“When the Gentiles Shall Sin Against My Gospel”

Brant Gardner

Verses 14 and 15 complete another parallel. When the Gentiles had the true scriptures and gospel and the Jews did not, the Gentiles persecuted the Jews. This persecution symbolized that those with the gospel would be saved and those without it destroyed. At the reversal when the Gentiles lose the gospel and it is restored to covenant Israel, again those with the gospel will be preserved and those who do not will be destroyed. Believing Gentiles will have become part of Israel, so the destruction of the Gentiles means the destruction of unbelievers.

These destructions are symbolic, even though the Gentile persecution of the Jews was sadly literal. These verses are not predicting a future uprising of Jews against Gentiles, but rather the Triumphant Messiah’s final coming when the righteous are preserved and the wicked destroyed.

Second Witness: Analytical & Contextual Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 5

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