The Second Coming of the Lord
Sermon by Rev. Paul Booth
Lessons: Zechariah 12: 10-14 | Mathew 24
True Christian Religion 779, 780
Sermon by Rev. Paul Booth
Lessons: Zechariah 12: 10-14 | Mathew 24
True Christian Religion 779, 780
"And this gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come." (Matthew 24: 14)
Most Christians believe the Lord will come again as they have believed for centuries. However, they acknowledge only the literal sense of the Word and understand it accordingly. Thus, when they read, "Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in Heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of Heaven with power and great glory" (Matthew 24: 30), they do not see the spiritual sense of these words and come to the conclusion that the Lord will appear in heavens or in the clouds of this earth in some kind of splendor. They also expect the Lord to come again in a natural body in Person and that then the Last Judgment will take place here on earth. This belief is in error.
The Lord, therefore, does not come in Person as when He did by nativity and assumed the Human and then made it Divine at His first Advent. His coming is by appearance, that is, by manifestation as He was manifested before Abraham, Moses or to Joshua and, even, as when He gave the Word. And, as we well know the Lord is present in the Word, for all things are from Him and relate to Him. As such, this then, is the appearing that is meant by the 'Son of Man' in the Word. You may ask, if it is His coming, why, then, do all the tribes mourn, for if by these tribes are meant the Israelites, then they again reject Him? In Zechariah we can read of the mourning and grief that Jerusalem or the Israelitish Church would suffer at His Coming. The tribes of Israel signify all things pertaining to the doctrine of truth and good, that is, of faith and love. And, of course, one understands this as the Lord's Kingdom. So, it is the same for the Christian Church at the Lord's Second Coming, for they had not been loyal or lived as the commandments taught and have made the Word of no effect in their lives such as Jesus had found when He came to the Israelites. We read concerning that Church, "And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a first-born" (Zechariah 12: 10). And, in Revelation concerning the Christian Church we read, "Behold, He comes with clouds, and they also which pierced Him: and all kindred of the earth wail because of Him" (Revelation 1: 7) 'Kindred' refer to the Christian's common origin with the Israelitish Church. And, so, we see that when the Lord comes again at the end of first Christian Church there is also a mourning "and then all tribes of the earth mourn" (Matthew 24: 30). And, in Revelation it is obvious that the Last Judgment upon that Church caused such mourning. Nonetheless, today, there is a problem for many who are called Christians, for they do not understand the Word except through their own natural understanding and not through the Lord's and, so, are still waiting for the Last Judgment to come upon earth. Finally, they mourn and grieve because the truths and goods of the Lord were no longer within them, and what was within were falsities and evils, except those that overcome evil.
The disciples had asked Jesus, "Tell us when shall these things come to pass, and what is the sign of Your coming, and of the consummation (or end) of the age" (Matthew 24: 3). It was obvious to them that He would come again, for Jesus had told them that He would. What did they mean by asking when was 'the end of the age'? Is it the end the world, as many have said, as we know it? It is known that the Lord came on earth and set up or established the Christian Church, however, and it is not known that when the Lord comes again that first Christian Church comes to its end, yet one reads that a new one will come on earth. "Then, I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of Heaven from God, prepared as a bride for her husband" (Revelation 21: 2). Christians know that by the 'bride' is meant the Church and, of course, it is the Lord Jesus Christ who is the husband. So, it was a new Church that came on earth when the first or the old Christian Church came to its end or was consummated. One can see that the New Church that came to earth is called 'New Jerusalem', and is seen as a city just as city of Jerusalem was the center of the Israelitish Church when the Lord first came. It was not the city of Jerusalem that Jesus wept for, but the Israelitish Church that was soon to end.
However, to further show that by 'age' is meant the end of the Church this is added. By a Church on earth is meant those who have the Lord within them, those who live from His truths and good, that is, from the Word. Then, it only stands to reason that since there is a Church on earth, then in Heaven where angels are there is also the Church, for the Lord is within them in an even more perfect way than He is within those on earth who are preparing for Heaven, since they, too, have the Lord's good and truth, though not so perfect. Now, since that is true, and the Church in Heaven is for eternity, even as is 'age' in the Word when it applies to the Lord, then it can be understood that the Church on earth is not eternal, but comes to its end as we can seen that in the Word the Most Ancient Church or Adam, the Church called Noah or the Ancient Church and, the Israelitish and Jewish Church, plus also the first Christian Church have all come to their end. Thus, by 'age' when spoken of the Church is meant its end or consummation. Nonetheless, there are evidences that these Churches all looked to the Coming of the Lord as was promised. However, they all turned 'as it were' away and have rejected the Lord as is evidenced in a study of the Word. Then, the Lord came and established the new Christian Church in Heaven in those who had died, entered the next world, the spiritual world and who overcame evil, It is that Church that now descends to earth in spiritual truths to man and is the crown of all Churches and has no end, for it is a spiritual Church. The prior were natural in which evils adhere themselves to man.
