#4 - Isaiah Then and Now
Isaiah Unplugged Series
A journey into the study of Isaiah and understanding his prophesy, particularly as they relate to you and to me.
I mentioned in the last post that there are a few themes on which Nephi centers as he transcribes Isaiah’s writings. We can identify these themes by the commentary that Nephi gives after each transcription. In the previous post, I addessed two themes: 1) the physical redemption of Nephi’s people, and 2) a warning of things to come for his people. In this post, we’ll investigate a third theme: a warning of things to come for our people today.
A WARNING FOR OUR DAY
The Lord said that Isaiah spoke all things concerning the house of Israel, and also of the Gentiles. One common theme from Nephi down to Moroni nearly 1,000 years later is repeated declarations that they among many prophets have seen our day and give us warning and counsel.
Moroni gives earnest exhortation writing to you and me, “Behold, the Lord hath shown unto me great and marvelous things concerning that which must shortly come, at that day when these things shall come forth among you. Behold, I speak unto you as if ye were present, and yet ye are not. But behold, Jesus Christ hath shown you unto me, and I know your doing” (Mormon 8:34-35).
What is the warning that Nephi and Moroni and others are giving us, and how do they use Isaiah’s writing to do that? Nephi prophesied that in the last days the words of Isaiah will be “of great worth” to us, “for in that day shall they understand them; wherefore, for their good have I written them.” He continues to say, “And as one generation hath been destroyed among the Jews because of iniquity, even so have they been destroyed from generation to generation according to their iniquities; and never hath any of them been destroyed save it were foretold them by the prophets of the Lord” (2 Nephi 25:8-9).
Nephi’s Warns the Covenant People
Just like Moroni declared he had seen our day, Nephi also saw our day. If you remember, the Lord told Nephi that he could only write so much about the end-day times, and that it was reserved for John and other prophets to write those details. With these limitations, Nephi decides to Isaiah as his means of relaying what he had seen to those who would receive his writings millennia later. Do we see the warnings embedded in his message to us?
Let’s review Nephi’s writings and see what patterns we may see from his warning message. Nephi quotes Isaiah chapters 2-14 in 2 Nephi 12-24. Afterward he gives commentary that predicts various stages of our spiritual state in the end days in progressive sequence.
Warning Voice from the Dust
Wherefore, I write unto my people, unto all those that shall receive hereafter these things which I write, that they may know the judgments of God, that they come upon all nations, according to the word which he hath spoken.
Wherefore, hearken, O my people, which are of the house of Israel, and give ear unto my words; for because the words of Isaiah are not plain unto you, nevertheless they are plain unto all those that are filled with the spirit of prophecy. But I give unto you a prophecy, according to the spirit which is in me; wherefore I shall prophesy according to the plainness which hath been with me from the time that I came out from Jerusalem with my father; for behold, my soul delighteth in plainness unto my people, that they may learn
2 Nephi 25:3-4
Nephi is giving warning to those who receive his writings in the end days. He calls upon those who are “of the house of Israel.” If you believe you are part of the house of Israel, he is talking to you and he is going to give you a prophecy. That prophecy consists of the next several chapters. And those prophecies are extrapolated from Isaiah’s writings.
But behold, I proceed with mine own prophecy, according to my plainness; in the which I know that no man can err; nevertheless, in the days that the prophecies of Isaiah shall be fulfilled men shall know of a surety, at the times when they shall come to pass. Wherefore, they are of worth unto the children of men, and he that supposeth that they are not, unto them will I speak particularly, and confine the words unto mine own people; for I know that they shall be of great worth unto them in the last days; for in that day shall they understand them; wherefore, for their good have I written them. And as one generation hath been destroyed among the Jews because of iniquity, even so have they been destroyed from generation to generation according to their iniquities; and never hath any of them been destroyed save it were foretold them by the prophets of the Lord.
2 Nephi 25:7-9
He says no one will be destroyed expect the Lord foretells them by the prophets. I want to be very clear on this point: The prophecies of Isaiah and Nephi are those prophets that are forewarning our people of the destruction to come! Yes, other prophets will come, but their declarations will not be different than that which is already written. If we cannot discern the warnings embedded in Isaiah’s and Nephi’s writings, then we need to do some serious repenting and praying. We need to get the spirit of prophecy so that we can understand Isaiah’s warning call just as Nephi did.
Stay Focused on Christ
Nephi’s prophecies are going to be very plain and easy to understand.
And the Lord will set his hand again the second time to restore his people from their lost and fallen state. Wherefore, he will proceed to do a marvelous work and a wonder among the children of men.
