Apocalypse Explained # 36
36. Verse 7. Behold, He cometh with the clouds, signifies that the Lord is about to reveal Himself in the Word through the internal sense. This is evident from the signification of "coming," as being, in reference to the Lord, to reveal Himself; and from the signification of "clouds," as being Divine truths in ultimates, thus the Word in the letter; for the Word as to the sense of the letter is Divine truth in ultimates; and since each thing therein contains an internal or spiritual sense, "coming with clouds" means revealing Himself through that sense. That "clouds" signify Divine truths in ultimates is from appearances in the spiritual world. There clouds appear in various kinds of light; in the inmost or third heaven in a flaming light, in the middle or second heaven in a bright white light, and in the outmost or first heaven in a light more dense; and everyone there knows that they signify Divine truth from the Lord through the angels; for when Divine truth proceeding from the Lord, which is the very light of heaven, passes through the angels, it appears as a cloud, purer or denser according to their intelligence. Such clouds have oftentimes been seen by me, and what they signify has also been perceived. This is why "clouds," such as those that appear before the eyes of men in the world, signify Divine truth in ultimates; and as the Word in the letter is Divine truth in ultimates, that is what is meant by "clouds."
[2] He who does not know that "clouds" have this signification, may suppose that the Lord is about to come in clouds for the Last Judgment, and to appear in glory; according to His words in the Evangelists, where He says:
Then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven, with power and much glory (Matthew 24:30; Mark 13:26; Luke 21:27).
"The consummation of the age" which is there treated of is the last time of the church; and the Lord's coming at that time is the revelation of Himself, and of Divine truth which is from Him, in the Word, through the internal sense. Elsewhere than in the Word the Lord does not reveal Himself, nor does He reveal Himself there except through the internal sense. The Word in the internal sense is also signified by "power" and "glory." (That this is fulfilled at this day, namely that the age is consummated, and the Last Judgment accomplished; and also that the Lord has come in the clouds of heaven, that is, has revealed the internal sense of the Word, may be seen in the small work on The Last Judgment, from beginning to end; also in the work on Heaven and Hell 1; also in The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem, n.249-266.
That "the consummation of the age" signifies the last time of the church, see Arcana Coelestia 4535, 10622; that "the coming of the Lord" signifies the revelation of Divine truth through the internal sense, n. 3900, 4060; that "clouds" signify the sense of the letter of the Word, n. 4060, 4391, 5922, 6343, 6752, 8106, 8781, 9430, 10551, 10574; that "glory" signifies Divine truth in heaven, thus the internal sense, for this is Divine truth in heaven, n. 5922, 9429[1-7], 10574. The Lord is said to be "about to come in power," because Divine truth, which is from the Lord has all power, see in the work on Heaven and Hell 228-233, 539.) The like is meant by the Lord's words to the high priest:
Jesus said to the high priest, Henceforth ye shall see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven (Matthew 26:64; Mark 14:62).
"The Son of man" is the Lord as to Divine truth; "sitting at the right hand of power" is His omnipotence; "coming in the clouds of heaven" is the revelation of Divine truth respecting Him in the Word, for He has revealed Himself and has also fulfilled all things contained in the internal sense, which treats especially of the glorification of His Human.
[3] The same is signified by "clouds" in the following passages. In Daniel:
I saw in the night visions, and behold there came with the clouds of heaven, one like unto the Son of man (Daniel 7:13);
in Revelation:
I saw, and behold a white cloud; and on the cloud one sat like unto a man, 1 having on his head a crown (Revelation 14:14, 16);
in Isaiah:
Behold, Jehovah sitting upon a dense light cloud (Isaiah 19:1);
in David:
Sing unto God, sing praises to His name, extol Him that rideth upon the clouds (Psalms 68:4);
in the same:
Jehovah appointeth the clouds His chariot; He walketh upon the wings of the wind (Psalms 104:3).
Who cannot see that these things are not to be understood according to the sense of the letter, that is, that Jehovah sits upon a cloud, that He rides upon the clouds, and that He makes the clouds His chariot? He who thinks spiritually may know that Jehovah is present in His Divine truth, for this proceeds from Him, consequently that this is what is meant by "clouds there;" so it is also said that Jehovah "appointeth the clouds His chariot;" because by "chariot" is signified the doctrine of truth (See Arcana Coelestia 2762, 5321, 8215).
