final exam!!! (the last religion test in the history of ever!) Flashcards
What does the Book of Isaiah teach us about Jesus Christ?
What does the Book of Isaiah teach us about God’s relationship with man?
In what ways does Isaiah give us a foundation or better understanding of the restored Gospel and the other standard works?
How can we apply the teachings of Isaiah to our own lives?
Hint: Be able to give 5 specific examples (with reference to passages, stories, prophecies, etc, from Isaiah) in response to each of these questions. It is very important that you are prepared to give specific examples in your answers—not just general comments (like “we need to have faith, or repent”). If you want to talk about repentance for example, you need to give specific examples of how this was taught in Isaiah through a story, prophecy, poetry, or refer to a specific passage (you don’t need to memorize it, but be able to paraphrase it and explain it).
Who are the three potential candidates for the servant that is speaking in verse 4?
Servant song #2 (Isaiah 49)
Isaiah, Israel, Ephraim, Jesus Christ, or Joseph Smith
Evidence of 3 candidates in Isaiah 49?
"Thou art my servant, O Israel" "to bring Jacob again to him" "a light to the Gentiles" "though Israel be not gathered" "he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword" maybe other reasons???
rough stone rolling
Joseph Smith
Why is water a great metaphor for the gospel?
represents life, cleansing, the Spirit, grace, salvation
3 examples of water used as a metaphor for the gospel of Christ from the scriptures
Jeremiah: idols are broken cisterns and God is the living water
Isaiah 49:10: “even by the springs of water shall he guide them”
Samaritan woman at the well: Christ is the living water
John 7:38: Christ compares himself to the living water
“I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands”
written in the Prophetic Perfect tense
nail holes in the hands of Christ
What are the “ornaments” that Israel will bind upon herself?
Bedouin dowry customs
God is referring to the children with whom Israel will be blessed
In what time period does Nephi see the fulfillment of Isaiah 49?
the latter days - the Millennium
How does Nephi see the fulfillment of Isaiah 49?
It will be fulfilled with the Second Coming of Christ and the initiation of the Millennium
What is a “bill of divorcement” and what is this metaphor referring to?
Only a man could file a bill of divorcement, only 2 reasons for doing so:
1. she did not find favor in his eyes
2. he found uncleanness
Refers to the metaphor in which the church is the bride and Christ is the husband.
Characteristics of Servant #3?
obedient
shamed by others (beard hairs plucked)
determined (set my face like a flint)
What is the “rock” in 51:1?
God; the Israelites were created from God
Why is Israel admonished to look to Abraham and Sarah?
they are promised that they will one day return to the land promised them in the Abrahamic covenant
“cup” metaphor
refers to what will happen to you, consequences of your actions
3 different ways the cup is described
cup of agony: Christ’s atonement - remove this cup (Luke 22)
cup of wrath: punishment and judgement (Mosiah 3:26)
cup of blessing or salvation: “my cup runneth over” (Psalm 23:5)
2 servants/sons in Isaiah 51 - what is their function, what will happen to them?
According to Zechariah: 2 olive branches or golden pipes. Anointed ones that stand by the Lord.
According to Revelations: 2 witnesses who prophesy and have power over physical phenomena
2 great prophets at the end of times who will perform miracles and then will be murdered.
servant song #2: “polished shaft in the quiver”
the arrow is very fancy
weapon in the hands of God
reasons Ludlow gives for identifying the “servant” who is speaking in Isaiah 49: 1-6
- Ephraim is chosen because the house of Ephraim is responsible for the gathering and salvation of Israel in the latter days.
- He is selected before birth: Elder McConkie stated that Israelites were foreordained.
- He is hidden in the Lord’s hand
- He is like a polished shaft: Israel prepared by the Lord
- He sometimes feels that he has labored in vain: Israel’s discouragement
- He will be involved with the gathering of Israel: Ephraim’s responsibility
3 prophecies pertaining to the return of Judah that are still largely in the future (Ludlow)
Walls will stand as a memorial to the work of the Lord.
Israel’s numbers will grow so quickly there won’t be enough room for all the people.
The prisoners will be set free - perhaps from darkness caused by lack of the gospel, perhaps from spirit prison.
Remnants of the House of Israel will come from as far away as Sinim (far-away Eastern land, perhaps Egypt or China)
When and where were the keys of gathering restored in this dispensation? Who restored them and to whom were they given?
1836 when Joseph Smith was given the keys of sealing (Elijah) and keys of gathering of Israel (Moses)
What does the Book of Mormon teach about the gathering of the Jews in Israel?
Jews will be restored when they accept Christ
3 necessary aspects of true gathering
land, identity, belief in Christ
When (date and event) were the three main groups of Israelites scattered from the Holy Land?
Lost 10 tribes: destruction of Israel by Assyrians in 722
Descendants of Lehi: left for new promised land, lost identity in 600 BC
Jews: lost land to Babylon in 586 BC, to Romans in AD 70, but kept identity
When (event) did Jesus first begin the gathering process with each of them?
