Alma also testified of the spirit of prophecy being given to him (v. 47). The fathers had spoken of Jesus Christ who was to come. He was the Son, the only begotten of the Father, full of mercy, grace and truth, who would come to take away the sin of every man who believed in his name (v. 48). “The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (Revelation 19:10).
Alma further testified of his priesthood calling and that it is after the order of him of whom he had just testified, Jesus Christ. His message was to all who dwell in the land, to people of all ages and of all circumstances. The message was that all must be born again (Alma 5:49 emphasis added). The rising generation was apparently mentioned to include those who were yet unborn or who were too young to understand at this time. It is an eternal command for, as Jesus taught, “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). Thus Alma testified that the kingdom of Heaven was soon at hand (Alma 5:50).
Alma’s description of Christ’s coming fits the Second Coming more than the first advent among men. However, Alma is probably speaking of the total time period from Christ’s birth to his Second Coming, but he presents it in reverse order. His glory, majesty, power, and dominion will be shone in his Second Coming, but the King of Heaven was soon to commence his coming among all the children of men by his being born into immortality. From this point of time, the knowledge of him would spread among all the children of men (v. 50). The call to repent is to Alma’s people (v. 51) for, as Amulek later states, “this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God” (Alma 34:32). Alma adds a warning of destruction to his generation for those who do not hearken to the message of the Spirit given to him (v. 52). Amulek gave a similar warning to the people of Ammonihah, whom he called to repentance saying, “then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed” (Alma 34:33). Since Alma was Amulek’s teacher, and both followed the Spirit, the similarity of their messages should be expected.