The fourteenth chapter changes time periods. It is speaking of the last days when the Lamb of God is manifest to the Gentiles in word (other volumes of scripture) and also in power (the Spirit poured out), in very deed (translated by revelation, a marvelous work), unto taking away the stumbling blocks (understanding the Bible) (v. 1). The cultural Gentiles (those gathered from among the Gentiles) shall be numbered with the house of Israel (grafted back into the mother tree), and be a blessed (Zion) people upon the promised land forever (permanently established as a church and kingdom in peace, working toward eternal life) (v. 2).
The “great pit which hath been digged for the destruction of men shall be filled by those who digged it” (v. 3), illustrates the principal taught by Christ: “For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged; and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again” (Matthew 7:2; 3 Nephi 14:2). Or as Moroni said, “do not judge wrongfully; for with that same judgment which ye judge ye shall also be judged” (Moroni 7:18).
The devil seeks to destroy man. Since “he [the devil] had fallen from heaven, and had become miserable forever, he sought also the misery of all mankind” (2 Nephi 2:18). Those who become captive to him (both temporally and spiritually) have their souls cast into hell, but not destroyed physically, according to the justice of God (vv. 3–4).