Book of Mormon Commentary - 2 Nephi 27

by Don R. Hender

Now Nephi's rendition of Isaiah 29 seems to be more of an expounding upon it, for it does not merely quote from that record as we know it today, but Nephi does elaborate upon it and present it in his own words in many cases, thus not only expounding upon it, for it does so markedly pertain to that record which is made of him an his, but making it plain and clear unto the understanding as must have been beheld by Nephi in his own seeing of the vision of all. Or in other words, one might so state that Nephi did restate it in his own other words when the words of Isaiah did seem to fail his own understanding of it and he did also rely on the words of Isaiah when they did give a fair representation of it according to the mind of Nephi.

Scriptural Text [& Editorial] Commentary & Explanation Footnotes ~ References ~ JST

             CHAPTER 27
Darkness and apostasy shall cover the earth in the last days—The Book of Mormon shall come forth—Three witnesses shall testify of the book—The learned man cannot read the sealed book—The Lord shall do a marvelous work and a wonder—Compare Isaiah 29. [Between 559 and 545 B. C.]
When the Darkness of the Great Apostasy has ran its course of covering the earth, in the last days light from Heaven will resume and the setting of the stage for the restoration will be—The heavens will open and the Book of Mormon will come forth—Three witnesses will testify of the book—The prophecy of Isaiah concerning the learned men will be fulfilled of the sealed book, the vision of all—And the Lord will procede with his 'marvelous work' and 'wonder' performed by his followers unto the ends of the earth. Most of Isaiah 29 is referenced.

As Shown Per One Description

1 BUT, behold, in the ^alast days, or in the days of the Gentiles^a—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 ^bdrunken with iniquity and all manner of abominations—
2 And when that day shall come
they shall be ^avisited of the Lord of Hosts, with thunder and with earthquake, and with a great noise, and with storm, and with tempest, and with the ^bflame of devouring fire.
3 And all the ^anations that ^bfight against Zion, and that distress her, shall be as a dream of a night vision^a;

yea, it shall be unto them, even as unto a hungry man which dreameth, and behold he eateth but he awaketh and his soul is empty; or like unto a thirsty man which dreameth, and behold he drinketh but he awaketh and behold he is faint, and his soul hath appetite; yea, even so shall the multitude of all the nations be that fight against Mount Zion.

1^a day of the Gentiles In the day of the fulness of the Gentiles, in a day when the center of the world revolves around some other location than the middle east, is when the last days have come and the evolution of the earth's history under God has come full circle. Where Adams once lived is where the center of the earth's interest revolves around to day, and that is America. The center and leadership of the free world. Isaiah 29 6 Thou shalt be visited of the LORD of hosts with thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise, with storm and tempest, and the flame of devouring ^afire.
7 ¶ And the multitude of all the nations that fight against Ariel, even all that fight against her and her munition, and that distress her, shall be as a dream of a night vision^a.
8 It shall even be as when an hungry man dreameth, and, behold, he eateth; but he awaketh, and his soul is empty: or as when a thirsty man dreameth, and, behold, he drinketh; but he awaketh, and, behold, he is faint, and his soul hath appetite: so shall the multitude of all the nations be, that ^afight against mount ^bZion.
3/7^a a dream of a night vision God often reveals visionary information at night in 'dreams of night visions'. The prophet Ether did view the destruction of the Jaredites, his people, by night is such 'night visions' (Ether 13:13-14). Jacob and Joseph participated in such night visions dreams. So did Lehi and many of the other prophets of God.
1^a TG Last Days
   ^b Isa. 29:9; TG Abomination;
      TG Iniquity; TG Wickedness
2^a Isa. 29:6-10; Morm. 8:29
   ^b Isa. 24:6; Isa. 66:16;
      Jacob 6:3; 3 Ne. 25:1
3^a Isa. 29:7 (7-8)
   ^b 1 Ne. 22:14;
      TG Protection, Divine

Isaiah 29 6^a D&C 97:26
8^a TG Protection Divine
   ^b TG Zion

4 For behold, all ye that doeth iniquity, stay yourselves and wonder, for ye shall cry out, and cry; yea, ye shall be ^adrunken but not with wine, ye shall stagger but not with strong drink.
5 For behold, the Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep. For behold, ye have closed your ^aeyes, and ye have ^brejected the prophets; and your rulers, and the seers hath he covered because of your iniquity.

Isaiah 29 9 ¶ Stay yourselves, and wonder; cry ye out, and cry: they are ^adrunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink.
10 For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep ^asleep, and hath closed your ^beyes: the ^cprophets and your rulers, the ^dseers hath he ^ecovered. 4^a Rev. 17:6 (1-6); 2 Ne. 8:21
5^a TG Spiritual Blindness
   ^b 2 Chr. 24:19; Jer. 26:5; Jer. 37:15;
     Zech. 1:4 (2-5)

Isaiah 29    9^a 2 Ne. 27:1
10^a Rom. 11:8 (7-8)
     ^b TG Spiritual Blindness
     ^c 2 Ne. 27:5
     ^d TG Seer
     ^e Micah 3:7

6 And it shall come to pass that the Lord God shall bring forth unto ^ayou the words of a ^bbook, and they shall be the words of them which have slumbered.
7 And behold the book shall be ^asealed; and in the book shall be a ^brevelation from God, from the beginning of the world to the ^cending thereof^a.
8 Wherefore, because of the things which are ^asealed up, the things which are sealed shall not be delivered in the day of the wickedness and abominations of the people. Wherefore the book shall be kept from them.

