The prophecy of Zenos

Tuesday night Scripture Study Brother Chris Moran
THE PROPHECY OF ZENOS
The prophecy of Zenos is recorded in the third chapter of Jacob (Jacob is a book in the Book of Mormon). Zenos was a prophet (Zenos is mentioned multiple times in the Book of Mormon). Jacob was a younger brother of .
Zenos was killed by those that opposed his prophetic message(s):
Helaman 3:53 – “And now I would that ye should know, that even since the days of Abraham, there hath been many prophets that hath testified these things; yea, behold, the prophet Zenos did testify boldly; for the which he was slain.”
Jacob tells us that this specific prophecy recorded in Jacob had been previously given to Israel by Zenos:
Jacob 3:30 – “Behold, my brethren, do ye not remember to have read the words of the prophet Zenos, which spake unto the house of Israel, saying: Hearken, O ye house of Israel, and hear the words of me, a prophet of the Lord:”
The prophecy is not recorded in the Bible, but was most likely written on the brass plates of Laban.
Consider the following:
2 Chronicles 9:29 – “Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, first and last, are they not written in the book of Nathan the prophet, and in the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the visions of Iddo the seer against Jeroboam the son of Nebat?”
The prophecy is quite long. At first read it may seem to be repetitive, but this is really not the case. The prophecy contains a wealth of important information and is very instructive. The prophecy reaches even into our time.
The prophecy is in allegory form. An allegory is .
The Tame Olive Tree in Decay
Jacob 3:31 – “For behold, thus saith the Lord, I will liken thee, O house of Israel, like unto a tame olive tree, which a man took and nourished in his vineyard: and it grew, and waxed old, and began to decay.”
Item in Story Interpretation
Olive tree
The house of Israel, or the Lord’s covenant people
Man
Vineyard
Decaying tree
Israel is also referred to as an olive tree in other parts of the Bible and Book of Mormon (i.e. 1 Nephi 3:16-19).
Some olive tree characteristics (from Wikipedia.org):
The olive tree, Olea europaea, is an evergreen tree or shrub native to the Mediterranean, Asia and Africa. It is short and squat, and rarely exceeds 8–15 metres (26–49 ft) in height. The trunk is typically gnarled and twisted. Its root system is robust and capable of regenerating the tree even if the above-ground structure is destroyed. Olive trees can live for several millennia, and can remain productive for as long if they are pruned correctly and regularly. Olives are propagated by various methods. The preferred ways are cuttings and layers; the tree roots easily in favourable soil and throws up suckers from the stump when cut down. However, yields from trees grown from suckers or seeds are poor; they must be budded or grafted onto other specimens to do well (Lewington and Parker, 114). Branches of various thickness cut into lengths of about 1 metre (3.3 ft) planted deeply in manured ground soon vegetate. Shorter pieces are sometimes laid horizontally in shallow trenches and, when covered with a few centimetres of soil, rapidly throw up sucker-like shoots. In Greece, grafting the cultivated tree on the wild tree is a common practice.
Israel is also referred to as an olive tree in other parts of the Bible and Book of Mormon (i.e. 1 Nephi 3:16-19).
Israel did originally follow the commandments of God and was “tame”, but later turned from God’s commandments. Therefore, the tree “began to decay”. Consider how quickly Israel turned from their God:
Exodus 32:7-9 – “7 And the LORD said unto Moses, Go, get thee down; for thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves: 8 They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed thereunto, and said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. 9 And the LORD said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people:”
The Nourished Olive Tree
Jacob 3:32-34 – “32 And it came to pass that the master of the vineyard went forth, and he saw that his olive tree began to decay; and he saith, I will prune it, and dig about it, and nourish it, that perhaps it may shoot forth young and tender branches, and it perish not. 33 And it came to pass that he pruned it, and digged about it, and nourished it, according to his word. 34 And it came to pass that after many days, it began to put forth somewhat a little, young and tender branches; but behold, the main top thereof began to perish.”
Here the master of the vineyard (the Father), nourished and cared for the olive tree (Israel). Even so, parts of the tree began to die.
