EGYPT
Jan Griffith, August 2008
“Behold, Ether saw the days of Christ, and he spake concerning a New Jerusalem upon this land; and he spake also concerning the house of Israel, and the Jerusalem from whence Lehi should come; after it should be destroyed, it should be built up again a holy city unto the Lord; Wherefore it could not be a New Jerusalem, for it had been in a time of old, but it should be built up again, and become a holy city of the Lord: and it should be built up unto the house of Israel; And that a New Jerusalem should be built up upon this land, unto the remnant of the seed of Joseph, for which things there has been a type; for as Joseph brought his father down into the land of Egypt, even so he died there; Wherefore the Lord brought a remnant of the seed of Joseph out of the land of Jerusalem, that he might be merciful unto the seed of Joseph, that they should perish not, even as he was merciful unto the father of Joseph, that he should perish not; Wherefore the remnant of the house of Joseph shall be built up upon this land; and it shall be a land of their inheritance; and they shall build up a holy city unto the Lord, like unto the Jerusalem of old; and they shall no more be confounded, until the end come, when the earth shall pass away.” (Ether 6:4-8)
~~~~~
Ever notice how many references there are in both the “old” and the “new” testament about the Lord’s people escaping to Egypt for a temporary spell, and then being delivered out of it? Abraham went to Egypt in order to escape famine. Joseph was sold into Egypt in order to save his family from famine. Jeroboam fled into Egypt to escape from Solomon. Jesus and his family also escaped to Egypt and remained there until after Herod’s death.
“And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way. And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord, appeared to Joseph in a vision, saying, Arise and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and tarry thou there until I bring thee word; for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. And then he arose, and took the young child, and the child's mother, by night, and departed into Egypt; And was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord, by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my Son.” (Matthew 3:12-15)
Out of Egypt, God called his son. Israel is God’s first born son.
“When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.” (Hosea 11:1)
God used two witnesses, Moses and Aaron, to call ancient Israel out of Egypt. It looks as though an even greater delivery from an even greater Egypt will also come by the hand of two witnesses. So marvelous will it be that the first delivery from Egypt will be forgotten.
“And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.” (Revelation 11:3)
“And the Lord hath said, I will raise up a Moses; and I will give power unto him in a rod; And I will give judgment unto him in writing. Yet I will not loose his tongue, that he shall speak much: for I will not make him mighty in speaking. But I will write unto him my law, by the finger of mine own hand; and I will make a spokesman for him. And the Lord said unto me also, I will raise up unto the fruit of thy loins: and I will make for him a spokesman. And I, behold, I will give unto him, that he shall write the writing of the fruit of thy loins, unto the fruit of thy loins; and the spokesman of thy loins shall declare it.” (2 Nephi 2:32-37)
“Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely; and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that they shall no more say, The Lord liveth, which brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; But, The Lord liveth, which brought up and which led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all countries whither I had driven them; and they shall dwell in their own land.” (Jeremiah 23:5-8)
AMERICA MISINTERPRETED?
A fairly common teaching among many of today’s Christians, given our current moral condition, is that America is the “Babylon” of scriptures. They recognize that there is something special and unique about America, but without the aid of the Book of Mormon, their eschatology is flawed. Babylon, scripturally defined, is wickedness (Section 108:4b). She is the mystery religion of the Whore, the Apostate, the Great and Abominable Church (Section 84:1; Revelation 17:5). Babylon will be destroyed, and great will be her fall (Matthew 7:35; Section 1:3d; Revelation 18).
Perhaps a more accurate description of America would be “Egypt,” not Babylon, especially since Egypt has always temporally represented a place of wealth, prosperity, and luxurious living. Further proof comes from Ether who said that Egypt was a similitude for this “choice land” which would serve as a place of refuge for the Lord’s people.
It was contemplating this similitude that drove me to study Egypt, as it is scripturally defined.
DEFINING EGYPT
Egypt represents a place of luxury (Proverb 7:16).
