THE SECOND BOOK OF NEPHI
CHAPTER 12
Isaiah sees the latter-day temple, gathering of Israel, and millennial judgment and peace—The proud and wicked shall be brought low at the Second Coming—Compare Isaiah 2. [ Between 559 and 545 B.C. ]
[ A - (v. 2e-f) The joy of the nations
B - (v. 3a-d) The nations go to the Lord's House
C - (v. 3e-f) That He may lead us
D - (v. 3g) Instruction from Zion
D - (v. 3h) Word from Jerusalem
C - (v. 4a-b) That He may judge us
B - (v. 4c-d) The nations make change from war to peace
A - (v. 4e-g) Nations lay down their swords
A - (v. 5) Let us walk in the light of the Lord.
B - (v. 6) House of Jacob is full of practices from the East
C - (v. 7-8) Their land is full of silver and gold
D - (v. 9-10) Man shall be humbled before terror of the Lord
E - (v. 11) Man brought low, none but Lord exalted
F - (v. 12) Lord of Hosts has ready a day against all
that is proud
F - (v. 13-15) Against the cedars of Lebanon, against the
high mountains, the ships of Tarshish
E - (v. 17) Man humbled, none but Lord shall be exalted
D - (v. 19) Men enter caverns in rock before terror of Lord
C - (v. 20) Men shall fling away idols of silver and of gold
B - (v. 21) They shall enter clefts in the rocks before the Lord
A - (v. 22) Cease to glorify man.
It is important to note that when Nephi, or Jacob as well where reading Isaiah there were no chapters and verses - they were just single revelations and were not broken up. So reading one vision at a time as a single vision would make a difference. For example the first vision is the first four chapters and begins at 2 Ne. 12:1. The next vision begins at 2 Ne. 16:1 It was not until 1445 AD that Mordecai Nathan a Jew, divided the text up into chapters and verses.
The previous words of Isaiah have moved forward in their chronological timeline; this vision however moves backward, starting at the end and moving to the beginning. In the Millennial day swords will be beaten into plow-shares. In the millennium all of the nations will come to Zion's temple to hear the word of God. While that is happening today we are not in the millennium, so maybe there is a much greater meaning, considering as well that there may also be a much grander interpretation to be fulfilled later on. The Salt Lake temple is in America among the children of Ephraim, it is here in Isaiah's vision it is the place from which "the law" will come. While the temple in Jerusalem is "the place from which the word will come." Exekiel saw this in vision in Ezekiel 40 - see chapter heading. Isaiah wrote a little over 100 years before Nephi’s time (740–700 B.C.). While the writings seem quite distant from our day, for Nephi and Jacob, they were closer than the revelations and prophecies of Joseph Smith are for modern readers. ]
1 THE word that Isaiah, the son of Amoz, saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem: [ Historically referring to literal Judah and Jerusalem. Eschatologically referring to those of spiritual "Israel" and "Judah", or those who are supposed to be of the true faith. ]
2 And it shall come to pass in the last days, when the mountain of the Lord’s house [ OT has it "that the mountains of the Lord's house" [ Refers to the restoration of the church President Harold B Lee Apr. Conf 1973...but this scripture extends far beyond Salt Lake City Old Testament Student Manual. The question is, "Which temple is this passage referring to?" There is no uniformity of interpretation among Church leaders on this passage (see Monte Nyman's comments on this verse for a lengthy review of various General Authority comments in his book "Great are the Words of Isaiah", there is just too much to include it all here). One of the primary contextual interpretations is to be that the passage is referring to the millennial temple established at Jerusalem (cf. Ezek. 37:24-28), the secondary interpretation to be the temple at Independence, MO (cf. D&C 57:1-3), and the temple at SLC (and other current temples as well the former Kirtland and Nauvoo temples) to be types and forerunners of the millennial temples. ] shall be established in the top of the mountains, [ Literal like in Utah which happens to mean "Tops of the Mountains" figurative - Gileadi provides an interpretation on this verse that it can mean Israel is to be the head of all nations or that the temple is to be established in the tops of the mountains (in a theocracy, the temple would be the head of the government). This interpretation is easily supported from ch. 60. ] and shall be exalted above the hills, [ It is a High Place one that is lifted up. It means that this city what stands out above all other cities in the world why it's like it's on the top of a mountain where everybody can see it and All Nations will indeed flow unto it so the Salt Lake Temple is but a partial fulfillment, but the complete fulfillment will not come until sometime later. Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith page 362 (Micah 4:1-2) ] and all nations shall flow unto it. [ Why would all nations flow to mountain of the Lords House? They begin to recognize that it is the source of truth, that it is the only place on earth where you can recieve all of the ordinances of God.
