“I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” Matthew 3:11
And he spake also concerning a prophet who should come before the Messiah, to prepare the way of the Lord—
Yea, even he should go forth and cry in the wilderness: Prepare ye the way of the Lord, and make his paths straight; for there standeth one among you whom ye know not; and he is mightier than I, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose. And much spake my father concerning this thing. 1 Nephi 10:7-8
Lehi spoke of the prophesy from Isaiah 40:3 about a coming Messiah. However, his second statement, about sandals, was a remark (not a prophecy) made by John the Baptist in the New Testament, 600 years after Lehi. Did Lehi prophesy what John the Baptist was going to say?
And my father said he should baptize in Bethabara, beyond Jordan; and he also said he should baptize with water; even that he should baptize the Messiah with water.
And after he had baptized the Messiah with water, he should behold and bear record that he had baptized the Lamb of God, who should take away the sins of the world. 1 Nephi 10:9-10
Now Lehi prophesied the baptism of Christ by the man who would coin the phrase "Lamb of God."
The phrase "Lamb of God" does not show up until the Gospel of John. John the Baptist understood through his prophecy, yet the Book of Mormon indicates that John the Baptist did not come up with that idea first. It was Nephi.
And it came to pass after my father had spoken these words he spake unto my brethren concerning the gospel which should be preached among the Jews, and also concerning the dwindling of the Jews in unbelief. And after they had slain the Messiah, who should come, and after he had been slain he should rise from the dead, and should make himself manifest, by the Holy Ghost, unto the Gentiles.
Yea, even my father spake much concerning the Gentiles, and also concerning the house of Israel, that they should be compared like unto an olive tree, whose branches should be broken off and should be scattered upon all the face of the earth. 1 Nephi 10:11-12
Then Lehi prophesies about the Jews falling away from God (known at the time). Then he prophesies that the Messiah would be killed and rise from the dead, revealing himself to the Gentiles. WHOA! Lehi knew more than all the prophets combined, stealing the thunder from John the Baptist.
In 1 Nephi 11 there is also prophecy that says:
- There are twelve followers of this Messiah
- He healed people of sickness and possession
- Put on a cross and lifted up
- The apostles were slained
- The temple is destroyed
Very suspicious.
NOTE: The term "Messiah" appears in the KJV of the Bible 2 times. In the Book of Mormon it appears 27 times. The idea of Jesus being a "Messiah" was not a common term used until after the Bible.
NOTE: The term "Messiah" appears in the KJV of the Bible 2 times. In the Book of Mormon it appears 27 times. The idea of Jesus being a "Messiah" was not a common term used until after the Bible.