2 Nephi 25:17
Note how the covenant people will be in a lost and fallen state. He’s not talking about ancient Israel, but modern Israel as well.
Wherefore, he shall bring forth his words unto them, which words shall judge them at the last day, for they shall be given them for the purpose of convincing them of the true Messiah, who was rejected by them; and unto the convincing of them that they need not look forward any more for a Messiah to come, for there should not any come, save it should be a false Messiah which should deceive the people; for there is save one Messiah spoken of by the prophets, and that Messiah is he who should be rejected of the Jews.
2 Nephi 25:18
The words that will come forth (whether Isaiah’s or Nephi’s or some other words) will judge those lost and fallen covenant people. If we believe we are the house of Israel, again, he’s speaking about us.
And now behold, my people, ye are a stiffnecked people; wherefore, I have spoken plainly unto you, that ye cannot misunderstand. And the words which I have spoken shall stand as a testimony against you; for they are sufficient to teach any man the right way; for the right way is to believe in Christ and deny him not; for by denying him ye also deny the prophets and the law. And now behold, I say unto you that the right way is to believe in Christ, and deny him not; and Christ is the Holy One of Israel; wherefore ye must bow down before him, and 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 25:28-29
When Nephi foresees the future, he sees that his “people” are stiffnecked, or proud and wicked. We may be tempted to say that Nephi’s people are the indigenous Native American people. But the truth is that his people are the Jews, or the house of Israel. Though we may not all be direct descendants of Nephi, he and Moroni and other prophets have seen our stiffneckedness, too. And because of our stiff necks, we are more likely to point blame to someone else, rather than look introspectively at our own state of rebellion. We may be tempted to say, “Isaiah’s talking about the wicked Jews,” or “Nephi’s talking about the Native Americans.” Until we open our own eyes, we will continue to be blind to what the prophets are urgently trying to tell us.
Spiritual Climate of the Church and World
In continuing his commentary on Isaiah’s writings, Nephi foretells of the spiritual climate of the world and of the covenant people.
And the Gentiles are lifted up in the pride of their eyes, and have stumbled, because of the greatness of their stumbling block, that they have built up many churches; nevertheless, they put down the power and miracles of God, and preach up 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 26:20-21
Just as a side-note, whenever Nephi talks about the Gentiles, he is not talking only about the world in general. He is also talking about us. The Lord took the covenant promise away from the Jews and gave it to the Gentiles. It’s prophesied that that covenant promise will be returned to the house of Israel when the Gentiles reject the fullness of the gospel. Nephi explains in his vision (1 Nephi 11-14) how he sees the Gentiles traverse the great deep (the ocean) and subjugate his seed. Then he explains how the Gentiles create churches and how his words come up from the dust. Who are those Gentiles that receive the gospel? That’s you and me. We may be ancestors of the house of Israel, but to Nephi, we are Gentiles.
Have we not seen the fulfillment of Nephi’s prophecy that many church have risen up? Have we not seen in our own church how people “preach up unto themselves their own wisdom and their own learning?”
And there are also secret combinations, even as in times of old, according to the combinations of the devil, for he is the founder of all these things; yea, the founder of murder, and works of darkness; yea, and he leadeth them by the neck with a flaxen cord, until he bindeth them with his strong cords forever.
2 Nephi 26:22
We’ve also seen the fulfillment of this prophecy in our civic, ecclesiastical, and religious centers. If you have any doubts about that, Nephi says in his plainness how all of our nation and people will be drunken with iniquity.
But, behold, in the last days, or in the days of the Gentiles—yea, behold all the nations of the Gentiles and also the Jews, both those who shall come upon this land and those who shall be upon other lands, yea, even upon all the lands of the earth, behold, they will be drunken with iniquity and all manner of abominations.
2 Nephi 27:1
Even our churches will be corrupted and deny God’s power.
For it shall come to pass in that day that the churches which are built up, and not unto the Lord, when the one shall say unto the other: Behold, I, I am the Lord’s; and the others shall say: I, I am the Lord’s; and thus shall every one say that hath built up churches, and not unto the Lord—and they shall contend one with another; and their priests shall contend one with another, and they shall teach with their learning, and deny the Holy Ghost, which giveth utterance.
2 Nephi 28:3-4
I know most members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints rebuff the idea that Nephi’s discussion about end-time churches include them. After all, isn’t Christ at the head of that church? How could our church be corrupt? It is lead by a prophet and ordained by God. It will never fall. Do you wonder if the ancient Jews thought the same thing? They were the covenant children of God, after all. If you feel comfortable in your righteous state, Nephi continues to talk directly to you.
