Jacob 5

In this chapter, Jacob quotes the teachings of the prophet Zenos of the allegory of the tame and wild olive trees. I'm gonna try to make this as painless as possible. First let's start with a picture illustrating visits.

Now the symbolism through the chapter

Hope you can read that! Jacob introduces Zenos words that start with Zenos telling who he is speaking to, to listen to his likening of the house of Israel to a olive tree, because he is a prophet (v1-3).

Let's take this chapter in sections by each visit. The first we will call "The scattering of Israel" which is before Christ and in v4-14. I'm going to speak without the analogy if you don't mind. So the first time he observes or 'visits' the house of Israel, Christ sees the beginning of wickedness and works to persuade the people to be good (v4-5). New groups begin to show promise but some old stubborn ones are burned with the judgement of God (v6-7). Christ will be happy if he has saved some people so his commands are followed by the 'servant' *who I suppose to be the Holy Ghosts, prophets, and in general the laws of nature that make it happen* (v8-11). Christ continues to watch the world as it goes along it's path and brings non-Israelites into the mix to try to help them while separating others (v12-14). 

Second visit is called the "The Time of Christ" because he actually is born and comes to Earth in the analogy (v15-28). Christ comes and sees good lives being led by the people who were added to the house of Israel (v15-18). Some people he lead to poor ground are also living righteously because they have been humbled from before (v19-22). Other groups were sent to be humbled even more, but in each situation Christ nourishes and protects them despite their situation to produce good men (v23-24). A group that didn't have it so bad only has some good men, even being nourished, and the wicked will be judged and burned, but as a whole they will not be destroyed (v25-28).

Third visit is called "The Great Apostasy" and is quite sad (v29-49). The end is coming soon so and as Christ is watching over certain groups of people to see how they are doing (v29). The house of Israel has many different fruit but none are good because those people he brought in has overrun the strong beginnings and covenants (v30-37). The other groups have also become corrupt and corrupted the good people (the last is the one I think of as the decendents of Lehi because it is choice ground) which makes Christ sorrowful (v38-43). Despite all the care and guidance The Lord has given the people they have become evil and he is planning on giving up but is convinced to spare a little longer (v44-51).

The last 'visit' is called "The Gathering of Israel" (v50-77) because it is what The Lord does to prepare for the end of the world. Basically he removes the most wicked of the people and brings everyone back together under the same covenants he gave originally to the house of Israel (v52-60). Being a part of the gospel gives us the chance to be under the covenants made of old. The Lord is calling more servants to come and do his work to persuade everyone to be obedient because this is the last chance anyone will have (v61-65). The Lord speaks of having the roots and branches being equal in strength that they are balanced so the good can over come the bad (v66-69). The servants who are called will have joy in the good fruit produced in the end (v70-76).

The ending is one of warning. The wicked are cast out and burned, there is a time during the millennium that there will be no wicked, but in v77 it says that there will be evil fruit again and in the end everyone will be gathered. Those who are good are kept and those who are evil and cast away. 

I want to bare my testimony about the love God has for us. If He could, He would have all of us return to Him. But those wicked that are cast off are done because He is a just God. He is also a merciful God who made a way for us to repent of our sins and be clean. Christ's atonement applies to everyone! First offenders or life long sinners. The love of God can change you if you let it.