Item in Story Interpretation
Main top
Young and tender branches
In what ways did God nourish the tree of Israel? By what means?
The Wild Branches
Jacob 3:35-36 – “35 And it came to pass that the master of the vineyard saw it, and he saith unto his servant, It grieveth me that I should lose this tree; 36 Wherefore, go and pluck the branches from a wild olive tree, and bring them hither unto me; and we will pluck off those main branches which are beginning to wither away, and we will cast them into the fire, that they may be burned.”
Item in Story Interpretation
Master
Servant
Branches from wild olive tree
Plucked/burned branches
Casting into the fire
Have you ever pruned a tree, removing dead or dying branches? The tree no longer needs to support the dying portion, and is able to put its energy into the good branches.
Regarding the captivity of Israel:
2 Kings 15:29 – “In the days of Pekah king of Israel came Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, and took Ijon, and Abelbethmaachah, and Janoah, and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali, and carried them captive to Assyria.”
2 Kings 17:6-7 – “6 In the ninth year of Hoshea [king of Israel] the king of Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel away into Assyria, and placed them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes. 7 For so it was, that the children of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, which had brought them up out of the land of Egypt, from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and had feared other gods,”
13-14 – “ 13 Yet the LORD testified against Israel, and against Judah, by all the prophets, and by all the seers, saying, Turn ye from your evil ways, and keep my commandments and my statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by my servants the prophets. 14 Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their necks, like to the neck of their fathers, that did not believe in the LORD their God.” 18-24 – “18 Therefore the LORD was very angry with Israel, and removed them out of his sight: there was none left but the tribe of Judah only. 19 Also Judah kept not the commandments of the LORD their God, but walked in the statutes of Israel which they made. 20 And the LORD rejected all the seed of Israel, and afflicted them, and delivered them into the hand of spoilers, until he had cast them out of his sight. 21 For he rent Israel from the house of David; and they made Jeroboam the son of Nebat king: and Jeroboam drave Israel from following the LORD, and made them sin a great sin. 22 For the children of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam which he did; they departed not from them; 23 Until the LORD removed Israel out of his sight, as he had said by all his servants the prophets. So was Israel carried away out of their own land to Assyria unto this day. 24 And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from Ava, and from Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel: and they possessed Samaria, and dwelt in the cities thereof.”
Regarding the captivity of Judah:
2 Kings 25:8-11 – “8 And in the fifth month, on the seventh day of the month, which is the nineteenth year of king Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, came Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, unto Jerusalem: 9 And he burnt the house of the LORD, and the king's house, and all the houses of Jerusalem, and every great man's house burnt he with fire. 10 And all the army of the Chaldees, that were with the captain of the guard, brake down the walls of Jerusalem round about. 11 Now the rest of the people that were left in the city, and the fugitives that fell away to the king of Babylon, with the remnant of the multitude, did Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carry away.”
Consider what Paul states:
Romans 11:13-25 – “13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: 14 If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh [the Jews], and might save some of them. 15 For if the casting away of them [Israel] be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead? 16 For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. 17 And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; 18 Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. 19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. 20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: 21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. 22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. 23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again. 24 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree? 25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.”
In the above:
1. Paul wishes that those of his flesh (Jews) would accept the gospel and be saved
2. Though branches of Israel are cast away, Gentiles are able to be grafted in
3. The branches are holy through the root of the tree. The branches should not boast of themselves.
4. Gentiles should also fear God and keep His commandments. Otherwise, Gentiles will also be broken off and cast away.
5. Israel can be grafted back in
6. Israel will come out of its blindness after the Gentiles have received the gospel in its fullness
7. Paul was apparently familiar with the prophecy/parable of Zenos.
Through the servant (Jesus Christ), wild branches are able to be grafted in the natural tree. Gentiles being grafted in, become part of God’s covenant people:
2 Nephi 12:77-78 – “77 For behold, I say unto you, As many of the Gentiles as will repent, are the covenant people of the Lord; and as many of the Jews as will not repent, shall be cast off; 78 For the Lord covenanteth with none, save it be with them that repent and believe in his Son, which is the Holy One of Israel.”
