Doctrine of the Lord # 65
65. In the book of Revelation we read of a new heaven and a new earth, and we are afterwards told, “Behold, I make all things new.” These verses have no other meaning than this, that in the church to be established now, there will be a new doctrine, which did not exist in the previous church. It did not exist because if it had, it would not have been accepted. For the Last Judgment had not yet been accomplished, and prior to that the power of hell prevailed over the power of heaven. Consequently, if the doctrine had been given before, out of the Lord’s own mouth, it would not have remained among the people. Nor does it remain at this day, other than with a few who turn to the Lord alone and acknowledge Him to be the God of heaven and earth (see no. 61 above).
This same doctrine was indeed given previously in the Word. But because not long after its inception the church was turned into Babylon, and later, among some, into Philistia, therefore the doctrine could not be seen in the Word. For the church sees the Word only in accord with the principal tenet of its religion and its doctrine.
The new tenets found in this short book are in general the following:
1. God is one in person and essence, and that God is the Lord.
2. The Holy Scripture throughout has Him alone as its subject.
3. The Lord came into the world to conquer the hells and glorify His humanity. And He accomplished both by undergoing temptations or trials, and did so completely by the last of these, which was His suffering of the cross. By this He became our Redeemer and Savior, and in consequence of it, the merit and righteousness are His alone.
4. His fulfilling all things of the Law means that He fulfilled all things of the Word.
5. By His suffering of the cross He did not take away sins, but bore them as a prophet, which is to say that He suffered it so as to represent in His person the church and how it had abused the Word.
6. An imputation of merit is without reality unless one takes it to mean a forgiveness of sins following repentance.
These tenets are contained in the present short work. Still more new ones will be found in the works to follow, works entitled The Sacred Scripture, The Doctrine of Life, Faith, and Divine Love and Wisdom.
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.
Isaiah 66:10-14
10
"Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her, all you who love her: Rejoice for joy with her, all you who mourn over her;
11
that you may nurse and be satisfied at the comforting breasts; that you may drink deeply, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory."
12
For thus says Yahweh, "Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream: and you will nurse. You will be carried on her side, and will be dandled on her knees.
13
As one whom his mother comforts, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted in Jerusalem."
14
You will see [it], and your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like the tender grass: and the hand of Yahweh shall be known toward his servants; and he will have indignation against his enemies.
