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Daniel 9

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1 ετος-N3E-GSN πρωτος-A1--GSNS επι-P *δαρειος-N2--GSM ο- A--GSM *ξερξης-N1M-GSM απο-P ο- A--GSF γενεα-N1A-GSF ο- A--GSF *μηδικη-N---GSF ος- --NPM βασιλευω-VAI-AAI3P επι-P ο- A--ASF βασιλεια-N1A-ASF ο- A--GPM *χαλδαιος-N2--GPM

2 ο- A--DSN πρωτος-A1--DSNS ετος-N3E-DSN ο- A--GSF βασιλεια-N1A-GSF αυτος- D--GSM εγω- P--NS *δανιηλ-N---NSM διανοεομαι-VCI-API1S εν-P ο- A--DPF βιβλος-N2--DPF ο- A--ASM αριθμος-N2--ASM ο- A--GPN ετος-N3E-GPN οτε-D γιγνομαι-VBI-AMI3S προσταγμα-N3M-NSN ο- A--DSF γη-N1--DSF επι-P *ιερεμιας-N---ASM ο- A--ASM προφητης-N1M-ASM εγειρω-VA--AAN εις-P αναπληρωσις-N3I-ASF ονειδισμος-N2--GSM *ιερουσαλημ-N---GSF εβδομηκοντα-M ετος-N3E-APN

3 και-C διδωμι-VAI-AAI1S ο- A--ASN προσωπον-N2N-ASN εγω- P--GS επι-P κυριος-N2--ASM ο- A--ASM θεος-N2--ASM ευρισκω-VB--AAN προσευχη-N1--ASF και-C ελεος-N3E-ASN εν-P νηστεια-N1A-DPF και-C σακκος-N2--DSM και-C σποδος-N2--DSF

4 και-C προςευχομαι-VAI-AMI1S προς-P κυριος-N2--ASM ο- A--ASM θεος-N2--ASM και-C εκομολογεω-VAI-AMI1S και-C ειπον-VAI-AAI1S ιδου-I κυριος-N2--VSM συ- P--NS ειμι-V9--PAI2S ο- A--NSM θεος-N2--NSM ο- A--NSM μεγας-A1P-NSM και-C ο- A--NSM ισχυρος-A1A-NSM και-C ο- A--NSM φοβερος-A1A-NSM τηρεω-V2--PAPNSM ο- A--ASF διαθηκη-N1--ASF και-C ο- A--ASN ελεος-N3E-ASN ο- A--DPM αγαπαω-V3--PAPDPM συ- P--AS και-C ο- A--DPM φυλασσω-V1--PAPDPM ο- A--APN προσταγμα-N3M-APN συ- P--GS

5 αμαρτανω-VBI-AAI1P αδικεω-VAI-AAI1P ασεβεω-VAI-AAI1P και-C αποιστημι-VHI-AAI1P και-C παραβαινω-VZI-AAI1P ο- A--APF εντολη-N1A-APF συ- P--GS και-C ο- A--APN κριμα-N3M-APN συ- P--GS

6 και-C ου-D ακουω-VAI-AAI1P ο- A--GPM παις-N3D-GPM συ- P--GS ο- A--GPM προφητης-N1M-GPM ος- --APN λαλεω-VAI-AAI3P επι-P ο- A--DSN ονομα-N3M-DSN συ- P--GS επι-P ο- A--APM βασιλευς-N3V-NPM εγω- P--GP και-C δυναστης-N1M-APM εγω- P--GP και-C πατηρ-N3--APM εγω- P--GP και-C πας-A3--DSN εθνος-N3E-DSN επι-P ο- A--GSF γη-N1--GSF

7 συ- P--DS κυριος-N2--VSM ο- A--NSF δικαιοσυνη-N1--NSF και-C εγω- P--DP ο- A--NSF αισχυνη-N1--NSF ο- A--GSN προσωπον-N2N-GSN κατα-P ο- A--ASF ημερα-N1A-ASF ουτος- D--ASF ανθρωπος-N2--DPM *ιουδα-N---GSM και-C καταημαι-V5--PMPDPM εν-P *ιερουσαλημ-N---DSF και-C πας-A3--DSM ο- A--DSM λαος-N2--DSM *ισραηλ-N---GSM ο- A--DSM εγγυς-D και-C ο- A--DSM απωτερω-D εν-P πας-A1S-DPF ο- A--DPF χωρα-N1A-DPF εις-P ος- --APF διασκορπιζω-VAI-AAI2S αυτος- D--APM εκει-D εν-P ο- A--DSF πλημμελεια-N1A-DSF ος- --DSF πλημμελεω-VAI-AAI3P εναντιον-P συ- P--GS

