2 Nephi 6

(All of my own thoughts are in blue type.4/20 green 1/21 orange 4/22 Brown 2023  ) 

CHAPTER 6

Jacob recounts Jewish history: Their Babylonian captivity and return; the ministry and crucifixion of the Holy One of Israel; the help received from the gentiles; and their latter-day restoration when they believe in the Messiah. Between 559 and 545 B.C. Sounds like he goes backwards AND forwards…

  1 The ^awords of Jacob, the brother of Nephi, which he spake unto the people of Nephi:  according to the writing of Nephi, for this is still Nephi's record...

  2 Behold, my beloved brethren, I, Jacob, having been called of God, and ordained after the manner is this ordination like we do it today? of his holy ^aorder, Melchizedek Priesthood and having been consecrated hmmm…how is this different? Is this referring to the Endowment? Or could it mean that Jacob was ordained directly by God himself, but set apart to teach the people by the presiding authority, Nephi? by my brother Nephi, unto whom ye look as a ^bking or a protector, and on whom ye depend for safety, king, protector, safety...they all sound like temporal words. But we also know Nephi was a prophet and spiritual leader and that through revelation and the priesthood he was their guide to spiritual protection as they followed his counsel to keep the commandments. Perhaps, too, we are seeing here that Nephi is delegating some of the spiritual leadership and retaining the political leadership. This could suggest that the population was large enough to warrant this division of duties, which leads one to believe that they might have brought in some "local" people to have become that large in so short a time (just 40 years) which...going back to the skin color change in the last chapter...perhaps the Lamanites also mixed with some "local" people that brought on the darker skin? behold ye know that I have spoken unto you exceedingly many things. He has spoken/taught them many times before this first recorded speech, however, Nephi chooses to record this one. Probably because he loves Isaiah and his teachings reflect those things so close to his heart.

  3 Nevertheless, I speak unto you again; for that is his calling for I am desirous for the ^awelfare of your souls. His motives are pure…no ego involved at all… Yea, mine anxiety is great for you; and ye yourselves know that it ever has been. You might label him as being kind of “passionate” about this…but they know he has always been this way. Mostly he wants them to feel his love for them!  For I have exhorted you with all diligence; "constant and earnest" and I have taught you the words of my father; Lehi and I have spoken unto you concerning all things which are ^bwritten, from the creation of the world. Though Jacob has seen the Lord and had his own great revelations, he chooses (or is directed) to stay with the scriptures and the words of Lehi; to testify of their truth rather than add any additional truths he may have been shown. It is important to note here, that Jacob is Nephi's younger brother. And unlike Nephi's older brothers, Nephi has no problem holding his younger brother up as a great teacher - perhaps even recognizing that Jacob might have made some connections concerning the revelations of Isaiah that Nephi had not made. He will not be proud or arrogant, like Laman and Lemuel and refuse to let his younger brother be as great or greater than himself. He recognizes the great spirituality of his younger brother and is anxious for his people to learn from him and his teachings and insight and testimony and example. At the same time, Jacob will not flaunt his spirituality or hold it over Nephi. He respects Nephi's authority, and does not seek to make himself out to be greater than him by what and how he teaches. Both of their attitudes remind me of Numbers 11:29 by Moses, "would God that all the Lord’s people were ^aprophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit upon them!" And why not? For we are all on the same team! Just wondering here what happened to Jacob's brother Joseph. Do we ever hear mention of him after Lehi gives him his last blessing?

(video: "Same Jersey" Thatcher and Stafford Arizona
It's Friday night-the big rivalry game between two Arizona high school football teams.  The quarterbacks are opponents tonight, and tomorrow one of them will baptize the other into the Church of Jesus Christ.")

  4 And now, behold, I would speak unto you concerning things which are, and which are to come; Because I have already spoken to you of things that are past wherefore, I will read you the words of ^aIsaiah. Because he spoke of both… And they are the words which my brother Nephi has desired that I should speak unto you. Jacob is under Nephi in authority, so he is getting direction from him And I speak unto you for your sakes, that ye may learn and glorify the name of your God. Kind of interesting that the words of Isaiah are SO important, and yet we struggle to understand them. Notice that once we "learn" them, and understand them, that we naturally "glorify God" because of them. Gratitude always follows learning. We read them for what they tell us of our day. These people read them for what they taught for their own day. Can you see both?

  5 And now, the words which I shall read are they which Isaiah spake concerning all the house of Israel; wherefore, they may be ^alikened unto you, for ye are of the house of Israel. And there are many not all, for they are only a small part of the whole house of Israel things which have been spoken by Isaiah which may be likened unto you, because ye are of the house of Israel. All who join the church of God may liken these words to themselves as they become 'adopted' into the house of Israel.

