65 years ago-Sept 30, 1949-General conference
on tv for 1st time.
Thought: “As a source of knowledge, the scriptures are
not the ultimate but the penultimate. The ultimate knowledge comes by
revelation…. A study of the scriptures enables men and women to receive
revelations…. because scripture reading put us in tune with the Spirit of the
Lord” (DHOaks, “Scripture Reading &Revelation,” 29
January 1993, 3-4).
Book of the Week: "Studies in Scripture Vol. 4
- 1 Kings to Malachi" Ed. Kent P. Jackson
Joel - The
29th book of the Old Testament and the 2nd of the Minor
Prophets. Very little is known of Joel. He was the son of Pethuel whose name is
thought to mean “persuaded of God.” Joel’s name may mean- “Jehovah is God.” He
was probably from Judah. His literary style is ranked among the very best of
the Old Testament prophets. His years of service are not known, (from the 9th
to the 5th centuries BC), but are of lesser importance because his message is
for our time. Note Amos 1:2; Hosea 1:2; Joel 3:16; and Isaiah 13:6. It is hard
to know who is quoting whom. Dualism! His message is the most quoted of
the Minor Prophets regarding the Restoration.
Chapter 1
Vs. 1 – his is how Jonah, Hosea, Micah,
Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah &Malachi begin.
Vs. 4- This verse states the stages of
growth of the life of a locust. Palmerworm=Assyria. Locust=Babylon.
Cankerworm=Macedonia (Greece). Caterpillar=Rome. If one doesn't get you the next one will. Also
latter-day events.
Vs. 5-7 – the destruction of a nation,
probably Israel in 721 BC.
Vs. 8-marriage covenant with Christ.
Vs. 9 – Priesthood ordinances
Vs. 10-12-Crop failure
Vs. 13- a call to repentance
Vs. 14-20 A call to repent and gather
for the day of the Lord is at hand.
Chapter 2
Vs. 2–11- The “day of the Lord” will be
great because Zion will be a reality, but the events associated with it will
also make it terrible, as these verses make clear. An event of the latter days
known as the battle of Armageddon is described in these verses. Like the
locusts that devour the crops and cover the heavens with blackness because of
their numbers, so “a great people and a strong” (v. 2) shall descend upon the land of Israel
in the latter days. (Compare this language with that of John and Ezekiel when
they describe the battle of Armageddon in Revelation 9:1–10and Ezekiel 38:8–9.) So great shall be
the number of this people that “the earth shall quake before them” (v. 10). The sun, moon, and stars will be
darkened. The horses (see v. 4) symbolize war. Chariots (see v. 5) symbolize a very powerful army.
Vs. 13- A great call to people of all
ages
Vs. 28-30 - When Moroni appeared
to Joseph Smith, He quoted the second chapter of Joel, from the 28th
verse to the last. He also said that this was not yet fulfilled, but was soon
to be.” (DHC 1:13)
"The vision of Joel has been
fulfilled wherein he declared": Joel 2:28-31- (GBH-Ensign, Nov. 2001)
“I maintain that had there been
no restoration of the gospel, and no organization of the Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints, there would have been no radio; there would have been no
airplane, and there would not have been the wonderful discoveries in medicine,
chemistry, electricity, and the many other things wherein the world has been
benefited by such discoveries. Under such conditions these blessings would have
been withheld, for they belong to the Dispensation of the Fulness of Times of
which the restoration of the gospel and the organization of the Church
constitute the central point, from which radiates the Spirit of the Lord
throughout the world. Now let me say briefly that I do not believe for one
moment that these discoveries have come by chance, or that they have come
because of superior intelligence possessed by men today over those who lived in
ages that are past. They have come and are coming because the time is ripe,
because the Lord has willed it, and because he has poured out his Spirit on all
flesh” (JFS, CR, Oct. 1926, p. 117). See
D&C 43:17-30
Chapter
3 This chapter adds to the last day’s conditions expressed in
Chapter 2 and adds another picture of God’s judgment upon the nations. Israel,
who had been scattered among the nations, will receive a change in her
fortunes, and retribution will come upon her enemies in the Valley of
Jehoshaphat, literally, the “Valley of Decision” in Hebrew. Just where this
valley is located is not entirely clear. Most likely it is the Kidron, a narrow
valley between Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives (D&C 45:47–49). This passage seems to refer to the final scenes of the battle
of Armageddon in Jerusalem, when the great earthquake will strike the massive
army and Jesus will appear on the Mount of Olives to deliver Israel (Ezek.
