Spiritual Meaning of Visitation

Spiritual Meaning of

Visitation

The signification of being visited, is the last time. In the Word this last time is called visitation, and is predicated both of the church in general, and also of those who are within the church in particular; and of the new church which is being born, and of the old church which is expiring; in particular of the man of the church who is being saved, and of him who is being damned.

[2] That these things are signified in the Word by visitation, and the day of visitation, may be seen from the following passages. In Luke:--

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for He hath visited and wrought deliverance for His people. Through the bowels of mercy of our God, whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, that He may appear to them that sit in darkness and the shadow of death (Luke 1:68, 78, 79);

this is the prophetic utterance of Zacharias concerning the Lord when born; to be visited here denotes the raising up of a new church, and the enlightenment then of those who were in ignorance of the truth and good of faith, thus their deliverance; and therefore it is said, He hath visited and wrought deliverance for His people, He hath visited that He may appear to them that sit in darkness and the shadow of death.

[3] In Moses:--

Jehovah said unto Moses, Gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them, Jehovah the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, hath appeared to me, saying, Visiting I will visit you, and that which is done to you in Egypt (Exod. 3:16).

Again:--

The people believed; and they heard that Jehovah had visited the sons of Israel (Exod. 4:31).

"To be visited here denotes the last time when the church has ceased, and the first when it is beginning; the last with the Egyptians, and the first with the sons of Israel; thus also the deliverance of the latter.

[4] In Jeremiah:--

They shall lie carried away to Babylon; and there shall they be even until the day that I will visit them; then will I make to come up the vessels of the house of God, and I will bring them back unto this place (Jer. 27:22).

Again:--

When seventy years have been fulfilled to Babylon, I will visit you, and I will establish upon you My good word, and will bring you back unto this place (Jer. 29:10);

where to visit denotes to deliver; in general the last time of captivity and desolation.

[5] Visitation and the day of visitation denote the last time of the church, in Isaiah

What will ye do in the day of visitation and of devastation? it shall come from afar; unto whom will ye flee for help? (Isa. 10:3).

Again:--

Behold the day of Jehovah cometh, cruel, and of indignation, and of wrath, and of anger, to make the earth a waste. I will visit evil upon the world, and their iniquity upon the wicked (Isa. 13:9, 11).

In Jeremiah:--

They shall fall among them that fall; and in the time of their visitation they shall stumble (Jer. 8:12).

In Hosea:--

The days of visitation are come, the days of recompense are come (Hosea 9:7).

In Moses:--

Jehovah said to Moses, Notwithstanding, go, lead this people in, whither I have token to thee; behold, Mine angel shall go before thee; but in the day of My visiting I will visit upon them their sin (Exod. 32:34).

In Luke:--

Jesus said concerning Jerusalem, They shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou hast not acknowledged the time of thy visitation (Luke 19:44).

The day of visitation denotes the coming of the Lord, and enlightenment then; but in respect to the Jewish nation, as they did not acknowledge it, it denotes the last time of the representatives of the church with them; for when Jerusalem was destroyed, the sacrifices ceased, and that nation was scattered.

[6] In Ezekiel:--

A great voice cried in mine ears, The visitations of the city have come nigh, and a man has his instrument of destruction in his hand (Ezek. 9:1);

where the sense is similar. In Isaiah:--

The Rephaim shall not rise, in that Thou hast visited, Thou hast extinguished them (Isa. 26:14);

the Rephaim denote the posterity of the Most Ancient Church, which was before the flood, who are also called Nephilim and Anakim (AC 567, 581, 1673); Thou hast visited and extinguished the Rephaim denotes the last time of that church, and also the casting of them into hell (AC 1265-1272). Visitation denotes requital, thus damnation, in Jeremiah:--

Shall I not visit for this? shall not My soul be avenged on such a nation as this? (Jer. 5:9).

Again:--

I will bring the destruction of Esau upon him in the time that I shall visit him (Jer. 49:8).

And in Hosea:--

I will visit upon him his ways, and I will requite his word (Hosea 4:9).

from AC 6588

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Author: E. Swedenborg (1688-1772).

Design: I.J. Thompson, Feb 2002.