Doctrine of the Lord # 64
64. Jerusalem, in the Word, means the church in respect to doctrine, because the Temple, the Altar, the offering of sacrifices, thus Divine worship itself were there, in the land of Canaan, and nowhere else. The three annual feasts were therefore also celebrated there, and every male throughout the land was commanded to go to them. For that reason Jerusalem symbolizes the church in respect to its worship, and so also the church in respect to its doctrine. For worship is prescribed in doctrine, and is conducted in accordance with it. In addition, the Lord was active in Jerusalem and taught in its Temple, and afterward glorified His humanity there.
Furthermore, in the Word in its spiritual sense a city symbolizes doctrine. The Holy City therefore symbolizes a doctrine of Divine truth from the Lord. 1
[2] That Jerusalem means the church in respect to its doctrine is apparent also from other passages in the Word. For example, from the following:
In Isaiah:
For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until her righteousness goes forth as a radiance, and her salvation as a burning lamp. Then the nations shall see your righteousness, and all kings your glory. You shall be called by a new name, which the mouth of Jehovah will utter. You shall also be a crown of beauty in the hand of Jehovah, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.... ...Jehovah will be well pleased by you, and your land shall be married.... Behold, your salvation is coming; behold, His reward is with Him.... And they shall call them a holy people, the redeemed of Jehovah; and you shall be called a city sought, not forsaken. (Isaiah 62:1-4, 11-12)
This whole chapter deals with the Lord’s advent and a new church to be established by Him. The new church is the one meant by Jerusalem, which will be called “by a new name which the mouth of Jehovah will utter, ” which will be “a crown of beauty in the hand of Jehovah, and a royal diadem in the hand of God, ” by which Jehovah will be “well pleased, ” and which will be called “a city sought, not forsaken.”
This cannot mean the Jerusalem inhabited by Jews when the Lord came into the world, for it was altogether of an opposite character. Rather it deserved to have been called Sodom, as it is in fact called in Revelation 11:8, Isaiah 3:9, Jeremiah 23:14, and Ezekiel 16:46, 48.
[3] Elsewhere in Isaiah:
...behold, I create a new heaven and a new earth; the former shall not be remembered.... ...be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; ...behold, I will create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. I will rejoice over Jerusalem, and be glad over My people.... (Then) the wolf and the lamb shall feed together.... They shall not do harm...in all My holy mountain.... (Isaiah 65:17-19, 25)
The subject in this chapter as well is the Lord’s advent and the church that He will establish — a church that was not established among the inhabitants of Jerusalem, but among surrounding peoples. Consequently it is this church that is meant by Jerusalem, which will be for the Lord a rejoicing, and whose people will be for Him a joy, and where the wolf and the lamb will feed together and not do harm.
Here, too, we are told, as we are in the book of Revelation, that the Lord will create a new heaven and a new earth, where they have a similar meaning. And we are also told that He will create Jerusalem.
[4] Elsewhere in Isaiah:
Awake, awake! Put on your strength, O Zion; put on your beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city! For the uncircumcised and the unclean shall no longer come into you. Shake yourself from the dust, arise; sit down, O Jerusalem! ...My people shall know My name...in that day, for I am He who speaks. Behold, it is I.... ...Jehovah has comforted His people, He has redeemed Jerusalem. (Isaiah 52:1-2, 6, 9)
In this chapter also the subject is the Lord’s advent and a church to be established by Him. Consequently the Jerusalem into which the uncircumcised and the unclean shall no longer come, and which the Lord has redeemed, means the church; and Jerusalem, the holy city, means the church in respect to its doctrine received from the Lord.
[5] In Zephaniah:
Sing, O daughter of Zion! ...Be glad...with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! ...The King of Israel...is in your midst; fear evil no more.... He will be glad over you with joy, He will rest in your love, He will rejoice over you with jubilation.... ...I will give you fame and praise among all the peoples of the earth.... (Zephaniah 3:14-17, 20)
Here, likewise, the subject is the Lord and the church to be established by Him, over which the King of Israel, namely the Lord, will be glad with joy and rejoice with jubilation, in whose love He will rest, and to whom He will give fame and praise among all the peoples of the earth.
[6] In Isaiah:
Thus said Jehovah, your Redeemer, and He who formed you..., who says to Jerusalem, “You shall be inhabited, ” and to the cities of Judah, “You shall be built.” (Isaiah 44:24, 26)
And in Daniel:
Know and understand that from the going forth of the word to restore and build Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince, there shall be seven weeks.... (Daniel 9:25)
Jerusalem here, too, means the church, as is apparent, since the Lord restored and rebuilt the church, but not Jerusalem, the capital city of the Jews.
