Arcana Coelestia#10248
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.
脚注:
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
Exodus第19章
1
In the third month after the children of Israel had gone forth out of the land of Egypt, on that same day they came into the wilderness of Sinai.
2
When they had departed from Rephidim, and had come to the wilderness of Sinai, they encamped in the wilderness; and there Israel encamped before the mountain.
3
Moses went up to God, and Yahweh called to him out of the mountain, saying, "This is what you shall tell the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel:
4
'You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings, and brought you to myself.
5
Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice, and keep my covenant, then you shall be my own possession from among all peoples; for all the earth is mine;
6
and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation.' These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel."
7
Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and set before them all these words which Yahweh commanded him.
8
All the people answered together, and said, "All that Yahweh has spoken we will do." Moses reported the words of the people to Yahweh.
9
Yahweh said to Moses, "Behold, I come to you in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and may also believe you forever." Moses told the words of the people to Yahweh.
10
Yahweh said to Moses, "Go to the people, and sanctify them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments,
11
and be ready against the third day; for on the third day Yahweh will come down in the sight of all the people on Mount Sinai.
12
You shall set bounds to the people all around, saying, 'Be careful that you don't go up onto the mountain, or touch its border. Whoever touches the mountain shall be surely put to death.
13
No hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shot through; whether it is animal or man, he shall not live.' When the trumpet sounds long, they shall come up to the mountain."
14
Moses went down from the mountain to the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes.
15
He said to the people, "Be ready by the third day. Don't have sexual relations with a woman."
16
It happened on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain, and the sound of an exceedingly loud trumpet; and all the people who were in the camp trembled.
17
Moses led the people out of the camp to meet God; and they stood at the lower part of the mountain.
18
Mount Sinai, all it, smoked, because Yahweh descended on it in fire; and its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly.
19
When the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him by a voice.
20
Yahweh came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain. Yahweh called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.
21
Yahweh said to Moses, "Go down, warn the people, lest they break through to Yahweh to gaze, and many of them perish.
22
Let the priests also, who come near to Yahweh, sanctify themselves, lest Yahweh break forth on them."
23
Moses said to Yahweh, "The people can't come up to Mount Sinai, for you warned us, saying, 'Set bounds around the mountain, and sanctify it.'"
24
Yahweh said to him, "Go down and you shall bring Aaron up with you, but don't let the priests and the people break through to come up to Yahweh, lest he break forth on them."
