Four Stages of the Nephite Prophetic View

Title

Four Stages of the Nephite Prophetic View

Publication Type

Chart

Year of Publication

1999

Authors

Welch, John W. (Primary), and Welch, Greg (Primary)

Number

7-99

Publisher

Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies

City

Provo, UT

URL

https://byustudies.byu.edu/charts/7-99-four-stages-nephite-prophetic-view

Terms of use

Items in the BMC Archive are made publicly available for non-commercial, private use. Inclusion within the BMC Archive does not imply endorsement. Items do not represent the official views of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or of Book of Mormon Central.

Bibliographic Citation

Abstract

Understanding Isaiah's writings in the Book of Mormon is difficult for many students of the scriptures. But becoming familiar with the way the Nephite prophets viewed the future can help reveal the profound insights of Isaiah. Nephi's writings in 1 Nephi 11–14 establish four basic elements that represent to some extent Nephite prophecy in general. These four elements, or stages of history, concern the coming of Jesus Christ, his rejection and the scattering of the Jews, the day of the Gentiles, and the restoration of Israel and ultimate victory of good over evil. When Nephi or Jacob quotes a section from Isaiah, it is because Isaiah is speaking about one of these stages. For example, as this chart shows, Nephi quotes Isaiah 48 and 49 in articulating stages 2 and 3 in 1 Nephi 20–21. Viewing the quoted Isaiah passages in this context helps readers of the Book of Mormon to understand better the meaning and importance of Isaiah's writings.

Nephite

Prophet