In these three verses, Jarom summarizes the role and success of the prophets. His use of the word “threatened” indicates how clearly they preached the consequences of falling away from the Lord’s way. Only righteousness would activate Yahweh’s promise. Thanks only to the prophets’ diligence in reminding the people of their obligation did the people keep the law.
Victor L. Ludlow notes the significance of Jarom’s statement that the prophets “taught them to believe in the coming Messiah ‘as though he already was.’ This mental association of anticipating something in the future as though it were already present helped the people remember their weaknesses and repent of their sins.… If society today could anticipate Christ’s second coming and the reality of the judgment day and resurrection as though they were all happening now, perhaps more people would return to the gospel paths and avoid further divine punishments.”