These seven verses are still addressing the children of Nephi and his brethren. However, the time frame is the meridian of time rather than their own generation. It should be remembered that Nephi is foretelling what will happen to his people. Those already familiar with the Book of Mormon will recognize that it did happen precisely as he said. The wicked perished because they cast out and killed the prophets and the saints. The blood of the saints ascends unto God and the consequences that follow are a representation of the justice of God that will eventually and assuredly come (vv. 3–6). Verse four is quoted in Malachi 4:1 in the King James Bible, but the book of Malachi had not been written at the time of Nephi’s writing (between 559 and 545 B.C.).
Nephi and Malachi are obviously quoting from an earlier source that was upon the plates of brass and preserved among the records available to Malachi. There are other evidences of the writings attributed to Malachi being present before 600 B.C. Malachi 4:1 is quoted in 1 Nephi 22:15; and Malachi 4:2 is quoted in 1 Nephi 22:24. 1 Nephi 22:15 suggest that it may have originally been from Isaiah.
Nephi laments the destruction of his people, but recognizes that the ways of God are just (v. 7).