2 Nephi 28:2-32 The things written in the book will be of “great worth” to all people but especially to the descendants of Nephi. (vs.2) In the day when churches are built up but not to the Lord, (all claim divine origin & authority). (vs.3) The churches contend one with another and teach their own understanding and deny the Holy Ghost, (which gives inspired utterance), they say there is no God today, the Redeemer has already done his work and given his power to men. (vs.5) “If they say there is a miracle done by the Lord, don’t believe it. This day he is not a God of miracles. He has done his work.” (vs.6) Many will say, “Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die; and it will be well with us.” (vs.7) “Eat, drink, and be merry; nevertheless, fear God-he will justify in committing a little sin; yea, lie a little, take the advantage of one because of his words, dig a pit for thy neighbor; there is no harm in this, and do all these things, for tomorrow we die; and if it so be that we are guilty, God will beat us with a few stripes, and at last we shall be saved in the kingdom of God.” (vs.8) Many teach after this manner, false, vain, foolish doctrines and are prideful. They seek to hide their counsels from the Lord and their works are in darkness. (vs. 9) The blood of the saints cry from the ground because they shed the blood of the saints who bring their acts of darkness into light. (vs.10) All of the Gentiles have gone off the straight and narrow path and become corrupted. (vs.11) Straying from the path is caused because of pride, false teachers, false doctrine and corrupt churches that are “lifted up” with pride. (vs.12) They rob the poor to build extravagant sanctuaries and indulge in wearing “fine clothing”; they persecute the meek and poor in heart because their pride causes them to become “puffed up” (which implies arrogance). (vs.13) Because of pride, wickedness, abominations, whoredoms they have all gone astray, (except for a few who are humble followers of Christ) “nevertheless, they are led, that in many instances they do err because they are taught by the precepts of men.” (vs.14) The wise, learned, rich, that are “puffed up in the pride of their hearts” and all those who preach false doctrines, commit whoredoms, pervert the “right way of the Lord” for they will all be thrust down to hell. It is a triple wo, (wo, wo, wo) each one meaning a condition of deeper suffering. (vs.15) Wo who turn aside “the just” for a thing of naught and revile (get angry) against that which is good and say it is of no worth. In that day the Lord will come “speedily” to visit the inhabitants of the earth and in the day they are “fully ripe in iniquity they shall perish.” (vs.16) If they inhabitants will repent, they will not perish, if they don’t repent, they will. (vs.17) The “great and abominable church must tumble to the earth either way and “great will be the fall.” This occurs when truth is restored and false teachings exposed. (vs.18) The kingdom of the devil must “shake” for the purpose of “stirring up” its citizens to repent and separating and destroying the wicked. If they don’t repent they become angry and the devil takes control, leading them to destruction. (vs.19) “At that day” the devil will rage in the hearts of men and stir them to anger against that which is good. (vs.20) Other’s the devil will “pacify” and “lull” away into a carnal security. These are members of the Church because they develop an “all is well in Zion” attitude; they see progress and prosperity assuming “all is well” and the devil “cheateth their souls” and “leadeth them carefully down to hell.” (vs.21) There are those who the devil will “flatter away” by telling them “There is no hell, I am no devil, thus “he whispers in their ears until he grasps them with his awful chains [see Alma 12:11] from whence there is no deliverance.” They are seized by death, hell and the devil (the chief adversaries of God and man) and brought before the throne of God to be judged of their works. From there they are sent to a place to suffer the afflictions caused by a guilt ridden conscience. (vs.22-23) These comments are directed toward members of the Church because Nephi declares, “wo be unto those who are at ease in Zion! And “wo be unto him that crieth All is well!” (vs.24-25) Wo be to those who hearken to the precepts of men and deny the power of God and the gift of the Holy Ghost! (vs.26) Wo be unto all those who say “We have received, and we need no more! (This applies to Church members as well as mainstream Christians.) (vs.27) Wo unto those who are “angry” and “tremble” because of the truth of God. Those who are “built upon the rock” receive the truth with gladness while those who are built upon a “sandy foundation” tremble and may fall. (This is a litmus test each of us must apply. If truth angers us we are not “built upon the rock”.) How do you feel when you read the things Nephi