8 δεσποτης-N1M-VSM εγω- P--DP ο- A--NSF αισχυνη-N1--NSF ο- A--GSN προσωπον-N2N-GSN και-C ο- A--DPM βασιλευς-N3V-DPM εγω- P--GP και-C δυναστης-N1M-DPM και-C ο- A--DPM πατηρ-N3--DPM εγω- P--GP οτι-C αμαρτανω-VBI-AAI1P συ- P--DS

9 ο- A--DSM κυριος-N2--DSM ο- A--NSF δικαιοσυνη-N1--NSF και-C ο- A--NSN ελεος-N3E-NSN οτι-C αποιστημι-VHI-AAI1P απο-P συ- P--GS

10 και-C ου-D ακουω-VAI-AAI1P ο- A--GSF φωνη-N1--GSF κυριος-N2--GSM ο- A--GSM θεος-N2--GSM εγω- P--GP καταακολουθεω-VA--AAN ο- A--DSM νομος-N2--DSM συ- P--GS ος- --DSM διδωμι-VAI-AAI2S ενωπιον-P *μωσης-N1M-GSM και-C εγω- P--GP δια-P ο- A--GPM παις-N3D-GPM συ- P--GS ο- A--GPM προφητης-N1M-GPM

11 και-C πας-A3--NSM *ισραηλ-N---NSM εν καταλειπω-VBI-AAI3S ο- A--ASM νομος-N2--ASM συ- P--GS και-C αποιστημι-VHI-AAI3P ο- A--GSM μη-D ακουω-VA--AAN ο- A--GSF φωνη-N1--GSF συ- P--GS και-C επιερχομαι-VBI-AAI3S επι-P εγω- P--AP ο- A--NSF καταρα-N1A-NSF και-C ο- A--NSM ορκος-N2--NSM ο- A--NSM γραφω-VP--XMPNSM εν-P ο- A--DSM νομος-N2--DSM *μωσης-N1M-GSM παις-N3D-GSM ο- A--GSM θεος-N2--GSM οτι-C αμαρτανω-VBI-AAI1P αυτος- D--DSM

12 και-C ιστημι-VAI-AAI3S εγω- P--DP ο- A--APN προσταγμα-N3M-APN αυτος- D--GSM οσος-A1--APN λαλεω-VAI-AAI3S επι-P εγω- P--AP και-C επι-P ο- A--APM κριτης-N1M-APM εγω- P--GP οσος-A1--APN κρινω-VAI-AAI2S εγω- P--DP επιαγω-VB--AAN επι-P εγω- P--AP κακος-A1--APN μεγας-A1--APN οιος-A1A-APN ου-D γιγνομαι-VCI-API3S υπο-P ο- A--ASM ουρανος-N2--ASM καθοτι-D γιγνομαι-VCI-API3S εν-P *ιερουσαλημ-N---DSF

13 κατα-P ο- A--APN γραφω-VP--XMPAPN εν-P διαθηκη-N1--DSF *μωσης-N1M-GSM πας-A3--APN ο- A--APN κακος-A1--APN επιερχομαι-VBI-AAI3S εγω- P--DP και-C ου-D εκζητεω-VAI-AAI1P ο- A--ASN προσωπον-N2N-ASN κυριος-N2--GSM θεος-N2--GSM εγω- P--GP αποιστημι-VH--AAN απο-P ο- A--GPF αμαρτια-N1A-GPF εγω- P--GP και-C διανοεομαι-VC--APN ο- A--ASF δικαιοσυνη-N1--ASF συ- P--GS κυριος-N2--VSM

14 και-C αγρυπνεω-VAI-AAI3S κυριος-N2--NSM ο- A--NSM θεος-N2--NSM επι-P ο- A--APN κακος-A1--APN και-C επιαγω-VBI-AAI3S επι-P εγω- P--AP οτι-C δικαιος-A1A-NSM κυριος-N2--NSM ο- A--NSM θεος-N2--NSM εγω- P--GP επι-P πας-A3--APN οσος-A1--APN αν-X ποιεω-VA--AAS3S και-C ου-D ακουω-VAI-AAI1P ο- A--GSF φωνη-N1--GSF αυτος- D--GSM

