Doctrine of the Lord # 63
63. The Holy City, New Jerusalem, means that new church in respect to its doctrine. That is why it was seen descending out of heaven from God, for a doctrine of genuine truth comes from no other source than the Lord through heaven.
Because the church in respect to its doctrine is meant by the Holy City, New Jerusalem, therefore it is said to be prepared as a bride, adorned for her husband (Revelation 21:2), and after that we are told:
One of the seven angels...came to me and spoke with me, saying, “Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.” And he carried me away in the spirit onto a...high mountain, and showed me the great city, the Holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God. (Revelation 21:9-10)
People know that a bride and a wife mean the church when the Lord is meant by the bridegroom and husband. The church is a bride when it wishes to receive the Lord, but a wife when it does receive Him.
It is apparent that the Lord is meant by the husband there, for the bride is called the Lamb’s wife.
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.
Zechariah 8:20-23
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Thus says Yahweh of Armies: "Many peoples, and the inhabitants of Many cities will yet come;
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and the inhabitants of one shall go to another, saying, 'Let us go speedily to entreat the favor of Yahweh, and to seek Yahweh of Armies. I will go also.'
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Yes, many peoples and strong nations will come to seek Yahweh of Armies in Jerusalem, and to entreat the favor of Yahweh."
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Thus says Yahweh of Armies: "In those days, ten men will take hold, out of all the languages of the nations, they will take hold of the skirt of him who is a Jew, saying, 'We will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.'"