Galatians 3:28-29 – “28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
The Natural Branches Scattered Throughout the Vineyard
Jacob 3:37-48 – “37 And behold, saith the Lord of the vineyard, I take away many of these young and tender branches [more righteous parts of Israel that were not destroyed], and I will graft them whithersoever I will; 38 And it mattereth not that if it so be, that the root of this tree will perish, I may preserve the fruit thereof unto myself; 39 Wherefore, I will take these young and tender branches, and I will graft them whithersoever I will. 40 Take thou the branches of the wild olive tree [Gentiles], and graft them in, in the stead thereof; 41 And these which I have plucked off, I will cast into the fire, and burn them, that they may not cumber the ground of my vineyard. 42 And it came to pass that the servant of the Lord of the vineyard, did according to the word of the Lord of the vineyard, and grafted in the branches of the wild olive tree. 43 And the Lord of the vineyard caused that it should be digged about, and pruned, and nourished, saying unto his servant, It grieveth me that I should lose this tree; 44 Wherefore, that perhaps I might preserve the roots thereof that they perish not, that I might preserve them unto myself I have done this thing. 45 Wherefore, go thy way; watch the tree, and nourish it, according to my words. 46 And these will I place in the nethermost part of my vineyard, whithersoever I will, it mattereth not unto thee; 47 And I do it, that I may preserve unto myself the natural branches of the tree; and also, that I may lay up fruit thereof, against the season, unto myself: for it grieveth me that I should lose this tree, and the fruit thereof. 48 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard went his way, and hid the natural branches of the tame olive tree in the nethermost parts of the vineyard; some in one, and some in another, according to his will and pleasure.”
Item in Story Interpretation
Roots of tree
Grafting
Fruit
Laying up fruit
Season
Nethermost parts of vineyard
Places in the world far away from the land of Israel
What examples of broken / scattered branches do we have in the Book of Mormon?
Consider also the scattering of the Jews after the crucified Christ and Jerusalem was invaded by Rome.
Trees Produce Fruit (First Inspection)
Jacob 3:49-71 – “49 And it came to pass that a long time passed away, and the Lord of the vineyard saith unto his servant, Come, let us go down into the vineyard, that we may labor in the vineyard. 50 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard, and also the servant, went down into the vineyard to labor. 51 And it came to pass that the servant saith unto his master, Behold, look here; behold the tree. 52 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard looked and beheld the tree, in the which the wild olive branches had been grafted; and it had sprang forth, and begun to bear fruit. 53 And he beheld that it was good: and the fruit thereof was like unto the natural fruit. 54 And he saith unto the servant, Behold, the branches of the wild tree hath taken hold of the moisture of the root thereof, that the root thereof hath brought forth much strength; 55 And because of the much strength of the root thereof, the wild branches have brought forth tame fruit: 56 Now, if we had not grafted in these branches, the tree thereof would have perished. 57 And now, behold, I shall lay up much fruit, which the tree thereof hath brought forth; and the fruit thereof I shall lay up, against the season, unto mine own self. 58 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard saith unto the servant, Come, let us go to the nethermost parts of the vineyard, and behold if the natural branches of the tree hath not brought forth much fruit also, that I may lay up of the fruit thereof, against the season, unto mine own self. 59 And it came to pass that they went forth whither the master of the vineyard had hid the natural branches of the tree, and he saith unto the servant, Behold these: 60 And he beheld the first, that it had brought forth much fruit; and he beheld also, that it was good. 61 And he saith unto the servant, Take of the fruit thereof, and lay it up, against the season, that I may preserve it unto mine own self; 62 For behold, saith he, this long time have I nourished it, and it hath brought forth much fruit. 63 And it came to pass that the servant saith unto his master, How comest thou hither to plant this tree, or this branch of the tree? for behold, it was the poorest spot in all the land of thy vineyard. 64 And the Lord of the vineyard saith unto him, Counsel me not: I knew that it was a poor spot of ground; wherefore, I said unto thee, I have nourished it this long time; and thou beholdest that it hath brought forth much fruit. 65 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard saith unto his servant, Look hither: behold, I have planted another branch of the tree also; and thou knowest that this spot of ground was poorer than the first. 66 But, behold the tree: I have nourished it this long time, and it hath brought forth much fruit; therefore, gather it, and lay it up, against the season, that I may preserve it unto mine own self. 67 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard saith again unto his servant, Look hither, and behold another branch also, which I have planted; behold that I have nourished it also, and it hath brought forth fruit. 68 And he saith unto the servant, Look hither, and be hold the last: behold, this have I planted in a good spot of ground; and I have nourished it this long time, and only a part of the tree hath brought tame fruit; and the other part of the tree hath brought forth wild fruit: behold, I have nourished this tree like unto the others. 69 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard saith unto the servant, Pluck off the branches that have not brought forth good fruit, and cast them into the fire. 70 But behold, the servant saith unto him, Let us prune it, and dig about it, and nourish it a little longer, that perhaps it may bring forth good fruit unto thee, that thou canst lay it up against the season. 71 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard, and the servant of the Lord of the vineyard, did nourish all the fruit of the vineyard.”
