The Bible

 

Daniel 9

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1 ἔτος-N3E-GSN πρῶτος-A1--GSNS ἐπί-P *δαρεῖος-N2--GSM ὁ- A--GSM *ξέρξης-N1M-GSM ἀπό-P ὁ- A--GSF γενεά-N1A-GSF ὁ- A--GSF *μηδική-N---GSF ὅς- --NPM βασιλεύω-VAI-AAI3P ἐπί-P ὁ- A--ASF βασιλεία-N1A-ASF ὁ- A--GPM *χαλδαῖος-N2--GPM

2 ὁ- A--DSN πρῶτος-A1--DSNS ἔτος-N3E-DSN ὁ- A--GSF βασιλεία-N1A-GSF αὐτός- D--GSM ἐγώ- P--NS *δανιηλ-N---NSM διανοέομαι-VCI-API1S ἐν-P ὁ- A--DPF βίβλος-N2--DPF ὁ- A--ASM ἀριθμός-N2--ASM ὁ- A--GPN ἔτος-N3E-GPN ὅτε-D γίγνομαι-VBI-AMI3S πρόσταγμα-N3M-NSN ὁ- A--DSF γῆ-N1--DSF ἐπί-P *ἰερεμίας-N---ASM ὁ- A--ASM προφήτης-N1M-ASM ἐγείρω-VA--AAN εἰς-P ἀναπλήρωσις-N3I-ASF ὀνειδισμός-N2--GSM *ἰερουσαλήμ-N---GSF ἑβδομήκοντα-M ἔτος-N3E-APN

3 καί-C δίδωμι-VAI-AAI1S ὁ- A--ASN πρόσωπον-N2N-ASN ἐγώ- P--GS ἐπί-P κύριος-N2--ASM ὁ- A--ASM θεός-N2--ASM εὑρίσκω-VB--AAN προσευχή-N1--ASF καί-C ἔλεος-N3E-ASN ἐν-P νηστεία-N1A-DPF καί-C σάκκος-N2--DSM καί-C σποδός-N2--DSF

4 καί-C προςεὔχομαι-VAI-AMI1S πρός-P κύριος-N2--ASM ὁ- A--ASM θεός-N2--ASM καί-C ἐκὁμολογέω-VAI-AMI1S καί-C εἶπον-VAI-AAI1S ἰδού-I κύριος-N2--VSM σύ- P--NS εἰμί-V9--PAI2S ὁ- A--NSM θεός-N2--NSM ὁ- A--NSM μέγας-A1P-NSM καί-C ὁ- A--NSM ἰσχυρός-A1A-NSM καί-C ὁ- A--NSM φοβερός-A1A-NSM τηρέω-V2--PAPNSM ὁ- A--ASF διαθήκη-N1--ASF καί-C ὁ- A--ASN ἔλεος-N3E-ASN ὁ- A--DPM ἀγαπάω-V3--PAPDPM σύ- P--AS καί-C ὁ- A--DPM φυλάσσω-V1--PAPDPM ὁ- A--APN πρόσταγμα-N3M-APN σύ- P--GS

5 ἁμαρτάνω-VBI-AAI1P ἀδικέω-VAI-AAI1P ἀσεβέω-VAI-AAI1P καί-C ἀποἵστημι-VHI-AAI1P καί-C παραβαίνω-VZI-AAI1P ὁ- A--APF ἐντολή-N1A-APF σύ- P--GS καί-C ὁ- A--APN κρίμα-N3M-APN σύ- P--GS

6 καί-C οὐ-D ἀκούω-VAI-AAI1P ὁ- A--GPM παῖς-N3D-GPM σύ- P--GS ὁ- A--GPM προφήτης-N1M-GPM ὅς- --APN λαλέω-VAI-AAI3P ἐπί-P ὁ- A--DSN ὄνομα-N3M-DSN σύ- P--GS ἐπί-P ὁ- A--APM βασιλεύς-N3V-NPM ἐγώ- P--GP καί-C δυνάστης-N1M-APM ἐγώ- P--GP καί-C πατήρ-N3--APM ἐγώ- P--GP καί-C πᾶς-A3--DSN ἔθνος-N3E-DSN ἐπί-P ὁ- A--GSF γῆ-N1--GSF

