The Word and its Spiritual or Internal Sense
What makes the Word of God the Word: Its Doctrines as seen from its Internal or Spiritual Sense.
What makes the Word of God the Word: Its Doctrines as seen from its Internal or Spiritual Sense.
In the last 3 doctrinal papers - The 'White horse and its Rider' - it was explained its internal or spiritual sense and it was seen that by the 'white horse' is signified the understanding of the Word. Most Christians think that they understand the Word, and if there is something that they do not know or that doesn't sounds right or may seem confusing, they excuse themselves and say that that is something for the experts, the ministers, priests, and theologians. Others say that such deep religious things are reserved for the Church's hierarchy and are not necessary for them to know. Like the Word of the Old and the New Testaments, those who accept them as holy see them as revelations that come from the Lord God. So, too, the internal or the spiritual sense to be accepted as holy, that is, as the truth. Therefore, the internal or spiritual sense of the Word must also be seen as revelation that comes from God. One sees in the book Revelation of the New Testament that there was a New Church to be founded upon the Word and to be established by the Lord. Yet a merely literal understanding of the words of the Old and New Testaments do not reveal such a new Word for this New Church. To that we read the following.
"And I saw a new Heaven and a new earth, for the former Heaven and the former earth were passed away; and the sea was no more. And I John saw the Holy city New Jerusalem coming down from God out of Heaven prepared as a bride adorned for her husband" (Revelation 21: 1,2). So, even though one may not see the internal or spiritual sense of the words quoted here, such as 'earth' and 'Heaven' or 'sea' these words are understood in the sense of the letter. However, any Christian scholar or student will tell you that by the 'bride' the Church is meant and that the Lord is to be seen as the husband. So, the prophecy that John speaks of when calling the 'Holy City New Jerusalem' that is dressed as a bride is to be understood as a New Church established by the Lord Himself. And, just as the Israelites and Jews needed to hear God's Word and that certain men - Moses and the Prophets - were inspired to write that Word of the Old Testament, and just as John, Matthew, Luke, and Mark were inspired to write the Word of New Testament, there came another revelation from the Lord. So, too, there needs to be a new Word revealed from God for this New Church that is seen descending from Heaven as the city New Jerusalem told about in the book Revelation of the New Testament. The doctrine of the Word needs to be understood and to be believed. It should be known beyond the natural facts that are normally accepted - that it contains Divine truths, and that it comes from God through certain men inspired by God. It needs to be seen as being accommodated to the understanding of the men of the various Churches that have been on earth. Thus, we will explain various doctrinals about the Word from its internal or spiritual sense as are revealed in this new Word come from God.
First: The necessity of the Word should be recognized by any religious person, otherwise, how could anyone know the Lord. You cannot learn about the Lord or of Heaven and hell, or even of a man's life after death, from the light - the understanding - of nature. Yet, it is believed by many that one can learn about God from the light of nature and that revelation from God is not necessary. Such people ascribe the books of the Bible as being written by men, that it is a cleaver device to control the people. To show that the Word is necessary, that God is not known except through revelation look at many of the learned in the world. Haven't many of them cultivated their understanding of science far above that of others? And, yet, it is well known that many of these deny the Divine and in place have acknowledged nature. Many such men are born where there is the Word known and when speaking from the heart and not from any doctrine deny that there is life after death. Also, they deny that there is a Heaven and hell. I think we see the reason for this is that man is born into evils of the love of self and the world. From this, one sees that there needs to be a revelation from Heaven, since man was born for Heaven. Isn't Revelation or the Word of God the vessel through which spiritual and celestial things of Heaven are conjoined to earth? How else can man be instructed in the truths of faith, which are the laws of order in the kingdom in which a man is to live forever?
