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。
1
大利乌随心所愿，立一百二十个总督，治理通国。
2
又在他们以上立总长三人（但以理在其中），使总督在他们三人面前回覆事务，免得王受亏损。
3
因这但以理有美好的灵性，所以显然超乎其馀的总长和总督，王又想立他治理通国。
4
那时，总长和总督寻找但以理误国的把柄，为要参他；只是找不着他的错误过失，因他忠心办事，毫无错误过失。
5
那些人便说：我们要找参这但以理的把柄，除非在他神的律法中就寻不着。
7
国中的总长、钦差、总督、谋士，和巡抚彼此商议，要立一条坚定的禁令（或译：求王下旨要立一条……），三十日内，不拘何人，若在王以外，或向神或向人求甚麽，就必扔在狮子坑中。
8
王啊，现在求你立这禁令，加盖玉玺，使禁令决不更改；照玛代和波斯人的例是不可更改的。
9
於是大利乌王立这禁令，加盖玉玺。
10
但以理知道这禁令盖了玉玺，就到自己家里（他楼上的窗户开向耶路撒冷），一日三次，双膝跪在他神面前，祷告感谢，与素常一样。
11
那些人就纷纷聚集，见但以理在他神面前祈祷恳求。
12
他们便进到王前，提王的禁令，说：王啊，三十日内不拘何人，若在王以外，或向神或向人求甚麽，必被扔在狮子坑中。王不是在这禁令上盖了玉玺麽？王回答说：实有这事，照玛代和波斯人的例是不可更改的。
13
他们对王说：王啊，那被掳之犹大人中的但以理不理你，也不遵你盖了玉玺的禁令，他竟一日三次祈祷。
14
王听见这话，就甚愁烦，一心要救但以理，筹划解救他，直到日落的时候。
15
那些人就纷纷聚集来见王，说：王啊，当知道玛代人和波斯人有例，凡王所立的禁令和律例都不可更改。
16
王下令，人就把但以理带来，扔在狮子坑中。王对但以理说：你所常事奉的神，他必救你。
17
有人搬石头放在坑口，王用自己的玺和大臣的印，封闭那坑，使惩办但以理的事毫无更改。
18
王回宫，终夜禁食，无人拿乐器到他面前，并且睡不着觉。
20
临近坑边，哀声呼叫但以理，对但以理说：永生神的仆人但以理啊，你所常事奉的神能救你脱离狮子麽？
22
我的神差遣使者，封住狮子的口，叫狮子不伤我；因我在神面前无辜，我在王面前也没有行过亏损的事。
23
王就甚喜乐，吩咐人将但以理从坑里系上来。於是但以理从坑里被系上来，身上毫无伤损，因为信靠他的神。
24
王下令，人就把那些控告但以理的人，连他们的妻子儿女都带来，扔在狮子坑中。他们还没有到坑底，狮子就抓住（原文是胜了）他们，咬碎他们的骨头。
25
那时，大利乌王传旨，晓谕住在全地各方、各国、各族的人说：愿你们大享平安！
26
现在我降旨晓谕我所统辖的全国人民，要在但以理的神面前，战兢恐惧。因为他是永远长存的活神，他的国永不败坏；他的权柄永存无极！
27
他护庇人，搭救人，在天上地下施行神迹奇事，救了但以理脱离狮子的口。
28
如此，这但以理，当大利乌王在位的时候和波斯王古列在位的时候，大享亨通。
10248. 'And it shall be the statute of an age to them' means an eternal law of order. This is clear from the meaning of 'a statute' as a law of order, dealt with in 7884, 7995, 8357; and from the meaning of 'an age' as that which is eternal. The reason why 'an age' means what is eternal is that duration even to the end should be understood by it, and in the internal sense what is eternal is meant by that duration. Furthermore the word used to denote an age means eternity in the original language. 'Age' means what is eternal because when used in the Word with regard to the Church it means duration of it even to the end. Consequently, when the term is used with regard to heaven, where there is no end, or with regard to the Lord, it means what is eternal. The term may be used to refer in general to any Church, but in particular to the celestial Church. In addition to all this 'age' means the world and life there, and also life after this to eternity.