You might wonder why all these prior Churches had come to their end and are no longer representative of the Church in Heaven? What makes a Church a true Church is faith and charity, the two principles derived from the Lord who comes to live within a man as he appropriates the Lord's goods and truths, thus causing the Lord's presence within him. Now, when, you read what the Lord told the disciples about when the 'end of the age' came and when He would come again, you see that there would be no charity with man. Therefore, one reads that neighbor would be against neighbor, nation against nation, lawlessness would exist, and that the love of many would grow cold. The Lord is not speaking, here, about the world's end, but about the Church's end. The Church in man is what the Lord came to bring back into His Kingdom, and, of course, we see that confirmed in 'Revelation' concerning the seven Churches that John writes to. And, what he writes is that they had lost their first love and that they should to be faithful unto death, that they are to repent, and to hold fast to what they have (received from the Lord), and to overcome (their evils), that is, to keep the Lord's Word, and again, finally to repent. They are to do good, by which is meant 'charity'. By these seven Churches are not meant seven different Churches in Asia, but the various states of reformation of the first Christian Church in man.
It is the end of this Church the first Christian Church, the Church the Lord had established at His first coming when the Lord comes again, when the Last Judgment we read that they had not kept their first love or repented, or reminded faithful, or kept His Word. We note that the Lord was to come again on the clouds and we see that it is the 'sign of the Son of Man' that appears. What is meant, here, and why the 'Son of Man' and not the 'Son of God' or why not just say that the Lord Jesus Christ Himself comes again? Not only Jesus called Himself the 'Son of Man', we see that the prophets also did. To those who have no idea of a spiritual or internal sense of the Word, they think there is no difference between these titles, and that they are names that refer to Jesus Christ, the Lord. They do all refer to the Lord, but they also signify the different spiritual and celestial aspects of God. Now, it is known that Jehovah, the Lord, came into to world, was called the 'Word' and that He said that He was the 'Truth'. The Lord also, at times, called Himself the 'Son of God'. You can see then that there are two aspects of the Lord's life on earth that is evidenced in the Word one is of His Divinity when He is seen united with the Father, and shows divine power and has life from the Father. This is where He is called the 'Son of God'. Another aspect is when He is in His passion and in judgment, when His coming relates to Him, and where in general His redemption, reformation, and regeneration are treated of. This is when He is called the 'Son of Man'. This latter is what we are talking about about His Coming, His redemption and regeneration. For, that is the reason He comes to save man.It is His passion, even the final passion on the cross and it is also the judgment that comes to all who reject Him.
Thus, when the 'Son of Man' is said to be the sign appearing in the clouds of Heaven it is meant that the Word, as to the Divine Truth, is coming, for it is the truths and goods of the Word that teaches, leads, regenerates and saves man. It is the Word that suffers, the prophets who as the Lord who suffers. It is thus, the Word's internal sense that is revealed in which the Lord is that comes again on earth. The 'Son of Man' is the Divine Truth, which is therein the Word that now is revealed in a new Word. That it is seen as coming in the 'clouds of Heaven' is meant that it comes within the literal sense of the Word, which the Word on earth is manifested before man, that the spiritual and celestial sense is now revealed. That with 'great power' and 'glory' is meant that the Lord is now to be seen in the spiritual or internal sense, thus spiritually and celestially, and not just in the natural and literal sense. We see in the Word of the New Testament that the Lord glorified Himself in His victories over evils and thus, that He became one with the Father and made His Human Divine, becoming the Divine Human. Thus, He returned to His Father where He is one with Him to eternity. He now comes again in His glory, thus revealing internal truths and goods to man in a new Word, though He does not leave His throne. One affirms this in Revelation where He is seen sitting on the throne of Heaven in the spiritual world. In this new Word that has come on earth, called by some the Word of the Divine Human and the Third Testament just as the New Testament is called the Word of Jesus Christ and the Old by the Word of God, the spiritual and celestial truths and goods are revealed to man on earth, for it is now permitted to learn the mysteries of faith.
