Book of Mormon Commentary CofC - Odessa, Missouri Community ...

Book of Mormon Commentary
1 Nephi Chapter 7
There is a mighty nation of Israel developing in Palestine today, but as yet there is little evidence
that they are ready to accept the Lord Jesus as "their Savior and their Redeemer, the mighty one of
Israel." The scourging by the Gentiles has forced the Jews to return to their homeland but it will
never be through the power of the sword or gas chamber that their conversion to Christ will be
accomplished. God has a better way, and his purposes will not be frustrated.
1 Ne 7:28 And every nation which shall war against thee, O house of Israel, shall be turned one against
another.
7:28 Here is a striking prediction which received scarcely a notice in 1830. Many of the world's
great minds are deeply concerned to avoid the world catastrophe which seems now to be
impending. The battle of Armageddon (Rev, 16: 14-16) seems now to be shaping up, Men seldom
reform through fear unless the danger is immediate and personally painful. Peter was given a very
clear vision of our times when he wrote, “In the last days there shall come scoffers walking after
their own lusts. Denying the Lord Jesus Christ, and saying, Where is the promise of his comlng?
For since the fathers fell asleep, all thing’s must continue as they are from the beginning of
creation. (II Pet. 3:3,4).
One of the principles of penality that most students agree on is that punishment is most effective
when it is swift and just. The Lord does not count time as man does. Peter goes on to explain that
"one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day" (II Pet. 3: 8).
John saw that the time would com when the earth would be in convulsion. And the kings of the
earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every
bond man and every free man hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; and
said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the
throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; for the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be
able to stand?' (Rev. 6:15,17). This is the work of the "great and abominable church” (26) which is
"the church of the devil” (1 N. 3:221). His chief business is war and strife and destruction of
mankind. Members of his church will be "drunken with their own blood” (27).
1 Ne 7:32 For behold, saith the prophet, The time cometh speedily, that Satan shall have no more power
over the hearts of the children of men:
7:32 God's purposes are to prepare a people who wi11 be happy in his presence and dwell with
him and the good of all ages throughout eternity. But he “who is not able to abide the law of a
celestial kingdom, cannot abide a celestial glory" (D. and C. 85: 5 b). It is not just a matter of
patient waiting for God to take over and defeat Satan, but each man must learn the celestial law
and abide in it. Otherwise, it is doubtful that men can overcome Satan's power. As Jesus said about
the tribulation of the Jews when Jerusalem should be destroyed (A.D. 70), "except those days
should be shortened, there should none of their flesh be saved" (Matt. 24:19).
The prophet saw the time, wrote Nephi, when Satan would be without power. John describes that
time also. "And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and
bound him a thousand years, and cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal
upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled"
(Rev. 20:2, 3). He was bound by the righteousness of the saints (1 N. 7:60).