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Apocalypse Revealed #958

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958. 22:19 And if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. This symbolically means that people who read and know the doctrinal truths in this book now laid open by the Lord, and yet acknowledge some other God than the Lord, and some other faith than faith in the Lord, by taking away something in order to destroy these two tenets, cannot perceive or acquire for themselves anything from the Word or be received into the New Jerusalem, or have their lot with people in the Lord's kingdom.

The symbolic meaning here is similar to that above, only here it applies to people who take away from these words, while there it applies to people who add to them. The warning accordingly applies to people who, either by adding to them or taking away from them, destroy these two truths.

To take away a person's part from the Book of Life means, symbolically, that it is impossible for him to perceive or assimilate into himself anything from the Word. The Book of Life is the Word, and also the Lord in relation to the Word (nos. 256, 469, 874, 925). That is because the Lord embodies the Word, for the Word has the Lord alone as its subject, as we have fully shown in two Doctrines of the New Jerusalem, one Regarding the Lord, and the other Regarding the Sacred Scripture. Therefore people who do not turn directly to the Lord cannot see any truth emerging from the Word.

To take away a person's part from the holy city means, symbolically, from the New Church, the Holy Jerusalem. For no one is accepted into it who does not turn to the Lord alone.

To take away a person's part from the things which are written in this book means, symbolically, that he does not have his lot with people in the Lord's kingdom. For everything written in this book looks forward to a new heaven and a new church, which constitute the Lord's kingdom, as the end result, and the end result is that to which everything written in the book has relation.

  
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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.

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Revelation 22

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1 He showed me a river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb,

2 in the middle of its street. On this side of the river and on that was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruits, yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

3 There will be no curse any more. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants serve him.

4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.

5 There will be no night, and they need no lamp light; for the Lord God will illuminate them. They will reign forever and ever.

6 He said to me, "These words are faithful and true. The Lord God of the spirits of the prophets sent his angel to show to his bondservants the things which must happen soon."

7 "Behold, I come quickly. Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book."

8 Now I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. When I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who had shown me these things.

9 He said to me, "See you don't do it! I am a fellow bondservant with you and with your brothers, the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God."

10 He said to me, "Don't seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand.

11 He who acts unjustly, let him act unjustly still. He who is filthy, let him be filthy still. He who is righteous, let him do righteousness still. He who is holy, let him be holy still."

12 "Behold, I come quickly. My reward is with me, to repay to each man according to his work.

13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.

14 Blessed are those who do his commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter in by the gates into the city.

15 Outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

16 I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify these things to you for the assemblies. I am the root and the offspring of David; the Bright and Morning Star."

17 The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" He who hears, let him say, "Come!" He who is thirsty, let him Come. He who desires, let him take the water of life freely.

18 I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book, if anyone adds to them, may God add to him the plagues which are written in this book.

19 If anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, may God take away his part from the tree of life, and out of the holy city, which are written in this book.

20 He who testifies these things says, "Yes, I come quickly." Amen! Yes, come, Lord Jesus.

21 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with all the saints. Amen.