2 Nephi 20

2 Nephi 20;  Isaiah 10

2 Nephi 20: 1-4

unrighteous decrees....................................................The Lord forbids abuse of leadership
poor, widows, fatherless..............................................Leaders have a responsibility to protect these
without me..............................................................the Lord will not sustain groups that abandon these vulnerable groups

Very succinctly this scripture tells us to remember the most vulnerable members of the society.  Failure to do so will see the withdrawal of the spirit from that organization

2 Nephi 20: 5-17

rod of anger.....................................................The Lord identifies Assyria as a punishing instrument
hypocritical nation....................................................we are expected to actually live what we believe
pride of the North...................................................The nation of Israel has erroneous thinking
graven images.......................................................among accomplishments adulterous religion
will punish.....................................................both that nation and Syria the model cursed
robbed treasures...............................................the Lord will remove the ability to do those things
my hand..........................................................a bit too smug, and a failure to acknowledge God
ax boast................................................................forgetting the Lord in prosperity is wrong
kindle..............................................................the Lord will punish the abandoning people
a fire......................................................................the curse is on Israel for this, broken covenant

Isaiah itemizes many of the complaints the Lord has with the Children of Israel.  Among their faults is the sin of ingratitude, followed by vaunting pride and idolatry.  He will not allow the broken covenant to sustain their blessings of prosperity.  And he explains how the country is about to experience an invasion by a stronger and also doomed kingdom, and that they will cursed together.

2 Nephi 20: 18-26

child shall write them.....................................so few blessings that a small child can grasp it in totality
shall stay on the Lord.........................................at a future time, the people will worship correctly
remnant return...............................................the reestablishment of the Lord's kingdom
overflow....................................................a tremendous growth among the righteous
indignation cease...............................................removal of the curse on the House of Israel
stir up scourge...................................................will require severe chastening to get there

Within the Lord's plan is the need for the children of Israel to receive scourging until they finally realize the value of the Lord's leadership in his covenant.  Then they will repent and become an overpowering force than cannot be restrained.  However, this will never happen with any measure of apostate or evil workings.  It must be done in the Lord's way.

2 Nephi 20: 27-34

burden.........................................................Prosperity will be universal when done right
shake his hand.............................................will exert his leadership and his blessings or curses
lop................................................................He has the power to destroy the wicked
cut down.....................................................the most prosperous can be laid waste at His word

The Lord's omnipotent power and leadership can either prosper the nation or destroy it.

2 Nephi 20

This chapter of Isaiah and Nephi both illustrate the relationship the Lord has with the Children of Israel dealing with his leadership and the covenant made between the people and the Lord.  The Lord promises to prosper the nation when it follows his commandment, and he reminds us all that the underlying rules is the country must never abandon the most vulnerable of His people.  We need to start any discussion of divine protection and blessing on that premise.  This a great reminder to the present day Church.  In the hub bub of talk on the political front, we must never forget the elderly, the young, the handicapped, and the others that are at the mercy of the culture.

2 Nephi 14

2 Nephi 14

2 Nephi 14: 1-6

stumbling blocks......................................................remove the hindrances for faith
harden hearts..........................................................choose to distance oneself
blessed forever..............................................the followers of Christ are promised prosperity
the pit...............................................................a trap.  Ironically it traps those who build it
abominable church.............................................a community that encompasses those who do evil
wickedness and abominations..................................breaking the rules given by God
Gentiles..............................................................offered all the blessings of the Lord's church
wo....................................................................should Gentiles reject Christ, they will be destroyed

America is a place that is to serves as a home for those who follow Christ.  If the European peoples follow Christ, they will live in prosperity and in safety, but if they reject the Lord, they will be removed.

2 Nephi 14: 7-14

great and marvelous work.....................................terminology indicating a restoration of the gospel
delivery...................................................the function of the Church is to lead men to God
covenants remembered..........................................must believe in the promises of God
two churches.............................................men make one of two choices,  God or Satan.
whore of the earth..........................................no legitimate.   Full of evil and sinfulness.
upon many waters............................................fills the 4 corners of the earth.  Huge group.
group few......................................................God's church relatively small in comparison
gather to fight..............................................the larger group constantly wars the smaller one.
power from on high...........................................God's church is protected by divine help

In the last day, the Lord reestablishes his Church to counter the Church of the Devil.  It has strong power, because God himself protects the church and its members, but the members must keep the covenants of God.

2 Nephi 14: 15-17

wrath.......................................................much of the great and abominable destroyed by war
upon the whore..........................................God curses the evil church, full wrath

A decree to end the great and abominable church prophesied.  Christ will remove it from captivating his people.

2 Nephi 14: 18-30

white robe..................................................the Holy One of Israel works with John the Revelator
remainder.......................................................Nephi does not record the rest of the vision
the book......................................................the bible is given as a legacy to the Gentiles
was pure....................................................many changes entered into the Bible, not the original
rest to see....................................................the servant sees the rest of the prophecy, sealed.
apostle to write...............................................a duty of the apostle to record the remainder
John.......................................................even his name foretold
angel made known......................................a divine vision, to which he bears testimony.
is true...........................................................bears his testimony of the vision's truth

Nephi lets the reader know that the vision is divine, given through the Lord's manner of prophecy.
He indicates that the vision is the beginning of John's vision, but that the vision of John is not recorded for the Nephites, but rather for the Gentiles.  The word will go forth to the Gentiles through the Bible, and important, divine book, but the evil Church will have removed and altered the points of the gospel.

2 Nephi 14

This chapter enlarges Isaiah's words to explain how America will be featured in the latter-day.
The Lord's church will be established in America, and it will be spread to the whole world, but the world will largely belong to Satan's system.  The evil system will go to war with the Saints, but the Lord will protect the Saints.  Eventually the evil will destroy themselves, but the Lord will protect his children.