7 σύ- P--DS κύριος-N2--VSM ὁ- A--NSF δικαιοσύνη-N1--NSF καί-C ἐγώ- P--DP ὁ- A--NSF αἰσχύνη-N1--NSF ὁ- A--GSN πρόσωπον-N2N-GSN κατά-P ὁ- A--ASF ἡμέρα-N1A-ASF οὗτος- D--ASF ἄνθρωπος-N2--DPM *ιουδα-N---GSM καί-C καταἧμαι-V5--PMPDPM ἐν-P *ἰερουσαλήμ-N---DSF καί-C πᾶς-A3--DSM ὁ- A--DSM λαός-N2--DSM *ἰσραήλ-N---GSM ὁ- A--DSM ἐγγύς-D καί-C ὁ- A--DSM ἀπωτέρω-D ἐν-P πᾶς-A1S-DPF ὁ- A--DPF χώρα-N1A-DPF εἰς-P ὅς- --APF διασκορπίζω-VAI-AAI2S αὐτός- D--APM ἐκεῖ-D ἐν-P ὁ- A--DSF πλημμέλεια-N1A-DSF ὅς- --DSF πλημμελέω-VAI-AAI3P ἐναντίον-P σύ- P--GS

8 δεσπότης-N1M-VSM ἐγώ- P--DP ὁ- A--NSF αἰσχύνη-N1--NSF ὁ- A--GSN πρόσωπον-N2N-GSN καί-C ὁ- A--DPM βασιλεύς-N3V-DPM ἐγώ- P--GP καί-C δυνάστης-N1M-DPM καί-C ὁ- A--DPM πατήρ-N3--DPM ἐγώ- P--GP ὅτι-C ἁμαρτάνω-VBI-AAI1P σύ- P--DS

9 ὁ- A--DSM κύριος-N2--DSM ὁ- A--NSF δικαιοσύνη-N1--NSF καί-C ὁ- A--NSN ἔλεος-N3E-NSN ὅτι-C ἀποἵστημι-VHI-AAI1P ἀπό-P σύ- P--GS

10 καί-C οὐ-D ἀκούω-VAI-AAI1P ὁ- A--GSF φωνή-N1--GSF κύριος-N2--GSM ὁ- A--GSM θεός-N2--GSM ἐγώ- P--GP καταἀκολουθέω-VA--AAN ὁ- A--DSM νόμος-N2--DSM σύ- P--GS ὅς- --DSM δίδωμι-VAI-AAI2S ἐνώπιον-P *μωσῆς-N1M-GSM καί-C ἐγώ- P--GP διά-P ὁ- A--GPM παῖς-N3D-GPM σύ- P--GS ὁ- A--GPM προφήτης-N1M-GPM

11 καί-C πᾶς-A3--NSM *ἰσραήλ-N---NSM ἐν καταλείπω-VBI-AAI3S ὁ- A--ASM νόμος-N2--ASM σύ- P--GS καί-C ἀποἵστημι-VHI-AAI3P ὁ- A--GSM μή-D ἀκούω-VA--AAN ὁ- A--GSF φωνή-N1--GSF σύ- P--GS καί-C ἐπιἔρχομαι-VBI-AAI3S ἐπί-P ἐγώ- P--AP ὁ- A--NSF κατάρα-N1A-NSF καί-C ὁ- A--NSM ὅρκος-N2--NSM ὁ- A--NSM γράφω-VP--XMPNSM ἐν-P ὁ- A--DSM νόμος-N2--DSM *μωσῆς-N1M-GSM παῖς-N3D-GSM ὁ- A--GSM θεός-N2--GSM ὅτι-C ἁμαρτάνω-VBI-AAI1P αὐτός- D--DSM

