1 Nephi 12:2 - 12:6
1 Nephi 12:2 And it came to pass that I beheld multitudes gathered together to battle, one against the other; and I beheld wars, and rumors of wars, and great slaughters with the sword among my people.
He now sees what must have a depressive scene to him. He sees war and rumors of wars among his family's descendents. He has already seen conflicts between his older brothers and himself so that should not have been to great of a surprise.
It is interesting that he uses the term ‘rumors of war.’ Rumors of war in my mind is treats of invasion or that war will take place if certain conditions are not meant. The treat of war can be just as devastating as war itself on the person. Many have become so despondent that they have either fled or been so distraught that they have given up hope for a peaceful live that they have become resigned to being deigned their own happiness.
1 Nephi 12:3 And it came to pass that I beheld many generations pass away, after the manner of wars and contentions in the land; and I beheld many cities, yea, even that I did not number them.
This warfare seems to have lasted for many generations. Warfare seems to be common place. The land seems to be covered with many cities.
Wonder if they look like the cities we see being excavated in the jungles of center America nowadays with stone pyramids and temples?
1 Nephi 12:4 And it came to pass that I saw a mist of darkness on the face of the land of promise; and I saw lightnings, and I heard thunderings, and earthquakes, and all manner of tumultuous noises; and I saw the earth and the rocks, that they rent; and I saw mountains tumbling into pieces; and I saw the plains of the earth, that they were broken up; and I saw many cities that they were sunk; and I saw many that they were burned with fire; and I saw many that did tumble to the earth, because of the quaking thereof.
Much of this destruction took place in Bountiful and in 3 Ne 11, we read that the people were marveling at the great changes that had taken place. The people must have just stayed in their particular locations of residences trying to repair the damage to their cities so that they did not get to Bountiful until about a year later for what have been the gathering of one the Jewish festivals like the Passover. Now he sees the natural events that proceed the coming of the Lord to the people 600 years in the future. He witnesses the lightings, thunderings, earthquakes and the great noises that come because of these earthquakes and mountain slides.
This all contributes to the destruction of the cities. Some are buried under slides, probably mud slides. Some are burned up with raging fires. The land is heaved up because of the earth breaking up and part of the land moving one way while another next to it moving in another. The result is large open gaps or one piece of land raising up over another.
1 Nephi 12:5 And it came to pass after I saw these things, I saw the vapor of darkness, that it passed from off the face of the earth; and behold, I saw multitudes who had not fallen because of the great and terrible judgments of the Lord.
Part of the destruction was the vapor of darkness which covered the land for a time. I think the people were together for the Passover when these events took place. I really believe that they were celebrating the Passover but because of their unrighteousness, their lintels were not covered with lambs blood so that the angel of death would pass over them and they were killed.
The darkness does depart and the people now see how great was the destruction of their places of abode. It must be just like what we have seen after a hurricane has ripped through a city which left destroyed homes, schools and businesses. It must have been just as horrible a mess to look at as to clean up.
1 Nephi 12:6 And I saw the heavens open, and the Lamb of God descending out of heaven; and he came down and showed himself unto them.
Nephi sees the Savior descending out of heaven to the people. No fireworks or great displays of lights or power, just a man showing up but just coming down out of the sky. That’s what it looked like, but to Jesus it was just walking through a doorway into this mortal world. I do think that it was necessary to show Himself coming out of heaven rather than walking into town. It did get people to concentrate on Him and wonder who He was. That would certainly get my attention.
