The Lord Jesus Christ and His Apostles

The Lord left his apostles with instructions and with great gifts. The instructions are listed in several distinct places, but the the gifts are more scattered, both in the four gospels and in the book of Acts later, being given as the apostles needed them.

First, about the apostles... just to clarify, here I'm referring to "the disciples" as including anyone who has followed along to hear the Lord, and "the apostles" to mean the twelve men that the Lord recruited specifically, as listed in Matthew 10, Mark 3, and Luke 6.

Who were the apostles? From the lists in Matthew and Mark, which are the same, we have: Simon (Peter), James and John the sons of Zebedee, Andrew (Peter’s brother), Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew (the publican), Thomas, James the son of Alpheus, (as is Matthew, so they are brothers, too), Thaddeus, (also known as Libbeus), Simon the Canaanite (also called Simon the Zealot), and Judas Iscariot. Bartholomew is almost undoubtedly another name for Nathaniel, see John 1. The list in Luke includes another Judas, "Judas the brother of James" and doesn’t have Thaddeus.

The stories of how they were individually chosen differ, especially in the gospel of John, but that these twelve were appointed by the Lord is clear. A point of interest is that - other than Simon the Canaanite and Judas Iscariot they are all from towns around the sea of Galilee - and perhaps those two are as well. These twelve have their names inscribed on the twelve foundations of the walls of the holy city New Jerusalem, in Revelation 21:14 in which there are also the twelve gates. These men were chosen to represent all the different states of the natural human being that can be receptive of the Lord. They are from Galilee because Galilee represents that natural state of the human mind. The number twelve in the Word represents all possible states of mankind.

What is indicated here is that all people, everywhere, can be saved or regenerated if they repent and turn to the Lord in their lives. No one is "outside" of His reach. We are born natural, everyone is, but we are so formed that our minds can be raised to what is higher, called spiritual for our conceptions of Divine truth, or Celestial for our perceptions of Divine good. But we all start in a natural state and can only move upward by listening to the Lord’s teachings in His Word, and following Him as those Apostles did.

Not all of our natural states are states of good; they can be selfish, domineering, and cruel. But the Lord said that He came "not to save the just but to call sinners to repentance". Perhaps this is why Simon the Canaanite and Judas were two that He called. Simon is little known, but in some places in the Word, "Canaan signifies an external worship without a true internal worship". (See Arcana Coelestia 1060). Can the Lord work with that - with external worship that's internally barren? Yes, as a starting point. And, even Judas, who betrayed the Lord so terribly, we are told, repented of his betrayal of the Lord. (Matthew 27:3-5)

The Lord's Instructions to the Apostles

The two most comprehensive sets of instructions are in Luke 10:1-17 where seventy Disciples are sent out two by two, apparently to a specified list of cities that Jesus intends to visit, and then in Matthew 20:1-19 where the chosen twelve Apostles are sent out to all Israel. Later, as recorded in different epistles, the Apostles go out further, through a wide region.

The basic instructions were to preach that the kingdom of heaven is near, that all should be led to repent of their sins, and that all who wish should be baptized in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit. The Apostles should not take any money or extra clothing along, and they were to depend entirely on the Lord’s providence with no doubt that they shall be welcomed, fed, and sheltered. If they were welcomed, they should stay and preach the good news about the risen Lord and His teachings, and if they were not, they should shake from their feet the dust of that place and go on to a place where they were welcome. See Matthew 10, 28, Mark 13, 16, Luke 9, 10:24.

There are several assurances for the twelve. The Lord has told them to stay in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit is sent to strengthen them, and in John 20 where the ten are gathered it is said that He breathed on them and said, "Receive ye the Holy Spirit". Also, in his long talk with them in John 14, 15, 16) He assures them that his crucifixion and death are necessary to his mission and they should even rejoice that it is coming. He shows them from scripture that it has all been prophesied from long ago, (see Mark 4:34) and that what seems to them a tragedy, is truly His glorification and the end of the work He came to do. They, His twelve, are in the same steam of providence and will be protected. "Don’t be anxious," He tells them, "I will put into your mouths what you are to say, I will bring into your memories the incidents to tell to the people".

Here is a listing of the chapters and verses in John where such things are said: John 14:1-3, 10, 16-18, 26-28, 15:11, 16, 26-27, 16:7, 13-15, 22, 26-27, 33. Or simply read the three chapters and pick out your favorites.

A marvelous gift is mentioned in Matthew 10:13, "But blessed are your eyes for they see and blessed are your ears, for they hear…".

