2 Nephi 25

(All of my own thoughts are in red type.5/20 Green 2/21Orange 5/22 Brown 2023)

Chapter 25

Nephi glories in plainness—Isaiah’s prophecies will be understood in the last days—well, here we are in the "last of the last days". Do we understand Isaiah's prophecies yet? Will we understand them before or after they come to pass? Gileadi has done a great work sharing the meaning of Isaiah! The Jews will return from Babylon, crucify the Messiah, and be scattered and scourged—They will be restored when they believe in the Messiah We all will be restored when we believe in the Messiah - truly believe—He will first come six hundred years after Lehi left Jerusalem—The Nephites keep the law of Moses and believe in Christ, who is the Holy One of Israel. About 559–545 B.C.

  1 Now I, Nephi, do speak somewhat concerning the words which I have written, which have been spoken by the mouth of Isaiah. For behold, Isaiah spake many things which were hard for many of my people to understand; for they know not concerning the manner of prophesying among the Jews. And Nephi knows that we don't know it either, so why does he include so much Isaiah knowing it's for our benefit? Does he know that the Spirit will teach us? or that some other person will come forward to teach us? Considering we have these same words from Isaiah in the Old Testament...why did Mormon, who saw our day, and that we would have the Old Testament, think it important that we have so much of his words again? Is it a second witness? Are these some of what the Lord referenced when he said we'd taken the Book of Mormon lightly? Doctrine & Covenants 84:54 And your minds in times past have been darkened because of unbelief, and because you have treated lightly the things you have received—55 Which vanity and unbelief have brought the whole church under condemnation.56 And this condemnation resteth upon the children of Zion, even all.57 And they shall remain under this condemnation until they repent and remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon and the former commandments which I have given them, not only to say, but to do according to that which I have written. Why is the Book of Mormon called the "new covenant"? Is it the Sermon on the Mount? The Doctrine of Christ (including Baptism by Fire)? What are the "former commandments"? Is it what is given in the Bible? 
  2 For I, Nephi, have not taught them many things concerning the manner of the Jews; for their works were works of darkness, and their doings were doings of abominations. In vs 1 he says they didn't know concerning the manner of prophesying. In vs 2 he says he didn't teach them about other "manners" of the Jews either, because there were so many "manners" that were evil. I wonder why he steered clear of this? Meaning, why didn't he teach them about that part of their history as an example of what not to do? And could he not teach about the "manner" that was necessary to understand Isaiah without teaching about the other "manners" that were not good?
  3 Wherefore, I write unto my people, unto all those that shall receive hereafter these things which I write, that's us  that they may know the judgments of God, that they come upon all nations, according to the word which he hath spoken. The Book of Mormon is a Witness and a Warning. We must know and believe that judgment is coming to our nation. This is part of our condemnation spoken of D&C 84. We have treated lightly the testimony of all the prophets that judgement is coming to our nation. We have not heeded the warnings and have been swept up in the things of the world.
  4 Wherefore, hearken, O my people, which are of the house of Israel, and give ear unto my words; for because the words of Isaiah are not plain unto you, nevertheless they are plain unto all those that are filled with the spirit of prophecy. But I give unto you a prophecy, according to the spirit which is in me; wherefore I shall prophesy according to the plainness which hath been with me from the time that I came out from Jerusalem with my father; for behold, my soul delighteth in plainness unto my people, that they may learn. I do not feel that our leaders have taught us “in plainness” during this pandemic about what is really going on. If they have, then what they have taught is that we should just be a “good citizen” and do what we are told and believe what we are told. To me, this is plainly not teaching the truth. They were really good to teach spiritual truths about what to do with the extra time the pandemic may have given us, but no guidance about the Secret Combination threat, except one talk by Elder Bednar to a legal group of people about religious rights to worship...
