THE GREATER BLESSING OF EPHRAIM
“And he [Jacob] blessed them, that day, saying, in thee shall Israel bless, saying, God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh; and he set Ephraim before Manasseh. Genesis 48:26 . . . .His horns are like the horns of unicorns; with them he shall push the people together to the ends of the earth; and they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh.” Deuteronomy 33:17
JESUS IS THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL
LATTER DAY SAINTS have been blessed and ordained by the God of Heaven with the grand commission to take the leading part in the gathering of his Elect, Israel.
Within this commission we are also commanded to take the fullness of the gospel to those of the Gentiles who will be obedient to the gospel and become inheritors of the promises along with the House of Israel.
We are to rise up and restore the fallen House of Joseph, whom God made leader of the ten tribes. Finally we are to take the Gospel to the House of Judah, who has suffered much pain due to their hardness of heart and rejection of the Messiah.
The ten tribes of Israel and the tribe of Judah were under the same covenant recorded in the Old Testament. Moses law was contained in this covenant, which covenant both houses broke, so much so, that they were cast off from the land of promise and scattered to the ends of the earth, some losing their identity and all losing their favor with their God. This breach by both Houses of Israel opened the way for God through his Only Begotten Son to make a new covenant and seal it with his blood that he could show mercy to the Gentiles and allow them to take part in the promises through the New and Everlasting Covenant which could grant them the blessing to be numbered with the House of Israel, the “Chosen”, or “Elect”, of God.
When this grand design was given to Joseph Smith Jr., those leading churchmen of his day, scoffed and openly fought against the idea that God could speak to mankind in the modern age.
Although they could not agree upon just what constituted THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST, they joined together to call him a fraud, a liar, and a false prophet. They turned their backs upon him and denied that which was brought forth from God through him.
Admittedly the claims and promises made to those first saints of the restoration sounded ridiculous to anyone who was steeped and indoctrinated in the traditions of the accepted and existing churches of their day.
The facts speak for themselves and proclaim clearly that these churches were not sufficient, and were not commissioned nor ordained to bring about the promised restoration of the pure religion that was looked for by many of the leaders of the Protestant Reformation.
The churchmen refused to acknowledge that God could or would restore that which had been lost through the great world wide apostasy that was initiated by the neglect of the saints for the pure doctrine of Christ and the usurpation of the Christian movement by Constantine the Great around 325 A.D.
Many of them also believe that the New Testament replaced the Old Testament and the promises to Israel were done away with.
Without latter day prophecy the promises for the gathering of all Israel could not be accomplished.
Self appointed pastors believed in a changeable God which has confused them to the extent that they do not know exactly what to pick and choose to believe.
If they would have so much as acknowledged God’s word in the Bible, they would have known that he does not change and can do his own work and no man nor group of men can hinder him in his purposes.
It remained for the latter day restoration to fulfill the promises of God to the whole house of Israel which shall come to pass at his commandment.
God’s promises are to his covenant people. The promises to those who were under the old law (covenant) are as sure as the promises under the new law (covenant). But the promises are to those who believe God and keep their covenants with him. When they are not kept he will cast off his people as he did to both houses of Israel when he scattered them among all the nations of the earth.
God speaking to Israel said; “And it shall come to pass, that as the Lord rejoiced over you to do you good, and to multiply you; so the Lord will rejoice over you to destroy you, and to bring you to naught; and ye shall be plucked from off the land whither thou goest to possess it. And the Lord shall scatter thee among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other; and there thou shalt serve other gods, which neither thou nor thy fathers have known, even wood and stone. And among these nations shalt thou find no ease, neither shall the sole of thy foot have rest; but the Lord shall give thee there a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind;” Deuteronomy 28:63- 65
As the Lord scattered his disobedient, covenant People, he also promised at Some Future Date to Gather and restore them when they become obedient.
