45. 17.

The vastation of good and truth and thence their change into evil and falsity in the church are treated of as described in Isaiah 59:1-16; and it is said that vastation and breaking are in their paths (verse 7). Afterwards in the same chapter the coming of the Lord and the redemption are treated of from verses 16-21, where it is also said, Jehovah saw that there was no man, He wondered that there was no intercessor; therefore His own arm brought salvation unto Him, and His justice upheld Him. And He put on justice as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation upon His head: He also put on garments of vengeance, and covered Himself with zeal as with a cloak; anger to His enemies, retribution to His adversaries. So shall they fear the name of Jehovah from the west and His glory from the rising of the sun. Although he shall come as a rushing stream, the spirit of Jehovah shall bring in an ensign against him; then the Redeemer shall come to Zion. This is My covenant with them, saith Jehovah, My spirit that is upon thee, and My words, which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, from henceforth and for ever (verses 16-21). In the following chapter (60) the church of the Lord is treated of, after the judgment upon the evil, thus after the act of redemption, concerning which we read as follows: Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of Jehovah is risen upon thee. For, behold, darkness covers the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but Jehovah shall rise upon thee, and His glory shall be seen upon thee. And the nations shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. Lift up thine eyes round about and see: they all gather together and come to thee. All from Sheba shall come, they shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praises of Jehovah. Thy gates also shall open continually, they shall not be shut day nor night; to bring to thee the host of the nations. For the nation or kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish. Thou shalt suck the milk of the nations, and shalt suck the breasts of kings, that thou mayest know that I Jehovah am thy Savior and thy Redeemer, the Powerful One of Jacob. Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, vastation nor breaking within thy borders, but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise. The sun shall no more be for a light by day, nor shall the moon shine for brightness unto thee, but Jehovah shall be for the light of eternity, and thy God, thy adornment (Isaiah 60:1-22). Concerning the New Church of the Lord.