Item in Story Interpretation
Fruit of wild tree
Fruit that the early Gentile church produces
Fruit of natural branches
Fruit that natural branches of Israel produce (consider the early church mentioned in the Book of Mormon)
Poor spot of land in vineyard
Poorest spot of land in vineyard
The other branch (verse 67)
Good/choice spot of ground
Those that produce good fruit on good spot of ground
Those that produce wild (bad) fruit on good spot of ground
Notice that through the Gentiles, God’s kingdom continues through the Gentile church (the natural tree with the grafted branches does not perish). The mother tree is now representative of the Christian kingdom.
Second Inspection of the Tree Grafted with Wild Branches
Jacob 3:72-78 – “72 And it came to pass that a long time had passed away, and the Lord of the vineyard saith unto his servant, Come, let us go down into the vineyard, that we may labor again in the vineyard. 73 For behold, the time draweth near, and the end soon cometh: wherefore, I must lay up fruit, against the season, unto mine own self. 74 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard, and the servant, went down into the vineyard; and they came to the tree whose natural branches had been broken off, and the wild branches had been grafted in; and behold, all sorts of fruit did cumber the tree. 75 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard did taste of the fruit, every sort according to its number. 76 And the Lord of the vineyard saith, Behold, this long time have we nourished this tree, and I have laid up unto myself against the season, much fruit. 77 But behold, this time it hath brought forth much fruit, and there is none of it which is good. 78 And behold, there are all kinds of bad fruit; and it profiteth me nothing, notwithstanding all our labor: and now, it grieveth me that I should lose this tree.”
Item in Story Interpretation
Different kinds of bad fruit
Regarding the above:
1. All of the fruit was bad
2. None of the fruit had any profit to the Lord
Consider what Joseph Smith was told in a heavenly vision when he enquired as to which church was right:
I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong, and the personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight: that those professors were all corrupt. (Times and Seasons, March 1842)
To continue:
Jacob 3:79-84 – “79 And the Lord of the vineyard saith unto the servant, What shall we do unto the tree, that I may preserve again good fruit thereof unto mine own self? 80 And the servant saith unto his master, Behold, because thou didst graft in the branches of the wild olive tree, they have nourished the roots, that they are alive, and they have not perished; wherefore, thou beholdest that they are yet good. 81 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard saith unto his servant, The tree profiteth me nothing; and the roots thereof profiteth me nothing, so long as it shall bring forth evil fruit. 82 Nevertheless, I know that the roots are good; and for mine own purpose I have preserved them; and because of their much strength, they have hitherto brought forth from the wild branches good fruit. 83 But behold, the wild branches have grown, and have overrun the roots thereof: and because that the wild branches have overcome the roots thereof, it hath brought forth much evil fruit; 84 And because that it hath brought forth so much evil fruit, thou beholdest that it beginneth to perish: and it will soon become ripened, that it may be cast into the fire, except we should do something for it to preserve it.”
