Spiritual Meaning of
Spiritual Meaning of |
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AR 69. This and the following chapter treat of the seven churches, by which are described all those in the Christian church who have any religion, and out of whom the New Church, which is the New Jerusalem, can be formed; and this is formed of those who approach the Lord alone, and at the same time perform repentance from evil works. The rest, who do not approach the Lord alone, from the confirmed denial of the Divinity of His Human, and who do not perform repentance from evil works, are indeed in the church, but have nothing of the church in them.
AR 70. Since the Lord alone is acknowledged as the God of heaven and earth by those who are of His New Church in the heavens, and by those who will be of His New Church upon earth; therefore, in the first chapter of the Apocalypse the Lord alone is treated of; and in the two following chapters, it is He alone who speaks to the churches, and He alone who will give the happy things of eternal life. That it is He alone who speaks to the churches is evident from these passages:--
Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write, These things saith He who holdeth the seven stars in His right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden lampstands (Rev. 2:1).
Unto the angel of the church of Smyrna write, These things saith the First and the Last (Rev. 2:8).
To the angel of the church of Pergamos write, These things saith He which hath the sharp two-edged sword (Rev. 2:12).
Unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write, These things saith the Son of God, who hath His eyes like unto a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass (Rev. 2:18).
Unto the angel of the church in Sardis write, These things saith He that hath the seven spirits of God, and the seven stars (Rev. 3:1).
To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, These things saith He that is holy, He that is true, He that hath the key of David (Rev. 3:7).
And unto the angel of the church in Laodicea write, These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God (Rev. 3:14).
These are taken from the first chapter, in which the Lord alone is treated of, and He Himself is there described by all these things.
AR 71. That the Lord alone will give the happy things of eternal life to those who are and will be of His church, is evident from these passages:--
The Lord said to the church of Ephesus, To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God (Rev. 2:7).
Unto the church in Smyrna, I will give thee a crown of life. He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death (Rev. 2:10, 11).
Unto the church in Pergamos, To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth but he that receiveth it (Rev. 2:17).
Unto the church in Thyatira, To him will I give power over the nations, and I will give him the morning star (Rev. 2:26, 28).
Unto the church in Philadelphia, Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God; and I will write upon him the name of My God, the name of the New Jerusalem, and My new name (Rev. 3:12).
Unto the church in Laodicea, To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne (Rev. 3:21).
From these passages it is also evident, that the Lord alone is acknowledged in the New Church. Hence it is that this church is called The Lamb’s Wife (Apoc. 19:7, 9; 21:9, 10).
AR 72. That the New Church, which is the New Jerusalem, is formed of those who repent of evil works, is also manifest from the Lord‘s words to the churches:--
To Ephesus; I know thy works; I have against thee, that thou hast left thy first charity. Repent, and do the former works; or else I will remove thy lampstand out of its place, except thou repent (Rev. 2:2, 4, 5).
To the church in Pergamos; I know thy works, repent (Rev. 2:13, 16).
To the church in Thyatira; I will deliver her into affliction, except they repent of their works, I will give unto everyone of you according to his works (Rev. 2:19, 22, 23).
To the church in Sardis; I have not found thy works perfect before God, repent (Rev. 3:1-3).
To the church in Laodicea; I know thy works, be zealous, and repent (Rev. 3:15, 19).