Egypt represents a desired land where there is no war and no want (Jeremiah 42:14).
Egypt represents a mighty place militarily, with lots of horses and chariots:
“Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit.” (Isaiah 31:3)
Egypt represents an iron furnace, which represents a tarnished people in need of spiritual refining (Deuteronomy 4:20; 1 Kings 8:50-53).
Egypt represents a place of labor (Isaiah 45:14).
Egypt represents a land of false gods (Judges 2:12).
Egypt represents a house of bondage (Deuteronomy 5:6).
Egypt represents wisdom that is less than the wisdom of Solomon (1 Kings 4:30-31).
Egypt represents a daughter of Pharaoh (1 Kings 3:1). It was Pharaoh’s daughter who rescued and raised up Moses:
“And the child grew, and she brought him unto Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. And she called his name Moses; and she said, Because I drew him out of the water.” (Exodus 2:10)
Egypt represents a people who suffer for “three days and nights” without bread and water:
“And they found an Egyptian in the field, and brought him to David, and gave him bread, and he did eat; and they made him drink water; And they gave him a piece of a cake of figs, and two clusters of raisins; and when he had eaten, his spirit came again to him for he had eaten no bread, nor drank any water, three days and three nights. And David said unto him, To whom belongest thou? and whence art thou? And he said, I am a young man of Egypt, servant to an Amalekite; and my master left me, because three days agone I fell sick.” (1 Samuel 30:11-13)
Compare this to another “three days and nights” typology:
“An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas; for as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly, so shall the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” (Matthew 12:34)
Wasn’t Jesus in the heart of the earth for “three days and nights” (Matthew 12:34)?
“For Christ also once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit, that he might bring us to God. For which cause also, he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; Some of whom were disobedient in the days of Noah, while the long-suffering of God waited, while the ark was preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.” (1 Peter 3:18-20)
Consider the tie between Jesus’ preaching to the spirits in prison and what was recorded in this hemisphere at the same time:
“And it came to pass that it did last for the space of three days, that there was no light seen; and there was great mourning, and howling, and weeping among all the people continually; Yea, great were the groanings of the people, because of the darkness and the great destruction which had come upon them. And in one place they were heard to cry, saying, O that we had repented before this great and terrible day, and then would our brethren have been spared, and they would not have been burned in that great city Zarahemla. And in another place they were heard to cry and mourn, saying, O that we had repented before this great and terrible day, and had not killed and stoned the prophets, and cast them out.” (3 Nephi 4:21-24)
“And now whoso readeth, let him understand; he that hath the scriptures, let him search them, and see and behold if all these deaths and destructions by fire, and by smoke, and by tempests, and by whirlwinds, and by the opening of the earth to receive them, and all these things, are not unto the fulfilling of the prophecies of many of the holy prophets. Behold, I say unto you, Yea, many have testified of these things at the coming of Christ, and were slain because they testified of these things.” (3 Nephi 4:69-70)
We were told that Isaiah’s words have happened before, and will happen again:
“And the Lord said, Like as my servant Isaiah hath walked naked and barefoot three years for a sign and wonder upon Egypt and upon Ethiopia; So shall the king of Assyria lead away the Egyptians prisoners, and the Ethiopians captives, young and old, naked and barefoot, even with their buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt. And they shall be afraid and ashamed of Ethiopia their expectation, and of Egypt their glory. And the inhabitant of this isle shall say in that day, Behold, such is our expectation, whither we flee for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria; and how shall we escape?” (Isaiah 20:3-6)
Egypt represents our Lord and Savior who declares himself to be the Lord God from the land of Egypt (Hosea 12:9; 13:4).
Egypt represents Jerusalem, where Jesus Christ was crucified (Revelation 11:8).
Egypt represents the Lord’s people (Isaiah 19:25).