[4] Likewise in the following places. In Isaiah:
Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the higher clouds [pour down] righteousness (Isaiah 45:8);
in Nahum:
The way of Jehovah is with cloud 2 and storm, and clouds are the dust of His feet (Nahum 1:3);
in David:
Ascribe ye strength unto God; His excellency is over Israel, and His strength is in the higher clouds (Psalms 68:34);
A faithful witness in the clouds (Psalms 89:37);
in Moses:
There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun, who rideth upon the heaven in thy help, and in thy 3 magnificence upon the clouds (Deuteronomy 33:26).
From this it can be seen what is meant by:
The cloud filling the inner court (Ezekiel 10:3-4);
And the cloud resting upon the tent (repeatedly in Moses); also that:
Jesus when He was transfigured, was seen in glory, and a cloud overshadowed the three disciples, and it was said to them out of the cloud, This is my beloved son (Matthew 17:1-10; Mark 9:1-11; Luke 9:28-36).
(See also what is said about the Lord's being in a cloud in the midst of angels, in the little work on The Earths in the Universe 171.)
Poznámky pod čarou:
1. The Greek has "the Son of man," as found also in Apocalypse Explained 906; Apocalypse Revealed 642; Arcana Coelestia 9807, 9930.
2. The Hebrew has "storm and tempest," as also found in Apocalypse Explained 419, 594; Arcana Coelestia 2162.
3. The Hebrew has "His," as also found in Apocalypse Explained 594.
Mark 13
1
As he went out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, "Teacher, see what kind of stones and what kind of buildings!"
2
Jesus said to him, "Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone on another, which will not be thrown down."
3
As he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately,
4
"Tell us, when will these things be? What is the sign that these things are all about to be fulfilled?"
5
Jesus, answering, began to tell them, "Be careful that no one leads you astray.
6
For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am he!' and will lead many astray.
7
"When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, don't be troubled. For those must happen, but the end is not yet.
8
For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places. There will be famines and troubles. These things are the beginning of birth pains.
9
But watch yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils. You will be beaten in synagogues. You will stand before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony to them.
10
The Good News must first be preached to all the nations.
11
When they lead you away and deliver you up, don't be anxious beforehand, or premeditate what you will say, but say whatever will be given you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.
12
"Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child. Children will rise up against parents, and cause them to be put to death.
13
You will be hated by all men for my name's sake, but he who endures to the end, the same will be saved.
14
But when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains,
15
and let him who is on the housetop not go down, nor enter in, to take anything out of his house.
16
Let him who is in the field not return back to take his cloak.
17
But woe to those who are with child and to those who nurse babies in those days!
18
Pray that your flight won't be in the winter.
19
For in those days there will be oppression, such as there has not been the like from the beginning of the creation which God created until now, and never will be.
20
Unless the Lord had shortened the days, no flesh would have been saved; but for the sake of the chosen ones, whom he picked out, he shortened the days.
21
Then if anyone tells you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or, 'Look, there!' don't believe it.
22
For there will arise false christs and false prophets, and will show signs and wonders, that they may lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones.
23
But you watch. "Behold, I have told you all things beforehand.
24
But in those days, after that oppression, the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light,
25
the stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers that are in the heavens will be shaken.
26
Then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.
27
Then he will send out his angels, and will gather together his chosen ones from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the sky.
28
"Now from the fig tree, learn this parable. When the branch has now become tender, and puts forth its leaves, you know that the summer is near;
29
even so you also, when you see these things coming to pass, know that it is near, at the doors.
30
Most certainly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things happen.
31
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
32
But of that day or that hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
33
Watch, keep alert, and pray; for you don't know when the time is.
34
"It is like a man, traveling to another country, having left his house, and given authority to his servants, and to each one his work, and also commanded the doorkeeper to keep watch.
35
Watch therefore, for you don't know when the lord of the house is coming, whether at evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning;
