1. 前言:新天國與新教會的信仰

首先, 將本書中所講述的真實的基督徒信仰, 也就是新天國和新教會的信仰, 分別以總體和具體的形式概要地說明。作為接下來全書的引言, 或作為進入聖殿的大門, 又或作為詳細內容的概要。此信仰被稱為新天國和新教會的信仰, 因為天人(angel)組成的天國和世人組成的教會, 如同一個人的靈魂與肉體, 內外一致,行動如一。因此, 若教會之人活在良善與真理之中, 對於思想內在而言, 他就是天國的一名天人。在肉身死後, 他便進入天國, 照著良善與真理在他裡面聯合的狀態在那裡安享極樂。當知道, 在主現在正建立的新天國中, 這樣的信仰是新天國的引言,入門和概要。

953. 22:16 "I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches." This symbolizes a testification by the Lord before the whole Christian world of the truth that the Lord alone has presented the visions described in this book, and that their meaning is now disclosed.

The Lord here calls Himself Jesus in order that people throughout the Christian world may know that the Lord who was in the world is Himself the one who has presented the visions described in this book, whose meanings have now been revealed. Sending an angel to testify symbolizes a testification by the Lord that something is true. The angel, indeed, testified to it, but he did so not of himself, but from the Lord, as is clearly apparent from the declaration in verse 20 below, "He who testifies to these things says, 'Surely I am coming quickly.'"

It is a testification that something is true because testifying is a term used in connection with truth, since truth bears witness of itself, and the Lord is the embodiment of truth (nos. 6, 16, 490). To testify here symbolically means to testify not only that it is true that the Lord presented to John the visions described in this book, but also that He has now presented what they individually and collectively symbolize. This is properly what is meant by testifying, for we are told that the angel testified these things in the churches, which is to say that the meanings contained in things seen and described by John are true. For He testified concerning the truth, as we said.

"To testify to you these things in the churches" symbolically means before the whole Christian world, because that is where the churches meant here are found.