In Search of Jacob

For my Latter-day Saint readers

≈10 minute read (version 2.0)

“If you can’t show it, don’t say it!”    --Avraham Gileadi

This was originally posted on the Facebook Group, “DiscoverIsaiah.” As this group is sponsored by the Isaiah Institute and is based on the research and writings of Hebrew Scholar Dr. Avraham Gileadi, I will attempt to stay within his motto/rule and his research of literal and literary meanings behind writings of Hebrew prophets in this post, and make additional comments and opinions.

Isaiah 44:6 {Gileadi translation} One will say, I am Jehovah’s, and another name himself Jacob. Yet others will inscribe on their arm, To Jehovah, and adopt the name Israel.

According to the commentary in Apocalyptic Commentary of the Book of Isaiah for this verse, this refers to the descendants of the Lord's people in the Endtime.  Besides Isaiah's literary meanings of the Jacob/Israel category of people (which I assert remain completely valid even though I comment upon the possible literal meanings), I think interesting things are brought to light here.  Among the three literal categories mentioned, the first and third appear to be speaking of direct descendants of the House of Israel, the lost tribes perhaps being the first, and modern-day Judah seems to be the obvious interpretation of the third group.  That leaves us with trying to identify the middle group, who "name[s] himself Jacob."  Besides the literary category of people on Jacob's ladder known as Jacob/Israel, I believe these are additional code words for the Church and Judah in the Endtime, and deserve a closer look.

In Hebrew prophecy, almost everything a prophet describes has a literal meaning, besides additional levels of meaning it may have.  Avraham Gileadi, Isaiah Decoded, p. 27 (PDF version)

Isaiah doesn’t spell out everything. Only persons who deeply search his words and believe them will get his meaning.

These keywords’ additional meanings take nothing away from their literal meanings. Literal meanings—which are commonly based on a plain interpretation of a word or phrase—remain valid. Layered into them, however, are metaphorical meanings that augment and greatly enlarge the prophetic picture. Without coming to terms with these keywords, one can glean only a small fraction of Isaiah’s message.  Avraham Gileadi, Windows on the Prophecy of Isaiah, p. 10 & 149 (PDF version)

Joseph Smith, literally in his final hours in mortality, called the Gentile latter-day church “Jacob.”  Though not scriptural, the Prophet appeared at that time to temporarily negate the counsel in D&C 123.  As recounted in Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith in the section titled Not Always Wise to Expose Evil, the Prophet said, "So it is with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; we have the revelation of Jesus, and the knowledge within us is sufficient to organize a righteous government upon the earth, and to give universal peace to all mankind, if they would receive it, but we lack the physical strength, as did our Savior when a child, to defend our principles, and we have a necessity to be afflicted, persecuted and smitten, and to bear it patiently until Jacob is of age, then he will take care of himself." {all emphasis in this post added}

I have searched for other references that the Prophet referred to the Church as "Jacob," but they appear to be few.  In fact, I have only found one other (but earlier) example that this was the case (outside of scripture).  Wilford Woodruff, while assigned as a missionary in Maine in 1838, commented in a letter about the problems in Kirtland being part of "Jacob's trouble," a phrase from Jeremiah 30:7, namely "Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it."  Woodruff was close to the Prophet and even accompanied him on Zion's Camp after only being in the Church about one month (Encyclopedia of Mormonism, p. 1581), so he could have received direct knowledge of the Prophet Joseph naming/calling the Church "Jacob."  Elder Woodruff even finished his "Jacob's trouble" quote with Jeremiah's promise: "I feel as though the time of Jacob's trouble had begun, but I know God will deliver him out of it and fulfill his word." (Elders' Journal, Vol. 1, #3, Far West, Missouri, July 1838, Whole #3, p. 35)

The chapter heading for D&C 49 states, "22–28, Zion will flourish and the Lamanites blossom as the rose before the Second Coming."  {Zion in this case meaning the Church}  The actual scripture says (v. 24), "But before the great day of the Lord shall come, Jacob shall flourish in the wilderness, and the Lamanites shall blossom as the rose."  Whoever wrote that particular heading appears to have been aware that the Church is sometimes referred to as “Jacob.”  This is the clearest, earliest reference I could find that the latter-day Gentile Church is known as Jacob (May, 1831).  The Lord Himself makes reference that we (the Church) are a remnant of Jacob in June, 1831 (D&C 52:2), and children of Jacob in March, 1836 (D&C 109:58).

Since Hebrew prophets wrote of two time periods, their own time and the Endtimes (Isaiah Decoded, pp. 27-28), I believe some interesting things are said about the latter-day Church in the Old Testament if indeed Isaiah and others were sometimes inspired to speak of Jacob as the latter-day organization holding the Lord's priesthood and keys upon the earth in the last days.

All the following quotes are from the Gileadi Isaiah translation:

43:1 But now, thus says Jehovah—he who formed you, O Jacob, he who created you, O Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you.  I have called you by name; you are mine.

