Nephi teaches his brothers about the state of the Lord’s people after they have been gathered in and the wicked have been removed from the earth.
“And the time cometh speedily that the righteous must be led up as calves of the stall, and the Holy One of Israel must reign in dominion, and might, and power and great glory. And he gathereth his children from the four quarters of the earth and he numbereth his sheep, and they know him; and there shall be one fold and one shepherd; and he shall feed his sheep, and in him they shall find pasture. And because of the righteousness of his people, Satan has no power; wherefore, he cannot be loosed for the space of many years; for he hath no power over the hearts of the people, for they dwell in righteousness, and the Holy One of Israel reigneth.” (1 Nephi 22:24-26)
Questions:
-Would it be possible for Satan to be bound if the earth was not cleansed of wickedness?
-Will some, who did not call themselves Christians, know Christ when He returns to the earth to reign? Will some, who did call themselves Christians, not know Christ when He returns? What is the Light of Christ?
-How will the social and economic systems of the earth change under the guidance of God Himself? What level of joy, peace, and unprecedented progress will be experienced as Satan loses all power on the earth?
-Will all people immediately be one with the Lord’s people? Or, will missionary work continue during Christ’s reign on earth? (This reign is also referred to as the Millennium)
Teachings of the Seventies
“When we are righteous, Satan has no power over us. A prophecy about the Millennium teaches us that ‘because of the righteousness of his people, Satan has no power; wherefore, he cannot be loosed for the space of many years; for he hath no power over the hearts of the people, for they dwell in righteousness’ (1 Nephi 22:26). This scripture is speaking about the condition that will exist in the world when the people as a whole live in righteousness, but the principle can be true today for us individually. … Individually we can be free from any power the adversary would like to have over us by living righteously. He only gains power as we allow it by our choices” (Paul V. Johnson, “Free to Choose Liberty or Captivity” [Brigham Young University devotional, Nov. 6, 2012], 5–6, speeches.byu.edu).
Messages of the Book of Mormon 