Let us examine at a few other verses related to the Lord's second coming. "And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of Heaven to the other" (Matthew 24: 31). Would anyone expect angels to come from Heaven to earth and blow trumpets and cry out in order to elect or call forth all those that are to come into Heaven? Surely, those who hear, that is, who receive the Lord's Word and live accordingly come into Heaven? This verse new earth' is often used by theologians and priests or ministers to show divine election and, thus, predestination. However, one should understand that 'election' or calling is by influx of Holy good and the Holy truth from the Lord through angels, for are not good and truth in us through angels that are with us? Don't we say angels are messengers of God? That Angels in the Word signify some function of the Lord is readily seen throughout the Word and believed by many. It is commonly known that there are angels with us, even as there are with children guardian angels. What is to be understood, here, is an 'evangelization' and it is signified by 'trumpet' and a 'great voice' being heard 'as it were'. However, when we look closely at this statement, we also see those who are gathered together are from 'one end of Heaven to the other' and are not gathered from this natural world as most Christian today believe and is when the second coming is to take place. The purpose, we read, is to establish a New Church, and this Church, we understand has its beginning in Heaven, as do all things, thus the internal supports the external just as from the soul the body has life. The body is but a covering for the spirit within. Therefore, in the Word in 'Revelation' we learn that a 'new earth' and a 'new Heaven' are seen and that the old earth and Heaven are 'no more', and that the new Church, which is called the 'New Jerusalem' that descends down from God to earth. Of course, one may see similar words in Genesis, Chapter one, where, it is said, "In the beginning God created the Heavens and the earth" (verse 1). In the internal sense by 'Heaven' is meant a man's spiritual entity and by 'earth' is meant the man's external or natural entity. And, we see also in Genesis, chapter two that God had breathed into man giving him life, or making him a soul. Thus, by this it is the spirit that man has life as Jesus attested to. And, we know that the Lord also breathed on the disciples, who were, at that time, the beginning of a new Church the first Christian Church and said 'receive you the spirit', that is, receive life. Thus, as Adam or the celestial man received life from Jehovah God, so, too, are Christians to receive that same life. Of course, we know that those in Eden fell and lost that life and became dead 'as it were', and are called 'dead'. So it is that a man is to again receive that life and to truly live in the Heaven with the Lord as Adam or man lived in Paradise with Jehovah.
We have already shown through the Word that the Second Coming of the Lord is not a coming in person, but in the Word, which is from Him, and in Himself. We saw how knowledge of the internal sense of the Word shows what is signified by 'clouds' and by 'glory and power'. Thus, unless it is known that in the Word there is an internal sense and that this sense has now been revealed in a new Word by someone, this knowledge would remain hidden. Unless someone (E. Swedenborg) has been revealed the internal sense of the Word by the Lord genuine and spiritual truths are not known, just as unless the prophets were enlightened by the Lord the truths they taught would never be revealed or known either. How often have they claimed that the Lord spoke unto them? We see Isaiah said that he saw a vision and said the Lord had spoken to him and this we see is all throughout his book. It is the same with Jeremiah who says that the Word of the Lord came to him and that he spoke to God, who touched his mouth, putting words into him. The same is of Ezekiel who says the Heavens were opened to him and that he saw visions of God. In addition, all throughout the Word, we can see where God spoke to many others. So, it should not be strange that God chose and spoke to Emanuel Swedenborg and that he, like others, wrote what he was told and saw.
