A 20-year Cycle?
My, how time can get away.
I did not intend for a month to pass. But, I've been back in school, taking another two graduate classes. Added to working full-time and a family with four kids. Usually I can squeeze some time in for a post during the day, but January is a very busy time at work. And, of course, the kids bring home illnesses to share. And, the baby isn't sleeping through the night yet, so there is the chronic sleep deprivation.
The short of it is, I decided other things were more important than getting a post in. But I do miss writing.
On to my thoughts...
A few days ago, while reading Alma chapter 51 I had an interesting thought pop into my head. I'm sure it was a whisper of inspiration.
Here's a refresher of the beginning of the chapter:
Alma 51 is after the chief judge Nephihah passes away and the people choose his son Pahoran to take his place as the chief judge and governor of the land. There had been peace, except for a group of people who "desired that a few particular points of the law should be altered" (verse 2).
The problem is they wanted things "altered in a manner to overthrow the free government and to establish a king over the land." (verse 5).
The people became very divided. Those wanting a king were referred to as king-men, and those people were "of high birth, and they sought to be kings; and they were supported by those who sought power and authority over the people." (verse 8).
The issue was put to the people and it was settled in favor of the freemen, or those who wanted to "maintain their rights and the privileges of their religion by a free government" (verse 6).
Of course, those people of "high birth" and who wanted "power and authority over the people" didn't take to lightly to being told no. So, when the Lamanites, under king Amalickiah, attacked again, the king-men refused to support Captain Moroni and the military in defending their freedom.
As I was reading this, I had the thought to look at the date, which was "about 67 B.C.", and then I was reminded that this was not the first time some people tried to change the law, overthrow the freedoms of the land, and establish a king.
I looked back to Alma 2 to find "a very cunning man...a wise man as to the wisdom of the world" named Amlici who also wanted to deprive the people "of their rights and privileges of the church" (Alma 2:4) and to establish Amlici as "a king over the people (verse 2). What year did this take place? In 87 B.C. or about 20 years earlier.
Going ahead about 20 years we don't find another king-men uprising, but we do find some other interesting things.
Helaman chapters 1 and 2, about 52 - 50 B.C., introduces us to the band of Kishkumen and Gadianton, who later becomes leader of the band and they become known as the Gadiantons. Kishkumen had murdered Pahoran (the son of the Pahoran mentioned earlier) in about 52 B.C. The next chief judge, Pacumeni (the brother of Pahoran) is killed when a Lamanite army invades the land. In 50 B.C. Helaman is made chief judge and Kishkumen tries to kill him, but is discovered and killed by the servant of Helaman (Helaman 2:9). Gadianton and his band escape.
Helaman chapter 3 begins with "a little pride which was in the church" but this gets corrected. But then by 46 B.C. "there was much contention and many dissensions" (verse 3) and a lot of people moved to the land northward. There was a lot of new building and commerce going on. And by 44 B.C. "the wars and contentions began to cease, in a small degree" (verse 22).
However, by 43 B.C., the secret combinations of Gadianton had managed to become "established in the more settled parts of the land" (verse 23), and were not known by the government.
This is also a time of "exceedingly great prosperity in the church" (verse 24). The prosperity was so great that he "high priests and the teachers were themselves astonished beyond measure" (verse 24).
Isn't it interesting that as the Gadiantons managed to complete embed themselves into the society, the church as experiencing tremendous growth.
Two years later, 41 B.C., pride began to enter "into hearts of the people of the church" (verse 33). This pride caused persecution within the church.
Before two more years had passed, while there was still peace in the land, there was "exceedingly great pride which had gotten into the hearts of the people...because of their exceedingly great riches and their prosperity" (verse 36).
Within 20 years from the time of Moroni, the Gadiantons had infiltrated the land, without the people knowing it, and the people had become wealthy, prosperous, and very prideful.
Twenty years from about 47 B.C. brings us to Helaman chapter 6. The chief judge at that time, Cezoram, is "murdered by an unknown hand" (verse 15), and also his son, who was chosen to replace him.
At the beginning of 26 B.C., "the people began to grow exceedingly wicked again" and we learn that the Gadiantons are behind the secret combinations throughout the land. A couple years later, the Nephites "did begin to dwindle in unbelief, and grow in wickedness and abominations" (verse 34). And, apparently the various secret combinations were not so secret as the Nephites, as a whole, supported the combinations, and "did build them up and support them, beginning at the more wicked part of them, until they had overspread all the land...and had seduced the more part of the righteous until they had come down to believe in their works and partake of their spoils, and to join with them in their secret murders and combinations" (verse 38).