7/11^a the vision of all ... a revelation from God, from the beginning of the world to the ending thereof This is the Book of Mormon both the sealed and unsealed portions of it. ISAIAH 29 11 And the vision of all^a is become unto you as the words of a ^abook that is ^bsealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed:
12 And the book is delivered to ^ahim that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned. 6^a Jarom 1:2-6; Morm. 5:12-13
   ^b 2 Ne. 26:17 (16-17); 2 Ne. 29:12;
     TG Book of Mormon
7^a Isa. 29:11-12; Ether 3:27; TG Seal
   ^b Mosiah 8:19; Ether 3:25 (20:28); Ether 4:4
   ^c Ether 1:2-4; Ether 13:1-13
8^a 3 Ne. 26:9 (7-12, 18); Ether 4:5; Ether 5:1;
     D&C 17:6

Isaiah 29 11^a TG Book of Mormon;
       TG Scriptures to Come Forth
     ^b 2 Ne. 27:7 (6-26); JS-H 1:65 (63-65); TG Seals
12^a JS-H 1:59

Nephi Elaborates
Nephi, having also seen the same visionary experiences as he is quoting of Isaiah from the plates of brass, now brakes from the Isaiah text to write that which he has seen that particularly applies to the record that he is in the process of preparing. And in Nephi's vision of all as received by him, Nephi knows more concerning the details of the record being spoken of and its eventual coming forth. Nephi's greater 'perception' of this portion of the vision is due to his particiation in it and the fact that he has seen its coming forth by the hand of the latter-day prophet [Joseph Smith], to whom Nephi steps to the future which he has seen and speaks directly to that latter-day prophet concerning the coming forth of this (his) record including the fact that there will be three selected witnesses to the Book of Mormon plates.

9 But the book shall be delivered unto a man, and he shall deliver the words of the book, which are the words of those who have slumbered in the dust, and he shall deliver these words unto ^aanother;
10 But the words which are ^asealed he shall not deliver, neither shall he deliver the book. For the book shall be sealed by the power of God, and the revelation which was sealed shall be kept in the book until the own due time of the Lord, that they may come forth; for behold, they ^breveal all things from the foundation of the world unto the end thereof^a.
11 And the day cometh that the words of the book which were sealed shall be read upon the house tops; and they shall be read by the power of Christ; and all things shall be ^arevealed unto the children of men which ever have been among the children of men, and which ever will be even unto the end of the earth.

10^a all things from the foundation of the world unto the end thereof Many of the prophets of God have seen the vision which is known by the descriptive title of 'The Vision of All'. Mahonri Moriancumr saw it and recorded the whole of it and it is had upon the plates prepared by Ether who also saw it. Adam saw it and did prophesy of it unto his children and all things pertaining unto them until the end. And we must suppose that Enoch saw it, Isaiah saw it, Lehi and Nephi saw it. King Mosiah translated it from the plates of Ether unto his people to be given them after their visitation of the Lord. Moroni would have also translated and perhaps also saw it. Even John the Revelator saw it and recorded the portion of it concerning the latter days in his Revelation of it. Nephi wrote many things concerning it in the Book of Mormon and he does reference many other such things and explains them as written by Isaiah. Yes the Book of Mormon is that which reveals the vision of all unto men, that portion given by Nephi and the Book of Mormon prophets down to and including Moroni, as well as the whole of it yet contained in the seal portion of the book which was received by the brother of Jared as hand upon the plates of Ether.    9^a JS-H 1:64
10^a Dan. 12:9; 1 Ne. 14:26; D&C 35:18;
       JS-H 1:65
     ^b Ether 4:15; TG God, Omniscience of
11^a Luke 12:3; Morm. 5:8; D&C 121:26-31

12 Wherefore, at that day when the book shall be delivered unto the man of whom I have spoken, the book shall be hid from the eyes of the world, that the eyes of none shall behold it save it be that ^athree ^bwitnesses shall behold it, by the power of God, besides him to whom the book shall be delivered; and they shall testify to the truth of the book and the things therein.
13 And there is ^anone other which shall view it, save it be a few according to the will of God, to bear testimony of his word unto the children of men; for the Lord God hath said that the words of the faithful should speak as if it were ^bfrom the dead.
14 Wherefore, the Lord God will proceed to bring forth the words of the book; and in the mouth of as many witnesses as seemeth him good will he establish his word; and wo be unto him that ^arejecteth the word of God!

12^a 2 Ne. 11:3; Ether 5:3 (2-4); D&C 5:11, 15;
       D&C 17:1
     ^b Deut. 19:15
13^a D&C 5:14 (3, 14)
     ^b 2 Ne. 3:19-20; 2 Ne. 33:13-15; Morm. 9:30;
       Moro. 10:27
14^a 2 Ne. 28:29-30; Ether 4:8

15 But behold, it shall come to pass that the Lord God shall say unto him to whom he shall deliver the book: Take these words which are not sealed and deliver them to another, that he may show them unto the learned, saying: ^aRead this, I pray thee. And the learned shall say: Bring hither the book, and I will read them.
16 And now, because of the glory of the world and to get ^again will they say this, and not for the glory of God^a.
17 And the man shall say: I cannot bring the book, for it is sealed.
18 Then shall the learned say: I cannot read it.

16^a because of the glory of the world and to get gain will they say this, and not for the glory of God Yes, this is that definition given of the practice of priestcraft. And thus do the learned practice it garbed in the ropes of the priesthood of the Devil as once stated by Hugh Nibley. And thus the 'learned man' who places his wisdom and learning above that of God and to the end of leading men astray and not unto the glory of God is he who does practice this false 'religion' of the Church of the Devil. 15^a Isa. 29:11
16^a TG Priestcraft

19 Wherefore it shall come to pass, that the Lord God will ^adeliver again the book and the words thereof to him that is not learned; and the man that is not learned shall say: I am not learned.
20 Then shall the Lord God say unto him: The learned shall not read them, for they have rejected them, and I am ^aable to do mine own work; wherefore thou shalt read the words which I shall give unto thee.
21 ^aTouch not the things which are sealed, for I will bring them forth in mine own due time; for I will show unto the children of men that I am able to do mine own work.