[7] Jerusalem means a church established by the Lord in the following places as well.
In Zechariah:
Thus said Jehovah: “I will return to Zion, and dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. (Therefore) Jerusalem shall be called the City of Truth, and the mountain of Jehovah of hosts, the Holy Mountain.” (Zechariah 8:3, cf. 8:20-23)
In Joel:
Then you shall know that I am Jehovah your God, dwelling in Zion, My holy mountain. And Jerusalem shall be holy.... And it will come to pass in that day that the mountains shall drip new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk.... And...shall abide...Jerusalem from generation to generation. (Joel 3:17-20)
In Isaiah:
In that day the offshoot of Jehovah shall be beautiful and glorious.... And it shall come to pass that he who is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem will be called holy — everyone who is recorded for life in Jerusalem. (Isaiah 4:2-3)
In Micah:
...at the end of days the mountain of Jehovah’s house shall be established on top of the mountains.... For out of Zion the doctrine shall go forth, and the word of Jehovah from Jerusalem.... ...to you...the former kingdom shall come, the kingdom of the daughter of Jerusalem. (Micah 4:1-2, 8)
In Jeremiah:
At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of Jehovah, and all the nations shall be gathered..., because of the name of Jehovah, to Jerusalem. No more shall they follow the confirmation of their evil heart. (Jeremiah 3:17)
In Isaiah:
Look upon Zion, the city of our appointed feast; let your eyes behold Jerusalem, a tranquil home, a tabernacle that will not go away. Its stakes will never be removed, nor will any of its cords be torn away. (Isaiah 33:20)
And so on also elsewhere, as in Isaiah 24:23, 37:32, 66:10-14; Zechariah 12:3, 6, 8-10, 14:8, 11-12, 21; Malachi 3:2, 4; Psalms 122:1-7, 137:4-6.
[8] Jerusalem in these places means a church which the Lord will establish, and also one that He has established, and not the Jerusalem in the land of Canaan inhabited by Jews; and this can be seen as well from places in the Word where we are told that it has been utterly ruined, or that it will be destroyed. As, for example, in Jeremiah 5:1, 6:6-7, 7:17-18ff, 8:6-8ff, 9:11-12, 14ff, 13:9-10, 14, 14:16; Lamentations 1:8-9, 17; Ezekiel 4:1-17, 5:9-17, 12:18-19, 15:6-8, 16:1-63, 23:1-49; Matthew 23:37, 39; Luke 19:41-44, 21:20-22, 23:28-30. And many other places.
Poznámky pod čarou:
1. [Swedenborg’s Footnote] To be shown that a city in the Word symbolizes the doctrine of a church and its religion, see the Arcana Coelestia (The Secrets of Heaven), nos. 402, 2449, 2943, 3216, 4492, 4493. That the gate of a city symbolizes the doctrine by which one enters the church, nos. 2943, 4477, 4478. That the elders therefore sat at the gate of the city in judgment, ibid. That to go out of the gate is to depart from the doctrine, nos. 4492, 4493. That representational cities and palaces in heaven appear when angels are engaged in discussing doctrinal matters, no. 3216 there.
Published by the General Church of the New Jerusalem, 1100 Cathedral Road, Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania 19009, U.S.A. A translation of Doctrina Novae Hierosolymae de Domino, by Emanuel Swedenborg, 1688-1772. Translated from the Original Latin by N. Bruce Rogers. ISBN 9780945003687, Library of Congress Control Number: 2013954074.
Luke 22
1
Now the feast of unleavened bread, which is called the Passover, drew near.
2
The chief priests and the scribes sought how they might put him to death, for they feared the people.
3
Satan entered into Judas, who was surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered with the twelve.
4
He went away, and talked with the chief priests and captains about how he might deliver him to them.
5
They were glad, and agreed to give him money.
6
He consented, and sought an opportunity to deliver him to them in the absence of the multitude.
7
The day of unleavened bread came, on which the Passover must be sacrificed.
8
He sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat."
9
They said to him, "Where do you want us to prepare?"
10
He said to them, "Behold, when you have entered into the city, a man carrying a pitcher of water will meet you. Follow him into the house which he enters.
11
Tell the master of the house, 'The Teacher says to you, "Where is the guest room, Where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?"'
12
He will show you a large, furnished upper room. Make preparations there."