is saying are directed to members of the Church? Do you feel indignant or defensive?) (vs.28) Wo falls upon those who say, “We have received the word of God and we need no more word of God, for we have enough!” (vs.29) The Lord will give to the children of men “line upon line” and “precept upon precept, here a little and there a little.” Blessed are those who “hearken unto my precepts” and “lend an ear to my counsel” for “they shall learn wisdom”. Unto to those who receive, I will give more; and from them that shall say “We have enough” from them shall be taken away, “even that which they have.” (vs.30) Those who put their trust “in the arm of flesh” are cursed as are those who give heed to the precepts of men, (unless they are given by the Holy Ghost.) (vs.31) “Woe be unto the Gentiles” for notwithstanding I will “lengthen out my arm unto them”, they will deny me, nevertheless, I will be merciful to them if they will repent and come to Christ; The Lord will “lengthen out his arm” all the day long. (“lengthen”- 2Nephi 2:21, Helaman 7:24, “type”) (vs.32)
2 Nephi 29:1-18 “At that day” when the Lord proceeds to do a “marvelous work” when the Lord remembers His covenants He made and when He “sets his hand again the second time” (Isaiah 11:11, Jacob 6:2) to recover Israel. (vs.1) The Lord includes in that time the promises made to Nephi and his father Lehi that He would remember their descendants. The words of the Lord proceed out of the mouth of the Lord to Lehi’s descendants. The Lord’s words would “hiss forth” (Isaiah 5:26) and the Lord’s words become a “standard” for the house of Israel. When the Lord’s word’s “hiss forth” many Gentiles say, “A Bible! A Bible! We have got a Bible, and there cannot be any more Bible.” (vs.3) The Gentiles are given a Bible that comes from the Jews and show no appreciation to the Jews for the Bible they are given. Do the Gentiles remember the “travails, labors and pains of the Jews and their diligence in bringing forth salvation to the Gentiles?” (vs.4) The Gentiles have not remembered the Lord’s ancient covenant people, the Jews. The Jews have been cursed and hated by the Gentiles and the Gentiles have made no attempt to recover the Jews. The Gentiles neglect of the Jews is turned against the Gentiles because the Lord has not forgotten His covenant people, Israel. (vs.5) The Lord brands the Gentiles “fools” that say, “we have a Bible and we need no more Bible.” The Jews were the only conduit for the Gentile acquisition of the Bible. (vs.6) The Lord declares there are more nations than one and God created all men and remembers those who have been scattered across the sea. The Lord rules in the heavens and the earth and He brings forth His word unto the children of men, upon all nations of the earth. (vs.7) The Gentiles murmur because they receive more of the word of the Lord. Don’t the Gentiles know that the testimony of two nations is a witness that the Lord is God? (JST Genesis 50 & Ezekiel 37) The Lord remembers one nation like unto the other, meaning He speaks the same words from one nation unto the other. When the two nations “run together” the testimony of the two nations “run together” also. (vs.8) The Lord combines the testimonies of the two nations to prove to the world that He is the same “yesterday, today and forever.” It further proves the Lord speaks His words according to His own pleasure. Because He has spoken one word the world need not suppose He cannot speak another. The Lord’s word is not finished; neither shall it be until the end of man. Neither from that time to forever. (vs.9) Because the Gentiles have a Bible they need not suppose it contains all the Lord’s words. The Gentiles need not suppose the Lord has not had other words written. (vs.10) All men are commanded to write the words the Lord speaks to them. Out of the books the Lord causes to be written shall men be judged, “every man according to their works, according to that which has been written.” (vs.11) The Lord speaks to the Jews and they write it, He speaks to the Nephites and they write it. The Lord speaks to the tribes of Israel He has led away and they write it. Next He will speak to all the nations of the earth and they shall write it. (vs.12) Note the pattern? The Jews will have the words of the Nephites and the Nephites will have the words of the Jews. The Nephites and Jews will have the records of the lost tribes of Israel and the lost tribes of Israel will have the record of the Nephites and the Jews. (vs.13) Following the consolidation of records (which is likely the “standard” or “ensign” raised) Israel gathers home to “the lands of their possessions” and the words of the Lord are gathered in one. (D&C 133:30) The Lord proves to those who fight against His word and against His people the Lord is God and He remembers His covenant with Abraham and Abraham’s seed forever. (vs.14)
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