19^a Isa. 29:12
20^a Ex. 4:11-12; Jer. 1:7-9
21^a Ether 5:1

22 Wherefore, when thou hast read the words which I have commanded thee, and obtained the ^awitnesses which I have promised unto thee, then shalt thou seal up the book again, and hide it up unto me, that I may preserve the words which thou hast not read, until I shall see fit in mine own ^bwisdom to ^creveal all things unto the children of men.
23 For behold, I am God; and I am a God of ^amiracles; and I will show unto the ^bworld that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever; and I ^cwork not among the children of men save it be ^daccording to their faith.

22^a TG Witnesses
     ^b TG God, Wisdom of
     ^c Ether 4:7 (6-7); TG Mysteries of Godliness
23^a TG Marvelous; TG Miracle
     ^b TG World
     ^c W of M 1:7
     ^c Heb. 11:all; Ether 12:12 (7-22)

24 And again it shall come to pass that the Lord shall say unto him that shall read the words that shall be delivered him:
25 ^aForasmuch as this people draw near unto me with their mouth, and with their lips do ^bhonor me, but have removed their ^chearts far from me, and their fear towards me is taught by the ^dprecepts of men—
26 Therefore, I will proceed to do a ^amarvelous work among this people, yea, a ^bbmarvelous work and a wonder^a, for the ^cwisdom of their wise and ^dlearned shall perish, and the ^cunderstanding of their ^dprudent shall be hid.

Marvelous Work—Wonder The Marvelous Work is the whole of the Plan of Happiness, that is the Plan of Exaltation of man. And it certainly includes the restoration of the Gospel and the entelled fulfillment of the covenant promise to Abraham that the nations of the earth would be blessed in his name through the work of the tribe of Ephraim. And it is those workings of those people who act in the name of Christ and in association with His people under the banner of the tribe of Ephraim or Israel. And as Zechariah 3:8 distinguishes these followers of 'JEHOSHUA' as being, they who are those peculiar people to be "Wondered at".

Isaiah 29 13 ¶ Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people ^adraw near me with their ^bmouth, and with their lips do ^chonour me, but have ^dremoved their ^eheart far from me, and their ^ffear toward me is taught by the ^gprecept of men:
14 Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a ^amarvellous ^bwork among this people, even a ^bmarvellous work and a wonder^a: for the ^cwisdom of their wise men shall ^dperish, and the ^eunderstanding of their ^fprudent men shall be hid.
26/14^a marvelous work and a wonder There is a traditional 'unspoken' transliterated 'Mormon' meaning of a 'marvelous work and a wonder' and it is further enhanced by one of my favorite apostles, Elder LeGrand Richards' book titled, 'A Marvelous Work and A Wonder.' And that understanding is that it specifically refers to the latter-day work of the Gospel Restoration and the divine visitations which accompanied the coming forth of the Gospel Restoration including the Book of Mormon. That is well and good and very acceptable, but perhaps there is more to the story that goes back to and includes not only Abraham's covenant promise and Ephraim's envolvement in the fulfilling that promise of blesing the nations of the earth, but also even goes further back to Adam and even the preexistence. The whole of the work of God's Plan of Happiness is a marvelous work and according to Zechariah's vision of the preexistent council of determination and proclamation, the 'wonder' includes the people who are the followers of Christ/Jehoshua who were to be 'woundered at' (Zech. 3:8).
25^a Isa. 29:13-24
     ^b Matt. 15:8 (8-9); TG Honor; TG Respect
     ^c TG Hardheartedness
     ^d 2 Ne. 28:31
26^a 1 Ne. 22:8; 2 Ne. 29:1-2;
       TG Restoration of the Gospel
     ^b Isa. 29:14; 2 Ne. 25:17
     ^b Zech. 3:8
;      ^c TG Wisdom
     ^d TG Learning
     ^e TG Knowledge
     ^f TG Prudence

Isaiah 29 13^a JS-H 1:19 (5-26)
     ^b Ezek. 33:31 (30-33);
       TG Apostasy of the Early Christian Church;
       TG Hypocrisy
     ^b Zech. 3:8
     ^c Isa. 48:1; Matt. 15:8 (7-9)
     ^d Isa. 1:13; TG Apostasy of Israel
     ^e TG Hardheartedness; TG Heart; TG Worship
     ^f OR regard, reverence for me
     ^g TG Traditions of Man
14^a 1 Ne. 22:8; D&C 4:1; TG Book of Mormon;
       TG Restoration of the Gospel
     ^b TG God, Works of
     ^c TG Wisdom
     ^d D&C 76:9
     ^e TG Knowledge; TG Understanding
     ^f TG Prudence

27 And ^awo unto them that seek deep to hide their ^bcounsel from the Lord! And their works are in the ^cdark; and they say: Who seeth us, and who knoweth us? And they also say: Surely, your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the ^dpotter's clay. But behold, I will show unto them, saith the Lord of Hosts, that I ^eknow all their works. For shall the work say of him that made it, he made me not? Or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, he had no understanding?

Isaiah 29
15 Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their ^acounsel from the LORD, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who ^bseeth us? and who knoweth us?
16 Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter's clay: for shall the ^awork say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding?

27^a Isa. 29:15-16
     ^b TG Conspiracy; TG Counsel
     ^c TG Secret Combinatins
     ^d Jer. 18:6
     ^e TG God, Omniscience of

Isaiah 29
15^a TG Counselors
     ^b Isa. 47:10
16^a Isa. 45:9; Isa. 64:8

28 But behold, saith the Lord of Hosts: I will show unto the children of men that it is yet a very little while and Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field; and the ^afruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest.
29 ^aAnd in that day shall the ^bdeaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness.
30 And the ^ameek also shall increase, and their ^bjoy shall be in the Lord, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.

Isaiah 29
17 Is it not yet a very little while, and Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest?
18 ¶ And in that ^aday shall the deaf hear the words of the ^bbook, and the ^ceyes of the blind shall see out of ^dobscurity, and out of darkness.
19 The meek also shall increase their ^ajoy in the LORD, and the ^bpoor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.

