The Bible

 

撒迦利亞書 1

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1 大利烏王第二年八耶和華的臨到易多的孫子、比利家的兒子先知撒迦利亞,說:

2 耶和華曾向你們列祖大大發怒。

3 所以你要對以色列人,萬軍之耶和華如此:你們要轉向我,我就轉向你們。這是萬軍之耶和華的。

4 不要效法你們列祖。從前的先知呼叫他們,萬軍之耶和華如此:你們要回頭離開你們的惡道惡行。他們卻不,也不順從我。這是耶和華的。

5 你們的列祖在哪裡呢?那些先知永遠存活麼?

6 只是我的言語和律例,就是所吩咐我僕人先知的,豈不臨到你們列祖麼?他們就回頭,:萬軍之耶和華定意按我們的行動作為向我們怎樣行,他已照樣行了。

7 大利烏第二年十一,就是細罷特二十日,耶和華的臨到易多的孫子、比利家的兒子先知撒迦利亞,說:

8 我夜間觀,見一著紅,站在窪地番石榴樹中間。在他身又有紅、黃,和白

9 我對與我話的天使啊,這是甚麼意思?他:我要指示你這是甚麼意思。

10 那站在番石榴樹中間的:這是奉耶和華差遣在遍走來走去的。

11 那些騎馬的對站在番石榴樹中間耶和華的使者:我們已在遍走來走去,見全都安息平靜

12 於是,耶和華的使者:萬軍之耶和華啊,你惱恨耶路撒冷猶大的城邑已經七十年,你不施憐憫要到幾時呢?

13 耶和華就用美善的安慰回答那與我說天使

14 與我話的天使對我:你要宣告,萬軍之耶和華如此:我為耶路撒冷為錫安,心裡極其火熱。

15 我甚惱怒那安逸的列國,因我從前稍微惱怒我民,他們就加害過分。

16 所以耶和華如此:現今我回到耶路撒冷,仍施憐憫,我的殿必重建在其中,準繩必拉在耶路撒冷之上。這是萬軍之耶和華的。

17 你要再宣告,萬軍之耶和華如此:我的城邑必再豐盛發達。耶和華必再安慰錫安,揀選耶路撒冷

18 我舉目觀,見有角。

19 我就問與我話的天使:這是甚麼意思?他回答:這是打散猶大以色列,和耶路撒冷的角。

20 耶和華又指個匠人給我看。

21 :他們做甚麼呢?他:這是打散猶大的角,使不敢抬;但這些匠威嚇列國,打掉他們的角,就是舉起打散猶大的角。

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Apocalypse Revealed #625

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625. For they are without blemish before the throne of God. This symbolically means, because they are governed by truths springing from goodness from the Lord.

Being without blemish symbolizes people who are not caught up in falsities, who accordingly are governed by truths; for blemishes symbolize falsities, especially falsities springing from evil. The throne of God symbolizes the Lord and heaven (nos. 14, 233). And because people governed by good from the Lord all appear as though governed by truths, therefore their being without blemish before the throne of God means symbolically that they are governed by truths that spring from goodness received from the Lord.

The reason is that people who are led by the Lord are all kept in a state of goodness received from Him, and from that goodness springs naught but truth. Even if falsity springs from it, it is apparent falsity, and this the Lord regards as akin to truth, being only of another color through a modification of the light of heaven. For the goodness that is present within it thus qualifies it.

It is possible, indeed, for falsity to spring from evil, and also for falsity to spring from goodness. The two may appear in outward form alike, but still they are totally different, because that which lies within forms the essence of each and produces its character.

Since blemishes symbolize falsities, therefore it was forbidden for any of the offspring of Aaron who had a defect to approach the altar or to enter within the veil (Leviticus 21:17-23). This meant that they were to be without blemish.

Moreover, the Israelites were also forbidden to offer a sacrifice of cattle, calves, sheep, goats, or lambs which had a blemish (Leviticus 22:19-25). The blemishes, too, are listed there.

  
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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.