It therefore becomes necessary to know the doctrine concerning the Word, what constitutes the Word, and that it is from Heaven from God and not man. We have shown the necessity of the Word and basically a man would remain lost without the Word of God revealed from Heaven to him. Now, let us show that there has always been some various form of revelation with man. First, before the flood and when there was no written language, God's truths, His Word, were written on man's heart. This 'revelation' to man was immediate. One can read in Genesis that there was fellowship and communication with God and angels. What is referred to here is 'perception'. Besides the words in Genesis, where we read of Jehovah commanding man that "of every tree of the garden" they may eat except "of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil" and, even, more clearly, where it is said, that "Jehovah God cried unto the man, and said unto him, Where art thou?" (Genesis 2: 16, 17 and Genesis 3: 9, 11), we also may read "Who told thee that thou was naked?" etc., there is this evidence found in Genesis 6: 8. "And Noah found grace in the eyes of Jehovah." It is obvious, even from the literal understanding of these words that there was 'revelation' from God and it was not through any written Word such as we have today. It was a direct or immediate revelation and, therefore, there was a perception within man from the Lord. It is be to say truths are inscribed on their 'hearts'. It should be pointed out that the Word often uses 'heart' to mean one's love or will. Thus, it is seen that there was a revelation from God to man of truths and goods though at that time there was no written Word by which man could take or appropriate into his mind, that is, into his will and understanding. Those in that time are often referred to as living in the golden age. However, to those of the New Church, they are understood as men of the Most Ancient Church and as those in the Celestial Church.
We know that this time has ceased and that man 'fell from Grace', thus his perception and immediate or direct revelation ended. The things on earth that were understood as representing and signifying the things of Heaven, which were communicated from Heaven came to an end. The next revelation from God was the written Word of the Ancient Church, the spiritual Church. We see proof of this written Word in the Old Testament in various places. It should be known that this Word was derived from posterity of the Most Ancient Church. Man was, now, to learn by doctrine. He became separated from God's love within and he could no longer know truths or love through perception. This is understood by the words in Genesis 5:25, "And Enoch walked with God, and he was no more, for God took him." It was foreseen that man's perceptive faculty would perish and that man would no longer know the Truth except he be taught. Learning comes through the senses. Thus, by God taking the man we understand as Enoch instead of his dying, or instead of the Lord's truths dying within him is meant preserving the doctrine for use for Ancient Church. Enoch was of the Most Ancient Church that did this. By developing spoken language and written language, by the ability to record the truths told to the Celestial man was there revealed God's Word to those that followed. Then, the Ancient Church's Word ended as the Most Ancient Church's did.
Evidence of the Word of the Ancient Church is seen written by Moses. "Therefore it is said in the BOOK OF THE WARS OF JEHOVAH, Vaheb in Suohah, and the rivers of Arnon, and the running down of the rivers, which inclined to the dwelling of Ar, and leaneth on the border of Moab" (Numbers 21: 14, 15). And, also in "Therefore say the ENUNCIATIONS (or the Prophet Enunciations), Come ye to Heshbon, the city of Sihon shall be built and strengthened, because a fire is gone forth out of Heshbon, a flame from the city of Sihon, it hath devoured Ar of Moab, the lords of the high places of Arnon" (Numbers 21:27-30). The names of the Book of the Ancient Church were The Wars of Jehovah and The Enunciations. And, like our Old and New Testaments, they, too, were inspired, and adopted to those who then lived, but today they are no longer with mankind. There were also other revelations, such as, Balsam's prophecies which can be seen in the words "I see Him, and not now; an scepter shall arise out of Israel, and shall break the corners of Moab, and shall destroy all the sons of Seth" (Numbers 24: 17). And, as this Church, too, ended and the Israelitish Church came into existence there came again another revelation from God. Inspired men wrote the Word and that Church - the Israelitish and Jewish Church - were instructed by the Old Testament. Later still, after the Lord appeared on earth another new Church was then established - the Apostolic and the early Christian Church - for which, again, certain men were inspired to write revealing to man a new Revelation from Heaven.
