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属天的奥秘 #4229

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4229. 第32

最后的审判 (续)

我们从第三卷 (系指拉丁文的第3卷) 开始解释主在马太福音 24章关于最后审判的预言. 这些解释被放在了那一卷最后几章的开头部分, 目前已解释到31节 (参看3353-3356, 3486-3489, 3650-3655, 3897-3901, 4056-4060节).

概括地说, 主的这些预言的内义从所给出的解释很清楚看出来, 即祂预言了教会的逐渐毁灭和最终一个新教会的建立, 其次序如下:

⑴教会成员不再知道何为良善与真理, 反而开始彼此争论它们.

⑵他们蔑视它们.

⑶他们从心里不承认它们.

⑷他们亵渎它们.

⑸由于信之真理和爱之良善仍存留在某些被称为 “选民” 的人当中, 故经上描述了那时信之真理所具有的状态.

⑹然后描述了仁的状态.

⑺最后论述了一个新教会的开始, 由最后所解释的那些话来表示, 即:

祂要差遣祂的使者, 用号筒的大声, 将祂的选民从四风, 从天这边到天那边, 都招聚了来. (马太福音 24:31)

这些话表示一个新教会的开始 (参看4060末尾节).

  
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Thanks to our friends at swedenborgwork.com for their permission to use this translation on the New Christian Bible Study site. ( 衷心感谢”史威登堡著作中文网”许可我们使用该中文译文)

The Bible

 

马太福音 24

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1 耶稣出了圣殿,正走的时候,门徒进前来,把殿宇指给他看。

2 耶稣对他们:你们不是看见这殿宇麽?我实在告诉你们,将来在这里没有一块石头留在石头上,不被拆毁了。

3 耶稣在橄榄山上坐着,门徒暗暗的来:请告诉我们,甚麽时候有这些事?你降临和世界的末了有甚麽豫兆呢?

4 耶稣回答:你们要谨慎,免得有人迷惑你们。

5 因为将有好些人冒我的名,说:我是基督,并且要迷惑许多人。

6 你们也要见打仗和打仗的风声,总不要惊慌;因为这些事是必须有的,只是末期还没有到。

7 民要攻打民,国要攻打国;多处必有饥荒、地震。

8 这都是灾难(灾难:原文是生产之难)的起头。

9 那时,人要把你们陷在患难里,也要害你们;你们又要为我的名被万民恨恶。

10 那时,必有许多人跌倒,也要彼此陷害,彼此恨恶;

11 且有好些假先知起来,迷惑多人。

12 只因不法的事增多,许多人的爱心才渐渐冷淡了。

13 惟有忍耐到底的,必然得

14 这天国的福音要传遍天下,对万民作见证,然後末期才来到。

15 你们看见先知但以理所的那行毁坏可憎的站在圣地(读这经的人须要会意)。

16 那时,在犹太的,应当逃到山上;

17 在房上的,不要下来拿家里的东西;

18 在田里的,也不要回去取衣裳。

19 当那些日子,怀孕的和奶孩子的有了。

20 你们应当祈求,叫你们逃走的时候,不遇见冬天或是安息日。

21 因为那时必有大灾难,从世界的起头直到如今,没有这样的灾难,後来也必没有。

22 若不减少那日子,凡有血气的总没有一个得的;只是为选民,那日子必减少了。

23 那时,若有人对你们基督在这里,或基督在那里,你们不要信!

24 因为假基督、假先知将要起来,显大神迹、大奇事,倘若能行,连选民也就迷惑了。

25 看哪,我预先告诉你们了。

26 若有人对你们:看哪,基督在旷野里,你们不要出去!或:看哪,基督在内屋中,你们不要信!

27 闪电从东边发出,直照到西边。人子降临,也要这样。

28 尸首在那里,鹰也必聚在那里。

29 那些日子的灾难一过去,日头就变黑了,月亮也不放光,众要从上坠落,势都要震动。

30 那时,人子的兆头要显在上,地上的万族都要哀哭。他们要看见人子,有能力,有大荣耀.,驾着上的云降临。

31 他要差遣使者,用号筒的大声,将他的选民,从四方(方:原文是风),从这边到那边,都招聚了来。

32 你们可以从无花果树学个比方:当树枝发嫩长的时候,你们就知道夏天近了。

33 这样,你们看见这一切的事,也该知道人子近了,正在口了。

34 我实在告诉你们,这世代还没有过去,这些事都要成就。

35 地要废去,我的话却不能废去。

36 那日子,那时辰,没有人知道,连上的使者也不知道,子也不知道,惟独父知道。

37 挪亚的日子怎样,人子降临也要怎样。

38 当洪水以前的日子,人照常吃喝嫁娶,直到挪亚进方舟的那日;

39 不知不觉洪水了,把他们全都冲去。人子降临也要这样。

40 那时,两个人在田里,取去一个,撇下一个。

41 两个女人推磨,取去一个,撇下一个。

42 所以,你们要儆醒,因为不知道你们的主是那一天到。

43 家主若知道几更天有,就必儆醒,不容人挖透房屋;这是你们所知道的。

44 所以,你们也要预备,因为你们想不到的时候,人子就了。

45 谁是忠心有见识的仆人,为主人所派,管理家里的人,按时分粮给他们呢?