“And after they have been scattered, and the Lord God hath scourged them by other nations, for the space of many generations, yea, even down from generation to generation until they shall be persuaded to believe in Christ, the Son of God, and the atonement, which is infinite for all mankind; And when that day shall come, that they shall believe in Christ, and worship the Father in his name, with pure hearts, and clean hands, and look not forward anymore for another Messiah, then, at that time, the day will come that it must needs be expedient that they should believe these things, And the Lord will set his hand again the second time to restore his people from their lost and fallen state. Wherefore, he will proceed to do a marvelous work, and a wonder among the children of men. Wherefore, he shall bring forth his words unto them, which words shall judge them at the last day; For they shall be given them for the purpose of convincing them of the true Messiah, who was rejected by them; And unto the convincing of them that they need not look forward anymore for a Messiah to come,” 2 Nephi 11:26- 32
The Doctrine and Covenants reiterates the authority of this last kingdom brought forth through his restored church to go first to the Gentiles and then to the House of Israel
“And again, verily I say unto thy brethren Sidney Rigdon and Frederick G. Williams, their sins are forgiven them also, and they are accounted as equal with thee [Joseph] in holding the keys of this last kingdom; as also through your administration the keys of the school of the prophets, which I have commanded to be organized, that thereby they may be perfected in their ministry for the salvation of Zion, and of the nations of Israel, and of the Gentiles, as many as will believe, that through your administration, they may receive the word, and through their administration, the word may go forth unto the ends of the earth, unto the Gentiles first, and then, behold, and lo, they shall turn unto the Jews;” D&’C 87:3a-c
The Marvelous Work and a Wonder
“And again it shall come to pass, that the Lord shall say unto him that shall read the words that shall be delivered him (Book of Mormon in reformed Egyptian), Forasmuch as this people draw near unto me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their hearts far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precepts of men, therefore I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people; yea, a marvelous work and a wonder; for the wisdom of their wise and learned shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent shall be hid.” Isaiah 29:26
“Hearken, O ye people of my church, saith the Lord your God, and hear the word of the Lord concerning you; the Lord who shall suddenly come to his temple; the Lord who shall come down upon the world with a curse to judgment; yea, upon all the nations that forget God, and upon all the ungodly among you. For he shall make bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of their God. Wherefore prepare ye, prepare ye, O my people; sanctify yourselves; gather ye together, O ye people of my church, upon the land of Zion, all you that have not been commanded to tarry. Go ye out from Babylon. Be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord. Call your solemn assemblies, and speak often one to another. And let every man call upon the name of the Lord; yea, verily I say unto you again, The time has come when the voice of the Lord is unto you, Go ye out of Babylon; gather ye out from among the nations, from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. Send forth the elders of my church unto the nations which are afar off; unto the islands of the sea; send forth unto foreign lands; call upon all nations; firstly, upon the Gentiles, and then upon the Jews. And, behold, and lo, this shall be their cry, and the voice of the Lord unto all people: Go ye forth unto the land of Zion, that the borders of my people may be enlarged, and that her stakes may be strengthened, and that Zion may go forth unto the regions round about; yea, let the cry go forth among all people: Awake and arise and go forth to meet the Bridegroom.” D&C Sec 108:1a-3c
The New Covenant was extended for the salvation not only all Israel and Judah, but for the whole world. All mankind was invited to enter in and be numbered with the House of Israel.
Since this new Covenant extended to all the world without discrimination and gave opportunity for all kindreds, tongues, and peoples, to enter in, they who accepted it, and those who shall accept it while keeping the commandments of Jesus Christ, become the seed of Abraham and the inheritors of the promises, not excluding those of Islam who were informed at an early date that the son of the servant woman would not be an inheritor of the promises.
They also are given, the opportunity of accepting and entering into the new and everlasting covenant by the sacrifice of Christ that was made for all who should believe on him.
Under the old covenant both Israel and Islam were under the laws of a school master, harsh laws which often carried the death penalty for a breach; “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, stone the prostitute etc.”
Under the new covenant we are commanded to replace judgment and violence with compassion, forgiveness, and love. The Apostle Paul, before his conversion, on the road to Damascus, assented to the Jew’s sentence and stood watching while Stephan was stoned to death. Judah, after the advent of Christ and the destruction of the Jerusalem temple 70 A. D. was not able to continue the daily animal sacrifices. The Jews could not accept Jesus as their Messiah and could not believe that the Moses Law was done away in Christ. This was his offering for offences and sins. This caused great guilt among the Jews, and offered them no escape from their offences and sins short of their acceptance of the new covenant of Jesus the Messiah. For as the apostle Paul stated, “We have been unable to keep the law.”