During this time, the Lamanites had become the more righteous.
Another twenty years, about 7 B.C., we read that the people "did wax stronger and stronger in their pride, and in their wickedness; and were ripening again for destruction" (Helaman 11:37).
But, we need to briefly review the few years prior to 7 B.C.
Back in chapter 6 of Helaman, verse 9, (about 29 B.C.) we read that both the Nephites and Lamanites "became exceedingly rich." This was before the murders of the two chief judges by the Gadiantons.
In chapter 7, some intriguing things begin to happen. This was sometime between 23 and 20 B.C.
Verse 6, the Nephites, particularly in the northern lands, reject the words of Nephi, and he returns to Zaramemla. We learn a little more about the state of wickedness the people are in.
In verse 21 Nephi tells the people straight that they have forgotten God because of their desire for riches and the vain things of the world:
Later in chapter 8 and continuing into 9, Nephi tells the people that their chief judge was murdered (this is the third one in the past 3 to 6 years, the exact time of this exchange in the garden isn't clear), the murderer is discoverd (thanks to Nephi's help), and Nephi is set free.
In Helaman chapter 10, The Lord gives Nephi the sealing power.
Chapter 11 has a quick passing of years.
in 20 B.C., there were "wars through all the land" (verse 1), and it was the Gadiantons who pushed this "work of destruction and wickedness" (verse 2). This lasted for about a year.
Then Nephi prays that a famine would come to stop the destruction "by the sword", and that famine started in 19 B.C. (verse 4).
The famine continued into 18 B.C. and began to get worse (verse 5).
In 17 B.C., the famine got even worse. The ground was dry and crops didn't produce (verse 6). The numbers of people who died as a result of the famine was worse in the "more wicked parts of the land."
Finally, the people were humbled enough that they repented, and went to Nephi and asked him to pray to the Lord to stop the famine. Supposedly they also managed to get rid of the Gadiatons (verse 10).
In 16 B.C., the famine ended (verse 17).
But it was only three years later (13 B.C.) that dissenters from the Nephites and Lamanites separated from the people and became a new band of Gadianton robbers. And this group of robbers increased in numbers and strength.
Why did this gang become so strong and cause so much destruction? Because by 11 B.C. (verse 30), the people had become wicked again (verse 34). And the people, once again, began to forget God (10 B.C.), In 9 B.C. they "began to wax strong in iniquity" (verse 36), and "did not mend their ways" (verse 36) in 8 B.C.
By 7 B.C., (about the 20 year mark) the people "did wax stronger and stronger in their pride, and in their wickedness; and thus they were ripening again for destruction."
As a side note, remember that the Savior was born at the end of 1 B.C. as there is no 0 B.C.
In 6 B.C., Samuel the Lamanite comes into the scene with his prophesies of the Savior, particularly of the Savior's birth in 5 years from that time.
After Samuel's visit to the Nephites, which converted some and angered many others, he left them.
In 5 B.C., we learn (Helaman 16:10) that "the more part of the people remain[ed] in their pride and wickedness." These conditions continued into 4 B.C.
Little changed going into 3 B.C. except "the people began to be more hardened in iniquity, and do more and more of that which was contrary to the commandments of God" (verse 12).
Even with the increasing signs in 2 B.C., "the people began to harden their hearts" except for "the most believing part of them" (verse 15).
By 1 B.C., Satan had "great hold upon the hearts of the people upon all the face of the land" (Helaman 16:23), as he had been able to "harden the hearts of the people against that which was good and against that which should come" (verse 22).
Then the Savior was born, and for awhile the people were righteous. But that didn't last for more than a year before things went quickly downhill again.
As an interesting side note, the Nephites began to "reckon their time" (3 Nephi 2:8) from the sign of the Savior's birth. And it would seem that birth was considered year 1.
By 16 A.D. (about the beginning of the next 20 year cycle), the Gadiantons had once again become very numerous and threatened the people.
From 17 to 22 A.D., the Gadiantons tried to overthrow the people, who had gathered together, repented, and were able to be victorious over the robbers.
By 26 A.D. the people had returned to their lands, after gathering together to fight of the robbers,
In 29 A.D. some of the people began to be "lifted up unto to pride and boastings because of their exceedingly great riches, yea, even unto great persecutions" (3 Nephi 6:10). The "people began to be distinguished by ranks, according to their riches and their chances for learning" (verse 12). And, "there became a great inequality in all the land, insomuch that he church began to be broken up" (verse 14). In other words, most of the members had become apostates from the truth.
