Section 1

The Seventh Thousand Years:
The Preparing and Finishing of His Work

12 Q. What are we to understand by the sounding of the trumpets, mentioned in the 8th chapter of Revelation? A. We are to understand that as God made the world in six days, and on the seventh day he finished his work, and sanctified it, and also formed man out of the dust of the earth, even so, in the beginning of the seventh thousand years will the Lord God sanctify the earth, and complete the salvation of man, and judge all things, and shall redeem all things, except that which he hath not put into his power, when he shall have sealed all things, unto the end of all things; and the sounding of the trumpets of the seven angels are the preparing and finishing of his work, in the beginning of the seventh thousand years--the preparing of the way before the time of his coming.
Doctrine and Covenants 77:12

Saints, scholars, and scriptorians from nearly every walk of life have looked in fascination at the scriptures concerning the last days and wondered about the timing of the second coming of the Son of Man. When will the last seal on the book with seven seals be opened? When will Christ appear in Jerusalem? When will the saints who remain be “caught up together… in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air” (1 Thes. 4:17)? While both the scriptures and the prophet Joseph Smith explain that the exact timing of his coming has never been revealed and cannot be known as yet, there is no scripture that teaches that we cannot know the timing or the day of many other signs of the times.

The Beginning of Time

In speaking of the times and seasons of things, perhaps we should review what we know concerning that great and mysterious timetable of God. The first thing to remember is that God often distinguishes between the “earth” and the “world” in the scriptures. The earth, of course, is the physical planet on which we live. It is the primary subject of the creation story given to us by Abraham and Moses. God “made the earth, and created man upon it.” (Isa. 45:12) Once the earth was created, it was “given to the children of men” (Ps. 115:16) and they were commanded to “be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it.” (Gen. 1:28) Unfortunately, after the fall of man, most of the children of Adam and Eve “loved Satan more than God. And men began from that time forth to be carnal, sensual, and devilish.” (Moses 5:13)

The “world” is a figurative term often used for the collective human race in their state of mortality and sin. The world began when Adam and Eve were cast out of the Garden of Eden, left the presence of God, and became mortal. Mortality, time, and “the world” all began that day. The scriptures call that point in the earth’s history the beginning of time (Abr. 1:3), the foundation of the world (Mosiah 4:7), or when the world began (Luke 1:70). That starting point is also a key to understanding many of the prophecies, revelations, and doctrines in the scriptures, especially those concerning the second coming. For example, John’s prophecy in the book of Revelation about the seven seals is a prophecy about time. We learn from modern revelation that the opening of the first seal represented the beginning of the earth’s “temporal existence” (D&C 77:6), or the point at which “time” began to be measured on earth.

Time is defined by how it is measured. If it is not measured, then it does not exist. When mankind became mortal, God gave us time as a gift. The rotations of the sun, the moon, the earth, the planets, and the stars were set in place by God in perfect order, and that order was taught by God to the ancients. Mortality and time have been intertwined and inseparable ever since.

42 And again, verily I say unto you, he hath given a law unto all things, by which they move in their times and their seasons;
43 And their courses are fixed, even the courses of the heavens and the earth, which comprehend the earth and all the planets.
44 And they give light to each other in their times and in their seasons, in their minutes, in their hours, in their days, in their weeks, in their months, in their years--all these are one year with God, but not with man.
45 The earth rolls upon her wings, and the sun giveth his light by day, and the moon giveth her light by night, and the stars also give their light, as they roll upon their wings in their glory, in the midst of the power of God.
Doctrine and Covenants 88:42-45

Many have used their time in mortality to do evil and have established a world full of wickedness. That world, the world, will soon come to an end. After the end of the world, and after the millennium, when the resurrection of all mankind is complete, “mortality [will] be swallowed up of life” (2 Cor. 5:4) and “there shall be time no longer.” (D&C 88:110)

The Meridian of Time

Exactly four thousand years after “the beginning of time,” we suppose to the very day, the Lord Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem. His birth began a period called “the meridian of time,” and in the scriptures there are five references to this period. These passages are interesting because instead of saying that Christ would come “at” the meridian of time all of them say “in” the meridian of time. That is because the meridian of time was not a single event or a single moment, but a glorious span of several years.

57 Wherefore teach it unto your children, that all men, everywhere, must repent, or they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God, for no unclean thing can dwell there, or dwell in his presence; for, in the language of Adam, Man of Holiness is his name, and the name of his Only Begotten is the Son of Man, even Jesus Christ, a righteous Judge, who shall come in the meridian of time.
Moses 6:57

The meridian of time began when Christ came into the world. Using the Doctrine and Covenants and some simple math we know that the first coming of Christ, in the flesh, was on April 6, 1 BC. (see D&C 20:1) We read that the shepherds were keeping “watch over the flock by night,” (Luke 2:8) and so we suppose Jesus was born during the nighttime hours in those famous, yet lowly circumstances. If we were to reconcile our days like the ancient Jews, Thursday, April 6, 1 BC would have begun at sunset rather than at midnight, and so, no matter when Christ would have been born that night, he would have been born on the day of the Passover. The Passover was a celebration of the saving power of God and a powerful foreshadowing of Jesus Christ who would come. The scriptures teach that “all things which have been given of God from the beginning of the world, unto man, are the typifying of [Christ],” (2 Ne. 11:4) and time itself is no exception.

