Assyrian Assault

So far, we have considered the various reasons for the destructions that came upon the Nephites, and we have compared their degenerate situation with the wickedness we see among the Gentiles today. Now we are ready to look at the results of the Nephites' rebellion--the chastening destructions themselves--and correlate them with the prophecies of that which is to come in our day.

The Picture the Prophecies Paint

In the Savior's prophecy in Third Nephi 21, he said that when the Father shall "^a.work a work, which shall be a great and ^b.marvelous work..., there shall be ^c.among them [the Gentiles] those who ^d.will not believe it, ^e.although a man shall declare it unto them." (3 Ne. 21:9.) Compare that wording with this latter-day prophecy in Habakkuk: "Behold ye ^c.among the heathen [the Gentiles]..., and ^b.wonder marvelously: for I will ^a.work a work in your days, which ye ^d.will not believe, ^e.though it be told you." (Hab. 1:5.) Due to the evident similarity in these two references--which both talk about the latter days--could we presume that they point to the same thing? To what unbelievable thing might they refer?

The next verse in the Habakkuk prophecy continues, "For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwelling places that are not theirs." (1:6.) In the remaining verses of this chapter, the Lord describes a dreadful invasion that apparently is yet to come.

He describes the aggressive nation as "terrible and dreadful...." (Hab. 1:7.) He says their "horses [a symbol of war, conquest, and military power]⁽¹⁾ are swifter than leopards and are more fierce than evening wolves...." (1:8.) These raiders, which "shall come from far..., shall fly as the eagle that hasteth to eat." (1:8.) This suggests the great speed of the attacking forces. "They shall come all for violence...; [and] they shall deride every stronghold." (1:9,10.) So apparently the targets will be largely military. Then using imagery that seems to depict a nuclear explosion, the Lord says, "...They shall heap dust...." (1:10.) At last, even though the "mighty God" (1:12)--who uses the wicked to punish the wicked (Morm. 4:5)--"hast ordained them for judgment" (Hab. 1:12), this aggressor shall "offend, imputing this his power unto his [own] god." (1:11.)

The outline painted here by the Lord fills in with greater detail as we compare it with other prophecies. Due to the gravity of this event, apparently many prophets have described it--at great length in many instances. Appendix I lists eighteen chapters, representing twelve different prophets, that seem to foretell this event. This appendix also illustrates the abundant and astounding correlations between these different chapters. Today, we have an advantage in discerning the meaning of these ancient prophecies. Nephi said, for example, that men will be able to understand Isaiah's prophecies "of a surety, at the times when they shall come to pass." (2 Ne. 25:7.) "Wherefore," he continued, "I know that they shall be of great worth unto them in the last days...." (25:8.)

Isaiah 10 (also found in Second Nephi 20) apparently prophesies of this same event spoken of in Habakkuk 1 and Third Nephi 21. In it the Lord apparently uses "Assyrian" instead of "Chaldean"⁽²⁾ as a metaphor for the modern nation that will do the treading. Resembling the prophecy in Habakkuk, the Lord identifies the Assyrian as "the rod of mine anger...." (Isa. 10:5.) He says the "desolation...shall come from far...." (10:3.) He also tells us that the leader of this nation shall boast, "By the strength of my hand I have done it...." (10:13.)

Adding new insight, Isaiah's prophecy names the target of this attack as "an hypocritical nation" (10:12), "mount Zion" (10:12), and "Zion" (10:24). The Lord labels this nation's inhabitants "the people of my wrath..." (10:6).