2 Nephi 25

Only Begotten of the Father

Only Begotten — the only child of Heavenly Father in the flesh

But, behold, they shall have wars, and rumors of wars; and when the day cometh that the Only Begotten of the Father, yea, even the Father of heaven and of earth, shall manifest himself unto them in the flesh, behold, they will reject him, because of their iniquities, and the hardness of their hearts, and the stiffness of their necks. 2 Nephi 25:12

Nephi prophesies that the Only Begotten Son of the Father will come in a mortal body among the Jews and that many will reject Him. Jesus is the only person born with Heavenly Father as His literal father.

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

• the same title in John 1:14 — The Word made flesh, 'the only begotten of the Father'.
• fulfilled by John 1:11 — 'He came unto his own, and his own received him not'.
• the same event in 2 Nephi 10:3 — Jacob foretells Christ coming among the Jews, the more wicked part who will crucify Him.

Father of Heaven and of Earth

Father of heaven and earth — Christ as Creator of the heavens and the earth under the Father

But, behold, they shall have wars, and rumors of wars; and when the day cometh that the Only Begotten of the Father, yea, even the Father of heaven and of earth, shall manifest himself unto them in the flesh, behold, they will reject him, because of their iniquities, and the hardness of their hearts, and the stiffness of their necks. 2 Nephi 25:12

Nephi calls the Only Begotten Son 'the Father of heaven and of earth' because He created them under Heavenly Father's direction. He is the Son of the Father and the Father of all creation.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• the same title in Mosiah 3:8 — 'Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things'.
• the same title in 2 Nephi 19:6 — The promised Son called 'The Everlasting Father'.

Crucifixion and burial

Behold, they will crucify him; and after he is laid in a sepulchre for the space of three days he shall rise from the dead, with healing in his wings; and all those who shall believe on his name shall be saved in the kingdom of God. Wherefore, my soul delighteth to prophesy concerning him, for I have seen his day, and my heart doth magnify his holy name. 2 Nephi 25:13

About 550 years before it happened, Nephi plainly foretells that Christ will be crucified and laid in a tomb for three days. Nephi had already seen these events in vision.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• the same event in 1 Nephi 11:32-33 — Nephi's vision of the Lamb of God lifted up on the cross.
• fulfilled by John 19:18 — They crucified Him at Golgotha.

Resurrection with healing in His wings

Behold, they will crucify him; and after he is laid in a sepulchre for the space of three days he shall rise from the dead, with healing in his wings; and all those who shall believe on his name shall be saved in the kingdom of God. Wherefore, my soul delighteth to prophesy concerning him, for I have seen his day, and my heart doth magnify his holy name. 2 Nephi 25:13

Christ will rise from the dead, bringing healing for everyone who believes on His name. 'Healing in his wings' is the same image Malachi uses for the Sun of Righteousness, which the risen Lord later quoted to the Nephites.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• fulfilled by Luke 24:6-7 — 'He is not here, but is risen... the third day rise again'.
• the same title in Malachi 4:2 — 'The Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings'.
• the same title in 3 Nephi 25:2 — The risen Christ quotes Malachi's 'healing in his wings' to the Nephites.

Nephi's witness of Christ

Behold, they will crucify him; and after he is laid in a sepulchre for the space of three days he shall rise from the dead, with healing in his wings; and all those who shall believe on his name shall be saved in the kingdom of God. Wherefore, my soul delighteth to prophesy concerning him, for I have seen his day, and my heart doth magnify his holy name. 2 Nephi 25:13

Nephi bears personal witness: he has seen Christ's day in vision, loves to prophesy of Him, and honors His holy name. His testimony comes from what he saw, not only what he read.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• the same event in 1 Nephi 11:27-31 — Nephi's vision of the Lamb of God's baptism and ministry.
• the same event in 2 Nephi 11:2 — Nephi says he has seen his Redeemer.

Messiah

Messiah — the Anointed One

And behold it shall come to pass that after the Messiah hath risen from the dead, and hath manifested himself unto his people, unto as many as will believe on his name, behold, Jerusalem shall be destroyed again; for wo unto them that fight against God and the people of his church. 2 Nephi 25:14

Nephi prophesies that the risen Messiah will show Himself to His people who believe. This was fulfilled when He appeared to His disciples in Jerusalem and to the Nephites at the temple in Bountiful.

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

• fulfilled by 3 Nephi 11:8-10 — The resurrected Christ descends and declares Himself to the Nephites.
• fulfilled by Acts 1:3 — He showed Himself alive after His passion by many infallible proofs.

