Another Antichrist ~ Zeezrom

The next Antichrist we encounter was a lawyer by the name of Zeezrom, who practiced law in the City of Ammonihah.  The system of judges was set up by Mosiah to escape the chance of the Nephites being cursed with a wicked king.  But as the court system grew, lawyers began to rise up to interpret the law and to defend in the courts.  These lawyers were paid according to the number of cases they received and, inevitably, some of these men began to go out of their way to stir up trouble, urging one another to take up suit against their brethren. 

Zeezrom was such a lawyer and he stirred up the people against Alma and Amulek, for, in the words of Alma,  the sole purpose to get gain, because they received their wages according to their employ, therefore, they did stir up the people to riotings, and all manner of disturbances and wickedness, that they might have more employ, that they might get money according to the suits which were brought before them. (Alma 11:20)

Zeezrom used words in an attempt to twist the message of Alma and  Amulek, to "make them an offender of a word."  Alma later wrote of Zeezrom that he was  a man who was expert in the devices of the devil, that he might destroy that which was good. (Alma 11: 21) Here is an example of his chicanery in a conversation with Amulek:

• Zeezrom said unto him: Thou sayest there is a true and living God?
• Amulek said: Yea, there is a true and living God.
• Zeezrom said: Is there more than one God?
• And [Amulek] answered, No. (vs. 26-29)

• Zeezrom said again: Who is he that shall come? Is it the Son of God?
• Amulek said unto him, Yea.
• Zeezrom said again: Shall he save his people in their sins?
• Amulek answered and said unto him: I say unto you he shall not, for it is impossible for him to deny his word . . . And I say unto you again that he cannot save them in their sins; for I cannot deny his word, and he hath said that no unclean thing can inherit the kingdom of heaven; therefore, how can ye be saved, except ye inherit the kingdom of heaven? Therefore, ye cannot be saved in your sins (vs. 32-34, 37)

• Now Zeezrom said unto the people: See that ye remember these things; for he said there is but one God; yet he saith that the Son of God shall come, but he shall not save his people—as though he had authority to command God. (v. 35)

Notice a careful reading of these verses shows that Amulek did not say that the Son of God would not save His people: he said that He would not save the in their sins.  Christ doesn't save us in sin but from sin.  Can you see how Zeezrom twisted his words to make him look like a fool or a liar?  The lawyer also took him on about the concept of one God by saying that if there is only, then how can the Son of God also be God?  This is the very question that led the bishops at Nicea astray and set Christianity on a false trajectory for over 1500 years!

But as Alma and Amulek continued to bear pure testimony, some of the people's hearts were pricked.  Strangely enough, Zeezrom was one of those!  He actually began to question the missionaries in sincerity.  The results of this questioning will be discussed tomorrow.

 

Text copyright September 2013, Gebara Education

 

Picture from www.bookofmormonbattles.com