After a public complaint against those who were involved with the secret murders, we learn that "almost all the lawyers and high priests" (verse 27) united together.
But, in 3 Nephi chapter 7, the people had become so divided that they actually separated into different tribes (verse 2). While there were wars among the people (verse 5), the "regulations of the government were destroyed, because of the secret combination of the friends and kindreds of those who had murdered the prophets" (verse 6).
The fourth day of the first month of 34 A.D. is when the destruction started. On the other side of the world, the Lord was crucified and in the world mourned, resulting in storms, earthquakes, and other destruction, particularly in the Americas.
So, while this was not quite 20 years from 7 A.D., it is interesting the cycle of approximately 20-ish years.
This not saying there aren't smaller, shorter cycles with the 20 years, because there certainly are. What is interesting is the major events that occur about every 20 years.
I realize these cycles and events are subjective, and other events could be pulled out and used. And I acknowledge that there are not exactly 20 years. The period is more between 18 and 22 years for a closer time frame. And there are often prelude events that begin happening sooner, and which lead into the major events.
From the beginning of the time line I've tried to mark out until the death of the Savior (and his subsequent visit to the Americas) there were about seven 20-year periods. If you add up the 92 years of the reign of judges (from Mosiah to the birth of Christ) and then the 33 years after, there was 125 years. Not evenly divided by 20, but close. But that is also the point. I don't think there is an exact 20-year cycle, it is an approximate, or average, cycle.
So, where are we? Is this cycle applicable in our time?
I think there are still approximate 20 year cycles. Not just in righteousness and wickedness, but in other areas as well. But it is the state of righteousness and wickedness of America that I am wondering about.
Personally, I don't think the entire nation, as a whole, is ripe for destruction. I think it is ripening, and almost ripe.
I think we may be in for a few years of extreme famine, which will probably increase in intensity over about 3 to 4 years.
After that there will probably be a brief year of two where things are better, and then things will get much worse.
If that is the case, I think we are about 5 to 7 years before a very major event, which may be the multiple big natural disaster occurring across the United States within a short time period, and a foreign invasion of America.
One take-away that should be very apparent. The Lord is extremely merciful, forgiving, and long-suffering. On more than one occasion, the Nephites were ripe enough in their iniquities that they could have been destroyed, but they weren't.
I did not intend for a month to pass. But, I've been back in school, taking another two graduate classes. Added to working full-time and a family with four kids. Usually I can squeeze some time in for a post during the day, but January is a very busy time at work. And, of course, the kids bring home illnesses to share. And, the baby isn't sleeping through the night yet, so there is the chronic sleep deprivation.
The short of it is, I decided other things were more important than getting a post in. But I do miss writing.
On to my thoughts...
A few days ago, while reading Alma chapter 51 I had an interesting thought pop into my head. I'm sure it was a whisper of inspiration.
Here's a refresher of the beginning of the chapter:
Alma 51 is after the chief judge Nephihah passes away and the people choose his son Pahoran to take his place as the chief judge and governor of the land. There had been peace, except for a group of people who "desired that a few particular points of the law should be altered" (verse 2).
The problem is they wanted things "altered in a manner to overthrow the free government and to establish a king over the land." (verse 5).
The people became very divided. Those wanting a king were referred to as king-men, and those people were "of high birth, and they sought to be kings; and they were supported by those who sought power and authority over the people." (verse 8).
The issue was put to the people and it was settled in favor of the freemen, or those who wanted to "maintain their rights and the privileges of their religion by a free government" (verse 6).
Of course, those people of "high birth" and who wanted "power and authority over the people" didn't take to lightly to being told no. So, when the Lamanites, under king Amalickiah, attacked again, the king-men refused to support Captain Moroni and the military in defending their freedom.
As I was reading this, I had the thought to look at the date, which was "about 67 B.C.", and then I was reminded that this was not the first time some people tried to change the law, overthrow the freedoms of the land, and establish a king.
I looked back to Alma 2 to find "a very cunning man...a wise man as to the wisdom of the world" named Amlici who also wanted to deprive the people "of their rights and privileges of the church" (Alma 2:4) and to establish Amlici as "a king over the people (verse 2). What year did this take place? In 87 B.C. or about 20 years earlier.