46 主人到,看见他这样行,那仆人就有福了。

47 我实在告诉你们,主人要派他管理一切所有的。

48 倘若那恶仆心里:我的主人必得迟,

49 就动手打他的同伴,又和酒醉的人一同吃喝。

50 在想不到的日子,不知道的时辰,那仆人的主人要来,

51 重重的处治他(或作:把他腰斩了),定他和假冒为善的人同罪;在那里必要哀哭切齿了。

   

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Arcana Coelestia #10248

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10248. 'And it shall be the statute of an age to them' means an eternal law of order. This is clear from the meaning of 'a statute' as a law of order, dealt with in 7884, 7995, 8357; and from the meaning of 'an age' as that which is eternal. The reason why 'an age' means what is eternal is that duration even to the end should be understood by it, and in the internal sense what is eternal is meant by that duration. Furthermore the word used to denote an age means eternity in the original language. 'Age' means what is eternal because when used in the Word with regard to the Church it means duration of it even to the end. Consequently, when the term is used with regard to heaven, where there is no end, or with regard to the Lord, it means what is eternal. The term may be used to refer in general to any Church, but in particular to the celestial Church. In addition to all this 'age' means the world and life there, and also life after this to eternity.

[2] 1. The term 'age', when used with regard to the Church, means the duration of it even to the end

This is clear from the following places: In Matthew,

The disciples said to Jesus, Tell us, what will be the sign of Your coming and of the close of the age? Matthew 24:3.

'The close of the age' means the final period of the Church, thus the end of it, when there is no longer any faith because there is no charity. The fact that this is meant by 'the close of the age' and that 'the age' therefore means the duration of the Church even to the end becomes clear from all the things stated by the Lord in that chapter, an explanation of which may be seen in the opening sections of Chapters 26-40 of Genesis. 'The age' and 'the close' of it have the same meaning elsewhere in the same gospel,

The harvest is the close of the age. Matthew 13:39-40, 49.

Also,

Behold, I am with you at all times 1 even to the close of the age. Matthew 28:20.

Here also 'the age' is used to mean the duration of the Church from start to finish.

[3] In Ezekiel,

They will dwell on the land, they and their sons and their sons' sons even to an age. David will be their prince for an age. My sanctuary will be in their midst for an age. Ezekiel 37:25, 28.

These promises refer to Israel, who in the internal sense serves to mean the spiritual Church. 'The land' on which they will dwell also means the Church; 'the sanctuary' means everything composing the Church; and 'David' means the Lord. From this it is evident that 'for an age' means even to the end.

'Israel' in the Word is the spiritual Church, see in the places referred to in 9340.

'The land' is the Church, in the places referred to in 9325.

'The sanctuary' is everything composing the Church, and it has reference to the goodness and truth of the spiritual Church, 8330, 9479.

'David' is the Lord, 1888, 9954.

[4] In David,

Before the mountains were born, and the earth and the world were formed, from age even to age You are God. Psalms 90:2.

By the birth of mountains and formation of the earth and the world not the creation of the world but the establishment of a Church should be understood, for in the Word heavenly or celestial love, and so the Church in which that love exists, is meant by 'the mountains'. 'The earth' too and 'the world' mean the Church, so that 'from age to age' means from when Churches are established to when they come to an end. Churches follow in succession, one after another; for when one has come to an end or undergone vastation another is established.

'Mountain' means heavenly or celestial love, and therefore the Church which is governed by that love, see 795, 796, 4210, 6435, 8758.

'The earth' is the Church in particular, but 'the world' the Church in general, see in the places referred to in 9325.

[5] 2. The term 'age', when used with regard to heaven, where there is no end, or with regard to the Lord, means what is eternal

This is clear from the following places: In David,

Jehovah is King for an age and for perpetuity. Psalms 10:16; Exodus 15:18.

In the same author,

Your kingdom is a kingdom of all the ages, and Your dominion to every generation after generation. Psalms 145:13.

In Jeremiah,

[He is] the living God [and] the King of the age. Jeremiah 10:10.

In Daniel,

His dominion is the dominion of an age which will not pass away. Afterwards the saints of the Most High 2 will receive the kingdom and will strengthen the kingdom even to an age, and even to ages of ages. Daniel 7:14, 18, 27.

In Matthew,

Yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory for ages. Matthew 6:13.

In Luke,

God will give Him the throne of David, so that He may reign over the house of Jacob for ages. Luke 1:32-33.