Others will he pacify, and lull them away into carnal security, that they will say: All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all is well—and thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell.
Wait, that’s what he said about the secret combinations quoted earlier. Nephi continues:
And behold, others he flattereth away, and telleth them there is no hell; and he saith unto them: I am no devil, for there is none—and thus he whispereth in their ears, until he grasps them with his awful chains, from whence there is no deliverance. Yea, they are grasped with death, and hell; and death, and hell, and the devil, and all that have been seized therewith must stand before the throne of God, and be judged according to their works, from whence they must go into the place prepared for them, even a lake of fire and brimstone, which is endless torment.
Therefore, wo be unto him that is at ease in Zion! Wo be unto him that crieth: All is well!
2 Nephi 28:21-25
What other church on the planet calls themselves Zion? Very few that I know of. In fact, most members of the church would acknowledge that they believe Salt Lake City is Zion. Not only is Nephi pointing out our blindness and rebellion from God, he completely pulls off the covers of our hiding as he tells us that we will also reject God’s words.
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; and also, that I may remember the promises which I have made unto thee, Nephi, and also unto thy father, that I would remember your seed; and that the words of your seed should proceed forth out of my mouth unto your seed; and my words shall hiss forth unto the ends of the earth, for a standard unto my people, which are of the house of Israel. And because my words shall hiss forth—many of the Gentiles shall say: A Bible! A Bible! We have got a Bible, and there cannot be any more Bible.
2 Nephi 29:1-3
Have we rejected the words of God that have hissed forth from the ends of the earth?
Yea, wo be unto him that hearkeneth unto the precepts of men, and denieth the power of God, and the gift of the Holy Ghost! Yea, wo be unto him that saith: We have received, and we need no more!
2 Nephi 28:26-27
Isn’t it interesting that the new curriculum of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for priesthood and relief society groups is to study the conference addresses. There is no other lesson plan or curriculum. Could this not be perceived as following the precepts of men? What happened to studying the words of the prophets of God? What happened to studying the scriptures?
In addition, we are encouraged to listen to and follow the Holy Ghost in the church, but only if it is in line with leadership-approved doctrines and principles. But if you believe in the gifts of the Spirit, and especially in using those gifts of the Spirit, then you fall outside of the good graces of the church and its leaders. One of the gifts of the Spirit if the gift of prophecy. Can you imagine what might happen if a man or woman started prophesying to other members of the church? They would be shut down very fast.
Final Plea
Moroni wrote pretty accurately concerning our day.
Yea, it shall come in a day when there shall be heard of fires, and tempests, and vapors of smoke in foreign lands; and there shall also be heard of wars, rumors of wars, and earthquakes in divers places. Yea, it shall come in a day when there shall be great pollutions upon the face of the earth; there shall be murders, and robbing, and lying, and deceivings, and whoredoms, and all manner of abominations; when there shall be many who will say, Do this, or do that, and it mattereth not, for the Lord will uphold such at the last day. But wo unto such, for they are in the gall of bitterness and in the bonds of iniquity. Yea, it shall come in a day when there shall be churches built up that shall say: Come unto me, and for your money you shall be forgiven of your sins.
Mormon 8:29-32
Then he condemns us for our flagrant rebellion from God.
If you feel chastened by these ancient prophets, please know it is because they love us. If they did not, why would they spend so much energy exhorting us to open our eyes? Nephi gives a final plea in the final words he wrote.
And now, my beloved brethren, and also Jew, and all ye ends of the earth, hearken unto these words and believe in Christ; and if ye believe not in these words believe in Christ. And if ye shall believe in Christ ye will believe in these words, for they are the words of Christ, and he hath given them unto me; and they teach all men that they should do good.
2 Nephi 33:10
Moroni gives a similar endearing plea for us to repent and to come to Christ. I love how he quotes Isaiah as he gives his final testimony and final plea. He gives such a beautiful supplication, I’ll end this post with his energetic entreaty to you and I to come to Christ.
And awake, and arise from the dust, O Jerusalem; yea, and put on thy beautiful garments, O daughter of Zion; and strengthen thy stakes and enlarge thy borders forever, that thou mayest no more be confounded, that the covenants of the Eternal Father which he hath made unto thee, O house of Israel, may be fulfilled. Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God. And again, if ye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ, and deny not his power, then are ye sanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of the blood of Christ, which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission of your sins, that ye become holy, without spot.
Moroni 10:31-33