The Bible

 

Jezekilj 37

Study

   

1 Ruka Gospodnja dođe nada me, i Gospod me izvede u duhu, i postavi me usred polja, koje beše puno kosti.

2 I provede me pokraj njih unaokolo, i gle, beše ih vrlo mnogo u polju, i gle, behu vrlo suve.

3 I reče mi: Sine čovečji, hoće li oživeti ove kosti? A ja rekoh: Gospode Gospode, Ti znaš.

4 Tada mi reče: Prorokuj za te kosti, i kaži im: Suhe kosti, čujte reč Gospodnju.

5 Ovako govori Gospod Gospod ovim kostima: Gle, ja ću metnuti u vas duh, i oživećete.

6 I metnuću na vas žile, i obložiću vas mesom, i navući ću na vas kožu, i metnuću u vas duh, i oživećete, i poznaćete da sam ja Gospod.

7 Tada stadoh prorokovati, kako mi se zapovedi; a kad prorokovah, nasta glas, i gle potres, i kosti se pribirahu svaka ka svojoj kosti.

8 I pogledah, i gle, po njima iziđoše žile i meso, i ozgo se koža navuče; ali duha ne beše u njima.

9 Tada mi reče: Prorokuj duhu, prorokuj, sine čovečji, i reci duhu: Ovako veli Gospod Gospod: Od četiri vetra dođi, duše, i duni na ove pobijene da ožive.

10 I prorokovah, kako mi se zapovedi, i uđe u njih duh, i oživeše, i stadoše na noge, beše vojska vrlo velika.

11 Tada mi reče: Sine čovečji, ove su kosti sav dom Izrailjev; gle, govore: Posahnuše kosti naše i prođe nadanje naše, propadosmo.

12 Zato prorokuj, i kaži im: Ovako veli Gospod Gospod: Evo, ja ću otvoriti grobove vaše, i izvešću vas iz grobova vaših, narode moj, i dovešću vas u zemlju Izrailjevu.

13 I poznaćete da sam ja Gospod, kad otvorim grobove vaše, i izvedem vas iz grobova vaših, narode moj.

14 I metnuću duh svoj u vas da oživite, i naseliću vas u vašoj zemlji, i poznaćete da ja govorim i činim, govori Gospod.

15 Opet mi dođe reč Gospodnja govoreći:

16 Ti, sine čovečji, uzmi jedno drvo, i napiši na njemu: Judi i sinovima Izrailjevim, drugovima njegovim. Pa onda uzmi drugo drvo, i na njemu napiši: Josifu drvo Jefremovo i svega doma Izrailjevog, drugova njegovih.

17 I sastavi ih jedno s drugim da budu kao jedno u tvojoj ruci.

18 I kad ti kažu sinovi tvog naroda govoreći: Hoćeš li nam kazati šta ti je to?

19 Reci im: Ovako veli Gospod Gospod: Evo, ja ću uzeti drvo Josifovo, što je u Jefremovoj ruci, i plemena Izrailjevih, drugova njegovih, i sastaviću ga s drvetom Judinim, i načiniću od njih jedno drvo, i biće jedno u mojoj ruci.

20 I drveta, na kojima napišeš, neka ti budu u ruci pred njima.

21 I reci im: Ovako veli Gospod Gospod: Evo, ja ću uzeti sinove Izrailjeve iz naroda u koje otidoše, i sabraću ih odsvuda, i dovešću ih u zemlju njihovu.

22 I načiniću od njih jedan narod u zemlji, na gorama Izrailjevim, i jedan će car biti car svima njima, niti će više biti dva naroda, niti će više biti razdeljeni u dva carstva.

23 I neće se više skvrniti gadnim bogovima svojim ni gnusobama svojim niti kakvim prestupima svojim, i izbaviću ih iz svih stanova njihovih u kojima grešiše, i očistiću ih, i oni će mi biti narod i ja ću im biti Bog.

24 I sluga moj David biće im car, i svi će imati jednog pastira, i hodiće po mojim zakonima, i uredbe će moje držati i izvršavati.

25 I sediće u zemlji koju dadoh sluzi svom Jakovu, u kojoj sedeše oci vaši; u njoj će sedeti oni i sinovi njihovi i sinovi sinova njihovih doveka, i David sluga moj biće im knez do veka.

26 I učiniću s njima zavet mirni, biće večan zavet s njima, i utvrdiću ih i umnožiću ih, i namestiću svetinju svoju usred njih navek.

27 I šator će moj biti kod njih, i ja ću im biti Bog i oni će mi biti narod.

28 I narod će poznati da sam ja Gospod koji posvećujem Izrailja, kad svetinja moja bude usred njih do veka.

   

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Arcana Coelestia #2916

Study this Passage

  
/ 10837  
  

2916. That 'give me possession of a grave among you' means that they were able to be regenerated is clear from the meaning of 'a grave'. In the internal sense of the Word 'a grave' means life, which is heaven, and in the contrary sense death, which is hell. The reason it means life or heaven is that angels, who possess the internal sense of the Word, have no other concept of a grave, because they have no other concept of death. Consequently instead of a grave they perceive nothing else than the continuation of life, and so resurrection. For man rises again as to the spirit and is buried as to the body, see 1854. Now because 'burial' means resurrection, it also means regeneration, since regeneration is the primary resurrection of man, for when regenerated he dies as regards his former self and rises again as regards the new. It is through regeneration that from being a dead man he becomes a living man, and it is from this that the meaning of 'a grave' is derived in the internal sense. When the idea of a grave presents itself the idea of regeneration comes to mind with angels, as is also evident from what has been told about young children in 2299.

