Alma’s stern warning to the people of Ammonihah came about 82 B.C. The angel that Alma referred to (v. 25) was probably the one that had appeared to him on two occasions. The first time he appeared was to call Alma to repentance several years before (Mosiah 27: 11–16). The second time was to tell him to return to the city of Ammonihah and warn them of destruction if they did not repent (see Alma 8:14–17). Alma also warned them of the coming of the Son of God “not many days hence” (Alma 9:26). The angel Moroni similarly appeared to the young man, Joseph Smith, to tell him of his mission to bring forth the Book of Mormon and of the future Second Coming of Jesus Christ to cleanse the earth by fire (see Joseph Smith—History 1:30–41). No dates of his coming were given by either angel, but in the Lord’s time the Second Coming was “not many days hence” (Alma 9:26). In both situations, “the kingdom of heaven [was] nigh at hand” (v. 25).
In both time periods, the Lord comes to redeem those “who will be baptized unto repentance, through faith on his name” (v. 27). Those who will be baptized unto repentance are called to “prepare the way of the Lord,” and they will “reap the salvation of their souls.” Those who would remain evil “will reap the damnation of their souls” (v. 28). In Alma’s situation, he was sent to his brethren who had once been in the church. He was on a reformation mission to bring them back into the church.