Bruce R McConkie also said "in the great day of restoration a day that has commenced but in which many things yet remain to be restored there will finally be two world capitals both called Zion both called Jerusalem one shall be the seed of government the other the spiritual capital of the world for out of Zion shall go forth the law and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem see it isn't fulfilled yet that is to say Jerusalem of old shall be restored build up Anew in glory and Beauty according to the promises and also another Jerusalem a New Jerusalem shall be established" (The Mortal Messiah book 1 page 95) What does this suggest that we need to be prepared for? ]
3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, [ To the restored Church of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints, In Isaiah, mountains can figuratively imply nations or kingdoms, cp. 64:1-3 ] to the house of the God of Jacob; [ Jacob through righteousness was given the name of Israel and through him the covenant blessing will come. ] and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths; for out of Zion shall go forth the law, [ HEB teaching, or doctrine. the gathering place for Ephraim and his fellows upon whose heads shall be conferred the richer blessings... Doc of Salvation 3:69-71 Referring to 2 Nephi 12:2–3, President Gordon B. Hinckley said, “I believe that prophecy applies to the historic and wonderful Salt Lake Temple. But I believe also that it is related to [the Conference Center]. For it is from this pulpit that the law of God shall go forth, together with the word and testimony of the Lord” (“This Great Millennial Year,” Ensign, Nov. 2000, 69). “As I contemplate this marvelous structure adjacent to the temple [the Conference Center], there comes to mind the great prophetic utterance of Isaiah:
“‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.’ …
“I believe that prophecy applies to the historic and wonderful Salt Lake Temple. But I believe also that it is related to this magnificent hall. For it is from this pulpit that the law of God shall go forth, together with the word and testimony of the Lord” (in Conference Report, Oct. 2000, 89; or Ensign, Nov. 2000, 69). ] and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. [ Jerusalem shall be the gathering place for Judah and his fellows of the house of Israel In the millennium, both old and new Jerusalem will be Zion. “Jerusalem of old … shall become a holy city where the Lord shall dwell and from whence he shall send forth his word unto all people. Likewise, on this continent [America], the city of Zion, New Jerusalem, shall be built, and from it the law of God shall also go forth. …
“… These two cities, one in the land of Zion and one in Palestine, are to become capitals for the kingdom of God during the millennium” (Doctrines of Salvation, comp. Bruce R. McConkie, 3 vols. [1954–56], 3:69–71). ]
4 And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plow-shares, [ A millennial reference of a classical covenant blessing of no war and plenty of food for everyone. Contrast Isaiah's "beating of the plowshares" with Joel's where the exact opposite is occurring (Joel 3:10). ] and their spears into pruning-hooks—nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. [The absolute lack of warfare forces a millennial interpretation, as the entire context of eschatology is "wars and rumors of wars". Elder Dallin H. Oaks spoke of the peace that will finally come to the earth after the Lord’s Second Coming. He also identified the reason why there will be no peace prior to that time: “Many take comfort from the Old Testament prophecy that nations will ‘beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks’ (Micah 4:3). But this prophecy only applies to that time of peace which follows the time when the God of Jacob ‘will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths’ (4:2). For now, we have wars and conflicts, and everywhere they are rooted in violations of the commandments of God” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1990, 92; or Ensign, May 1990, 72).