Going ahead about 20 years we don't find another king-men uprising, but we do find some other interesting things.
Helaman chapters 1 and 2, about 52 - 50 B.C., introduces us to the band of Kishkumen and Gadianton, who later becomes leader of the band and they become known as the Gadiantons. Kishkumen had murdered Pahoran (the son of the Pahoran mentioned earlier) in about 52 B.C. The next chief judge, Pacumeni (the brother of Pahoran) is killed when a Lamanite army invades the land. In 50 B.C. Helaman is made chief judge and Kishkumen tries to kill him, but is discovered and killed by the servant of Helaman (Helaman 2:9). Gadianton and his band escape.
Helaman chapter 3 begins with "a little pride which was in the church" but this gets corrected. But then by 46 B.C. "there was much contention and many dissensions" (verse 3) and a lot of people moved to the land northward. There was a lot of new building and commerce going on. And by 44 B.C. "the wars and contentions began to cease, in a small degree" (verse 22).
However, by 43 B.C., the secret combinations of Gadianton had managed to become "established in the more settled parts of the land" (verse 23), and were not known by the government.
This is also a time of "exceedingly great prosperity in the church" (verse 24). The prosperity was so great that he "high priests and the teachers were themselves astonished beyond measure" (verse 24).
Isn't it interesting that as the Gadiantons managed to complete embed themselves into the society, the church as experiencing tremendous growth.
Two years later, 41 B.C., pride began to enter "into hearts of the people of the church" (verse 33). This pride caused persecution within the church.
Before two more years had passed, while there was still peace in the land, there was "exceedingly great pride which had gotten into the hearts of the people...because of their exceedingly great riches and their prosperity" (verse 36).
Within 20 years from the time of Moroni, the Gadiantons had infiltrated the land, without the people knowing it, and the people had become wealthy, prosperous, and very prideful.
Twenty years from about 47 B.C. brings us to Helaman chapter 6. The chief judge at that time, Cezoram, is "murdered by an unknown hand" (verse 15), and also his son, who was chosen to replace him.
At the beginning of 26 B.C., "the people began to grow exceedingly wicked again" and we learn that the Gadiantons are behind the secret combinations throughout the land. A couple years later, the Nephites "did begin to dwindle in unbelief, and grow in wickedness and abominations" (verse 34). And, apparently the various secret combinations were not so secret as the Nephites, as a whole, supported the combinations, and "did build them up and support them, beginning at the more wicked part of them, until they had overspread all the land...and had seduced the more part of the righteous until they had come down to believe in their works and partake of their spoils, and to join with them in their secret murders and combinations" (verse 38).
During this time, the Lamanites had become the more righteous.
Another twenty years, about 7 B.C., we read that the people "did wax stronger and stronger in their pride, and in their wickedness; and were ripening again for destruction" (Helaman 11:37).
But, we need to briefly review the few years prior to 7 B.C.
Back in chapter 6 of Helaman, verse 9, (about 29 B.C.) we read that both the Nephites and Lamanites "became exceedingly rich." This was before the murders of the two chief judges by the Gadiantons.
In chapter 7, some intriguing things begin to happen. This was sometime between 23 and 20 B.C.
Verse 6, the Nephites, particularly in the northern lands, reject the words of Nephi, and he returns to Zaramemla. We learn a little more about the state of wickedness the people are in.
4 And seeing the people in a state of such awful wickedness, and those Gadianton robbers filling the judgment-seats—having usurped the power and authority of the land; laying aside the commandments of God, and not in the least aright before him; doing no justice unto the children of men;Then Nephi prays, and pours out his soul the the Lord. Some people, it says "certain men" (verse 11) which makes me wonder who these men were, heard Nephi praying and gathered a multitude of people. Were these "certain men," some of the lawyers looking to stir up trouble?
5 Condemning the righteous because of their righteousness; letting the guilty and the wicked go unpunished because of their money; and moreover to be held in office at the head of government, to rule and do according to their wills, that they might get gain and glory of the world, and, moreover, that they might the more easily commit adultery, and steal, and kill, and do according to their own wills—
6 Now this great iniquity had come upon the Nephites, in the space of not many years; and when Nephi saw it, his heart was swollen with sorrow within his breast; and he did exclaim in the agony of his soul:
In verse 21 Nephi tells the people straight that they have forgotten God because of their desire for riches and the vain things of the world:
21 But behold, it is to get gain, to be praised of men, yea, and that ye might get gold and silver. And ye have set your hearts upon the riches and the vain things of this world, for the which ye do murder, and plunder, and steal, and bear false witness against your neighbor, and do all manner of iniquity.He further tells them:
22 And for this cause wo shall come unto you except ye shall repent. For if ye will not repent, behold, this great city, and also all those great cities which are round about, which are in the land of our possession, shall be taken away that ye shall have no place in them; for behold, the Lord will not grant unto you strength, as he has hitherto done, to withstand against your enemies.
