The Bible

 

Ιεζεκιήλ 44

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1 Και με επεστρεψε κατα την οδον της εξωτερας πυλης του αγιαστηριου της βλεπουσης κατα ανατολας· και αυτη ητο κεκλεισμενη.

2 Και ειπε Κυριος προς εμε, Η πυλη αυτη θελει εισθαι κεκλεισμενη, δεν θελει ανοιχθη, και ανθρωπος δεν θελει εισελθει δι' αυτης· διοτι Κυριος ο Θεος του Ισραηλ εισηλθε δι' αυτης, δια τουτο θελει εισθαι κεκλεισμενη.

3 Αυτη θελει εισθαι δια τον αρχοντα· ο αρχων, ουτος θελει καθησει εν αυτη δια να φαγη αρτον ενωπιον του Κυριου· θελει εισελθει δια της οδου της στοας της πυλης ταυτης και δια της αυτης οδου θελει εξελθει.

4 Και με εφερε κατα την οδον της βορειου πυλης κατεναντι του οικου· και ειδον και ιδου, ο οικος του Κυριου ητο πληρης της δοξης του Κυριου· και επεσον επι προσωπον μου.

5 Και ειπε Κυριος προς εμε, Υιε ανθρωπου, προσεξον εν τη καρδια σου και ιδε με τους οφθαλμους σου και ακουσον με τα ωτα σου παντα οσα εγω λαλω προς σε περι πασων των διαταξεων του οικου του Κυριου και περι παντων των νομων αυτου· και παρατηρησον καλως την εισοδον του οικου, μετα πασων των εξοδων του αγιαστηριου.

6 Και θελεις ειπει προς τους απειθεις, προς τον οικον Ισραηλ, Ουτω λεγει Κυριος ο Θεος· Οικος Ισραηλ, αρκεσθητε εις παντα τα βδελυγματα υμων,

7 οτι εισηξατε αλλογενεις, απεριτμητους την καρδιαν και απεριτμητους την σαρκα, δια να ηναι εν τω αγιαστηριω μου, να βεβηλονωσιν αυτο, τον οικον μου, οταν προσφερητε τον αρτον μου, το παχος και το αιμα, ενω παραβαινουσι την διαθηκην μου εξ αιτιας παντων των βδελυγματων σας.

8 Και δεν εφυλαξατε σεις την φυλακην των αγιων μου, αλλα κατεστησατε επι του αγιαστηριου μου φυλακας της φυλακης μου αντι υμων.

9 Ουτω λεγει Κυριος ο Θεος· Ουδεις αλλογενης απεριτμητος την καρδιαν και απεριτμητος την σαρκα θελει εισερχεσθαι εις το αγιαστηριον μου, εκ παντων των αλλογενων των μεταξυ των υιων Ισραηλ·

10 αλλ' οι Λευιται, οιτινες απεστατησαν απ' εμου οτε ο Ισραηλ απεπλανατο, αποπλανηθεντες απ' εμου κατοπιν των ειδωλων αυτων, και θελουσι βαστασει την ανομιαν αυτων.

11 Και θελουσιν εισθαι λειτουργοι εν τω αγιαστηριω μου, επιστατουντες επι των πυλων του οικου και φυλαττοντες τον οικον· αυτοι θελουσι σφαζει εις τον λαον τα ολοκαυτωματα και τας θυσιας, και αυτοι θελουσιν ιστασθαι ενωπιον αυτων δια να υπηρετωσιν εις αυτους.

12 Διοτι υπηρετουν εις αυτους εμπροσθεν των ειδωλων αυτων και ησαν προσκομμα ανομιας εις τον οικον Ισραηλ· δια τουτο εγω υψωσα την χειρα μου εναντιον αυτων, λεγει Κυριος ο Θεος, και θελουσι βαστασει την ανομιαν αυτων.

13 Και δεν θελουσι με πλησιαζει δια να ιερατευωσιν εις εμε και δεν θελουσι πλησιαζει εις ουδεν απο των αγιων μου, εις τα αγια των αγιων· αλλα θελουσι βαστασει την αισχυνην αυτων και τα βδελυγματα αυτων, τα οποια επραξαν.

14 Και θελω καταστησει αυτους φυλακας της φυλακης του οικου δια πασαν την υπηρεσιαν αυτου και δια παντα οσα θελουσι γινεσθαι εν αυτω.

15 Οι δε ιερεις οι Λευιται, οι υιοι Σαδωκ, οι φυλαξαντες την φυλακην του αγιαστηριου μου, οτε οι υιοι Ισραηλ απεπλανωντο απ' εμου, ουτοι θελουσι με πλησιαζει δια να λειτουργωσιν εις εμε, και θελουσιν ιστασθαι ενωπιον μου δια να προσφερωσιν εις εμε το παχος και το αιμα, λεγει Κυριος ο Θεος·

16 ουτοι θελουσιν εισερχεσθαι εις το αγιαστηριον μου και ουτοι θελουσι πλησιαζει εις την τραπεζαν μου, δια να λειτουργωσιν εις εμε και θελουσι φυλαττει την φυλακην μου.