Though overrun, note that the roots were preserved as a result of the wild branches. In what way did the corrupt Gentile church serve a purpose (the roots of the tree were still alive)?
In what way were the roots overrun?
Without intervention from God, the entire tree would perish and be good for nothing, but to be burned.
Second Inspection of the Scattered Natural Branches
Jacob 3:85-88 – “85 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard saith unto his servant, Let us go down into the nethermost parts of the vineyard, and behold if the natural branches have also brought forth evil fruit. 86 And it came to pass that they went down into the nethermost parts of the vineyard. 87 And it came to pass that they beheld that the fruit of the natural branches had become corrupt also; yea, the first, and the second, and also the last; and they had all become corrupt. 88 And the wild fruit of the last, had overcome that part of the tree which brought forth good fruit, even that the branch had withered away and died.”
Note that the other branch mentioned in Jacob 3:67 (“another branch”), does not appear to be mentioned above. It is possible that these are the people of Zarahemla that united with the Nephite branch.
Item in Story Interpretation
Wild fruit of the natural branches
The part of the tree that was overcome by the wild fruit and died
The Lord of the Vineyard Grieves
Jacob 3:89-94 – “89 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard wept, and saith unto the servant, What could I have done more for my vineyard? 90 Behold, I knew that all the fruit of the vineyard, save it were these, had become corrupted. 91 And now, these which have once brought forth good fruit, have also become corrupted. 92 And now, all the trees of my vineyard are good for nothing, save it be to be hewn down and cast into the fire. 93 And behold, this last, whose branch hath withered away, I did plant in a good spot of ground; yea, even that which was choice unto me, above all other parts of the land of my vineyard. 94 And thou beheldest that I also cut down that which cumbered this spot of ground, that I might plant this tree in the stead thereof.”
Item in Story Interpretation
The tree that was previously cut down that had “cumbered” the good spot of ground
Continued sadness:
Jacob 3:95-103 – “95 And thou beheldest that a part thereof, brought forth good fruit [the Nephites]; and a part thereof, brought forth wild fruit [the Lamanites]. 96 And because that I plucked not the branches thereof, and cast them into the fire, behold, they have overcome the good branch, that it hath withered away. 97 And now behold, notwithstanding all the care which we have taken of my vineyard, the trees thereof have become corrupted, that they bring forth no good fruit: 98 And these I have hoped to preserve, to have laid up fruit thereof, against the season, unto mine own self. 99 But behold, they have become like unto the wild olive tree; and they are of no worth, but to be hewn down and cast into the fire: and it grieveth me that I should lose them. 100 But what could I have done more in my vineyard? 101 Have I slackened my hand, that I have not nourished it? 102 Nay; I have nourished it, and I have digged it, and I have pruned it, and I have dunged it; and I have stretched forth mine hand almost all the day long; and the end draweth nigh. 103 And it grieveth me that I should hew down all the trees of my vineyard, and cast them into the fire, that they should be burned.”
Determining the Problem
Jacob 3:104-108 – “104 Who is it that hath corrupted my vineyard? 105 And it came to pass that the servant saith unto his master, Is it not the loftiness of thy vineyard? 106 Hath not the branches thereof overcome the roots, which are good? 107 And because that the branches have overcome the roots thereof, behold, they grew faster than the strength of the roots thereof, taking strength unto themselves. 108 Behold, I say, Is not this the cause that the trees of thy vineyard have become corrupted?”
Item in Story Interpretation
Loftiness of the vineyard
Jacob 3:109-111 – “109 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard saith unto the servant, Let us go to, and hew down the trees of the vineyard, and cast them into the fire, that they shall not cumber the ground of my vineyard: for I have done all; what could I have done more for my vineyard? 110 But behold, the servant saith unto the Lord of the vineyard, Spare it a little longer. 111 And the Lord saith, Yea, I will spare it a little longer: for it grieveth me that I should lose the trees of my vineyard.”
Here the servant (Christ) asks the Lord of the vineyard to work in the vineyard a little longer. Time and time again, those that turn from the Lord are shown mercy and given more time to repent.