   28^a TG Earth, Renewal of
   29^a Isa. 29:18
     ^b TG Deaf
30^a TG Meekness
     ^b D&C 101:36

Isaiah 29
18^a TG Last Days
     ^b TG Book of Mormon
     ^c Isa. 32:3; TG Sight
     ^d TG Darkness, Spiritual
19^a TG Joy
     ^b TG Poor

31 For assuredly as the Lord liveth they shall see that the ^aterrible one is brought to naught, and the scorner is consumed, and all that watch for iniquity are cut off;
32 And they that make a man an ^aoffender for a word, and lay a snare for him that reproveth in the ^bgate, and ^cturn aside the just for a thing of naught^a.
32^a they that make a man an offender for a word, and lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate, and turn aside the just for a thing of naught Now the world is full of such nit-pickers, those that would take it to judge others and not are they themselves would be judged. Joseph Smith is one who have been so unjustly judged of the world. Many have and still do find fault with the latter-day prophet because he was not perfect in all his ways and was not as they would have in their own minds so pictured a prophet of God to be. But this type of judging of others is rampt in the world. Something in someone's past, whether completely true or not, raises it ugly head again, without forgiveness of understanding that God has commanded all to forgive and forget and move on from the past and into the presence. Two such matters have arisen again in wake of the election of our current President of the United States. Donald Trump has been so 'ensnared' for having conversed in 'locker room talk' of banter between him and a person, which was not that which was addressed to the general public at all, but concerning an observation of the morals of Hollywood and how their reaction to the rich and fameous could be often seen. That banter was illegally recorded and during the 2016 presidential election used against him to 'make a man an offender for a word, the the amoral liberal leftist baised media laid a snare for him to purposefully twart and intentially alter a presidential election of the United States of America in favoer of the other canditate which that had repeatedly failed to persue regardless of her high crimes against the United State of leaking confidential and beyond top secret information by way of her illegal use of a personal at home email server to conduct all of her official work as the Secretary of State. That grave offense was illegal under the laws of the nation, but she skated free while the other was condemned for a word that was not illegal spoken, though poorly, as a matter of lockerromm banter of a lowest type. But his is not all. In adition, a renouned and highly honored Senator of the United States who had done much for the cause of the advancement of civil rights, working hand and hand with the people across the isle and those of an abused manority; has himself been so 'sinned' against because of he 'supposedly' being an offender 'for a word' of sorts over something that was supposed to be over three decades prior. This is when one the activist unsupstanciated that Mr. Sessions had been guilty of some word or action then supposed to offend a person of color. Whether that decades old 'supposed offence' had any substance of truth in it or not, the principle of the Lord's forgiveness of one another has not been followed. Judge not that ye be not judged. The point is, whether or not some thirty year of supposed sin did actually occur on the part of the one person or was merely supposed by the offence that they other had taken over something in which no offence was intended and even really given; has remained unforgiven and festered in the hearts of evil intentioned mean hearted persons to be brought up and forth some 30 years later in order to today tarnish a stiller person's life lead ever since such alledge offend was either really given or just assume and taken as such. It is good practice to forgive one another and let by gones be by gones, and not to dwell upon the past such as consistantly play the 'race card' and setting advancements some 30, 40 and even 50 years backwards to any such time that is past. Truly, 'Wo unto them that do or would make a man an offender for a word and would lay a snare for him that today rightfully reproveth at the city's gate. And thus they would turn aside the just of today for such a thing of naught long pasted.'
Isaiah 29
20 For the terrible one is brought to nought, and the scorner is consumed, and all that ^awatch for iniquity are ^bcut off^a:
21 That make a man an ^aoffender for a word, and lay a snare for him that reproveth in ^bthe gate, and ^cturn aside the just for a thing of nought.
20^a all that watch for iniquity are cut off What kind of statement is that? In this imperfect world all the hypocrites who are bent upon and even may earn their livings by 'looking for the bad everywhere around them, rather than to look for the good in people, are caught up in a very evil occupation of the use of their time. He that looketh for evil shall always find what he is looking for, even whether it turly be or not. A Parable of the Lord spoke a the prayer of a Pharisee and that of a Publican, a tax collector for Rome. The Pharisee on the step of the temple praised himself aloud in prayer for all of his own righteousness but in looking at the humble Pulican with head bent and standing in silent pray, further judge that he was further thankful that he, himself, who was so righteous was not like the Publican in the distance who was obviously to be accounted to be a sinner. And yet the Publican's prayer to God was that he who was a sinner, might be forgiven of his sins. Of these the Lord said that that day was the Publican justified and that the hypocritical self-righteous Pharisee was not. All are but sinners in this world of carnal sin. None are justified but by way of the atonement and forgiving grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.
31^a Isa. 29:20
32^a Luke 11:54 (53-54); Acts 22:22; TG Offense
     ^b Amos 5:10 (7, 10)
     ^c 2 Ne. 28:16

Isaiah 29
20^a Rev. 12:10; D&C 88:124; TG Watchfulness
     ^b D&C 45:50
21^a TG Offenses
     ^b OR stand in awe of the God of Israel
     ^c Amos 5:12

Judge Not Thou,
Lest Thou Be Judged
Justice is in that how you judge someone else, that is in the same manner that you will be judged. Or in other words, you will only be forgiven in so far as you do forgive others.

33 Therefore, thus saith the Lord, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob: Jacob shall ^anot now be ashamed, neither shall his face now wax pale.
34 But when he ^aseeth his children, the work of my hands, in the midst of him, they shall sanctify my name, and sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and shall fear the God of Israel.
35 They also that ^aerred in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmured shall ^blearn doctrine.

