I posted this a few weeks ago, contrasting how Sherem sought a sign in order to believe, and the result served as a sign for the people, bringing them to repentance, but the sign did not benefit Sherem.
Notice the words of Jacob's prayer, found in verse 14:
if God shall smite thee, let that be a sign unto thee that he has power, both in heaven and in earth; and also, that Christ shall come. (Jacob 7)
In this series of posts, Stisa points out that the purpose of the creation is to reunite heaven and earth and prepare the children of men to meet God.
In verse 15, we see what I believe is a subtle mention of "heaven and earth":
15 And it came to pass that when I, Jacob, had spoken these words, the power of the Lord came upon him, insomuch that he fell to the earth.
This miraculous manifestation had an effect on the people who witnessed it:
21 And when the multitude had witnessed that he spake these things as he was about to give up the ghost, they were astonished exceedingly; insomuch that the power of God came down upon them, and they were overcome that they fell to the earth.
Note that the power of God "came down" upon them, indicating its heavenly origin.
Here is a detail I overlooked in my initial post. According to verse 17, when Sherem asked for the people to gather, he:
- "spake plainly unto them and
- denied the things which he had taught them, and
- confessed
- the Christ, and
- the power of the Holy Ghost, and
- the ministering of angels."