[2] 1. The term 'age', when used with regard to the Church, means the duration of it even to the end
This is clear from the following places: In Matthew,
The disciples said to Jesus, Tell us, what will be the sign of Your coming and of the close of the age? Matthew 24:3.
'The close of the age' means the final period of the Church, thus the end of it, when there is no longer any faith because there is no charity. The fact that this is meant by 'the close of the age' and that 'the age' therefore means the duration of the Church even to the end becomes clear from all the things stated by the Lord in that chapter, an explanation of which may be seen in the opening sections of Chapters 26-40 of Genesis. 'The age' and 'the close' of it have the same meaning elsewhere in the same gospel,
The harvest is the close of the age. Matthew 13:39-40, 49.
Also,
Behold, I am with you at all times 1 even to the close of the age. Matthew 28:20.
Here also 'the age' is used to mean the duration of the Church from start to finish.
[3] In Ezekiel,
They will dwell on the land, they and their sons and their sons' sons even to an age. David will be their prince for an age. My sanctuary will be in their midst for an age. Ezekiel 37:25, 28.
These promises refer to Israel, who in the internal sense serves to mean the spiritual Church. 'The land' on which they will dwell also means the Church; 'the sanctuary' means everything composing the Church; and 'David' means the Lord. From this it is evident that 'for an age' means even to the end.
'Israel' in the Word is the spiritual Church, see in the places referred to in 9340.
'The land' is the Church, in the places referred to in 9325.
'The sanctuary' is everything composing the Church, and it has reference to the goodness and truth of the spiritual Church, 8330, 9479.
'David' is the Lord, 1888, 9954.
[4] In David,
Before the mountains were born, and the earth and the world were formed, from age even to age You are God. Psalms 90:2.
By the birth of mountains and formation of the earth and the world not the creation of the world but the establishment of a Church should be understood, for in the Word heavenly or celestial love, and so the Church in which that love exists, is meant by 'the mountains'. 'The earth' too and 'the world' mean the Church, so that 'from age to age' means from when Churches are established to when they come to an end. Churches follow in succession, one after another; for when one has come to an end or undergone vastation another is established.
'Mountain' means heavenly or celestial love, and therefore the Church which is governed by that love, see 795, 796, 4210, 6435, 8758.
'The earth' is the Church in particular, but 'the world' the Church in general, see in the places referred to in 9325.
[5] 2. The term 'age', when used with regard to heaven, where there is no end, or with regard to the Lord, means what is eternal
This is clear from the following places: In David,
Jehovah is King for an age and for perpetuity. Psalms 10:16; Exodus 15:18.
In the same author,
Your kingdom is a kingdom of all the ages, and Your dominion to every generation after generation. Psalms 145:13.
In Jeremiah,
[He is] the living God [and] the King of the age. Jeremiah 10:10.
In Daniel,
His dominion is the dominion of an age which will not pass away. Afterwards the saints of the Most High 2 will receive the kingdom and will strengthen the kingdom even to an age, and even to ages of ages. Daniel 7:14, 18, 27.
In Matthew,
Yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory for ages. Matthew 6:13.
In Luke,
God will give Him the throne of David, so that He may reign over the house of Jacob for ages. Luke 1:32-33.
[6] In the Book of Revelation,
To Jesus Christ be glory and might for ages of ages. Revelation 1:6.
Elsewhere in the same book,
Behold, I live for ages of ages. Revelation 1:18.
And elsewhere again,
Blessing, and honour, and glory, and might to the Lamb for ages of ages! The twenty-four elders worshipped the One living for ages of ages. Revelation 5:13-14; 10:6; 11:15.
In Isaiah,
My salvation will exist for an age, and My righteousness to each generation 3 . Isaiah 51:6, 8.
In the same prophet,
The angel of [His] face carried them all the days of the age. Isaiah 63:9.
In Daniel,
Many of those sleeping will awake to the life of the age 4 , the rest to the disrepute of the age 5 . Daniel 12:2.
In John,
If anyone eats of this bread he will live for an age. John 6:51, 58.