]
5 O house of Jacob, [ The “house of Jacob” refers to the descendants of this great patriarch who had gained the covenant name of Israel through personal righteousness. However, both the northern and southern kingdoms of Israel fell, though at different times, because they replaced God with apostate worship. They were “replenished from the east” (2 Nephi 12:6) or, according to Isaiah 2:6 footnote a, they were “filled, supplied with teachings, alien beliefs” of false gods, “like the Philistines.” In other words, they forsook the gospel of the Lord for teachings and priorities from the world. Their hearts were set on riches and wickedness, and their worship turned to idols. ] come ye and let us walk in the light of the Lord; yea, come, for ye have all gone astray, every one to his wicked ways. [ This last part of the sentence is not found in Isaiah. Since Jacob is teaching them from Isaiah he is calling on them to repent specifically from idolatry vs 6-8. This behavior is specifically forbidden in the Law of Moses - so this denotes that they are openly, willingly and deliberately disobeying the law. ]
6 Therefore, O Lord, thou hast forsaken thy people, the house of Jacob, [ Referring to the descendants of this great patriarch who had gained the covenant name of Israel through personal righteousness. However, both the northern and southern kingdoms of Israel
fell, though at different times, because they replaced God with apostate worship. They were “replenished from the east” (2 Nephi 12:6) or, according to Isaiah 2:6 footnote a, they were “filled, supplied with teachings, alien beliefs” of false gods, “like the Philistines.” In other words, they forsook the gospel of the Lord for teachings and priorities from the world. Their hearts were set on riches and wickedness, and their worship turned to idols. ] because they be replenished from the east, and hearken
[ Hebrew "Shema" is translated here as hearken which means to "listen" and "obey". ] unto soothsayers [ soothsayers, diviners, mediums and spiritists in general are forbidden among Israel by the Law, cf. Deut. 18:9-13. ] like the Philistines, [ The use of this term is meant to disparage or belittle as the Philistines did not practice circumcision. Israel has rebelled against the Lord and rejected the Abrahamic covenant (symbolized by uncircumcision) thereby becoming like all other nations of the earth. ] and they please themselves in the children of strangers.
7 Their land also is full of silver and gold, neither is there any end of their treasures; [ They are rich to the things of the world. We know where that usually takes us - too pride. ] their land is also full of horses, [ "horses",the kings of Israel are prohibited from multiplying horses and chariots unto themselves in Deut. 17:16, which they do anyway, cp. 1 Kings 10:26-29. Meaning that they are not to get them through means of conquest or war, just for the sake of having more. "But he (the king) shall not multiply horses to himself; nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses; neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold," Deut. xvii. 16, 17 ] neither is there any end of their chariots. [ "chariot", symbol of warfare, cp. 31:1, Deut. 17:16. They love warfare, its spoils, and the power military might brings. As a form of idolatry cp. Dan. 11:36-39 where the king of the north honors the god of fortresses. ]
8 Their land is also full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, [ Any creation of man that man relies on instead of the Lord can be considered as an idol. This could include a golden calf, a figurine, to an army of men including their swords and chariots. “By turning from the worship of God to the worship of God’s creations, humanity loses its privileged, godlike position in the order of creation.” ] that which their own fingers have made.
9 And the mean [ The common or ordinary. ] man boweth not down, and the great man humbleth himself not, [ cp Isaiah: "the great man humbleth himself" - So - Men do not humble themselves before the Lord, so do not forgive them. These two in combination: the mean and the great man indicates that from the lowest to the highest in society, none were humble enough to accept God. ] therefore, forgive him not.