[6] In the Book of Revelation,

To Jesus Christ be glory and might for ages of ages. Revelation 1:6.

Elsewhere in the same book,

Behold, I live for ages of ages. Revelation 1:18.

And elsewhere again,

Blessing, and honour, and glory, and might to the Lamb for ages of ages! The twenty-four elders worshipped the One living for ages of ages. Revelation 5:13-14; 10:6; 11:15.

In Isaiah,

My salvation will exist for an age, and My righteousness to each generation 3 . Isaiah 51:6, 8.

In the same prophet,

The angel of [His] face carried them all the days of the age. Isaiah 63:9.

In Daniel,

Many of those sleeping will awake to the life of the age 4 , the rest to the disrepute of the age 5 . Daniel 12:2.

In John,

If anyone eats of this bread he will live for an age. John 6:51, 58.

In the same gospel,

I give them eternal life, and they will not perish for an age. John 10:28.

In David,

Lead me in the way of the age 6 . Psalms 139:24.

In the same author,

He has caused them to stand for perpetuity and for an age; He has given a statute that will not pass away. Psalms 148:6.

[7] In these places 'age' means what is eternal since it is used with regard to the Lord, to His kingdom, and to heaven and the life there, all of which have no end. 'Ages of ages' is not used to mean eternities of eternities but that which is eternal. That expression is used however with regard to the Churches on earth coming in succession one after another. From the Word it is evident that a Church has been established four times on this planet. The first of them was the Most Ancient, which existed before the Flood; the second was the Ancient, which came after the Flood; the third was the Israelite and Jewish; and the last was the Christian. The whole period of each one from start to finish is an age. And after the Christian Church a new one will begin. This series of Churches is meant by 'ages of ages', 'an age' being the duration of a Church even to its end, as shown above.

[8] 3. The term 'age' may be used to refer in general to any Church, but in particular to the celestial Church

This is clear from the following places: In Amos,

I will raise up the tent of David that is fallen down, and I will build as in the days of a [previous] age. Amos 9:11.

'The days of a [previous] age' is used to mean the time when the Most Ancient Church, which was celestial, existed. In Micah,

Bethlehem Ephrath, from you will come forth for Me one who will be Ruler in Israel, and whose origins are from of old, from the days of a [previous] age. Micah 5:2.

Here the meaning is similar. In Moses,

Remember the days of a [previous] age, understand the years of generation after generation. Deuteronomy 32:7.

'The days of a [previous] age' stands for the time of the Most Ancient Church, which was a celestial Church, and 'the years of generation after generation' for the time of the Ancient Church, which was a spiritual Church.

[9] In Isaiah,

Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of Jehovah. Awake as in the days of antiquity, of the generation of [previous] ages. Isaiah 51:8-9.

'As in [the days] of the generation of [previous] ages' means as it was with the states of love and faith in the Ancient Churches that descended from the Most Ancient. In David,

I have considered the days of old, the years of [previous] ages. Psalms 77:5.

Here the meaning is similar.

[10] In Isaiah,

Remember from a [previous] age the former thing. Isaiah 46:9.

In Malachi,

Then the minchah of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to Jehovah, as in the days of a [previous] age, and as in ancient years. Malachi 3:4.

In Joel,

Judah will abide for an age, and Jerusalem from generation to generation. Joel 3:20.

In these places 'Judah' means the celestial Church, to which the words 'as in the days of the age' and 'into the age' therefore refer, while 'Jerusalem' means the spiritual Church, to which the words 'as in the ancient years' and 'into generation after generation' refer.

'Judah' is the celestial Church, see 3654, 3881, 6363, 8770.

'Jerusalem' is the spiritual Church, 402, 3654.

[11] 4. The term 'age' may mean the world and life there

This is clear in Matthew,

The one who is sown among thorns is he who hears the Word but the cares of this age and the deceitfulness of riches choke the Word. Matthew 13:22.

In Luke,

The sons of this age are more shrewd than the sons of light. Luke 16:8.

In the same gospel,

The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage. Luke 20:34.

And in David,

The wicked and carefree ones of the age multiply wealth. Psalms 73:12.

[12] 5. The term 'age' may mean life to eternity after death

In Mark,

... will receive a hundredfold, now in this time, and in the age to come eternal life. Mark 10:30.

In Ezekiel,

When I will cause you to go down with those going down to the pit, to the people of a [previous] age, ... Ezekiel 26:20.

And elsewhere, as in Luke 18:30; 20:35; Isaiah 34:10, 17; Revelation 14:11; 20:10; 22:5.

Footnotes:

1. literally, I am with you all the days

2. The Latin word rendered the Most High is plural, as is the word used in the original Aramaic. It must be regarded as a plural of majesty.

3. literally, generations of generations

4. i.e. eternal life

5. i.e. eternal disgrace

6. i.e. an eternal way

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