AD 1-34: in his mortal ministry to the Jews
AD 34: when he visited and taught the Lehites
unknown date after resurrection in visit to Lost 10
In the last dispensation how will each of these groups be gathered?
Lost 10 tribes: gospel accepted first by scattered Israel among Gentiles, into Zion by establishing stakes, identity restored through patriarchal blessings, accept Christ through baptism
Lehites: gospel to the Lamanites, live in land, regain identity through BoM, will accept Christ, might already
Jews: begin their return to their land (mainly 1880s), know identity, will eventually accept Christ
Which group is gathered first? second? last?
The last shall be first: Gentiles last to get the gospel, first to be gathered
Jews first to get the gospel, last to be gathered.
Lehites in the middle.
What happened in Palestine in 1947/48?
State of Israel announced, 700k Jews in Israel
What did Elder Hunter teach us concerning the prophecies of gathering?
We believe the prophecies about the gathering, but we do not take sides in conflicts between Jews and Arabs over the Holy Land. (in part because we don’t know exactly how or when the prophecies will come true)
According to what the Savior taught the Nephites in 3 Nephi 21 and 3 Nephi 22:1, what is the time period for the fulfillment of the events and promises in Isaiah 54?
in the latter days Gentiles will help gather Israel, Lamanites get gospel, then Jews will be restored
Why did the Savior teach all of Isaiah 54 to the people in America?
Quotes whole chapter, then says, “search these things diligently, for great are the words of Isaiah. For surely he spake as touching all things concerning my people which are of the house of Israel; therefore it must needs be that he must speak also to the Gentiles.”
Who was the Isaiah reference given for (spoken by the Savior in 3 Nephi)?
Savior specifically references the Gentiles here, in the context of all the house of Israel
two wives
Israel wife to the Lord
tent enlarging
House growing
husband
“thy maker is thine husband; the Lord of Hosts is his name”
stones
building Zion with beautiful and precious stones (prosperity)
waters, drink, and bread bought without money
forgiveness, salvation, everlasting life
sure mercies of David, how does Paul explain this?
these are resurrection and the Atonement of the Savior, and resurrection for all
What do we learn about the thoughts and the word of the Lord in 55:8-11?
the word will go out, it has power to change people
Why are the trees happy?
because the word of God has gone out
Significance of the “place and a name”
what’s the reference to modern Israel?
Might refer to Yad Vashem, which memorializes Holocaust victims
stars represent Abraham’s descendants
also symbolizes the new and eternal name given in the temple
God promises a temple in Israel
“place” is also translated as monument or hand: God will give them a hand and a name
significance of the temple in Israelite worship, and who is invited to worship there?
God in their presence
all are welcome there
How do we know in Isaiah’s divorce metaphor that there is no divorce? (Seely)
“where is the bill of your mother’s divorcement” and “but for a small moment have I forsaken thee” clarify that there was a separation, but not an actual divorcement
image of the tent and stakes, what will happen in the latter days?
latter days of gathering Israel and expanding Church
Who will be accepted into the covenant, given an everlasting name, and invited into the temple after the fulfillment of the Law of Moses?
Each “that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil”
Blessings offered to stranger and eunuch= extending gospel to all nations.
Membership in covenant based on faithfulness.
Images and metaphors in Isaiah 52:1-3
put on thy strength: priesthood power
put on thy beautiful garments: righteousness
shake thyself from the dust: arise from a beaten state
loose thyself from the bands of thy neck: come out of spiritual bondage
ye shall be redeemed without money: the price has been paid, He releases the captives, the captives just need to choose to come
*all of these are redemptive themes, inviting Israel to return to the Lord and receive glory
“beautiful wedding garments”
reference to the temple, the person who was not wearing the wedding garment was cast into outer darkness in Matthew 22
Isaiah 52:7-10 (BoM explanation)
Abinadi explains this in Mosiah 15 - references the redemption of the world and those who preach it
Whose feet are beautiful upon the mountains? What are the good tidings?
those who bring good tidings
the good tidings are redemption
(Christ?)
How does the Lord comfort his people in 539 BC?
return of the people to Jerusalem
How does the Lord comfort his people in AD 34?
resurrection of Christ / spiritual gathering of Israel
How does the Lord comfort his people in AD 1830+?
gathering of Israel
How does the Lord make bare his holy arm?
redeeming Israel via his physical body
his holy arm is made bare by putting on flesh
How do we “see the salvation of our God”?
in the second coming/judgement day we will see the salvation of our God
What historical event does Isaiah 52: 11-12 refer to? what are the vessels? how do we liken this passage unto ourselves?
the Jews left from Babylon and returned to Israel/Jerusalem
vessels symbolize our sacred covenants/priesthood
we need to be clean with these sacred responsibilities
servant in Servant Song #4
the Messiah