Now, in the religious works of Emanuel Swedenborg, we can read where he says the Lord has opened the spiritual sense of the Word to him and that he was in the company of angels and spirits in their world. "No one as yet has had the least conjecture that there is a spiritual sense in the Word, such as this sense is in itself. But, the Lord has opened to me the spiritual sense of the Word; and has granted me to be associated with angels and spirits in their world as one of them, it is disclosed that "a cloud of Heaven" means the Word in the natural sense, and "glory" the Word is the spiritual sense, and "power" the Lord's power through the Word" (True Christian Religion 776 § 1). One might say that they do not accept the religious writings of Emanuel Swedenborg as the Word. And, in that case they will continue to form doctrine according to their understanding of the Word, which is a literal understanding since they reject the internal sense. One such doctrine that they have is that the Lord will come in Person. However, if that is true, then the Lord will not be present with everyone, even if He were to be broadcast on television, for man's will and understanding will not have changed that the Lord may come to him. The Lord's coming is only to those who receive Him, who are such as believe on Him and keep His commandments. Most of the world does not believe on the Lord now and, if He were to come in Person they still would not believe on Him, just as, most did not believe on Him when He came the first time, even, though He may have personally spoke to them. Now, unless the truth of the Word is joined with the good of the Word, who is the Lord in man, then the Lord's presence with man does not join man with the Lord, that is, the Lord's good and truth are not within him as his life, but in his memory knowledge. It is not a personal coming to this world that is meant, but it is His coming to man himself that is meant. For man is as an 'earth' , as we have shown. In other words, man is a microcosm of the earth and it is that 'earth' or man that the Lord comes to. And, His coming is not just in truth or in 'light', but in 'good' or love as well, which is as 'heat' with the 'light' of the sun comes to earth. From this one can understand that it is both truth and good now conjoined in man that is the Lord's presence with him and that such presence is the Lord's Life in man He in them and they in Him. This the Lord has said in John. Thus, unless the Lord comes in Word and causes the man to become rational, and gives him the ability to do and leads man to become spiritual, then, His coming in Person will not cause the man to be saved and come into Heaven. Still, the Lord will not come in Person, because since His ascension into Heaven, He is in the Glorified Human, and thus, He cannot appear to anyone unless his eyes are opened as were those who saw Him after His resurrection. It is clear that an evil man's eyes cannot be opened being in evil and in falsities.
Let us investigate further into the Lord's Second Coming. "The second coming of the Lord is effected by means of a man, to whom the Lord has manifested Himself in Person, and to whom He has filled with His Spirit, to teach the Doctrines of the New Church from Himself, through the Word" (True Christian Religion 779). By this is understood that the Lord manifested Himself to a man (E. Swedenborg) who could receive the doctrines of the New Church, who thus established within his understanding such doctrines and could publish them as a new Word so that anyone can who accepts them receive and comes to see the Lord in them, and thus, a man can learn true doctrines and be led in his regeneration by the Lord. In such is the New Church established within a man. In this presence of the Lord the 'light' or truth of the spiritual sense of the Word in which Divine Truth is was opened to E. Swedenborg. It is, thus, understood that the Lord's presence in man in the Word comes by or through the spiritual sense. It thus behooves man to accept and come to understand the spiritual sense of the Word which is, now, revealed in this new Word, and which is the Lord's Coming again. How, you ask, is the spiritual sense revealed through the natural or literal sense in which the Word is present with a man? It is just as the light of the sun passes through the clouds. The light and the heat of the sun when they pass through the clouds are changed, and in this case, the earth becomes cold and torpid and without life than when in the springtime. So it is with the Lord's love and wisdom or with His good and truth that as they pass from Heaven from the spiritual to the natural understanding of man the truths and goods are understood naturally and man had natural life, but no spiritual life or understanding. Thus, unless one can see within the Word its spiritual sense, the doctrines he derives are not true or genuine doctrines, for they have are seem only in appearances having been 'as if' clouded over, shutting out the spiritual 'light' or truth and are seen or understood only in their natural sense.
However, as man receives in love, these natural truths, that is, that as he loves truth for the sake of truth, then, the internal or spiritual sense becomes opened to him and as he, follows and does good accordingly, the Lord is present not only in one's understanding, but in his will and the man sees the Lord's Divine in the spiritual sense just as he sees the Lord's Human in the natural sense. It is then that he accepts the Lord as the Divine Human and His Word and understands that the Lord has come to him in love opening in him a new will and understanding and a rational which the Lord is conjoined..
It is then that the Lord comes to man a second time or that he is effected by His Second Coming. We know that the Lord is with everyone, good as well as evil, for unless He is present no man lives. However, His second coming is only to those who receive Him and who believe and do His commandments. The first presence is perpetual, that is, truth proceeds from the Lord and man receives this truth into his understanding and as a result he may receive rationality which helps him come to understand the spiritual sense. It is said 'may' for he has freedom not to accept or accept the religious writings of Emanuel Swedenborg as the Word. Thus, if he does receive this truth, the Lord's presence is in man's natural understanding of the Word and in this is his faith rationally developed from the Lord. It is then in His Second Advent that He comes to a man who has received and conjoins love, or the Lord's good with the truth that he has accepted. By receiving is signified acting accordingly, and this charity becomes conjoined with his faith and his spiritual eyes are opened to understand spiritual truths. This is as the sun's light and heat which is received in the world and which causes things to grow and produce. So, it is the spiritual world's heat and light of its Sun, which is the Lord's love and wisdom, that when received causes angels and spiritual men to become more and more spiritually and even celestially conjoined with the Lord in Heaven.