15 και-C νυν-D δεσποτης-N1M-VSM κυριος-N2--VSM ο- A--NSM θεος-N2--NSM εγω- P--GP ο- A--NSM εκαγω-VB--AAPNSM ο- A--ASM λαος-N2--ASM συ- P--GS εκ-P *αιγυπτος-N2--GSF ο- A--DSM βραχιων-N3N-DSM συ- P--GS ο- A--DSM υψηλος-A1--DSM και-C ποιεω-VAI-AAI2S σεαυτου- D--DSM ονομα-N3M-ASN κατα-P ο- A--ASF ημερα-N1A-ASF ουτος- D--ASF αμαρτανω-VBI-AAI1P αγνοεω-VXI-XAI1P

16 δεσποτης-N1M-VSM κατα-P ο- A--ASF δικαιοσυνη-N1--ASF συ- P--GS αποστρεφω-VD--APD3S ο- A--NSM θυμος-N2--NSM συ- P--GS και-C ο- A--NSF οργη-N1--NSF συ- P--GS απο-P ο- A--GSF πολις-N3I-GSF συ- P--GS *ιερουσαλημ-N---GSF ορος-N3E-GSN ο- A--GSN αγιος-A1A-GSN συ- P--GS οτι-C εν-P ο- A--DPF αμαρτια-N1A-DPF εγω- P--GP και-C εν-P ο- A--DPF αγνοια-N1A-DPF ο- A--GPM πατηρ-N3--GPM εγω- P--GP *ιερουσαλημ-N---NSF και-C ο- A--NSM δημος-N2--NSM συ- P--GS κυριος-N2--VSM εις-P ονειδισμος-N2--ASM εν-P πας-A3--DPM ο- A--DPM περικυκλω-D εγω- P--GP

17 και-C νυν-D επιακουω-VA--AAD2S δεσποτης-N1M-VSM ο- A--GSF προσευχη-N1--GSF ο- A--GSM παις-N3D-GSM συ- P--GS και-C επι-P ο- A--APF δεησις-N3I-APF εγω- P--GS και-C επιβλεπω-VA--AAD3S ο- A--ASN προσωπον-N2N-ASN συ- P--GS επι-P ο- A--ASN ορος-N3E-ASN ο- A--ASN αγιος-A1A-ASN συ- P--GS ο- A--ASN ερημος-A1B-ASN ενεκεν-P ο- A--GPM δουλος-N2--GPM συ- P--GS δεσποτης-N1M-VSM

18 προςεχω-VB--AAD2S κυριος-N2--VSM ο- A--ASN ους-N3--ASN συ- P--GS και-C επιακουω-VA--AAD2S εγω- P--GS αναοιγω-VA--AAD2S ο- A--APM οφθαλμος-N2--APM συ- P--GS και-C οραω-VB--AAD2S ο- A--ASF ερημωσις-N3I-ASF εγω- P--GP και-C ο- A--GSF πολις-N3I-GSF συ- P--GS επι-P ος- --GSF επικαλεω-VCI-API3S ο- A--ASN ονομα-N3M-ASN συ- P--GS επι-P αυτος- D--GSF ου-D γαρ-X επι-P ο- A--DPF δικαιοσυνη-N1--DPF εγω- P--GP εγω- P--NP δεω-V1--PMI1P εν-P ο- A--DPF προσευχη-N1--DPF εγω- P--GP ενωπιον-P συ- P--GS αλλα-C δια-P ο- A--ASN σος-A1--ASN ελεος-N3E-ASN

19 κυριος-N2--VSM συ- P--NS ιλατευω-VA--AAD2S κυριος-N2--VSM επιακουω-VA--AAD2S και-C ποιεω-VA--AAD2S και-C μη-D χρονιζω-VA--AAS2S ενεκα-P σεαυτου- D--GSM δεσποτης-N1M-VSM οτι-C ο- A--ASN ονομα-N3M-ASN συ- P--GS επικαλεω-VCI-API3S επι-P ο- A--ASF πολις-N3I-ASF συ- P--GS *σιων-N---AS και-C επι-P ο- A--ASM λαος-N2--ASM συ- P--GS *ισραηλ-N---ASM