The Jews according to the Moses law have no offering for sin without a temple and animal sacrifices. This guilt will continue with Judah until they accept and say, “Blessed is he who cometh in the name of the Lord,” The Messiah whom they still expect to appear.
If those of Islam turn away from the old law and enter into the new and everlasting covenant accepting the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross as an offering for sin, they too could, (without losing their heritage), do away with a law that is contrary to the teachings of the Messiah who taught pure love, compassion and mercy, not hate, judgment, and vengeance.
The scripture promises that God can do his own work and can determine who is of the seed of Abraham and who is not, “Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, Abraham is our father; we have kept the commandments of God, and none can inherit the promises but the children of Abraham; for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.” Luke 3:13
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were given the great promise that in them and in their seed the nations of the earth would be blessed. Joseph received the blessing of the firstborn son of Jacob and in turn Jacob blessed Ephraim ahead of his older brother Manasseh as the firstborn. This blessing is of tremendous significance since the firstborn in Israel is dedicated to the Lord, is redeemed, and becomes the head of the family and receives a double portion of the inheritance. The firstborn of the House of Israel becomes the Patriarch, the head of the tribes of Israel. The tribe of Ephraim is to lead the way for the worldwide gathering of the elect of God.
“Oh that Zion were established out of heaven, the salvation of Israel. O Lord, when wilt thou establish Zion? When the Lord bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, Israel shall be glad.” Psalm 14:7
The term Zion refers to the whole house of Israel, the ten tribes with their ancient capital of the city of Samaria, and the tribe of Judah with its capital of Jerusalem which Jerusalem is called the daughter of Zion. Zion also refers to the city of Enoch which God took unto himself, and church of the firstborn in Heaven.
“Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain [nation and strength] of Samaria, which are named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came!” Amos 6:1
The mountain of Samaria before they were cast out and exiled was the house of Joseph or Ephraim who comprised the leadership of the northern ten tribes of Israel. It represents the capitol which is called Zion wherever the house of Israel should be gathered.
And he [Jacob] blessed them, that day, saying, In thee shall Israel bless, saying, God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh; and he set Ephraim before Manasseh.” Genesis 48:26 ...his horns are like the horns of unicorns; with them he shall push the people together to the ends of the earth; and they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh.” Deuteronomy 33:17
“They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them; I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way wherein they shall not stumble; for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my first-born.” Jeremiah 31:9
Scattered Ephraim Israel to come to America the New Zion and the New Jerusalem
“Wherefore, I, Lehi, prophesy according to the workings of the Spirit which is in me, that there shall none come into this land, save they shall be brought by the hand of the Lord. Wherefore, this land is consecrated unto him whom he shall bring.” 2 Nephi 1:10, 11
“And they who are in the north countries shall come in remembrance before the Lord, and their prophets shall hear his voice, and shall no longer stay themselves, and they shall smite the rocks, and the ice shall flow down at their presence. And an highway shall be cast up in the midst of the great deep. Their enemies shall become a prey unto them, and in the barren deserts there shall come forth pools of living water; and the parched ground shall no longer be a thirsty land. And they shall bring forth their rich treasures unto the children of Ephraim my servants. And the boundaries of the everlasting hills shall tremble at their presence. And then shall they fall down and be crowned with glory, even in Zion, by the hands of the servants of the Lord, even the children of Ephraim; and they shall be filled with songs of everlasting joy. Behold, this is the blessing of the everlasting God upon the tribes of Israel, and the richer blessing upon the head of Ephraim and his fellows. And they also of the tribe of Judah, after their pain, shall be sanctified in holiness before the Lord to dwell in his presence day and night for ever and ever.” D&C 108:6a-f
“Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king's son. He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment. The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness. He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor. They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations. He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass; as showers that water the earth. In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth. He [Jesus] shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.” Psalm 72:1-8
IN SUMMARY, if we truly believe the doctrine, the church, the scriptures, then we have to come to the conclusion that the American Zion shall come forth as the agent of God, and as the place for the gathering of Ephraim Israel and the tribes of Israel their fellows, along with those of the Gentiles who shall come into the New and Everlasting Covenant, and it shall be an Ensign for all nations in these last days. May God, the Eternal Father swiftly bring again Zion upon the face of the earth.
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N. W. Glauner