Why Imagery?

After teaching for the church for 36 years, I have learned that the Lord loves to use imagery. In Hosea 12:10 he states that he uses similitude's by the ministry of the prophets. I believe that when there is a event about a prophet recorded in scriptures, we can then look to see that the story may be talking about the life and mission of the Lord Jesus Christ. Isaiah 8:18 talks about how he and his family are for signs and wonders. Moses 6:63 states that all things bear witness of Him, and I hope to show some of these examples. This blog is designed to share some of my discoveries and those of many of my students who helped me learn so much in seeing Christ throughout all scripture. I was blessed to have these students from Northern Arizona, Texas and the Seattle area. I also thank all the CES teachers who have shared their thoughts and ideas. I will also include some posts giving helps to understand the book of Revelation and a few other books and chapters. Also included is an imagery sheet of notes taken at an in service meeting given by Gerald Lund back in the 80's that helped get me started with symbolism or imagery. I believe that the Lord uses both sides of your brain to teach about him. The logical side will just tell you the doctrine put straight forward and the creative side of your brain to see the imagery and symbolism, giving you two witnesses in your own body. These thoughts do not reflect any official position of any church but may be of help to some who want to learn more about their Savior.
I will try and not post more than one a week, so I don't overwhelm you.
Suggested reading order: 1. Scriptural Symbols 2. Imagery that got me started
Other blogs available. - Christ as the husband of Church part 1 of 2. It shows how family is central to God's plan,-Our marriage imagery part 2 of 2 -Jonah as a similitude of Christ - Jaredite Barge story - Nephi Building a boat - Joseph in Egypt or Temple experiences - Ammon in B of M Cutting Off Arms - The war chapters in the Book of Alma - Book of Revelation Helps-Understanding Adam and Eve-The Good Samaritan a plan of happiness story-The earth teaches the Plan of Happiness- Moses as a type of the Savior-The following posts are the chapters of Isaiah as found in the Book of Mormon.
The next series of posts will be the chapters of the book of Revelation,-A little paper on some Christmas imagery-


Friday, October 4, 2019

Isaiah in the Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 16 Isaiah 6


2 Nephi 16
Isaiah 6
Isaiah sees the Lord—Isaiah’s sins are forgiven—He is called to prophesy—He prophesies of the rejection by the Jews of Christ’s teachings—A remnant will return—Compare Isaiah 6. About 559–545 B.C.

The verses from the Bible if different will be added after the B of M verse in blue!
Throne=King and the right to rule      high and lifted up=glory and power
 In the year that king Uzziah died (about 750 BC), I saw also the Lord (Jesus Christ) sitting upon a throne, (In heaven) high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. (IE the hem of his garment, or the skirts thereof) After king Uzziah died, Isaiah has a vision and sees Jesus Christ sitting on a throne in heaven, clothed with power and glory.

Angels  with 6 wings=D&C 77:4 the power, to move, to act. etc.
 Above it stood the seraphim; (TG, see BD, angels in God’s presence singing praises to him) (HEB the root of seraph which means “burning”.  Thus seraphims would be the “buring ones” each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. He sees angels in God’s presence who have power, are righteous and sing praises to him.
Joseph Smith in the Temple dedication said this: D&C 109:79 And help us by the power of thy spirit, that we may mingle our voices with those bright, shining seraphs around thy throne, with acclamations of praise, singing Hosanna to God and the lamb!

Holy, holy, holy=If a word is repeated three times meaning nothing can be holier.    Also three is a number representing the Godhead.
 And one cried unto another, and said: Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of Hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory.  Christ is spoken as being totally holier and by his power the earth was created and exists by him, and all that is therein.

Smoke= glory and power.  Used also by John in Rev 15:8
 And the posts (HEB foundations of the thresholds trembled)of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke Isaiah feels the posts move and feels the power of the Lord and experiences his great glory. The door post could be a heavenly doorway leading into God’s presence.

Lips or tongue=are symbolic of what kind of person you are, our speech may betray us
 Then said I: Wo is unto me! for I am undone ( Heb. cut off); because I am a man of unclean lips; and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Hosts.(Isaiah is declaring his own nothingness compared to God, he feels his own unworthiness and also his peoples unworthiness and sins as he communicates with the Lord.