12 καί-C ἵστημι-VAI-AAI3S ἐγώ- P--DP ὁ- A--APN πρόσταγμα-N3M-APN αὐτός- D--GSM ὅσος-A1--APN λαλέω-VAI-AAI3S ἐπί-P ἐγώ- P--AP καί-C ἐπί-P ὁ- A--APM κριτής-N1M-APM ἐγώ- P--GP ὅσος-A1--APN κρίνω-VAI-AAI2S ἐγώ- P--DP ἐπιἄγω-VB--AAN ἐπί-P ἐγώ- P--AP κακός-A1--APN μέγας-A1--APN οἷος-A1A-APN οὐ-D γίγνομαι-VCI-API3S ὑπό-P ὁ- A--ASM οὐρανός-N2--ASM καθότι-D γίγνομαι-VCI-API3S ἐν-P *ἰερουσαλήμ-N---DSF

13 κατά-P ὁ- A--APN γράφω-VP--XMPAPN ἐν-P διαθήκη-N1--DSF *μωσῆς-N1M-GSM πᾶς-A3--APN ὁ- A--APN κακός-A1--APN ἐπιἔρχομαι-VBI-AAI3S ἐγώ- P--DP καί-C οὐ-D ἐκζητέω-VAI-AAI1P ὁ- A--ASN πρόσωπον-N2N-ASN κύριος-N2--GSM θεός-N2--GSM ἐγώ- P--GP ἀποἵστημι-VH--AAN ἀπό-P ὁ- A--GPF ἁμαρτία-N1A-GPF ἐγώ- P--GP καί-C διανοέομαι-VC--APN ὁ- A--ASF δικαιοσύνη-N1--ASF σύ- P--GS κύριος-N2--VSM

14 καί-C ἀγρυπνέω-VAI-AAI3S κύριος-N2--NSM ὁ- A--NSM θεός-N2--NSM ἐπί-P ὁ- A--APN κακός-A1--APN καί-C ἐπιἄγω-VBI-AAI3S ἐπί-P ἐγώ- P--AP ὅτι-C δίκαιος-A1A-NSM κύριος-N2--NSM ὁ- A--NSM θεός-N2--NSM ἐγώ- P--GP ἐπί-P πᾶς-A3--APN ὅσος-A1--APN ἄν-X ποιέω-VA--AAS3S καί-C οὐ-D ἀκούω-VAI-AAI1P ὁ- A--GSF φωνή-N1--GSF αὐτός- D--GSM

15 καί-C νῦν-D δεσπότης-N1M-VSM κύριος-N2--VSM ὁ- A--NSM θεός-N2--NSM ἐγώ- P--GP ὁ- A--NSM ἐκἄγω-VB--AAPNSM ὁ- A--ASM λαός-N2--ASM σύ- P--GS ἐκ-P *αἴγυπτος-N2--GSF ὁ- A--DSM βραχίων-N3N-DSM σύ- P--GS ὁ- A--DSM ὑψηλός-A1--DSM καί-C ποιέω-VAI-AAI2S σεαυτοῦ- D--DSM ὄνομα-N3M-ASN κατά-P ὁ- A--ASF ἡμέρα-N1A-ASF οὗτος- D--ASF ἁμαρτάνω-VBI-AAI1P ἀγνοέω-VXI-XAI1P

16 δεσπότης-N1M-VSM κατά-P ὁ- A--ASF δικαιοσύνη-N1--ASF σύ- P--GS ἀποστρέφω-VD--APD3S ὁ- A--NSM θυμός-N2--NSM σύ- P--GS καί-C ὁ- A--NSF ὀργή-N1--NSF σύ- P--GS ἀπό-P ὁ- A--GSF πόλις-N3I-GSF σύ- P--GS *ἰερουσαλήμ-N---GSF ὄρος-N3E-GSN ὁ- A--GSN ἅγιος-A1A-GSN σύ- P--GS ὅτι-C ἐν-P ὁ- A--DPF ἁμαρτία-N1A-DPF ἐγώ- P--GP καί-C ἐν-P ὁ- A--DPF ἄγνοια-N1A-DPF ὁ- A--GPM πατήρ-N3--GPM ἐγώ- P--GP *ἰερουσαλήμ-N---NSF καί-C ὁ- A--NSM δῆμος-N2--NSM σύ- P--GS κύριος-N2--VSM εἰς-P ὀνειδισμός-N2--ASM ἐν-P πᾶς-A3--DPM ὁ- A--DPM περικύκλῳ-D ἐγώ- P--GP

