The Bible

 

Jeremija 51

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1 Ovako govori Gospod: Evo, ja ću podignuti na Vavilon i na one koji žive usred onih koji ustaju na me, vetar koji mori.

2 Poslaću na Vavilon vijače koji će ga razvijati i zemlju njegovu isprazniti, jer će ga opkoliti sa svih strana u dan nevolje njegove.

3 Strelac neka nateže luk na strelca i na onog koji se ponosi svojim oklopom, i ne žalite mladića njegovih, potrite mu svu vojsku,

4 Neka padnu pobijeni u zemlji haldejskoj i izbodeni na ulicama njegovim.

5 Jer nije ostavio Izrailja i Jude Bog njihov, Gospod nad vojskama, ako i jeste zemlja njihova puna krivice Svecu Izrailjevom.

6 Bežite iz Vavilona i izbavite svaki dušu svoju da se ne istrebite u bezakonju njegovom, jer je vreme osvete Gospodnje, plaća mu šta je zaslužio.

7 Vavilon beše zlatna čaša u ruci Gospodnjoj, kojom opoji svu zemlju; vino njegovo piše narodi, zato poludeše narodi.

8 Ujedanput pade Vavilon i razbi se; ridajte za njim; donesite balsama za rane njegove, ne bi li se iscelio.

9 Lečismo Vavilon, ali se ne isceli; ostavite ga, i da idemo svaki u svoju zemlju; jer do neba dopire sud njegov i diže se do oblaka.

10 Gospod je izneo pravdu našu; hodite, da pripovedamo na Sionu delo Gospoda Boga svog.

11 Čistite strele, uzmite štitove; Gospod podiže duh careva midskih, jer je Vavilonu namislio da ga zatre; jer je osveta Gospodnja, osveta crkve Njegove.

12 Na zidovima vavilonskim podignite zastavu, utvrdite stražu, postavite stražare, namestite zasede; jer je Gospod namislio, i učiniće šta je rekao za stanovnike vavilonske.

13 O ti, što stanuješ kraj vode velike i imaš mnogo blaga! Dođe kraj tvoj i svršetak lakomstvu tvom.

14 Gospod nad vojskama zakle se sobom: Napuniću te ljudima kao skakavcima, i oni će ti pevati pesmu.

15 On je stvorio zemlju silom svojom, utvrdio vasiljenu mudrošću svojom, i razumom svojim razapeo nebesa.

16 Kad pusti glas svoj, buče vode na nebesima, podiže paru s krajeva zemaljskih, i pušta munje s daždem, i izvodi vetar iz staja njegovih.

17 Svaki čovek posta bezuman od znanja, svaki se zlatar osramoti likom rezanim; jer su laž likovi njegovi liveni i nema duha u njima.

18 Taština su, delo prevarno; kad ih pohodim, poginuće.

19 Nije takav deo Jakovljev; jer je On Tvorac svemu i On je deo nasledstva njegovog; ime Mu je Gospod nad vojskama.

20 Ti si mi bio malj, oružje ubojno, i tobom satrh narode i tobom rasuh carstva.

21 I tobom satrh konja i jahača njegovog; i tobom satrh kola i koji seđahu na njima.

22 I tobom satrh čoveka i ženu, i satrh tobom starca i dete, i satrh tobom momka i devojku.

23 I tobom satrh pastira i stado njegovo, i tobom satrh orača i volove njegove ujarmljene, i satrh tobom knezove i vlastelje.

24 I platiću Vavilonu i svim stanovnicima haldejskim za sve zlo koje učiniše Sionu, na vaše oči, govori Gospod.

25 Evo mene na tebe, goro, koja satireš, govori Gospod, koja zatireš svu zemlju, i zamahnuću rukom svojom na te i svaliću te sa stena, i načiniću od tebe goru izgorelu.

26 I neće uzeti od tebe kamena za ugao ni kamena za temelj, jer ćeš biti pustoš večna, govori Gospod.

27 Podignite zastavu u zemlji, zatrubite u trube među narodima, pripravite narode na nj, sazovite na nj carstvo araratsko, minijsko i ashanasko; postavite vojvodu suprot njemu, dovedite konje kao skakavce bodljikaste.

28 Pripravite narode suprot njemu, careve midske i vojvode njihove i sve vlastelje njihove i svu zemlju države njihove.

29 I zemlja će se zatresti i uzmučiti, jer će se misao Gospodnja izvršiti na Vavilonu da obrati zemlju vavilonsku u pustinju da niko ne živi u njoj.

30 Prestaše vojevati junaci vavilonski, stoje u gradu, nesta sile njihove, postaše kao žene, izgoreše stanovi njihovi, prevornice njihove polomiše se.

31 Glasnik će sretati glasnika, i poslanik će sretati poslanika da jave caru vavilonskom da mu je uzet grad sa svih krajeva,

32 I da se brodovi uzeše i jezera izgoreše ognjem i vojnici se prepali.

33 Jer ovako veli Gospod nad vojskama Bog Izrailjev: Kći je vavilonska kao gumno; vreme je da se nabije, još malo, pa će doći vreme da se požnje.

