For now I believe most of us are missing the forest for all the trees when we are trying to identify “who” the prophesied Davidic servant is. A servant hidden from the world for a time. I do believe modern revelation and instruction by Joseph Smith give us some useful keys to reveal the identity of the end time Davidic servant or forerunner. Remember that Isaiah uses historical types to describe end time actors and that David is an historical type. I believe Joseph Smith has the most knowledge about the scriptures and the fullness of the everlasting gospel of any person I have come across.LDS Anarchist wrote: ↑November 6th, 2017, 2:19 pm The only thing on my radar is the rise of the Josephite. It is the only thing that should be on anyone's radar:
And his disciples asked him, saying,And Jesus answered and said unto them,Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come?(Matthew 17:10-11)Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.
In D&C 27:6 we learn that Elias holds the keys to the restoration in the latter days
D&C 27:6 And also with Elias, to whom I have committed the keys of bringing to pass the restoration of all things spoken by the mouth of all the holy prophets since the world began, concerning the last days;
In the next verse D&C 27:7 we learn that it was Elias (the individual) that visited Zacharias and gave promise that he should have a son that would be filled with the spirit of Elias.
D&C 27:7 And also John the son of Zacharias, which Zacharias he (Elias) visited and gave promise that he should have a son, and his name should be John, and he should be filled with the spirit of Elias;
In Luke chapter 1:19 we learn that the Angel who visited Zacharias and gave him promise of a son was Gabriel.
Luke 1:19 And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.
According to D&C 27:7 Gabriel is Elias, the individual.
In Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith section 4 Joseph Smith reveals that Noah is Gabriel (Elias).
“The Priesthood was first given to Adam; he obtained the First Presidency, and held the keys of it from generation to generation. He obtained it in the Creation, before the world was formed, as in Genesis 1:26, 27, 28. He had dominion given him over every living creature. He is Michael the Archangel, spoken of in the Scriptures. Then to NOAH, WHO IS GABRIEL: he stands next in authority to Adam in the Priesthood; he was called of God to this office, and was the father of all living in this day, and to him was given the dominion. These men held keys first on earth, and then in heaven.”
Isn’t it fitting that Noah (Gabriel, Elias) would have the restoration Keys (D&C 27:6) since he was the prophet to restore all things after the flood, which likely was the first restoration. This was a restoration of the creation (not just the gospel) and Noah became the Father of all living in his day.
Note how Gabriel (Noah, Elias) describes the mission of John the Baptist who holds the office of Elias (filled with the spirit of Elias).
Luke 1:13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.
14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.
15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.
16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.
17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
It is interesting to note that John the Baptist had priesthood authority, by the lineage of Aaron, to preach the gospel of repentance and baptism for the remission of sins and nothing more. That which was greater was to come after. Is not the gospel of repentance and baptism the gospel of restoration? A restoration from the fall of Adam. In Biblical Hebrew, the idea of repentance is represented by two verbs: שוב shuv (to return) and נחם nacham (to feel sorrow). Repent means to turn or return to God. It is also interesting to note that Elias is to turn hearts (Luke 1:17). This is also the mission of latter day Elijah to turn (restore) hearts (covenants) of both fathers and children.
Do you notice any similarities between the character and mission of John the Baptist holding the office of Elias and The restored church and priesthood of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints? Many shall rejoice. Shall be great in the sight of the Lord. Shall drink neither wine nor strong drink so that he may be filled with the Holy Ghost. Many shall he (re)turn to the Lord their God. Go before Him (God, Christ) in the spirit and power of Elias (restoration) to (re)turn the hearts of the fathers to the children. To make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
In a revelation given to Joseph Smith in March 1832 we read the following:
D&C 77:9 Q. What are we to understand by the angel ascending from the east, Revelation 7th chapter and 2nd verse?
A. We are to understand that the angel ascending from the east is he to whom is given the seal of the living God over the twelve tribes of Israel; wherefore, he crieth unto the four angels having the everlasting gospel, saying: Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till WE have sealed the servants of OUR God in their foreheads. And, if you will receive it, this is ELIAS which was to come to gather together the tribes of Israel and restore all things.
