By Frank M. Keele

I have pondered Joseph Smiths prophecy of the rainbow for many years and even wrote a book entitled “A year with no rainbow” and so I’ve collected a number of Joseph Smith quotes on this topic. But recently my thought have turned more to the cause than to the year, realizing that there’s got to be a cause or affect that influences atmospheric conditions in some way and so the following quote from the prophet has helped me see things differently:

Joseph Smith also says, “The Lord hath set the bow in the cloud for a sign that while it shall be seen, seed time and harvest, summer and winter shall not fail; but when it shall disappear, woe to that generation, for behold the end cometh quickly” (Joseph Fielding Smith, “Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith,” Section Six 1843-44).

In this statement Bro Joseph doesn’t use the Y word at all and the problem with the Y word is that you will most likely interpret this prophecy based on your own concept of what a year is… and when it starts and ends. For example, if you think in terms of the Gregorian calendar you would come to one conclusion but if you think in terms of the Hebrew calendar (Jewish calendar), you would come to a completely different conclusion. So we are going to focus on the cause today rather than a calendar and we will be looking for our answers in the standard works.

Our first passage is from Rev. 6 where we read:

12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;

13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.

14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.

15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;

16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:

17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

This passage serves our purpose well because we learn that late in the “sixth seal” there is to be “a great earthquake” that will darken the sun and turn moon blood red… and in this case, “every mountain and island were moved out of their places” which we would expect to trigger numerous volcanic reactions causing megatons of material be cast up into the upper atmosphere… So, no sun, no rainbow… this event could easily be the cause we are looking for, don’t you think?

The other thing we learn here is that many classes of people “hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains” saying, “hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb… For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” So it’s pretty obvious that the folks who see these signs will have reason to believe the Lord is about to appear. Are you starting to see the connection here… earthquake = darkness = the Lord comes… earthquake = darkness = no rainbow = the Lord comes.

We now go to section 88 where we get yet another view of this sequence, we read:

87 For not many days hence and the earth shall tremble and reel to and fro as a drunken man; and the sun shall hide his face, and shall refuse to give light; and the moon shall be bathed in blood; and the stars shall become exceedingly angry, and shall cast themselves down as a fig that falleth from off a fig tree.

88 And after your testimony cometh wrath and indignation upon the people.

89 For after your testimony cometh the testimony of earthquakes, that shall cause groanings in the midst of her, and men shall fall upon the ground and shall not be able to stand.

90 And also cometh the testimony of the voice of thunderings, and the voice of lightnings, and the voice of tempests, and the voice of the waves of the sea heaving themselves beyond their bounds.

91 And all things shall be in commotion; and surely, men’s hearts shall fail them; for fear shall come upon all people.

92 And angels shall fly through the midst of heaven, crying with a loud voice, sounding the trump of God, saying: Prepare ye, prepare ye, O inhabitants of the earth; for the judgment of our God is come. Behold, and lo, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

93 And immediately there shall appear a great sign in heaven, and all people shall see it together.

We read from verse 87 that “the earth shall tremble and reel to and fro as a drunken man; and the sun shall hide his face, and shall refuse to give light; and the moon shall be bathed in blood” which is exactly the same circumstances that we read about in Rev 6:12. And verses 88-93 give us additional light and understanding regarding this sequence, with verse 93 being the sign of the Son of Man.

When we compare verse 92 to Rev. 6:15-17 above, it’s not difficult at all to see why they hide in the rocks and caves because angels are announcing the Lord’s coming… this is how they know what is about to happen.

We can say for certain that the events portrayed in these two passages above lead directly to the Lord appearance, as does the disappearance of the rainbow… and it doesn’t require a huge stretch to believe that they are all related, does it?

So, when the events that cause the rainbow to disappear unfold, we will know that the Lord is about to make His appearance and that He will come within a years time… Joseph Smith says, “but when it shall disappear, woe to that generation, for behold the end cometh quickly” which could even mean that it will be much less than a year… but for sure the world will see associated trials and tribulations… as Joseph Smith says, “woe to that generation”… and then the Lord will come.