In the same gospel,
I give them eternal life, and they will not perish for an age. John 10:28.
In David,
Lead me in the way of the age 6 . Psalms 139:24.
In the same author,
He has caused them to stand for perpetuity and for an age; He has given a statute that will not pass away. Psalms 148:6.
[7] In these places 'age' means what is eternal since it is used with regard to the Lord, to His kingdom, and to heaven and the life there, all of which have no end. 'Ages of ages' is not used to mean eternities of eternities but that which is eternal. That expression is used however with regard to the Churches on earth coming in succession one after another. From the Word it is evident that a Church has been established four times on this planet. The first of them was the Most Ancient, which existed before the Flood; the second was the Ancient, which came after the Flood; the third was the Israelite and Jewish; and the last was the Christian. The whole period of each one from start to finish is an age. And after the Christian Church a new one will begin. This series of Churches is meant by 'ages of ages', 'an age' being the duration of a Church even to its end, as shown above.
[8] 3. The term 'age' may be used to refer in general to any Church, but in particular to the celestial Church
This is clear from the following places: In Amos,
I will raise up the tent of David that is fallen down, and I will build as in the days of a [previous] age. Amos 9:11.
'The days of a [previous] age' is used to mean the time when the Most Ancient Church, which was celestial, existed. In Micah,
Bethlehem Ephrath, from you will come forth for Me one who will be Ruler in Israel, and whose origins are from of old, from the days of a [previous] age. Micah 5:2.
Here the meaning is similar. In Moses,
Remember the days of a [previous] age, understand the years of generation after generation. Deuteronomy 32:7.
'The days of a [previous] age' stands for the time of the Most Ancient Church, which was a celestial Church, and 'the years of generation after generation' for the time of the Ancient Church, which was a spiritual Church.
[9] In Isaiah,
Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of Jehovah. Awake as in the days of antiquity, of the generation of [previous] ages. Isaiah 51:8-9.
'As in [the days] of the generation of [previous] ages' means as it was with the states of love and faith in the Ancient Churches that descended from the Most Ancient. In David,
I have considered the days of old, the years of [previous] ages. Psalms 77:5.
Here the meaning is similar.
[10] In Isaiah,
Remember from a [previous] age the former thing. Isaiah 46:9.
In Malachi,
Then the minchah of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to Jehovah, as in the days of a [previous] age, and as in ancient years. Malachi 3:4.
In Joel,
Judah will abide for an age, and Jerusalem from generation to generation. Joel 3:20.
In these places 'Judah' means the celestial Church, to which the words 'as in the days of the age' and 'into the age' therefore refer, while 'Jerusalem' means the spiritual Church, to which the words 'as in the ancient years' and 'into generation after generation' refer.
'Judah' is the celestial Church, see 3654, 3881, 6363, 8770.
'Jerusalem' is the spiritual Church, 402, 3654.
[11] 4. The term 'age' may mean the world and life there
This is clear in Matthew,
The one who is sown among thorns is he who hears the Word but the cares of this age and the deceitfulness of riches choke the Word. Matthew 13:22.
In Luke,
The sons of this age are more shrewd than the sons of light. Luke 16:8.
In the same gospel,
The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage. Luke 20:34.
And in David,
The wicked and carefree ones of the age multiply wealth. Psalms 73:12.
[12] 5. The term 'age' may mean life to eternity after death
In Mark,
... will receive a hundredfold, now in this time, and in the age to come eternal life. Mark 10:30.
In Ezekiel,
When I will cause you to go down with those going down to the pit, to the people of a [previous] age, ... Ezekiel 26:20.
And elsewhere, as in Luke 18:30; 20:35; Isaiah 34:10, 17; Revelation 14:11; 20:10; 22:5.
അടിക്കുറിപ്പുകൾ:
1. literally, I am with you all the days
2. The Latin word rendered the Most High is plural, as is the word used in the original Aramaic. It must be regarded as a plural of majesty.
3. literally, generations of generations
4. i.e. eternal life
5. i.e. eternal disgrace
6. i.e. an eternal way
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