Not only has there been revelation from God, but also these revelations - the Word - are excellent and divine in every part. The Word known to us as the 'Bible' makes this clear, for it is said in it by the Lord, "For assuredly, I say unto you, till Heaven and earth pass away, one jot or tittle will by or means pass from the law till all is fulfilled" (Matthew 5:18). However, by this is meant more than mere historical facts or merely a doctrine of nature that is applied to the doctrine of faith. The Word has been Divinely inspired and has power in the mind and works for good more than history, for history, in its self, effect very little of man's reformation, regeneration, and eternal life. Historical fact and knowledge are forgotten in the other life. From this it can be understood that the Word is Divine in its Celestial and Spiritual sense and no in its natural sense, for Divine truths are hidden within its lateral sense and is its essence - God's love and truth.
Now, since the Word with man makes the Church with man, than it stands to reason that the Church is according to the understanding of the Word? Those of the Most Ancient Church knew the Lord through perception and, as we learned, they were celestial. Those of the Ancient Church learned the truths of God's Word as written and recorded from the Celestial Church, thus they could come to understand what natural things on earth represented and signified in Heaven. Those people became the Ancient Church and were spiritual. Their Word, in time, became lost to the world and, so, man 'fell' into the natural degree of life. He could no longer see or understand spiritual things - things of Heaven - and a new Word was written to accommodate this man - the man of the Israelitish and the Christian Churches - which is the Word of the Old and New Testaments.
The Church exists where the Word is and from it is where the Lord is known and Divine truths revealed. However, the opposite is not true. Those born where the Word is are not the Church. It is only those who are regenerated by the Lord by means of the Word and who live according to the truths of the Word and thus, who live a life of love and faith from it that are the Church.
The doctrine of the New Church that is now descending to earth from Heaven as understood in Revelation 21: 1, 2 is that the Word is not understood except man becomes enlightened. This is because a man's rational understands from natural scientifics and, so, he cannot comprehend things above it, such as spiritual things. As an example: It is said that man lives from the Lord and that he has no life except from the Lord. The rational supposes from appearances that then man could not live except from himself, when yet he then first truly lives when he perceives that he lives from the Lord. From where is man enlightened that he may understand, not in appearances, for the letter of the Word is written in appearances that a man understand according to his state, which is natural and he does not see the internal or spiritual sense unless enlightened? In other words, how is the genuine or true meaning of the Word apprehended? This is impossible, except he becomes enlightened, and those enlightened are they who have love to, and faith in, the Lord. Such a man's interiors - his understanding - are then, raised up by the Lord into the 'light' or understanding of Heaven. We will continue the study of the doctrine concerning the Word, its spiritual or internal sense, in the next doctrinal page.
End.
"And I saw a new Heaven and a new earth, for the former Heaven and the former earth were passed away; and the sea was no more. And I John saw the Holy city New Jerusalem coming down from God out of Heaven prepared as a bride adorned for her husband" (Revelation 21: 1,2). So, even though one may not see the internal or spiritual sense of the words quoted here, such as 'earth' and 'Heaven' or 'sea' these words are understood in the sense of the letter. However, any Christian scholar or student will tell you that by the 'bride' the Church is meant and that the Lord is to be seen as the husband. So, the prophecy that John speaks of when calling the 'Holy City New Jerusalem' that is dressed as a bride is to be understood as a New Church established by the Lord Himself. And, just as the Israelites and Jews needed to hear God's Word and that certain men - Moses and the Prophets - were inspired to write that Word of the Old Testament, and just as John, Matthew, Luke, and Mark were inspired to write the Word of New Testament, there came another revelation from the Lord. So, too, there needs to be a new Word revealed from God for this New Church that is seen descending from Heaven as the city New Jerusalem told about in the book Revelation of the New Testament. The doctrine of the Word needs to be understood and to be believed. It should be known beyond the natural facts that are normally accepted - that it contains Divine truths, and that it comes from God through certain men inspired by God. It needs to be seen as being accommodated to the understanding of the men of the various Churches that have been on earth. Thus, we will explain various doctrinals about the Word from its internal or spiritual sense as are revealed in this new Word come from God.
