likens it to a thief in the night. 

Have you ever wondered why? 

It seems strange, given the numerous descriptions of the day of the Lord, which will be  accompanied by death and destruction, momentous signs and wonders, and massive world events, that this day would come like a thief in the night.   

Fortunately, Paul's letter to the Thessalonians gives light to this obscurity when he writes: 

1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. 2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

Verse 3 provides our answer.  The day of the Lord comes like a thief because the wicked will have misperceived reality.  They will believe things are not as bad as they really are, and therefore will have failed to take any substantial action to acquire truth, choosing to take comfort it their supposed peace and security. 

This ostensible "peace and security" is created by failing to fill one's lamp with oil.  When a person lacks the knowledge of truth -- or reality -- they rely on their ignorance, which obscures their view, much like accumulation of rain does to windshield when the wipers are not activated.  In this condition, the person fails to "see" outside and relies on what they know, thus failing to perceive the dangers that lie ahead. 

13 ¶ Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge: and their honourable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst. 14 Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it.  (Isaiah 5: 13 -14). 

Truth Sent Forth Like a Flood  

Falling to the unknown dangers due to ignorance is the fate of the wicked.  But what about the Lord's people?  Turning back to Moses 7, we learn the Lord preserves his people by sending truth out of heaven. 

61 And the day shall come that the earth shall rest, but before that day the heavens shall be darkened, and a veil of darkness shall cover the earth; and the heavens shall shake, and also the earth; and great tribulations shall be among the children of men, but my people will I preserve;

62 And righteousness will I send down out of heaven; and truth will I send forth out of the earth, to bear testimony of mine Only Begotten; his resurrection from the dead; yea, and also the resurrection of all men; and righteousness and truth will I cause to sweep the earth as with a flood, to gather out mine elect from the four quarters of the earth, unto a place which I shall prepare, an Holy City, that my people may gird up their loins, and be looking forth for the time of my coming; for there shall be my tabernacle, and it shall be called Zion, a New Jerusalem (Moses 7). 

To possess truth is to align ourselves to reality, which comes by acting in accordance to God's character and attributes.  

Throughout the past two years, the Lord has sent more truth than we might have realized, and it came in ways that we might not have expected. 

The first instance occurred with COVID and the borderline tyrannical response of many governments without concern for individual liberty. 

How did you respond?  

Did the you realize the fallibility of the arm of flesh, or did you rely on the arm for protection?  Were you inclined to support the power of the state to compel others to undergo vaccinations against their will, especially when the complications were not fully known? 

Or, on the other hand, did you wish ill upon those who were vaccinated, believing that you were wiser and better than they?  Did you believe yourself to be wiser than your fellow men, but disinclined yourself from sharing the knowledge you possessed to help others gain a more accurate perception and better understanding?  

COVID revealed the fallibility of men and institutions, and exposed how much we were willing to be ruled by fear, and the actions we were willing to take as a result.  It also revealed how fragile our economic system is, and how the system is easily disrupted when the coherence is interfered with.  And it also revealed that many of our leaders are not as prudent and rationale as we supposed. 

During the summer of 2020, massive riots broke out in response to the killing of George Floyd. 

How did you respond?  Did you justify or minimize the violence that ripped across American cities, resulting in further deaths and destroyed communities?  Did you pray for the rioters and were you saddened to see them engage in destructive behavior?  Did these events cause you to mourn for the nation? [1] Did these events cause you to hate your neighbor who shares different views than you? 

This event was a wake-up call to many pacified Americans, including myself, about the destructive and violent nature of leftist ideologies.  It served to reveal how fragile and divided our country is, and how close we are to imploding.  It also revealed whether we had charity for all people, not just our friends.  The riots also revealed how many people and institutions have succumbed to false notions about reality. 

Recently, the Supreme Court of the United States in the Dobbs decision overturned Roe v. Wade. 

