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RAY - With Joseph Smith's explanation that there would be a Grand Sign right before the Second Coming, do you believe there is a Planet that is now seen by the telescopes just outside the Orion belt? Since Joseph Smith said in our day the scientist would say a planet, comet, is going to hit the earth, but in reality its the Grand Sign.
JOEL - Of that final great sign before His second coming, Jesus said:
"As the light of the morning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west, and covereth the whole earth, so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be. (JS Matt 1:26)"
and in the Doctrine and covenants:
"And immediately there shall appear a great sign in heaven, and all people shall see it together." (D&C 88:93.)
This grand sign is not something that happens a long time before the second coming; it is what will be seen as the second coming is happening.
The Prophet explained in a general conference address in Nauvoo, on 6 April 1843: "There will be wars and rumors of wars, signs in the heavens above and on the earth beneath, the sun turned into darkness and the moon to blood, earthquakes in divers places, the seas heaving beyond their bounds; then will appear one grand sign of the Son of Man in heaven. But what will the world do? They will say it is a planet, a comet, &c. But the Son of Man will come as the sign of the coming of the Son of Man, which will be as the light of the morning cometh out of the east." (HC 5:337)
The grand sign will not actually be a comet or planet that scientist might see in a telescope. The light of the morning coming out of the east will be the light and power that will accompany Jesus as He appears to the world. When the general public (he did not say scientists) sees this light coming from the east, rather than recognize it as the coming of the Lord, they will just think that it is a natural heavenly phenomenon such as a comet or nearing planet. It will not be long before they learn otherwise.
In 1843 someone by the name of Redding claimed to have seen this promised sign. In response to this claim, the Prophet Joseph Smith said: "I shall use my right (as a prophet of God)and declare that, notwithstanding Mr. Redding may have seen a wonderful appearance in the clouds one morning about sunrise (which is nothing very uncommon in the winter season) he has not seen the sign of the Son of Man, as foretold by Jesus; neither has any man, nor will any man, until after the sun shall have been darkened and the moon bathed in blood; for the Lord hath not shown me any such sign." (Teachings, p. 280.) Then the Prophet quoted the famous statement from Amos, "Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets" (Amos 3:7), indicating that when the sign is given, the Lord's servants the prophets, including all the faithful saints, will know it for what it is, and thus be made aware that the long-expected day has arrived.
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