2 Nephi 24

2 Nephi 24;  Isaiah 14

2 Nephi 24: 1-7

Lord, mercy............................................................a part of the covenant, forgiving misdeeds of Israel

land........................................................................promise of a place to have a country

rest and no fear..........................................................a promise of national security

broken scepters...........................................................the Lord will not allow Israel to be a vassal state

at rest..................................................................a condition of international peace

The Lord promises a time when the nation of Israel will be firmly established with harmony, peace and security, but it is a part of the covenant, meaning that Israel must do its part to realize this event.

2 Nephi 24: 8-22

stir the dead..........................................................a time of resurrection, figuratively and literally

weak as we...........................................................the wicked destroyed, the dead lifted

Lucifer................................................................apostrophe to the awful state of Lucifer, Satan

exalt myself.......................................................the vaunting pride of Satan, His great sin

like Most High....................................................the grievous aspirations of Satan

Is this....................................................................at this judgement, men, even wicked will find Satan absurd

glory to the earthly leaders......................................All will be elevated above Satan, None so bad

not joined with them..............................................Satan not allowed to rule over anyone

Babylon cursed..........................................................Satan's kingdom utterly wasted

The prophet Isaiah lets the children of Israel, especially faithful, know what the final resolution for the works of Satan will be.  That particular "ruler" will lose everything that he prizes, including influence and rulership over anyone who has lived on this earth.

2 Nephi 24: 23-27

so shall it stand...................................................a formal decree from the King of Kings

to all nations.........................................................the Lord's promise and covenant is offered to ALL peoples and nations, not just Israel

The Lord lets all men know that is gospel is for all men.  Although the covenant is made to the House of Israel, he reminds all men that the promises are offered to all living people, with the added information that some of this may occur after men die, and the influence of Satan is completely removed.

2Nephi 24: 28-32

is broken................................................................the Lord will break down mighty adversaries

founded Zion.................................................................promise of a people who will help the Lord

The eternal promises and covenants go far beyond a single person's life span, both on earth and in the spritual realms.  

2 Nephi 24

The Lord discloses the cosmic fight with Satan, letting all men know that the Lord is in charge, and that at the designated time, the Lord will heal the troubles of Israel and of the whole world.  Meanwhile, as Satan moves among the peoples, men can feel assured that the Lord will fix the ills of the world.  We need to keep our promises and covenants

2 Nephi 21

2 Nephi 21;  Isaiah 11

2 Nephi 21:  1-8

rod, stem...............................................................prophetic statement about Christ
Spirit of the Lord.....................................................attributes of the Messiah
quick understanding................................................Messiah will understand and fulfill his calling
judge.................................................................He will have the commission to try all men
righteous and faithfulness......................................Messiah will be a Holy teacher
wolf and lamb.......................................................Messiah will bring all into harmony
cockatrice den..................................................The very deadliest things will be overruled

The Messiah will come to earth (first coming), and his works and deeds will lead to the greatest of all reconciliations.

2 Nephi 21: 9-16

earth, full of knowledge........................................the gospel of the Messiah given to men
root.................................................................a later prophecy, last days
second time.........................................................the great gospel gthering
assemble..........................................................missionaries go the four corners of the earth
Judah and Ephraim.............................................reconciliation of the two divisions in the House of Israel
spoil together...............................................they will form the strongest of nations

Prophecies about the second coming of Christ

2 Nephi 21

The Messiah will establish his life and leave great wisdom to the earth in his first coming.  In his Second coming, he will gather the House of Israel and other righteous believers.  Eventually this will lead to a world harmony as a part of the Atonement.

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 19

2 Nephi 19;  Isaiah 9

2 Nephi 19: 1-5

darkness, light...............................................................the Lord will come to a blinded people
joy......................................................................the end effect, great hope for the people
broke the yoke.....................................................the great cause of the sadness removed
rod of oppressor......................................................the power of Satan eliminated

Christ will come to the earth when many ordinary people will be in a fallen state caused by spiritual depression and oppression

2 Nephi 19: 6-12

He shall be called...................................................Messianic mission of Christ
lighted on Israel..................................................Christ to appear among the Children of Israel
all the people...............................................although Christ comes to Palestine, will affect all
rebuild........................................................Christ's mission will repair the broken pieces of Israel
devour Israel.................................................the Lord will allow the dissolution of nationalism
stretched out still........................................although failing, a chance given for repentance

Christ will come at a time when Israel is destroyed as a political unit.  The work he does will establish the latter-day rebuilding of a political entity, but not until Israel understands the Lord's requirements.