  6 And now, these are the words: ^aThus saith the Lord God: Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my ^bstandard to the people; and they the Gentiles shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders. Having lost the knowledge of the gospel, it will be given to the Gentiles (Americans) and they will teach it to the descendants of Lehi (the Lamanites) and the remnant of the Jews. Wondering if this is still to come. What exactly does this expression mean? Sons in arms...daughters on shoulders...? Kings and Queens that nurse them...I'm quite certain this is still future. Is the 'hand' He lifts the 'end-time servant' and what is the 'standard' He sets up?

  7 And ^akings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers; Does this have endowment language where we are ordained priests and priestesses and kings and queens? they shall bow down to thee with their faces towards the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet; Is this saying those "kings and queens" will bow down to the sons and daughters of these Nephite descendants? Gileadi seems to think it is the unbelieving Gentiles. What does it mean to "lick up the dust of thy feet"? and thou shalt know that ^bI am the Lord; for they shall not be ashamed that ^cwait for me. Who shall not be ashamed? Who is "waiting"? Those who "wait for the Lord" are often ridiculed by others who do not believe He is coming. Think of Noah; Moses; the Nephites before Christ was born. And now we stand at today. Are you among those that are made to feel "ashamed" because you "wait" for His return? Or are you among those that make others feel ashamed because they are actually living and preparing and doing and speaking as one who waits for the Lord to come...soon!

  8 And now I, Jacob, would speak somewhat concerning these words. For behold, the Lord has shown me that those who were at ^aJerusalem, from whence we came, have been ^bslain and ^ccarried away captive. Lehi was shown this too God's promises are always fulfilled. It is significant to understand why God found it important to show these people that what he had told their "father", Lehi, did in fact, come to pass. The impending destruction of Jerusalem was once Lehi's own possible "future"...and because Lehi heeded the word of the Lord, he was saved from participating in the fulfillment of that destruction side of that prophecy. It was important for them to know of that full cycle and to connect all the dots. Keep the commandments → protection; rebel or refuse to repent → destruction or captivity. This audience also have received Lehi's prophecies (and Nephi's) concerning their future and their children' future. They need to believe those prophecies will also be fulfilled. We know, also, that this was written for us. The question remains...which side of the prophecy do you want to be a part of? For it will be fulfilled.

(video: "LDS Church Leaders preparing us for the 2nd Coming of Christ" davidkat99 channel)

  9 Nevertheless, the Lord has shown unto me that they should ^areturn again (back to the Jews) in the future…. And he also has shown unto me that the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, should manifest himself unto them First Coming in the flesh; now you could read this that Christ will be in the flesh when He manifests Himself to them; or...that the people will be in the flesh when Christ manifests Himself to them. If it is the latter, it hearkens to Adam saying "again the the flesh, I shall see God" meaning "this life" and after he should manifest himself they should ^bscourge him and ^ccrucify him, according to the words of the angel who spake it unto me. One of the great messages of the Book of Mormon, is that God speaks to man. He can speak to you in person or through the Holy Ghost. His Son, Jesus Christ can speak to you, personally or through the Light of Christ (your conscience). He can speak to you through angels that can appear to you personally, or in a dream, or a vision, or as a voice in your mind, or through one of his living "angels", which are his disciples here on earth. God speaks to man. President Ezra Taft Benson said we should "seek the face of the Lord, always." To seek his face, is to desire to BE in his presence...literally. The temple endowment teaches us how to do that...in this life! All of these "ways" that God speaks to man remind me of the current emphasis in the church to ask ourselves "How do I hear Him?" This reminds me that all these ways are possible and happening.

  10 And after they have ^ahardened their hearts and ^bstiffened their necks against the Holy One of Israel, behold, the ^cjudgments of the Holy One of Israel shall come upon them. And the day cometh that they shall be smitten and afflicted.  WWII….

  11 Wherefore, after they are driven to and fro, for thus saith the angel, many shall be afflicted in the flesh, and shall not be suffered to ^aperish, because of the prayers of the faithful; are these "faithful" their righteous ancestors? contemporary saints? both?  they shall be scattered, and smitten, and hated; is this some kind of compensation for surviving? nevertheless, the Lord will be merciful unto them, that ^bwhen they shall come to the ^cknowledge of their Redeemer, they shall be ^dgathered together again to the ^elands of their inheritance. Sounds like they have to accept Christ first. This has happened to the degree that the Jews have come to accept Christ as the greatest of all their Rabbi's...One of the most famous Jews right now is Jonathan Cahn, a Messianic Jew:) There might be 500,000 Messianic Jews today...still not very many considering there are over 9 million in Israel and 14 million worldwide. 

