Key Phrases-"Due Time of the Lord" part 3

A Captain in Israel

There are other titles in scripture related to the offices of “king”, “Root of Jesse” and other titles. In the description of the “Root of Jesse” in section 113 of the Doctrine & Covenants the individual raises an “ensign” prior to gathering Israel. Readers familiar with the Book of Mormon may be reminded of Captain Moroni as a type for this Davidic servant. This conclusion may seem flawed because Moroni was not the “king” of the Nephites, (although many of his responsibilities from a military perspective are associated with those of a king). This may seem a contradiction, but is consistent with the content and pattern found in the Old Testament. When the children of Israel petitioned the Lord through Samuel for a mortal king, the Lord commanded Samuel to anoint Saul the first king of Israel. In this revelation the Lord said:

15 Now the Lord had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying,
16 To morrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him to be captain over my people Israel, that he may save my people out of the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked upon my people, because their cry is come unto me.
(1 Samuel 9:15-16, emphasis mine)

1 Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the Lord hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance?
(1 Samuel 10:1, emphasis mine)

The same title applied to David:

2 Also in time past, when Saul was king over us, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the Lord said to thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be a captain over Israel.
3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a league with them in Hebron before the Lord: and they anointed David king over Israel.
(2 Samuel 5:2-3, emphasis mine)

From these examples we see the Lord used the title “captain” in addressing the office of king, demonstrating a link between the two titles. Both were engaged in military functions as well as the management of all things temporal.
The primary difference between Moroni and David is a pattern grounded in the nature of their respective governments. Under the Davidic reign the government was a monarchy. In Moroni’s day the government was representative, where the people had a voice in determining their leaders and government. Isaiah’s writings address a time when Israel was governed by a monarch. In the first half Hezekiah is the faithful king in Isaiah who delivers Israel and the second half features Cyrus as the king who delivers Israel from Babylonian captivity.
Hezekiah is the son of Ahaz and a direct descendant to the throne of David. He represents the “Jesse” side of the “Root of Jesse”. In contrast, the “Joseph” side is represented by Cyrus, the Gentile king who reigned over Persia. When Cyrus conquered Babylon he delivered the Jews from captivity and commanded them to return to the land of their inheritance and reconstruct the Temple:

1 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying,
2 Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The Lord God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.
3 Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem.
4 And whosoever remaineth in any place where he sojourneth, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, beside the freewill offering for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.
(Ezra 1:1-4, emphasis mine)

The reconstruction of the Temple at Jerusalem was overseen by Zerubbabel the governor (appointed by Cyrus) and Jeshua, the high priest. The process of rebuilding involved many of the processes spoken of when Hezekiah cleansed the Levites and restored temple worship in Israel.
The conclusion drawn is that Hezekiah, (acting as a type for the Davidic throne/Jesse) represents the pure blood line or descent by lineal “right” to the throne of Israel. He is a type for the Davidic king. Cyrus is a type for the Gentile blood of Joseph that is found in the “Root of Jesse”. The government instituted at the time of Cyrus was different than Hezekiah’s reign over Israel. Cyrus appointed officials to govern the temporal and spiritual affairs of Israel. With limited oversight the refugee’s from Babylon rebuilt Jerusalem and the Lord’s house. Consequently, Israel had a governor, but no king. In Hezekiah and Cyrus we see both forms of government represented as well as the lineages of Jesse and Joseph.
In the example of Captain Moroni, (a descendant of Joseph) Moroni presided over the military under the direction of the governor, Pahoran. This form of government is similar to the post Babylon government established by Cyrus.
This detail plays a key role in understanding the union that occurs between Ephraim and Judah after the gathering commences:

12 And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.
13 The envy also of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off: Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim.
14 But they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines toward the west; they shall spoil them of the east together: they shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab; and the children of Ammon shall obey them.
(Isaiah 11:12-14, emphasis mine)

The purpose for laying this groundwork is to make the case that Moroni’s raising of the “ensign” or “title of liberty” is a type for the “Root of Jesse”. This is relevant because Moroni engages in a detailed discussion of a righteous remnant of Joseph who is prophesied to rise in a future day. Moroni speculates on the possibility of his people filling that role if they repent. His teachings concerning this remnant are relevant to the descendants of Joseph in the last days:

23 Moroni said unto them: Behold, we are a remnant of the seed of Jacob; yea, we are a remnant of the seed of Joseph, whose coat was rent by his brethren into many pieces; yea, and now behold, let us remember to keep the commandments of God, or our garments shall be rent by our brethren, and we be cast into prison, or be sold, or be slain.
24 Yea, let us preserve our liberty as a remnant of Joseph; yea, let us remember the words of Jacob, before his death, for behold, he saw that a part of the remnant of the coat of Joseph was preserved and had not decayed. And he said—Even as this remnant of garment of my son hath been preserved, so shall a remnant of the seed of my son be preserved by the hand of God, and be taken unto himself, while the remainder of the seed of Joseph shall perish, even as the remnant of his garment.
25 Now behold, this giveth my soul sorrow; nevertheless, my soul hath joy in my son, because of that part of his seed which shall be taken unto God.
26 Now behold, this was the language of Jacob.
27 And now who knoweth but what the remnant of the seed of Joseph, which shall perish as his garment, are those who have dissented from us? Yea, and even it shall be ourselves if we do not stand fast in the faith of Christ.
28 And now it came to pass that when Moroni had said these words he went forth, and also sent forth in all the parts of the land where there were dissensions, and gathered together all the people who were desirous to maintain their liberty, to stand against Amalickiah and those who had dissented, who were called Amalickiahites.
(Alma 46: 23-28, emphasis mine)

Captain Moroni refers to an ancient prophecy foretold by Joseph of Egypt regarding a remnant from his lineage. This remnant would be righteous and “preserved by the hand of God” and “taken unto himself” while the other descendants of Joseph who dissent will perish. I suggest this event is referred to by the Apostle Paul in Romans:

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.
26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
(Romans 11:25-27, emphasis mine)

The Lord’s covenant with Israel will not be realized until the “fulness of the Gentiles be come in.” Although the tribe of Joseph has been in the process of gathering since the restoration under Joseph Smith began, the righteous remnant emerges when a division occurs between the righteous of Joseph and the rebellious of Joseph. The division is caused when the “fulness of the Gospel” is given to the Gentiles and only a remnant of Joseph accepts it. A more detailed explanation of this event is given in the 16th Chapter of 3 Nephi:

10 And thus commandeth the Father that I should say unto you: At that day when the Gentiles shall sin against my gospel, and shall reject the fulness of my gospel, and shall be lifted up in the pride of their hearts above all nations, and above all the people of the whole earth, and shall be filled with all manner of lyings, and of deceits, and of mischiefs, and all manner of hypocrisy, and murders, and priestcrafts, and whoredoms, and of secret abominations; and if they shall do all those things, and shall reject the fulness of my gospel, behold, saith the Father, I will bring the fulness of my gospel from among them.
11 And then will I remember my covenant which I have made unto my people, O house of Israel, and I will bring my gospel unto them.
12 And I will show unto thee, O house of Israel, that the Gentiles shall not have power over you; but I will remember my covenant unto you, O house of Israel, and ye shall come unto the knowledge of the fulness of my gospel.
13 But if the Gentiles will repent and return unto me, saith the Father, behold they shall be numbered among my people, O house of Israel.
14 And I will not suffer my people, who are of the house of Israel, to go through among them, and tread them down, saith the Father.
15 But if they will not turn unto me, and hearken unto my voice, I will suffer them, yea, I will suffer my people, O house of Israel, that they shall go through among them, and shall tread them down, and they shall be as salt that hath lost its savor, which is thenceforth good for nothing but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of my people, O house of Israel.
(3 Nephi 16:10-15, emphasis mine)

I believe this is another description of the transition that occurs when the “last become first and first become last.” The Gentiles are given the “fulness” of the Lord’s gospel. Some give heed and repent while those who reject it are destroyed by Israel as they tread over the wicked and prideful Gentiles. The Gentiles who repent form part of the remnant of Joseph, in particular the true Ephraimites identified in the Doctrine & Covenants:

34 Behold, the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind; and the willing and obedient shall eat the good of the land of Zion in these last days.
35 And the rebellious shall be cut off out of the land of Zion, and shall be sent away, and shall not inherit the land.
36 For, verily I say that the rebellious are not of the blood of Ephraim, wherefore they shall be plucked out.
37 Behold, I, the Lord, have made my church in these last days like unto a judge sitting on a hill, or in a high place, to judge the nations.
38 For it shall come to pass that the inhabitants of Zion shall judge all things pertaining to Zion.
39 And liars and hypocrites shall be proved by them, and they who are not apostles and prophets shall be known.
40 And even the bishop, who is a judge, and his counselors, if they are not faithful in their stewardships shall be condemned, and others shall be planted in their stead.
(D&C 64:23, emphasis mine)

True Ephraimites are not determined by patriarchal blessings or genealogy. In the last days, the children of Ephraim will dedicate their hearts to God and not rebel against sacred truth when revealed. These revelations cause some in the church to rebel and this suggests that apostles, prophets and bishoprics are not immune. Perhaps this is another way of describing the same event mentioned in section 85 when the “One Mighty and Strong” arises.
The Church will be a judge in a highly visible place, (sitting on a hill or in a high place). This will be because the judgments of God begin with His own house and spread from there to the world.

23 Verily, verily, I say unto you, darkness covereth the earth, and gross darkness the minds of the people, and all flesh has become corrupt before my face.
24 Behold, vengeance cometh speedily upon the inhabitants of the earth, a day of wrath, a day of burning, a day of desolation, of weeping, of mourning, and of lamentation; and as a whirlwind it shall come upon all the face of the earth, saith the Lord.
25 And upon my house shall it begin, and from my house shall it go forth, saith the Lord;
26 First among those among you, saith the Lord, who have professed to know my name and have not known me, and have blasphemed against me in the midst of my house, saith the Lord.
(D&C 112:23-26, emphasis mine)

The wrath of God is poured out upon the earth but the Lord’s first order of business is to address wickedness “in the midst of my house”. He begins with endowed member’s who enter higher covenants of the Melchizedek Priesthood but live the lesser, Aaronic law. They are people who covenant with the Lord to live a higher standard as they represent them selves before the Lord at the veil. They are people who take their covenants lightly and think nothing of blaspheming against the Lord by attending the Temple and participating in Temple ordinances unworthily. These individuals are the first to feel the wrath of God in a day of darkness and gross wickedness. When the light of God exposes wickedness it also manifests righteousness in stark contrast.

Righteous Remnant of Joseph

Like the “refiners fire”, out of the chaos of wickedness emerges a remnant of Joseph who is steeled against the temptations of the adversary. True sons and daughters of Ephraim will not rebel against sacred truth when revealed. They won’t shrink when the Lord requires hard things of them. They know from whence their blessings flow and increase in righteousness, even as they increase in light and truth through new revelation.
Ephraim holds the birthright for the tribes of Israel. Bearing responsibility for the temporal and spiritual welfare of Israel squarely upon their shoulders, Ephraim cleanses and prepares to administer the higher covenants of the Melchizedek Priesthood to the remnant of Israel. This process occurs concurrently with the rise of the “Root of Jesse”, who sanctifies the Levites in preparation for the blessings of the Aaronic Priesthood to those of Israel who give heed to the “ensign” (fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ) raised for their gathering. This creates an alliance between Ephraim and Judah, joining the two together and bringing about the gathering of Israel and fulfilling covenant promises to Israel.
The Prophet Mormon writes of the righteous remnant of Joseph and ties their rise to the time preceding the gathering of Israel:

20 I am Mormon, and a pure descendant of Lehi. I have reason to bless my God and my Savior Jesus Christ, that he brought our fathers out of the land of Jerusalem, (and no one knew it save it were himself and those whom he brought out of that land) and that he hath given me and my people so much knowledge unto the salvation of our souls.
21 Surely he hath blessed the house of Jacob, and hath been merciful unto the seed of Joseph.
22 And insomuch as the children of Lehi have kept his commandments he hath blessed them and prospered them according to his word.
23 Yea, and surely shall he again bring a remnant of the seed of Joseph to the knowledge of the Lord their God.
24 And as surely as the Lord liveth, will he gather in from the four quarters of the earth all the remnant of the seed of Jacob, who are scattered abroad upon all the face of the earth.
25 And as he hath covenanted with all the house of Jacob, even so shall the covenant wherewith he hath covenanted with the house of Jacob be fulfilled in his own due time, unto the restoring all the house of Jacob unto the knowledge of the covenant that he hath covenanted with them.
26 And then shall they know their Redeemer, who is Jesus Christ, the Son of God; and then shall they be gathered in from the four quarters of the earth unto their own lands, from whence they have been dispersed; yea, as the Lord liveth so shall it be. Amen.
(3 Nephi 5:20-26, emphasis mine)

Mormon is a “pure” descendant of Lehi, a descendant of Joseph. The Book of Mormon is the record of the seed of Joseph. Mormon is prophesying of and too his people his people in Joseph. Mormon takes special note that a remnant of Joseph, (prior to the gathering of Israel and assignment of inheritance), are brought to a knowledge of the Lord, their God. When that occurs, Israel is gathered from the four quarters of the earth to receive their inheritance.
When writing of the “Moses Prophecy” I alluded to the fact that 3 Nephi 20 contained the “macro” description of the prophecy and 3 Nephi 21 contained the “micro” depiction. In addition to the macro view of this prophecy, 3 Nephi 20 includes a discussion of the Gentiles who are blessed with the Gospel, that create a link between the righteous remnant and the “cutting off” that occurs when the Moses Prophecy is fulfilled:

27 And after that ye were blessed then fulfilleth the Father the covenant which he made with Abraham, saying: In thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed—unto the pouring out of the Holy Ghost through me upon the Gentiles, which blessing upon the Gentiles shall make them mighty above all, unto the scattering of my people, O house of Israel.
28 And they shall be a scourge unto the people of this land. Nevertheless, when they shall have received the fulness of my gospel, then if they shall harden their hearts against me I will return their iniquities upon their own heads, saith the Father.
(3 Nephi 20:27-28, emphasis mine)

After the Savior comes to Israel attempting to turn Israel from their iniquities, the gospel is taken from Israel to the Gentile nations and in this manner all nations of the earth are blessed by God’s covenant with Abraham. The Lord fulfills this promise by pouring out the Holy Ghost upon the Gentiles, making them the most powerful people on earth. With that power they scatter the rebellious of Israel. The power of the Gentiles endures only until the “fulness” of the Gospel is given to them. The outcome for the Gentiles is left uncertain with only the statement that “if” they harden their hearts against the Lord, he turns their iniquities upon their own head. This implies the wrath of God falls upon unrepentant Gentiles.
What is further implied is the possibility some Gentiles will not harden their hearts when given the “fulness” of the Gospel. The Gentiles who repent are those who fill a prophetic role assisting in gathering Israel and establishing Zion:

35 The Father hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of the Father; and the Father and I are one.
36 And then shall be brought to pass that which is written: Awake, awake again, and put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city, for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean.
(3 Nephi 20:35-36, emphasis mine)

The writings of Avraham Gileadi assert that Isaiah frequently used the term “arm” as a metaphor for the Davidic Servant. The arm is an appendage of the Lord. To make bare his arm, (which is tied to the Moses Prophecy in D&C 1) is to bring to light his servant in the eyes of all nations. This is not done in a corner but in the light of day, in plain sight. When the new revelations are brought to light, the salvation the world sees is not limited to knowledge of the Son, but the Father as well, denoting the power of the witness. “Then” Zion “awakes” and puts on her strength. Is it a coincidence that immediately following the question of the identity of the “Root of Jesse” in section 113 of the Doctrine & Covenants we find the following question of Elias Higby?

7 Questions by Elias Higbee: What is meant by the command in Isaiah, 52d chapter, 1st verse, which saith: Put on thy strength, O Zion—and what people had Isaiah reference to?

