Conjugial Love # 26
26. Again I swear in truth that these events and words occurred as I have related them, the first ones in the world of spirits, which is midway between heaven and hell, and the subsequent ones in a society of heaven, the society from which came the angel with the trumpet, who acted as guide.
Who in the Christian world would know anything about heaven and the joys and happiness there - knowledge of which is also knowledge of salvation - unless it pleased the Lord to open to someone the sight of his spirit and to show him and teach him?
Corroboration that things like these occur in the spiritual world appears plainly from the things seen and heard by the apostle John, as described in the book of Revelation. For example, he describes having seen the following:
The Son of Man in the midst of the seven lampstands. 1
A tabernacle, temple, ark, and altar in heaven. 2
A book sealed with seven seals. The book opened, and horses going out of it. 3
Four living creatures around a throne. 4
Twelve thousand taken from each tribe. 5
Locusts arising out of the abyss. 6
A dragon and its fight with Michael. 7
A woman giving birth to a male child and fleeing into the wilderness because of the dragon. 8
Two beasts, one rising up out of the sea, the other out of the earth. 9
A woman sitting on a scarlet beast. 10
The dragon cast into a lake of fire and brimstone. 11
A white horse, and a great supper. 12
A new heaven and a new earth, and the holy Jerusalem coming down, described as to its gates, wall, and foundations. 13
Also a river of water of life, and trees of life yielding fruits every month. 14
Besides many other things, all of which were seen by John, and seen when he was in the spirit 15 in the spiritual world and in heaven. In addition, those things which were seen by the apostles after the Lord's resurrection. 16 And which were later seen by Peter (Acts of the Apostles 11). 17 Also which were then seen and heard by Paul. 18
Moreover, there were the things seen by the prophets. For example, Ezekiel saw the following:
Four living creatures, which were cherubs. (Ezekiel 1 and 10)
A new temple and a new earth, and an angel measuring them. (Ezekiel 40-48)
Being carried off to Jerusalem, he saw the abominations there. (Ezekiel 8) And he was also carried off into Chaldea, to those in captivity. (Ezekiel 11) 19
Something similar happened with Zechariah:
He saw a man riding among myrtle trees. (Zechariah 1:8 ff.)
He saw four horns, and then a man with a measuring line in his hand. (Zechariah 1:18 ff., 2:1 ff.)
He saw a lampstand and two olive trees. (Zechariah 4:1 ff.)
He saw a flying scroll, and an ephah. (Zechariah 5:1, 6)
He saw four chariots coming from between two mountains, with horses. (Zechariah 6:1 ff.)
Likewise with Daniel:
He saw four beasts come up from the sea. (Daniel 7:1 ff.)
Also the combats of a ram and a goat. (Daniel 8:1 ff.)
He saw the angel Gabriel, who spoke at length with him. (Daniel 9) 20
Moreover, Elisha's young man saw fiery chariots and horses around Elisha, and he saw them when his eyes were opened. 21
From these and many other passages in the Word, it is evident that the things which exist in the spiritual world have appeared to many, before and after the Lord's Advent. Why should it be surprising for them to appear also now, when the Church is beginning and the New Jerusalem is coming down from the Lord out of heaven
Poznámky pod čarou:
2. E.g., Revelation 6:9, 8:3, 9:13, 11:19, 14:17-18, 15:5-6, 15:8.
3. Revelation 5:1, 6:1-8.
4. Revelation 4:6, et al.
9. Revelation 13:1 ff., 11 ff.
10. Revelation 17:3 ff.
15. Revelation 1:10, 4:2, 17:3, 21:10.
16. See Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20, 21, Acts 1:4-11.
18. See Acts 9:1-19, 22:6-21, 26:12-18.
Isaiah 8
1
Yahweh said to me, "Take a large tablet, and write on it with a man's pen, 'For Maher Shalal Hash Baz;'
2
and I will take for myself faithful witnesses to testify: Uriah the priest, and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah."
3
I went to the prophetess, and she conceived, and bore a son. Then Yahweh said to me, "Call his name 'Maher Shalal Hash Baz.'
4
For before the child knows how to say, 'My father,' and, 'My mother,' the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria will be carried away by the king of Assyria."
5
Yahweh spoke to me yet again, saying,
6
"Because this people have refused the waters of Shiloah that go softly, and rejoice in Rezin and Remaliah's son;
7
now therefore, behold, the Lord brings upon them the mighty flood waters of the River: the king of Assyria and all his glory. It will come up over all its channels, and go over all its banks.
8
It will sweep onward into Judah. It will overflow and pass through; it will reach even to the neck; and the stretching out of its wings will fill the breadth of your land, Immanuel.
9
Make an uproar, you peoples, and be broken in pieces! Listen, all you from far countries: dress for battle, and be shattered! Dress for battle, and be shattered!
10
Take counsel together, and it will be brought to nothing; speak the word, and it will not stand: for God is with us."
11
For Yahweh spoke thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me not to walk in the way of this people, saying,
12
"Don't say, 'A conspiracy!' concerning all about which this people say, 'A conspiracy!' neither fear their threats, nor be terrorized.
13
Yahweh of Armies is who you must respect as holy. He is the one you must fear. He is the one you must dread.
14
He will be a sanctuary, but for both houses of Israel, he will be a trap and a snare for the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
15
Many will stumble over it, fall, be broken, be snared, and be captured."
16
Wrap up the testimony. Seal the law among my disciples.
17
I will wait for Yahweh, who hides his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him.
18
Behold, I and the children whom Yahweh has given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from Yahweh of Armies, who dwells in Mount Zion.
19
When they tell you, "Consult with those who have familiar spirits and with the wizards, who chirp and who mutter:" shouldn't a people consult with their God? Should they consult the dead on behalf of the living?
20
Turn to the law and to the testimony! If they don't speak according to this word, surely there is no morning for them.
21
They will pass through it, very distressed and hungry; and it will happen that when they are hungry, they will worry, and curse by their king and by their God. They will turn their faces upward,
22
and look to the earth, and see distress, darkness, and the gloom of anguish. They will be driven into thick darkness.