20 και-C εως-C εγω- P--NS λαλεω-V2I-IAI1S προςευχομαι-V1--PMPNSM και-C εκομολογεω-V2--PMPNSM ο- A--APF αμαρτια-N1A-APF εγω- P--GS και-C ο- A--APF αμαρτια-N1A-APF ο- A--GSM λαος-N2--GSM εγω- P--GS *ισραηλ-N---GSM και-C δεω-V1--PMPNSM εν-P ο- A--DPF προσευχη-N1--DPF εναντιον-P κυριος-N2--GSM θεος-N2--GSM εγω- P--GS και-C υπερ-P ο- A--GSN ορος-N3E-GSN ο- A--GSN αγιος-A1A-GSN ο- A--GSM θεος-N2--GSM εγω- P--GP

21 και-C ετι-D λαλεω-V2--PAPGSM εγω- P--GS εν-P ο- A--DSF προσευχη-N1--DSF εγω- P--GS και-C ιδου-I ο- A--NSM ανηρ-N3--NSM ος- --ASM οραω-VBI-AAI1S εν-P ο- A--DSM υπνος-N2--DSM εγω- P--GS ο- A--ASF αρχη-N1--ASF *γαβριηλ-N---NSM ταχος-N3E-DSN φερω-V1--PMPNSM προςεγγιζω-VAI-AAI3S εγω- P--DS εν-P ωρα-N1A-DSF θυσια-N1A-GSF εσπερινος-A1--GSF

22 και-C προςερχομαι-VBI-AAI3S και-C λαλεω-VAI-AAI3S μετα-P εγω- P--GS και-C ειπον-VBI-AAI3S *δανιηλ-N---VSM αρτι-D εκερχομαι-VBI-AAI1S υποδεικνυω-VA--AAN συ- P--DS διανοια-N1A-ASF

23 εν-P αρχη-N1--DSF ο- A--GSF δεησις-N3I-GSF συ- P--GS εκερχομαι-VBI-AAI3S προσταγμα-N3M-ASN παρα-P κυριος-N2--GSM και-C εγω- P--NS ερχομαι-VBI-AAI1S υποδεικνυω-VA--AAN συ- P--DS οτι-C ελεεινος-A1--NSM ειμι-V9--PAI2S και-C διανοεομαι-VC--APD2S ο- A--ASN προσταγμα-N3M-ASN

24 εβδομηκοντα-M εβδομας-N3D-NPF κρινω-VCI-API3P επι-P ο- A--ASM λαος-N2--ASM συ- P--GS και-C επι-P ο- A--ASF πολις-N3I-ASF *σιων-N---AS συντελεω-VS--APN ο- A--ASF αμαρτια-N1A-ASF και-C ο- A--APF αδικια-N1A-APF σπανιζω-VA--AAN και-C αποαλειφω-VA--AAN ο- A--APF αδικια-N1A-APF και-C διανοεομαι-VC--APN ο- A--ASN οραμα-N3M-ASN και-C διδωμι-VC--APN δικαιοσυνη-N1--ASF αιωνιος-A1B-ASF και-C συντελεω-VS--APN ο- A--ASN οραμα-N3M-ASN και-C ευφραινω-VA--AAN αγιος-A1A-ASN αγιος-A1A-GPN

25 και-C γιγνωσκω-VF--FMI2S και-C διανοεομαι-VC--FPI2S και-C ευφραινω-VC--FPI2S και-C ευρισκω-VF--FAI2S προσταγμα-N3M-APN αποκρινω-VC--APN και-C οικοδομεω-VF--FAI2S *ιερουσαλημ-N---ASF πολις-N3I-ASF κυριος-N2--DSM

26 και-C μετα-P επτα-M και-C εβδομηκοντα-M και-C εξηκοντα-M δυο-M αποιστημι-VC--FPI3S χρισμα-N3M-NSN και-C ου-D ειμι-VF--FMI3S και-C βασιλεια-N1A-NSF εθνος-N3E-GPN φθειρω-VF2-FAI3S ο- A--ASF πολις-N3I-ASF και-C ο- A--ASN αγιος-A1A-ASN μετα-P ο- A--GSM χριστος-A1--GSM και-C ηκω-VF--FAI3S ο- A--NSF συντελεια-N1A-NSF αυτος- D--GSM μετα-P οργη-N1--GSF και-C εως-P καιρος-N2--GSM συντελεια-N1A-GSF απο-P πολεμος-N2--GSM πολεμεω-VC--FPI3S

