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Esekiel 16

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1 Og Herrens ord kom til mig, og det lød så:

2 Menneskesønn! Forehold Jerusalem dets vederstyggeligheter

3 og si: Så sier Herren, Israels Gud, til Jerusalem: Ditt ophav og din avstamning er fra kana'anittenes land; en amoritt var din far, og en hetittkvinne din mor.

4 Og med din fødsel gikk det således til: Den dag du blev født, blev din navlestreng ikke avskåret, og du blev ikke tvettet ren med vann og ikke inngnidd med salt og ikke svøpt i svøp.

5 Intet øie ynkedes over dig, så de gjorde noget sådant med dig og forbarmet sig over dig; men du blev kastet ut på marken den dag du blev født, fordi de ikke ønsket at du skulde leve.

6 Da gikk jeg forbi dig og så dig sprelle i ditt blod, og jeg sa til dig: Du som ligger der i ditt blod, lev! Ja, jeg sa til dig: Du som ligger der i ditt blod, lev!

7 Jeg gjorde dig til mange tusen som vekstene på marken, og du vokste og blev stor og nådde den høieste skjønnhet; brystene blev faste, og ditt hår vokste. Men du var naken og bar.

8 Da gikk jeg forbi dig og så dig, og se, din tid var kommet, elskovens tid, og jeg bredte min kappe over dig og skjulte din blusel, og jeg tilsvor dig troskap og gjorde pakt med dig, sier Herren, Israels Gud, og du blev min.

9 Og jeg tvettet dig med vann og skylte blodet av dig og salvet dig med olje.

10 Jeg klædde dig med utsydde klær og hadde på dig sko av takas-skinn, og jeg bandt fint lin om dig og hyllet dig i silke.

11 Jeg prydet dig med smykker, og jeg la armbånd om dine hender og en kjede om din hals.

12 Jeg satte en ring i din nese og ørenringer i dine ører og en prektig krone på ditt hode.

13 Så smykket du dig med gull og sølv, og din klædning var av fint lin og silke og utsydd tøi; fint mel og honning og olje åt du, og du blev overmåte fager og vel skikket til kongedømme.

14 Og ditt navn kom ut blandt folkene for din skjønnhets skyld; for den var fullkommen på grunn av de herlige prydelser som jeg hadde klædd dig i, sier Herren, Israels Gud.

15 Men du stolte på din skjønnhet og drev hor i tillit til ditt navn, og du utøste ditt hor over hver den som gikk forbi; han fikk nyte din skjønnhet.

16 Du tok dine klær og gjorde dig brokete telt på offerhaugene og drev hor der; sådant må ikke hende og ikke skje.

17 Du tok dine prektige smykker, mitt gull og mitt sølv, som jeg hadde gitt dig, og gjorde dig mannfolkebilleder og drev hor med dem.

18 Du tok dine utsydde klær og dekket dem med, og min olje og min røkelse satte du frem for dem.

19 Mitt brød, som jeg hadde gitt dig, det fine mel og oljen og honningen som jeg gav dig å ete, det satte du frem for dem til en velbehagelig duft; så vidt gikk det, sier Herren, Israels Gud.

20 Du tok dine sønner og dine døtre, som du hadde født mig, og ofret dem til mat for dem. Var det ikke nok at du drev hor,

21 siden du slaktet mine barn og gav dem bort - lot dem gå igjennem ilden for dem?

22 Og ved alle dine vederstyggeligheter og ditt hor kom du ikke din ungdoms dager i hu, da du var naken og bar og lå og sprelte i ditt blod.

23 Og efter all denne din ondskap - ve, ve dig! sier Herren, Israels Gud

24 bygget du dig en hvelving* og gjorde dig en offerhaug i hver gate**. / {* til utukt.} / {** 2K 28, 24.}

25 Ved hvert veiskjell bygget du din offerhaug og vanæret din skjønnhet og bredte dine føtter ut for hver den som gikk forbi, og du drev stadig hor.

26 Du drev hor med Egyptens sønner, dine kjøttfulle naboer, og du drev stadig hor, så du vakte min harme.

27 Og se, jeg rakte ut min hånd mot dig og avknappet det som var tiltenkt dig, og jeg lot dem som hatet dig, få gjøre med dig som de lystet - filistrenes døtre, som bluedes ved din skammelige ferd.