8 He had reference to those whom God should call in the last days, who should hold the power of priesthood to bring again Zion, and the redemption of Israel; and to put on her strength is to put on the authority of the priesthood, which she, Zion, has a right to by lineage; also to return to that power which she had lost.
(Doctrine & Covenants 113:7-8, emphasis mine)

The power to establish Zion resides in the Melchizedek Priesthood and the righteous exercise thereof. The power of this Priesthood is limitless when aligned with the will of God. A righteous remnant of Joseph would no doubt understand the principle of power associated with this Priesthood and when they do, Zion gains strength she has right to by lineage. The principle of power is explained in section 121 of the Doctrine & Covenants:

34 Behold, there are many called, but few are chosen. And why are they not chosen?
35 Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world, and aspire to the honors of men, that they do not learn this one lesson—
36 That the rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness.
37 That they may be conferred upon us, it is true; but when we undertake to cover our sins, or to gratify our pride, our vain ambition, or to exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens withdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man.
(Doctrine & Covenants 121:34-37, emphasis mine)

The righteous remnant of Joseph understands this principle of power and employs it in restoring Zion. This is done that Israel may have a place to gather, seal their families and redeem their dead. When Zion is established they facilitate the gathering by preaching the fulness of the Gospel to the tribes of Israel:

39 Verily, verily, I say unto you, that my people shall know my name; yea, in that day they shall know that I am he that doth speak.
40 And then shall they say: How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings unto them, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings unto them of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion: Thy God reigneth!
(3 Nephi 20:39-40, emphasis mine)

This passage has been applied to generations of prophets and preachers of the Gospel through the ages. It’s use will never be more appropriate than the day when the righteous remnant of Joseph declares to the lost tribes of Israel and inhabitants of Zion, “Thy God reigneth”.
Mormon spoke of this day in his record. His description doesn’t identify any particular group as a “remnant of Joseph” but instead provides a description of righteousness Gentiles who fill the same criteria:

8 And now behold, I, Mormon, do not desire to harrow up the souls of men in casting before them such an awful scene of blood and carnage as was laid before mine eyes; but I, knowing that these things must surely be made known, and that all things which are hid must be revealed upon the house-tops—
9 And also that a knowledge of these things must come unto the remnant of these people, and also unto the Gentiles, who the Lord hath said should scatter this people, and this people should be counted as naught among them—therefore I write a small abridgment, daring not to give a full account of the things which I have seen, because of the commandment which I have received, and also that ye might not have too great sorrow because of the wickedness of this people.
10 And now behold, this I speak unto their seed, and also to the Gentiles who have care for the house of Israel, that realize and know from whence their blessings come.
11 For I know that such will sorrow for the calamity of the house of Israel; yea, they will sorrow for the destruction of this people; they will sorrow that this people had not repented that they might have been clasped in the arms of Jesus.
12 Now these things are written unto the remnant of the house of Jacob; and they are written after this manner, because it is known of God that wickedness will not bring them forth unto them; and they are to be hid up unto the Lord that they may come forth in his own due time.
13 And this is the commandment which I have received; and behold, they shall come forth according to the commandment of the Lord, when he shall see fit, in his wisdom.
14 And behold, they shall go unto the unbelieving of the Jews; and for this intent shall they go—that they may be persuaded that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God; that the Father may bring about, through his most Beloved, his great and eternal purpose, in restoring the Jews, or all the house of Israel, to the land of their inheritance, which the Lord their God hath given them, unto the fulfilling of his covenant;
15 And also that the seed of this people may more fully believe his gospel, which shall go forth unto them from the Gentiles; for this people shall be scattered, and shall become a dark, a filthy, and a loathsome people, beyond the description of that which ever hath been amongst us, yea, even that which hath been among the Lamanites, and this because of their unbelief and idolatry.
16 For behold, the Spirit of the Lord hath already ceased to strive with their fathers; and they are without Christ and God in the world; and they are driven about as chaff before the wind.
17 They were once a delightsome people, and they had Christ for their shepherd; yea, they were led even by God the Father.
18 But now, behold, they are led about by Satan, even as chaff is driven before the wind, or as a vessel is tossed about upon the waves, without sail or anchor, or without anything wherewith to steer her; and even as she is, so are they.
19 And behold, the Lord hath reserved their blessings, which they might have received in the land, for the Gentiles who shall possess the land.
20 But behold, it shall come to pass that they shall be driven and scattered by the Gentiles; and after they have been driven and scattered by the Gentiles, behold, then will the Lord remember the covenant which he made unto Abraham and unto all the house of Israel.
21 And also the Lord will remember the prayers of the righteous, which have been put up unto him for them.
22 And then, O ye Gentiles, how can ye stand before the power of God, except ye shall repent and turn from your evil ways?
23 Know ye not that ye are in the hands of God? Know ye not that he hath all power, and at his great command the earth shall be rolled together as a scroll?
24 Therefore, repent ye, and humble yourselves before him, lest he shall come out in justice against you—lest a remnant of the seed of Jacob shall go forth among you as a lion, and tear you in pieces, and there is none to deliver.
(Mormon 5:8-24, emphasis mine)

