"23 For the time speedily shall come that all achurches which are built up to get gain, and all those who are built up to get power over the flesh, and those who are built up to become bpopular in the eyes of the world, and those who seek the lusts of the flesh and the things of the world, and to do all manner of iniquity; yea, in fine, all those who belong to the kingdom of the cdevil are they who need fear, and tremble, and dquake; they are those who must be brought low in the dust; they are those who must be econsumed as stubble; and this is according to the words of the prophet."
Here Nephi continues to explain some of the topics of the latter days, brought up by Isaiah, to his brothers. Still, I find it interesting that Laman and Lemuel are interested in the latter days. It is an time period far beyond their own. I suppose that they must have had a concern for their posterity or at least a little interest in the prophesies of the prophets. It is too bad that it didn't last or have a greater impact on them. I find it interesting because one might think that Laman and Lemuel would not be concerned because they were wicked and thought a lot about themselves and the treasures of the earth. Owing to those qualities, these verses we consider here are vital for them, because in the end people such as themselves will meet their fate immediately.
In verse 22, we see that Nephi stresses again that the righteous need not fear and they will be the ones that will not be confounded in the last days. This means that the wicked will be confounded by the devil and his church, as the next part of the verse states. In the end, it says that the kingdom of the devil is set up among those which are in the flesh. This could mean that it is set up by those who are living and not dead, resurrected, or still waiting to come down. It could also mean that the kingdom of the devil is set up among those who are in the flesh, or who live after the manner of the flesh.
In verse 23, we see that Nephi goes into more detail about these thoughts concerning the kingdom of the devil. Nephi begins by mentioning that the church of the devil has certain qualities. It consists, but probably is not limited to, all churches (or perhaps ways of thinking) who are built up to get gain, to get power over the flesh, and to become popular in the eyes of the world. He singles out those who see the lusts of the flesh, who seek the things of the world, who do all manner of iniquity, and who (thus) belong to the kingdom of the devil. These people and organizations must have several things happen to them. They need to fear, tremble, and quake. They need to be brought down low. They need to be consumed as stubble. These sayings must come to pass because these are according to the words of the prophet (Isaiah).
So, are we, who belong to the church, guilty of some of these things? I would imagine so. We are people. We are working on overcoming the "natural man" and becoming saints through the atonement (see Mosiah 3:19). But that is the thing, are we trying to figure out if our live are patterned the way they should be? If one reads these verses, we need to think, "Okay. Do I, or an organization I belong to, try to get gain, power over the flesh (in a negative way), and/or become popular in the eyes of the world (or even those around me). Do I seek the lusts of the flesh? Do I seek the things of the world (big house, expensive car, cool electronic gadgets perhaps)? Things that are way out of my budget (see Jacob 2:18-19)? Do I do all manner of iniquity?" Let's review our lives and repent of the things we need to. Let's change for the good and for the better, thus when we are faced with the decision and we know what we should do, let's have the courage to do it. If we do what it right, the righteous consequences shall come immediately or in the end and we will know that Heavenly Father is happy with us.
Here Nephi continues to explain some of the topics of the latter days, brought up by Isaiah, to his brothers. Still, I find it interesting that Laman and Lemuel are interested in the latter days. It is an time period far beyond their own. I suppose that they must have had a concern for their posterity or at least a little interest in the prophesies of the prophets. It is too bad that it didn't last or have a greater impact on them. I find it interesting because one might think that Laman and Lemuel would not be concerned because they were wicked and thought a lot about themselves and the treasures of the earth. Owing to those qualities, these verses we consider here are vital for them, because in the end people such as themselves will meet their fate immediately.
In verse 22, we see that Nephi stresses again that the righteous need not fear and they will be the ones that will not be confounded in the last days. This means that the wicked will be confounded by the devil and his church, as the next part of the verse states. In the end, it says that the kingdom of the devil is set up among those which are in the flesh. This could mean that it is set up by those who are living and not dead, resurrected, or still waiting to come down. It could also mean that the kingdom of the devil is set up among those who are in the flesh, or who live after the manner of the flesh.
In verse 23, we see that Nephi goes into more detail about these thoughts concerning the kingdom of the devil. Nephi begins by mentioning that the church of the devil has certain qualities. It consists, but probably is not limited to, all churches (or perhaps ways of thinking) who are built up to get gain, to get power over the flesh, and to become popular in the eyes of the world. He singles out those who see the lusts of the flesh, who seek the things of the world, who do all manner of iniquity, and who (thus) belong to the kingdom of the devil. These people and organizations must have several things happen to them. They need to fear, tremble, and quake. They need to be brought down low. They need to be consumed as stubble. These sayings must come to pass because these are according to the words of the prophet (Isaiah).
So, are we, who belong to the church, guilty of some of these things? I would imagine so. We are people. We are working on overcoming the "natural man" and becoming saints through the atonement (see Mosiah 3:19). But that is the thing, are we trying to figure out if our live are patterned the way they should be? If one reads these verses, we need to think, "Okay. Do I, or an organization I belong to, try to get gain, power over the flesh (in a negative way), and/or become popular in the eyes of the world (or even those around me). Do I seek the lusts of the flesh? Do I seek the things of the world (big house, expensive car, cool electronic gadgets perhaps)? Things that are way out of my budget (see Jacob 2:18-19)? Do I do all manner of iniquity?" Let's review our lives and repent of the things we need to. Let's change for the good and for the better, thus when we are faced with the decision and we know what we should do, let's have the courage to do it. If we do what it right, the righteous consequences shall come immediately or in the end and we will know that Heavenly Father is happy with us.
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