EGYPT IN PROPHECY
First, a little history
The Lord’s two houses received parabolic names in Ezekiel’s writings. Two daughters of the same mother, Aholah (Samaria/Israel) was the elder daughter and Aholibah (Jerusalem/Judah) was the younger daughter. Aholah lost her virginity “in her youth” in Egypt, and played the whore (Exekiel 23:8).
The people of Judah were warned not to fear the king of Babylon, and not to go to Egypt where they would be “free from war and want” (Jeremiah 42). If Judah disobeyed, the king of Babylon would smite or destroy the land of Egypt, and the Egyptian gods he would burn with fire (Jeremiah 43). Jeremiah warned that the remnant of Judah who would set their faces to go to Egypt would be consumed by sword and famine; none would escape or remain (Jeremiah 44). Judah ignored the warnings and rebelled against the oath taken with Babylon, sending their remnant and ambassadors into Egypt to gain horses and chariots (Ezekiel 17:15).
Egypt then and now
The Lord’s people trust in the shadow of Egypt (Isaiah 30:2). What is the “shadow of Egypt?” Following are a few verses for consideration:
“Hear ye the word of the Lord, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel; Thus saith the Lord, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain? Neither said they, Where is the Lord that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, that led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of drought, and of the shadow of death, through a land that no man passed through, and where no man dwelt?” (Jeremiah 2:4-6)
“Behold, the Assyrian was a cedar in Lebanon with fair branches, and with a shadowing shroud, and of a high stature; and his top was among the thick boughs. The waters made him great, the deep set him up on high with her rivers running round about his plants, and sent out her little rivers unto all the trees of the field. Therefore his height was exalted above all the trees of the field, and his boughs were multiplied, and his branches became long because of the multitude of waters, when he shot forth. All the fowls of heaven made their nests in his boughs, and under his branches did all the beasts of the field bring forth their young, and under his shadow dwelt all great nations. Thus was he fair in his greatness, in the length of his branches; for his root was by great waters. The cedars in the garden of God could not hide him; the fir trees were not like his boughs, and the chestnut trees were not like his branches; not any tree in the garden of God was like unto him in his beauty. I have made him fair by the multitude of his branches; so that all the trees of Eden, that were in the garden of God, envied him. Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Because thou hast lifted up thyself in height, and he hath shot up his top among the thick boughs, and his heart is lifted up in his height; I have therefore delivered him into the hand of the mighty one of the heathen; he shall surely deal with him; I have driven him out for his wickedness. And strangers, the terrible of the nations, have cut him off, and have left him; upon the mountains and in all the valleys his branches are fallen, and his boughs are broken by all the rivers of the land; and all the people of the earth are gone down from his shadow, and have left him.” (Ezekiel 31)
“Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt; thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it. Thou preparest room before it, and didst cause it to take deep root, and it filled the land. The hills were covered with the shadow of it, and the boughs thereof were like the goodly cedars. She sent out her boughs unto the sea, and her branches unto the river. Why hast thou then broken down her hedges, so that all they which pass by the way do pluck her? The boar out of the wood doth waste it, and the wild beast of the field doth devour it. Return, we beseech thee, O God of hosts; look down from heaven, and behold, and visit this vine; And the vineyard which thy right hand hath planted, and the branch that thou madest strong for thyself. It is burned with fire, it is cut down; they perish at the rebuke of thy countenance. Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, upon the son of man whom thou madest strong for thyself. So will not we go back from thee; quicken us, and we will call upon thy name. Turn us again, O Lord God of hosts, cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.” (Psalms 80:8-19)
“I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely; for mine anger is turned away from him. I will be as the dew unto Israel; he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon. His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon. They that dwell under his shadow shall return: they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine; the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon. Ephraim shall say, What have I to do anymore with idols? I have heard him, and observed him; I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found. Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the Lord are right, and the just shall walk in them; but the transgressors shall fall therein.” (Hosea 14:4-9)
Egypt is seduced, having been mingled with a perverse spirit in her midst (Isaiah 19:13-14).
Ephraim is like a silly dove [deceiving spirits] who calls to Egypt and goes to Assyria (Hosea 7:11).