Live coal=the spirit of the Holy Ghost and his ability to cleanse us from our sins.
Tongs= God’s ability to make the spirit available to all.          Altar =the great and last sacrifice of the Son of God  Many altars had 4 horns, one on each corner of the altar symbolic of power showing that the power of the atonement has power to go to the four corners [everywhere] of the earth
 Then flew one of the seraphim unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar; See v 7 note   Seraphim is plural in the masculine

 And he laid it upon my mouth, and said: Lo, this has touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. (Fire is a cleansing agent or purifier like the Holy Ghost or baptism of fire, here Isaiah is being forgiven for his sins) Also see Jeremiah 1:9 And the Lord put forth his hand and touched my mouth.  And the Lord said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.  In the NJV Bible this reads He touched it to my lips and declared, “Now that this has touched your lips, Your guilt shall depart and your sin be purged away”
The preceding verses compared to the temple
Ludlow:  pp 128-129  The Lord’s robe or train compares to the temple veil which separates us from God’s direct glory.  The seraphim are like temple attendants, calling to one another in a threefold petition (v.2) The moving door posts v4 suggest a stirring at the veil.  Isaiah receiving a live coal from the temple altar v6 reminds us of the eternal life promised to those who keep the covenants made at the temple altars.  (See D&C 130:6-11)

 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then I said: Here am I; send me. (This shows Isaiah’s great desire to serve the Lord after being cleansed by the spirit of the Lord.  Isaiah accepts his call, using the same words that Christ used in his pre-earth calling acceptance.
 And he said: Lord-Go and tell this people—Isaiah-Hear ye indeed, People’s response-but they understood not; Isaiah-and see ye indeed, People-but they perceived not.  In the new Jewish version of this verse it reads: The Lord said, “Go tell this people; hear ye indeed, but they will not understand; and See ye indeed, but they will not perceive.  Refer to references shown in verse 10 for it also relates to this verse.) A prophet has to be called by God.  Heb.  5:4
 10 Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes—lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and be converted and be healed.   Matthew 13:13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall ahear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
15 For this people’s aheart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their beyes they have cclosed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should dheal them.   
(The hearts being made fat from Isaiah’s preaching seems to indicate that the people would understand what he said and would have to either choose to be wicked. for they knew he spoke the truth.    Remember God does not desire his children to do things that will cut them off from him, and he certainly doesn’t want his prophets to turn the people away from himself.  These verses really mean that the people had rejected the word of God because they loved the world more than they loved the atonement of the Son of God and the plan of happiness.) They wanted to live and so called “enjoy their sins”
 11 Then said I: Lord, how long? And he said: Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate;  (One phrase I like to interject after the question “how long”, is how long will men be like this, possibly to the end of the world.  Very few people have ever accepted the Lord and his message.  But when the earth is cleansed at the 2nd coming and is desolate from the burning of the wicked, only then will men generally stay righteous.  But in Isaiah’s day, he could be referencing the destruction of Judah by their enemies and their being scattered or carried into bondage.)
 12 And the Lord have removed men far away, for there shall be a great forsaking in the midst of the land. KJV12 And the Lord have removed men far away, and there be a great forsaking in the midst of the land. (Same as the verse above)
 13 But yet there shall be a tenth, and they shall return, and shall be eaten, as a teil tree, and as an oak whose substance is in them when they cast their leaves; so the holy seed shall be the substance thereof. KJV13 But yet in it shall be a tenth, and ait shall return, and shall be eaten: as a teil tree, and as an oak, whose substance is in them, when they cast their leaves: so the holy seed shall be the b substance (i.e. Like a tree, though its leaves be scattered, life and potential to produce seed yet remain in it)  thereof. (The Kingdom of Judah, though they will be scattered for disobedience, 10% of them will return probably after the Babylonian captivity to see this prophecy fulfilled. In the last days 10% of scattered Israel will be gathering during the hastening.  One Bible teacher, Monte Nyman taught that the last part of this verse is that when animals eat the teil  or oak tree leaves and that the old dead leaves will fall to the ground uneaten and that then it will be the new leaves that will provide sustenance, or a new generation after Judah is scattered that have returned.)

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