25 Yea, wo be unto you because of that great abomination which has come among you; and ye have united yourselves unto it, yea, to that secret band which was established by Gadianton!In chapter 8 we learn that there were judges who belonged to the Gadiantons among the people who were listening to Nephi. They stirred up the people against Nephi. Regarding the destruction of their cities Nephi told them would come, they said, "now we know that this is impossible, for behold, we are powerful, and our cities great, therefore our enemies can have no power over us." (verse 6).
26 Yea, wo shall come unto you because of that pride which ye have suffered to enter your hearts, which has lifted you up beyond that which is good because of your exceedingly great riches!
27 Yea, wo be unto you because of your wickedness and abominations!
28 And except ye repent ye shall perish; yea, even your lands shall be taken from you, and ye shall be destroyed from off the face of the earth.
Later in chapter 8 and continuing into 9, Nephi tells the people that their chief judge was murdered (this is the third one in the past 3 to 6 years, the exact time of this exchange in the garden isn't clear), the murderer is discoverd (thanks to Nephi's help), and Nephi is set free.
In Helaman chapter 10, The Lord gives Nephi the sealing power.
Chapter 11 has a quick passing of years.
in 20 B.C., there were "wars through all the land" (verse 1), and it was the Gadiantons who pushed this "work of destruction and wickedness" (verse 2). This lasted for about a year.
Then Nephi prays that a famine would come to stop the destruction "by the sword", and that famine started in 19 B.C. (verse 4).
The famine continued into 18 B.C. and began to get worse (verse 5).
In 17 B.C., the famine got even worse. The ground was dry and crops didn't produce (verse 6). The numbers of people who died as a result of the famine was worse in the "more wicked parts of the land."
Finally, the people were humbled enough that they repented, and went to Nephi and asked him to pray to the Lord to stop the famine. Supposedly they also managed to get rid of the Gadiatons (verse 10).
In 16 B.C., the famine ended (verse 17).
But it was only three years later (13 B.C.) that dissenters from the Nephites and Lamanites separated from the people and became a new band of Gadianton robbers. And this group of robbers increased in numbers and strength.
Why did this gang become so strong and cause so much destruction? Because by 11 B.C. (verse 30), the people had become wicked again (verse 34). And the people, once again, began to forget God (10 B.C.), In 9 B.C. they "began to wax strong in iniquity" (verse 36), and "did not mend their ways" (verse 36) in 8 B.C.
By 7 B.C., (about the 20 year mark) the people "did wax stronger and stronger in their pride, and in their wickedness; and thus they were ripening again for destruction."
As a side note, remember that the Savior was born at the end of 1 B.C. as there is no 0 B.C.
In 6 B.C., Samuel the Lamanite comes into the scene with his prophesies of the Savior, particularly of the Savior's birth in 5 years from that time.
After Samuel's visit to the Nephites, which converted some and angered many others, he left them.
In 5 B.C., we learn (Helaman 16:10) that "the more part of the people remain[ed] in their pride and wickedness." These conditions continued into 4 B.C.
Little changed going into 3 B.C. except "the people began to be more hardened in iniquity, and do more and more of that which was contrary to the commandments of God" (verse 12).
Even with the increasing signs in 2 B.C., "the people began to harden their hearts" except for "the most believing part of them" (verse 15).
By 1 B.C., Satan had "great hold upon the hearts of the people upon all the face of the land" (Helaman 16:23), as he had been able to "harden the hearts of the people against that which was good and against that which should come" (verse 22).
Then the Savior was born, and for awhile the people were righteous. But that didn't last for more than a year before things went quickly downhill again.
As an interesting side note, the Nephites began to "reckon their time" (3 Nephi 2:8) from the sign of the Savior's birth. And it would seem that birth was considered year 1.
By 16 A.D. (about the beginning of the next 20 year cycle), the Gadiantons had once again become very numerous and threatened the people.
From 17 to 22 A.D., the Gadiantons tried to overthrow the people, who had gathered together, repented, and were able to be victorious over the robbers.