 5 Yea, and my soul delighteth in the words of Isaiah, for I came out from Jerusalem, and mine eyes hath beheld the things of the Jews, and I know that the Jews do understand the things of the prophets, and there is none other people that understand the things which were spoken unto the Jews like unto them, save it be that they are taught after the manner of the things of the Jews.  Part of what he could be saying here is that the Jews were accountable because they had the teachings of the prophets and they understood them and still rebelled against them. 
 6 But behold, I, Nephi, have not taught my children after the manner of the Jews; but behold, I, of myself, have dwelt at Jerusalem, wherefore I know concerning the regions round about; and I have made mention unto my children concerning the judgments of God, which hath come to pass among the Jews, unto my children, according to all that which Isaiah hath spoken, and I do not write them. Nephi is going to tell us why he wrote so much Isaiah. And it's not just to show us what prophecies he made that already happened. It's for us today.
 7 But behold, I proceed with mine own prophecy, according to my plainness; in the which I know that no man can err; nevertheless, in the days that the prophecies of Isaiah shall be fulfilled men shall know of a surety, at the times when they shall come to pass.
These are strong words! No man can err! In the days the prophesies are fulfilled, all shall know FOR SURE they are fulfilled! How will we know unless someone points it out to us? Most aren't even familiar with what Isaiah said, even though the Lord commanded us to study his words. Will this be one of the works of the end time servant? Will our leaders bring it to our attention?
 8 Wherefore, they are of worth unto the children of men, and he that supposeth that they are not, unto them will I speak particularly, and confine the words unto mine own people; for I know that they shall be of great worth unto them in the last days; for in that day shall they understand them; wherefore, for their good have I written them. Again, Nephi assures us that we WILL understand them. Who are "his own people"? The Jews? The Lamanites? God's covenant people? Clearly he's speaking of "his own people" in our day. If it's the Lamanites, how is it "for their good" that they have these words if they do not receive them until they are coming to pass? What good are they then?
  9 And as one generation hath been destroyed among the Jews because of iniquity, even so have they been destroyed from generation to generation according to their iniquities; and never hath any of them been destroyed save it were foretold them by the prophets of the Lord. Here is where I believe that we cannot/will not have the judgments of the Lord without openly being told. Right here it says that there has NEVER been a people destroyed without it being foretold them by the prophets. They HAVE to hear the prophets warning them directly. Is this the reason for the coming persecution?
 10 Wherefore, it hath been told them concerning the destruction which should come upon them, immediately after my father left Jerusalem; nevertheless, they hardened their hearts; and according to my prophecy they have been destroyed, save it be those which are carried away captive into Babylon. This sounds like there was additional prophetic testimony to the Jews of “repent or be destroyed”. Is that recorded in the scriptures?  
 11 And now this I speak because of the spirit which is in me. And notwithstanding they have been carried away they shall return again, and possess the land of Jerusalem; wherefore, they shall be restored again to the land of their inheritance. I think is referring to their being restored before Christ was born. In our day, some of the wicked among our people will survive bondage, repent, and brought to Zion. That is what Isaiah taught.
 12 But, behold, they shall have wars, and rumors of wars; and when the day cometh that the Only Begotten of the Father, yea, even the Father of heaven and of earth, shall manifest himself unto them in the flesh, behold, they will reject him, because of their iniquities, and the hardness of their hearts, and the stiffness of their necks.
 13 Behold, they will crucify him; and after he is laid in a sepulchre for the space of three days he shall rise from the dead, with healing in his wings; and all those who shall believe on his name shall be saved in the kingdom of God. Wherefore, my soul delighteth to prophesy concerning him, for I have seen his day, and my heart doth magnify his holy name.
 14 And behold it shall come to pass that after the Messiah hath risen from the dead, and hath manifested himself unto his people, unto as many as will believe on his name, behold, Jerusalem shall be destroyed again; for wo unto them that fight against God and the people of his church. I guess the Jews that ‘returned’ did not learn the lessons from their own history...will we? I think not. Don't pass over the words, "hath manifested himself unto his people - unto as many as will believe on his name" Those are not words set in one particular time. They are a promise to ALL who believe on his name. Clearly, believing on his name is more than saying you believe in Christ. It must be a true conversion shown by humility, repentance, sacrifice and obedience. The 'manifestation' spoken of must be the Baptism by Fire and/or the Second Comforter.
