"Tell us, when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?" the disciples asked Jesus. The Savior’s immediate response was "Take heed that no man deceive you." (Matthew 24:3-4.) Throughout history, the Saints of God have asked questions about the Second Coming, the signs of the times, the end of the world, Armageddon, the Millennium, and countless other aspects of the last days. Yet for many, the answers to their questions remain shrouded in confusion and misunderstanding, making the Lord’s response about deception more chilling. In Behold, I Come Quickly: The Last Days and Beyond, Hoyt Brewster looks at the teachings and prophecies of ancient and modern prophets concerning the times we live in now and the times to come. In a clear and straightforward manner, the author discusses dozens of signs of the latter days and examines many specific prophecies about what has happened and what will happen. He talks about preparedness and the Second Coming. Major topics of confusion, such as the gathering of Israel, God and Magog, the restoration of the Ten Tribes, Adam-ondi-Ahman, and the New Jerusalem, are clarified. The end of the world and Satan’s role in the last days are vividly depicted. The author details what the Millennium will be like and what will happen during it. Readers will also find valuable information on the Resurrection and final judgment. Behold, I Come Quickly relies on the scriptures and the teachings of latter-day prophets to create a memorable, easy-to-understand portrait of the last days. Hoyt W. Brewster, Jr., holds a Ph.D. from the University of Southern California and has taught at several universities and in the Church Educational System. He has also been managing director of the Church’s Priesthood Department. The author of several books, including Defining Moments and Doctrine and Covenants Encyclopedia, he has served as a mission president and a stake president. He and his wife, Judy, have five children and live in Salt Lake City. PREFACE Perhaps no topic is as fascinating and at the same time so subject to speculation as that of the end of the world. Christianity associates this event with the second coming of Jesus Christ and the commencement of the thousand-year period of peace known as the Millennium. Other religions also look towards a time when the world as we now know it will no longer exist. The time leading up to the Millennium is known as the last days, a time filled with cataclysmic events and marvelous heavenly manifestations. That we are already living in such a time seems validated by the daily diet of increasing calamities and catastrophes fed to us by the news media. Ancient prophets and apostles recorded their prophecies not only of the disasters and distresses of the last days, but also of the marvelous blessings and wondrous events that would surely come. Sometimes there is such concern for and emphasis on the negative aspects of the last days that the positive prophecies regarding these times are ignored. A modern-day apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, Elder Neal A. Maxwell, has reminded us to maintain a proper perspective: "Yes, there will be wrenching polarization on this planet, but also the remarkable reunion with our colleagues in Christ from the City of Enoch. Yes, nation after nation will become a house divided, but more and more unifying Houses of the Lord will grace this planet. Yes, Armageddon lies ahead. But so does Adam-ondi-Ahman!" (Ensign, November 1981, p. 10.) Thus, while the righteous and the wicked may both suffer the natural consequences coming from calamities associated with the last days, to the righteous the coming of the Lord will be a "great day," while to the wicked it shall be a "dreadful day." (See Malachi 4:5.) The righteous watch for the events foreshadowing the end of the world and the second coming of the Savior, taking whatever precautions they feel are necessary, but they are not in constant disabling distress. Speaking of His return to the earth and the times that would precede it, the Savior said: "Watch therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh." (Matthew 24:42,44.) The purpose of this book is to assist in one s efforts to watch and be ready by identifying the signs and events of the last days. In addition to focusing on the last days and the Second Coming, this book will discuss the revealed events of the Millennium and final destiny of this earth and its inhabitants. In this age there is much speculation regarding the last days. This work avoids the popular yet useless speculative tendency in favor of focusing on the revealed word of God through the scriptures and the teachings of those sustained as prophets, seers, and revelators. Two statements by men sustained in these sacred offices will suffice to set the spiritual tone for the rationale and contents of this book. First, consider the declaration from the tenth prophet and Pres