The Plan
Jacob 3:112-119 – “112 Wherefore let us take of the branches of these which I have planted in the nethermost parts of my vineyard, and let us graft them into the tree from whence they came; 113 And let us pluck from the tree those branches whose fruit is most bitter, and graft in the natural branches of the tree in the stead thereof. 114 And this will I do, that the tree may not perish, that perhaps I may preserve unto myself the roots thereof, for mine own purpose. 115 And behold, the roots of the natural branches of the tree which I planted whithersoever I would, are yet alive; 116 Wherefore, that I may preserve them also, for mine own purpose, I will take of the branches of this tree, and I will graft them in unto them. 117 Yea, I will graft in unto them the branches of their mother tree, that I may preserve the roots also unto mine own self, that when they shall be sufficiently strong, that perhaps they may bring forth good fruit unto me, and I may yet have glory in the fruit of my vineyard. 118 And it came to pass that they took from the natural tree which had become wild, and grafted in unto the natural trees, which also had become wild: 119 And they also took of the natural trees which had become wild, and grafted into their mother tree.”
In the above, branches of the natural transplanted trees are grafted back into the mother tree, replacing wild branches that were also plucked off of the mother tree. In addition, branches of the mother tree were grafted into the natural transplanted trees. In other words, there is a swapping of branches that takes place between the transplanted trees, and the original mother tree.
Why are only some (the most bitter wild branches) branches plucked from the mother tree?
Item in Story Interpretation
Most bitter wild branches that are cast away
Grafting of branches of the mother tree into the transplanted trees
Grafting of branches of the transplanted trees into the mother tree
To continue:
Jacob 3:120-124 – “120 And the Lord of the vineyard saith unto the servant, Pluck not the wild branches from the trees, save it be those which are most bitter; and in them ye shall graft, according to that which I have said. 121 And we will nourish again the trees of the vineyard, and we will trim up the branches thereof; and we will pluck from the trees those branches which are ripened that must perish, and cast them into the fire. 122 And this I do, that perhaps the roots thereof may take strength, because of their goodness; and because of the change of the branches, that the good may overcome the evil; 123 And because that I have preserved the natural branches, and the roots thereof; and that I have grafted in the natural branches again, into their mother tree; and have preserved the roots of their mother tree, that perhaps the trees of my vineyard may bring forth again good fruit; 124 And that I may have joy again in the fruit of my vineyard; and perhaps that I may rejoice exceedingly, that I have preserved the roots and the branches of the first fruit.”
Through the mix up / swapping of branches, the Lord the vineyard hopes that good will overcome evil and the trees will again produce good fruit.
To continue:
Jacob 3:125 – “Wherefore, go to, and call servants, that we may labor diligently with our mights in the vineyard, that we may prepare the way, that I may bring forth again the natural fruit, which natural fruit is good, and the most precious above all other fruit.”
Item in Story Interpretation
Calling of servants
Natural fruit
To continue:
Jacob 3:126-128 – “126 Wherefore, let us go to, and labor with our mights, this last time; for behold the end draweth nigh: and this is for the last time that I shall prune my vineyard. 127 Graft in the branches; begin at the last, that they may be first, and that the first may be last, and dig about the trees, both old and young, the first and the last, and the last and the first, that all may be nourished once again for the last time. 128 Wherefore, dig about them, and prune them, and dung them once more, for the last time: for the end draweth nigh.”
Regarding the last, the Gentiles were the last to receive the word of God (the Bible) from the Jews (the Gentiles are now the first in the restoration of the gospel). In addition, the last transplant in the vineyard given previously to the choice land was that of the . Therefore, the last (now the first) would be the Gentiles and the . The Lamanites will be the first to return to the Lord in the last days.
Here the first is equivalent to , which would now be last.
Note that the phrase “the last shall be first and the first shall be last” can have different meanings, depending on the context it is used within scripture.