  12 And blessed are the ^aGentiles, they of whom the prophet Isaiah has written; for behold, if it so be that they shall repent and fight not against Zion, This makes it sound like the "Gentiles" here are not the members of the church and do not unite themselves to that great and ^babominable church, they shall be saved; I think this is the European Nations. Unfortunately I think they DO unite with the G&A church...for the Lord God will fulfil his ^ccovenants  what covenants did he make to the Gentiles? That if they keep the commandments they will prosper and be protected? I am a Gentile, but also of the tribe of Ephraim of the House of Israel..so is he talking about THAT covenant? which he has made unto his children; and for this cause what cause? To establish and verify the fulfilling of the covenant? the prophet has written these things.

  13 Wherefore, they that fight against Zion and the covenant people Israel and the members of the church today? Is he talking about the New Jerusalem? of the Lord shall lick up the dust of their feet; This refers back to verse 7 and the people of the Lord shall not be ^aashamed. Second time this is said...For the people of the Lord are they who ^bwait for him; for they still wait for the coming of the Messiah. Is he talking about the Jews that are still waiting for the Messiah? Or is he talking about us today, waiting for the Second Coming of Christ?  Even if you do not think Christ will come while you are living…by this second definition…you still wait for him…as if He were coming tomorrow. Even in the New Jerusalem we will still be waiting for the final return of the Messiah.
  14 And behold, according to the words of the prophet, So you can be SURE they will come to pass! the Messiah will set himself again the ^asecond time when was the first time? when He lived among them?to recover them; wherefore, he will ^bmanifest himself unto them in power and great glory, unto the ^cdestruction of their enemies, yeah! How literal is this? Is this before His Second Coming? Is Christ going to manifest himself in such a way that the choice will be more clear before a final destruction? It only seems fair/merciful that there would have to be more knowledge to rebel against before total destruction when is it Armageddon? that day cometh when they shall believe in him; and none will he destroy that believe in him. Is this the promise at that FINAL day? Or during all of God’s destructions….If it is Armageddon, I read only 10% of the Jews survive...

  15 And they that believe not in him shall be ^adestroyed, both by ^bfire, and by tempest, and by earthquakes, and by ^cbloodsheds, and by ^dpestilence, and by ^efamine. And they shall know that the Lord is God, the Holy One of Israel. What a way to gain your testimony. But what of those who "have" a testimony? How do you know if you are among those who "believe in him"? Surely it is not just to profess to follow him, for he warns us in Matt 27: 21-24

21 ¶Not every one that ^asaith unto me, ^bLord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that ^cdoeth the ^dwill of my Father which is in ^eheaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not ^aprophesied in thy name? and in thy ^bname have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works 23 ^aAnd then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: ^bdepart from me, ye that work ^ciniquity. 24 ¶Therefore whosoever ^aheareth these sayings of mine, and ^bdoeth them, ^cI will liken him unto a ^dwise man, which ^ebuilt his house upon ^fa rock: Maybe to "know Him" we have to have "met Him at the gate" where "He employeth no servant". Where He baptizes us with Fire and the Holy Ghost and grants us a remission of sins and we "receive the Holy Ghost" for our constant companion. I believe this is The Doctrine of Christ taught in the Book of Mormon that perhaps we are under condemnation for not believing...I have not received this, but am praying for it!

(Video: "We live in the Days just as the time of Noah; LDS Mormon Prophets and leaders warn and prepare us" davidkat99 channel)

Christ says, those who believe in Him, DO His will. Yet, He says to many who clearly have "DONE" things that look like they are following Him, that He never knew them. WHY? He warns us that many, who are members of His church, will be surprised to find themselves not under this divine protection. To many - who have spent their Sundays teaching of Christ, or may have served missions declaring His gospel; or hold and exercise His priesthood; and have done many 'wonderful things' in His name...He will yet say, "I never knew you." How can this be?