17 καί-C νῦν-D ἐπιἀκούω-VA--AAD2S δεσπότης-N1M-VSM ὁ- A--GSF προσευχή-N1--GSF ὁ- A--GSM παῖς-N3D-GSM σύ- P--GS καί-C ἐπί-P ὁ- A--APF δέησις-N3I-APF ἐγώ- P--GS καί-C ἐπιβλέπω-VA--AAD3S ὁ- A--ASN πρόσωπον-N2N-ASN σύ- P--GS ἐπί-P ὁ- A--ASN ὄρος-N3E-ASN ὁ- A--ASN ἅγιος-A1A-ASN σύ- P--GS ὁ- A--ASN ἔρημος-A1B-ASN ἕνεκεν-P ὁ- A--GPM δοῦλος-N2--GPM σύ- P--GS δεσπότης-N1M-VSM

18 προςἔχω-VB--AAD2S κύριος-N2--VSM ὁ- A--ASN οὖς-N3--ASN σύ- P--GS καί-C ἐπιἀκούω-VA--AAD2S ἐγώ- P--GS ἀναοἴγω-VA--AAD2S ὁ- A--APM ὀφθαλμός-N2--APM σύ- P--GS καί-C ὁράω-VB--AAD2S ὁ- A--ASF ἐρήμωσις-N3I-ASF ἐγώ- P--GP καί-C ὁ- A--GSF πόλις-N3I-GSF σύ- P--GS ἐπί-P ὅς- --GSF ἐπικαλέω-VCI-API3S ὁ- A--ASN ὄνομα-N3M-ASN σύ- P--GS ἐπί-P αὐτός- D--GSF οὐ-D γάρ-X ἐπί-P ὁ- A--DPF δικαιοσύνη-N1--DPF ἐγώ- P--GP ἐγώ- P--NP δέω-V1--PMI1P ἐν-P ὁ- A--DPF προσευχή-N1--DPF ἐγώ- P--GP ἐνώπιον-P σύ- P--GS ἀλλά-C διά-P ὁ- A--ASN σός-A1--ASN ἔλεος-N3E-ASN

19 κύριος-N2--VSM σύ- P--NS ἱλατεύω-VA--AAD2S κύριος-N2--VSM ἐπιἀκούω-VA--AAD2S καί-C ποιέω-VA--AAD2S καί-C μή-D χρονίζω-VA--AAS2S ἕνεκα-P σεαυτοῦ- D--GSM δεσπότης-N1M-VSM ὅτι-C ὁ- A--ASN ὄνομα-N3M-ASN σύ- P--GS ἐπικαλέω-VCI-API3S ἐπί-P ὁ- A--ASF πόλις-N3I-ASF σύ- P--GS *σιων-N---AS καί-C ἐπί-P ὁ- A--ASM λαός-N2--ASM σύ- P--GS *ἰσραήλ-N---ASM

20 καί-C ἕως-C ἐγώ- P--NS λαλέω-V2I-IAI1S προςεὔχομαι-V1--PMPNSM καί-C ἐκὁμολογέω-V2--PMPNSM ὁ- A--APF ἁμαρτία-N1A-APF ἐγώ- P--GS καί-C ὁ- A--APF ἁμαρτία-N1A-APF ὁ- A--GSM λαός-N2--GSM ἐγώ- P--GS *ἰσραήλ-N---GSM καί-C δέω-V1--PMPNSM ἐν-P ὁ- A--DPF προσευχή-N1--DPF ἐναντίον-P κύριος-N2--GSM θεός-N2--GSM ἐγώ- P--GS καί-C ὑπέρ-P ὁ- A--GSN ὄρος-N3E-GSN ὁ- A--GSN ἅγιος-A1A-GSN ὁ- A--GSM θεός-N2--GSM ἐγώ- P--GP

