Need Your Help?????
Posted: December 9th, 2010, 11:08 pm
I was told that "the times of the Gentile has been fulfilled" as per President Packer or President Benson. Can someone verify this, and if so where and when??? Thank you.
Also, quotes from LDSLastDays.com:Doctrine and Covenants 45:25–31 —“The Times of the Gentiles”
President Ezra Taft Benson taught:
“The Lord has designated these days in which we live as the ‘times of the Gentiles.’ The Gentile nations are the so-called Christian nations—North and South America and the European nations from which we came. The ‘times of the Gentiles’ refers to that period of time extending from when the gospel was restored to the world (1830) to when the gospel will again be preached to the Jews—after the Gentiles have rejected it. This is how the Lord explained it:
“‘And when the times of the Gentiles is come in, a light shall break forth among them that sit in darkness, and it shall be the fulness of my gospel;
“‘ But they receive it not; for they perceive not the light, and they turn their hearts from me because of the precepts of men.
“‘And in that generation shall the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.’ ( D&C 45:28–30 ; italics added.)
“We will know when the times of the Gentiles are approaching fulfillment by these signs:
“‘And in that day shall be heard of wars and rumors of wars, and the whole earth shall be in commotion, and men’s hearts shall fail them, and they shall say that Christ delayeth his coming until the end of the earth.
“‘And the love of men shall wax cold, and iniquity shall abound.’ ( D&C 45:26–27 .)
“‘And again, this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world, for a witness unto all nations, and then shall the end come, or the destruction of the wicked’ ( JST, Matt. 24:32 ).
“Are we not witnessing the fulfillment of these signs today? The gospel is being extended to all nations which permit our missionaries to penetrate their countries. The Church is prospering and growing. Yet in undiminished fury, and with an anxiety that his time is short—and it is—Satan, that great adversary to all men, is attempting to destroy all we hold dear” ( “Prepare Yourself for the Great Day of the Lord,” New Era, May 1982, 47 ).
Doctrine and Covenants 45:32 —“Holy Places”
CR, JF SMITH APR:1966
Jerusalem, which was trodden down by the Gentiles, is no longer trodden down but is made the home of the Jews. They are returning to Palestine, and by this we may know that the times of the Gentiles are near their close.
There are two possibilities that I see in this, first is as the above quotes indicate, that as the world rejects the message of the elders, they will be taken from their midst and sent to the Jewish/ tribes of Israel descendants around the world. There are particular places that we may not preach right now. One is Israel, also, we are also not in the muslim countries officially. These places will be opened when the gentiles reject our work, as I see it.CR, JF SMITH JR APR:1911
From time to time, some one, filled with hatred of the truth, in the blind desire to destroy the work of the Lord, appeals to the nations to cast out the elders of Israel who are carrying this message of salvation unto all who will believe, and warning others that they may be left without excuse. It would be a sorry day for any nation, where the gospel is being preached, should it conclude to drive the elders of the Church from is borders and deny them the right to preach the gospel among the people. The elders insure peace unto the nations, so long as they will hear the message of salvation and will protect and defend the truth. When the time comes that the nation; will cast the elders out, and no longer receive their testimony, but "bow to Satan's thrall," as we heard in the anthem this afternoon, woe be unto them. We read in the word of the Lord that after the testimony of the elders will come wrath and indignation upon the people. For after their testimony will cone the testimony of earthquakes, that shall cause suffering and sorrow and men shall fall upon the ground for fear. There shall come also the testimony of thunderings, and the voice of lightnings, and the voice of tempests, and the voice of the waves of the sea heaving themselves beyond their bounds. All things shall be in commotion and men's hearts shall fail them because of fear that shall come upon the people. These things shall follow the testimony of the elders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, when the people of the world reject them and drive them from their borders. We go unto them with a message of peace, of truth, of eternal salvation, calling upon them to repent of their sins and enter into the true fold, where they may receive rest. When they will not do this, but to the contrary, will listen to the unrighteous and condemn the truth, then God will withdraw the Gospel from among them. In that day the time of the Gentiles will be fulfilled, and the gospel will be carried to the Jews.
There is also an element I am not sure of.
3 Nephi 16:10And thus commandeth the Father that I should say unto you: At that day when the Gentiles shall sin against my gospel, and shall reject the fulness of my gospel, and shall be lifted up in the pride of their hearts above all nations, and above all the people of the whole earth, and shall be filled with all manner of lyings, and of deceits, and of mischiefs, and all manner of hypocrisy, and murders, and priestcrafts, and whoredoms, and of secret abominations; and if they shall do all those things, and shall reject the fulness of my gospel, behold, saith the Father, I will bring the fulness of my gospel from among them.
Does this refer to LDS gentiles? Perhaps there are two parts to this prophecy. One is the rejection of the elders by the nations, the other is the rejection of the fullness of the gospel by the members, whether overtly, or by their complacency.
Anyone else have a quote that clarifies this?
Also, the way I way I understand it is that the time of the gentiles in ending but hasn't ended yet. So the question is how much longer will the time of the gentiles last???