34 Izjede me i potre me Navuhodonosor, car vavilonski, načini od mene nepotreban sud, proždre me kao zmaj, napuni trbuh svoj milinama mojim, i otera me.

35 Nepravda koja se čini meni i mom telu neka dođe na Vavilon, reći će stanovnica sionska, i krv moja na stanovnike haldejske, govoriće Jerusalim.

36 Zato ovako veli Gospod: Evo, ja ću raspraviti parbu tvoju i osvetiću te; i osušiću more njegovo, i izvore ću njegove osušiti.

37 I Vavilon će postati gomila, stan zmajevski, čudo i podsmeh, da niko neće živeti u njemu.

38 Rikaće svi kao lavovi i viti kao lavići.

39 Kad se ugreju, izneću im da piju, i opojiću ih da se razvesele i zaspe večnim snom, da se ne probude, govori Gospod.

40 Svešću ih na zaklanje kao jaganjce, kao ovnove s jarcima.

41 Kako se predobi Sisah i uze se hvala sve zemlje? Kako Vavilon posta čudo među narodima?

42 More usta na Vavilon, pokri ga mnoštvo vala njegovih.

43 Gradovi njegovi postaše pustoš, zemlja sasušena i pusta, zemlja gde niko ne živi, niti prolazi kroz nju sin čovečji.

44 I pohodiću Vila u Vavilonu i izvući ću iz usta njegovih šta je proždrao, i neće se više sticati k njemu narodi, i zid će vavilonski pasti.

45 Iziđi iz njega, narode moj, i izbavite svaki svoju dušu od žestokog gneva Gospodnjeg.

46 Nemojte da odmekne srce vaše i da se uplašite od glasa koji će se čuti u zemlji; a doći će glas jedne godine, a posle njega drugi glas druge godine, i nasilje će biti u zemlji, i gospodar će ustati na gospodara.

47 Zato evo idu dani kad ću pohoditi rezane likove vavilonske, i sva će se zemlja njegova posramiti, i svi će pobijeni njegovi pasti usred njega.

48 Nebo i zemlja i sve što je u njima pevaće nad Vavilonom, jer će doći na nj sa severa zatirač, govori Gospod.

49 I kao što je Vavilon učinio da padnu pobijeni Izrailjevi, tako će pasti u Vavilonu pobijeni sve zemlje.

50 Koji utekoste od mača, idite, ne stojte; pominjite Gospoda izdaleka, i Jerusalim neka vam je u srcu.

51 Posramismo se, što čusmo rug, stid popade lice naše, što tuđini uđoše u svetinju doma Gospodnjeg.

52 Zato, gle, idu dani, govori Gospod, kad ću pohoditi rezane likove njegove, i po svoj zemlji njegovoj ječaće ranjenici.

53 Da se Vavilon i na nebo popne, i na visini da utvrdi silu svoju, doći će od mene na nj zatirači, govori Gospod.

54 Čuje se velika vika iz Vavilona, i velik polom iz zemlje haldejske.

55 Jer Gospod zatire Vavilon, i ukida u njemu veliku vrevu; i vali će njihovi bučati kao velika voda, vika će se njihova razlegati.

56 Jer dođe na nj, na Vavilon, zatirač, junaci se njegovi zarobiše, lukovi se njihovi potrše; jer je Gospod Bog koji plaća, doista će platiti.

57 Opojiću knezove njegove i mudrace njegove, vojvode njegove i vlastelje njegove i junake njegove, da će zaspati večnim snom i neće se probuditi, govori car, kome je ime Gospod nad vojskama.

58 Ovako veli Gospod nad vojskama: Široki zidovi vavilonski sasvim će se raskopati, i visoka vrata njegova ognjem će se spaliti, te su ljudi uzalud radili, i narodi se trudili za oganj.

59 Reč što zapovedi prorok Jeremija Seraji sinu Nirije sina Masijinog, kad pođe od Sedekije, cara Judinog, u Vavilon četvrte godine carovanja njegovog; a Seraja beše glavni posteljnik.

60 A Jeremija napisa u jednu knjigu sve zlo koje htede doći na Vavilon, sve ove reči što su napisane za Vavilon.

61 I reče Jeremija Seraji: Kad dođeš u Vavilon, tada gledaj i pročitaj sve ove reči;

62 I reci: Gospode, Ti si govorio za ovo mesto da ćeš ga zatrti da niko ne živi u njemu, ni čovek ni živinče, nego da je pustoš do veka.

63 A kad pročitaš ovu knjigu, veži kamen za nju, i baci je u Efrat.

64 I reci: Tako će potonuti Vavilon i neće se podignuti oda zla koje ću pustiti na nj, i oni će iznemoći. Dovde su reči Jeremijine.

   

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Apocalypse Revealed #915

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915. 21:20 The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. This symbolizes all of the doctrines of the New Church from the Word's literal sense in their order, with those who turn directly to the Lord and live in accordance with the Ten Commandments by refraining from evils as being sins; for they and no others possess a doctrine of love toward God and love for the neighbor, which are the two foundations of religion.