First: The necessity of the Word should be recognized by any religious person, otherwise, how could anyone know the Lord. You cannot learn about the Lord or of Heaven and hell, or even of a man's life after death, from the light - the understanding - of nature. Yet, it is believed by many that one can learn about God from the light of nature and that revelation from God is not necessary. Such people ascribe the books of the Bible as being written by men, that it is a cleaver device to control the people. To show that the Word is necessary, that God is not known except through revelation look at many of the learned in the world. Haven't many of them cultivated their understanding of science far above that of others? And, yet, it is well known that many of these deny the Divine and in place have acknowledged nature. Many such men are born where there is the Word known and when speaking from the heart and not from any doctrine deny that there is life after death. Also, they deny that there is a Heaven and hell. I think we see the reason for this is that man is born into evils of the love of self and the world. From this, one sees that there needs to be a revelation from Heaven, since man was born for Heaven. Isn't Revelation or the Word of God the vessel through which spiritual and celestial things of Heaven are conjoined to earth? How else can man be instructed in the truths of faith, which are the laws of order in the kingdom in which a man is to live forever?
It therefore becomes necessary to know the doctrine concerning the Word, what constitutes the Word, and that it is from Heaven from God and not man. We have shown the necessity of the Word and basically a man would remain lost without the Word of God revealed from Heaven to him. Now, let us show that there has always been some various form of revelation with man. First, before the flood and when there was no written language, God's truths, His Word, were written on man's heart. This 'revelation' to man was immediate. One can read in Genesis that there was fellowship and communication with God and angels. What is referred to here is 'perception'. Besides the words in Genesis, where we read of Jehovah commanding man that "of every tree of the garden" they may eat except "of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil" and, even, more clearly, where it is said, that "Jehovah God cried unto the man, and said unto him, Where art thou?" (Genesis 2: 16, 17 and Genesis 3: 9, 11), we also may read "Who told thee that thou was naked?" etc., there is this evidence found in Genesis 6: 8. "And Noah found grace in the eyes of Jehovah." It is obvious, even from the literal understanding of these words that there was 'revelation' from God and it was not through any written Word such as we have today. It was a direct or immediate revelation and, therefore, there was a perception within man from the Lord. It is be to say truths are inscribed on their 'hearts'. It should be pointed out that the Word often uses 'heart' to mean one's love or will. Thus, it is seen that there was a revelation from God to man of truths and goods though at that time there was no written Word by which man could take or appropriate into his mind, that is, into his will and understanding. Those in that time are often referred to as living in the golden age. However, to those of the New Church, they are understood as men of the Most Ancient Church and as those in the Celestial Church.
We know that this time has ceased and that man 'fell from Grace', thus his perception and immediate or direct revelation ended. The things on earth that were understood as representing and signifying the things of Heaven, which were communicated from Heaven came to an end. The next revelation from God was the written Word of the Ancient Church, the spiritual Church. We see proof of this written Word in the Old Testament in various places. It should be known that this Word was derived from posterity of the Most Ancient Church. Man was, now, to learn by doctrine. He became separated from God's love within and he could no longer know truths or love through perception. This is understood by the words in Genesis 5:25, "And Enoch walked with God, and he was no more, for God took him." It was foreseen that man's perceptive faculty would perish and that man would no longer know the Truth except he be taught. Learning comes through the senses. Thus, by God taking the man we understand as Enoch instead of his dying, or instead of the Lord's truths dying within him is meant preserving the doctrine for use for Ancient Church. Enoch was of the Most Ancient Church that did this. By developing spoken language and written language, by the ability to record the truths told to the Celestial man was there revealed God's Word to those that followed. Then, the Ancient Church's Word ended as the Most Ancient Church's did.