Mormon writes of “the Gentiles who have care for the house of Israel.” I believe he refers to the law of primogeniture or the law of the first born, whereby the first born son is responsible for the temporal and spiritual welfare of his brethren. Joseph who was sold into Egypt was a type for delivering the remaining tribes during the famine. The birthright belongs to Joseph and more specifically to Ephraim. They are the Gentiles who “have care for the house of Israel” and must represent the righteous remnant of Joseph with the righteous of Manasseh, the other tribe from Joseph.
These things will be made known publicly throughout the world. Their distribution extends beyond the Church. As God granted the Gentiles power to scatter and persecute Israel, God empowers Israel and enables them to return the favor, in a manner of speaking.
Mormon states: “knowing that these things must surely be made known, and that all things which are hid must be revealed upon the house-tops—And also that a knowledge of these things must come unto the remnant of these people, and also unto the Gentiles”. Mormon links the day when these writings come forward to both Israel and the Gentiles as “the due time of the Lord”, supporting the thesis the phrase is more than a figure of speech, but actually identifies when all that is hidden is brought to light. The Lord removes His support from unrepentant Gentiles and begins destroying them for rebellion against the truth.
I believe the evidence supports the idea that a righteous remnant from Joseph will “put on thy strength” and empower Zion. Cleansed by the fires of adversity and persecution, they become steeled in righteousness and empowered in their Priesthood. As powerful, humble followers of Christ they “know from whence their blessings come”. Moroni shared the Lord’s promise regarding hidden records to be fulfilled by this righteous remnant:

4 Behold, I have written upon these plates the very things which the brother of Jared saw; and there never were greater things made manifest than those which were made manifest unto the brother of Jared.
5 Wherefore the Lord hath commanded me to write them; and I have written them. And he commanded me that I should seal them up; and he also hath commanded that I should seal up the interpretation thereof; wherefore I have sealed up the interpreters, according to the commandment of the Lord.
6 For the Lord said unto me: They shall not go forth unto the Gentiles until the day that they shall repent of their iniquity, and become clean before the Lord.
7 And in that day that they shall exercise faith in me, saith the Lord, even as the brother of Jared did, that they may become sanctified in me, then will I manifest unto them the things which the brother of Jared saw, even to the unfolding unto them all my revelations, saith Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of the heavens and of the earth, and all things that in them are.
12 And whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do good is of me; for good cometh of none save it be of me. I am the same that leadeth men to all good; he that will not believe my words will not believe me—that I am; and he that will not believe me will not believe the Father who sent me. For behold, I am the Father, I am the light, and the life, and the truth of the world.
13 Come unto me, O ye Gentiles, and I will show unto you the greater things, the knowledge which is hid up because of unbelief.
14 Come unto me, O ye house of Israel, and it shall be made manifest unto you how great things the Father hath laid up for you, from the foundation of the world; and it hath not come unto you, because of unbelief.
15 Behold, when ye shall rend that veil of unbelief which doth cause you to remain in your awful state of wickedness, and hardness of heart, and blindness of mind, then shall the great and marvelous things which have been hid up from the foundation of the world from you—yea, when ye shall call upon the Father in my name, with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, then shall ye know that the Father hath remembered the covenant which he made unto your fathers, O house of Israel.
16 And then shall my revelations which I have caused to be written by my servant John be unfolded in the eyes of all the people. Remember, when ye see these things, ye shall know that the time is at hand that they shall be made manifest in very deed.
17 Therefore, when ye shall receive this record ye may know that the work of the Father has commenced upon all the face of the land.
18 Therefore, repent all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me, and believe in my gospel, and be baptized in my name; for he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned; and signs shall follow them that believe in my name.
19 And blessed is he that is found faithful unto my name at the last day, for he shall be lifted up to dwell in the kingdom prepared for him from the foundation of the world. And behold it is I that hath spoken it. Amen.
(Ether 4:4-7, 12-19, emphasis mine)