Isaiah 29
22 Therefore thus saith the LORD, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the ^ahouse of Jacob, Jacob shall not now be ashamed, neither shall his face now wax pale.
23 But when he seeth his children, the ^awork of mine hands, in the midst of him, they shall sanctify my name, and sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and shall ^bfear the ^cGod of Israel.
24 They also that ^aerred in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmured shall ^blearn doctrine.
33^a TG Israel, Restoration of
34^a Isa. 29:23
35^a 2 Ne. 28:14; D&C 33:4
     ^b Dan. 12:4-10

Isaiah 29
22^a 1 Ne. 15:19-20
23^a Isa. 45:11
     ^b OR stand in awe of the God of Israel
     ^c Isa. 45:3; 3 Ne. 11:14; D&C 36:1; D&C 127:3
24^a D&C 1:25
     ^b TG Learning

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Scriptural Text [& Editorial]	Commentary & Explanation	Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
CHAPTER 27 Darkness and apostasy shall cover the earth in the last days—The Book of Mormon shall come forth—Three witnesses shall testify of the book—The learned man cannot read the sealed book—The Lord shall do a marvelous work and a wonder—Compare Isaiah 29. [Between 559 and 545 B. C.]	When the Darkness of the Great Apostasy has ran its course of covering the earth, in the last days light from Heaven will resume and the setting of the stage for the restoration will be—The heavens will open and the Book of Mormon will come forth—Three witnesses will testify of the book—The prophecy of Isaiah concerning the learned men will be fulfilled of the sealed book, the vision of all—And the Lord will procede with his 'marvelous work' and 'wonder' performed by his followers unto the ends of the earth. Most of Isaiah 29 is referenced.	As Shown Per One Description
1 BUT, behold, in the ^alast days, or in the days of the Gentiles^a—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 ^bdrunken with iniquity and all manner of abominations— 2 And when that day shall come they shall be ^avisited of the Lord of Hosts, with thunder and with earthquake, and with a great noise, and with storm, and with tempest, and with the ^bflame of devouring fire. 3 And all the ^anations that ^bfight against Zion, and that distress her, shall be as a dream of a night vision^a; yea, it shall be unto them, even as unto a hungry man which dreameth, and behold he eateth but he awaketh and his soul is empty; or like unto a thirsty man which dreameth, and behold he drinketh but he awaketh and behold he is faint, and his soul hath appetite; yea, even so shall the multitude of all the nations be that fight against Mount Zion.	1^a day of the Gentiles In the day of the fulness of the Gentiles, in a day when the center of the world revolves around some other location than the middle east, is when the last days have come and the evolution of the earth's history under God has come full circle. Where Adams once lived is where the center of the earth's interest revolves around to day, and that is America. The center and leadership of the free world. Isaiah 29 6 Thou shalt be visited of the LORD of hosts with thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise, with storm and tempest, and the flame of devouring ^afire. 7 ¶ And the multitude of all the nations that fight against Ariel, even all that fight against her and her munition, and that distress her, shall be as a dream of a night vision^a. 8 It shall even be as when an hungry man dreameth, and, behold, he eateth; but he awaketh, and his soul is empty: or as when a thirsty man dreameth, and, behold, he drinketh; but he awaketh, and, behold, he is faint, and his soul hath appetite: so shall the multitude of all the nations be, that ^afight against mount ^bZion. 3/7^a a dream of a night vision God often reveals visionary information at night in 'dreams of night visions'. The prophet Ether did view the destruction of the Jaredites, his people, by night is such 'night visions' (Ether 13:13-14). Jacob and Joseph participated in such night visions dreams. So did Lehi and many of the other prophets of God.	1^a TG Last Days ^b Isa. 29:9; TG Abomination; TG Iniquity; TG Wickedness 2^a Isa. 29:6-10; Morm. 8:29 ^b Isa. 24:6; Isa. 66:16; Jacob 6:3; 3 Ne. 25:1 3^a Isa. 29:7 (7-8) ^b 1 Ne. 22:14; TG Protection, Divine Isaiah 29 6^a D&C 97:26 8^a TG Protection Divine ^b TG Zion
4 For behold, all ye that doeth iniquity, stay yourselves and wonder, for ye shall cry out, and cry; yea, ye shall be ^adrunken but not with wine, ye shall stagger but not with strong drink. 5 For behold, the Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep. For behold, ye have closed your ^aeyes, and ye have ^brejected the prophets; and your rulers, and the seers hath he covered because of your iniquity.	Isaiah 29 9 ¶ Stay yourselves, and wonder; cry ye out, and cry: they are ^adrunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink. 10 For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep ^asleep, and hath closed your ^beyes: the ^cprophets and your rulers, the ^dseers hath he ^ecovered.	4^a Rev. 17:6 (1-6); 2 Ne. 8:21 5^a TG Spiritual Blindness ^b 2 Chr. 24:19; Jer. 26:5; Jer. 37:15; Zech. 1:4 (2-5) Isaiah 29 9^a 2 Ne. 27:1 10^a Rom. 11:8 (7-8) ^b TG Spiritual Blindness ^c 2 Ne. 27:5 ^d TG Seer ^e Micah 3:7
6 And it shall come to pass that the Lord God shall bring forth unto ^ayou the words of a ^bbook, and they shall be the words of them which have slumbered. 7 And behold the book shall be ^asealed; and in the book shall be a ^brevelation from God, from the beginning of the world to the ^cending thereof^a. 8 Wherefore, because of the things which are ^asealed up, the things which are sealed shall not be delivered in the day of the wickedness and abominations of the people. Wherefore the book shall be kept from them.	7/11^a the vision of all ... a revelation from God, from the beginning of the world to the ending thereof This is the Book of Mormon both the sealed and unsealed portions of it. ISAIAH 29 11 And the vision of all^a is become unto you as the words of a ^abook that is ^bsealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed: 12 And the book is delivered to ^ahim that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned.	6^a Jarom 1:2-6; Morm. 5:12-13 ^b 2 Ne. 26:17 (16-17); 2 Ne. 29:12; TG Book of Mormon 7^a Isa. 29:11-12; Ether 3:27; TG Seal ^b Mosiah 8:19; Ether 3:25 (20:28); Ether 4:4 ^c Ether 1:2-4; Ether 13:1-13 8^a 3 Ne. 26:9 (7-12, 18); Ether 4:5; Ether 5:1; D&C 17:6 Isaiah 29 11^a TG Book of Mormon; TG Scriptures to Come Forth ^b 2 Ne. 27:7 (6-26); JS-H 1:65 (63-65); TG Seals 12^a JS-H 1:59