21 καί-C ἔτι-D λαλέω-V2--PAPGSM ἐγώ- P--GS ἐν-P ὁ- A--DSF προσευχή-N1--DSF ἐγώ- P--GS καί-C ἰδού-I ὁ- A--NSM ἀνήρ-N3--NSM ὅς- --ASM ὁράω-VBI-AAI1S ἐν-P ὁ- A--DSM ὕπνος-N2--DSM ἐγώ- P--GS ὁ- A--ASF ἀρχή-N1--ASF *γαβριηλ-N---NSM τάχος-N3E-DSN φέρω-V1--PMPNSM προςἐγγίζω-VAI-AAI3S ἐγώ- P--DS ἐν-P ὥρα-N1A-DSF θυσία-N1A-GSF ἑσπερινός-A1--GSF

22 καί-C προςἔρχομαι-VBI-AAI3S καί-C λαλέω-VAI-AAI3S μετά-P ἐγώ- P--GS καί-C εἶπον-VBI-AAI3S *δανιηλ-N---VSM ἄρτι-D ἐκἔρχομαι-VBI-AAI1S ὑποδεικνύω-VA--AAN σύ- P--DS διάνοια-N1A-ASF

23 ἐν-P ἀρχή-N1--DSF ὁ- A--GSF δέησις-N3I-GSF σύ- P--GS ἐκἔρχομαι-VBI-AAI3S πρόσταγμα-N3M-ASN παρά-P κύριος-N2--GSM καί-C ἐγώ- P--NS ἔρχομαι-VBI-AAI1S ὑποδεικνύω-VA--AAN σύ- P--DS ὅτι-C ἐλεεινός-A1--NSM εἰμί-V9--PAI2S καί-C διανοέομαι-VC--APD2S ὁ- A--ASN πρόσταγμα-N3M-ASN

24 ἑβδομήκοντα-M ἑβδομάς-N3D-NPF κρίνω-VCI-API3P ἐπί-P ὁ- A--ASM λαός-N2--ASM σύ- P--GS καί-C ἐπί-P ὁ- A--ASF πόλις-N3I-ASF *σιων-N---AS συντελέω-VS--APN ὁ- A--ASF ἁμαρτία-N1A-ASF καί-C ὁ- A--APF ἀδικία-N1A-APF σπανίζω-VA--AAN καί-C ἀποἀλείφω-VA--AAN ὁ- A--APF ἀδικία-N1A-APF καί-C διανοέομαι-VC--APN ὁ- A--ASN ὅραμα-N3M-ASN καί-C δίδωμι-VC--APN δικαιοσύνη-N1--ASF αἰώνιος-A1B-ASF καί-C συντελέω-VS--APN ὁ- A--ASN ὅραμα-N3M-ASN καί-C εὐφραίνω-VA--AAN ἅγιος-A1A-ASN ἅγιος-A1A-GPN

25 καί-C γιγνώσκω-VF--FMI2S καί-C διανοέομαι-VC--FPI2S καί-C εὐφραίνω-VC--FPI2S καί-C εὑρίσκω-VF--FAI2S πρόσταγμα-N3M-APN ἀποκρίνω-VC--APN καί-C οἰκοδομέω-VF--FAI2S *ἰερουσαλήμ-N---ASF πόλις-N3I-ASF κύριος-N2--DSM

