What does Isaiah mean in 2 Nephi 27:6-22?
The book in “the Lord God shall bring forth unto you the words of a book, and they shall be the words of them which have slumbered.” means the Book of Mormon, and the “slumbered” could mean died.
“And behold the book shall be sealed” Part of the Book of Mormon was sealed!
“Wherefore, because of the things which are sealed up, the things which are sealed shall not be delivered in the day of the wickedness and abominations of the people. Wherefore the book shall be kept from them.” We weren’t able to have the sealed part of the book.
“But the book shall be delivered unto a man, and he shall deliver the words of the book, which are the words of those who have slumbered in the dust, and he shall deliver these words unto another;” That was Joseph Smith. He translated (“delivered”) the book.
“But the words which are sealed he shall not deliver, neither shall he deliver the book. For the book shall be sealed by the power of God, and the revelation which was sealed shall be kept in the book until the own due time of the Lord, that they may come forth; for behold, they reveal all things from the foundation of the world unto the end thereof.” He couldn’t give us the sealed part. He also didn’t deliver it on his own; he did it with the help of the Lord. And the sealed part will be given to us someday, but not yet. That part tells us all until the end of the world.
“And the day cometh that the words of the book which were sealed shall be read upon the house tops; and they shall be read by the power of Christ; and all things shall be revealed unto the children of men which ever have been among the children of men, and which ever will be even unto the end of the earth.” When we read the sealed part, we will read it with Christ’s power in us, and everybody hears everything there is to know!
“Wherefore, at that day when the book shall be delivered unto the man of whom I have spoken, the book shall be hid from the eyes of the world, that the eyes of none shall behold it save it be that three witnesses shall behold it, by the power of God, besides him to whom the book shall be delivered; and they shall testify to the truth of the book and the things therein.” Three witness were able to see the plates, and not many others.
“And there is none other which shall view it, save it be a few according to the will of God, to bear testimony of his word unto the children of men; for the Lord God hath said that the words of the faithful should speak as if it were from the dead.” And the eight witnesses only saw it so they could bear a testimony of it.
“Wherefore, the Lord God will proceed to bring forth the words of the book; and in the mouth of as many witnesses as seemeth him good will he establish his word; and wo be unto him that rejecteth the word of God!” God will show it to as many people has he thinks is good and it is bad to reject the words.
“But behold, it shall come to pass that the Lord God shall say unto him to whom he shall deliver the book: Take these words which are not sealed and deliver them to another, that he may show them unto the learned, saying: Read this, I pray thee. And the learned shall say: Bring hither the book, and I will read them.” We can and do share the unsealed part, through missionary work!
“And now, because of the glory of the world and to get gain will they say this, and not for the glory of God. And the man shall say: I cannot bring the book, for it is sealed. Then shall the learned say: I cannot read it.” Some people won’t believe, and will reject it. In fact, someone did say “I cannot read a sealed book”; a professor did when Martin Harris showed him a transcription of the characters on the plates.
“Wherefore it shall come to pass, that the Lord God will deliver again the book and the words thereof to him that is not learned; and the man that is not learned shall say: I am not learned.” Some people don’t reject it and admit they need them.
“Then shall the Lord God say unto him: The learned shall not read them, for they have rejected them, and I am able to do mine own work; wherefore thou shalt read the words which I shall give unto thee.” But those who rejected it won’t get another chance to read it since they rejected it.
“Touch not the things which are sealed, for I will bring them forth in mine own due time; for I will show unto the children of men that I am able to do mine own work.” We can’t get the sealed part yet, but we will later.
“Wherefore, when thou hast read the words which I have commanded thee, and obtained the witnesses which I have promised unto thee, then shalt thou seal up the book again, and hide it up unto me, that I may preserve the words which thou hast not read, until I shall see fit in mine own wisdom to reveal all things unto the children of men.” Once they were translated, Moroni took the plates back, and God is keeping them until it is time to get the sealed parts.
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/2-ne/27?lang=eng&verse=#p