Amen.
The Lord, therefore, does not come in Person as when He did by nativity and assumed the Human and then made it Divine at His first Advent. His coming is by appearance, that is, by manifestation as He was manifested before Abraham, Moses or to Joshua and, even, as when He gave the Word. And, as we well know the Lord is present in the Word, for all things are from Him and relate to Him. As such, this then, is the appearing that is meant by the 'Son of Man' in the Word. You may ask, if it is His coming, why, then, do all the tribes mourn, for if by these tribes are meant the Israelites, then they again reject Him? In Zechariah we can read of the mourning and grief that Jerusalem or the Israelitish Church would suffer at His Coming. The tribes of Israel signify all things pertaining to the doctrine of truth and good, that is, of faith and love. And, of course, one understands this as the Lord's Kingdom. So, it is the same for the Christian Church at the Lord's Second Coming, for they had not been loyal or lived as the commandments taught and have made the Word of no effect in their lives such as Jesus had found when He came to the Israelites. We read concerning that Church, "And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a first-born" (Zechariah 12: 10). And, in Revelation concerning the Christian Church we read, "Behold, He comes with clouds, and they also which pierced Him: and all kindred of the earth wail because of Him" (Revelation 1: 7) 'Kindred' refer to the Christian's common origin with the Israelitish Church. And, so, we see that when the Lord comes again at the end of first Christian Church there is also a mourning "and then all tribes of the earth mourn" (Matthew 24: 30). And, in Revelation it is obvious that the Last Judgment upon that Church caused such mourning. Nonetheless, today, there is a problem for many who are called Christians, for they do not understand the Word except through their own natural understanding and not through the Lord's and, so, are still waiting for the Last Judgment to come upon earth. Finally, they mourn and grieve because the truths and goods of the Lord were no longer within them, and what was within were falsities and evils, except those that overcome evil.
The disciples had asked Jesus, "Tell us when shall these things come to pass, and what is the sign of Your coming, and of the consummation (or end) of the age" (Matthew 24: 3). It was obvious to them that He would come again, for Jesus had told them that He would. What did they mean by asking when was 'the end of the age'? Is it the end the world, as many have said, as we know it? It is known that the Lord came on earth and set up or established the Christian Church, however, and it is not known that when the Lord comes again that first Christian Church comes to its end, yet one reads that a new one will come on earth. "Then, I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of Heaven from God, prepared as a bride for her husband" (Revelation 21: 2). Christians know that by the 'bride' is meant the Church and, of course, it is the Lord Jesus Christ who is the husband. So, it was a new Church that came on earth when the first or the old Christian Church came to its end or was consummated. One can see that the New Church that came to earth is called 'New Jerusalem', and is seen as a city just as city of Jerusalem was the center of the Israelitish Church when the Lord first came. It was not the city of Jerusalem that Jesus wept for, but the Israelitish Church that was soon to end.
However, to further show that by 'age' is meant the end of the Church this is added. By a Church on earth is meant those who have the Lord within them, those who live from His truths and good, that is, from the Word. Then, it only stands to reason that since there is a Church on earth, then in Heaven where angels are there is also the Church, for the Lord is within them in an even more perfect way than He is within those on earth who are preparing for Heaven, since they, too, have the Lord's good and truth, though not so perfect. Now, since that is true, and the Church in Heaven is for eternity, even as is 'age' in the Word when it applies to the Lord, then it can be understood that the Church on earth is not eternal, but comes to its end as we can seen that in the Word the Most Ancient Church or Adam, the Church called Noah or the Ancient Church and, the Israelitish and Jewish Church, plus also the first Christian Church have all come to their end. Thus, by 'age' when spoken of the Church is meant its end or consummation. Nonetheless, there are evidences that these Churches all looked to the Coming of the Lord as was promised. However, they all turned 'as it were' away and have rejected the Lord as is evidenced in a study of the Word. Then, the Lord came and established the new Christian Church in Heaven in those who had died, entered the next world, the spiritual world and who overcame evil, It is that Church that now descends to earth in spiritual truths to man and is the crown of all Churches and has no end, for it is a spiritual Church. The prior were natural in which evils adhere themselves to man.