Nephi Elaborates Nephi, having also seen the same visionary experiences as he is quoting of Isaiah from the plates of brass, now brakes from the Isaiah text to write that which he has seen that particularly applies to the record that he is in the process of preparing. And in Nephi's vision of all as received by him, Nephi knows more concerning the details of the record being spoken of and its eventual coming forth. Nephi's greater 'perception' of this portion of the vision is due to his particiation in it and the fact that he has seen its coming forth by the hand of the latter-day prophet [Joseph Smith], to whom Nephi steps to the future which he has seen and speaks directly to that latter-day prophet concerning the coming forth of this (his) record including the fact that there will be three selected witnesses to the Book of Mormon plates.
9 But the book shall be delivered unto a man, and he shall deliver the words of the book, which are the words of those who have slumbered in the dust, and he shall deliver these words unto ^aanother; 10 But the words which are ^asealed he shall not deliver, neither shall he deliver the book. For the book shall be sealed by the power of God, and the revelation which was sealed shall be kept in the book until the own due time of the Lord, that they may come forth; for behold, they ^breveal all things from the foundation of the world unto the end thereof^a. 11 And the day cometh that the words of the book which were sealed shall be read upon the house tops; and they shall be read by the power of Christ; and all things shall be ^arevealed unto the children of men which ever have been among the children of men, and which ever will be even unto the end of the earth.	10^a all things from the foundation of the world unto the end thereof Many of the prophets of God have seen the vision which is known by the descriptive title of 'The Vision of All'. Mahonri Moriancumr saw it and recorded the whole of it and it is had upon the plates prepared by Ether who also saw it. Adam saw it and did prophesy of it unto his children and all things pertaining unto them until the end. And we must suppose that Enoch saw it, Isaiah saw it, Lehi and Nephi saw it. King Mosiah translated it from the plates of Ether unto his people to be given them after their visitation of the Lord. Moroni would have also translated and perhaps also saw it. Even John the Revelator saw it and recorded the portion of it concerning the latter days in his Revelation of it. Nephi wrote many things concerning it in the Book of Mormon and he does reference many other such things and explains them as written by Isaiah. Yes the Book of Mormon is that which reveals the vision of all unto men, that portion given by Nephi and the Book of Mormon prophets down to and including Moroni, as well as the whole of it yet contained in the seal portion of the book which was received by the brother of Jared as hand upon the plates of Ether.	9^a JS-H 1:64 10^a Dan. 12:9; 1 Ne. 14:26; D&C 35:18; JS-H 1:65 ^b Ether 4:15; TG God, Omniscience of 11^a Luke 12:3; Morm. 5:8; D&C 121:26-31
12 Wherefore, at that day when the book shall be delivered unto the man of whom I have spoken, the book shall be hid from the eyes of the world, that the eyes of none shall behold it save it be that ^athree ^bwitnesses shall behold it, by the power of God, besides him to whom the book shall be delivered; and they shall testify to the truth of the book and the things therein. 13 And there is ^anone other which shall view it, save it be a few according to the will of God, to bear testimony of his word unto the children of men; for the Lord God hath said that the words of the faithful should speak as if it were ^bfrom the dead. 14 Wherefore, the Lord God will proceed to bring forth the words of the book; and in the mouth of as many witnesses as seemeth him good will he establish his word; and wo be unto him that ^arejecteth the word of God!		12^a 2 Ne. 11:3; Ether 5:3 (2-4); D&C 5:11, 15; D&C 17:1 ^b Deut. 19:15 13^a D&C 5:14 (3, 14) ^b 2 Ne. 3:19-20; 2 Ne. 33:13-15; Morm. 9:30; Moro. 10:27 14^a 2 Ne. 28:29-30; Ether 4:8
15 But behold, it shall come to pass that the Lord God shall say unto him to whom he shall deliver the book: Take these words which are not sealed and deliver them to another, that he may show them unto the learned, saying: ^aRead this, I pray thee. And the learned shall say: Bring hither the book, and I will read them. 16 And now, because of the glory of the world and to get ^again will they say this, and not for the glory of God^a. 17 And the man shall say: I cannot bring the book, for it is sealed. 18 Then shall the learned say: I cannot read it.	16^a because of the glory of the world and to get gain will they say this, and not for the glory of God Yes, this is that definition given of the practice of priestcraft. And thus do the learned practice it garbed in the ropes of the priesthood of the Devil as once stated by Hugh Nibley. And thus the 'learned man' who places his wisdom and learning above that of God and to the end of leading men astray and not unto the glory of God is he who does practice this false 'religion' of the Church of the Devil.	15^a Isa. 29:11 16^a TG Priestcraft
19 Wherefore it shall come to pass, that the Lord God will ^adeliver again the book and the words thereof to him that is not learned; and the man that is not learned shall say: I am not learned. 20 Then shall the Lord God say unto him: The learned shall not read them, for they have rejected them, and I am ^aable to do mine own work; wherefore thou shalt read the words which I shall give unto thee. 21 ^aTouch not the things which are sealed, for I will bring them forth in mine own due time; for I will show unto the children of men that I am able to do mine own work.		19^a Isa. 29:12 20^a Ex. 4:11-12; Jer. 1:7-9 21^a Ether 5:1
22 Wherefore, when thou hast read the words which I have commanded thee, and obtained the ^awitnesses which I have promised unto thee, then shalt thou seal up the book again, and hide it up unto me, that I may preserve the words which thou hast not read, until I shall see fit in mine own ^bwisdom to ^creveal all things unto the children of men. 23 For behold, I am God; and I am a God of ^amiracles; and I will show unto the ^bworld that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever; and I ^cwork not among the children of men save it be ^daccording to their faith.		22^a TG Witnesses ^b TG God, Wisdom of ^c Ether 4:7 (6-7); TG Mysteries of Godliness 23^a TG Marvelous; TG Miracle ^b TG World ^c W of M 1:7 ^c Heb. 11:all; Ether 12:12 (7-22)
