While Nephi saw the remainder of the world’s history, it was left to John the apostle of Jesus, to write it (vv. 19–27). This undoubtedly referred to the Book of Revelation in the New Testament, and affirms the authorship of this book which is questioned by the Christian world. Originally, the things written by John were plain and pure, and easy to be understood (v. 23). Therefore, it was easier to understand than it is today.
The angel’s comment concerning others who have been shown all things (v. 26) would include Enoch (Moses 7:4, 23–24, 67), the brother of Jared (Ether 3:24–26), Moses (Moses 1:8), and others. The seeing of the future requires a brief comment:
Let it not be said that divine omniscience is of itself a determining cause whereby events are inevitably brought to pass. A mortal father, who knows the weaknesses and frailties of his son, may by reason of that knowledge sorrowfully predict the calamities and sufferings awaiting his wayward boy. He may foresee in that son’s future a forfeiture of blessings that could have been won, loss of positions, self-respect, and reputation and honor, even the dark shadows of a felon cell and the night of a drunkard grave may appear in the saddening visions of that fond father’s soul; yet, convinced by experience of the impossibility of bringing about that son’s reform, he foresees the dread developments of the future, and he finds but sorrow and anguish in his knowledge. Can it be said that the father’s foreknowledge is the cause of the son’s sinful life?
Elder S. Dilworth Young made this interesting analysis that describes how God has guided and will guide the destinies of this world:
We of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have an assurance, borne of the Holy Ghost, that the Lord God planned this world and chartered its course from the beginning to the end. We testify that at the proper times men were born to carry out God’s purposes. Some of these were moved by an inspiration they did not understand; others had the heavens opened and received direct revelation of the things they were to say and the action they were to take. Of the first, the making of the Constitution of the United States is an example, as was the inspiration which moved the Pilgrims of 1620 to these shores. Columbus himself testified that he was inspired to sail west. Of this second group, Moses, Isaiah, and Joseph Smith are other excellent examples.
In each period of time these men met their destiny and solved their problems against the economy of the times and the customs of the people of the day. During the periods of history when they walked the stage and said their lines, events seemed to have shaped themselves in such a way that the performance of each was made possible by the intervention of divine guidance. A student of history may say that events shaped themselves in such a way that the right man rose up at the right time. With the knowledge revealed of God, which we possess, it is clear that events didn’t just happen, hit or miss, but rather that the design of the Master is traceable upon the pattern of the struggle.
In due time we will be given further verification of the Lord’s foreknowledge. The records of those who were shown all things will be brought forth (v. 26).