The Parable of the Ten Virgins tells us that it is those who have taken the Holy Spirit as their guide who will be welcomed into the the marriage feast. To be found "believing in Him" is to accept the whispering of the Spirit AS His voice and to believe those promptings and to act on them, trusting that they are indeed from Him. To be found "believing in Him" is to accept the inspired words of His prophets and apostles and to ACT on them. The most recent commandment being, to participate in Missionary Work. Did you believe them? Are you showing you believe them? Because going to church, and teaching your lessons, and saying your prayers don't make up for not believing ALL the words of the prophet, when they are specific and direct. Another example: Pres. Benson said, "storing food may be as important in our day as getting on the ark was for Noah in his day." And he has been quoted by other prophets since the day he said it. If you have not "believed" these words...no amount of other "great works" on your part will make up for not believing this warning from the prophet. We must follow ALL the commandments. And when you feel overwhelmed...you say, as Nephi, "I will go and do...for the Lord will prepare a way..." and then you ACT...diligently and faithfully. Pres. Benson's words are going to be fulfilled and that day is fast approaching. How is your ark looking? It's starting to rain...

  16 ^aFor shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the ^blawful captive delivered?

  17 But thus saith the Lord: Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered; ^afor the ^bMighty God shall ^cdeliver his covenant people. Do you have to be taken captive first to be delivered? For thus saith the Lord: I will contend with them that contendeth with thee— This sounds like the scripture “If the Lord be with us…who can be against us”

  18 And I will feed them that oppress thee, with their own flesh; and they shall be drunken with their own blood as with sweet wine; and all flesh shall know that I the Lord am thy Savior and thy ^aRedeemer, the ^bMighty One of Jacob. “every knee shall bow”  eventually…. we will soon learn to really really LOVE these promises of Isaiah and pray continually that they will be fulfilled. We can pray with faith because the scriptures continually show us that God's promises are always fulfilled.

July 12,2020
2 Nephi 6:12 - 18
12 And blessed are the Gentiles, they of whom the prophet has written; for behold, if it so be that they shall repent and fight not against Zion, and do not unite themselves to that great and abominable church, they shall be saved; for the Lord God will fulfil his covenants which he has made unto his children; and for this cause the prophet has written these things.

13 Wherefore, they that fight against Zion and the covenant people of the Lord shall lick up the dust of their feet; and the people of the Lord shall not be ashamed. For the people of the Lord are they who wait for him; for they still wait for the coming of the Messiah.

14 And behold, according to the words of the prophet, the Messiah will set himself again the second time to recover them; wherefore, he will manifest himself unto them in power and great glory, unto the destruction of their enemies, when that day cometh when they shall believe in him; and none will he destroy that believe in him.

15 And they that believe not in him shall be destroyed, both by fire, and by tempest, and by earthquakes, and by bloodsheds, and by pestilence, and by famine. And they shall know that the Lord is God, the Holy One of Israel.

16 For shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the awful captive delivered?

17 But thus saith the Lord: Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered; or the Mighty God shall deliver his covenant people. For thus saith the Lord: I will contend with them that contendeth with thee—

18 And I will feed them that oppress thee, with their own flesh; and they shall be drunken with their own blood as with sweet wine; and all flesh shall know that I the Lord am thy Savior and thy Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.

These words were written for us and about us. Some key things we need to know about the people of the Lord and those who do not believe in Him.
The People of the Lord -

Repent Am I repenting? – meaning Am I changing?
Do not fight against Zion Do I fight against Zion; the building of it; the idea of it; the counsel of the prophets and apostles?
Do not unite themselves with the Great and Abominable Church Do I recognize who this is? Am I living in both churches?
Have covenants with God Do I keep the covenants I’ve already made?
Shall not be ashamed When persecution comes, do I remember this promise?
Wait for the Coming of the Messiah Am I actively, consciously, openly waiting for the Coming of the Messiah?
The Lord will recover them To be “recovered” do I first have to be lost or in bondage?
The Lord will manifest himself to them in power and great glory This is a great promise for believing/doing the above things
Shall believe in Him If I believe, then I obey. I cannot just say “Lord, Lord”
Shall not be destroyed Man may destroy the body, but they cannot destroy the soul. Only I can yield my soul to the enemy.
The Lord will contend with their enemies This is an important promise to remember. We must have faith, in the face of overwhelming circumstances that God is more powerful than all.

The People who Fight Against Zion and the Covenant People of the Lord

 Shall “lick up the dust of their feet
 Shall be destroyed by The following list are all prophesied. We can prepare temporally, but the most important protection is the above list.
Fire
Tempest

Earthquake
Famine
Pestilence
Bloodshed

Shall know that the Lord is God, the Holy One of Israel No matter how much people fight and protest, the will all still “know” the truth.
 Shall be fed with their own flesh and drunk with their own blood This alludes to the idea that the most evil will be trying to drink the blood and eat the flesh of the Saints, but what they have planned for others, they will suffer – like those who killed Abinadi.

ALL people shall know that Jesus is the Lord and Savior and Redeemer; the Mighty One of Jacob