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.
Acts of the Apostles 1
1
The first book I wrote, Theophilus, concerned all that Jesus began both to do and to teach,
2
until the day in which he was received up, after he had given commandment through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.
3
To these he also showed himself alive after he suffered, by many proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days, and speaking about God's Kingdom.
4
Being assembled together with them, he commanded them, "Don't depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which you heard from me.
5
For John indeed baptized in water, but you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days from now."
6
Therefore, when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, are you now restoring the kingdom to Israel?"
7
He said to them, "It isn't for you to know times or seasons which the Father has set within his own authority.
8
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. You will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth."
9
When he had said these things, as they were looking, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight.
10
While they were looking steadfastly into the sky as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white clothing,
11
who also said, "You men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who was received up from you into the sky will come back in the same way as you saw him going into the sky."
12
Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mountain called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey away.
13
When they had come in, they went up into the upper room, where they were staying; that is Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James.
14
All these with one accord continued steadfastly in prayer and supplication, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
15
In these days, Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples (and the number of names was about one hundred twenty), and said,
16
"Brothers, it was necessary that this Scripture should be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who was guide to those who took Jesus.
17
For he was numbered with us, and received his portion in this ministry.
18
Now this man obtained a field with the reward for his wickedness, and falling headlong, his body burst open, and all his intestines gushed out.
19
It became known to everyone who lived in Jerusalem that in their language that field was called 'Akeldama,' that is, 'The field of blood.'
20
For it is written in the book of Psalms, 'Let his habitation be made desolate. Let no one dwell therein;' and, 'Let another take his office.'
21
"Of the men therefore who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
22
beginning from the baptism of John, to the day that he was received up from us, of these one must become a witness with us of his resurrection."
23
They put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.
24
They prayed, and said, "You, Lord, who know the hearts of all men, show which one of these two you have chosen
25
to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas fell away, that he might go to his own place."
26
They drew lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