17 Και οταν εισερχωνται εις τας πυλας της εσωτερας αυλης, θελουσιν ενδυεσθαι λινα ιματια· και δεν θελει εισθαι μαλλιον επ' αυτων, ενω λειτουργουσιν εις τας πυλας της εσωτερας αυλης και ενδον.

18 Θελουσιν εχει τιαρας λινας επι τας κεφαλας αυτων και θελουσιν εχει λινα περισκελη επι τας οσφυας αυτων· δεν θελουσι περιζωννυσθαι ουδεν προξενουν ιδρωτα.

19 Και οταν εξερχωνται εις την αυλην την εξωτεραν, εις την αυλην την εξωτεραν προς τον λαον, θελουσιν εκδυεσθαι τα ενδυματα αυτων, με τα οποια ελειτουργουν, και θετει αυτα εις τους αγιους θαλαμους, και θελουσιν ενδυεσθαι αλλα ενδυματα· και δεν θελουσιν αγιαζει τον λαον με τα ενδυματα αυτων.

20 Και δεν θελουσι ξυριζει τας κεφαλας αυτων και δεν θελουσιν αφινει την κομην αυτων να αυξανηται· μονον θελουσι κουρευει τας κεφαλας αυτων.

21 Και οινον δεν θελει πινει ουδεις ιερευς, οταν εισερχηται εις την εσωτεραν αυλην.

22 Και χηραν και αποβεβλημενην δεν θελουσι λαμβανει εις εαυτους δια γυναικα· αλλα θελουσι λαμβανει παρθενον εκ του σπερματος του οικου Ισραηλ η χηραν χηρευουσαν ιερεως.

23 Και θελουσι διδασκει τον λαον μου την διαφοραν μεταξυ αγιου και βεβηλου, και θελουσι καμνει αυτους να διακρινωσι μεταξυ ακαθαρτου και καθαρου.

24 Και εν ταις αμφισβητησεσιν ουτοι θελουσιν ιστασθαι δια να κρινωσι· κατα τας κρισεις μου θελουσι κρινει αυτας και θελουσι φυλαττει τα νομιμα μου και τα διαταγματα μου εν πασαις ταις εορταις μου· και θελουσιν αγιαζει τα σαββατα μου.

25 Και δεν θελουσιν εισερχεσθαι εις νεκρον ανθρωπου δια να μιανθωσιν· ειμη δια πατερα η δια μητερα η δια υιον η δια θυγατερα, δι' αδελφον η δια αδελφην μη υπανδρευθεισαν, δια τουτους θελουσι μιαινεσθαι.

26 Αφου δε ο μεμιασμενος καθαρισθη, θελουσιν αριθμει εις αυτον επτα ημερας.

27 Και την ημεραν, καθ' ην εισερχεται εις το αγιαστηριον, εις την αυλην την εσωτεραν, δια να λειτουργηση εν τω αγιαστηριω, θελει προσφερει την περι αμαρτιας προσφοραν αυτου, λεγει Κυριος ο Θεος.

28 Και τουτο θελει εισθαι εις αυτους δια κληρονομιαν· εγω ειμαι η κληρονομια αυτων· και ιδιοκτησιαν δεν θελετε διδει εις αυτους εν τω Ισραηλ· εγω ειμαι η ιδιοκτησια αυτων.

29 Θελουσι τρωγει την εξ αλφιτων προσφοραν και την περι αμαρτιας προσφοραν και την περι ανομιας προσφοραν· και παν αφιερωμα μεταξυ του Ισραηλ θελει εισθαι αυτων.

30 Και αι απαρχαι παντων των πρωτογεννηματων και πασα υψουμενη προσφορα παντων εκ παντος ειδους των υψουμενων προσφορων σας θελουσιν εισθαι των ιερεων· και την απαρχην της ζυμης σας θελετε διδει εις τον ιερεα, δια να επαναπαυη ευλογιαν εις τους οικους σας.

31 Οι ιερεις δεν θελουσι τρωγει ουδεν θνησιμαιον η θηριαλωτον, ειτε πτηνον ειτε κτηνος.

   

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Conjugial Love #26

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26. Again I swear in truth that these events and words occurred as I have related them, the first ones in the world of spirits, which is midway between heaven and hell, and the subsequent ones in a society of heaven, the society from which came the angel with the trumpet, who acted as guide.

Who in the Christian world would know anything about heaven and the joys and happiness there - knowledge of which is also knowledge of salvation - unless it pleased the Lord to open to someone the sight of his spirit and to show him and teach him?