2 Nephi 19: 13-21

do not turn to Christ...........................................Israel's biggest failure, not accepting the Messiah
head and tail.......................................................The Lord does not allow Israel to be a kingdom
cause err.............................................................the leadership of the country to blame
no joy............................................................the population does not prosper with faulty leadership
wickedness burneth.........................................the consequences of wickedness is burning
wrath of the Lord................................................the Lord removes himself from the wicked
eat the flesh of the arm.........................................the curse for evil doers, they destroy themselves
inside attack....................................................House of Judah v House of Joseph

A description of the force that are holding the children of Israel back.  They are not united, and they have rejected the mission of the Messiah

2 Nephi 19

This chapter underscores the importance of the people of Israel to seek for spiritual rather than political strength.  The seeking for power without submitting to the Lord will be overruled, for the covenant and promise of the Lord only occurs when the people do their work within the rules that the Lord himself has set.  When the people do this correctly, the Lord will exert his influence, and nothing can stop the country from prospering at that poi9nt.

2 Nephi 18

2 Nephi 18;  Isaiah 8

2 Nephi 18: 1-13

riches and spoil taken away......................................predicted fall of the nation of Assyria
refuse waters of Shiloh..................................................probably baptism or ritual washing?
waters of the river....................................................imminent invasion and enslavement
fill the land..........................................................the invasion will penetrate into Judah
broken...................................................................those who join with Damascus cursed
come to naught......................................................divinely controlled events
Him, the dread..........................................................only God is worshiped, not other countries

Isaiah prophesies the confederacy of Israel with Assyria, and he foretells its demise.  The Lord protests his people, and the people who follow the Lord under protection

2 Nephi 18: 14-22

stone of stumbling...............................................you cannot proceed without confronting
many snared.......................................................those who are not following the faith, enslaved
bind testimony.................................................teach the people, warn, and commit them to make a choice
signs and wonders..............................................the Lord protects his people, Miracles follow
peep............................................................those who follow animistic religion are doomed
no light.........................................................only the promises of God prevail.  Other sources fail
see trouble and darkness................................those who forsake God receive no help in troubles

The problem for the people is that they have abandoned God, and will not, therefore, receive help in their hour of need.

Isaiah is told to teach the people repentance, even if the people reject the message.  The fact that they receive the knowledge of the impending trials will hold them responsible for the consequences.

2 Nephi 17

2 Nephi 17;  Isaiah 6

2 Nephi 17:  1-7

Ephraim...........................................................the two nations are working counter to each other
Isaiah and son.....................................................use your own family to prophesy
smoking firebrands....................................................belligerents, Assyria and North kingdom
evil counsel.............................................................secret meetings and agreements
vex it.......................................................................intent to fight Judah
it shall not..............................................................overruled by the heavens

Political conspiracies at work.  The northern kingdom is entering secret negotiations with Assyria

2 Nephi 17:  8-16

65 years............................................................the number of years left for the Northern
believe.............................................................to receive divine help will require God's help
ask for a sign.....................................................interesting, why the north is adulterous
weary...............................................................God not amused when someone cites him
the sign.............................................................Christ, His advent and His mission to the earth
days to come.........................................................severe tests for both kingdoms

Despite the attitudes of invinciblity, both kingdoms are in severe trouble.  To prosper requires God's assistance

2 Nephi 17: 17-25

trials.......................................................hard trouble when the kingdoms split.  This is worse.
Lord will hiss.................................................the answer will be to use outside kingdoms
they will come..................................................invasions are about to take place
consume the beard..............................................idiomatic.  Beard is a sign of masculinity.
nourish young animals..........................................your sovreignty is limited
milk and honey.....................................................the righteous will prosper with God.
thousand.........................................................multiplication of blessings
briers.............................................................symbols of the troubles that come to those who attack the Lord's people

Isaiah remind people where real powers originate

2 Nephi 17

This chapter reminds the people of what happens with God's help, and what will happen if men fail to heed the Lord.  This is timely, because the Children of Lehi left Jerusalem in order to survive the terrible events in this chapter.

2 Nephi 16

2 Nephi 16

2 Nephi 16: 1-8

seraphim......................................................................................angelic being
glory smoke............................................................................imagery of heaven
unclean lips.....................................................................unworthy mortal, impure
live coal..................................................................................heaven corrects the weakness
sin purged...............................................................power to forgive in heaven, mercy
whom send?...................................................................people sent for purposes, to the earth
send me..................................................................like the Lord, his servants agree to act

A small glimpse into the heavenly, depicting how man is out of step with the requirements for membership, but through the instrumentality of the heavens, man can qualify.  Also, we learn that the Lord assigns his servants to perform certain works.  The Lord did so, and the mission of Isaiah has parallels

2 Nephi 16: 9-13

Go and tell.....................................................the prophetic message for Isaiah to teach
tell them to make them responsible............................then the people will be judged
how long?......................................................the message is to long term (his writings continue to instruct)
removed..............................................................a great scattering due to lack of faith
a tenth...........................................................a small group will continue through time

Isaiah to teach his people about repentance to prepare them for the judgement.

2 Nephi 16

This chapter is instructive about the prophetic mission of Isaiah and can be likewise applied to others who serve the Lord.  They come as emissaries of the Lord.