Messiah Ben Joseph

 (While I was attending Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies [Chicago], the rabbis taught whole lessons/classes on messiah ben Joseph - the latter-day Ephraimite prophet; and I have written several papers on him. Here are a few of my findings that I am just remembering off of the top of my head:

1. messiah ben Joseph is the fore-runner to, and suffering servant of Messiah ben David.

2. He has many symbolic names, e.g. Breaker [Daniel's prophecy], Taheb [Ingatherer - for Israel will be gathered for the last time] Rem [wild bullock with the black and shiny horns; the symbol for Ephraim is the wild bullock, the symbol for Judah is the lion], Asiph [restorer], etc. but his name will be Joseph, after his father - a descendant of Joseph of Egypt through his first born, Ephraim

3. “Messiah ben Joseph must prove his identity not by miracles, but by his historical success.” Klausner; whereas MEssiah ben David will be known by his miracles. 

4. according to the Dead Sea Scrolls, beacuse he knows nothing pertaining to things divine or religious or the correct way to worship G-d, that when a lad, while on his knees in prayer to ask G-d what to do, the heavens will open and G-d the Father and the Son of Man will appear to him; and that, like Moses, he will be afforded the privilege of asking any question he wants.

5. he will deliver a new Torah, given to him after "the many lectures" [Ginzberg] by the hand of Manassah on the 1st of Tishre. Joseph will translate the new Torah by Urim and Thummin. It will be delivered to the people on the 1st of Nisan.

6. he will lay the cornerstone of the temple on the 9th of Av, thereby negating the Black Fast.

7. he is the 2nd Moses, and will have two counselors, twelve advisers, plus the seventies.

8. he will restore prophecy, priesthood, temples and deliver a new tora.

9. both Moses and Elijah would appear to him "in the self same hour" on the 15th of Nisan to restore the keys of gathering Israel, including the return of the lost ten tribes, and the keys for Elijah's sealing powers to straighten out our genealogies.[Ginzberg]

10. he would send an envoy to Jerusalem in 5600 [1840] to call the Jews back home.

11. he would suffer much at the hands of Armilus.

12. he would become a general in the army. 

13. he would live about 40 years, be martyred while doing battle with the enemies of Messiah ben David; but Joseph's death will have no atoning effect what-so-ever.

14. when Messiah ben David appears, the first person he will resurrect is ben Joseph, and together the Saviors [plural] will stand on mount Zion and mount of Olives to fight and destroy Edom. This is Armageddon; then comes the Great Sabbath of the Lord. messiah .

https://judaism.stackexchange.com/questions/13359/who-is-moshiach-ben-joseph-and-what-does-did-he-do

DAGGERS, SWORDS AND POWER IN THE PRIESTHOOD - SIZE DOES MATTER...

 So there are MANY references to swords in the OT and a few in the NT.  There are even a few in the modern Endowment.  Many of us are under covenant in relation to swords.  Yet, few of us probably give it more than a mere thought.  I know that I have not until I was doing Washings and Anointings and my mind fixated on the actual covenant wording and how it affects me.

I was reading yet another account of a spiritual encounter where evil was present and the device (representative of Priesthood) was used to thwart the intentions of the evil.  Very powerful here when combined with the rest of the narrative:

"A man came through the door. He was tall enough to have to stoop to enter. His eyes were very protruding and rather wild looking, his fingernails were thick and long. He presented a rather unkempt appearance and wore no clothing at all. . . . There suddenly appeared in [Smith’s] right hand a light which had the size and appearance of a dagger. . . . A voice said, “This is your priesthood.” He commanded the person in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to depart. . . . Immediately when the light appeared the person stopped and on being commanded to leave, he backed out the door" ("Experiences with Cain,” n.d., MSS 5273, Archives, Family and Church History Department, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City (hereafter LDS Church Archives).

If we consider what was used to control access to the Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden, we know there is purpose to this stuff.  There is great power of a very high order in the Tree of Life (see my previous articles on how the Staff of Moses was created from one of it's branches, which was handed down until it arrived in the hands of Brigham Young to locate the building site of the SLC temple.

Anyone in possession or in control of the Tree of Life would have power at least of a Terrestrial Order, or possibly higher.  So God sent cherubim (cherubs) with flaming swords to protect the way to it so that neither evil nor anyone with possible initial good intent would run amok with it, just as happened with the "Watchers" who abused their elevated (Terrestrial) state and created some serious problems here on earth (which led to the Great Flood - probably a pre-calculated event as the earth was in need of refreshing/baptism during it's fallen existence).