In the book of Acts, the Lord vividly shows the apostles that when they speak in their Galileen dialect every listener will hear their words as his own language in his ears; not gibberish, but Arabic to the Arabs, Greek to the Greeks, and Latin to the Romans.

When Peter starts to preach to a gathering of sympathetic Jews he speaks clearly and unafraid, saying that Jesus of Nazareth was the Son of God and that people should worship Him openly and repent of how they might have felt earlier. Peter’s talk in Acts 3 and 4 is a bold and powerful one. No more hiding behind locked doors.

The early history of the Christian church shows just how well all this worked out. You know what? The Apostles preached to the peoples in the Near East 2000 years ago, and their preaching is just as relevant today as it was then: "Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Being at hand has nothing to do with the date or the state of political history in the world, it has to do with the inside of your mind. The Lord is just as close to you now as He was then, and He never turns away, though we might turn away from him. Remember that He said "behold I stand at the door and knock and if anyone hears and opens the door He will come right in." This hasn’t changed nor will it ever change, but He leaves us in freedom to ignore His knocking, if that is what we want. We have to make the choice, but He is always ready if we choose to open the door.

612. The mystery of God shall be consummated, as he hath declared in good tidings (evangelizavit) to his servants the prophets.- That this signifies prediction in the Word concerning the coming of the Lord to be fulfilled when the end of the church is at hand, is evident from the signification of to be consummated as denoting to be fulfilled; and from the signification of the mystery of God which he hath declared in good tidings, as denoting the coming of the Lord, of which we shall speak presently; and from the signification of his servants the prophets, as denoting the truths of doctrine, in the present case, the Word. That those who are in truths from good are called servants of the Lord, may be seen above (n. 6, 409); and that those who teach doctrine are called prophets, and that in the abstract sense they denote doctrines will be shown below. The reason why the Word is also denoted, is, that the Word is the doctrine of Divine Truth, and was written by the prophets, also that everything of doctrine must be from the Word. It now follows therefore, that by the mystery of God shall be consummated, as he hath declared in good tidings to his servants the prophets, is signified prediction in the Word [concerning the coming] of the Lord to be fulfilled when the end of the church is at hand. This signification of the words is evident from that which precedes and that which follows. In that which immediately precedes it is said, that this shall come to pass "in the days of the voice of the seventh angel," which means, that it shall come to pass when the end of the church is at hand; and in what follows that after the seventh angel had sounded, it is said, "the kingdoms of the world are become our Lord's and his Christ's," and afterwards, that the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple (11:15-19). The same is also further evident from this fact, that when the end of the church is at hand, the Word is opened, and a new church established. This also is meant by the coming of the Lord, for the Lord is the Word; when this therefore is opened the Lord appears. That the Word was opened when the Lord came into the world, is a well-known fact; that it is also now opened by the revelation of the spiritual sense of the Word, may be seen in the small work entitled The White Horse, and in Heaven and Hell 1); and that now is the end of the church, may be seen in the small work on the Last Judgment 33-39, and n. 45-52, and following numbers).

[2] The end of the church is also meant by evening, and the coming of the Lord by morning, in the following passage in Daniel:

"Unto the evening and the morning two thousand three hundred" (8:14, 26).

The evening signifies the end of the former church, and the morning, the coming of the Lord and the beginning of a new church. The signification of morning in these words in Ezekiel is the same:

"An evil, behold, is come. The end is come, the end is come; it hath watched over thee; behold, it is come. The morning cometh upon thee, O thou inhabitant of the land, the time is come" (7:5-7).

By the end here also is signified the end of the church, and by the morning, the coming of the Lord and the beginning of a new church are signified.

Similarly in Zechariah:

"It shall be one day which shall be known to Jehovah, not day nor night; because about the time of evening it shall be light" (14:7).

The one day which shall be known to Jehovah, means the coming of the Lord; the time of evening the end of the church, when all Divine Truth is obscured and falsified; while light signifies the Divine Truth manifested. This new light, or that morning which shall appear at the end of the church, is also here meant by the mystery of God which shall be consummated, as He hath declared in good tidings to His servants the prophets.

[3] Frequent mention is made in the Word of bringing good tidings (evangelizare) and of good tidings (evangelium), and the expressions signify the coming of the Lord, as is evident from the following passages.

Thus in Isaiah:

"O Zion, that bringest good tidings (evangelizatrix), lift up thy voice with strength, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God. Behold, the Lord Jehovih cometh in strength, and his arm shall rule for him. He shall feed his flock like a shepherd" (40:9-11).

