2 Nephi 27

Chapter 27, the Second Book of Nephi, embodies much of the same text found in Chapter 29 of Isaiah from the Old Testament , but also expands upon it significantly. Verses 2–5 slightly rephrase Isaiah 29: Verses 6–10. Verses 6–24 expand greatly upon Isaiah 29: Verses 11–12. Verses 25–35 are virtually indistinguishable, word for word, from Isaiah 29: Verses 13–24.

In Chapter 29, Isaiah predicts the future destruction of Jerusalem. God accuses its people of being blind and stupid. Isaiah relates that these future events have been recorded, but when seers go to read about them, they find that their eyes have been closed by God and the books appear to be sealed. God chastises the people as fools for refusing to obey him and swears to take awesome vengeance. God tells of a future time when the deaf will hear the words from a book, the blind will see, justice will prevail, and those living in error will believe the truth.

The Second Book of Nephi, Chapter 27, expands on, and deviates from Isaiah’s prophecy in Isaiah, Chapter29, as follows.

Isaiah predicts that in the last days, or the days of the Gentiles, the nations of the world will become filled with all manner of abominations. At that time God will bring forth a book comprised of words that have lain asleep for a long time. This book will be sealed. In it will be a revelation from God, from the beginning of the world until its end. Because of the unfaithfulness of the people, the book will be kept hidden from them until the last days.

At God’s chosen time this book, whose words have long lain sleeping in the ground, will be delivered to a man who will in turn deliver these words to others. The book will be unsealed and translated by the power of God. A day will come when these words will be revealed and broadcast to all the people of the world.

The book itself will be delivered to the man whom I’ve spoken of and will remain hidden from all other men, except for three witnesses who will be allowed to see it and testify to its truth. No one else will be allowed to see the book except by the grace of God. Through this book the faithful from the past will speak as if they had arisen from the dead. Those who reject this word of God will be cursed.

God will say to this man, “Give some of the unsealed words to another. Have him take these words to an educated man, and ask him to read them.”

The educated man will respond by saying, “Bring me the whole book and I will read them.” When he is told that book is sealed, he will say, “Then I cannot read it.”

The man who will be given the book will protest his ability to read the words, saying, “I am not an educated man.”

And God will say to him, “The educated may not read the book because they have rejected it. Through me you will be able to read. Do not touch the books which remain sealed because I will bring them to the world in my chosen time. When you have translated the words that I have asked you to read, and have obtained the witnesses that I have promised to you, seal up the book again and hide it. I will preserve the parts that you have not read until it is time to reveal it to the people of earth. I am a God of miracles. I will show the world’s people that I am the same God past, present, and forever.”