10 O ye wicked ones, enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust, [ The wicked men will hide in the ground or down into the pit/hell, cp. 14:15, 14:19. The country of Judea being mountainous and rocky, is full of caverns, as appears from the history of David's persecution under Saul. Jeremiah xli. 9. Therefore "to enter into the rock, to go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth," was to them a very proper and familiar image to express terror and consternation. ] for the fear of the Lord [ God's presence is something fearful for the wicked because He is just and must mete out retribution, cp. Exod. 33:3-5. ] and the glory of his majesty shall smite thee.
11 And it shall come to pass that the lofty looks of man shall be humbled, [ President Henry B Eyring of the First Presidency "suggested that learning to be humble is essential preparation for the great day of the Second Coming of the Lord, when the Savior will be exalted among the nations:
“I began to read in 2 Nephi 12 and thought: ‘The Lord is speaking to me. What is it He wants to tell me directly?’ Then I came to a verse in the Isaiah passages that jumped out as if it were already underlined: ‘And it shall come to pass that the lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day’ (2 Ne. 12:11).
“This is describing a day when the Savior will come, a day we all look for and want our students to prepare for. This scripture says that in that day, all of us who thought we were special and wonderful will seem smaller, and the Lord will be exalted. We will see better who He is, how much we love Him, and how humble we should be. …
“… I understood why Isaiah told me it would be helpful to foresee the day when the Lord would be exalted and to know how much I depend upon Him. We need Him, and the faith we have in Him makes us see Him as great and exalted and ourselves as small and dependent” (“The Book of Mormon Will Change Your Life,” Ensign, Feb. 2004, 10–11)." ] and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day.
12 For the day of the Lord [ The Day of the Lord is detailed by Joel (Joel 2:1-11) ] of Hosts soon cometh upon all nations, yea, upon every one; yea, upon the proud and lofty, and upon every one who is lifted up, and he shall be brought low.
13 Yea, and the day of the Lord shall come upon all the cedars of Lebanon, [ Wood that is prized for it's strength and durability - which is symbolic of the pride of man and the upper class of society. ] for they are high and lifted up; and upon all the oaks of Bashan; [ The finer buildings of the powerful. ]
14 And upon all the high mountains, and upon all the hills, and upon all the nations which are lifted up, and upon every people;
[ So from the Cedars of Lebanon to all nations there is none that will escape the great and dreadful day of the Lord, none. Why? Because the Whore of Babylon has corrupted all of the nations of the earth. ]
15 And upon every high tower, and upon every fenced wall; [ "tower", calling up Tower of Babel imagery. "mighty wall", represents the prideful institutions of men, compare 5:2-6, 30:13 and Deut. 28:52. See also 1 Ne. 11:35 and 1 Ne. 12:18 where the great and spacious building from Lehi's dream is called the "wisdom of the world." ]
16 And upon all the ships of the sea, and upon all the ships of Tarshish, [ Ships in general, especially such as are employed in carrying on traffic between distant countries, as Tarshish was the most celebrated port of those times, frequented of old by the Phoenicians, and the principal source of wealth to Judea and the neighboring countries. Tarshish was most likely Tartessus, a city of Spain, at the mouth of the river Baetis, whence the Phoenicians, who first opened this trade, brought silver and gold,] and upon all pleasant pictures. [ See 2 Ne 12:16 for one more reason why joseph Smith was a prophet. ] and upon all pleasant pictures. [ Sydney B. Sperry in his book entitled _The Voice of Israel's Prophets_, pp. 90-91 (Deseret, 1965) states:
In 2 Nephi 12:16 (cf. Isaiah 2:16) the Book of Mormon has a reading or remarkable interest. It prefixes a phrase of eight words not found in the Hebrew or King James versions. Since the ancient Septuagint (Greek) version concurs with the added phrase in the Book of Mormon, let us exhibit the reading of the Book of Mormon (BofM), the King James Version (KJV), and the Septuagint (LXX) as follows:
BofM And upon all the ships of the sea,
KJV
LXX And upon every ship of the sea,
BofM and upon all the ships of Tarshish
KJV And upon all the ships of Tarshish
LXX
BofM and upon all pleasant pictures.
