Institute

Deng Galuak, Erin Palmer, Nicole and Neil Forie, Phuti Rukia and Latando Matanda, Elder Stokoe's PEF student
Deng, Phuti and Latando all attend Nelson Mendela University

We concluded the year with the Book of Revelations. I spent a lot of time researching the four horses of the apocalypse and discovered that they do not come in our day but appeared in earlier dispensations.  Sorry Wendy Alex, but you are wrong.  (She is the author of the popular "Brother's Series" which claims the four horsemen will come in our day.)  It's such a blessing to have additional scripture or we would be as confused about the Book of Revelations as the rest of the world.

Basically John had a vision on a Sunday some 2,000 years ago.  Banished to  the Isle Patmos, he saw the Savior (described in Revelations 1:14-16.)  He came in glory riding a  White horse.  He that sat upon him was called Faithful and Truth leading an army.  All on white horses.   (Revelations 19; 11-16)  He will conqueror evil.   Jesus Christ was the only one able to break the seals of the books that described the history of the earth.

First Seal – 4,000 to 3,000 B.C. In this period John saw someone on a white horse (emblem of victory); who had a bow (weapons of war); wearing a crown (the garland or wreath of a conqueror) and who went forth conquering and was victorious.  Perhaps the rider on this white horse was Enoch, general over the armies of the saints in his day.  (See Revelations 7:13-17 & Moses 7:13-17).

Second Seal – 3,000 to 2,000 B.C.  Red Horse - Noah’s day.  The earth  was corrupt and filled with violence and wickedness. (See Moses 8:22, 28, 29, 30)

Third Seal – 2,000 to 1,000  Black horse - famine and hunger with scales in hand to weigh the grain, of which there was very little. Abraham's brother died of hunger.  He built an alter and prayed that the famine might be turned away.  Then he went to Egypt where the famine continued.  There was grievous hunger. (Abraham 2; 17-21.)

Fourth Seal – 1,000 B.C. to the meridian of time.  God’s people (the Jews) were warring among themselves.  .  .  The Pale Horse is death - Revelations 6:8 describes how men were killed by the sword,  hunger and wild beasts. The temple in Jerusalem was destroyed.  The Jews were dispersed and one fourth of the people on the earth died.    

Fifth Seal – 1,000 A.D.  Birth of Christ. The spread of Christianity followed by the apostasy which I described in "The Mormon Waldensians,"at dianestokoe.com.  John's vision opened with the Lord's council to the seven churches in Asia in his day.  But these instructions applies to our time.  This was the age of Christian martyrs.  

Sixth Seal – 1,000 A.D. to the present – We are living in the last days of the sixth seal when Christ's church was restored by the prophet Joseph Smith.  The Book of Mormon came forth.  Heavenly messengers helped restore the priesthood.  Elias is a title which represents the angels who came. 

Little Book - The gathering of the tribes of Israel. Revelations 10:1-2.  I'm still working on this.

During the Millennium:

Woman with a baby – Revelations 12:1-7  (55-24) p. 462.  Joseph Smith translation:  Woman clothed with the sun and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of 12 stars. . .  The woman,  representing the church of God, "was delivered of her pains, and brought forth the kingdom of our God and his Christ.” I ran into difficulty here so passed the baton to Elder Sherbert who explained by reading the words from modern prophets which are found online at gospeldoctrine.com. 

Harlot riding on a beast is Satan’s kingdom which includes any and all institutions that support and promote wickedness throughout the world.

Lake of Fire = man’s torment.  Everyone condemns themselves by the way they live.  “The saddest words of tongue and pen are alas, it might have been. “  Free agency will exist during the millennium. Not everyone who survives the burning will be members of the church. 

"After Christ comes, all the peoples of the earth will be subject to him but there will be multitudes of people on the face of the earth who will not be members of the Church; yet all will have to be obedient to the laws of the kingdom of God, for it will have dominion upon the whole face of the earth.  These people will be subject to the political government, even though they are not members of the ecclesiastical kingdom which is the Church."  p. 462 The Life and Teachings of Jesus & his Apostles. Published by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, SLC, Utah.  Copyright 1979.

At the end of class the students had a party.  They brought refreshments and presented a card in which each had written a message,

Deng wrote:  "Thanks for teaching us Institute.  It has strengthtened me spiritually and I have learnt a lot.  I am indeed very grateful for the help, care and love you have accorded me.  You were and are always so cheerful.  Thanks for the wonderful meals and company.  I will always remember you.  I also won't forego the first words I heard from you sister Stokoe, "You don't have the keys of the kingdom!" was funny.  May God bless the two of you and your family.  Farewell, Yours Deng Gatlak.  (He graduates in January and will go home to South Sedan.  Thankfully he can attend the branch in Juba.)

Erin wrote:  "Thanks so much for all the love and effort you have put into teaching us throughout the year.  My testimony has grown so much in the gospel because of it.  Thank you for helping me with all the catch-u work in order to qualify.  It is very much appreciated.  (Erin is in drama and missed classes because she had to attend rehearsals.)

Phuti wrote:  Thank you Sister & Elder Stokoe for the lessons, may you be greatly blessed for your service.  You guys are truly wonderful.  I wish you and your family happiness.  Safe journey home.  Lots of love Phuti.

Nicole wrote:  Thank you for everything you have taught us and for taking the time to get to know us and thank you for preparing such good lessons.

Neil wrote:  Thank you Elder and Sister Stokoe for teaching us insititute this year.  I always apreciate the enthusiasm in which our lessons were taught.  I felt the spirit a few times.  Travel safely back home.  Lot of love, Neil.

They concluded by quoting 2 Nephi 25:26,  "And we talk of Christ, we rejoince in Christ, and we write according to our prophecies that our children may knowto what source they may look for a remission of their sins."

I love these kids.  I'm very happy that P.E. Stake has formed a Young Adult Branch at NMU in September.  I  forwarded this and the post on social media to each of them.  Both describe how quickly all the prophecies in the Book of Revelations are coming to pass in our day.