28 Og du drev hor med Assurs sønner, fordi du ikke var mett; du drev hor med dem og blev enda ikke mett.

29 Og du drev stadig hor, helt bort til kremmerlandet Kaldea; men heller ikke da blev du mett.

30 Hvor ditt hjerte var vissent, sier Herren, Israels Gud, da du gjorde alt dette, slikt som bare en skamløs skjøge gjør,

31 da du bygget din hvelving ved hvert veiskjell og din offerhaug i hver gate. Men du var ikke som andre skjøger, for du foraktet skjøgelønn.

32 Du horkvinne, som i stedet for din mann tar imot fremmede!

33 Alle skjøger gir de lønn, men du gav alle dine elskere dine gaver og kjøpte dem til å komme til dig fra alle kanter og drive hor med dig.

34 Og med dig skjedde det omvendte av det som skjer med andre kvinner: Du drev hor uten at nogen løp efter dig, og du gav horelønn uten selv å få det; således blev du det omvendte av andre.

35 Hør derfor Herrens ord, du horkvinne!

36 sier Herren, Israels Gud: Fordi du har ødslet med ditt kobber* og avdekket din blusel, når du drev hor med dine elskere, og for alle dine vederstyggelige avguders skyld og for dine barns blods skyld, som du gav dem**, / {* kanskje din uedle, urene kjærlighet; sml. ESK 22, 18; 24, 11. JE 6, 28.} / {** ESK 16, 20.}

37 se, derfor samler jeg alle dine elskere, som likte dig så godt, og alle dem du elsket, og likeså alle dem du hatet - jeg vil samle dem mot dig fra alle kanter og avdekke din blusel for dem, så de får se hele din blusel.

38 Jeg vil dømme dig likesom de kvinner dømmes som driver hor og utøser blod, og jeg vil gjøre dig til bare blod ved min harme og nidkjærhet.

39 Jeg vil gi dig i deres hånd, og de skal rive din hvelving og bryte ned dine offerhauger og dra dine klær av dig og ta dine prektige smykker og la dig ligge der naken og bar.

40 Og de skal føre en folkeskare frem mot dig og stene dig og hugge dig i stykker med sine sverd.

41 De skal brenne op dine hus med ild og holde dom over dig for mange kvinners øine; og jeg vil gjøre ende på ditt horeliv, og du skal ikke mere kunne gi horelønn.

42 Således vil jeg stille min harme på dig, og så skal min nidkjærhet vike fra dig, og jeg vil holde mig rolig og ikke vredes mere.

43 Fordi du ikke kom din ungdoms dager i hu, men krenket mig ved alt dette, se, derfor vil også jeg la dine gjerninger komme over ditt eget hode, sier Herren, Israels Gud; for har du ikke lagt skjensel til alle dine vederstyggeligheter?

44 Se, alle som lager ordsprog, skal bruke dette ordsprog om dig: Som moren, så datteren.

45 Du er din mors datter, hun som foraktet sin mann og sine barn, og du er dine søstres søster, de som foraktet sine menn og sine barn; en hetittkvinne er eders mor, og en amoritt eders far.

46 Din større søster er Samaria med sine døtre, hun som bor ved din venstre side, og din mindre søster, som bor ved din høire side, er Sodoma og hennes døtre.

47 Du gikk ikke på deres veier og gjorde ikke efter deres vederstyggeligheter; men bare en liten stund - så gjorde du det verre enn de, på alle dine veier.

48 Så sant jeg lever, sier Herren, Israels Gud, Sodoma, din søster, med sine døtre har ikke gjort som du og dine døtre har gjort.

49 Se, dette var Sodomas, din søsters misgjerning: overmot; overflod av brød og trygg ro hadde hun og hennes døtre; men den elendige og fattige hjalp hun ikke;

50 de ophøiet sig og gjorde det som var vederstyggelig for mitt åsyn, og jeg ryddet dem bort da jeg så det.

51 Heller ikke Samaria har syndet halvt så meget som du; du gjorde mange flere vederstyggeligheter enn de, og du rettferdiggjorde dine søstre ved alle de vederstyggeligheter som du gjorde.