Evidence of the Word of the Ancient Church is seen written by Moses. "Therefore it is said in the BOOK OF THE WARS OF JEHOVAH, Vaheb in Suohah, and the rivers of Arnon, and the running down of the rivers, which inclined to the dwelling of Ar, and leaneth on the border of Moab" (Numbers 21: 14, 15). And, also in "Therefore say the ENUNCIATIONS (or the Prophet Enunciations), Come ye to Heshbon, the city of Sihon shall be built and strengthened, because a fire is gone forth out of Heshbon, a flame from the city of Sihon, it hath devoured Ar of Moab, the lords of the high places of Arnon" (Numbers 21:27-30). The names of the Book of the Ancient Church were The Wars of Jehovah and The Enunciations. And, like our Old and New Testaments, they, too, were inspired, and adopted to those who then lived, but today they are no longer with mankind. There were also other revelations, such as, Balsam's prophecies which can be seen in the words "I see Him, and not now; an scepter shall arise out of Israel, and shall break the corners of Moab, and shall destroy all the sons of Seth" (Numbers 24: 17). And, as this Church, too, ended and the Israelitish Church came into existence there came again another revelation from God. Inspired men wrote the Word and that Church - the Israelitish and Jewish Church - were instructed by the Old Testament. Later still, after the Lord appeared on earth another new Church was then established - the Apostolic and the early Christian Church - for which, again, certain men were inspired to write revealing to man a new Revelation from Heaven.
Not only has there been revelation from God, but also these revelations - the Word - are excellent and divine in every part. The Word known to us as the 'Bible' makes this clear, for it is said in it by the Lord, "For assuredly, I say unto you, till Heaven and earth pass away, one jot or tittle will by or means pass from the law till all is fulfilled" (Matthew 5:18). However, by this is meant more than mere historical facts or merely a doctrine of nature that is applied to the doctrine of faith. The Word has been Divinely inspired and has power in the mind and works for good more than history, for history, in its self, effect very little of man's reformation, regeneration, and eternal life. Historical fact and knowledge are forgotten in the other life. From this it can be understood that the Word is Divine in its Celestial and Spiritual sense and no in its natural sense, for Divine truths are hidden within its lateral sense and is its essence - God's love and truth.
Now, since the Word with man makes the Church with man, than it stands to reason that the Church is according to the understanding of the Word? Those of the Most Ancient Church knew the Lord through perception and, as we learned, they were celestial. Those of the Ancient Church learned the truths of God's Word as written and recorded from the Celestial Church, thus they could come to understand what natural things on earth represented and signified in Heaven. Those people became the Ancient Church and were spiritual. Their Word, in time, became lost to the world and, so, man 'fell' into the natural degree of life. He could no longer see or understand spiritual things - things of Heaven - and a new Word was written to accommodate this man - the man of the Israelitish and the Christian Churches - which is the Word of the Old and New Testaments.
The Church exists where the Word is and from it is where the Lord is known and Divine truths revealed. However, the opposite is not true. Those born where the Word is are not the Church. It is only those who are regenerated by the Lord by means of the Word and who live according to the truths of the Word and thus, who live a life of love and faith from it that are the Church.
The doctrine of the New Church that is now descending to earth from Heaven as understood in Revelation 21: 1, 2 is that the Word is not understood except man becomes enlightened. This is because a man's rational understands from natural scientifics and, so, he cannot comprehend things above it, such as spiritual things. As an example: It is said that man lives from the Lord and that he has no life except from the Lord. The rational supposes from appearances that then man could not live except from himself, when yet he then first truly lives when he perceives that he lives from the Lord. From where is man enlightened that he may understand, not in appearances, for the letter of the Word is written in appearances that a man understand according to his state, which is natural and he does not see the internal or spiritual sense unless enlightened? In other words, how is the genuine or true meaning of the Word apprehended? This is impossible, except he becomes enlightened, and those enlightened are they who have love to, and faith in, the Lord. Such a man's interiors - his understanding - are then, raised up by the Lord into the 'light' or understanding of Heaven. We will continue the study of the doctrine concerning the Word, its spiritual or internal sense, in the next doctrinal page.
End.
| 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