The Jews will crucify Christ. After the crucifixion, Jerusalem was invaded
by the Romans and destroyed. Jews were
scattered throughout the world. Jacob
had echoed his brother, Nephi’s, teachings.
“Wherefore, because of their
iniquities, destructions, famines, pestilences, and bloodshed shall come upon
them; and they who shall not be destroyed shall be scattered among all nations”
(2 Nephi 10:6).
Terrence Szink comments:
Not only was there wickedness in
the Old World that resulted in the crucifixion of Jesus, but there was great
wickedness among the Nephites and Lamanites in the New World at that time.
Third Nephi describes the rise of the secret combinations, the collapse of the
government, the murder of prophets, and general wickedness that characterized
the age (see 3 Nephi 7:5–7).
Because of this wickedness,
vengeance was swift in coming. According to Nephi, "the Jews shall be
scattered among all nations; yea, and also Babylon shall be destroyed;
wherefore, the Jews shall be scattered by other nations" (2 Nephi 25:15).
The Jewish historian Josephus described in graphic detail the Roman siege and
capture of Jerusalem.21 Jesus,
while prophesying of this destruction, identified the era as days of vengeance:
"For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are
written may be fulfilled" (Luke 21:22, emphasis added).[1]
The scattering of the Jews throughout the world will last
for generations. It will last until the
day comes “they shall be persuaded to
believe in Christ, the Son of God, and the atonement” (2 Nephi 25:16). Ezekiel prophesied of this day. “As a shepherd
seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered;
so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they
have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day” (Ezekiel 34:12).
Towards the end of his life, Mormon addressed the gathering
of the Jews. “And behold, they shall go unto the unbelieving of the Jews; and for
this intent shall they go—that they may be persuaded that Jesus is the Christ,
the Son of the living God; that the Father may bring about, through his most
Beloved, his great and eternal purpose, in restoring the Jews, or all the house
of Israel, to the land of their inheritance, which the Lord their God hath
given them, unto the fulfilling of his covenant” (Mormon 5:14).
Nephi would later write:
And
it shall come to pass that the Jews which are scattered also shall begin to
believe in Christ; and they shall begin to gather in upon the face of the land;
and as many as shall believe in Christ shall also become a delightsome people.
And
it shall come to pass that the Lord God shall commence his work among all
nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, to bring about the restoration of his
people upon the earth.
2 Nephi 30:7-8
In the Book of Mormon, “Messiah” and “Christ” have specific
meanings and uses.
The distinction between
"Messiah" and "Christ" when used together in the Book of
Mormon is one of generic versus specific, between the concept of a messiah as
understood by the Jews and the particular being that the Nephites believe to be
the messiah. Thus Nephi urges his readers to "believe in Christ, the Son
of God, [specific] . . . and look not forward any more for another Messiah
[general]" (2 Nephi 25:16). Thus the distinction between
"Messiah" and "Christ" can be viewed as a nuance of English
exploited that we "might come to understanding" (D&C 1:24), but
need not reflect anything about the Nephite language.[2]
After the Jews accept Christ, they will be restored “from their lost and fallen state” (2
Nephi 25:17). On that day, “he will proceed to do a marvelous work and
a wonder among the children of men” (2 Nephi 25:17).
Nephi would again write, “But
behold, there shall be many—at that day when I shall proceed to do a marvelous
work among them, that I may remember my covenants which I have made unto the
children of men, that I may set my hand again the second time to recover my
people, which are of the house of Israel” (2 Nephi 29:1). Nephi
was reminding us of the words of Isaiah, “Therefore,
behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous
work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding
of their prudent men shall be hid”
(Isaiah 29:14).
After recording his account of Christ’s visit to the
Nephites, Mormon wrote:
Therefore,
great and marvelous works shall be wrought by them, before the great and coming
day when all people must surely stand before the judgment–seat of Christ;
Yea
even among the Gentiles shall there be a great and marvelous work wrought by
them, before that judgment day.
And
if ye had all the scriptures which give an account of all the marvelous works
of Christ, ye would, according to the words of Christ, know that these things
must surely come.
3 Nephi 28:31-33
The words of Aaron Schade are an appropriate way to end this
post.
The chain of events that transpired from Lehi's ministry in
Jerusalem— including his dreams, obtaining the plates, transporting them to the
American continent, the rise and fall of civilizations, and the eventual
transmission and translation by the Prophet Joseph Smith—leaves no doubt that
the Book of Mormon truly is part of a "marvelous work and a wonder" (2
Nephi 25:17; 27:26).[3]
Elder L. Tom Perry explains that the Book of Mormon was prepared for our day (Mormon 8:12–41).
[1] The
Vision of Enoch: Structure of a Masterpiece, Terrence L.
Szink, Maxwell Institute, accessed October 19, 2013.
[2] La
Trahison des Clercs: On the Language and Translation of the Book of Mormon,
John Gee, Maxwell Institute, accessed October 19, 2013.
[3] The
Kingdom of Judah: Politics, Prophets, and Scribes in the Late Preexilic Period,
Aaron P. Schade, Maxwell Institute, accessed October 19, 2013.
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