Ephraim returns to Egypt and eats unclean things in Assyria (Hosea 9:3).
Ephraim feeds on the wind, following after an east wind; increases daily in lies; makes a covenant with Assyria, and carries oil into Egypt (Hosea 12:1).
The Egyptians will be given over to a cruel lord (Isaiah 19:4).
Those who dwell in Zion will be smitten with a rod after the manner of Egypt (Isaiah 10:24-27).
Egypt will rise as a flood. Egypt will say, “I will cover the earth and destroy the city and its inhabitants.” (Jeremiah 46:8; Amos 8:8; Amos 9:5).
God will set a fire in Egypt (Ezekiel 30:8). Egypt’s power will be destroyed and God will turn that power over to Babylon (Ezekiel 30:22-24).
Egypt is like a fair heifer, but destruction will come out of the north (Jeremiah 46:20). Egypt’s hired men are like fatted bullocks, but they will be turned back (Jeremiah 21).
The daughter of Egypt will be confounded, and delivered into the hand of the people of the north (Jeremiah 46:24).
All who uphold Egypt will fall (Ezekiel 30:6).
Egypt’s king, or Pharaoh, is likened to the Assyrian (Ezekiel 31:2-3).
Pharaoh, king of Egypt, is identified as “the great dragon who lies in the midst of his rivers” (Ezekiel 29:3).
“And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years.” (Revelation 20:2)
“And the angel spake unto me, saying, Behold the fountain of filthy water which thy father saw; yea, even the river of which he spake; and the depths thereof are the depths of hell.” (1 Nephi 3:124)
God said that he will put hooks in Pharaoh’s jaws and cause the fish of his rivers to stick to his scales (Ezekiel 29:4). The fish of these rivers will not be gathered, but would be given for meat to the beasts and fowls (Ezekiel 29:5). All of Egypt will then know that the Lord is God, and that Egypt has been a “staff of reed” to the house of Israel—that when they leaned upon that staff, it broke (Ezekiel 29:-6-7).
God will make Egypt a desolate wilderness (Ezekiel 29:9). Yet later God will gather the Egyptians, and never again would they exalt themselves over the nations (Ezekiel 29:15). Israel will never again have confidence in Egypt (Ezekiel 29:16).
The presence of the Lord will move the idols of Egypt (Isaiah 19:1).
The Egyptians will be set against the Egyptians (Isaiah 19:2).
The spirit of Egypt will fail (Isaiah 19:3).
Pharaoh and his multitude will lie in the midst of the uncircumcised with those who are slain by the sword (Ezekiel 31:18).
By faith, Moses forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king. He chose to suffer affliction with the people of God, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt (Hebrews 11:24-27).
God delivered his people out of Egypt with a “stretched out arm” (Deuteronomy 4:34). He then straightened them in the wilderness with his rod (1 Nephi 5:133).
Are we not being straightened by his rod today?
In days to come, those of the family of Egypt, and of all the nations, who come not unto Jerusalem to worship the Lord, will receive “no rain,” and thus be plagued (Zechariah 14:17-21).
BACK TO ETHER
Ether saw the days of Christ (Ether 6:4). I assume that means Ether saw not only Christ’s first coming, but also his second. Ether saw that:
“…a New Jerusalem should be built up upon this land, unto the remnant of the seed of Joseph, for which things there has been a type; for as Joseph brought his father down into the land of Egypt, even so he died there.” (Ether 6:6)
Instead of just one or two escaping to Egypt, Ether’s writings foretold an entire people who would escape to Egypt (this choice land), and then be delivered out of it.
“Wherefore the Lord brought a remnant of the seed of Joseph out of the land of Jerusalem, that he might be merciful unto the seed of Joseph, that they should perish not, even as he was merciful unto the father of Joseph, that he should perish not; Wherefore the remnant of the house of Joseph shall be built up upon this land; and it shall be a land of their inheritance; and they shall build up a holy city unto the Lord, like unto the Jerusalem of old; and they shall no more be confounded, until the end come, when the earth shall pass away.” (Ether 6:7-8)
From the above passages, we learn that:
-- the New Jerusalem will be built up upon this land unto the (not a) remnant of Joseph.