[2] The reason 'a grave' in the contrary sense means death or hell is that the evil do not rise again to life but to death. When therefore the evil are referred to and a grave is mentioned, no other idea comes to mind with angels than that of hell; and this also is the reason why hell in the Word is called the grave.

[3] That 'a grave' means resurrection and also regeneration is evident in Ezekiel,

Therefore prophesy and say to them, Thus says the Lord Jehovih, Behold, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, O My people, and I will bring you to the land of Israel, and you will know that I am Jehovah when I open your graves and cause you to come up out of your graves, O My people. And I will put My spirit within you and you will live, and I will place you on your own land. Ezekiel 37:12-14.

Here the prophet refers to bones that have been made to live, and in the internal sense to regeneration. Its being a reference to regeneration is quite evident, for it is said, 'when I will put My spirit within you and you will live, and I will place you on your own land'. Here 'graves' stands for the former self and its evils and falsities, while the opening of them and the coming up from them means being regenerated. Thus the idea of a grave perishes and so to speak is discarded when the idea of regeneration or new life enters instead.

[4] The description in Matthew 27:52-53, about graves being opened and many bodies of the saints who were sleeping being raised, coming out of their graves after the Lord's resurrection, entering the holy city, and appearing to many, embodies the same idea, that is to say, a resurrection taking place as a result of the Lord's resurrection, and in the inner sense every individual resurrection. The Lord's raising of Lazarus from the dead, John 11:1 and following verses, likewise embodies the re-establishment of the Church from among gentiles; for all the miracles that the Lord performed, because they were Divine, embodied the states of His Church. Something similar is also meant by the man who, having been cast into the grave of Elisha, came to life again on touching the prophet's bones, 2 Kings 13:20-21, for Elisha represented the Lord.

[5] As 'burial' meant resurrection in general and every individual resurrection, the ancients were therefore particularly concerned about their burials and about the places where they were to be buried - Abraham, for example, was to be buried in Hebron in the land of Canaan, as were Isaac and Jacob, together with their wives, Genesis 47:29-31; 49:30-32; Joseph's bones were to be carried up out of Egypt into the land of Canaan, Genesis 50:25; Exodus 13:19; Joshua 24:32; David and subsequent kings were to be buried in Zion, 1 Kings 2:10; 11:43; 14:31; 15:8, 24; 22:50; 2 Kings 8:24; 12:21; 14:20; 15:7, 38; 16:20, the reason being that the land of Canaan and also Zion represented and meant the Lord's kingdom, while burial meant resurrection. But it may become clear to anyone that the place itself does not contribute anything towards resurrection.

[6] The truth that 'burial' means resurrection to life is also evident from other representatives, such as the requirement that the wicked were not to be lamented or buried, but cast aside, Jeremiah 8:2; 14:16; 16:4, 6; 20:6; 22:19; 25:33; 2 Kings 9:10; Revelation 11:9; and that the wicked buried already were to be cast out of their graves, Jeremiah 8:1-2; 2 Kings 23:16-18. But as regards 'a grave' in the contrary sense meaning death or hell, see Isaiah 14:19-21; Ezekiel 32:21-23, 25-26; Psalms 88:4-5, 10-11; Numbers 19:16, 18-19.

  
/ 10837  
  

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

The Bible

 

Matthew 28

Study

   

1 Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.

2 Behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from the sky, and came and rolled away the stone from the door, and sat on it.

3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow.

4 For fear of him, the guards shook, and became like dead men.

5 The angel answered the women, "Don't be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus, who has been crucified.

6 He is not here, for he has risen, just like he said. Come, see the place where the Lord was lying.

7 Go quickly and tell his disciples, 'He has risen from the dead, and behold, he goes before you into Galilee; there you will see him.' Behold, I have told you."

8 They departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring his disciples word.

9 As they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, "Rejoice!" They came and took hold of his feet, and worshiped him.

10 Then Jesus said to them, "Don't be afraid. Go tell my brothers that they should Go into Galilee, and there they will see me."

11 Now while they were going, behold, some of the guards came into the city, and told the chief priests all the things that had happened.

12 When they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave a large amount of silver to the soldiers,

13 saying, "Say that his disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.

14 If this comes to the governor's ears, we will persuade him and make you free of worry."

15 So they took the money and did as they were told. This saying was spread abroad among the Jews, and continues until this day.

16 But the eleven disciples went into Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had sent them.

17 When they saw him, they bowed down to him, but some doubted.

18 Jesus came to them and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.

19 Go, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

20 teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.