26 καί-C μετά-P ἑπτά-M καί-C ἑβδομήκοντα-M καί-C ἑξήκοντα-M δύο-M ἀποἵστημι-VC--FPI3S χρῖσμα-N3M-NSN καί-C οὐ-D εἰμί-VF--FMI3S καί-C βασιλεία-N1A-NSF ἔθνος-N3E-GPN φθείρω-VF2-FAI3S ὁ- A--ASF πόλις-N3I-ASF καί-C ὁ- A--ASN ἅγιος-A1A-ASN μετά-P ὁ- A--GSM χριστός-A1--GSM καί-C ἥκω-VF--FAI3S ὁ- A--NSF συντέλεια-N1A-NSF αὐτός- D--GSM μετά-P ὀργή-N1--GSF καί-C ἕως-P καιρός-N2--GSM συντέλεια-N1A-GSF ἀπό-P πόλεμος-N2--GSM πολεμέω-VC--FPI3S

27 καί-C δυναστεύω-VF--FAI3S ὁ- A--NSF διαθήκη-N1--NSF εἰς-P πολύς-A1P-APM καί-C πάλιν-D ἐπιστρέφω-VF--FAI3S καί-C ἀναοἰκοδομέω-VC--FPI3S εἰς-P πλάτος-N3E-ASN καί-C μῆκος-N3E-ASN καί-C κατά-P συντέλεια-N1A-ASF καιρός-N2--GPM καί-C μετά-P ἑπτά-M καί-C ἑβδομήκοντα-M καιρός-N2--APM καί-C ἑξήκοντα-M δύο-M ἔτος-N3E-APN ἕως-P καιρός-N2--GSM συντέλεια-N1A-GSF πόλεμος-N2--GSM καί-C ἀποαἱρέω-VC--FPI3S ὁ- A--NSF ἐρήμωσις-N3I-NSF ἐν-P ὁ- A--DSN καταἰσχύω-VA--AAN ὁ- A--ASF διαθήκη-N1--ASF ἐπί-P πολύς-A1--APF ἑβδομάς-N3D-APF καί-C ἐν-P ὁ- A--DSN τέλος-N3E-DSN ὁ- A--GSF ἑβδομάς-N3D-GSF αἴρω-VC--FPI3S ὁ- A--NSF θυσία-N1A-NSF καί-C ὁ- A--NSF σπονδή-N1--NSF καί-C ἐπί-P ὁ- A--ASN ἱερός-A1A-ASN βδέλυγμα-N3M-ASN ὁ- A--GPF ἐρήμωσις-N3I-GPF εἰμί-VF--FMI3S ἕως-P συντέλεια-N1A-GSF καί-C συντέλεια-N1A-NSF δίδωμι-VC--FPI3S ἐπί-P ὁ- A--ASF ἐρήμωσις-N3I-ASF

   

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Arcana Coelestia #4535

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4535. The preliminary sections of previous chapters - Chapter 26 onwards - explained what the Lord foretold about His Coming or THE CLOSE OF THE AGE. Frequently in those sections it has been shown that His Coming or the Close of the Age means the last period of the Church, which in the Word is called the Last Judgement. Those who do not look beyond the literal sense cannot know of the Last Judgement as anything else than the destruction of the world, the particular source for such an idea being the Book of Revelation. There it is said that [John] saw 'a new heaven and a new earth, for the former heaven and the former earth had passed away; and there was no more sea', and in addition that he saw 'the Holy City, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven', Revelation 21:1-2. Prophetical utterances in Isaiah, where similar predictions occur, are also a source of the same idea,

Behold, I am creating new heavens and a new earth; therefore the former things will not be remembered or come to mind. 1 Be glad and rejoice for ever in the things I am creating; behold, I will create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. Isaiah 65:17-18; 66:22.

[2] Those who do not look beyond the literal sense cannot conceive of anything else than this - that the whole sky together with this planet will be annihilated, and then the dead - for the first time - will rise again and dwell in the new heaven and on the new earth. But these places in the Word should not be understood in that way, as may be recognized from other places in the Word where the heavens and the earth are referred to. Those who have any belief in an internal sense can see plainly that 'a new heaven' and 'a new earth' are used to mean a new Church which takes over when the previous one passes away, 1733, 1850, 3355 (end), and that 'heaven' is the internal aspect of that new Church and 'earth' the external aspect of it.