-- it is the (not a) remnant of Joseph who will build up a holy city of the Lord, like Jerusalem of old, and here they will remain until the earth passes away, which is the end of the thousand years.
-- like Jacob, Joseph’s father, this remnant would die here, yet not spiritually perish.
SIMILITUDES OF THE EGYPTIAN EXPERIENCE IN GENESIS
I love the book of Genesis because it overflows with types and shadows. The things which happened to our forefathers are also happening, and will happen, to their descendents.
Following are a few highlights from the book of Genesis in reference to Egypt.
--To escape famine, Abraham went to Egypt, and failed to tell the whole truth about Sarah [house of Israel] being his wife (Genesis 12:8-10).
--Hagar’s son [Gentiles] took an Egyptian wife (Genesis 21:16-19).
--Joseph, son of Jacob, was sold out by his brethren into slavery in Egypt (Genesis 37:28).
Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, and said, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.” (Matthew 26:11)
--A sore famine brought all the nations to Egypt to buy food (Genesis 41:57).
“Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord.” (Amos 8:11)
--Joseph’s ten brothers traveled from Canaan to Egypt to buy corn [grain/seed] (Genesis 42:3).
--It was in Egypt where Joseph “revealed himself” to his brethren (Genesis 45:4). Joseph said, “Behold, your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin, that it is my mouth that speaketh unto you” (Genesis 45:12).
“And he that believeth not my words, believeth not my disciples; and if it so be that I do not speak, judge ye; for ye shall know that it is I that speaketh, at the last day.” (Ether 1:104)
--It wasn’t until Benjamin returned with the ten brothers that Joseph revealed himself; then he called for their father “to come down.” And then they “fell on each other’s necks and wept.” (Genesis 45:12-14)
“And the Lord said unto Enoch, Then shalt thou and all thy city meet them there; and we will receive them into our bosom; and they shall see us, and we will fall upon their necks, and they shall fall upon our necks, and we will kiss each other.” (Genesis 7:71)
“And then shall the power of heaven come down among them; and I also will be in the midst, and then shall the work of the Father commence, at that day even when this gospel shall be preached among the remnant of this people.” (3 Nephi 10:4)
--Joseph was made “lord of all Egypt” (Genesis 45:9).
“ The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills; they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren.” (Genesis 49:26)
--Joseph’s house prevailed, his father’s house bowing down to him (Genesis 48:10).
“And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers; they shall bow down to thee with their faces toward the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I am the Lord; for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me.” (Isaiah 49:23)
--Jacob confessed his blessings, realizing that Joseph had saved his house from death (Genesis 48:8).
“And in that day, all who are found upon the watchtower, or in other words, all mine Israel shall be saved.” (Section 98:4d)
--Joseph’s brothers fell down before Joseph’s face and professed to be his servants (Genesis 50:18).
“And the people shall take them, and bring them to their place; yea, from far, unto the end of the earth, and they shall return to their land of promise, and the house of Israel shall possess them in the land of the Lord for servants and handmaids; and they shall take them captives, whose captives they were; and they shall rule over their oppressors.” (Isaiah 14:2)
--The brothers [tribes of Israel] had thought to do evil against Joseph, but God turned that evil into good; into the saving of many (Genesis 50:20).
“And then all Israel shall be saved; as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob; For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.” (Romans 11:26-27)
--The land of Egypt now belonged to the whole house of Israel (Genesis 45:20).
“Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.” (Psalm 2:8)
--Joseph’s two sons [Manasseh & Ephraim] were born in Egypt (Genesis 46:20).
“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.” (Section 108:6)
--Pharaoh blessed Joseph, and offered up all the land of Egypt to his family, even making them “rulers” over his “cattle.” (Genesis 47:5)
“And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof; for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests; and we shall reign on the earth.” (Revelation 5:9-10)
--Joseph and his brothers were given the best of Egypt’s land.