27 και-C δυναστευω-VF--FAI3S ο- A--NSF διαθηκη-N1--NSF εις-P πολυς-A1P-APM και-C παλιν-D επιστρεφω-VF--FAI3S και-C αναοικοδομεω-VC--FPI3S εις-P πλατος-N3E-ASN και-C μηκος-N3E-ASN και-C κατα-P συντελεια-N1A-ASF καιρος-N2--GPM και-C μετα-P επτα-M και-C εβδομηκοντα-M καιρος-N2--APM και-C εξηκοντα-M δυο-M ετος-N3E-APN εως-P καιρος-N2--GSM συντελεια-N1A-GSF πολεμος-N2--GSM και-C αποαιρεω-VC--FPI3S ο- A--NSF ερημωσις-N3I-NSF εν-P ο- A--DSN καταισχυω-VA--AAN ο- A--ASF διαθηκη-N1--ASF επι-P πολυς-A1--APF εβδομας-N3D-APF και-C εν-P ο- A--DSN τελος-N3E-DSN ο- A--GSF εβδομας-N3D-GSF αιρω-VC--FPI3S ο- A--NSF θυσια-N1A-NSF και-C ο- A--NSF σπονδη-N1--NSF και-C επι-P ο- A--ASN ιερος-A1A-ASN βδελυγμα-N3M-ASN ο- A--GPF ερημωσις-N3I-GPF ειμι-VF--FMI3S εως-P συντελεια-N1A-GSF και-C συντελεια-N1A-NSF διδωμι-VC--FPI3S επι-P ο- A--ASF ερημωσις-N3I-ASF

   

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Divine Providence #328

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328. These items need now to be presented in their sequence.

(a) Every religion eventually wanes and comes to completion. There have been several churches on our planet, one after the other, since wherever the human race exists there is a church. As already noted, heaven, which is the ultimate goal of creation, comes from the human race, and no one can get to heaven without the two universal principles of the church, belief in God and leading a good life (see 326 above). It follows that there have been churches on our planet from the earliest times all the way to the present day.

These churches are described in the Word, though only for the Israelite and Jewish church are we given historical accounts. There were several churches before them, but these are described only by the names of some people and nations and a few facts about them.

[2] The earliest church, the very first, is described by Adam and his wife Eve. The next church, called the early church, is described by Noah, his three sons, and their descendants. This was extensive, and spread through most of the nations of the Near East: the land of Canaan on both sides of the Jordan; Syria; Assyria and Chaldea; Mesopotamia; Egypt; Arabia; and Tyre and Sidon. They had an early Word that is discussed in Teachings for the New Jerusalem on Sacred Scripture 101-103. The existence of the church in these kingdoms is witnessed by various statements about them in the prophetical books of the Word.

This church changed significantly with Eber, though, who marks the beginning of the Hebrew church. This was the point at which sacrificial worship was established. From the Hebrew church, the Israelite and Jewish church was born, formally established for the sake of the Word that would be authored in it.

[3] These four churches are meant by the statue that Nebuchadnezzar saw in his dream, with its head of pure gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of brass, and its legs and feet of iron and clay (see Daniel 2:32-33). This is exactly what is meant by the Golden, Silver, Bronze, and Iron Ages mentioned by ancient authors. It is well known that the Christian church followed after the Jewish church.

We can also see from the Word that each of these churches declined to its close, called a "consummation," with the passage of time. The consummation of the earliest church, brought about by eating from the tree of knowledge (meaning pride in our own intelligence) is described by the Flood [Genesis 3:6; ].

[4] The consummation of the early church is described by the destruction of the nations mentioned in the historical and prophetic books of the Word, and especially by the Israelites' expulsion of the inhabitants of the land of Canaan. The consummation of the Israelite and Jewish church is meant by the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem, by the carrying off of the people of Israel into permanent captivity and of the nation of Judah into Babylon, and ultimately by the second destruction of the temple and Jerusalem and the scattering of the people. This consummation is foretold in many passages in the prophets, and in Daniel 9:24-27.

The Lord describes the eventual total destruction of the Christian church in Matthew 24 Mark 13 and Luke 21 but the consummation itself is found in the Book of Revelation.

This shows that with the passage of time the church wanes and reaches its consummation, as does its religion as well.

[5] (b) Every religion wanes and comes to completion by inverting the image of God within us. We know that we were created in the image of God and after the likeness of God (Genesis 1:26), but what is this image and what is this likeness of God? Only God is love and wisdom. We are created to be recipients of both, so that our volition may be a recipient of divine love and our discernment a recipient of divine wisdom.

