Apocalypse Revealed #658
658. For in them the wrath of God is complete. This symbolizes the destruction of the church and its end then.
Its being complete symbolizes the destruction of the church and its end then, as explained below. The wrath of God symbolizes the evil in people, which, because it is in opposition to God, is called the wrath of God. Not that God is angry at people, but that people's evil causes them to be angry at God. Moreover, because, when a person is punished or tormented on account of his evil - as happens in hell after death - it seems to him that it is God's doing, therefore in the Word we find anger and wrath, even evil, attributed to God. But that is the case only in the literal sense, because that sense has been written in terms of appearances and correspondences; but not so in the spiritual sense, for that sense contains no appearance or correspondent imagery, but truth in its own light. For more on the wrath of God, see nos. 525, 635 above.
This verse says that in the seven last plagues the wrath of God is complete, and we say that this symbolizes the destruction of the church and its end then. We need to explain why. The reason is that every church declines in the process of time as it turns away from the goodness of love and from truths of faith, until nothing is left of them, which is occasioned by gradually increasing evil and falsity. And then, when there is no longer any goodness of love and faith, there remains only evil and falsity, and when this is the case, the church is at an end. In this final state a person knows no better than to think that evil is good and that falsity is truth; for the delight he finds in them causes him to love evil and falsity and therefore to defend them.
This is the final state symbolized by an end, consummation or completion called a destruction in the following passages:
...I have heard from... Jehovah... a consummation and destruction upon the whole earth. (Isaiah 28:22)
A consummation is decreed, overflowing with righteousness. For the Lord, Jehovih of hosts, is making an end and destruction throughout the land. (Isaiah 10:22-23)
The whole land shall be devoured by the fire of (Jehovah's) zeal, for He will make speedy end of all those who dwell in the land. (Zephaniah 1:18)
(At length) on the bird of abominations shall be desolation, even until the consummation and destruction shall it drop upon the devastation. (Daniel 9:27)
The whole land shall be a wasteland, yet I will not make an end. (Jeremiah 4:27)
(Jehovah said,) "I will go down... and see whether they have come to an end according to the outcry... that has come to Me." (Genesis 18:21)
The last said in regard to Sodom.
...the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete. (Genesis 15:16)
The church's end is also meant by the end of the age spoken of by the Lord in the following passages:
(The disciples asked Jesus,) "What will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?" (Matthew 24:3)
...at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, "First gather together the tares... to burn them. Gather the wheat into my barn. ...so it will be at the end of the age. (Matthew 13:30, 40)
...at the end of the age... the angels will come forth and separate the wicked from among the just... (Matthew 13:49)
(Jesus said to His disciples,) "Lo, I am with you... even to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:20)
Even to the end of the age means to the end of the church, when there will be a new church with which the Lord will then be present.
2 Samuel 5
1
Then came all the tribes of Israel to David to Hebron, and spoke, saying, "Behold, we are your bone and your flesh.
2
In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led out and brought in Israel. Yahweh said to you, 'You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over Israel.'"
3
So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a covenant with them in Hebron before Yahweh; and they anointed David king over Israel.
4
David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.
5
In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months; and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.
6
The king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who spoke to David, saying, "Unless you take away the blind and the lame, you shall not come in here;" thinking, "David can't come in here."
7
Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion; the same is the city of David.
8
David said on that day, "Whoever strikes the Jebusites, let him get up to the watercourse, and strike the lame and the blind, who are hated by David's soul." Therefore they say, "The blind and the lame can't come into the house."
9
David lived in the stronghold, and called it the city of David. David built around from Millo and inward.
10
David grew greater and greater; for Yahweh, the God of Armies, was with him.
11
Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters, and masons; and they built David a house.
12
David perceived that Yahweh had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel's sake.
13
David took him more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he was come from Hebron; and there were yet sons and daughters born to David.
14
These are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon,
15
and Ibhar, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia,
16
and Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphelet.
17
When the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek David; and David heard of it, and went down to the stronghold.
18
Now the Philistines had come and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.
19
David inquired of Yahweh, saying, "Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you deliver them into my hand?" Yahweh said to David, "go up; for I will certainly deliver the Philistines into your hand."
20
David came to Baal Perazim, and David struck them there; and he said, "Yahweh has broken my enemies before me, like the breach of waters." Therefore he called the name of that place Baal Perazim.
21
They left their images there; and David and his men took them away.
22
The Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.
23
When David inquired of Yahweh, he said, "You shall not go up. Circle around behind them, and attack them over against the mulberry trees.
24
It shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then you shall stir yourself up; for then Yahweh has gone out before you to strike the army of the Philistines."
25
David did so, as Yahweh commanded him, and struck the Philistines from Geba until you come to Gezer.
