3
And four great beasts came up from the sea, different one from another.
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.
Matthew 24
1
Jesus went out from the temple, and was going on his way. His disciples came to him to show him the buildings of the temple.
2
But he answered them, "You see all of these things, don't you? Most certainly I tell you, there will not be left here one stone on another, that will not be thrown down."
3
As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be? What is the sign of your coming, and of the end of the age?"
4
Jesus answered them, "Be careful that no one leads you astray.
5
For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will lead many astray.
6
You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you aren't troubled, for all this must happen, but the end is not yet.
7
For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there will be famines, plagues, and earthquakes in various places.
8
But all these things are the beginning of birth pains.
9
Then they will deliver you up to oppression, and will kill you. You will be hated by all of the nations for my name's sake.
10
Then many will stumble, and will deliver up one another, and will hate one another.
11
Many false prophets will arise, and will lead many astray.
12
Because iniquity will be multiplied, the love of many will grow cold.
13
But he who endures to the end, the same will be saved.
14
This Good News of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world for a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.
15
"When, therefore, you see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand),
16
then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.
17
Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take out things that are in his house.
18
Let him who is in the field not return back to get his clothes.
19
But woe to those who are with child and to nursing mothers in those days!
20
Pray that your flight will not be in the winter, nor on a Sabbath,
21
for then there will be great oppression, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, nor ever will be.
22
Unless those days had been shortened, no flesh would have been saved. But for the sake of the chosen ones, those days will be shortened.
23
"Then if any man tells you, 'Behold, here is the Christ,' or, 'There,' don't believe it.
24
For there will arise false christs, and false prophets, and they will show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones.
25
"Behold, I have told you beforehand.
26
If therefore they tell you, 'Behold, he is in the wilderness,' don't go out; 'Behold, he is in the inner rooms,' don't believe it.
27
For as the lightning flashes from the east, and is seen even to the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
28
For wherever the carcass is, there is where the vultures gather together.
29
But immediately after the oppression of those days, the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken;
30
and then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky. Then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory.
31
He will send out his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together his chosen ones from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.
32
"Now from the fig tree learn this parable. When its branch has now become tender, and puts forth its leaves, you know that the summer is near.
33
Even so you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
34
Most certainly I tell you, this generation will not pass away, until all these things are accomplished.
35
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
36
But no one knows of that day and hour, not even the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
37
"As the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
38
For as in those days which were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ship,
39
and they didn't know until the flood came, and took them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
40
Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and one will be left;
41
two women grinding at the mill, one will be taken and one will be left.
42
Watch therefore, for you don't know in what hour your Lord comes.
43
But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have watched, and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.
44
Therefore also be ready, for in an hour that you don't expect, the Son of Man will come.
45
"Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his lord has set over his household, to give them their food in due season?
46
Blessed is that servant whom his lord finds doing so when he comes.
47
Most certainly I tell you that he will set him over all that he has.
48
But if that evil servant should say in his heart, 'My lord is delaying his coming,'
49
and begins to beat his fellow servants, and eat and drink with the drunkards,
50
the lord of that servant will come in a day when he doesn't expect it, and in an hour when he doesn't know it,
51
and will cut him in pieces, and appoint his portion with the hypocrites. There is where the weeping and grinding of teeth will be.