The Lord requires a level of faith and righteousness comparable to the Brother of Jared for these records to be brought to light. The righteous remnant of Joseph becomes the most likely candidates to fill this requirement. They are people who shed clouds of darkness formed by centuries of sectarian/religious falsehoods and half truths about the nature of God and his relationship to man. They are people who gain faith through testing and experience, who learn to look for greater light from God. They spurn the arm of flesh. Their righteousness and faith qualify them to receive the greater light that’s been sealed up to come forth in the “due time of the Lord”.
I conclude this chapter with an important caveat regarding the writings of the Brother of Jared. He was endowed with an important gift that relates to his ability to write. Moroni spoke of this gift while lamenting of his own weakness in writing:

23 And I said unto him: Lord, the Gentiles will mock at these things, because of our weakness in writing; for Lord thou hast made us mighty in word by faith, but thou hast not made us mighty in writing; for thou hast made all this people that they could speak much, because of the Holy Ghost which thou hast given them;
24 And thou hast made us that we could write but little, because of the awkwardness of our hands. Behold, thou hast not made us mighty in writing like unto the brother of Jared, for thou madest him that the things which he wrote were mighty even as thou art, unto the overpowering of man to read them.
(Ether 12:23-24, emphasis mine)

When the sealed records are “revealed from the housetops”, included among them are the writings of the Brother of Jared. These records are endowed with extraordinary content that overpowers anyone who reads them. In the face of so great a witness there will be those who, in open rebellion before God, reject them. At that point the Lord’s wrath is justified and their destruction is just and imminent. In contrast, true “Ephraimites” are manifest because they will not rebel and instead emerge as a righteous remnant from Joseph.
I believe a number of descendants from Joseph will elevate their level of righteousness above current levels triggering tandem events of blessing and destruction. The records are brought to light and the Gentiles are compelled to choose between Christ and His kingdom and Satan and his kingdom, Babylon. The gathering of Israel commences when the “ensign” of new scripture is raised and the righteous remnant establishes Zion. The remnant of Joseph builds Zion and assists in shepherding Israel to their inheritance. All of these events combine to establish, “the due time of the Lord”.
What have learned from a topical study of the phrase “Due time of the Lord?” We learn that John the Revelator, as a second “Elias” bears responsibility for directing the gathering of Israel and the restoration of all things. We learn these two events relate to one another and come about in the “Due time of the Lord.” We learn that John is a ministering angel who fulfills his “Elias” mission by ministering to “heirs of salvation” who lay the ground work for the gathering Israel and establishing Zion. Associated with these events is the raising of an “ensign” which becomes a rallying point to those who receive the greater revelations and become disciples of Jesus Christ. When the “ensign” is raised by the Lord’s servant it causes a division in the Church and all mankind between those who accept the new revelation and sanctify themselves and those who refuse to flee from Babylon. From the Church to the general population of the world the knowledge of new revelation is shouted from the housetops and all doubt is regarding the divinity of Jesus Christ and His Gospel is dispelled. This is a gift to the righteous and a curse to those who are unwilling to embrace the truth.
The wicked of Babylon see her great and spacious building beginning to crumble and they exert control upon those attempting to flee. All of these events lie ahead of us and occur in the “Due time of the Lord.’