 15 Wherefore, the Jews shall be scattered among all nations; yea, and also Babylon shall be destroyed; wherefore, the Jews shall be scattered by other nations.
 16 And after they have been scattered, and the Lord God hath scourged them by other nations for the space of many generations, yea, even down from generation to generation until they shall be persuaded to believe in Christ, the Son of God, and the atonement, which is infinite for all mankind—and when that day shall come that they shall believe in Christ, and worship the Father in his name, with pure hearts and clean hands, and look not forward any more for another Messiah, then, at that time, the day will come that it must needs be expedient that they should believe these things. When is it that they are persuaded to believe in Christ? We know it will be at the end of the battle of Armageddon, but is there any time before that they believe in Christ? We know there are Messianic Jews now, but how many before it's enough to fulfill this prophecy? Is the "these things" the Book of Mormon?
 17 And the Lord will set his hand again the second time to restore his people from their lost and fallen state. Wherefore, he will proceed to do a marvelous work and a wonder among the children of men. When was the first time? When he was on the earth the first time? This "marvelous work and wonder" seems to be among more than just the Jews or would it not say "among the children of men"? There are many references to this phrase “a marvelous work and a wonder”. Sometimes it is referred to as the coming forth of the Book of Mormon. Sometimes, the great gathering of Israel. The Lord seems to refer to it here as the restoration of the Jews to His fold. 
18 Wherefore, he shall bring forth his words unto them, which words shall judge them at the last day, for they shall be given them for the purpose of convincing them of the true Messiah, This sounds like the Book of Mormon who was rejected by them; and unto the convincing of them that they need not look forward any more for a Messiah to come, for there should not any come, save it should be a false Messiah which should deceive the people; Who is the false Messiah who deceives the people? Does he come before or after Armageddon? Is it the antiChrist? We are warned this person deceives the people. How will we not be deceived as well? for there is save one Messiah spoken of by the prophets, and that Messiah is he who should be rejected of the Jews. This also sounds like it has to be a more complete awareness than just a few missionaries knocking on a few doors. If they are to be judged by something, they have to ALL be aware of it, or they are exempt from being judged, it would seem.
 19 For according to the words of the prophets, the Messiah cometh in six hundred years from the time that my father left Jerusalem; and according to the words of the prophets, and also the word of the angel of God, his name shall be Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
 20 And now, my brethren, I have spoken plainly that ye cannot err. And as the Lord God liveth that brought Israel up out of the land of Egypt, and gave unto Moses power that he should heal the nations after they had been bitten by the poisonous serpents, There are some that use this story as a parallel for taking this unproven vaccine by the “urging” of the prophet as a test and the way to be “healed” from Covid. But it doesn’t fit. First...the shot doesn’t heal you after you are sick. Second, the poisonous serpent is more likely to be the shot and not the virus. One doctor shows research that the cause of the symptoms is from actual snake venom. Pretty convincing when you hear it. Covid has a 96% survival rate. We may yet need a healing for our nation/world from the millions who have been bitten by this poisonous shot. if they would cast their eyes unto the serpent which he did raise up before them, It is curious that Moses would hold up a molten image and claim that if one looked at it, they would be healed. These people had witnessed God killing 3000 people for worshiping a Golden calf. Would they not feel Moses was asking them to do the very same thing that God had condemned before? In this respect, the story does seem to parallel, where we have the “Moses” of our day telling us to do something that many of us believe will bring us under condemnation by God for “trusting in the arm of flesh” and submitting to the “evil designs of conspiring men”. Are we to do it anyway? Moses didn’t say, “It’s your decision. Consult with your doctor first and make sure it’s right for you.” There’s was a life and death decision to be made while they were suffering and sick. Ours is supposedly so we won’t suffer and get sick. But some believe that we’re being set up to be sick later. Then we will need a “brass serpent”. What to do....I chose not to get it and didn't feel a confirmation that the "urging" was by revelation from God. The brass serpent represented Christ. If there was a parallel for our day, the prophet would have held up a symbol of Christ and it would have healed people who were sick. I think the Elders should have just gone around and healed everyone with Priesthood power, showing Christ and His power as the true source of healing, not "conspiring men's" solution that was designed for profit. and also gave him power that he should smite the rock and the water should come forth; yea, behold I say unto you, that as these things are true, and as the Lord God liveth, there is none other name given under heaven save it be this Jesus Christ, of which I have spoken, whereby man can be saved.