I have already explained [324] that we have these two recipient vessels in us from birth, that they are what make us human, and that they are formed within us in the womb. Our being images of God is our being open to divine wisdom, and our being likenesses of God is our being open to divine love. This means that the vessel we call "discernment" is the image of God and the vessel we call "volition" is the likeness of God. This then means that since we have been created and formed to be vessels, it follows that we have been created and formed to have our volition accept love from God and our discernment accept wisdom from God. We do in fact accept them when we believe in God and live by his commandments. We do this to a lesser or greater extent, though, depending on what we know about God and his commandments from our religion. Specifically, our acceptance depends on what truths we know, since truths are what tell us what God is and how we are to acknowledge him, what his commandments are and how we are to live by them.

[6] God's image and likeness in us have not been actually destroyed, but they have been virtually destroyed. They are still there, innate within those two abilities called freedom and rationality that I have already said so much about. They become virtually destroyed when we make the vessel of divine love--our volition--a vessel for self-love and make the vessel of divine wisdom--our discernment--a vessel for our own intelligence. By so doing we invert the image and likeness of God. We turn the vessels away from God and toward ourselves. This is why they are closed on top and open on the bottom, or closed in front and open behind, even though they were created open in front and closed behind. Once they are opened and closed in this inverted fashion, then the vessel of love, our volition, is open to an inflow from hell or from our own sense of self-importance, as is the vessel of wisdom, our discernment. This has led to the birth in our churches of the worship of particular people in place of the worship of God, and a worship based on teachings of falsity rather than on teachings of truth, the latter from our own intelligence and the former from our love for ourselves.

We can see from this that in the course of time a religion will wane and come to its conclusion by inverting the image of God within us.

[7] (c) This happens because of the constant increase of hereditary evil from generation to generation. I have already stated and explained [277] that we do not inherit evil from Adam and his wife Eve because they ate from the tree of knowledge; instead evil is gradually handed down and transplanted from parents to children, and so by constant increase gets worse with each generation. When this cumulative evil becomes strong enough among the majority, it spreads evil to even more people by its own momentum, since in every evil there is a compulsion to mislead, in some cases blazing with a rage against everything good, and so there is a consequent infectious evil. When this gets control of the leaders, managers, and chief representatives in the church, its religion is corrupted. Its means of healing, its truths, become defiled by distortions. This leads to an ongoing destruction of what is good and an abandonment of truth in the church until finally it is brought to its close.

[8] (d) The Lord still provides that everyone can be saved. The Lord provides that there will be some religion everywhere, and that in every religion there will be the two elements essential to salvation: belief in God, and not doing evil because it is against God. The other matters of intellect and thought, what we call the elements of faith, are offered to different people according to the way they live, since they are optional elements as far as living is concerned. If they are put first, we still do not receive life until we live them.

The Lord also provides that everyone who has led a good life and has believed in God will be taught by angels after death. Then people who have been devoted to the two essential principles of religion in the world accept the truths of the church as they are presented in the Word and recognize the Lord as God of heaven and of the church. They accept this more readily than Christians who have brought with them from the world a concept of the Lord's human nature as separated from his divine nature. The Lord has also provided that all the people who die in early childhood are saved, no matter where they were born.

[9] We are all given the means of amending our lives after death, if we can. The Lord teaches and leads us through angels, and since by then we know that we are living after death and that heaven and hell are real, we accept truths at first. However, if we have not believed in God and abstained from evils as sins in the world, before long we develop a distaste for truths and back away. If we have professed these principles orally but not at heart, we are like the foolish young women who had lamps but no oil. They begged others for oil and went off to buy some, but still they were not admitted to the wedding [Matthew 25:1-13]. The lamps mean the truths that our faith discloses and the oil means the good effects of our caring.

This shows that under divine providence everyone can be saved, and that it is our own fault if we are not saved.

[10] (e) He also provides that a new church will take the place of the one that has been razed. This has been going on from the earliest times: once a church has been razed, a new one succeeds the former one. The early church followed the earliest church, the Israelite or Jewish church followed the early one, and after that came the Christian church. After it there is going to be still another new church, the one foretold in the Book of Revelation. That is the meaning of the New Jerusalem coming down from heaven [Revelation 21:2, 10].

For the reason the Lord provides a new church to take the place of an earlier one that has been razed, see Teachings for the New Jerusalem on Sacred Scripture 104-113.

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

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