That these things are said concerning the coming of the Lord is very evident, and therefore Zion and Jerusalem are called bringers of good tidings. By Zion are meant all those who are of the celestial church, and these are they who are in love to the Lord; it is therefore said, "get thee up into the high mountain," the high mountain denoting that love (see above, n. 405). By Jerusalem are meant all those who are of the spiritual church, and these are they who are in the doctrine of genuine truth; it is therefore said, "lift up thy voice with strength which signifies confession from genuine truths. By the cities of Judah, to which it is said, "Behold your God, behold the Lord Jehovih cometh in strength," are signified doctrinals from the Word; cities, signify doctrinals; and Judah signifies the Word. That Zion and Jerusalem are called bringers of good tidings, because good tidings (evangelium), signify the coming of the Lord, is evident, for it is said, "Behold your God, behold the Lord Jehovih cometh in strength." That He will accomplish a judgment, and defend those who acknowledge Him, is signified by, His arm shall rule for him, he shall feed his flock like a shepherd.

[4] Again, in the same prophet:

"How delightful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace, that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy king shall reign, when he shall see eye to eye that Jehovah returneth to Zion" (52:7, 8).

These words also are spoken of the Lord's coming, and He is evidently meant by, thy king shall reign, and by, when he shall see eye to eye, that Jehovah returneth to Zion; similarly what follows in that chapter, this is the reason that mention is made of bringing good tidings. The rest of this verse may be seen explained above (n. 365:30).

So in Nahum:

"Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace. O Judah, keep thy solemn feasts " (1:15).

[5] And in Isaiah:

"The spirit of the Lord Jehovih is upon me; because Jehovah hath anointed me to bring good tidings unto the poor; he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, to the bound, to the blind; to proclaim the year of the good pleasure of Jehovah, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn" (61:1, 2).

That these things are said concerning the Lord and His coming, is evident from what is said in Matthew (5:3, and following verses), and in Luke (4:16-22). The coming itself is meant by the year of the good pleasure of Jehovah, and the day of vengeance for our God. By the poor, the captives, the bound and the blind, to whom the Lord is said to bring good tidings, are meant the Gentiles, who are said to be such, because, not having the Word, they were in ignorance of truth. The Gentiles are also meant in Matthew by "The poor who hear the gospel" (11:4, 5).

[6] And in David:

"Sing unto Jehovah, bless his name; declare the good tidings of his salvation from day to day; for Jehovah cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth; he shall judge the world with justice, and the peoples in his truth" (Psalm 96:2, 13).

The acknowledgment and celebration of the Lord with joy of heart on account of His coming, is signified by "Sing unto Jehovah, bless his name; declare the good tidings of his salvation from day to day." The coming itself is described by "Jehovah cometh"; and because His coming is when the last judgment takes place, it is therefore said, "he cometh to judge the earth; he shall judge the world with justice, and the peoples, in his truth." The earth means the church; the world means those in the church who are in the good of charity; and the peoples, those who are in truths thence. That it is the coming of the Lord when the Last Judgment takes place, was stated above, for then the evil will be separated from the good, or the goats from the sheep, and the evil will be judged to hell, and the good to heaven. This is also signified by the words of Isaiah in the above passage, "to proclaim the day for vengeance for our God, to comfort all that mourn." This is the reason that where the Last Judgment is treated of, mention is also made of declaring good tidings; as also in the following passages in the Apocalypse:

"And I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the eternal gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and tribe, and tongue, and people, saying with a great voice, Fear God, and give glory to him, for the hour of his judgment is come" (14:6, 7).

That when the end of the church takes place, the coming of the Lord will be proclaimed, is predicted by the Lord Himself in the gospels:

"And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come" (Matthew 24:14; Mark 13:8-10).

[7] That the coming of the Lord is understood by bringing good tidings and by good tidings, is also evident from the following passages.

Thus in Luke:

The angel said to Zacharias, "I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to bring thee these good tidings" (1:19).

And again:

"The angel said to the shepherds, Fear not, for behold, I bring unto you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord" (2:10, 11).

And again, in the same, it is said that John preached good tidings to the people concerning Jesus (3:16-18). And Jesus said, "the law and the prophets" were preached until John (16:16). The Lord Himself and also His disciples declared the good tidings of the kingdom of God (Matthew 4:23; 9:35; Mark 1:15; Luke 7:22; 8:1; 9:1, 2, 6). The kingdom of God, means a new heaven and a new church from the Lord.

[8] Since declaring good tidings signifies to announce the coming of the Lord, hence by the gospel (good tidings), in the highest sense, is signified the Lord Himself as to His coming, as to judgment, and as to the salvation of the faithful, in the following passages in Mark:

Jesus said, "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it" (8:35; 10:29, 30).

He said to the disciples:

"Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature" (16:15).