 21 Wherefore, for this cause hath the Lord God promised unto me that these things which I write shall be kept and preserved, and handed down unto my seed, from generation to generation, that the promise may be fulfilled unto Joseph, that his seed should never perish as long as the earth should stand. We should be able to assume from this statement that Nephi has seed alive today. Surely many Nephite dissenters lived after the Nephite nation as a whole was destroyed. Also, many may have left by ship with Haggoth. There's a documentary by the Joseph Smith Foundation that suggests they may have gone to Europe. If that is true...many "white" people could be descendants of Nephites.
 22 Wherefore, these things shall go from generation to generation as long as the earth shall stand; and they shall go according to the will and pleasure of God; and the nations who shall possess them shall be judged of them according to the words which are written. Clearly, we as members of the Church, have these words. We certainly WILL be judged by them, even if we haven't studied their words.
 23 For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do. Learn what it truly means to be "reconciled" to God. "integrated, combined, merged, coordinated, conciliated, harmonized, aligned, conformed;" I believe it has to do with the Baptism by Fire and putting off the natural man and by the Grace of God receiving the "mighty change" and "a new heart"
 24 And, notwithstanding we believe in Christ, we keep the law of Moses, and look forward with steadfastness unto Christ, until the law shall be fulfilled.
 25 For, for this end was the law given; wherefore the law hath become dead unto us, and we are made alive in Christ because of our faith; yet we keep the law because of the commandments. It kind of sounds like he's saying the law is dead to them because they don't need it's help anymore to point them to Christ. They understand the need for repentance and the Atonement. But...they keep the law because it is still a commandment until Christ is born.
 26 And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.
 27 Wherefore, we speak concerning the law that our children may know the deadness of the law; and they, by knowing the deadness of the law, may look forward unto that life which is in Christ, and know for what end the law was given. And after the law is fulfilled in Christ, that they need not harden their hearts against him when the law ought to be done away. Don't get to attached to "laws" that point you to Christ. When we are "born again" and made "alive in Christ", things could change... then "the words of Christ" are our law. These words are given to us by the Holy Ghost who is now our constant companion and He tells us "all things we should do".
 28 And now behold, my people, ye are a stiffnecked people; wherefore, I have spoken plainly unto you, that ye cannot misunderstand. And the words which I have spoken shall stand as a testimony against you; for they are sufficient to teach any man the right way; for the right way is to believe in Christ and deny him not; for by denying him ye also deny the prophets and the law. Think of it the other way as well...by denying the prophets in the scriptures, you are denying Christ!
 29 And now behold, I say unto you that the right way is to believe in Christ, and deny him not; and Christ is the Holy One of Israel; wherefore ye must bow down before him, and worship him with all your might, mind, and strength, and your whole soul; and if ye do this ye shall in nowise be cast out. Our prophet today has pleaded with us many times to do the work necessary to know Christ; hear His voice; be truly converted; and to "experience" His love. That will take ALL of your might, mind, strength and you whole soul! It is a complete, submersion sacrifice.
 30 And, inasmuch as it shall be expedient, ye must keep the performances and ordinances of God until the law shall be fulfilled which was given unto Moses. Perhaps, for us, we keep the laws of the Church, until those 'laws' are fulfilled and Christ comes to establish the Church of the Firstborn.