13
They went, found things as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.
14
When the hour had come, he sat down with the twelve apostles.
15
He said to them, "I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer,
16
for I tell you, I will no longer by any means eat of it until it is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God."
17
He received a cup, and when he had given thanks, he said, "Take this, and share it among yourselves,
18
for I tell you, I will not drink at all again from the fruit of the vine, until the Kingdom of God comes."
19
He took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and gave to them, saying, "This is my body which is given for you. Do this in memory of me."
20
Likewise, he took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.
21
But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table.
22
The Son of Man indeed goes, as it has been determined, but woe to that man through whom he is betrayed!"
23
They began to question among themselves, which of them it was who would do this thing.
24
There arose also a contention among them, which of them was considered to be greatest.
25
He said to them, "The kings of the nations lord it over them, and those who have authority over them are called 'benefactors.'
26
But not so with you. But one who is the greater among you, let him become as the younger, and one who is governing, as one who serves.
27
For who is greater, one who sits at the table, or one who serves? Isn't it he who sits at the table? But I am in the midst of you as one who serves.
28
But you are those who have continued with me in my trials.
29
I confer on you a kingdom, even as my Father conferred on me,
30
that you may eat and drink at my table in my Kingdom. You will sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel."
31
The Lord said, "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan asked to have you, that he might sift you as wheat,
32
but I prayed for you, that your faith wouldn't fail. You, when once you have turned again, establish your brothers."
33
He said to him, "Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death!"
34
He said, "I tell you, Peter, the rooster will by no means crow today until you deny that you know me three times."
35
He said to them, "When I sent you out without purse, and wallet, and shoes, did you lack anything?" They said, "Nothing."
36
Then he said to them, "But now, whoever has a purse, let him take it, and likewise a wallet. Whoever has none, let him sell his cloak, and buy a sword.
37
For I tell you that this which is written must still be fulfilled in me: 'He was counted with transgressors.' For that which concerns me has an end."
38
They said, "Lord, behold, here are two swords." He said to them, "That is enough."
39
He came out, and went, as his custom was, to the Mount of Olives. His disciples also followed him.
40
When he was at the place, he said to them, "Pray that you don't enter into temptation."
41
He was withdrawn from them about a stone's throw, and he knelt down and prayed,
42
saying, "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done."
43
An angel from heaven appeared to him, strengthening him.
44
Being in agony he prayed more earnestly. His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground.
45
When he rose up from his prayer, he came to the disciples, and found them sleeping because of grief,
46
and said to them, "Why do you sleep? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation."
47
While he was still speaking, behold, a multitude, and he who was called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He came near to Jesus to kiss him.
48
But Jesus said to him, "Judas, do you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?"
49
When those who were around him saw what was about to happen, they said to him, "Lord, shall we strike with the sword?"
50
A certain one of them struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear.
51
But Jesus answered, "Let me at least do this"--and he touched his ear, and healed him.
52
Jesus said to the chief priests, captains of the temple, and elders, who had come against him, "Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs?
53
When I was with you in the temple daily, you didn't stretch out your hands against me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness."
54
They seized him, and led him away, and brought him into the high priest's house. But Peter followed from a distance.
55
When they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard, and had sat down together, Peter sat among them.
56
A certain servant girl saw him as he sat in the light, and looking intently at him, said, "This man also was with him."
57
He denied Jesus, saying, "Woman, I don't know him."
58
After a little while someone else saw him, and said, "You also are one of them!" But Peter answered, "Man, I am not!"
59
After about one hour passed, another confidently affirmed, saying, "Truly this man also was with him, for he is a Galilean!"
60
But Peter said, "Man, I don't know what you are talking about!" Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed.
61
The Lord turned, and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the Lord's word, how he said to him, "Before the rooster crows you will deny me three times."
62
He went out, and wept bitterly.
63
The men who held Jesus mocked him and beat him.
64
Having blindfolded him, they struck him on the face and asked him, "Prophesy! Who is the one who struck you?"
65
They spoke many other things against him, insulting him.
66
As soon as it was day, the assembly of the elders of the people was gathered together, both chief priests and scribes, and they led him away into their council, saying,
67
"If you are the Christ, tell us." But he said to them, "If I tell you, you won't believe,
68
and if I ask, you will in no way answer me or let me go.
69
From now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God."
70
They all said, "Are you then the Son of God?" He said to them, "You say it, because I am."
71
They said, "Why do we need any more witness? For we ourselves have heard from his own mouth!"
