D&C 87:6 “And thus, with the and by bloodshed the inhabitants of the earth shall ; and with , and plague, and earthquake, and the thunder of heaven, and the fierce and vivid lightning also, shall the inhabitants of the earth be made to feel the wrath, and indignation, and of an Almighty God, until the consumption decreed hath made a full of all ;“
D&C 87:6 – The Wrath and Chastening of God Upon the Nations (December 25, 1832)
Few verses in scripture carry the haunting power and prophetic intensity of Doctrine and Covenants 87:6, revealed on December 25, 1832. In this gripping continuation of the prophecy concerning war and worldwide upheaval, the Lord speaks in apocalyptic tones, forewarning a time when the entire earth will feel the wrath, indignation, and chastening hand of Almighty God. The language is not symbolic poetry—it is a divine declaration that all nations will, eventually, face consequences for their pride, wickedness, and rebellion.
Blood, Fire, and Divine Reckoning
The verse opens with, “And thus, with the sword and by bloodshed the inhabitants of the earth shall mourn.” This is not limited to one battle or even one generation. It speaks of an ongoing condition that has tragically characterized much of modern history—global conflict, civil war, genocide, and suffering. Humanity’s obsession with domination and violence has led to rivers of blood, from the Civil War to the trenches of World War I, the bombed-out cities of World War II, and the countless civil wars and conflicts in between. According to this prophecy, such sorrow is not only a result of human sin but also part of God’s chastening judgment.
Yet, the warning doesn’t stop at warfare. It expands into natural calamity: “with famine, and plague, and earthquake, and the thunder of heaven, and the fierce and vivid lightning also.” This divine forecast paints a picture of the earth itself convulsing under the weight of mankind’s iniquity. Famine and plague have devastated nations, and earthquakes and climate chaos have increasingly disrupted the stability of civilizations. The “thunder of heaven” and “vivid lightning” evoke not just physical storms, but a cosmic unrest, a shaking of foundations both literal and spiritual.
The Chastening Hand of God
The most sobering phrase in this revelation is the assertion that these events are manifestations of “the wrath, and indignation, and chastening hand of an Almighty God.” This is not casual punishment. It is a deliberate, divine effort to call humanity to repentance—to make us “feel” the cost of ignoring truth, forsaking covenants, and choosing conflict over compassion. The prophecy does not delight in destruction; it underscores God’s longing to correct and awaken His children before the “consumption decreed”—the ultimate purging of wickedness—makes “a full end of all nations.” This isn’t merely a prophecy of doom. It is a wake-up call, urging nations and individuals to turn to God before their structures, systems, and societies collapse under the weight of their own corruption. The phrase “a full end of all nations” suggests that no political power, no kingdom or republic, is immune to the consequences of moral decay.
A Prophecy of Warning—And Hope
While D&C 87:6 delivers one of the most forceful warnings in all scripture, it does so with purpose. It reminds us that God is not absent amid chaos, but active—calling, warning, and offering mercy to those who will listen. Though the world may tremble through sword, storm, and sickness, the faithful can stand firm in the knowledge that God sees, God speaks, and God saves. This verse is not simply about destruction; it is about divine justice—and the call to prepare, repent, and seek refuge in the One who holds power over heaven and earth.
