以賽亞書 41
1
眾海島啊，當在我面前靜默；眾民當從新得力，都要近前來才可以說話，我們可以彼此辯論。
2
誰從東方興起一人，憑公義召他來到腳前呢？耶和華將列國交給他，使他管轄君王，把他們如灰塵交與他的刀，如風吹的碎秸交與他的弓。
3
他追趕他們，走他所未走的道，坦然前行。
4
誰行做成就這事，從起初宣召歷代呢？就是我─耶和華！我是首先的，也與末後的同在。
7
木匠勉勵銀匠，用鎚打光的勉勵打砧的，論銲工說，銲得好；又用釘子釘穩，免得偶像動搖。
8
惟你以色列─我的僕人，雅各─我所揀選的，我朋友亞伯拉罕的後裔，
9
你是我從地極所領（原文是抓）來的，從地角所召來的，且對你說：你是我的僕人；我揀選你，並不棄絕你。
10
你不要害怕，因為我與你同在；不要驚惶，因為我是你的神。我必堅固你，我必幫助你；我必用我公義的右手扶持你。
11
凡向你發怒的必都抱愧蒙羞；與你相爭的必如無有，並要滅亡。
12
與你爭競的，你要找他們也找不著；與你爭戰的必如無有，成為虛無。
13
因為我耶和華─你的神必攙扶你的右手，對你說：不要害怕！我必幫助你。
14
你這蟲雅各和你們以色列人，不要害怕！耶和華說：我必幫助你。你的救贖主就是以色列的聖者。
15
看哪，我已使你成為有快齒打糧的新器具；你要把山嶺打得粉碎，使岡陵如同糠秕。
16
你要把他簸揚，風要吹去；旋風要把他颳散。你倒要以耶和華為喜樂，以色列的聖者為誇耀。
17
困苦窮乏人尋求水卻沒有；他們因口渴，舌頭乾燥。我─耶和華必應允他們；我─以色列的神必不離棄他們。
18
我要在淨光的高處開江河，在谷中開泉源；我要使沙漠變為水池，使乾地變為湧泉。
19
我要在曠野種上香柏樹、皂莢樹、番石榴樹，和野橄欖樹。我在沙漠要把松樹、杉樹，並黃楊樹一同栽植；
20
好叫人看見、知道、思想、明白；這是耶和華的手所做的，是以色列的聖者所造的。
21
耶和華對假神說：你們要呈上你們的案件；雅各的君說：你們要聲明你們確實的理由。
22
可以聲明，指示我們將來必遇的事，說明先前的是甚麼事，好叫我們思索，得知事的結局，或者把將來的事指示我們。
23
要說明後來的事，好叫我們知道你們是神。你們或降福，或降禍，使我們驚奇，一同觀看。
24
看哪，你們屬乎虛無；你們的作為也屬乎虛空。那選擇你們的是可憎惡的。
25
我從北方興起一人；他是求告我名的，從日出之地而來。他必臨到掌權的，好像臨到灰泥，彷彿窯匠踹泥一樣。
26
誰從起初指明這事，使我們知道呢？誰從先前說明，使我們說他不錯呢？誰也沒有指明，誰也沒有說明。誰也沒有聽見你們的話。
27
我首先對錫安說：看哪，我要將一位報好信息的賜給耶路撒冷。
Apocalypse Explained #21
21. In Asia, signifies those who are in the light of intelligence. This can be seen by a spiritual idea only, such as angels have, concerning the regions of this earth. When Asia is named, angels perceive the south; when Europe is named, the north; and when Africa, the east; and as by the "south" is signified the clear light of intelligence, so that light is signified by "Asia." This perception has been granted also to me, as often as I have been in the spiritual idea and have thought of Asia. Such is the spiritual idea of Asia, because the church was there in ancient times, and then extended over many regions there; therefore, those who are in heaven from that country are in the light of intelligence. For this reason, when Asia is thought of, a light like that which is in the south of heaven flows in. (That in ancient times, and also in the most ancient, the church was in Asia, extending through many kingdoms there, see the quotations from the Arcana Coelestia in the little work on The New Jerusalem and its Heavenly Doctrine 247; and that the "south" signifies the light of intelligence, see in the work on Heaven and Hell 141-153, where the Four Quarters in Heaven are treated of.) By "Asia," however, the inhabitants of Asia are not here meant, but all, wheresoever they are, who are in the spiritual light of intelligence, or, what is the same, who are in truths from good; for those who are in truths from good are in the spiritual light of intelligence; and all such constitute the Lord's church.
(That the Lord's church exists also among the Gentiles, although specifically where the Lord is known and the Word is read, see in the work on Heaven and Hell 318-328; and on The New Jerusalem and its Heavenly Doctrine 244, 246.)