Indeed, the Jews had been taught constantly concerning the coming of the Messiah, both symbolically and in plain language. Unfortunately, most of the Jews refused him and reviled him. Jewish leaders, including King Herod, gnashed their teeth at him and attempted numerous times to destroy him. The scriptures show at least eight different attempts1 on his life, the first being when he was merely an infant. Christ himself said that he was “the same which came in the meridian of time unto mine own, and mine own received me not.” (D&C 39:3)

The events of the first coming of Christ in the meridian of time in the flesh (see D&C 20:26) lasted from the time of his birth until the time of his atonement and crucifixion. Christ is the meridian of time. All time has been centered around the mortal life of the Redeemer—from the meek beginning to the miraculous end.

In distinguishing the “meridian of time,” it appears that the Lord has also set it apart from the rest of the earth’s temporal existence. It is conspicuously absent from John’s record of the seven seals—though clearly expounded in John’s gospel. It does not fit the description of “the hidden things of [God’s] economy” (D&C 77:6) because it has always been declared openly and universally by true prophets:

33 For behold, did not Moses prophesy unto them concerning the coming of the Messiah, and that God should redeem his people? Yea, and even all the prophets who have prophesied ever since the world began--have they not spoken more or less concerning these things?
34 Have they not said that God himself should come down among the children of men, and take upon him the form of man, and go forth in mighty power upon the face of the earth?
35 Yea, and have they not said also that he should bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, and that he, himself, should be oppressed and afflicted?
Mosiah 13:33-35

When the meridian of time was complete, Jesus Christ was again hidden from the world. As he said, “Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.” (John 14:19) His saints and apostles were given the kingdom, and he promised that those who prove themselves faithful will be gathered out of the world and will also be “hid from the world with Christ in God.” (D&C 86:9)

Christ will remain hidden to the world until “the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.” (Isa. 40:5)

The End of Time

The seventh seal will be opened exactly two thousand years after the end of the meridian of time. When the seventh seal is opened, the saints will have already begun to build the beautiful city of Zion and completed the temple of Mount Zion. They will already be “before the throne of God, and [will] serve him day and night in his temple.” (Rev. 7:15) They will already have the assurance of peace and safety. They will be anxiously awaiting the time when “he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.” (Rev. 7:15) That time will come at the very beginning of the millennium. As we have mentioned before, the millennium will begin in Zion and eventually spread throughout the whole earth after it has been cleansed by fire.

After the seventh seal has been opened, an angel will announce the eventual end of time.

5 And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven,
6 And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:
Revelation 10:5-6

This angel is Michael, the archangel, or Adam, the father of mankind. (see D&C 88:112) He is the seventh angel that will sound his trump. That same man who marked the beginning of time will also announce the end of time.

110 And so on, until the seventh angel shall sound his trump; and he shall stand forth upon the land and upon the sea, and swear in the name of him who sitteth upon the throne, that there shall be time no longer; and Satan shall be bound, that old serpent, who is called the devil, and shall not be loosed for the space of a thousand years.
Doctrine and Covenants 88:110

While Michael’s announcement will occur at the opening of the seventh seal, or the beginning of the millennium, we must note that he says “there shall be time no longer” rather than “time is no longer.” The end of time, according to the scriptures, will come at the end of the millennium. The scriptures say that there will be a “new heaven and a new earth” (Rev. 21:1) by which hours, days, and years cannot be tracked by the former relationship of the earth to the sun, or by the earth’s relationship to the moon, the planets, and the stars. We read that even after the end of time, there will still be a “little season,” (Rev. 20:3) when the final winding up scene will take place.

31 For Satan shall be bound, and when he is loosed again he shall only reign for a little season, and then cometh the end of the earth.
Doctrine and Covenants 43:31

Chronological Accounts in the Scriptures

In 1843, Joseph Smith remarked that “the book of Revelation is one of the plainest books God ever caused to be written.” (Documentary History of the Church, vol. 5, p. 342) For the great seer of the latter-days, perhaps it was. For most of us, however, there is a complexity and confusion surrounding the book that leaves us feeling intellectually inadequate. However, if you study the book carefully and believe the revelations of Joseph Smith, you will find that much of the confusion is unnecessary.

One common point of confusion is whether the book of Revelation is in chronological order. It is, for the most part. The Doctrine and Covenants makes it clear that the seven seals and the seven trumpets are chronological and do not overlap. (see D&C 77:6-12) The events of the seventh seal also appear to be chronological, although John often recounts other visions within the primary narrative. These flashbacks and foreshadows are important to understanding the context of John’s primary vision. It can be tricky to tell if some of these visions are parenthetical or part of the main vision, but next to other scriptural accounts, the order becomes clearer. John provides many clues2 himself concerning the order of the events of the second coming.

Other key sections of the scriptures provide similarly chronological accounts that greatly assist us in understanding the chronological order of the signs of the times. Interestingly, these chronological gems are found in every one of the standard works of the Church.

