1 Nephi 14:12-25

Nephi, having seen the wicked on the earth, next saw the church of the Lamb of God.  Compared to the wicked, its numbers were much smaller.  The wickedness of the great and abominable church had become widespread upon the land.

It’s not surprising to see that wickedness was so widespread.  “Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it”

(Matthew 7:14).  Quoting Zenos, Jacob wrote, “And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard sent his servant; and the servant went and did as the Lord had commanded him, and brought other servants; and they were few” (Jacob 5:70).  In his vision, President Joseph F. Smith saw, “notwithstanding his mighty works, and miracles, and proclamation of the truth, in great power and authority, there were but few who hearkened to his voice, and rejoiced in his presence, and received salvation at his hands” (D&C 138:26).  Though they were few, the righteous were spread across all the world.

Nephi saw the great and abominable church organized multitudes throughout the world to fight against Christ.  Though they were numerous, the power of God descended upon the saints and they were “were armed with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory” (1 Nephi 14:14).  Prior to His ascension, Christ told his apostles, “And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued [OR clothed, invested] with power from on high” (Luke 24:49).

Reminding the Nephites of Zenos’ words, Jacob taught, “And the day that he shall set his hand again the second time to recover his people, is the day, yea, even the last time, that the servants of the Lord shall go forth in his power, to nourish and prune his vineyard; and after that the end soon cometh.  And how blessed are they who have labored diligently in his vineyard; and how cursed are they who shall be cast out into their own place!  And the world shall be burned with fire”  (Jacob 6:2 - 3).

Because of the wickedness of the people, the wrath of God was poured out upon them and the church of the devil.  There arose wars and rumors of wars.  “And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows” (Mark 13:7 - 8).

When the wrath of God is poured out on the wicked, this will mark the beginning of the Lord the fulfilling His covenants with the house of Israel.

Nephi next saw a man dressed in a white robe.  The angel announced he was one of the twelve apostles of Christ.  He will write the things that Nephi had seen.  “The Revelation of John, a servant of God, which was given unto him of Jesus Christ, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass, that he sent and signified by his angel unto his servant John, Who bore record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. Blessed are they who read, and they who hear and understand the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein, for the time of the coming of the Lord draweth nigh” (JST Revelation 1:1 - 3).

The things seen by John will become a part of the Bible.  Plain and precious things that were in John’s revelation will also be lost along with others in the Bible.

Nephi was commanded not to write these things, for God had ordained John to write them. 

And then shall my revelations which I have caused to be written by my servant John be unfolded in the eyes of all the people.  Remember, when ye see these things, ye shall know that the time is at hand that they shall be made manifest in very deed.

Ether 4:16

And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:

But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

John 20:30 - 31

And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written.  Amen.

John 21:25