24 And again it shall come to pass that the Lord shall say unto him that shall read the words that shall be delivered him: 25 ^aForasmuch as this people draw near unto me with their mouth, and with their lips do ^bhonor me, but have removed their ^chearts far from me, and their fear towards me is taught by the ^dprecepts of men— 26 Therefore, I will proceed to do a ^amarvelous work among this people, yea, a ^bbmarvelous work and a wonder^a, for the ^cwisdom of their wise and ^dlearned shall perish, and the ^cunderstanding of their ^dprudent shall be hid. Marvelous Work—Wonder The Marvelous Work is the whole of the Plan of Happiness, that is the Plan of Exaltation of man. And it certainly includes the restoration of the Gospel and the entelled fulfillment of the covenant promise to Abraham that the nations of the earth would be blessed in his name through the work of the tribe of Ephraim. And it is those workings of those people who act in the name of Christ and in association with His people under the banner of the tribe of Ephraim or Israel. And as Zechariah 3:8 distinguishes these followers of 'JEHOSHUA' as being, they who are those peculiar people to be "Wondered at".	Isaiah 29 13 ¶ Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people ^adraw near me with their ^bmouth, and with their lips do ^chonour me, but have ^dremoved their ^eheart far from me, and their ^ffear toward me is taught by the ^gprecept of men: 14 Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a ^amarvellous ^bwork among this people, even a ^bmarvellous work and a wonder^a: for the ^cwisdom of their wise men shall ^dperish, and the ^eunderstanding of their ^fprudent men shall be hid. 26/14^a marvelous work and a wonder There is a traditional 'unspoken' transliterated 'Mormon' meaning of a 'marvelous work and a wonder' and it is further enhanced by one of my favorite apostles, Elder LeGrand Richards' book titled, '*A Marvelous Work and A Wonder*.' And that understanding is that it specifically refers to the latter-day work of the Gospel Restoration and the divine visitations which accompanied the coming forth of the Gospel Restoration including the Book of Mormon. That is well and good and very acceptable, but perhaps there is more to the story that goes back to and includes not only Abraham's covenant promise and Ephraim's envolvement in the fulfilling that promise of blesing the nations of the earth, but also even goes further back to Adam and even the preexistence. The whole of the work of God's Plan of Happiness is a marvelous work and according to Zechariah's vision of the preexistent council of determination and proclamation, the 'wonder' includes the people who are the followers of Christ/Jehoshua who were to be 'woundered at' (Zech. 3:8).	25^a Isa. 29:13-24 ^b Matt. 15:8 (8-9); TG Honor; TG Respect ^c TG Hardheartedness ^d 2 Ne. 28:31 26^a 1 Ne. 22:8; 2 Ne. 29:1-2; TG Restoration of the Gospel ^b Isa. 29:14; 2 Ne. 25:17 ^b Zech. 3:8 ; ^c TG Wisdom ^d TG Learning ^e TG Knowledge ^f TG Prudence Isaiah 29 13^a JS-H 1:19 (5-26) ^b Ezek. 33:31 (30-33); TG Apostasy of the Early Christian Church; TG Hypocrisy ^b Zech. 3:8 ^c Isa. 48:1; Matt. 15:8 (7-9) ^d Isa. 1:13; TG Apostasy of Israel ^e TG Hardheartedness; TG Heart; TG Worship ^f OR regard, reverence for me ^g TG Traditions of Man 14^a 1 Ne. 22:8; D&C 4:1; TG Book of Mormon; TG Restoration of the Gospel ^b TG God, Works of ^c TG Wisdom ^d D&C 76:9 ^e TG Knowledge; TG Understanding ^f TG Prudence
27 And ^awo unto them that seek deep to hide their ^bcounsel from the Lord! And their works are in the ^cdark; and they say: Who seeth us, and who knoweth us? And they also say: Surely, your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the ^dpotter's clay. But behold, I will show unto them, saith the Lord of Hosts, that I ^eknow all their works. For shall the work say of him that made it, he made me not? Or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, he had no understanding?	Isaiah 29 15 Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their ^acounsel from the LORD, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who ^bseeth us? and who knoweth us? 16 Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter's clay: for shall the ^awork say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding?	27^a Isa. 29:15-16 ^b TG Conspiracy; TG Counsel ^c TG Secret Combinatins ^d Jer. 18:6 ^e TG God, Omniscience of Isaiah 29 15^a TG Counselors ^b Isa. 47:10 16^a Isa. 45:9; Isa. 64:8
28 But behold, saith the Lord of Hosts: I will show unto the children of men that it is yet a very little while and Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field; and the ^afruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest. 29 ^aAnd in that day shall the ^bdeaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness. 30 And the ^ameek also shall increase, and their ^bjoy shall be in the Lord, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.	Isaiah 29 17 Is it not yet a very little while, and Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest? 18 ¶ And in that ^aday shall the deaf hear the words of the ^bbook, and the ^ceyes of the blind shall see out of ^dobscurity, and out of darkness. 19 The meek also shall increase their ^ajoy in the LORD, and the ^bpoor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.	28^a TG Earth, Renewal of 29^a Isa. 29:18 ^b TG Deaf 30^a TG Meekness ^b D&C 101:36 Isaiah 29 18^a TG Last Days ^b TG Book of Mormon ^c Isa. 32:3; TG Sight ^d TG Darkness, Spiritual 19^a TG Joy ^b TG Poor
