Coronis (An Appendix to True Christian Religion) #3
3. The same four Churches on this earth are described by four beasts rising up out of the sea, in Daniel; of which it is there written:
The first was seen like a lion, but it had eagle's wings. I beheld until the wings thereof were plucked out, and it was lifted up from the earth, and set up upon feet, erect like a man, and a man's heart was given to it. Afterwards, behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side; three ribs were in its mouth between the teeth: moreover, they were saying thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh. After these things, I beheld, and, lo, another, like a leopard, which had four wings, like birds' wings, upon the back of it; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it. After this, I saw in the night visions, and beheld a fourth beast, terrible and dreadful, and strong exceedingly, which had great iron teeth; it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet; but it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. I beheld till thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit; and the judgment was set, and the books were opened; and, behold, one like the Son of Man was coming with the clouds of the heavens. And there was given Him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom; and all peoples, nations and languages should worship Him: His dominion is a dominion of an age, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom that which shall not perish (Dan. 7:3-9, [7:10], 7:13-14, etc.).
That by these beasts, in like manner, are meant and described those four Churches, is manifest from all the particulars there (which shall be unfolded in their order in the following pages); more especially from the last expressions there, that after those four beasts there will come "the Son of Man, to whom shall be given dominion, and a kingdom which shall not pass away nor perish"; who, also, is meant by the Stone made into "a great Rock, which shall fill the whole earth," as may be seen above (n. 2, at the end).
[2] That the states of the Church are likewise described by beasts, as well as by metals, in the Word, is evident from numberless passages, some only of which I will adduce here; which are as follows:
Thou causest the rain of benefits to drop; thou wilt confirm thy wearied inheritance; the beast 1 -thy assembly-shall dwell therein (Psalm 68:9-10).
Every wild beast of the forest is Mine, the beasts in the mountains of thousands; I know every bird of the mountains, the beasts of My fields are with Me (Psalm 50:10-11).
Asshur was a cedar in Lebanon, his height was exalted; all the birds of the heavens made their nests in his branches, and under his branches did all the beasts of the field bring forth, and in his shadow dwelt all great nations (Ezek. 31:3, 5-6, 13; Dan. 4:7-13).
In that day will I make a covenant for them with the beast of the field, and with the bird of the heavens, and I will betroth Myself unto thee to eternity (Hosea 2:18-19).
Rejoice and be glad; be not afraid, ye beasts of My fields; for the habitations of the desert are become full of grass (Joel 2:21-22).
Thou, son of man, say unto the bird of every wing, and to every beast of the field, Gather yourselves together to My sacrifice upon the mountains of Israel: thus I will set My glory among the nations (Ezek. 39:17, 20-21).
The enemy hath reproached Jehovah; deliver not the soul of the turtle-dove unto the beast 2 (Psalm 74:18-19).
Jehovah gathereth the outcasts of Israel; every beast of My fields, come (Isa. 56:8-9).
The spirit urging, made Jesus to go forth into the wilderness and He was with the beasts; and angels ministered unto Him (Mark 1:12-13).
He was not with beasts, but with devils, with whom He fought and whom He subdued-(not to mention a thousand other passages, which are adduced in part in the APOCALYPSE REVEALED , n. 567). Moreover, it is well known that the Lord Himself, in the Word, is called a "Lamb" and also a "Lion"; likewise, that the Holy Spirit was represented as a "Dove"; that the cherubs, also, by which the Word in the literal sense is signified, appeared like "four beasts," in Ezekiel and in the Apocalypse; and that the man of the Church who acknowledges the Lord as his God and Shepherd, is called a "sheep"; and, on the other hand, he who does not acknowledge Him, is called a "he-goat" and also a "dragon"; and that an assembly of the latter is described, in like manner as in Daniel, by
The beast out of the sea, like a leopard, whose feet were as it were a bear's, and his mouth as it were a lion's (Rev. 13:1-2).
These comparisons originate from the spiritual world, where all the affections and thoughts therefrom, of angels and spirits, are presented at a distance from them as beasts, which also appear in a form in all respects similar to that of the beasts in the natural world; the affections of the love of good as gentle beasts and good uses, but the affections of the love of evil as savage beasts and evil uses. Hence it is that beasts are so often named in the Word; and by them in the spiritual sense are signified affections, inclinations, perceptions and thoughts. From these considerations it is manifest what is meant by creatures in the following passages:
Jesus commanded the disciples to go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15).