38-39 gives a more detailed treatment of Armageddon).
Vs. 17-21- The Lord
dwelleth in Zion. The good guys win!
AMOS- 790-740 BC
Message summarized in 5:14- The 30th book in the Old
Testament and the 3rd of the Minor Prophets. The name Amos means
bearer or burden. It refers to his weighty message. Amos was a shepherd from
Tekoa, a small village about 6 miles southeast of Bethlehem but was called to
warn the northern tribes. He was contemporary with, but a little before Isaiah
and Hosea. All 9 chapters may have been one speech. (a long one). Amos
illustrated his messages with objects from nature.
He talks a lot about geography mentioning 10 lands outside
Israel and Judah and 26 cities.
Chapter 1
Vs. 1 – Uzziah, also called Azariah (787-735 BC) from Judah was
smitten with leprosy when he attempted to burn incenses in the temple (2 Chron.
26). Josephus says that the earthquake occurred at the moment he was stricken
& Jeroboam II –good at war and bad at keeping commandments from Israel
(790-749 BC.) The Hebrew word
"chazah" translated "saw", denotes divine vision, not
ordinary sight
Vs. 3, 6, 9, 11, 13, & 2:1, 4 & 6 – for 3 transgressions
and for 4- is a way of saying those nations were full to overflowing with sin.
3=fullness. 4=excess.
Vs. 3 – Damascus crushed Gilead with iron threshing sleds
VS. 6 -
GAZA=Philistines raided Judah under the reign of Joram and sold captives to
their enemies.
VS. 9 -
Tyrus or Tyre=Phoenicia- Similar to above.
VS. 11 - Edom+Idumea,
the land of Esau the brother of Jacob or Israel.
VS. 13 -
Ammon=Rabbah was the capital of Ammon-Ripped up the women with child.
CH. 2 -VS. 1 - The King of Moab burned the bones of the king of Edom.
Ch. 3 - VS. 2-D&C 82:3
VS. 7-See
JST-Listen to Conference- Read 1st 8 verses.
CH. 4 - VS. 1 - The "kine of Bashan" is a reference to the women of
Israel. Bashan is the area to the east of the Sea of Galilee. Today it is known
as the Golan Heights. Kine=cow
CH. 5 - VS. 11, 14 (27-Prophecy of
captivity)
CH. 7 - Vs. 3 & 6 - The Lord does NOT repent-see JST - Amos' call
to the ministry & confrontation with Amaziah. (Amos 7:10-17) "This
short bio segment of Amos is written in the first person, probably by the hand
of Amos shortly after these events occurred. AMAZIAH, the apostate priest of
Jeroboam II at Bethel, was alarmed by Amos's predictions. He accused Amos of
conspiracy against the king & ordered him to leave, to return home to
Judah, to live and prophesy there. By telling Amos to "eat bread"
(v.12) in Judah, AMAZIAH was using an idiomatic expression meaning to
"earn one's living," thus insinuating that Amos had assumed the role
of seer for personal gain. Amos replied
he was not a prophet by profession, but that he had been called from his
pastoral livelihood by the Lord to prophesy unto Israel. As a sign of his
prophetic calling, Amos denounced the false priest & predicted the doom of
his family." (V. Ludlow p. 209)
CH. 8 - VS. 11 & 12 - A famine in
the land
CH. 9 - Prophecy of Latter Day gathering - Chapter heading