“Thus saith the Lord, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee; and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages; That thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Show yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places.” (Isaiah 49:8-9)
--Joseph made it a law over Egypt that Pharaoh should have the fifth part. Pharaoh was not entitled to have the land of the priests (Genesis 47:26-27).
--Joseph died and was put in a coffin “in Egypt.” But his request was to be “carried up and laid with his father” (Genesis 50:38).
--Before he died, Joseph bestowed a prophetic blessing upon his seed, which summarized the fulfillments of all we have just read above. He foretold a seer whom God would raise up from his seed. This seer would bring his people to a knowledge of God’s covenants, not just in bringing forth more word from the Lord, but also convincing them of that word (Genesis 50-24-30).
THE NEW TESTAMENT VERSION; A COMPARISON TO GENESIS
Following is the speech that Stephen delivered just before he was stoned by his brethren. Before he died, he asked the Lord not to lay this sin of his death at their charge.
[Acts 7:8] And he gave him the covenant of circumcision; and so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs.
[Acts 7:9] And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt; but God was with him,
[Acts 7:10] And delivered him out of all has afflictions, and gave him favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house.
[Acts 7:11] Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Chanaan, and great affliction; and our fathers found no sustenance.
[Acts 7:12] But when Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt, he sent our our fathers first.
[Acts 7:13] And at the second time Joseph was made known to his brethren; and Joseph's kindred was made known unto Pharaoh.
[Acts 7:14] Then sent Joseph, and called his father Jacob to him, and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls.
[Acts 7:15] So Jacob went down into Egypt, and died, he, and our fathers.
[Acts 7:16] And were carried over into Sychem, and laid in the sepulcher that Abraham bought for a sum of money of the sons of Emmor, the father of Sychem.
[Acts 7:17] but when the time of the promise drew nigh, which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt,
[Acts 7:18] Till another king arose, which knew not Joseph.
[Acts 7:19] The same dealt subtilely with our kindred, and evil entreated our fathers, so that they cast out their young children, to the end they might not live.
[Acts 7:20] In which time Moses was born, and was exceedingly fair, and nourished up in his father's house three months;
[Acts 7:21] And when he was cast out, Pharaoh's daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son.
[Acts 7:22] And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds.
[Acts 7:23] And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel.
[Acts 7:24] And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian;
[Acts 7:25] For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them; but they understood not.
[Acts 7:26] And the next day he showed himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another?
[Acts 7:27] But he that did his neighbor wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us?
[Acts 7:28] Wilt thou kill me, as thou didst the Egyptian yesterday?
[Acts 7:29] Then fled Moses at this saying, and was a stranger in the land of Madian, where he begat two sons.
[Acts 7:30] And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sinai an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush.
[Acts 7:31] When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight; and as he drew near to behold it, the voice of the Lord came unto him,
[Acts 7:32] Saying, I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Then Moses trembled, and durst not behold.
[Acts 7:33] Then said the Lord to him, Put off thy shoes from thy feet; for the place where thou standest is holy ground.
[Acts 7:34] I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send thee into Egypt.
[Acts 7:35] This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? the same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel which appeared to him in the bush.
[Acts 7:36] He brought them out, after that he had showed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years.
[Acts 7:37] This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear.
[Acts 7:38] This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sinai, and with our fathers; who received the lively oracles to give unto us.
[Acts 7:39] Whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt,
[Acts 7:40] Saying unto Aaron, Make us gods to go before us; for as for this Moses, which brought us out of the land of Egypt, we know not what is become of him.
[Acts 7:41] And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands.
[Acts 7:42] Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, O ye house of Israel, have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness?
[Acts 7:43] Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them; and I will carry you away beyond Babylon.
What a vision of the present. What a vision of the future.
