Day 12;2 Nephi 24-27

Day 12;2 Nephi 24-27

I am tackling the Book of Mormon in 60 days. My plan is to have the Book of Mormon studied by the end of 2011. During my challenge, I will post a daily blog of my reading, in this blog I will share with you... my thoughts, feelings, opinions and knowledge about the Book of Mormon. Do you have questions? Comments? Please... lets start a discussion. I would be more than happy to answer your questions, comments or concerns!

Request a FREE copy of the Book of Mormon: http://mormon.org/free-book-of-mormon/

How the Book of Mormon came about: http://youtu.be/FMQEb9A9L2g

            

Scripture Thought (What I Learned):

Summary of 2 Nephi 24-27: These 4 chapters essentially talk about how the world will be filled with Apostasy and wickedness. The Book of Mormon will come forth in the Last Days and God will work a marvelous work and a wonder among his people.

               

Chapter 24: In the last days Israel shall be gathered and they shall enjoy millennial rest. Lucifer (Satan) will be cast out of Heaven and Israel shall triumph over the World.

"How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning!...For thou hast said in thy heart: I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God..." (2 Nephi 24:12-14) Lucifer wanted God's throne, but was cast out of Heaven.

Chapter 25: Nephi writes about how he loves the words of Isaiah "...my soul delighteth in the words of Isaiah, for I came out from Jerusalem..." (2 Nephi 25:5) - Nephi uses a lot of Isaiah's prophecies and incorporates them into his own prophecies, because the words of Isaiah have meaning and importance, and because Nephi came from the land (Jerusalem) where Isaiah lived. The words of Isaiah, in order to be fully understood, must be read with the spirit of prophecy. So no man can just simply read his prophecies, you must read them with the spirit involved in order to understand the words that he spoke. But in the last days the words  and the "prophecies of Isaiah shall be fulfilled and men shall know of a surety, at times when they shall come to pass. Wherefore, they are of worth unto the children of men... for I know that they shall be of great worth unto them in the last days; for in that day shall they understand them..." (2 Nephi 25:7-8)- the prophecies written in the Bible (Isaiah) that are hard to understand or interpret now, will become clear in the last days.

Nephi goes on to talk about how the Jews will reject Jesus, crucify him and how he will arise from the grave 3 days later. The Jews will continue to persecuted and scourged 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 to another Messiah, then, at that time, the day will come that it must needs be expedient that they should believe these things" (2 Nephi 25:16)

Nephi also goes on to share with everyone what we truly believe. We BELIEVE in JESUS CHRIST! He practically shouts it to the world when he says:

                "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. 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." (2 Nephi 25:23-24)

                Very important to know, we are indeed saved by the Grace of Jesus Christ (that is what he did when he died for our sins... also known as the "Atonement") AFTER ALL THAT WE CAN DO. In other words, we are not saved by the merits of Jesus Christ alone, but by our owns works (merits) and the merits (Atonement) of Jesus Christ combined will we all be saved!

                "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." (2 Nephi 25:26) And people think that Mormons aren't Christians? Hmmm... I don't think is mentioned anything about Joseph Smith... I wonder.

                Nephi ends the chapter saying that those who reject Jesus Christ reject his prophets and vice versa (2 Nephi 25:28) and that we must 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" (2 Nephi 25:29)

Chapter 26: Nephi foresee the destruction of his people, the gentiles shall build up false churches and secret combinations, of which the Lord forbids the practice of priest crafts. "...the wicked... shall perish... because they cast out the prophets, and the saints, and stone them..." (2 Nephi 26:3) Those who will turn away from the Lord in the last days will build up many false churches and they will put down the miracles of God and "... preach unto themselves their own wisdom and their own learning, that they may get gain and grind upon the face of the poor. And there are many churches built up which cause envyings, and strifes, and malice." (2 Nephi 26:20) Because of this Nephi reminds us that "...the Lord God worketh not in darkness." (2 Nephi 26:24) and that although we may not understand the ways of God, God does not do "...anything save it be for the benefit of the world; for he loveth the world, even they he layeth down his own life that he may draw all men unto him..." (2 Nephi 26:24)

Nephi ends this chapter with a reminder that...

- Without Charity men have nothing (2 Nephi 26:30)

- We must not contend one with another (2 Nephi 26:32)

- And, ALL are FREE to COME UNTO HIM - BLACK, WHITE... NONE ARE FORBIDDEN. (2 Nephi 26:33)

Chapter 27: Darkness and apostacy will cover the earth in the last days. The Lord will however proceed to do a "Marvelous Work and a Wonder". The Book of Mormon will come forth unto the World testifying of Jesus Christ and His Atonement for Mankind. The Book will be accompanied by the Testimony of the Three Witnesses (http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/introduction?lang=eng).

"And it shall come to pass that the Lord God shall bring forth unto you the words of a book... And behold the book shall be sealed; and the book shall be a revelation from God, from the beginning of the world to the ending thereof." (2 Nephi 27:6-7)

                The coming forth of the Book of Mormon was foretold more than 500 years before Christ. The Book of Mormon had to come forth in order to help the Bible teach about Jesus Christ because: "Forasmuch as this people draw near unto me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their hearts far from me, and their fear towards me is taught by the precepts of men - Therefore I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, yea, a marvelous work and a wonder, for the wisdom of their wise and learned shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent shall be hid." (2 Nephi 27:25-26)