This revelation identifies the angel ascending from the east as one that is given the authority to seal. It also importantly identifies this angel as Elias or the forerunner which is to gather together the tribes of Israel and restore all things. These specific tasks are also identified with the Davidic endtime servant in Isaiah. Also notice that when the angel crieth he refers to himself in plural (WE or OUR).
In a sermon delivered at General conference at Nauvoo in april 1843 Joesph Smith taught that beasts are used by the prophets to represent earthly or worldly kingdoms and thus Joseph Smith alludes that more intelligent beings, such as angels, men (servants) and women (virgin, bride), are used to represent the kingdom of God or a higher kingdom.
“When God made use of the figure of a beast in visions to the I prophets, he did it to represent those Kingdoms who had degenerated and become corrupt--the Kingdoms of the world, but he never made use of the figure of a beast nor any of the brute kind to represent his kingdom. Daniel says when he saw the vision of the four beasts "I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth of all this." The angel interpreted the vision to Daniel, but we find by the interpretation that the figures of beasts had no allusion to the Kingdom of God. You there see that the beasts are spoken of to represent the Kingdoms of the world the inhabitants whereof were beastly and abominable characters, they were murderous, corrupt, carnivorous and brutal in their dispositions. I make mention of the prophets to qualify my declaration which I am about to make so that the young Elders who know so much may not rise up and choke me like hornets. there is a grand difference and distinction between the visions and figures spoken of by the prophets and those spoken of in the Revelations of John.”
On this note could the angel ascending from the east, which is Elias or holds the office of Elias, be a representation of the kingdom of God or the collective priesthood of God?
In March 10th 1844 Joseph Smith gives a fantastic sermon on the spirit of Elias, the spirit of Elijah and the spirit of Messiah. Note that this is the same terminology that Gabriel uses in Luke 1:17. He starts out teaching about the spirit, power and office of Elias and his mission. He clarifies that Elias is the office of a forerunner and that we have a forerunner in the last days as also in the days of Christ. Then he introduces and identifies the spirit and power of Elijah as THE (awaited) Elias in the last days (I had read this sentence many times not understanding what it really meant, I thought it was a scribal error). Notice that it is not Elijah nor Elias the individual that is the end time Elias but a group individuals, with the spirit and power of Elijah. He then goes on to teach about what constitutes the spirit and power of Elijah (in essence the Melchizedek priesthood). Very condensed the power of Elijah is the power to seal, which is the same power and authority that was given to the angel ascending from the east (Gods direction) which was revealed as Elias that would restore all things according to D&C 77:9. The angel ascending from the east has the spirit and power of Elijah (to seal) but also holds the office of Elias or forerunner and as mentioned before have many striking similarities with the prophesied Davidic endtime servant.
"But if I spend much more time in conversing about the spirit of Elias I shall not have time to do justice to THE SPIRIT & POWER OF ELIJAH, THIS IS THE ELIAS SPOKEN OF IN THE LAST DAYS & here is the rock upon which many split thinking the time was past in the days of John & Christ & no more to be, but the spirit of Elias was revealed to me & I know it is true therefore I speak with boldness for I know verily my doctrine is true. Now for Elijah, the spirit power & calling of Elijah is that ye have power to hold the keys of the revelations ordinances, oricles powers & endowments of the fulness of the Melchezedek Priesthood & of the Kingdom of God on the Earth & to receive, obtain & perform all the ordinances belonging to the Kingdom of God even unto the sealing of the hearts of the hearts fathers unto the children & the hearts of the children unto the fathers even those who are in heaven. Malachi says I will send Elijah before the great and dreadful day of the Lord come & He shall turn the hearts of the Fathers to the Children and the hearts of the Children to the Fathers lest I come & smite the earth with a Curse,"
I believe I have here identified some keys (there are many more) to identify the Davidic endtime servant or forerunner prophesied by Isaiah, Nephi, Moroni and John and many more. I believe “he” is more familiar to us than most of us realize.