Each Priesthood holder has a sword that you are probably not even aware of, as it is a spiritual object.  I am not sure about the Matriarchs, in this context.  I believe that it is the man's role to wield that sword (in righteousness) just as it is the sole responsibility of the women to bear/nurture the offspring of a union.  This sword is forged (length, hardness and ornateness, etc) over eons of time as it is wielded in righteousness to destroy or expunge evil.  It would be on par with the Urim and Thumim, in that we each crafted our own pre-mortally.  The more we used/use it (exercise our Priesthood, or open our mouths in the defense of what is good and right - as it did start out s a war of words), the more ornate and useful it becomes.  Picture a sword of a great warrior that is gilded and made more ornate to celebrate successful battles.  This (according to my visionary friends), is what we each possess.  As we conquer evil, our dominion increases.

The longer and more ornate our garb (representative of our Priesthoods) and our sword, the more attractive the male becomes to a discerning woman in the eternities.  We are truly shackled, from that perspective, in this life (while choosing partners), as we have to rely on the five physical senses.  When that is all manifested, it will be much easier to pick out the gems and discard the posers such as satan, or those who have tricked their way into positions, etc.

BURNING A BRIDGE - MORE ROD OF AARON FUN

This is a diary entry along with a little venting:

So, I sent the following information (in blue, below) to a member of my Bishopric that is over the area of the ward that I serve in with my wife.  It was in response to me "teaching false doctrine" in the class.  While the three year olds were coloring away on their pictures of Moses raising the rod prior to crossing the Red Sea, I took the opportunity to tell a few of the adults there my exciting discovery about the Rod of Aaron vs the Gift of Aaron in D&C 8.  

Bro ______, here is the quote I was referencing earlier: An interesting notation in Anthon H. Lund's Journal for July 5,1901 states: "in the revelation to Oliver Cowdery in May 1829, Bro. [B. H.] Roberts said that the gift which the Lord says he has in his hand meant a stick which was like Aaron's Rod. It is said Bro. Phineas Young [brother-in-law of Oliver Cowdery and brother of Brigham Young] got it from him [Cowdery] and gave it to President Young who had it with him when he arrived in this [Salt Lake] valley and that it was with that stick that he pointed out where the Temple should be built."

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You can look up an early manuscript of the Book of Commandments and see that it clearly states Rod of Aaron instead of the current Gift of Aaron. It likely was given to Oliver by the latest representative of that line which would have been John the Baptist, though I have not found statements to back that. Yet.

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It is likely this stick or staff that will be used by the two Prophets to stay the armies in Jerusalem. It is my belief that one will be Elder Holland. We are close.

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Lund was a member of the First Presidency when he made that statement: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthon_H._Lund He also served concurrently as Church Historian during a period of 20 years. If you would be so kind, please pass this info along to any concerned parents…. My sources are quite sound.

Anthon H. Lund - Wikipedia

Yes - kids who can barely count to 3 let alone understand what a tent is (I was trying to explain the ten commandments and about the tabernacle in the wilderness yesterday), were like 99.999998% chance of not understanding the least of what I was talking about to the adults there helping my wife and I, even if it were truly apostate information.  So, we passed on this cool information a few weeks ago and similar adults were there yesterday, so I relayed my "sin" to them joking about how silly it was to a guy who was subbing in for my wife and who also got kicked out of subbing in for Seminary after "teaching false doctrine"....  

After class, I was in the hall and bumped into the guy who has called me out for wearing sandals to church (when my foot was swollen after driving three days non-stop across Canada), having facial hair and so much else (of course, I picture this guy yelling from the crowd to "Crucify him!!!  Crucify him!!! in Pharisaical fashion...).  SMH....  And we wonder why people who are not perfect cookie cutters - but who have great hearts - leave and never come back.  My MIL is among those who were driven out/ostracized after a divorce and that rigidity has resulted in shock waves.  I think of all of those sons who could have gone on missions, etc if people had shown a little more empathy and love, etc.  Ah, the devil is crafty at his game....  Most are just there to commune with God.  Again, it is clear that the gospel must be true - because the work still manages to go forward in spite of the rest of the equation.  So sad - because I do not think we can make it through the narrow spot between now and Zion, until we change that attitude towards our brothers and sisters and shed our destructive traditions.  Jesus said it best when speaking to the Pharisees of the day, that their pedigrees and genealogies are useless unless their hearts are in the right place.  Basically, he could turn the stones into better children of Abraham than the self-righteous Jews were....  Dumb as a rock (spiritually) comes to mind....

I cannot help but think about how important it is here in Cardston to be from one of the founding families.  Usually, you are asked who you are related to.  It is immaterial; we are all children of God.  End of story.  God can raise up rocks who can serve more easily and effectively if we become filled with pride over our genealogies.  There is a lot of looking down on the local natives (who admittedly can have substance abuse issues - and often can bring on crime due to needing drug money, etc).  BUT, the more righteous part of them will win the day when their brothers and sisters from the 10 tribes come through and take them to their glorious destiny in the NJ.  Meanwhile, they are trodden upon by the Canadian government and by many of the citizens, completely unaware of their role in treading down the wicked Gentiles (us), when we have been brought low by (likely) disease and war with other Gentile/Heathen nations (read China, Iran/Indian and Russia - and possibly Brazil; BRIC).