52 Bær da også du din skam, du som har dømt til beste for dine søstre! For dine synders skyld, hvormed du har båret dig mere vederstyggelig at enn de, er de rettferdigere enn du; så skam dig da, også du, og bær din skjensel, idet du rettferdiggjør dine søstre!

53 Men jeg vil gjøre ende på deres fangenskap, Sodomas og hennes døtres fangenskap og Samarias og hennes døtres fangenskap og dine fangnes fangenskap midt iblandt dem,

54 forat du skal bære din skam og bli skamfull over alt det du har gjort, idet du trøster dem.

55 Og dine søstre, Sodoma og hennes døtre, skal komme tilbake til sin tidligere tilstand, og Samaria og hennes døtre skal komme tilbake til sin tidligere tilstand, og du og dine døtre, I skal komme tilbake til eders tidligere tilstand.

56 Og var ikke Sodoma, din søster, et omkvede i din munn på ditt overmots dag,

57 før din ondskap kom for dagen, likesom på den tid du blev hånet av Syrias døtre og alle dem som bodde rundt omkring det, og av filistrenes døtre, som foraktet dig rundt omkring?

58 Din utukt og dine vederstyggeligheter skal du bære straffen for, sier Herren.

59 For så sier Herren, Israels Gud: Jeg vil gjøre mot dig efter det du har gjort, du som foraktet eden og brøt pakten.

60 Og så vil jeg komme i hu min pakt med dig i din ungdoms dager, og jeg vil oprette en evig pakt med dig.

61 Og du skal komme din ferd i hu og skamme dig, når du tar imot dine søstre, både dem som er større enn du, og dem som er mindre enn du, og jeg gir dig dem til døtre, enda de ikke hører med til din pakt.

62 Jeg vil oprette min pakt med dig, og du skal kjenne at jeg er Herren,

63 forat du skal komme din ferd i hu og blues og ikke mere oplate din munn for din skams skyld, når jeg forlater dig alt det du har gjort, sier Herren, Israels Gud.

   

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Apocalypse Revealed # 189

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189. "'That no one may take your crown.'" This symbolically means, lest they lose the wisdom from which comes eternal happiness.

A person acquires wisdom from no other source than goodness gained through truths from the Lord. A person acquires wisdom through these truths because they are the means by which the Lord conjoins Himself with the person and the person with Himself, and the Lord is wisdom itself. Wisdom consequently perishes in a person when he stops putting truths into practice, that is, when he stops living in accordance with them. He also then ceases to love wisdom, and accordingly ceases to love the Lord.

By wisdom we mean wisdom in spiritual matters. From this as a wellspring flows wisdom in all else, which we call intelligence, and through this knowledge, which results from an affection for knowing truths.

A crown symbolizes wisdom, because wisdom occupies the highest place in a person and so crowns him. Nor is anything else symbolized by the crown of a king, for a king in the Word's spiritual sense is Divine truth (no. 20), and from Divine truth comes all wisdom.

[2] Wisdom is symbolically meant by a crown also in the following passages:

...I will make the horn of David grow..., and upon Him His crown shall flourish. (Psalms 132:17-18)

(Jehovah) put... earrings in your ears, and an ornate crown on your head. (Ezekiel 16:12)

This is said of Jerusalem, which symbolizes the church in respect to doctrine, and therefore the ornate crown is wisdom originating from Divine truth or the Word.

In that day Jehovah of Hosts will be for an ornate crown and a beautiful turban to the remnants of His people. (Isaiah 28:5)

This is said of the Lord, because it says "in that day." The ornate crown for which He will be is wisdom, and the beautiful turban is intelligence. The remnants of the people are people among whom the church will be.

[3] The crown and turban in Isaiah 62:1, 3 have the same symbolic meaning. So, too, does the plate upon the turban of Aaron in Exodus 28:36-37, which is also called a miter.

Furthermore, in the following:

Say to the king and his lady, "Lower yourselves, sit down, for the ornament of your head has come down, the crown of your beauty." (Jeremiah 13:18)

The joy of our heart has ceased... The crown has fallen from our head. (Lamentations 5:15-16)

He has stripped me of my glory, and taken the crown from my head. (Job 19:9)

You have profaned [by casting it] to the ground the crown (of Your anointed). (Psalms 89:39)

The crown in these places symbolizes wisdom.