The twelve foundations of the wall symbolize all the doctrines of the New Jerusalem from the literal sense of the Word, as may be seen in nos. 902, 914 above. Precious stones in general symbolize all the truths in the doctrine of the New Jerusalem from the Word with the spiritual sense shining through, as may be seen in nos. 231, 540, 726, 911, 914 above. Each of the stones here symbolizes some particular truth with the spiritual meaning thus shining through. That the Word's literal sense in respect to its doctrines corresponds to precious stones of every kind may be seen in The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem Regarding the Sacred Scripture, nos. 43-45.

[2] Two colors in general that shine through in precious stones are the color red and the color white. The rest of the colors, such as green, yellow, blue, and many others, are composites of these, modified by shades of gray. The color red symbolizes the goodness of love, and the color white symbolizes the truth of wisdom. The color red symbolizes the goodness of love because it takes its origin from the fire of the sun, and the fire of the sun in the spiritual world is, in its essence, the Lord's Divine love, thus the goodness of love. And the color white symbolizes the truth of wisdom because it takes its origin from the light that emanates from the fire of that sun, and that emanating light is, in its essence, Divine wisdom, thus the truth of wisdom. Shades of gray take their origin from that fire and light shaded, which is ignorance.

[3] However, to explain in detail just what good and just what truth is symbolized by each stone would be too lengthy a task. Nevertheless, to learn what good and truth each stone symbolizes in this list, see the exposition of chapter 7 above, Revelation 7:5-8, nos. 349-361, where the subject was the twelve tribes of Israel. For each stone here has the same symbolism as each tribe named there, since the twelve tribes described there likewise symbolize all the goods and truths of the church and its doctrine in their order. Consequently we are also told in this chapter, verse 14, that on these twelve foundations were written the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, and the twelve apostles symbolize all of the doctrines regarding the Lord and living in accordance with His commandments (no. 903).

The twelve stones here also have the same symbolism as the twelve precious stones in the breastpiece of Aaron, called the Urim and Thummim, as described in Exodus 28:15-21, which we explained one by one in Arcana Coelestia (The Secrets of Heaven), 9856-9882 with the difference that the stones there had on them the names of the twelve tribes of Israel, while these have on them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

[4] That the foundations were laid with precious stones is something we are also told in Isaiah:

O you afflicted one..., behold, I will lay your stones with antimony. I will set your foundations in sapphires..., and your gates in carbuncle stones... All your children have been taught by Jehovah... (Isaiah 54:11-13)

The afflicted one means a church to be established by the Lord among gentiles.

In Isaiah as well:

...thus said the Lord Jehovih: ."..I will lay in Zion a foundation stone, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation... I will make judgment the rule, and justice the plumb line...." (Isaiah 28:16-17)

[5] Since every doctrinal truth from the Word is founded on an acknowledgment of the Lord, therefore the Lord is called the Stone of Israel in Genesis 49:24, and the cornerstone which the builders rejected in Matthew 21:42, Mark 12:10-11. That the cornerstone is a foundation stone is clear from Jeremiah 51:26.

In many places in the Word the Lord is also called a rock. Thus He meant Himself by the rock when He said, "On this rock I will build My church" (Matthew 16:18-19). The rock symbolizes the Lord in respect to the Divine truth in the Word.

Everything connected with the church and its doctrine relates to these two points, that one must turn directly to the Lord, and that one must live in accordance with the Ten Commandments by refraining from evils as sins. Thus everything connected with the doctrine relates to love toward God and love for the neighbor, something that will be seen in The Doctrines of the New Jerusalem Regarding Charity, where these precepts will be expounded in turn.

  
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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

 

Revelation 7

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1 After this, I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, so that no wind would blow on the earth, or on the sea, or on any tree.

2 I saw another angel ascend from the sunrise, having the seal of the living God. He cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was given to harm the earth and the sea,

3 saying, "Don't harm the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, until we have sealed the bondservants of our God on their foreheads!"

4 I heard the number of those who were sealed, one hundred forty-four thousand, sealed out of every tribe of the children of Israel:

5 of the tribe of Judah were sealed twelve thousand, of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand, of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand,

6 of the tribe of Asher twelve thousand, of the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand, of the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand,

7 of the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand, of the tribe of Levi twelve thousand, of the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand,

8 of the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand, of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand, of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand.

9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude, which no man could number, out of every nation and of all tribes, peoples, and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, dressed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands.

10 They cried with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation be to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!"

11 All the angels were standing around the throne, the elders, and the four living creatures; and they fell on their faces before his throne, and worshiped God,

12 saying, "Amen! Blessing, glory, wisdom, thanksgiving, honor, power, and might, be to our God forever and ever! Amen."

13 One of the elders answered, saying to me, "These who are arrayed in white robes, who are they, and from where did they come?"

14 I told him, "My lord, you know." He said to me, "These are those who came out of the great tribulation. They washed their robes, and made them white in the Lamb's blood.

15 Therefore they are before the throne of God, they serve him day and night in his temple. He who sits on the throne will spread his tabernacle over them.

16 They will never be hungry, neither thirsty any more; neither will the sun beat on them, nor any heat;

17 for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne shepherds them, and leads them to springs of waters of life. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."