D&C 87

Section Overview

What happens in D&C 87

Received December 25, 1832 (Christmas Day), in Kirtland, Ohio. Known as the 'Prophecy on War,' this revelation foretold the American Civil War beginning in South Carolina nearly 30 years before it happened. It further prophesied that wars would spread from nation to nation until war would be poured out upon all nations, accompanied by famine, plague, earthquake, thunder, and lightning.

Scripture

The Civil War Prophecy

Study note

Wars beginning with the rebellion of South Carolina are foretold. The Southern States will call upon Great Britain for aid, and Britain will call upon other nations. War will be poured upon all nations.

1 Verily, thus saith the Lord concerning the wars that will shortly come to pass, beginning at the rebellion of South Carolina, which will eventually terminate in the death and misery of many souls;

2 And the time will come that war will be poured out upon all nations, beginning at this place.

3 For behold, the Southern States shall be divided against the Northern States, and the Southern States will call on other nations, even the nation of Great Britain, as it is called, and they shall also call upon other nations, in order to defend themselves against other nations; and then war shall be poured out upon all nations.

4 And it shall come to pass, after many days, slaves shall rise up against their masters, who shall be marshaled and disciplined for war.

Global Calamity and the Lord's Judgment

Study note

Slaves will rise against masters. Famine, plague, earthquake, and the wrath of God will be felt until the inhabitants of the earth are made to feel the full extent of divine indignation. The Saints are to stand in holy places.

5 And it shall come to pass also that the remnants who are left of the land will marshal themselves, and shall become exceedingly angry, and shall vex the Gentiles with a sore vexation.

6 And thus, with the sword and by bloodshed the inhabitants of the earth shall mourn; and with famine, and plague, and earthquake, and the thunder of heaven, and the fierce and vivid lightning also, shall the inhabitants of the earth be made to feel the wrath, and indignation, and chastening hand of an Almighty God, until the consumption decreed hath made a full end of all nations;

7 That the cry of the saints, and of the blood of the saints, shall cease to come up into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth, from the earth, to be avenged of their enemies.

8 Wherefore, stand ye in holy places, and be not moved, until the day of the Lord come; for behold, it cometh quickly, saith the Lord. Amen.

Key Themes

Themes in D&C 87

Prophetic foreknowledge of the Civil WarWars spreading across all nationsFamine plague and earthquake as signs of judgmentStanding in holy places as protectionThe fulfilled prophecy validates Joseph's calling

Scripture Connections

How this section connects to Christ

D&C 87 1-3 Matthew 24:6-7

The prophecy of wars spreading from nation to nation fulfills Christ's Olivet discourse prediction that nation would rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom as signs of the last days.

D&C 87 5-6 Revelation 6:3-8

The sequence of war, famine, plague, and death echoes the four horsemen of Revelation, where conquest, war, famine, and death ride forth as divine judgments upon the earth.

D&C 87 8 Revelation 18:8

The complete consumption of the wicked parallels Revelation's description of Babylon's judgment coming in a single day—death, mourning, and famine—for strong is the Lord God who judges.

Apply This Today

Living D&C 87

This is one of the most dramatically fulfilled prophecies in modern scripture. Delivered 28 years before Fort Sumter, it named South Carolina as the starting point of rebellion and correctly predicted the cascading global wars that would follow. We live in the era this prophecy describes—a world of escalating conflicts, natural disasters, and global instability. The Lord's counsel to 'stand in holy places' is our anchor in these turbulent times. We cannot control world events, but we can choose where we stand spiritually. Our homes, temples, and congregations become our holy ground when the world shakes.

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