Christ, the Son of God

Christ — the Anointed One; Son of God — the literal Son of Heavenly Father

And after they have been scattered, and the Lord God hath scourged them by other nations for the space of many generations, yea, even down from generation to generation until they shall be persuaded to believe in Christ, the Son of God, and the atonement, which is infinite for all mankind—and when that day shall come that they shall believe in Christ, and worship the Father in his name, with pure hearts and clean hands, and look not forward any more for another Messiah, then, at that time, the day will come that it must needs be expedient that they should believe these things. 2 Nephi 25:16

Scattered Judah will be restored when they come to believe in Christ, the Son of God. The gathering of Israel is ultimately a gathering to faith in Jesus.

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

• the same title in 2 Nephi 25:19 — 'His name shall be Jesus Christ, the Son of God'.

The Infinite Atonement

And after they have been scattered, and the Lord God hath scourged them by other nations for the space of many generations, yea, even down from generation to generation until they shall be persuaded to believe in Christ, the Son of God, and the atonement, which is infinite for all mankind—and when that day shall come that they shall believe in Christ, and worship the Father in his name, with pure hearts and clean hands, and look not forward any more for another Messiah, then, at that time, the day will come that it must needs be expedient that they should believe these things. 2 Nephi 25:16

Christ's Atonement has no limits; it reaches every person who has ever lived. True worship is worshipping the Father in the name of His Son.

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

The Lord's second gathering and marvelous work

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

Nephi uses Isaiah's words to say the Lord will reach out again to restore Israel through a marvelous work, the Restoration and the coming forth of the Book of Mormon. The Lord doing this work is Christ.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• quotes 2 Nephi 21:11 — 'The Lord shall set his hand again the second time'.
• quotes Isaiah 29:14 — 'I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder'.
• interpreted by 2 Nephi 6:14 — The Messiah is the one who sets Himself the second time to recover Israel.

The True Messiah

Messiah — the Anointed One

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

Nephi teaches that the prophets spoke of only one Messiah, the one His own people would reject, and warns that any other claimed Messiah is false. The Lord's words, including the Book of Mormon, will convince people that Jesus is that Messiah.

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

• alludes to Isaiah 53:3 — 'He is despised and rejected of men'.
• alluded to by Matthew 24:24 — Jesus warns of false Christs who deceive.

Time of His Coming

For according to the words of the prophets, the Messiah cometh in six hundred years from the time that my father left Jerusalem; and according to the words of the prophets, and also the word of the angel of God, his name shall be Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 Nephi 25:19

The prophets gave Nephi's people an exact timetable: the Messiah would come six hundred years after Lehi left Jerusalem. The Nephites watched this count closely until the sign of His birth.

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

• the same event in 1 Nephi 10:4 — Lehi: 'six hundred years from the time my father left Jerusalem, a prophet would the Lord God raise up... even a Messiah'.
• fulfilled by 3 Nephi 1:13 — The voice of the Lord: 'on the morrow come I into the world'.

Jesus Christ, the Son of God

Jesus — Jehovah saves; Christ — the Anointed One

For according to the words of the prophets, the Messiah cometh in six hundred years from the time that my father left Jerusalem; and according to the words of the prophets, and also the word of the angel of God, his name shall be Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 Nephi 25:19

An angel of God revealed the Savior's actual name to Nephi's people centuries before His birth: Jesus Christ, the Son of God. This is one of the plainest statements of His name in all of scripture before the New Testament.

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

• the same title in 2 Nephi 10:3 — An angel tells Jacob that Christ shall be His name.
• the same title in Mosiah 3:8 — An angel tells King Benjamin 'he shall be called Jesus Christ, the Son of God'.
• the same title in Matthew 1:21 — An angel tells Joseph to call His name Jesus.

The Only Saving Name

Jesus — Jehovah saves; Christ — the Anointed One

And now, my brethren, I have spoken plainly that ye cannot err. And as the Lord God liveth that brought Israel up out of the land of Egypt, and gave unto Moses power that he should heal the nations after they had been bitten by the poisonous serpents, if they would cast their eyes unto the serpent which he did raise up before them, and also gave him power that he should smite the rock and the water should come forth; yea, behold I say unto you, that as these things are true, and as the Lord God liveth, there is none other name given under heaven save it be this Jesus Christ, of which I have spoken, whereby man can be saved. 2 Nephi 25:20

Nephi swears by the living God who led Israel out of Egypt that salvation comes only through the name of Jesus Christ. The same Lord who healed and watered Israel in the wilderness is the only one who can save us.

