The Bible

 

Hesekiel 34:12

Study

       

12 Wie ein Hirt sich seiner Herde annimmt an dem Tage, da er unter seinen zerstreuten Schafen ist, also werde ich mich meiner Schafe annehmen und werde sie erretten aus allen Orten, wohin sie zerstreut worden sind am Tage des Gewölks und des Wolkendunkels.

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Apocalypse Revealed #306

Study this Passage

  
/ 962  
  

306. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth. This symbolizes the abolition of charity, of spiritual security, and of inner rest.

Peace symbolizes everything whatever that comes from the Lord, and so everything pertaining to heaven and the church, and the blessings of life in them. In the highest or inmost sense, these are blessings of peace.

It follows from this that peace means charity, spiritual security, and inner rest, for when a person abides in the Lord, he is at peace with his neighbor, which is a state of charity, and he has protection from hell, which is spiritual security. And when he is at peace with his neighbor and has protection from hell, he enjoys an inner rest from evils and falsities.

Accordingly, since all these blessings come from the Lord, it can be seen what is symbolically meant by peace in general and in particular in the following passages:

...unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; the government will be upon His shoulder. His name will be called... God, Hero, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end... (Isaiah 9:6-7)

(Jesus said,) "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you." (John 14:27)

(Jesus said,) "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace." (John 16:33)

In His days the righteous shall flourish, and much peace... (Psalms 72:3, 7)

Then I will make a covenant of peace... (Ezekiel 34:25, 27; 37:25-26)

How delightful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who proclaims peace..., who says to Zion, "Your King reigns!" (Isaiah 52:7)

Jehovah bless you and... lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace. (Numbers 6:24-26)

Jehovah will bless His people with peace. (Psalms 29:11)

(Jehovah) will redeem my soul in peace... (Psalms 55:18)

The work of (Jehovah) is peace, [and] the labor of righteousness, rest and security forever, that (they) may dwell in a tabernacle of peace, in secure tents, and in tranquil places of rest. (Isaiah 32:17-18)

(Jesus said to the seventy that He sent out,) "Whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace to this house.' And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on it." (Luke 10:5-6, cf. Matthew 10:12-14)

The wretched shall possess the earth, and shall delight themselves in an abundance of peace... ...observe the upright man, for the final state for that man is peace. (Psalms 37:11, 37)

(Zacharias, prophesying, said,) ."..the Dayspring from on high has appeared..., to guide our feet into the way of peace." (Luke 1:78-79)

Depart from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. (Psalms 34:14)

Much peace have those who love Your law... (Psalms 119:165)

"Oh, that you had heeded My commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river...." "There is no peace," says Jehovah, "for the impious." (Isaiah 48:18, 22)

(Jehovah) will speak peace to His people... Righteousness and peace will kiss. (Psalms 85:8, 10)

There is no peace in my bones because of my sin. (Psalms 38:3)

He has filled me with bitterness... ...moved (is) my soul far from peace; I have forgotten goodness. (Lamentations 3:15, 17)

And so on in many other places, from which it can be seen that the aforesaid blessings are meant by peace. Fix your mind on spiritual peace, and you will clearly see.

So likewise in the following places: Isaiah 26:12; 53:5; 54:10, 13; Jeremiah 33:6, 9; Haggai 2:9; Zechariah 8:16, 19; Psalms 4:6-8; 120:6-7; 122:6-9; 128:5-6; 147:14.

To be shown that peace is what inmostly affects every good with bliss, see the book Heaven and Hell, nos. 284-290.

  
/ 962  
  

Many thanks to the General Church of the New Jerusalem, and to Rev. N.B. Rogers, translator, for the permission to use this translation.

The Bible

 

Luke 9

Study

   

1 He called the twelve together, and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases.

2 He sent them forth to preach the Kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.

3 He said to them, "Take nothing for your journey--neither staffs, nor wallet, nor bread, nor money; neither have two coats apiece.

4 Into whatever house you enter, stay there, and depart from there.

5 As many as don't receive you, when you depart from that city, shake off even the dust from your feet for a testimony against them."

6 They departed, and went throughout the villages, preaching the Good News, and healing everywhere.

7 Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by him; and he was very perplexed, because it was said by some that John had risen from the dead,

8 and by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the old prophets had risen again.