By 26 A.D. the people had returned to their lands, after gathering together to fight of the robbers,
In 29 A.D. some of the people began to be "lifted up unto to pride and boastings because of their exceedingly great riches, yea, even unto great persecutions" (3 Nephi 6:10). The "people began to be distinguished by ranks, according to their riches and their chances for learning" (verse 12). And, "there became a great inequality in all the land, insomuch that he church began to be broken up" (verse 14). In other words, most of the members had become apostates from the truth.
15 Now the cause of this iniquity of the people was this—Satan had great power, unto the stirring up of the people to do all manner of iniquity, and to the puffing them up with pride, tempting them to seek for power, and authority, and riches, and the vain things of the world.While there were those who were inspired and preached against the wickedness and sins of the people, there were those who were angry against them. Those "who were angry were chiefly the chief judges, and they who had been high priests and lawyers" (3 Nephi 6: 21). They secretly put to death many of those they were angry with.
16 And thus Satan did lead away the hearts of the people to do all manner of iniquity; therefore they had enjoyed peace but a few years.
After a public complaint against those who were involved with the secret murders, we learn that "almost all the lawyers and high priests" (verse 27) united together.
28 And they did enter into a covenant one with another, yea, even into that covenant which was given by them of old, which covenant was given and administered by the devil, to combine against all righteousness.Once again, (in about 30 A.D.) we see king-men coming back into the scene, conspiring to take away the freedoms of the people.
29 Therefore they did combine against the people of the Lord, and enter into a covenant to destroy them, and to deliver those who were guilty of murder from the grasp of justice, which was about to be administered according to the law.
30 And they did set at defiance the law and the rights of their country; and they did covenant one with another to destroy the governor, and to establish a king over the land, that the land should no more be at liberty but should be subject unto kings.
But, in 3 Nephi chapter 7, the people had become so divided that they actually separated into different tribes (verse 2). While there were wars among the people (verse 5), the "regulations of the government were destroyed, because of the secret combination of the friends and kindreds of those who had murdered the prophets" (verse 6).
7 And they did cause a great contention in the land, insomuch that the more righteous part of the people had nearly all become wicked; yea, there were but few righteous men among them.And this is essentially how the people continued to be over the next three years. And, while there was some peace, in that there was no war, the people's "hearts were turned from the Lord their God, and they did stone the prophets and did cast them out from among them" (3 Nephi 7:14).
8 And thus six years had not passed away since the more part of the people had turned from their righteousness, like the dog to his vomit, or like the sow to her wallowing in the mire.
The fourth day of the first month of 34 A.D. is when the destruction started. On the other side of the world, the Lord was crucified and in the world mourned, resulting in storms, earthquakes, and other destruction, particularly in the Americas.
So, while this was not quite 20 years from 7 A.D., it is interesting the cycle of approximately 20-ish years.
This not saying there aren't smaller, shorter cycles with the 20 years, because there certainly are. What is interesting is the major events that occur about every 20 years.
I realize these cycles and events are subjective, and other events could be pulled out and used. And I acknowledge that there are not exactly 20 years. The period is more between 18 and 22 years for a closer time frame. And there are often prelude events that begin happening sooner, and which lead into the major events.
From the beginning of the time line I've tried to mark out until the death of the Savior (and his subsequent visit to the Americas) there were about seven 20-year periods. If you add up the 92 years of the reign of judges (from Mosiah to the birth of Christ) and then the 33 years after, there was 125 years. Not evenly divided by 20, but close. But that is also the point. I don't think there is an exact 20-year cycle, it is an approximate, or average, cycle.
So, where are we? Is this cycle applicable in our time?
I think there are still approximate 20 year cycles. Not just in righteousness and wickedness, but in other areas as well. But it is the state of righteousness and wickedness of America that I am wondering about.
Personally, I don't think the entire nation, as a whole, is ripe for destruction. I think it is ripening, and almost ripe.
I think we may be in for a few years of extreme famine, which will probably increase in intensity over about 3 to 4 years.
After that there will probably be a brief year of two where things are better, and then things will get much worse.
If that is the case, I think we are about 5 to 7 years before a very major event, which may be the multiple big natural disaster occurring across the United States within a short time period, and a foreign invasion of America.
One take-away that should be very apparent. The Lord is extremely merciful, forgiving, and long-suffering. On more than one occasion, the Nephites were ripe enough in their iniquities that they could have been destroyed, but they weren't.
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