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

• the same title in Acts 4:12 — Peter: 'none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved'.
• the same title in Mosiah 3:17 — 'No other name given nor any other way... only in and through the name of Christ'.

The Brazen Serpent

And now, my brethren, I have spoken plainly that ye cannot err. And as the Lord God liveth that brought Israel up out of the land of Egypt, and gave unto Moses power that he should heal the nations after they had been bitten by the poisonous serpents, if they would cast their eyes unto the serpent which he did raise up before them, and also gave him power that he should smite the rock and the water should come forth; yea, behold I say unto you, that as these things are true, and as the Lord God liveth, there is none other name given under heaven save it be this Jesus Christ, of which I have spoken, whereby man can be saved. 2 Nephi 25:20

Bitten Israelites were healed simply by looking at the serpent Moses raised on a pole. Nephi sets this right beside his testimony of Jesus Christ, because Christ was lifted up on the cross and all who look to Him in faith are healed.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• alludes to Numbers 21:8-9 — The serpent of brass on a pole; whoever looked lived.
• interpreted by John 3:14-15 — 'As Moses lifted up the serpent... even so must the Son of man be lifted up'.
• interpreted by Helaman 8:14-15 — Nephi son of Helaman: Moses lifted the serpent as a type of the Son of God.
• interpreted by Alma 33:19-22 — Alma: the raised serpent was a type; look to the Son of God and live.

The Smitten Rock

And now, my brethren, I have spoken plainly that ye cannot err. And as the Lord God liveth that brought Israel up out of the land of Egypt, and gave unto Moses power that he should heal the nations after they had been bitten by the poisonous serpents, if they would cast their eyes unto the serpent which he did raise up before them, and also gave him power that he should smite the rock and the water should come forth; yea, behold I say unto you, that as these things are true, and as the Lord God liveth, there is none other name given under heaven save it be this Jesus Christ, of which I have spoken, whereby man can be saved. 2 Nephi 25:20

Moses struck the rock and water flowed to save thirsty Israel in the desert. Paul teaches that 'that Rock was Christ', who was smitten so living water could flow to us.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• alludes to Exodus 17:6 — Moses smites the rock in Horeb and water comes out.
• interpreted by 1 Corinthians 10:4 — 'They drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ'.

Saved by Grace

For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do. 2 Nephi 25:23

Nephi's whole purpose in writing is to help people believe in Christ and be reconciled to God. We are saved by Christ's grace; doing all we can is how we receive it, not how we earn it.

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

Christ, the end of the law

Christ — the Anointed One

And, notwithstanding we believe in Christ, we keep the law of Moses, and look forward with steadfastness unto Christ, until the law shall be fulfilled. 2 Nephi 25:24–25

The Nephites obeyed the law of Moses while understanding that its whole purpose was to point them to Christ. The law itself could not give life; life came from faith in Christ.

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

We Talk of Christ

And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins. 2 Nephi 25:26

Nephi describes a family and a people centered on Christ in their conversation, joy, preaching and writing. They did it so their children would know that forgiveness comes only from Him.

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

The Law Fulfilled in Christ

Christ — the Anointed One

Wherefore, we speak concerning the law that our children may know the deadness of the law; and they, by knowing the deadness of the law, may look forward unto that life which is in Christ, and know for what end the law was given. And after the law is fulfilled in Christ, that they need not harden their hearts against him when the law ought to be done away. 2 Nephi 25:27

Nephi foresees that the law of Moses will be fulfilled in Christ and then done away, and he teaches his children so they will not resist Christ when that happens. The risen Savior later announced to the Nephites that the law was fulfilled in Him.

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

• fulfilled by 3 Nephi 9:17 — Christ: 'in me is the law of Moses fulfilled'.
• fulfilled by 3 Nephi 15:5 — 'The law is fulfilled that was given unto Moses'.

The Right Way

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. 2 Nephi 25:28–29

Nephi says it twice: the right way is to believe in Christ and not deny Him. Rejecting Christ means rejecting the prophets and the law too, because they all testify of Him; those who worship Him with their whole soul will never be cast out.

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

Holy One of Israel

Holy One of Israel — the set-apart, perfectly holy God who belongs to Israel by covenant

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 25:29

This short phrase unlocks all the Isaiah chapters Nephi just quoted: every time Isaiah says 'the Holy One of Israel', he means Christ. The God of the Old Testament is Jesus.

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

• interprets 2 Nephi 20:20 — 'Stay upon the Lord, the Holy One of Israel'.
• interprets 2 Nephi 22:6 — 'Great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee'.
• interprets Isaiah 1:4 — Israel 'provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger'.