You might wonder why all these prior Churches had come to their end and are no longer representative of the Church in Heaven? What makes a Church a true Church is faith and charity, the two principles derived from the Lord who comes to live within a man as he appropriates the Lord's goods and truths, thus causing the Lord's presence within him. Now, when, you read what the Lord told the disciples about when the 'end of the age' came and when He would come again, you see that there would be no charity with man. Therefore, one reads that neighbor would be against neighbor, nation against nation, lawlessness would exist, and that the love of many would grow cold. The Lord is not speaking, here, about the world's end, but about the Church's end. The Church in man is what the Lord came to bring back into His Kingdom, and, of course, we see that confirmed in 'Revelation' concerning the seven Churches that John writes to. And, what he writes is that they had lost their first love and that they should to be faithful unto death, that they are to repent, and to hold fast to what they have (received from the Lord), and to overcome (their evils), that is, to keep the Lord's Word, and again, finally to repent. They are to do good, by which is meant 'charity'. By these seven Churches are not meant seven different Churches in Asia, but the various states of reformation of the first Christian Church in man.
It is the end of this Church the first Christian Church, the Church the Lord had established at His first coming when the Lord comes again, when the Last Judgment we read that they had not kept their first love or repented, or reminded faithful, or kept His Word. We note that the Lord was to come again on the clouds and we see that it is the 'sign of the Son of Man' that appears. What is meant, here, and why the 'Son of Man' and not the 'Son of God' or why not just say that the Lord Jesus Christ Himself comes again? Not only Jesus called Himself the 'Son of Man', we see that the prophets also did. To those who have no idea of a spiritual or internal sense of the Word, they think there is no difference between these titles, and that they are names that refer to Jesus Christ, the Lord. They do all refer to the Lord, but they also signify the different spiritual and celestial aspects of God. Now, it is known that Jehovah, the Lord, came into to world, was called the 'Word' and that He said that He was the 'Truth'. The Lord also, at times, called Himself the 'Son of God'. You can see then that there are two aspects of the Lord's life on earth that is evidenced in the Word one is of His Divinity when He is seen united with the Father, and shows divine power and has life from the Father. This is where He is called the 'Son of God'. Another aspect is when He is in His passion and in judgment, when His coming relates to Him, and where in general His redemption, reformation, and regeneration are treated of. This is when He is called the 'Son of Man'. This latter is what we are talking about about His Coming, His redemption and regeneration. For, that is the reason He comes to save man.It is His passion, even the final passion on the cross and it is also the judgment that comes to all who reject Him.
Thus, when the 'Son of Man' is said to be the sign appearing in the clouds of Heaven it is meant that the Word, as to the Divine Truth, is coming, for it is the truths and goods of the Word that teaches, leads, regenerates and saves man. It is the Word that suffers, the prophets who as the Lord who suffers. It is thus, the Word's internal sense that is revealed in which the Lord is that comes again on earth. The 'Son of Man' is the Divine Truth, which is therein the Word that now is revealed in a new Word. That it is seen as coming in the 'clouds of Heaven' is meant that it comes within the literal sense of the Word, which the Word on earth is manifested before man, that the spiritual and celestial sense is now revealed. That with 'great power' and 'glory' is meant that the Lord is now to be seen in the spiritual or internal sense, thus spiritually and celestially, and not just in the natural and literal sense. We see in the Word of the New Testament that the Lord glorified Himself in His victories over evils and thus, that He became one with the Father and made His Human Divine, becoming the Divine Human. Thus, He returned to His Father where He is one with Him to eternity. He now comes again in His glory, thus revealing internal truths and goods to man in a new Word, though He does not leave His throne. One affirms this in Revelation where He is seen sitting on the throne of Heaven in the spiritual world. In this new Word that has come on earth, called by some the Word of the Divine Human and the Third Testament just as the New Testament is called the Word of Jesus Christ and the Old by the Word of God, the spiritual and celestial truths and goods are revealed to man on earth, for it is now permitted to learn the mysteries of faith.