To continue:
Jacob 3:129-135 – “129 And if it so be that these last grafts [Lamanites] shall grow, and bring forth the natural fruit, then shall ye prepare the way for them, that they may grow; 130 And as they begin to grow, ye shall clear away the branches which bring forth bitter fruit, according to the strength of the good and the size thereof; 131 And ye shall not clear away the bad thereof, all at once, lest the roots thereof should be too strong for the graft, and the graft thereof shall perish, and I lose the trees of my vineyard. 132 For it grieveth me that I should lose the trees of my vineyard; wherefore, ye shall clear away the bad, according as the good shall grow, that the root and the top may be equal in strength, until the good shall overcome the bad, and the bad be hewn down and cast into the fire, that they cumber not the ground of my vineyard; and thus will I sweep away the bad out of my vineyard. 133 And the branches of the natural tree will I graft in again, into the natural tree; and the branches of the natural tree will I graft into the natural branches of the tree; 134 And thus will I bring them together again, that they shall bring forth the natural fruit; and they shall be one. 135 And the bad shall be cast away; yea, even out of all the land of my vineyard; for behold, only this once will I prune my vineyard.”
Here the bitter fruit of the Gentiles will be cast away and replaced with natural branches back into God’s kingdom. Judgment will come upon the Gentiles in the end times. This judgment has already begun.
The Servants Labor
Jacob 3:136 – “And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard sent his servant; and the servant went and did as the Lord had commanded him, and brought other servants; and they were few.”
Who are the servants that “were few”?
Jacob 3:137-153 – “137 And the Lord of the vineyard saith unto them, Go to, and labor in the vineyard, with your mights. 138 For behold, this is the last time that I shall nourish my vineyard: for the end is nigh at hand, and the season speedily cometh; 139 And if ye labor with your mights with me, ye shall have joy in the fruit which I shall lay up unto myself, against the time which will soon come. 140 And it came to pass that the servants did go to it, and labor with their mights; and the Lord of the vineyard labored also with them; and they did obey the commandments of the Lord of the vineyard, in all things. 141 And there began to be the natural fruit again in the vineyard; and the natural branches began to grow and thrive exceedingly; 142 And the wild branches began to be plucked off, and to be cast away; and they did keep the root and the top thereof equal, according to the strength thereof. 143 And thus they labored, with all diligence, according to the commandments of the Lord of the vineyard, even until the bad had been cast away out of the vineyard, and the Lord had preserved unto himself, that the trees had become again the natural fruit; 144 And they became like unto one body; and the fruit were equal; and the Lord of the vineyard had preserved unto himself the natural fruit, which was most precious unto him from the beginning.”
During what period of time does the Lord personally labor with the church?
Jacob 3:145-153 – “145 And it came to pass that when the Lord of the vineyard saw that his fruit was good, and that his vineyard was no more corrupt, he called up his servants and saith unto them, Behold, for this last time have we nourished my vineyard; and thou beholdest that I have done according to my will; 146 And I have preserved the natural fruit, that it is good, even like as it was in the beginning; and blessed art thou. 147 For because that ye have been diligent in laboring with me in my vineyard, and have kept my commandments, and have brought unto me again the natural fruit, that my vineyard is no more corrupted, and the bad is cast away, behold, ye shall have joy with me, because of the fruit of my vineyard. 148 For behold, for a long time will I lay up of the fruit of my vineyard unto mine own self, against the season, which speedily cometh; 149 And for the last time have I nourished my vineyard, and pruned it, and dug about it, and dunged it; 150 Wherefore I will lay up unto mine own self of the fruit for a long time, according to that which I have spoken. 151 And when the time cometh that evil fruit shall again come into my vineyard, then will I cause the good and the bad to be gathered: 152 And the good will I preserve unto myself; and the bad will I cast away into its own place. 153 And then cometh the season and the end; and my vineyard will I cause to be burned with fire.”
Due to the temporal judgments of the Lord just prior to and at his coming, the vineyard will be purified. The great and abominable church will be destroyed. The Lord will then “lay up the fruit of” His vineyard for a long time during the millennial reign (Revelation 20:1-10). After that period of time, when evil shall again make a comeback, the final judgment will occur (Revelation 20:11-15). The earth will be burned with fervent heat, and a new heaven and earth will be created (Revelation 21:1).