[3] This last period of the previous Church and the first of the new one are also called the Close of the Age, about which the Lord has spoken in Matthew 24. They are called also His Coming, for at that time the Lord departs from the previous Church and comes to the new. The description of that period as the Close of the Age may also be seen from other places in the Word, as in Isaiah,

On that day a remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the God of power. For though your people Israel will be as the sand of the sea, a remnant of it will return. The close has been determined, overflowing with righteousness, for the Lord Jehovih Zebaoth is bringing the whole earth to its close and to its determined end. Isaiah 10:20-23.

In the same prophet,

Now do not be derisive, lest your punishments increase, for a close and a cutting off I have heard from the Lord Jehovih Zebaoth over the whole earth. Isaiah 28:22.

In Jeremiah,

Thus said Jehovah, The whole earth will be a waste, yet I will not bring it to a close. Jeremiah 4:27.

In Zephaniah,

I will bring men into distress, and they will go as the blind, because they have sinned against Jehovah; and their blood will be poured out like dust, and their flesh like dung. For Jehovah will bring to a close, indeed to a hasty one, all the inhabitants of the earth. Zephaniah 1:17-18.

From each detail stated here it is evident that 'a close' means the last period of the Church and 'the earth' the Church itself.

[4] The reason why 'the earth (or land)' means the Church is that the land of Canaan was the land where the Church had existed since most ancient times, and later on where among the descendants of Jacob a representative of the Church existed. When this land is said to have been 'brought to a close' it is not the nation dwelling there that is meant but the holiness of worship which existed with the nation where the Church was. For the Word is spiritual; but the actual land is not spiritual, nor is the nation dwelling in it, only that which constitutes the Church there. For evidence that the land of Canaan was the land where the Church had existed from most ancient times, see 567, 3686, 4447, 4454, 4516, 4517; and this explains why 'the land' or 'the earth' in the Word means the Church, 566, 662, 1066, 1067, 1262, 3355, 4447. From all this one may see what is meant in Isaiah by 'bringing the whole earth to a close', and in Zephaniah by 'bringing all the inhabitants of the earth to a hasty one'. It is well known that the Jewish nation which inhabited that land was not 'brought to a close' but that the holiness of worship among them was.

[5] This meaning of 'the close' is even clearer in Daniel,

Seventy weeks have been decreed concerning your people and your holy city to bring transgression to a close and to seal up sins and to atone for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up vision and prophet, and to anoint the Most Holy Place. In the middle of the week he will cause sacrifice and offering to cease. At length upon the bird of desolations will come desolation; until a close and a cutting off will it drop upon the devastation. Daniel 9:24, 27.

[6] From this one may now see that the close of the age - about which the disciples were asking when they said to the Lord 'What will be the sign of Your coming and of the close of the age?' Matthew 24:3 - does not mean anything else than the final period of the Church. The same is also meant by the Lord's words, which are the very last in the same gospel,

Jesus said to the disciples, Teaching them to observe 2 all things whatever I have commanded you; and behold, I am with you at all times 3 even to the close of the age. Matthew 28:20.

The reason why the Lord said that He would be with the disciples even to the close of the age is that the Lord's twelve disciples are similar in meaning to the twelve tribes of Israel. That is to say, they mean all things of love and faith, and therefore all things of the Church, see 3354, 3488, 3858, as do the twelve tribes, 3858, 3926, 3939, 4060. The fact that the Church reaches its close when no charity exists there any longer, nor consequently any faith, has been shown several times already; and that within the Church at the present day, called the Christian Church, scarcely any trace of charity or consequently of faith survives there; and that the close of the age is accordingly now at hand, will in the Lord's Divine mercy be shown further on.

Footnotes:

1. literally, come up upon the heart

2. Reading servare (to observe) for the imperative servate (observe)

3. literally, I am with you all the days

  
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Thanks to the Swedenborg Society for the permission to use this translation.