9 Herod said, "John I beheaded, but who is this, about whom I hear such things?" He sought to see him.

10 The apostles, when they had returned, told him what things they had done. He took them, and withdrew apart to a deserted place of a city called Bethsaida.

11 But the multitudes, perceiving it, followed him. He welcomed them, and spoke to them of the Kingdom of God, and he cured those who needed healing.

12 The day began to wear away; and the twelve came, and said to him, "Send the multitude away, that they may go into the surrounding villages and farms, and lodge, and get food, for we are here in a deserted place."

13 But he said to them, "You give them something to eat." They said, "We have no more than five loaves and two fish, unless we should go and buy food for all these people."

14 For they were about five thousand men. He said to his disciples, "Make them sit down in groups of about fifty each."

15 They did so, and made them all sit down.

16 He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to the sky, he blessed them, and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the multitude.

17 They ate, and were all filled. They gathered up twelve baskets of broken pieces that were left over.

18 It happened, as he was praying alone, that the disciples were with him, and he asked them, "Who do the multitudes say that I am?"

19 They answered, "'John the Baptizer,' but others say, 'Elijah,' and others, that one of the old prophets is risen again."

20 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered, "The Christ of God."

21 But he warned them, and commanded them to tell this to no one,

22 saying, "The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and the third day be raised up."

23 He said to all, "If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.

24 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever will lose his life for my sake, the same will save it.

25 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits his own self?

26 For whoever will be ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed, when he comes in his glory, and the glory of the Father, and of the holy angels.

27 But I tell you the truth: There are some of those who stand here, who will in no way taste of death, until they see the Kingdom of God."

28 It happened about eight days after these sayings, that he took with him Peter, John, and James, and went up onto the mountain to pray.

29 As he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became white and dazzling.

30 Behold, two men were talking with him, who were Moses and Elijah,

31 who appeared in glory, and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.

32 Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they were fully awake, they saw his glory, and the two men who stood with him.

33 It happened, as they were parting from him, that Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good for us to be here. Let's make three tents: one for you, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah," not knowing what he said.

34 While he said these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered into the cloud.

35 A voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is my beloved Son. Listen to him!"

36 When the voice came, Jesus was found alone. They were silent, and told no one in those days any of the things which they had seen.

37 It happened on the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, that a great multitude met him.

38 Behold, a man from the crowd called out, saying, "Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child.

39 Behold, a spirit takes him, he suddenly cries out, and it convulses him so that he foams, and it hardly departs from him, bruising him severely.

40 I begged your disciples to cast it out, and they couldn't."

41 Jesus answered, "Faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here."

42 While he was still coming, the demon threw him down and convulsed him violently. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the boy, and gave him back to his father.

43 They were all astonished at the majesty of God. But while all were marveling at all the things which Jesus did, he said to his disciples,

44 "Let these words sink into your ears, for the Son of Man will be delivered up into the hands of men."

45 But they didn't understand this saying. It was concealed from them, that they should not perceive it, and they were afraid to ask him about this saying.

46 There arose an argument among them about which of them was the greatest.

47 Jesus, perceiving the reasoning of their hearts, took a little child, and set him by his side,

48 and said to them, "Whoever receives this little child in my name receives me. Whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For whoever is least among you all, this one will be great."

49 John answered, "Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we forbade him, because he doesn't follow with us."

50 Jesus said to him, "Don't forbid him, for he who is not against us is for us."

51 It came to pass, when the days were near that he should be taken up, he intently set his face to go to Jerusalem,

52 and sent messengers before his face. They went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, so as to prepare for him.

53 They didn't receive him, because he was traveling with his face set towards Jerusalem.

54 When his disciples, James and John, saw this, they said, "Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from the sky, and destroy them, just as Elijah did?"

55 But he turned and rebuked them, "You don't know of what kind of spirit you are.

56 For the Son of Man didn't come to destroy men's lives, but to save them." They went to another village.

57 As they went on the way, a certain man said to him, "I want to follow you wherever you go, Lord."

58 Jesus said to him, "The foxes have holes, and the birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."

59 He said to another, "Follow me!" But he said, "Lord, allow me first to go and bury my father."

60 But Jesus said to him, "Leave the dead to bury their own dead, but you go and announce the Kingdom of God."

61 Another also said, "I want to follow you, Lord, but first allow me to say good-bye to those who are at my house."

62 But Jesus said to him, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the Kingdom of God."