Corroboration that things like these occur in the spiritual world appears plainly from the things seen and heard by the apostle John, as described in the book of Revelation. For example, he describes having seen the following:

The Son of Man in the midst of the seven lampstands. 1

A tabernacle, temple, ark, and altar in heaven. 2

A book sealed with seven seals. The book opened, and horses going out of it. 3

Four living creatures around a throne. 4

Twelve thousand taken from each tribe. 5

Locusts arising out of the abyss. 6

A dragon and its fight with Michael. 7

A woman giving birth to a male child and fleeing into the wilderness because of the dragon. 8

Two beasts, one rising up out of the sea, the other out of the earth. 9

A woman sitting on a scarlet beast. 10

The dragon cast into a lake of fire and brimstone. 11

A white horse, and a great supper. 12

A new heaven and a new earth, and the holy Jerusalem coming down, described as to its gates, wall, and foundations. 13

Also a river of water of life, and trees of life yielding fruits every month. 14

Besides many other things, all of which were seen by John, and seen when he was in the spirit 15 in the spiritual world and in heaven. In addition, those things which were seen by the apostles after the Lord's resurrection. 16 And which were later seen by Peter (Acts of the Apostles 11). 17 Also which were then seen and heard by Paul. 18

Moreover, there were the things seen by the prophets. For example, Ezekiel saw the following:

Four living creatures, which were cherubs. (Ezekiel 1 and 10)

A new temple and a new earth, and an angel measuring them. (Ezekiel 40-48)

Being carried off to Jerusalem, he saw the abominations there. (Ezekiel 8) And he was also carried off into Chaldea, to those in captivity. (Ezekiel 11) 19

Something similar happened with Zechariah:

He saw a man riding among myrtle trees. (Zechariah 1:8 ff.)

He saw four horns, and then a man with a measuring line in his hand. (Zechariah 1:18 ff., 2:1 ff.)

He saw a lampstand and two olive trees. (Zechariah 4:1 ff.)

He saw a flying scroll, and an ephah. (Zechariah 5:1, 6)

He saw four chariots coming from between two mountains, with horses. (Zechariah 6:1 ff.)

Likewise with Daniel:

He saw four beasts come up from the sea. (Daniel 7:1 ff.)

Also the combats of a ram and a goat. (Daniel 8:1 ff.)

He saw the angel Gabriel, who spoke at length with him. (Daniel 9) 20

Moreover, Elisha's young man saw fiery chariots and horses around Elisha, and he saw them when his eyes were opened. 21

From these and many other passages in the Word, it is evident that the things which exist in the spiritual world have appeared to many, before and after the Lord's Advent. Why should it be surprising for them to appear also now, when the Church is beginning and the New Jerusalem is coming down from the Lord out of heaven

Footnotes:

  
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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.

The Bible

 

Ezekiel 1

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1 Now it happened in the thirtieth year, in the fourth [month], in the fifth [day] of the month, as I was among the captives by the river Chebar, that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.

2 In the fifth [day] of the month, which was the fifth year of king Jehoiachin's captivity,

3 the word of Yahweh came expressly to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of Yahweh was there on him.

4 I looked, and behold, a stormy wind came out of the north, a great cloud, with flashing lightning, and a brightness around it, and out of its midst as it were glowing metal, out of the midst of the fire.

5 Out of its midst came the likeness of four living creatures. This was their appearance: they had the likeness of a man.

6 Everyone had four faces, and each one of them had four wings.

7 Their feet were straight feet; and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf's foot; and they sparkled like burnished brass.

8 They had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and the four of them had their faces and their wings [thus]:

9 their wings were joined one to another; they didn't turn when they went; each one went straight forward.

10 As for the likeness of their faces, they had the face of a man; and the four of them had the face of a lion on the right side; and the four of them had the face of an ox on the left side; the four of them also had the face of an eagle.

11 Such were their faces. Their wings were spread out above. Two wings of each one touched another, and Two covered their bodies.

12 Each one went straight forward: where the spirit was to go, they went; they didn't turn when they went.

13 As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches: [the fire] went up and down among the living creatures; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning.

14 The living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning.

15 Now as I saw the living creatures, behold, one wheel on the earth beside the living creatures, for each of the four faces of it.

16 The appearance of the wheels and their work was like a beryl: and the four of them had one likeness; and their appearance and their work was as it were a wheel within a wheel.

17 When they went, they went in their four directions: they didn't turn when they went.

18 As for their rims, they were high and dreadful; and the four of them had their rims full of eyes all around.

19 When the living creatures went, the wheels went beside them; and when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up.

20 Wherever the spirit was to go, they went; there was the spirit to go: and the wheels were lifted up beside them; for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.

21 When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up beside them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.

22 Over the head of the living creature there was the likeness of an expanse, like the awesome crystal to look on, stretched forth Over their heads above.

23 Under the expanse were their wings straight, the one toward the other: each one had two which covered on this side, and every one had two which covered on that side, their bodies.

24 When they went, I heard the noise of their wings like the noise of great waters, like the voice of the Almighty, a noise of tumult like the noise of an army: when they stood, they let down their wings.

25 There was a voice above the expanse that was over their heads: when they stood, they let down their wings.

26 Above the expanse that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone; and on the likeness of the throne was a likeness as the appearance of a man on it above.

27 I saw as it were glowing metal, as the appearance of fire within it all around, from the appearance of his waist and upward; and from the appearance of his waist and downward I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and there was brightness around him.

28 As the appearance of the rainbow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of Yahweh. When I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard a voice of one that spoke.