If any one be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things have passed away, and all things are become new (2 Cor. 5:17).
These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creature of God (Rev. 3:14).
By "creatures," here, are meant those who are capable of being created anew, that is, regenerated, and thus becoming of the Lord's Church.
Fusnotat:
1. "Thy beast" is the literal rendering of the Hebrew in this passage, which is [Hebrew]; but it is assumed, in the text here, to be used figuratively for "thy congregation." See Fuerst, in loc. [Hebrew].
2. See R.V.; also the previous footnote.
John 5
1
After these things was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
2
Now there is in Jerusalem, at the sheepgate, a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches.
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In these lay a multitude of sick, blind, lame, withered, [awaiting the moving of the water.
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For an angel descended at a certain season in the pool and troubled the water. Whoever therefore first went in after the troubling of the water became well, whatever disease he laboured under.]
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But there was a certain man there who had been suffering under his infirmity thirty and eight years.
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Jesus seeing this [man] lying [there], and knowing that he was [in that state] now a great length of time, says to him, Wouldest thou become well?
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The infirm [man] answered him, Sir, I have not a man, in order, when the water has been troubled, to cast me into the pool; but while I am coming another descends before me.
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Jesus says to him, Arise, take up thy couch and walk.
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And immediately the man became well, and took up his couch and walked: and on that day was sabbath.
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The Jews therefore said to the healed [man], It is sabbath, it is not permitted thee to take up thy couch.
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He answered them, He that made me well, *he* said to me, Take up thy couch and walk.
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They asked him [therefore], Who is the man who said to thee, Take up thy couch and walk?
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But he that had been healed knew not who it was, for Jesus had slidden away, there being a crowd in the place.
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After these things Jesus finds him in the temple, and said to him, Behold, thou art become well: sin no more, that something worse do not happen to thee.
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The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.
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And for this the Jews persecuted Jesus [and sought to kill him], because he had done these things on sabbath.
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But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto and I work.
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For this therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he had not only violated the sabbath, but also said that God was his own Father, making himself equal with God.
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Jesus therefore answered and said to them, Verily, verily, I say to you, The Son can do nothing of himself save whatever he sees the Father doing: for whatever things *he* does, these things also the Son does in like manner.
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For the Father loves the Son and shews him all things which he himself does; and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may wonder.
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For even as the Father raises the dead and quickens [them], thus the Son also quickens whom he will:
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for neither does the Father judge any one, but has given all judgment to the Son;
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that all may honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He who honours not the Son, honours not the Father who has sent him.
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Verily, verily, I say unto you, that he that hears my word, and believes him that has sent me, has life eternal, and does not come into judgment, but is passed out of death into life.
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Verily, verily, I say unto you, that an hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and they that have heard shall live.
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For even as the Father has life in himself, so he has given to the Son also to have life in himself,
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and has given him authority to execute judgment [also], because he is Son of man.
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Wonder not at this, for an hour is coming in which all who are in the tombs shall hear his voice,
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and shall go forth; those that have practised good, to resurrection of life, and those that have done evil, to resurrection of judgment.
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I cannot do anything of myself; as I hear, I judge, and my judgment is righteous, because I do not seek my will, but the will of him that has sent me.
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If I bear witness concerning myself, my witness is not true.
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It is another who bears witness concerning me, and I know that the witness which he bears concerning me is true.
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Ye have sent unto John, and he has borne witness to the truth.
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But I do not receive witness from man, but I say this that *ye* might be saved.
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*He* was the burning and shining lamp, and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.
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But I have the witness [that is] greater than [that] of John; for the works which the Father has given me that I should complete them, the works themselves which I do, bear witness concerning me that the Father has sent me.
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And the Father who has sent me himself has borne witness concerning me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor have seen his shape,
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and ye have not his word abiding in you; for whom *he* hath sent, him ye do not believe.
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Ye search the scriptures, for ye think that in them ye have life eternal, and they it is which bear witness concerning me;
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and ye will not come to me that ye might have life.
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I do not receive glory from men,
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but I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.
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I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not; if another come in his own name, him ye will receive.
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How can ye believe, who receive glory one of another, and seek not the glory which [comes] from God alone?
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Think not that I will accuse you to the Father: there is [one] who accuses you, Moses, on whom ye trust;
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for if ye had believed Moses, ye would have believed me, for he wrote of me.
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But if ye do not believe his writings, how shall ye believe my words?
