From Swedenborg's Works

 

True Christianity #102

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102. There is a belief that the Lord in his human manifestation not only was but still is the Son of Mary. This is a blunder, though, on the part of the Christian world. It is true that he was the Son of Mary; it is not true that he still is. As the Lord carried out the acts of redemption, he put off the human nature from his mother and put on a human nature from his Father. This is how it came about that the Lord's human nature is divine and that in him God is human and a human is God. The fact that he put off the human nature from his mother and put on a divine nature from his father - a divine human nature - can be seen from his never referring to Mary as his mother, as the following passages show: "The mother of Jesus said to him, 'They have no wine. ' Jesus said to her, 'What do I have to do with you, woman? My hour has not yet come'" (John 2:4). Elsewhere it says, "Jesus on the cross saw his mother and the disciple he loved standing next to her. He said to his mother, 'Woman, behold your son. ' Then he said to the disciple, 'Behold your mother'" (John 19:26-27). On one occasion he did not acknowledge her: "There was a message for Jesus from people who said, 'Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, and they want to see you. ' Jesus said in reply, 'My mother and my brothers are these people who are hearing the Word of God and doing it'" (Luke 8:20-21; Matthew 12:46-49; Mark 3:31-35). So the Lord called her "woman," not "mother," and gave her to John to be his mother. In other passages she is called his mother, but not by the Lord himself.

[2] Another piece of supporting evidence is that the Lord did not acknowledge himself to be the son of David. In the Gospels we read,

Jesus asked the Pharisees, saying, "What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?" They say, "David's. " He said to them, "Why then does David in the spirit call him his Lord when he says, 'The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at my right hand until I place your enemies as a footstool for your feet?"' If David calls him Lord, how is he his son?" And no one could answer him a word. (Matthew 22:41-46; Mark 12:35-37; Luke 20:41-44; Psalms 110:1)

[3] Here I will add something previously unknown. On one occasion I was given an opportunity to talk to Mother Mary. She happened past, and I saw her in heaven over my head in white clothing apparently made of silk. Then, stopping for a while, she said that she had been the Lord's mother in the sense that he was born from her, but by the time he became God he had put off everything human that came from her. Therefore she adores him as her God and does not want anyone to see him as her son, because everything in him is divine.

From the points above another truth now becomes manifest: Jehovah is as human in what is first as he is in what is last, as the following passages indicate: "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the One who is, who was, and who is to come, the Almighty" (Revelation 1:8, 11). When John saw the Son of Humankind in the middle of seven lampstands, he fell at his feet as if dead; but the Son of Humankind laid his right hand on John and said, "I am the First and the Last" (Revelation 1:13, 17; 21:6). "Behold, I am coming quickly to give to all according to their work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last" (Revelation 22:12-13). And in Isaiah, "Thus said Jehovah, the King of Israel and its Redeemer, Jehovah Sabaoth: I am the First and the Last" (Isaiah 44:6; 48:12).

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

The Bible

 

Revelation 1:8

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8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Scriptural Confirmations #11

  
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11. 9. His appearance as the Sun shining in his strength (Revelation 1:16).

The Lord is described by various names (Revelation 1:5). The representation of Him as the Word (Revelation 1:13-18).

If any one will open the door, I will come in to him (Revelation 3:20).

Honor was given to the Lord from the Word, while He opened the seals of the book, by many animals and elders, and by every creature (Revelation 5:9-14).

That no one can interpret the Word, and teach truths from it, except the Lord, is meant by the Lamb opening the seals of the book (Revelation 5:1 seq., and 6).

The Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them to living fountains of water (Revelation 7:10, 16-17).

They are virgins who follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth (Revelation 14:4).

An angel flying in the midst of heaven having the everlasting gospel (Revelation 14:6).

Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from henceforth (Revelation 14:13).

Behold a white cloud, and one sitting upon the cloud like unto the Son of man (Revelation 14:14).

Great are Thy works, Lord God Almighty, just and true are Thy ways, O King of saints. Who shall not glorify Thy name, for Thou only art holy; therefore all nations shall come and adore before Thee, for Thy judgments are made manifest (Revelation 15:3-4). The Lamb is Lord of lords and King of kings, and they that are with Him are called, and chosen, and faithful (Revelation 17:14; 19:16).

Having the testimony of Jesus. The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy (Revelation 19:10).

That the Word will be opened by the Lord is meant by the white horse, for He that sitteth upon it is called the Word of God (Revelation 19:10-16).

Behold the tabernacle of God is with men; He will dwell with them (Revelation 21:3).

The Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. The glory of God will lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof (Revelation 21:22-23; 22:5).

The throne of God and of the Lamb (Revelation 22:3).

That He it is who is, and was and is to come, Alpha and Omega (Revelation 1:4, 8, 11; 2:8; 11:17; 21:6; 22:13).

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