O Jerusalem thou Hast Drunken the Dregs of the Cup of Trembling Wrung out

Bryan Richards

For a graphic description of the punishments which Jerusalem has suffered, see the commentary for 2 Nephi 6:10. Elder McConkie gives a good overview of the two main scriptural events in which the Jews are forced to drink the dregs of the trembling cup.

Bruce R. McConkie

"Daniel spoke prophetically of a day when there would be ‘the abomination that maketh desolate’ (Dan. 11:31; 12:11), and the phrase was recoined in New Testament times to say, ’the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet.’ (Matt. 24:15.)….
"…These conditions of desolation, born of abomination and wickedness, were to occur twice in fulfilment of Daniel’s words. The first was to be when the Roman legions under Titus, in 70 A.D., laid siege to Jerusalem, destroying and scattering the people, leaving not one stone upon another in the desecrated temple, and spreading such terror and devastation as has seldom if ever been equalled on earth. Of those days Moses had foretold that the straitness of the siege would cause parents to eat their own children and great loathing and evil to abound. (Deut. 28.)
"And of the same events our Lord was led to say: ’For then, in those days, shall be great tribulation on the Jews, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, such as was not before sent upon Israel, of God, since the beginning of their kingdom until this time; no, nor ever shall be sent again upon Israel. And except those days should be shortened, there should none of their flesh be saved.’ (Jos. Smith 1:12-20.)
“Then, speaking of the last days, of the days following the restoration of the gospel and its declaration ’for a witness unto all nations,’ our Lord said: ’And again shall the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, be fulfilled.’ (Jos. Smith 1:31-32.) That is: Jerusalem again will be under siege (‘For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle’); again the severity of the siege and the extremities of brutal conflict, born of wickedness and abomination, will lead to great devastation and desolation (’and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity’). (Zech. 14.) It will be during this siege that Christ will come, the wicked will be destroyed, and the millennial era commenced.” (Mormon Doctrine, p. 12)

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