  
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Many thanks to the General Church of the New Jerusalem, and to Rev. N.B. Rogers, translator, for the permission to use this translation.

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Apocalypse Revealed # 154

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154. CHAPTER 3

1. "And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, 'These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, when you are dead.

2. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works full before God.

3. Remember therefore how you have received and heard, and pay heed and repent. If, then, you will not watch, I will come upon you like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come upon you.

4. You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.

5. He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the book of life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

6. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'

7. "And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, 'These things says He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens:

8. I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have little strength, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name.

9. Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie - behold, I will make them come and worship at your feet, and know that I have loved you.

10. Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to put to the test those who dwell on the earth.

11. Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.

12. He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. And I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from My God. Also My new name.

13. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'

14. "And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, 'These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the workmanship of God:

15. I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were cold or hot.

16. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, it shall come to pass that I vomit you out of My mouth.

17. Because you say, "I am rich and wealthy, and have need of nothing," and do not know that you are miserable, wretched and poor, blind and naked,

18. I urge you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be enriched, and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and to anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.

19. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Be zealous, therefore, and repent.

20. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.

21. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sit with My Father on His throne.

22. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'"

THE SPIRITUAL MEANING

The Contents of the Whole Chapter

People in the Christian world who are engaged in a lifeless worship, one without charity and faith, are described by the church in Sardis (nos. 154-171).

People who are governed by truths springing from goodness derived from the Lord are described by the church in Philadelphia (nos. 172-197).

People who base their beliefs sometimes on their own thinking, sometimes on the Word, and so profane holy things, are described by the church in Laodicea (nos. 198-223).

All of these, too, are called to the Lord's New Church.

The Contents of the Individual Verses:

Verse ContentsSpiritual Meaning
1. "And to the angel of the church in Sardis write,To people and concerning people who are engaged in a lifeless worship, or in a worship that lacks the goods expressive of charity or the truths connected with faith.
'These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars:The Lord from whom spring all truths and all concepts of goodness and truth.
"I know your works,The Lord sees people's inner and outer qualities all simultaneously,
that you have a name that you are alive, when you are dead.that they seem to themselves and others to be spiritually alive, and are believed by themselves and others to be so, when in fact they are spiritually lifeless.
2. Be watchful,They should have truths and live in accordance with them,
and strengthen the things which remain that are ready to die,so that the things of which their worship consists may be given life.
for I have not found your works full before God.The inner qualities of their worship are not conjoined with the Lord.
3. Remember therefore how you have received and heard,They should reflect that all worship in the beginning is natural, and later becomes spiritual through truths, and so on.
and pay heed and repent.They should pay attention to these things and give life to their lifeless worship.
If, then, you will not watch,The same here as before [verse 2].
I will come upon you like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come upon you.The things of which their worship consists will be taken from them, without their knowing when or how.
4. You have a few names even in SardisThey also have among them some people who do have life in their worship,
who have not defiled their garments;who possess truths, and have not soiled their worship by evil practices and the falsities attendant on these.
and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.They will live with the Lord, because they are governed by truths from Him.
5. He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments,Anyone who is reformed becomes spiritual
and I will not blot out his name from the book of life;and will be saved.
but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.Those people are to be accepted who are governed by Divine good and Divine truths from the Lord.
6. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'The same here as before [chapter 2, verse 7].
7. "And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write,To people and concerning people who are governed by truths springing from goodness derived from the Lord.
'These things says He who is holy, who is true,The Lord in relation to Divine truth,
who has the key of David, who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens:who alone has the omnipotence to save.
8. "I know your works.The same here as before [verse 1].
See, I have set before you an open door,To those who are governed by truths springing from goodness derived from the Lord, heaven is opened.
and no one can shut it;Hell does not prevail against them,
for you have little strength,because they know they have no power of themselves,
and have kept My word,because they live in accordance with the Lord's commandments in His Word,
and have not denied My name.Being moved by worship of the Lord.
9. Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan,People who are caught up in falsities as regards doctrine,
who say they are Jews and are not, but lie -who say they have embraced the church, and have not -
behold, I will make them come and worship at your feet,many of them who are caught up in falsities as regards doctrine will accept the truths of the New Church.
and know that I have loved you.They will see they are loved and accepted into heaven by the Lord.
10. Because you have kept My command to persevere,Because they have fought against evils,
I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to put to the test those who dwell on the earth.they will be protected and preserved on the day of the Last Judgment.
11. Behold, I am coming quickly!The Lord's advent.
Hold fast what you have,In the meantime they should remain steadfast in their truths and goods,
that no one may take your crown.lest they lose the wisdom from which comes eternal happiness.
12. He who overcomes,Those who persevere in truths springing from goodness,
I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God,the truths they possess, springing from goodness derived from the Lord, sustain the church,
and he shall go out no more.and they will remain in it to eternity.
And I will write on him the name of My GodThey will have Divine truth engraved on their hearts.
and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem,They will have the doctrine of the New Church engraved on their hearts,
which is coming down out of heaven from My God.doctrine that will come from the Lord's Divine truth, such as it is in heaven.
Also My new name.Worship of the Lord alone, with new elements that did not exist in the prior church.
13. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."'The same here as before [chapter 2, verse 7].
14. "And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write,To people and concerning people in the church who base their beliefs sometimes on their own thinking, sometimes on the Word, and so profane holy things.
'These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness,The Lord in relation to the Word, which is Divine truth originating from Him.
the beginning of the workmanship of God:The Word.
15. I know your works,The same here as before [verses 1],
that you are neither cold nor hot.that people such as these sometimes deny that the Word is Divine and holy, and sometimes acknowledge that it is.
Would that you were cold or hot.It would be better for them either to deny wholeheartedly the holy things of the Word and church, or to acknowledge them wholeheartedly.
16. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, it shall come to pass that I vomit you out of My mouth.Their profanation and separation from the Lord,
17. Because you say, "I am rich and wealthy,because they believe they possess in great abundance concepts of goodness and truth having to do with heaven and the church,
and have need of nothing,"having no more need to grow in wisdom.
and do not know that you are miserable,Nothing at all of what they know about these things has any coherence.
wretched and poor,They have no truths or goods.
blind and naked,They lack any understanding of truth or will for good.
18. I urge you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be enriched,An admonition to acquire for themselves the goodness of love from the Lord by means of the Word, in order to become wise,
and white garments, that you may be clothed,in order to acquire for themselves genuine truths of wisdom,
that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed;so as not to profane and adulterate the goodness of heavenly love,
and to anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.so as to heal their understanding.
19. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten.Because they are loved then, it must be that they are introduced into temptations or trials,
Be zealous, therefore, and repent.in order for this goal to come about from an affection for truth.
20. Behold, I stand at the door and knock.The Lord is present with everyone in the Word, and He presses there to be received, teaching how He can be.
If anyone hears My voice and opens the door,Anyone who believes the Word and lives according to it,
I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.the Lord conjoins Himself with them and they with Him.
21. To him who overcomesThose who live in conjunction with the Lord through a life in accordance with His precepts in the Word,
I will grant to sit with Me on My throne,will have a conjunction with the Lord in heaven,
as I also overcame and sit with My Father on His throne.As He and the Father are one and constitute heaven.
22. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.' "The same here as before [chapter Revelation 2, verse 7].

THE EXPOSITION

"And to the angel of the church in Sardis write." (3:1) This symbolically means, to people and concerning people who are engaged in a lifeless worship, or in a worship that lacks the goods expressive of charity or the truths connected with faith.

That the church in Sardis means people engaged in such worship is apparent from the particulars written to it, understood in their spiritual sense.

By lifeless worship we mean simply worship by itself, which consists in people's going often to church, listening to sermons, partaking of the Holy Supper, reading the Word and books of piety, talking about God, heaven and hell, the life after death, and especially piety, and praying morning and evening, and yet without desiring to know any truths of faith or wishing to do any goods of charity, believing that salvation is theirs simply by virtue of their worship. This they believe even though apart from truths, and without a life in accordance with those truths, worship is merely the external mark of charity and faith, which may harbor within it evils and falsities of every kind if charity and faith are not present in it. Charity and faith are what characterize genuine worship. Otherwise worship is like the skin or rind of a piece of fruit, which conceals within rotten or wormy flesh, so that the fruit is dead.

People know that such is the worship prevalent in the church today.

  
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Many thanks to the General Church of the New Jerusalem, and to Rev. N.B. Rogers, translator, for the permission to use this translation.