31 For assuredly as the Lord liveth they shall see that the ^aterrible one is brought to naught, and the scorner is consumed, and all that watch for iniquity are cut off; 32 And they that make a man an ^aoffender for a word, and lay a snare for him that reproveth in the ^bgate, and ^cturn aside the just for a thing of naught^a. 32^a they that make a man an offender for a word, and lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate, and turn aside the just for a thing of naught Now the world is full of such nit-pickers, those that would take it to judge others and not are they themselves would be judged. Joseph Smith is one who have been so unjustly judged of the world. Many have and still do find fault with the latter-day prophet because he was not perfect in all his ways and was not as they would have in their own minds so pictured a prophet of God to be. But this type of judging of others is rampt in the world. Something in someone's past, whether completely true or not, raises it ugly head again, without forgiveness of understanding that God has commanded all to forgive and forget and move on from the past and into the presence. Two such matters have arisen again in wake of the election of our current President of the United States. Donald Trump has been so 'ensnared' for having conversed in 'locker room talk' of banter between him and a person, which was not that which was addressed to the general public at all, but concerning an observation of the morals of Hollywood and how their reaction to the rich and fameous could be often seen. That banter was illegally recorded and during the 2016 presidential election used against him to 'make a man an offender for a word, the the amoral liberal leftist baised media laid a snare for him to purposefully twart and intentially alter a presidential election of the United States of America in favoer of the other canditate which that had repeatedly failed to persue regardless of her high crimes against the United State of leaking confidential and beyond top secret information by way of her illegal use of a personal at home email server to conduct all of her official work as the Secretary of State. That grave offense was illegal under the laws of the nation, but she skated free while the other was condemned for a word that was not illegal spoken, though poorly, as a matter of lockerromm banter of a lowest type. But his is not all. In adition, a renouned and highly honored Senator of the United States who had done much for the cause of the advancement of civil rights, working hand and hand with the people across the isle and those of an abused manority; has himself been so 'sinned' against because of he 'supposedly' being an offender 'for a word' of sorts over something that was supposed to be over three decades prior. This is when one the activist unsupstanciated that Mr. Sessions had been guilty of some word or action then supposed to offend a person of color. Whether that decades old 'supposed offence' had any substance of truth in it or not, the principle of the Lord's forgiveness of one another has not been followed. Judge not that ye be not judged. The point is, whether or not some thirty year of supposed sin did actually occur on the part of the one person or was merely supposed by the offence that they other had taken over something in which no offence was intended and even really given; has remained unforgiven and festered in the hearts of evil intentioned mean hearted persons to be brought up and forth some 30 years later in order to today tarnish a stiller person's life lead ever since such alledge offend was either really given or just assume and taken as such. It is good practice to forgive one another and let by gones be by gones, and not to dwell upon the past such as consistantly play the 'race card' and setting advancements some 30, 40 and even 50 years backwards to any such time that is past. Truly, 'Wo unto them that do or would make a man an offender for a word and would lay a snare for him that today rightfully reproveth at the city's gate. And thus they would turn aside the just of today for such a thing of naught long pasted.'	Isaiah 29 20 For the terrible one is brought to nought, and the scorner is consumed, and all that ^awatch for iniquity are ^bcut off^a: 21 That make a man an ^aoffender for a word, and lay a snare for him that reproveth in ^bthe gate, and ^cturn aside the just for a thing of nought. 20^a all that watch for iniquity are cut off What kind of statement is that? In this imperfect world all the hypocrites who are bent upon and even may earn their livings by 'looking for the bad everywhere around them, rather than to look for the good in people, are caught up in a very evil occupation of the use of their time. He that looketh for evil shall always find what he is looking for, even whether it turly be or not. A Parable of the Lord spoke a the prayer of a Pharisee and that of a Publican, a tax collector for Rome. The Pharisee on the step of the temple praised himself aloud in prayer for all of his own righteousness but in looking at the humble Pulican with head bent and standing in silent pray, further judge that he was further thankful that he, himself, who was so righteous was not like the Publican in the distance who was obviously to be accounted to be a sinner. And yet the Publican's prayer to God was that he who was a sinner, might be forgiven of his sins. Of these the Lord said that that day was the Publican justified and that the hypocritical self-righteous Pharisee was not. All are but sinners in this world of carnal sin. None are justified but by way of the atonement and forgiving grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.	31^a Isa. 29:20 32^a Luke 11:54 (53-54); Acts 22:22; TG Offense ^b Amos 5:10 (7, 10) ^c 2 Ne. 28:16 Isaiah 29 20^a Rev. 12:10; D&C 88:124; TG Watchfulness ^b D&C 45:50 21^a TG Offenses ^b OR stand in awe of the God of Israel ^c Amos 5:12 Judge Not Thou, Lest Thou Be Judged Justice is in that how you judge someone else, that is in the same manner that you will be judged. Or in other words, you will only be forgiven in so far as you do forgive others.
33 Therefore, thus saith the Lord, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob: Jacob shall ^anot now be ashamed, neither shall his face now wax pale. 34 But when he ^aseeth his children, the work of my hands, in the midst of him, they shall sanctify my name, and sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and shall fear the God of Israel. 35 They also that ^aerred in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmured shall ^blearn doctrine.	Isaiah 29 22 Therefore thus saith the LORD, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the ^ahouse of Jacob, Jacob shall not now be ashamed, neither shall his face now wax pale. 23 But when he seeth his children, the ^awork of mine hands, in the midst of him, they shall sanctify my name, and sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and shall ^bfear the ^cGod of Israel. 24 They also that ^aerred in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmured shall ^blearn doctrine.	33^a TG Israel, Restoration of 34^a Isa. 29:23 35^a 2 Ne. 28:14; D&C 33:4 ^b Dan. 12:4-10 Isaiah 29 22^a 1 Ne. 15:19-20 23^a Isa. 45:11 ^b OR stand in awe of the God of Israel ^c Isa. 45:3; 3 Ne. 11:14; D&C 36:1; D&C 127:3 24^a D&C 1:25 ^b TG Learning