KJV and upon all pleasant pictures.
LXX and upon every display of fine ships.
The Book of Mormon suggests that the original text of this verse contained three phrases, all of which commenced with the same opening words, "and upon all." By a common accident, the original Hebrew (and hence the King James) text lost the first phrase, which was, however, preserved by the Septuagint. The latter lost the second phrase and seems to have corrupted the third phrase. The Book of Mormon preserved all three phrases. Scholars may suggest that Joseph Smith took the first phrase from the Septuagint. The prophet did not know Greek, and there is no evidence that he had access to a copy of the Septuagint in 1829-30 when he translated the Book of Mormon. ]
In 2 Nephi 12:16 (cf. Isaiah 2:16) the Book of Mormon has a reading or remarkable interest. It prefixes a phrase of eight words not found in the Hebrew or King James versions. Since the ancient Septuagint (Greek) version concurs with the added phrase in the Book of Mormon, let us exhibit the reading of the Book of Mormon (BofM), the King James Version (KJV), and the Septuagint (LXX) as follows:
BofM And upon all the ships of the sea,
KJV
LXX And upon every ship of the sea,
BofM and upon all the ships of Tarshish
KJV And upon all the ships of Tarshish
LXX
BofM and upon all pleasant pictures.
KJV and upon all pleasant pictures.
LXX and upon every display of fine ships.
The Book of Mormon suggests that the original text of this verse contained three phrases, all of which commenced with the same opening words, "and upon all." By a common accident, the original Hebrew (and hence the King James) text lost the first phrase, which was, however, preserved by the Septuagint. The latter lost the second phrase and seems to have corrupted the third phrase. The Book of Mormon preserved all three phrases. Scholars may suggest that Joseph Smith took the first phrase from the Septuagint. The prophet did not know Greek, and there is no evidence that he had access to a copy of the Septuagint in 1829-30 when he translated the Book of Mormon. ]
17 And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low; and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day.
19 And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, [ The country of Judea being mountainous and rocky, is full of caverns, as appears from the history of David's persecution under Saul. Jeremiah xli. 9. Therefore "to enter into the rock, to go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth," was to them a very proper and familiar image to express terror and consternation. ] for the fear of the Lord [ As the Lord works the destruction on the Whore of Babylon, or rather Babylon destroys herself from within there will not be any place that will not be touched as the Whore is part of every economy and every nation. So the results will be utter disaster. No one cannot be effected. (Rev. 18:2,3,5,9,10) There are two reasons or meanings for fearing the Lord. 1) it is equivalent to reverence; awe or worship 2) When we are unrighteous; sin has destroyed our feelings of being worthy to be in Gods presence which produces shame and guilt. ] shall come upon them and the glory of his majesty shall smite them, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.
20 In that day a man shall cast his idols [ Those things made by the hands of man. ] of silver, and his idols of gold, which he hath made for himself to worship, [ Note who they were made for; for himself for the selfishness of man; so that man can justify who he is and what he does. ] to the moles and to the bats; [ As they begin to realize that their idols are of little use - They shall carry their idols with them into the dark caverns, old ruins, or desolate places, to which they shall flee for refuge; and so shall give them up, and relinquish them to the filthy animals that frequent such places, and have taken possession of them as their proper habitation. ]
21 To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for the fear of the Lord shall come upon them [ It is finally thatthey fear the Lord, they respect him. They who have spent their entire life accumulating things of the world, built their kingdoms with wealth and pride now realize that has come to and end. There is no place to hide as the earth is in such commotion. You can only hope to climb to the top of the jagged rocks, jagged because they have protruded upward. You do not want to find yourself in a cave the place where man first went for protection as a cave at this time is death, as the rock fall upon him. So in other wards there is not one place that one can go for protection. (Isaiah 24:5-6;20-23) ] and the majesty of his glory shall smite them, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.