The Old Testament provides dozens of chronological clues in the prophecies of the prophets. Joel, for example, says that certain signs happen “before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come,” (Joel 2:31) and others occur when “the day of the Lord is at hand.” (Joel 1:15) Malachi also distinguishes between events that will happen in “the day of his coming” (Mal. 3:2-4) and events that occur “before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord” (Mal. 4:5), such as the appearance of Elijah. Isaiah, Ezekiel, Obadiah, Zephaniah, Zechariah, Jeremiah, and Amos all use similar language to describe the seventh seal, or “day of the Lord.”

As we have seen before, the day of the Lord, the millennium, and the seventh seal are all the same time period. When the scriptures speak of signs that occur “before the day of the Lord” we can understand that these events will occur after the opening of the sixth seal, or during the sixth thousand years. With this key, the Old Testament can provide careful readers a treasure trove of knowledge concerning the timing of the signs of the second coming.

In addition to the chronological clues we have been given by the Apostle John in the book of Revelation, and by the prophets in the Old Testament, we also have an amazing resource from Matthew. Many important signs of the times are outlined in chapter 24, but the powerful chronological clues become even more clear with the Joseph Smith Translation of that chapter (JST Matthew 24 or JS—M 1 found in The Pearl of Great Price). Joseph Smith clarifies the prophecy and adds keywords that help us understand much more clearly the timing of those events such as then, afterwards, before, again, etc. It should be noted that the footnote for JST Mark 13:1 says that “The text of JST Mark 13 is the same as JST Matthew 24.” A similar comparison can be made to JST Luke 12, but some unique material was provided by Luke and clarified by Joseph Smith.

41 For, behold, he cometh in the first watch of the night, and he shall also come in the second watch, and again he shall come in the third watch.
42 And verily I say unto you, He hath already come, as it is written of him; and again when he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, blessed are those servants when he cometh, that he shall find so doing;
JST Luke 12:41-42

These references to time are no accident. Jesus is clearly comparing the temporal existence of the earth to the hours of the day. The second half of the earth’s temporal existence is compared to the nighttime, and these nighttime hours are divided into three “watches,” or time periods. In ancient times, these watches corresponded with the average amount of 12 hours between sunset and sunrise, and each watch was a period of about 4 hours. Just as we have seen from other scriptures, this passage explicitly shows us that Christ will not make just one appearance, but many. He came in the first watch, or what we might say is the fifth thousand years (the fifth seal), he came in the sixth thousand years (the sixth seal), and he will come at last in the seventh thousand years (the seventh seal).

Another account of this same exchange between Christ and his disciples is found in section 45 of the Doctrine and Covenants, which was given by revelation to Joseph Smith. It is also a key section that carefully outlines the signs of the times chronologically. Make careful note of the word “then” in these passages and you will see just how often the scriptures clearly show the order of the events preceding and surrounding the second coming.

Finally, one of the most important chapters in all of scripture for Latter-day Saints is found in 3 Nephi 21. Although there are many accounts of the timing of the events right before the appearance of Christ in Jerusalem and in the clouds of heaven, this is the only place in scripture that bridges the gap between the sixth seal and the seventh seal. This sermon from the Lord Jesus Christ himself was part of his remarkable teaching when he appeared to the Nephites and “expounded all the scriptures unto them which they had received,” (3 Ne. 23:6) which he said, “the Father commanded that I should give unto you; for it was wisdom in him that they should be given unto future generations.” (3 Ne. 26:2)

3 And he did expound all things, even from the beginning until the time that he should come in his glory--yea, even all things which should come upon the face of the earth, even until the elements should melt with fervent heat, and the earth should be wrapt together as a scroll, and the heavens and the earth should pass away;
3 Nephi 26:3

All of these passages are great treasures of knowledge that we, too, will expound and explore as we study the chronological signs of the second coming of Jesus Christ that will occur during the seventh seal, or the great and dreadful day of the Lord.

Notes

  1. Attempts on Christ’s life:

    • Herod tried to kill him as an infant (Matt. 2:16-18)
    • The Jews tried to throw him off a hill (Luke 4:28-30)
    • They sought to kill him for healing on the Sabbath and claiming God was his father (John 5:16-18)
    • They sought to take him in the temple (John 7:28-30)
    • They tried to stone him (John 8:59)
    • They tried to stone him again (John 10:31)
    • They sought to take him again at Jerusalem, the Feast of the Dedication (John 10:22-39)
    • They finally delivered him to the Romans to be led away and crucified (John 19:16-18)

  2. Clues concerning the chronological order of the book of Revelation:

    • "Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter." (Rev. 1:19)
    • "After this... the first voice which I heard ... said ... I will [show] thee things which must be hereafter." (Rev. 4:1)
    • "And after these things..." (Rev. 7:1)
    • "After this I beheld..." (Rev. 7:9)
    • “One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter.” (Rev. 9:12)
    • “The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly.” (Rev. 11:14)
    • “And after that I looked…” (Rev. 15:15)
    • “And after these things…” (Rev. 18:1)
    • “And after these things…” (Rev. 19:1)
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