2 Nephi 25: Nephi speaks (somewhat) plainly about Jews, Jesus, and Joseph Smith

Nephi finally gives us a break from quoting Isaiah (2 Nephi 11-24) and begins to speak (somewhat) about the the 13 chapters he copied from the King James Version of the Bible (about 2200 years before that translation existed).

Now I, Nephi, do speak somewhat concerning the words which I have written, which have been spoken by the mouth of Isaiah. 2 Nephi 25:1

First he tells us about Jews.

The Jews ... works were works of darkness, and their doings were doings of abominations. 2 Nephi 25:2

Then he explains why no one understands Isaiah.  To understand Isaiah properly, you need to delight in plainness and be filled with the spirit of prophecy. And Nephi is full of prophecy and plainness.

The words of Isaiah are not plain unto you, nevertheless they are plain unto all those that are filled with the spirit of prophecy ... My soul delighteth in plainness unto my people. 2 Nephi 25:4

But Nephi's soul delights in more than just plainness; it also delights in the words of Isaiah. (That's probably why he included 13 consecutive chapters from Isaiah. See 2 Nephi 11-24)

My soul delighteth in the words of Isaiah. 2 Nephi 25:5a

The only people that understand the prophets are people that are taught after the manner of the Jews (like early 19th century Americans.)

The Jews do understand the things of the prophets, and there is none other people that understand the things which were spoken unto the Jews like unto them, save it be that they are taught after the manner of the things of the Jews. 2 Nephi 25:5b

And lucky for us, Nephi is from Jerusalem and knows all about all things such as and suchlike.

 But behold, I, Nephi ... have dwelt at Jerusalem, wherefore I know concerning the regions round about. 2 Nephi 25:6

With his prophecy credentials intact, Nephi proceeds with his own prophecy according to his plainness.

Behold, I proceed with mine own prophecy, according to my plainness. 2 Nephi 25:7

He starts by telling us a bit more about Jews. God has destroyed them from one generation to the next because of their iniquities.

As one generation hath been destroyed among the Jews because of iniquity, even so have they been destroyed from generation to generation according to their iniquities. 2 Nephi 25:9

Nephi prophesies that in another 600 years or so, the evil Jews will reject and crucify Jesus because of their hard hearts and stiff necks.

The Father of heaven and of earth, shall manifest himself unto them in the flesh, behold, they will reject him, because of their iniquities, and the hardness of their hearts, and the stiffness of their necks ... They will crucify him. 2 Nephi 25:12-13

And woe unto whoever fights against God's church (the Mormons), which will show up in another 2400 years or so.

 Wo unto them that fight against God and the people of his church. 2 Nephi 25:14

And, of course, woe unto the the Jews. They'll be scattered among all nations and be scourged by God for many generations until, finally, they are persuaded to believe in Christ.

Wherefore, the Jews shall be scattered among all nations. ... After they have been scattered, and the Lord God hath scourged them by other nations for ... many generations ... they shall be persuaded to believe in Christ. 2 Nephi 25:15-16

Meanwhile, God will inspire Joseph Smith to write find and translate the Book of Mormon, which is, as I'm sure you've noticed by now, a marvelous work and a wonder. ("A Marvelous work and a wonder" is LDS-speak for the Book of Mormon.)

The Lord ... will proceed to do a marvelous work and a wonder. 2 Nephi 25:17

That the promise may be fulfilled unto Joseph [Smith], that his seed should never perish as long as the earth should stand." 2 Nephi 25:21

And now Nephi gets precise about his Christ prophecy: Jesus Christ, the Son of God, will be born 600 years after Nephi's dad (Lehi) left Jerusalem.

According to the words of the prophets, the Messiah cometh in six hundred years from the time that my father left Jerusalem ... his name shall be Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 Nephi 25:19

Nephi reminds us about some of the plain and wonderful things that are found in the Hebrew scriptures:  the fiery serpents (Num. 21:6-9) and the water-bearing rock (Ex.17:6, Num.20:11)..

I have spoken plainly that ... the Lord God ... gave unto Moses power that he should heal the nations after they had been bitten by the poisonous serpents, if they would cast their eyes unto the serpent which he did raise up before them, and also gave him power that he should smite the rock and the water should come forth. 2 Nephi 25:20

And the rest of his prophecy is all about Jesus H. Christ. There's no other name that can get you saved.

There is none other name given under heaven save it be this Jesus Christ, of which I have spoken, whereby man can be saved. 2 Nephi 25:20

So believe in Christ.

We labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ. 2 Nephi 25:23

We believe in Christ. 2 Nephi 25:24a 

Look forward to Christ.

Look forward with steadfastness unto Christ. 2 Nephi 25:24b 

Be alive in Christ.

We are made alive in Christ because of our faith. 2 Nephi 25:25a

Talk of Christ.

We talk of Christ.  2 Nephi 25:26b

Rejoice in Christ.

We rejoice in Christ.  2 Nephi 25:26c

Preach of Christ.

We preach of Christ.  2 Nephi 25:26d

Prophesy of Christ.

We prophesy of Christ. 2 Nephi 25:26e

The Nephites did all these Christian things six centuries before Christianity existed.

So don't let anyone tell you Mormons aren't Christians.