Let us examine at a few other verses related to the Lord's second coming. "And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of Heaven to the other" (Matthew 24: 31). Would anyone expect angels to come from Heaven to earth and blow trumpets and cry out in order to elect or call forth all those that are to come into Heaven? Surely, those who hear, that is, who receive the Lord's Word and live accordingly come into Heaven? This verse new earth' is often used by theologians and priests or ministers to show divine election and, thus, predestination. However, one should understand that 'election' or calling is by influx of Holy good and the Holy truth from the Lord through angels, for are not good and truth in us through angels that are with us? Don't we say angels are messengers of God? That Angels in the Word signify some function of the Lord is readily seen throughout the Word and believed by many. It is commonly known that there are angels with us, even as there are with children guardian angels. What is to be understood, here, is an 'evangelization' and it is signified by 'trumpet' and a 'great voice' being heard 'as it were'. However, when we look closely at this statement, we also see those who are gathered together are from 'one end of Heaven to the other' and are not gathered from this natural world as most Christian today believe and is when the second coming is to take place. The purpose, we read, is to establish a New Church, and this Church, we understand has its beginning in Heaven, as do all things, thus the internal supports the external just as from the soul the body has life. The body is but a covering for the spirit within. Therefore, in the Word in 'Revelation' we learn that a 'new earth' and a 'new Heaven' are seen and that the old earth and Heaven are 'no more', and that the new Church, which is called the 'New Jerusalem' that descends down from God to earth. Of course, one may see similar words in Genesis, Chapter one, where, it is said, "In the beginning God created the Heavens and the earth" (verse 1). In the internal sense by 'Heaven' is meant a man's spiritual entity and by 'earth' is meant the man's external or natural entity. And, we see also in Genesis, chapter two that God had breathed into man giving him life, or making him a soul. Thus, by this it is the spirit that man has life as Jesus attested to. And, we know that the Lord also breathed on the disciples, who were, at that time, the beginning of a new Church the first Christian Church and said 'receive you the spirit', that is, receive life. Thus, as Adam or the celestial man received life from Jehovah God, so, too, are Christians to receive that same life. Of course, we know that those in Eden fell and lost that life and became dead 'as it were', and are called 'dead'. So it is that a man is to again receive that life and to truly live in the Heaven with the Lord as Adam or man lived in Paradise with Jehovah.
We have already shown through the Word that the Second Coming of the Lord is not a coming in person, but in the Word, which is from Him, and in Himself. We saw how knowledge of the internal sense of the Word shows what is signified by 'clouds' and by 'glory and power'. Thus, unless it is known that in the Word there is an internal sense and that this sense has now been revealed in a new Word by someone, this knowledge would remain hidden. Unless someone (E. Swedenborg) has been revealed the internal sense of the Word by the Lord genuine and spiritual truths are not known, just as unless the prophets were enlightened by the Lord the truths they taught would never be revealed or known either. How often have they claimed that the Lord spoke unto them? We see Isaiah said that he saw a vision and said the Lord had spoken to him and this we see is all throughout his book. It is the same with Jeremiah who says that the Word of the Lord came to him and that he spoke to God, who touched his mouth, putting words into him. The same is of Ezekiel who says the Heavens were opened to him and that he saw visions of God. In addition, all throughout the Word, we can see where God spoke to many others. So, it should not be strange that God chose and spoke to Emanuel Swedenborg and that he, like others, wrote what he was told and saw.
Now, in the religious works of Emanuel Swedenborg, we can read where he says the Lord has opened the spiritual sense of the Word to him and that he was in the company of angels and spirits in their world. "No one as yet has had the least conjecture that there is a spiritual sense in the Word, such as this sense is in itself. But, the Lord has opened to me the spiritual sense of the Word; and has granted me to be associated with angels and spirits in their world as one of them, it is disclosed that "a cloud of Heaven" means the Word in the natural sense, and "glory" the Word is the spiritual sense, and "power" the Lord's power through the Word" (True Christian Religion 776 § 1). One might say that they do not accept the religious writings of Emanuel Swedenborg as the Word. And, in that case they will continue to form doctrine according to their understanding of the Word, which is a literal understanding since they reject the internal sense. One such doctrine that they have is that the Lord will come in Person. However, if that is true, then the Lord will not be present with everyone, even if He were to be broadcast on television, for man's will and understanding will not have changed that the Lord may come to him. The Lord's coming is only to those who receive Him, who are such as believe on Him and keep His commandments. Most of the world does not believe on the Lord now and, if He were to come in Person they still would not believe on Him, just as, most did not believe on Him when He came the first time, even, though He may have personally spoke to them. Now, unless the truth of the Word is joined with the good of the Word, who is the Lord in man, then the Lord's presence with man does not join man with the Lord, that is, the Lord's good and truth are not within him as his life, but in his memory knowledge. It is not a personal coming to this world that is meant, but it is His coming to man himself that is meant. For man is as an 'earth' , as we have shown. In other words, man is a microcosm of the earth and it is that 'earth' or man that the Lord comes to. And, His coming is not just in truth or in 'light', but in 'good' or love as well, which is as 'heat' with the 'light' of the sun comes to earth. From this one can understand that it is both truth and good now conjoined in man that is the Lord's presence with him and that such presence is the Lord's Life in man He in them and they in Him. This the Lord has said in John. Thus, unless the Lord comes in Word and causes the man to become rational, and gives him the ability to do and leads man to become spiritual, then, His coming in Person will not cause the man to be saved and come into Heaven. Still, the Lord will not come in Person, because since His ascension into Heaven, He is in the Glorified Human, and thus, He cannot appear to anyone unless his eyes are opened as were those who saw Him after His resurrection. It is clear that an evil man's eyes cannot be opened being in evil and in falsities.