The present
Moses was a Levite from the house of Israel, yet he was raised as a Gentile in the house of Pharaoh, which would have “identified” Moses with the Gentiles, though he was really a Jew.
Joseph Smith, Jr. was raised up in the house of Pharaoh (Egypt, the land of America), and identified himself as a Gentile. However, there are clues that his seed –temporally as well as spiritually—was that of a Jew.
“Therefore, as I said concerning the sons of Moses--for the sons of Moses and also the sons of Aaron shall offer an acceptable offering and sacrifice in the house of the Lord, which house shall be built unto the Lord in this generation upon the consecrated spot, as I have appointed; and the sons of Moses and of Aaron shall be filled with the glory of the Lord upon Mount Zion in the Lord's house, whose sons are ye; and also many whom I have called and sent forth to build up my church.” (Section 83:6)
“Therefore, thus saith the Lord unto you, with whom the priesthood hath continued through the lineage of your fathers, for ye are lawful heirs, according to the flesh, and have been hid from the world with Christ in God: therefore your life and the priesthood hath remained, and must needs remain, through you and your lineage, until the restoration of all things spoken by the mouths of all the holy prophets since the world began. Therefore, blessed are ye if ye continue in my goodness, a light unto the Gentiles, and through this priesthood, a savor unto my people Israel. The Lord hath said it.” (Section 84:3-4)
The Book of Mormon tells us that only Jews have had the right to hear the Lord’s voice. Joseph Smith’s experience exceeded that of a Gentile.
“And they understood me not that I said they shall hear my voice; and they understood me not that the Gentiles should not at any time hear my voice; that I should not manifest myself unto them, save it were by the Holy Ghost.” (3 Nephi 7:22)
The Future
A cruel lord will also be made known among the Lord’s people, and the righteous will suffer being cast out. However, a seer will be raised up to deliver the house of Israel. In the presence of all the tribes, Joseph’s seed will be made known.
The Lord will restore, refine, and then gather his people. The next delivery will be to a heavenly promised land.
“They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people: to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. The envy of Ephraim also shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off: Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim.” (2 Nephi 9:124)
CONCLUSION
Temporally speaking, Ether 6 is in fulfillment, and has been in fulfillment for some time. Who can deny that all who have come to this “land of Egypt” (this choice land) have received the greatest blessings?
“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. And if it so be that they shall serve him according to the commandments which he hath given, it shall be a land of liberty unto them; Wherefore, they shall never be brought down into captivity: if so, it shall be because of iniquity: For if iniquity shall abound, cursed shall be the land for their sakes; But unto the righteous, it shall be blessed for ever.” (2 Nephi 1:10-15)
But like the Jaredites and Nephites before us, the Gentiles will also pay a price for disobedience. Like Moses, we too should choose to suffer affliction with the people of God, and esteem the reproach of Christ as greater than the treasures in Egypt.
“Yea, wo be unto the Gentiles, except they repent, for it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Father, that I will cut off thy horses out of the midst of thee, and I will destroy thy chariots, and I will cut off the cities of thy land and throw down all thy strongholds; And I will cut off witchcrafts out of thy hand, and thou shalt have no more soothsayers: Thy graven images I will also cut off, and thy standing images out of the midst of thee; and thou shalt no more worship the works of thy hands; And I will pluck up thy groves out of the midst of thee; so will I destroy thy cities. And it shall come to pass that all lyings, and deceivings, and envyings, and strifes, and priestcrafts and whoredoms, shall be done away. For it shall come to pass, saith the Father, that at that day, whosoever will not repent and come unto my beloved Son, them will I cut off from among my people, O house of Israel, and I will execute vengeance and fury upon them, even as upon the heathen, such as they have not heard.” (3 Nephi 9:101-106)
Destruction and delivery will begin when the Lord descends from heaven.
“And then understood they the parable which he spake unto them, that the Gentiles should be destroyed also, when the Lord should descend out of heaven to reign in his vineyard, which is the earth and the inhabitants thereof.” (Matthew 21:56)