Section 19
Revelation given through Joseph Smith, at Manchester, New York, likely in the summer of 1829. In his history, the Prophet introduces it as “a commandment of God and not of man, to Martin Harris, given by him who is Eternal.”
1–3, Christ has all power; 4–5, All men must repent or suffer; 6–12, Eternal punishment is God’s punishment; 13–20, Christ suffered for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent; 21–28, Preach the gospel of repentance; 29–41, Declare glad tidings.
1 I am Alpha and Omega, Christ the Lord; yea, even I am he, the beginning and the end, the Redeemer of the world.
ALPHA is the letter ALEPH א in Hebrew, but anciently it was drawn as the head of an OX meaning STRENGTH
OMEGA is the last letter in Greek, and TAV ת is the last letter in Hebrew and looked like a plus sign, two crossed sticks or a CROSS or MARK.
When the pair of yoked oxen would plow a field, they would walk towards the crossed sticks or mark on the other end of the field in order to plow a straight line. Only tame oxen would be yoked together, usually a younger ox able to be taught by an older ox—the definition of perfect or complete in Hebrew.
2 I, having accomplished and finished the will of him whose I am, even the Father, concerning me—having done this that I might subdue all things unto myself—
Gen 1:28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
3 Retaining all power, even to the destroying of Satan and his works at the end of the world, and the last great day of judgment, which I shall pass upon the inhabitants thereof, judging every man according to his works and the deeds which he hath done.
4 And surely every man must repent or suffer, for I, God, am endless.
I know it isn’t a popular idea, but I have come to believe that when God says man, he means man. Maybe there are exceptions in translations, but what if in the above verses, God truly is talking to man alone and not to women. Not that women don’t have to repent, or that they won’t be judged, but maybe there is a certain condition that is purely for the sons of God that is not meant for his daughters. I have never known God to not say exactly what he means.
5 Wherefore, I revoke not the judgments which I shall pass, but woes shall go forth, weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth, yea, to those who are found on my left hand.
The understanding of which side, or hand of the Lord we are found on, is something that really needs to be studied with care. The use of hands in everything from service, the making of promises, and ordinances must be important to the Lord.
For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. – Isaiah 41:13
6 Nevertheless, it is not written that there shall be no end to this torment, but it is written endless torment.
7 Again, it is written eternal damnation; wherefore it is more express than other scriptures, that it might work upon the hearts of the children of men, altogether for my name’s glory.
8 Wherefore, I will explain unto you this mystery, for it is meet unto you to know even as mine apostles.
9 I speak unto you that are chosen in this thing, even as one, that you may enter into my rest.
To be CHOSEN in Hebrew is to be clean or made white. The tent walls were made rim black goat hair, that would get bleached by the sun. When it was bleached white, it would be taken down and replaced by a new piece, and then brought into the home as a rug. To enter into the home, past the father at the door, is to enter into his rest.
10 For, behold, the mystery of godliness, how great is it! For, behold, I am endless, and the punishment which is given from my hand is endless punishment, for Endless is my name. Wherefore—
11 Eternal punishment is God’s punishment.
12 Endless punishment is God’s punishment.
13 Wherefore, I command you to repent, and keep the commandments which you have received by the hand of my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., in my name;
14 And it is by my almighty power that you have received them;
15 Therefore I command you to repent—repent, lest I smite you by the rod of my mouth, and by my wrath, and by my anger, and your sufferings be sore—how sore you know not, how exquisite you know not, yea, how hard to bear you know not.
Lately, I have been waking up so angry. And during the day I find myself so angry. And I’m not the only one. It’s like the world got quite and concentrated enough into small spaces with little release that our fierce cries are welling up and surfacing.
16 For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent;
17 But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I;
18 Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit—and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink—
When one is full and tries to eat or drink more, the taste is bitter to him. It makes sense that Christ was full of all good things, perfection, the Spirit and so forth, that taking anything more into himself was bitter.
Makes you wonder if the times you have experienced bitterness if it was from a lack of movement, stagnation like the head of a river that sits and pools for too long, or because you are full of other things and can take nothing new in or else you resent it.
Mary and Miriam are both names that denote a bitterness and rebellious attitude towards unrighteousness authority.
What other symbolic relationships might we have with bitterness to better understand the bitter cup Christ was asked to take in?
19 Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men.
What are his preparations? Who are the preparations for? Like the anointing with oils for death?
20 Wherefore, I command you again to repent, lest I humble you with my almighty power; and that you confess your sins, lest you suffer these punishments of which I have spoken, of which in the smallest, yea, even in the least degree you have tasted at the time I withdrew my Spirit.
21 And I command you that you preach naught but repentance, and show not these things unto the world until it is wisdom in me.
22 For they cannot bear meat now, but milk they must receive; wherefore, they must not know these things, lest they perish.
Is wisdom then comparable to meat?
23 Learn of me, and listen to my words; walk in the meekness of my Spirit, and you shall have peace in me.
24 I am Jesus Christ; I came by the will of the Father, and I do his will.
25 And again, I command thee that thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife; nor seek thy neighbor’s life.
Why is this commandment directed at men, but not given a counter commandment for women?