Let us investigate further into the Lord's Second Coming. "The second coming of the Lord is effected by means of a man, to whom the Lord has manifested Himself in Person, and to whom He has filled with His Spirit, to teach the Doctrines of the New Church from Himself, through the Word" (True Christian Religion 779). By this is understood that the Lord manifested Himself to a man (E. Swedenborg) who could receive the doctrines of the New Church, who thus established within his understanding such doctrines and could publish them as a new Word so that anyone can who accepts them receive and comes to see the Lord in them, and thus, a man can learn true doctrines and be led in his regeneration by the Lord. In such is the New Church established within a man. In this presence of the Lord the 'light' or truth of the spiritual sense of the Word in which Divine Truth is was opened to E. Swedenborg. It is, thus, understood that the Lord's presence in man in the Word comes by or through the spiritual sense. It thus behooves man to accept and come to understand the spiritual sense of the Word which is, now, revealed in this new Word, and which is the Lord's Coming again. How, you ask, is the spiritual sense revealed through the natural or literal sense in which the Word is present with a man? It is just as the light of the sun passes through the clouds. The light and the heat of the sun when they pass through the clouds are changed, and in this case, the earth becomes cold and torpid and without life than when in the springtime. So it is with the Lord's love and wisdom or with His good and truth that as they pass from Heaven from the spiritual to the natural understanding of man the truths and goods are understood naturally and man had natural life, but no spiritual life or understanding. Thus, unless one can see within the Word its spiritual sense, the doctrines he derives are not true or genuine doctrines, for they have are seem only in appearances having been 'as if' clouded over, shutting out the spiritual 'light' or truth and are seen or understood only in their natural sense.
However, as man receives in love, these natural truths, that is, that as he loves truth for the sake of truth, then, the internal or spiritual sense becomes opened to him and as he, follows and does good accordingly, the Lord is present not only in one's understanding, but in his will and the man sees the Lord's Divine in the spiritual sense just as he sees the Lord's Human in the natural sense. It is then that he accepts the Lord as the Divine Human and His Word and understands that the Lord has come to him in love opening in him a new will and understanding and a rational which the Lord is conjoined..
It is then that the Lord comes to man a second time or that he is effected by His Second Coming. We know that the Lord is with everyone, good as well as evil, for unless He is present no man lives. However, His second coming is only to those who receive Him and who believe and do His commandments. The first presence is perpetual, that is, truth proceeds from the Lord and man receives this truth into his understanding and as a result he may receive rationality which helps him come to understand the spiritual sense. It is said 'may' for he has freedom not to accept or accept the religious writings of Emanuel Swedenborg as the Word. Thus, if he does receive this truth, the Lord's presence is in man's natural understanding of the Word and in this is his faith rationally developed from the Lord. It is then in His Second Advent that He comes to a man who has received and conjoins love, or the Lord's good with the truth that he has accepted. By receiving is signified acting accordingly, and this charity becomes conjoined with his faith and his spiritual eyes are opened to understand spiritual truths. This is as the sun's light and heat which is received in the world and which causes things to grow and produce. So, it is the spiritual world's heat and light of its Sun, which is the Lord's love and wisdom, that when received causes angels and spiritual men to become more and more spiritually and even celestially conjoined with the Lord in Heaven.
Amen.
| About |
| Doctrine
Site Content Copyright 2001 by The Lord's New Chapel All Rights Reserved
Site Concept and Creation Copyright 2001 by Stealth Media Solutions All Rights Reserved