So I am standing in the hall talking with this fellow and asked him if he got my Messenger the other week correcting him on his calling me out on "false doctrine".  I had my back to the foyer as he pointed out that it was a "nefarious comment".  That was stated again as the Bishop (a guy who has his head on straight from everything my daughter tells me) walked past me.  Forgive me for being ignorant of the real meaning of nefarious - but I would have corrected him yet again on the usage of that word:

ne·far·i·ous

/nəˈferēəs/

Learn to pronounce

S

adjective

(typically of an action or activity) wicked or criminal.

Sheesh....  Thankfully, I was ignorant so it did not really blow up.  But I could tell he was pretty mad that I had called him out.  I am not sure if it is an authority thing?  Or what, but I respect those who merit it.  Apologizing for a mistake is part of earning my respect.

So, I continue to get called out.  He then explains that the words of a current Prophet trump anything from someone who was a two-time member of the First Presidency and the Church Historian for over 20 years (concurrent responsibilities).  Lund would have been the next Prophet had he not died from a chronic duodenic ulcer at 77 years old in 1921.  Still not good enough for my "Crucify him!!" buddy.  I pointed out that the section in the D&C referencing that is still in the D&C.  Not good enough for him.  Point out that the Book of Commandments published first and then one or two early editions of the D&C still reference the original wording and those are still doctrine and not nefarious information....

Needless to say, it did not go well.  People hate logic and common sense.

Meanwhile, I will still try and figure out what was so offensive about finding out about a relic that is on par with the Liahona or even possibly the Urim and Thumim (probably more correctly, the seer stone) that is in the church archives, etc.  The way things are worded in verse 9, it makes me wonder if it literally pointed to the spot in the valley (not much unlike a dousing rod in the search for water), where the temple would be placed (Brigham Young: "Here, we shall build a temple to our God!"), where it would rest just above the massive granite plug that rises out of the SL Valley - that will keep it from subsiding during the "big one" on the Wasatch Fault).  So much cool stuff out there....  This stuff just turns my crank!  The problem I think is this:  people are actually embarrassed by this stuff (relics) and consider them backwards or primitive?  As such, they have little faith or belief in this kind of stuff, therefore they just want it to go away?  For the unbelieving DoC crowd, this kind of thing would only serve to bolster anything good about Brigham Young.  Rods of God, seerstones, etc tend to not work in the hands of one who is wicked (has nefarious intent...), so if Brigham was able to receive revelation through it as to where to build the temple so that it indeed will stand through an EQ so large that mountains are literally displaced, then he may just not have been a Joseph murderer and impostor.  See the implications here?  Those who are incapable of having miracles in their lives for whatever reason, see it as impossible only because they are not endowed with such power/means, so it seems ludicrous and impossible to conceive of.

I love knowledge and decry anyone that bats it down.  When I relayed this whole thing to my wife, she just said maybe it is time to leave (Cardston).  This truly is the manifestation of the salt losing it's savor.  The Jews of the day were VERY good at keeping every jot and tittle of the Law - but horribly bad at keeping the true intent of it as their wickedness and adulterating behavior smothered out what it truly meant to be disciples of Christ.

I was talking to my BYU student yesterday about relationships and what are the most important elements in making it work for me, and the thing that makes it special/meaningful for me and way better than any amount of mind-blowing sex, good cooking, earning potential, back rubs, etc:  is that my woman loves and understands the Gospel as well as funky arcane and cool knowledge like this stuff.  I could not live without that love of learning (and open mindedness enough to accept the near impossible) in my life.  All else pales by comparison to that.  It also helps that she is wise, gentle (when I need correcting) and a very attractive 50+ year old!

6 Now this is not all thy ^agift; for you have another gift, which is the gift of Aaron; behold, it has told you many things;

7 Behold, there is no other power, save the power of God, that can cause this gift of Aaron to be with you.

8 Therefore, ^adoubt not, for it is the gift of God; and you shall hold it in your hands, and do marvelous works; and no power shall be able to take it away out of your hands, for it is the ^bwork of God.

9 And, therefore, whatsoever you shall ask me to tell you by that means, that will I grant unto you, and you shall have knowledge concerning it.

10 Remember that without ^afaith you can do nothing; therefore ask in faith. Trifle not with these things; do not ^bask for that which you ought not.

11 Ask that you may know the mysteries of God, and that you may ^atranslate and receive knowledge from all those ancient records which have been hid up, that are ^bsacred; and according to your faith shall it be done unto you.

12 Behold, it is I that have spoken it; and I am the same that spake unto you from the beginning. Amen.