1 [22:1a]
And now, after I, Nephi, had finished reading the ancient words engraved upon the Plates of Brass, my brothers gathered around me with troubled faces and asked: What is the meaning of these writings you have read to us?
2 [22:1b]
Are they only symbolsa of spiritual things? Or do they speak of mysteries to be fulfilled by the Ruach alone, and not in the world of flesh?
3 [22:2a]
And I answered them, saying: These things were revealed to the prophets by the Ruach, the Breath of the Holy Onea.
4 [22:2b]
By the Ruach HaKodesh are all truths made known to seers and visionaries, truths that will come to pass among the children of Adama in the realm of mortal life.
5 [22:3a]
Know this: the words I have read concern both the outward and the inward, both the temporal and the eternal.
6 [22:3b]
We see that Bnei Yisrael, those called to walk the straight path toward Elohim, shall, in the unfolding of ages, be scattered across the face of the earth, sown like seed among every nation.
7 [22:4a]
Already many are losta from the memory of Yerushalayim,
8 [22:4b]
the greater part of the tribes have vanisheda into distant lands,
9 [22:4c]
scattered upon the islands of the seas,
10 [22:4d]
hidden in places unknown to us, we only know they have been led away by the hand of Providence.
11 [22:5a]
The prophets have spoken concerning these scattereda ones; they have told of a people confounded because they hardened their hearts against HaKadosh Yisrael and how they have hardened their hearts against Him.
12 [22:5b]
And because of this, they will be dispersed among all nations and feel the weight of rejection and sorrow.
13 [22:6a]
Yet the day will come when the goyim nations will nurse them like children, and יהוה YHVH will raise His hand among the nations and lift them up as a banner, daughters will be carried upon shoulders, sons will be borne in loving arms: these promises are outward and historical as they flow from the eternal covenants sworn to our fathers.
14 [22:6b]
And not only the days to come, but all who descend from Bet Yisrael.
15 [22:7a]
And after Yisrael has been scattered and confused, YHVH Elohim will raise up a mighty nation among the goyim upon thisa very land.
16 [22:7b]
Through them our seed will be scattereda again.
17 [22:8a]
And after the scattering, a marvelous work will begin, a work of wonder and restorationa.
18 [22:8b]
Think of it as Yisrael being nourished by the goyim, carried tenderly as an infant, lifted and strengthened for a new beginning.
19 [22:9a]
It will be a great blessing to the goyim!
20 [22:9b]
This work will bless not only the goyim but the entire Bet Yisraela, it will reveal anew the covenants of the Father of Heaven, the promises made to Avraham, father of many nations: In your seed will all the families of the earth be blessed.
21 [22:10]
Understand this, my brothers: there will be no tikkun olama, the earth cannot be healed, until HaKadosh bares His holy arm before all peoples.
22 [22:11]
Then יהוה YHVH will unveil His power in the sight of every nation, bringing forth His covenants and His glad tidings to those who are of Yisrael.
23 [22:12a]
He will draw them out of captivitya, gather them to the lands prepared for their inheritance,
24 [22:12b]
bringing them out of obscurity and darkness.
25 [22:12c]
And they shall know with certainty that יהוה YHVH is their Moshia, their Ga’ali—Ha’Kadosh Yisrael.
26 [22:13a]
But the false powers of the world, the great and corrupted systems that enslave souls, sellers of their own souls, will turna upon themselves.
27 [22:13b]
Those who sought to destroy Zion shall fall into the pits they have dug, falling upon their own swords, drunk from their own blood.
28 [22:14a]
Every nation that wars against Yisrael will be set against its own brother.
29 [22:14b]
They will fall into the very pit they will dig to trap the people of יהוה YHVH!
30 [22:14c]
All who fight against Zion will be destroyed.
31 [22:14d]
The great harleta that twisted the paths of יהוה YHVH will crumble to the dust, and her fall will be terrible.
32 [22:15a]
And the prophet has said: The day hastens when the Adversary will lose his grip upon the hearts of humankind.
33 [22:15b]
The proud will be as dry stubble, and wickedness will be consumed in holy fire.
34 [22:16a]
The fullness of divine justice will be poured out,
35 [22:16b]
yet the Holy One will not allow the righteous to be destroyed.
36 [22:17]
By His power, they will be preserved, even if deliverance must come through refining flames.
37 [22:18a]
And we know that the righteous do not need to fear, said the prophet, though the earth know blood and fire and billows of smoke, those who trust in Ha’Kadosh will endure.
38 [22:18b]
My brothers, I tell you that these things must soona come, the bloodshed, the fire, the thick smoke, it all must come!
39 [22:18c]
It will be here upon the facea of the earth!
40 [22:18d]
Mankind will bring it upon themselves, because they will harden their hearts against Ha’Kadosh Yisrael.
41 [22:19a]
But you will see that the righteous will live!
42 [22:19b]
Yet all who fight against Zion will be cut off.
43 [22:20a]
And יהוה YHVH will prepare a path for His people according to the promisea spoken through Moses:
44 [22:20b]
יהוה YHVH your Elohim will raise up a prophet for you; hear him in all things.
45 [22:20c]
And those who refuse that prophet will be separated from the people of Yisrael.
46 [22:21a]
I testify that this promised prophet Moses told us would come is Ha’Kadosh Yisrael Himself,
47 [22:21b]
and in righteousness He will give judgmenta.
48 [22:22a]
The just do not need to fear or tremble, for they will never be confounded.
49 [22:22b]
But the kingdom built upon pride and greed, the empire of the flesh, shall fall to ruin.
50 [22:23a]
All institutions raised up for gain, for power, for praise of the world, and all who chase the lusts of the eye and the arrogance of life:
51 [22:23b]
All these belong to the dominiona of darkness,
52 [22:23c]
they must be humbleda to the dust,
53 [22:23d]
and consumed like chaff before the wind.
54 [22:23e]
This is what the prophet has told us.
55 [22:24]
But the righteous will be gathered gently, like calves led from the stall, and Ha’Kadosh Yisrael will reign in dominion, might, and radiant glory.
56 [22:25a]
He will gather His children from the four cornersa of the earth.
57 [22:25b]
He will number His sheep, and they will knowa His voice.
58 [22:25c]
There will be one fold and one Shepherd.
59 [22:25d]
He will feed His flock in green pastures, and in Him they will find rest.
60 [22:26a]
And then, because of the righteousness of His people, the power of the Adversary shall wither away.
61 [22:26b]
He will have no dominion for manya years,
62 [22:26c]
because hearts will be filled with light, and Ha’Kadosh Yisrael will reign openly among them.
63 [22:27]
And now, I, Nephi, tell you these things that will unfold in the realm of flesh and history.
64 [22:28]
And every nation and tongue that turns in teshuvah will dwell safely in the embrace of Ha’Kadosh.
65 [22:29]
¶ And now I, Nephi, bring my words to a close, for there are mysteriesa yet I dare not speak.
66 [22:30a]
Remember, my brothers: the writings upon the Plates of Brass are truea!
67 [22:30b]
And they testify that all humankind must walk in obedience to the mitzvoth, the holy teachings of Ve’Daiyan Yisraela.
68 [22:31a]
Do not think that our father and I are the only ones to bear witness; the chorus of prophets stands with us!
69 [22:31b]
And if you will keep the mitzvoth and endure faithfully to the enda, you will be saved in the final day.
70 [22:31c]
And thus it is: Amen.