26 And again, I command thee that thou shalt not covet thine own property, but impart it freely to the printing of the Book of Mormon, which contains the truth and the word of God—
I never thought that you could covet your own stuff, I just thought it was the stuff, power and attributes of others.
27 Which is my word to the Gentile, that soon it may go to the Jew, of whom the Lamanites are a remnant, that they may believe the gospel, and look not for a Messiah to come who has already come.
GENTILE is a word that has shifted in meaning many times. But stems from both the understanding that someone is NOBLE and meaning someone not of your culture, people or religion.
28 And again, I command thee that thou shalt pray vocally as well as in thy heart; yea, before the world as well as in secret, in public as well as in private.
This theme is powerful to consider. To be the expression of self on the outside as well as the inside. In word and in silence.
29 And thou shalt declare glad tidings, yea, publish it upon the mountains, and upon every high place, and among every people that thou shalt be permitted to see.
High on a Mountain Top, Hymn
This verse is special to me and a call I wish to literally follow if ever given the opportunity. I would love to travel the world and see the people, share my love and insights, hear their stories and learn from them.
DECLARE is the root word understanding for the name of Eve, which means to LIFE. To be alive is to have breath to declare.
30 And thou shalt do it with all humility, trusting in me, reviling not against revilers.
31 And of tenets thou shalt not talk, but thou shalt declare repentance and faith on the Savior, and remission of sins by baptism, and by fire, yea, even the Holy Ghost.
TENETS = a belief that you hold, grasp and maintain, repress, restrain, hold back.
We have to be careful to not teach the opinions and doctrines of man, but pure doctrine and understanding of God.
32 Behold, this is a great and the last commandment which I shall give unto you concerning this matter; for this shall suffice for thy daily walk, even unto the end of thy life.
WALK has so many ancient understandings. It can mean to stroll, or a path, it can also mean to toss, roll, full (wash) clothes, knead, press, turn and revolve.
33 And misery thou shalt receive if thou wilt slight these counsels, yea, even the destruction of thyself and property.
34 Impart a portion of thy property, yea, even part of thy lands, and all save the support of thy family.
What is the property of man? Wife is given him. Women are taken in marriage. Merch is the ancient understanding of wife and she is the first merchandise of the world.
35 Pay the debt thou hast contracted with the printer. Release thyself from bondage.
I know this is talking about an actual printer of The Book of Mormon, but it is still scripture, and thus it is applicable to our lives.
The debt of man, meaning men, is that they were not chosen, nor did not step forward to be the Savior of the world, and thus they owe their lives to Jesus Christ. They are required to be one with him and marry him, since he is one with the women and has joined the women to himself in a marriage. They do this by giving their lives and name to his cause, and become willing to die, not just for their family and friends, but all mankind as Christ would require of them. Thus this releases them from bondage.
36 Leave thy house and home, except when thou shalt desire to see thy family;
This is such an important saying. If men do not BEHOLD their family, they are not worthy of them. Their family is both a gift and a burden they have the privilege of providing for through the service of God.
37 And speak freely to all; yea, preach, exhort, declare the truth, even with a loud voice, with a sound of rejoicing, crying—Hosanna, hosanna, blessed be the name of the Lord God!
Speaking freely is a cause of truth in my own heart. To speak freely between brother and sister is the true definition of intercourse, which is a communication of greatest importance. It is just as important to declare and speak as it is to listen and give all a chance to share the perspectives and contrast gained from their experiences, visions and revelations.
I think when we get to the point in the world where we are speaking freely to each other, our lives, homes and marriages will heal, as well as, our religious points of view. The age of censuring must end.
38 Pray always, and I will pour out my Spirit upon you, and great shall be your blessing—yea, even more than if you should obtain treasures of earth and corruptibleness to the extent thereof.
I think in the end, just like as it was in the beginning, if we choose Jesus Christ over all things, including ourselves and our relationships for our own gain, we will be a happier people who will rejoice together as One Family, not individually isolated units of various family trees. But that we might be one tree, or one root system joined in Christ as part of his eternal family.
39 Behold, canst thou read this without rejoicing and lifting up thy heart for gladness?
REJOICE is a word that actually means to own, possess, enjoy possessions.
RE- is a word particle that means to go back to original place, do again, anew, and incorporates a sense of undoing.
The HEART is an ancient symbol of the authority within. I like to think of this authority as the power of our Divine Mother. A few things point to this: mothers are the arms that hold the family together, which is powerfully understood when combined with Isaiah () where it says that a mother carries a son her arms/bosom, which gives us the visual of a son being close enough to hear the beating of her heart that will guide him.
This visual is again multiplied and increased with meaning when we consider that a father’s role is to hold his daughters on his shoulder, thus lifting up the heart for gladness.
40 Or canst thou run about longer as a blind guide?
With the sons close to the heart to be guided even by a whisper, and the daughters on the shoulder of their fathers being able to foresee the things ahead, and close enough to the ear to be heard, we will find our way, even if by blind faith walking into an unknown future.
41 Or canst thou be humble and meek, and conduct thyself wisely before me? Yea, come unto me thy Savior. Amen.