According to John Tvedtnes, Jacob made a formal ending to his book at Jacob 6:13: "Finally, I bid you farewell, until I shall meet you before the pleasing bar of God, which bar striketh the wicked with awful dread and fear. Amen." Jacob evidently had no intention of writing more. However as an afterthought, he added the story of Sherem, then updated the preface to his book, where he had--following Nephi's example--left space for an explanation of the book's contents. [John A. Tvedtnes, Book Review of Jerald and Sandra Tanner's Covering Up the Black Hole in the Book of Mormon, in Review of Books on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 3 1991, p. 193]
“The Pleasing Bar of God”
According to Corbin Volluz, both Jacob and Moroni speak of the "pleasing bar of God," before which all mankind shall be judged (Jacob 6:13; Moroni 10:34). Though the word bar as used in this context obviously has legalistic implications, it is interesting that the foremost definition of the word bar is "a straight piece (as of wood or metal) that is longer than it is wide, and has any of various uses (as for . . . support). " (Merriam-Webster, Webster's Seventh New Collegiate Dictionary) The definition of a bar as a long-shaped piece of metal fits the description of the iron rod leading to the tree of life. It will be remembered that the fundamental interpretation of the rod of iron is "the word of God" (1 Nephi 11:25). One of the most common scriptural uses of the phrase the word of God is as a name for Jesus Christ. Therefore, the bringing of all people before the rod of iron (judgment bar or word of God) to be judged of their works may symbolize the scriptural verity that Christ will be the judge of all mankind (John 5:22), and that all will be brought to stand before him in that great judgment day to be judged of their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil (Revelation 20:12-13) [Corbin T. Volluz, "Lehi's Dream of the Tree of Life: Springboard to Prophecy" in Journal of Book of Mormon Studies, Vol. 2/2, Fall 1993, p. 31]
A Covenant Plan of Salvation
(2 Nephi--Enos)