Topical Study of the "Gentiles" Part 10

Mormon 3:17-22 Mormon is writing to future Gentiles and Israel of a specific time. The time is when the work is about to commence to restore Israel to the lands of their inheritance. (vs.17) Mormon includes the inhabitants “unto all the ends of the earth” (so this is a global event) and the twelve scattered tribes of Israel who are judged by the twelve Apostles of Christ in Jerusalem. This is the same audience mentioned in verse 17. (vs.17-18) Included in the tribes of Israel is a remnant of the Nephites who are judged by the twelve Nephite Apostles. The twelve in the America’s will in turn be judged by the twelve Apostles in Jerusalem. (vs.19) Mormon warns all (Gentiles, Israel and the Nephite remnant) must stand to be judged of Christ, every soul that belongs to the whole human family. We must all stand to be judged by our works. (vs.20) We all must believe the gospel of Jesus Christ, (which will be among the Gentiles and the covenant people of the Lord). The covenant people will have “other witnesses” besides him whom they saw and heard, (Jesus). (vs.21) Mormon desires to persuade all men to come to Christ. (vs.22)

Mormon 5:8-24 Mormon turns from describing the carnage and bloodshed in his day to discussing a future time when “all things which are hid must be revealed upon the house tops. (vs.8) A knowledge of the ancient Nephites must come to a remnant of their descendants as well as the Gentiles who would scatter the remnant of the Nephites. Consequently, Mormon gives a small abridgment of the wicked acts of his people. (vs.9) Mormon then directs the conversation to “their seed” and “the Gentiles who have care for the house of Israel, that realize and know from whence their blessings come. (vs.10) Mormon knows of their empathy for the calamity that has fallen on the house of Israel. He knows some Gentiles will sorrow for the loss of the Nephite people. Mormon knows some Gentiles will sorrow that the Nephites had not repented and clasped in the arms of Jesus. (vs.11) This record is written to the remnant of the house of Jacob and written in this manner because the Lord knows wickedness will not allow them to be revealed. The Lord hides them up until His own “due time.” (vs.12) These writings come forward when the Lord seems fit, in his wisdom to bring them forward. (vs.13) The writings go to the “unbelieving of the Jews” for the intent of persuading them Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; the Father brings this about through Christ to accomplish the Father’s “great and eternal purpose” in “restoring the Jews”, or “all the house of Israel” to the land of their inheritance, fulfilling the Father’s covenant with them. (vs.14) The descendants of Nephi may “more fully believe” His gospel which goes to the Nephites from the Gentiles. (vs.15) Descendants of Nephi are without Christ and God in this world and are driven as chaff before the wind. (vs.16) The magnitude of the Nephite fall is more dramatic than we might imagine. The Nephites had Christ for their shepherd and were even led personally by God the Father. The magnitude of their fall must have been more than anyone could anticipated. (vs.17) Now Satan leads them and they are without “sail” (a means for movement, propulsion or progression) or “anchor” (they are without principle, ungrounded) and without means to “steer” (without vision, direction or understanding). (vs.18) The Lord reserved their blessings that “they might have received in the land” for the Gentiles who will possess the land. (vs.19) After they are driven and scattered by the Gentiles, the Lord remembers His covenant with Abraham and all the house of Israel. (vs.20) The Lord remembers the prayers of the righteous that were uttered on their behalf. (vs.21) “Then”, (at the point where the Lord begins to remember the prayers of the righteous) how will the Gentiles stand before the power of God, except they repent and turn from their evil ways. This is a day of choice for the Gentiles. (vs.22) Mormon begins asking the Gentiles a series of rhetorical questions. Don’t you know you are in the hands of God? That God has all power? At God’s command the earth will be rolled up like a scroll. The faith of the Gentiles will have to advance from lip service to discipleship if they are to survive. (vs.23) Mormon stops asking rhetorical questions and begins to offer admonitions: repent and humble yourself before God, or He will come out in “justice” (your punishment and suffering is deserved because of your wickedness) which is executed by the seed of Jacob “among you” and they will be like a lion which will “tear you to pieces.” (vs.24)

Mormon 7:8-9 Mormon is speaking to the remnant of his people (Nephites) who survive and he gives them prophetic counsel. Mormon advises his descendants to “lay hold” on the gospel of Christ found in the Book of Mormon and the record of the Jews that will come to them from the Gentiles. (vs.8) The Nephite record was written with the intent of persuading the Nephite remnant of the Gospel of Christ and if they believe the Book of Mormon they will believe the Bible as well. If the Nephite remnant believes these two books they will “know” concerning their “fathers” and the “marvelous works” that were done among them by the power of God. (vs.9)

Ether 2:7-12 The Lord led the Jaredites to this “land of promise” which is choice above all other lands. The Lord preserved this land for a “righteous people”. (vs.7) The Lord has sworn unto the brother of Jared (in His wrath) that whoever should inhabit this land from the days of the brother of Jared to this day should serve God or they should be “swept off when the fulness of his wrath should come upon them.” (vs.9) This land is a land choice “above all other lands”. Those who possess it will serve God or be swept off. It is an “everlasting decree” of God. The wrath of God is not manifest until the people occupying the land reach a “fulness of iniquity”. (vs.10) This record is brought to the Gentiles so they know the decrees of God. They must repent, cease from continuing in iniquity before they reach a fulness and begin to be swept off the land, (as the inhabitants of the land have previously done.) (vs.11) This is a choice land and any nation that possesses it will be free from bondage and captivity. All nations under heaven, (must serve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ. Who has been made manifest by the things which are written. (vs. 12)