1 Nephi 12

Appearance to the Nephites

And I saw the heavens open, and the Lamb of God descending out of heaven; and he came down and showed himself unto them. 1 Nephi 12:6

After the great destructions at His death, Nephi sees the resurrected Lamb of God come down from heaven and show Himself to Nephi's descendants. This is fulfilled in 3 Nephi 11.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him

• fulfilled by 3 Nephi 11:8 — They saw a Man descending out of heaven, clothed in a white robe.
• the same event in 2 Nephi 26:9 — The Son of righteousness shall appear unto them and heal them.
• fulfils 1 Nephi 11:7 — The promised sign of a man descending out of heaven.

Lamb of God

Lamb of God — the sacrificial Lamb God provides

And the angel spake unto me, saying: Behold the twelve disciples of the Lamb, who are chosen to minister unto thy seed. 1 Nephi 12:8–9

Both the Nephite Twelve and the apostles in Jerusalem are called the disciples and apostles of the Lamb, because they are Christ's chosen witnesses who serve and judge under Him.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to Matthew 19:28 — The Twelve shall sit on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
• fulfilled by 3 Nephi 12:1 — Jesus calls and gives power to twelve Nephite disciples.
• the same title in Mormon 3:18-19 — The Twelve in Jerusalem judge Israel and the Nephite Twelve are judged of them.

Cleansed by the blood of the Lamb

And these twelve ministers whom thou beholdest shall judge thy seed. And, behold, they are righteous forever; for because of their faith in the Lamb of God their garments are made white in his blood. 1 Nephi 12:10–11

The righteous Nephites are clean not because they never sinned, but because their faith in the Lamb of God allowed His blood, His Atonement, to wash them white.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a Church study aid lists it

• the same title in Revelation 7:14 — They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
• the same title in Alma 13:11 — Their garments were washed white through the blood of the Lamb.
• alludes to Alma 5:21 — No man can be saved except his garments are washed white through the blood of Christ.

Messiah who is the Lamb of God

Messiah — the Anointed One

And the large and spacious building, which thy father saw, is vain imaginations and the pride of the children of men. And a great and a terrible gulf divideth them; yea, even the word of the justice of the Eternal God, and the Messiah who is the Lamb of God, of whom the Holy Ghost beareth record, from the beginning of the world until this time, and from this time henceforth and forever. 1 Nephi 12:18

The angel identifies the Messiah as the Lamb of God, and says the Holy Ghost has always borne record of Him. The gulf that separates the wicked from the tree is made by God's justice and the Messiah, who is also the Judge.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to Luke 16:26 — A great gulf fixed between the righteous and the wicked.
• the same title in 3 Nephi 11:32 — Jesus: the Holy Ghost beareth record of the Father and me.
• interprets 1 Nephi 15:28-30 — Nephi later explains the awful gulf to his brothers.