How did you respond?  Were you sad or did you rejoice in the decision?  Did you enjoy mocking those with whom you disagree?  Did your heart melt with sorrow for those who are misguided to believe that abortion is moral?  Did (and do) you pray for those who are misguided in their beliefs, hoping they will repent?  Or did (and do) you relish in the "victory" -- even to the points of rubbing it in? [2]

The decision and events that followed showed us where our allegiance lies, and whether our heart aligns with God or not.  It showed how much we value life.  It also exposed how prone we are to pride, even in righteous outcomes.  It also revealed who stands for life, and as a consequence who is subject to God's judgment. 

Those who responded appropriately to the foregoing events, will have acquired additional light, which will provide greater ability to discern.  After all, light cleaves to light, and light exposes the darkness.  

These are just some of the events out of the many that will come forth.  The forthcoming events will serve the purpose of dividing the wheat from the tares.  They are inflection points which shape our trajectory. 

Those who embrace reality and align their character to God's, will receive more light, giving them greater discernment for future events, thereby improving their ability to discern subsequent events correctly.  This is how the righteous are gathered in the last days. 

11 And I give unto you a commandment, that ye shall forsake all evil and cleave unto all good, that ye shall live by every word which proceedeth forth out of the mouth of God. 12 For he will give unto the faithful line upon line, precept upon precept; and I will try you and prove you herewith. 13 And whoso layeth down his life in my cause, for my name’s sake, shall find it again, even life eternal (D&C 98).

Those who heed the light fill their lamps with oil. [3]  Conversely, those who fail to do this, will embrace greater darkness, becoming further blinded to the truth - setting snares for themselves to be entrapped. 

20 ¶ Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! 21 Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!

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24 Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the Lord of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel. 25 Therefore is the anger of the Lord kindled against his people, and he hath stretched forth his hand against them, and hath smitten them: and the hills did tremble, and their carcases were torn in the midst of the streets.  (Isaiah 5) 

Those Fit For The Flames 

We don't become heroes or villains overnight.  Rather, it is a the steady path, taken on a daily basis, that molds our character, setting us on the path to becoming a person of the light or  darkness.  And if we are people of the darkness, then we are only fit for the flames because our existence causes disorder and chaos to God's creation.  In other words, our presence creates hell, not heaven, just like the outgrowth of weeds in a garden destroys the plants.

To avoid this, we must possess truth and our character must align to that truth.  

The events happening now and in the future have a far greater purpose than we realize.  These events are designed to test our character by exposing us to truth in a manner that doesn't overwhelm us. [4]  

But just as person who doesn't understand basic arithmetic will fail to comprehend calculus, those who fail to perceive truth throughout its incremental revelation and align themselves to it, will be unable to comprehend God's workings and unable to discern correct choices in the future.  And as a consequence, they will stumble and be caught "suddenly without remedy." 

These days are ones of fasting, prayer, and study, in the spirit of meekness, with training our eye to be single to God's glory.  The tests have begun, the clock is ticking, and our path will be marked. 

I pray to God that you and I choose correctly. 

12 ¶ A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth. 13 He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers; 14 Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord. 15 Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy (Proverbs 6). 

Footnote

[1] Lest anyone think I succeeded, they are mistaken.  During this period, I did not pour my heart out for these people through intercession.  And worse, I felt, deep inside, that I was superior because of my knowledge and rejoiced at the downfall of the foolish.  The Lord pointed this out to me and I have since repented. 

[2] As explained in footnote [1], during the riots, I was prideful because of my knowledge and assumed myself to be better.  However,  during this time around, I have learned and turned my heart to praying for those who misguidedly believe that killing the innocent life should be a constitutional right -- or even a civil right.  

[3] Of course, there will come a time where one must have the full gift of the Holy Ghost to accurately perceive truth, as we can't do it on our own and will need God's grace to guide us. 

[4] From my understanding, the Lord is not so harsh as to only give us once chance.  Often the same challenges we face will repeat themselves in different cycles, given us chances to learn and improve.  If we fail our test, the key is to recognize our error and seek for improvement.