The twenty years discussed in these verses contain more details than the other time periods, probably because the change was more drastic. This period reminds us of the off-shoot groups of the restored Church in our own day who deny parts of the gospel, i.e., temple work, the revelation ending plural marriage, succession in the presidency, or other principles. Many of these groups welcome excommunicated or disfellowshipped members of the true Church into their own ranks and administer the sacrament or other sacred ordinances to them (v. 27). Satan was loosed once more just as he will be at the end of the millennium (see Revelation 20:7; D&C 43:30–31). What loosed Satan? It was the iniquity of the people (4 Nephi 1:28). As the Prophet Joseph Smith said: “The devil has no power over us only as we permit him. The moment we revolt at anything that comes from God, the devil takes power” (TPJS, 181).
The denial of Christ and the persecution of the true Church because of the miracles that were performed among the believers (v. 29) has happened throughout the history of the world. As Jesus said: “so persecuted they the prophets which were before you” (Matthew 5:12; 3 Nephi 12:12), and if they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you” (John 15:20). Mormon compared the attempt to kill the three disciples with the Jews attempt to kill Jesus (4 Nephi 1:31).
Mormon described the exercise of power and authority over the (three transfigured) disciples of Jesus as he abridged 3 Nephi (see 3 Nephi 28:18–22). Some people erroneously read the 3 Nephi account as taking place in A.D. 34, but a careful reading will show that Mormon is expanding on the mission of the three disciples who never died. Having read the records before he abridged them, Mormon is describing what would happen to them up to the time of Christ’s Second Coming. Notice their imprisonment, the furnace, and the dens of wild beasts are in both accounts (4 Nephi 1:30–33 and 3 Nephi 28). As Mormon mentions also in both accounts, the disciples had greater power than Satan. The disciples suffered to some extent, but it was a witness to the people, that they had been delivered by the power of Christ (see 3 Nephi 28:20).
The many priests and false prophets (4 Nephi 1:34) were the servants of Satan, and such always arise among Satan’s followers. The Prophet Joseph Smith warned that: “False prophets always arise to oppose the true prophets and they will prophesy so very near the truth that they will deceive almost the very chosen ones… . In relation to the kingdom of God, the devil always sets up his kingdom at the very same time in opposition to God” (TPJS, 365). The 4 Nephi record affirms the Prophet’s warning.
The reaction of the people of Jesus to this persecution verifies the degree to which they were converted. The people did not react (v. 34; see also 3 Nephi 12:39: Matthew 5:39), but undoubtedly took their testimonies to the Lord and left vengeance unto him (see Mormon 8:20). Thus they were following the law of retaliation as revealed anew in our dispensation (see D&C 98:33, 39–48).