Do the wildfires happening today fulfill prophecy in Jacob 6?

Question

 

Dear Gramps,

In Jacob 6, “the world shall be burned with fire” is mentioned in several verses.  Currently, there are many wildfires around the world.  Is this what Jacob 6 is speaking of?  Or is there going to be some other type of burning?

Christi

 

Answer

 

Christi,

With news reports of devastating wildfires across North America, Europe, Australia, and other parts of the world, it’s understandable why some Latter-day Saints wonder whether these fires are the fulfillment of Jacob’s prophecy that “the world shall be burned with fire.”

Jacob certainly speaks about fire in strong terms. In Jacob 6, he warns people to repent before it is too late:

“For behold, after that ye have been nourished by the good word of God all the day long, will ye bring forth evil fruit, that ye must be hewn down and cast into the fire?” (Jacob 6:7)

Later, he adds:

“O then, my beloved brethren, repent ye, and enter in at the strait gate… until the time cometh that ye shall be burned with unquenchable fire.” (Jacob 6:10)

So, is Jacob talking about the kinds of wildfires we see today? According to the scriptures and teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the answer is no.

Jacob is referring to a future event connected with the Second Coming of Jesus Christ—a worldwide cleansing by divine power, not simply a series of natural disasters.

Throughout the scriptures, prophets consistently teach that before the Millennium begins, the earth will undergo a great cleansing. Fire is one of the symbols—and also one of the means—God will use to remove wickedness from the earth.

The Savior Himself taught:

“For after today cometh the burning—this is speaking after the manner of the Lord—for verily I say, tomorrow all the proud and they that do wickedly shall be as stubble; and I will burn them up.” (Doctrine and Covenants 64:24)

Notice that the Lord isn’t describing ordinary forest fires. He’s speaking about a specific future judgment upon the wicked.

The prophet Malachi gave the same prophecy hundreds of years earlier:

“For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble.” (Malachi 4:1)

The Savior repeated Malachi’s prophecy almost word-for-word when He visited the Nephites (see 3 Nephi 25:1), showing that it applies to His future Second Coming.

Modern revelation gives even more detail. Doctrine and Covenants 101 describes the events surrounding Christ’s return:

“Every corruptible thing… shall be consumed; and also that of element shall melt with fervent heat.” (Doctrine and Covenants 101:24–25)

The Apostle Peter also described this future event:

“The heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also… shall be burned up.” (2 Peter 3:10)

These scriptures point to something far greater than localized wildfires. They describe a worldwide cleansing that prepares the earth for the reign of Jesus Christ.

That doesn’t mean today’s disasters have no significance.

Jesus taught that earthquakes, famines, pestilences, and other calamities would increase before His return (see Matthew 24; Doctrine and Covenants 45). These events are often called “the signs of the times.” They remind us that His coming is drawing nearer.

President Russell M. Nelson has taught that although the last days will become increasingly difficult, our focus should be on spiritual preparation rather than fear. He said:

“During these perilous times of which the Apostle Paul prophesied, Satan is no longer even trying to hide his attacks on God’s plan. Emboldened evil abounds. Therefore, the only way to survive spiritually is to be determined to let God prevail in our lives, to learn to hear His voice, and to use our energy to help gather Israel.”

President Nelson’s counsel reminds us that, while natural disasters may increase, the Lord wants His disciples to prepare spiritually rather than be consumed by fear or speculation.

The earth itself is also described in scripture as needing to be renewed.

Just as people are baptized by water and later receive the baptism of fire through the Holy Ghost, the earth follows a similar pattern. After being cleansed by the Flood in the days of Noah, the earth will someday be cleansed by fire before entering its millennial glory.

President Joseph Fielding Smith explained:

“Christ will come in the day of wickedness, when the earth is ripe in iniquity and prepared for the cleansing, and as the cleanser and purifier he will come, and all the wicked will be as stubble and will be consumed.”

His statement echoes the prophecies of Malachi, Peter, and modern revelation that the future burning is a divine cleansing of the earth in preparation for the Millennium.

Another important point is that many references to fire in scripture are both symbolic and literal.

Fire often represents God’s judgment, His holiness, His presence, and purification. When Jacob warns of being “cast into the fire,” he calls people to repentance before the final judgment. His primary concern isn’t explaining the mechanics of the future destruction but urging people to choose Christ while there is still time.

That message remains just as relevant today.

Whether someone lives near a wildfire or halfway around the world, Jacob’s invitation is the same: repent, come unto Christ, and remain faithful.

It’s also worth remembering that the righteous need not live in fear of these prophecies.

Doctrine and Covenants 38:30 contains one of the Lord’s most comforting promises:

“If ye are prepared ye shall not fear.”

The purpose of prophecy isn’t to frighten us. It’s to help us prepare. The Lord repeatedly reveals future events so His people can hope rather than fear.

So, are today’s wildfires the fulfillment of Jacob 6?

Not according to LDS doctrine.

Wildfires are tragic natural disasters that can remind us we are living in a fallen world and that the signs of the times continue to unfold. But Jacob’s prophecy points to a future, divinely directed cleansing of the entire earth associated with the Second Coming of Jesus Christ and the beginning of the Millennium.

Rather than trying to identify every fire, earthquake, or storm as the fulfillment of a specific prophecy, the scriptures invite us to focus on something much more important: our own discipleship.

Jacob closes his sermon with a loving invitation that still speaks to us today:

“Repent ye, and come with full purpose of heart, and cleave unto God as he cleaveth unto you.” (Jacob 6:5)

That is ultimately the message of Jacob 6. The coming burning of the Earth is real, but it is not meant to cause panic. It is meant to encourage repentance, strengthen faith, and remind us that Jesus Christ is preparing the earth—and His people—for a glorious new beginning when He returns to reign.

 

Gramps