Again, 44:5 One will say, I am Jehovah’s, and another name himself Jacob.  Yet others will inscribe on their arm, To Jehovah, and adopt the name Israel.

27:6 For in days to come, when Jacob takes root and Israel bursts into blossom, the face of the earth shall fill with fruit.

I realize 27:6 may speak mostly of the time in the Lord's millennial reign, but it seems destined for dual-fulfillment.  The Church had to rise to the point it is at today (as Joseph prophesied when he was baptized just after the Aaronic Priesthood was restored by John the Baptist), thus taking root, and Judah has somewhat been restored to their homeland and "blossomed" with the help of literal kings and queens of Babylon (via the Balfour Declaration and much other assistance).  However, there is still much repentance needed to regain the status of being the Lord's people by both Jacob and Israel in preparation for that great day of the Lord's return.

43:22 But you do not call upon me, O Jacob; you have grown weary of me, O Israel.

43:28 Therefore I let the holy cities be profaned; I gave Jacob to be ostracized, Israel to execration.

17:4 In that day Jacob’s glory shall wane, and his fatness of body become leanness.

Avraham Gileadi's interpretation from Apocalyptic Commentary on verses 4-6 explains this: “Having been born into the covenant blessings of wealth and privilege, the rising generation of Jehovah’s people—here identified as a Jacob/Israel category—now faces poverty and scarcity. Although former harvests were plentiful, the earth’s ‘harvest’ of Jehovah’s Day of Judgment sees the few elect who remain gathered out like mere ‘gleanings’ from such an abundance before covenant curses become irrevocable (Isaiah 24:13; 27:12–13). The rest of Jehovah’s people—those of Jacob/Israel who don’t repent and return—seek to survive in what literally becomes a valley of ‘rephaim’ or ‘ghosts.’”

42:24 Who is it that hands Jacob over to plunder and Israel to despoilers, if not Jehovah, against whom we have sinned?  For they have no desire to walk in his ways or obey his law.

With the great wealth of the Church today, it stands in great danger of being plundered by secret combinations, and it would be Jehovah who would allow it.  There already being such a great exodus from Jacob, I have great concern about where all will be in their faith if something like that happens in the future.

14:1 Jehovah will have compassion on Jacob and once again choose Israel; he will settle them in their own land, and proselytes will adhere to them and join the house of Jacob.

Jacob holding the priesthood and the keys may administer the ordinances/covenants of Jehovah, therefore, all those who truly repent in the End-time will have to come to Jacob to properly receive/commit to them.  Even Israel (though they hold great Endtime promises) will have to come to Jacob.

49:5-6 For now Jehovah has said—he who formed me from the womb to be his servant, to restore Jacob to him, Israel having been gathered to him; for I won honor in the eyes of Jehovah when my God became my strength—he said: It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore those preserved of Israel.  I will also appoint you to be a light to the nations, that my salvation may be to the end of the earth.

One of the duties of the Servant appearing in the Endtime will be to "restore Jacob to" Jehovah, likely due to the turmoil in the Church in the Endtime, as prophesied.  Much speculation has existed about who it is that is spoken of in D&C 85.  Whomever it is, it caused the Prophet Joseph's bones to quake as the Spirit was making it manifest unto him.  But the Servant comes with the keys to perform these labors (D&C 113:6), though of necessity will likely come through Jacob (the Church) having received the Priesthood in the usual way.  Of course, this is Jehovah's Church and just because the Church has the priesthood and some keys does not preclude Jehovah from raising someone up entirely new from outside Jacob or Judah (someone from the lost ten tribes perhaps), as that would really hide him from the world and us, the people of the Lord (at least as we perceive ourselves at this time).  See Isaiah 49:2.

So, it appears that Elder Woodruff was a little early in declaring “Jacob's trouble” as the problems of the past will pale in comparison to these, the last of the last days, the Endtime.

I know this tends to leave other churches out in the cold, so to speak, as it appears that Isaiah skips over them, except for where they are called to repentance, as all are in the Endtime.  The Book of Mormon did not forget them, curiously enough, for it says, "For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God." Moroni 7:16

My research on this topic continues but this is what I have found thus far.  There are about 628 references to “Jacob” in the scriptures (not counting chapter headings, foot notes and additional study guides accompanying the Latter-day Saint versions).

Full disclosure… What does Avraham Gileadi say about who Jacob is?

Going beyond his established written works, I asked him about Joseph Smith calling the Church Jacob, and that I thought Joseph got that from Isaiah.  I also mentioned Joseph's statement about Jacob on the last day of his life.  In part, his reply was: "One has to be careful about applying one prophet’s definitions to another’s, especially Isaiah."  I have tried to be very careful in this analysis, looking for references as I have access to.  If “Jacob” does sometimes refer to the earthly, corporate, latter-day organization, we in the Church may have some very tough and discouraging times coming our way (we are still under the condemnation spoken of in D&C 84:55-57).  At least we won't be able to say that Isaiah and other Hebrew prophets didn't try to warn us.

Photo credit: erinannie1 at Pixabay

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