116# 主在世之时，亲自与地狱争战，全然得胜、将其制伏，使众地狱全然顺服于祂。此事可由圣言多处经文确凿佐证，今仅摘取核心段落以供参证。
“这从以东的波斯拉来，穿红衣服，装扮华美，能力广大，大步行走的是谁呢？就是我，是凭公义说话，以大能施行拯救。你的装扮为何有红色？你的衣服为何像踹酒榨的呢？我独自踹酒榨，众民中无一人与我同在；我发怒将他们踹下，发烈怒将他们践踏，他们的血溅在我衣服上，并且污染了我一切的衣裳。因为报仇之日在我心中，救赎我民之年已经来到。我观看，见无人帮助；我诧异，没有人扶持。所以，我自己的膀臂为我施行拯救，我的烈怒扶持我。我发怒践踏万民，在烈怒中使他们沉醉，又把他们的血倒在地上。他曾说：他们真是我的子民，不行虚假的儿女，因此他成为他们的救主；因他的爱和怜悯，他救赎了他们。”（赛 63:1-9）
以上经文记述主与地狱的争战。文中那身泛红尊荣的 “衣服”，象征屡遭犹太人施加逼迫与曲解的圣言；“发怒将他们踹下，发烈怒将他们践踏”，便是描绘祂征战地狱、全然得胜的景象。“众民中无一人与我同在”“我自己的膀臂为我施行拯救” 几句，足以显明这场争战唯独主凭自身神性大能独自完成，并无旁人相助；“因此他成为他们的救主”“因他的爱和怜悯，他救赎了他们”，印证祂借着此番征战成就救赎之功；而 “报仇之日在我心中，救赎我民之年已经来到”，则道出祂道成肉身降临世间的本旨。
【2】“他见无人拯救，无人代求，甚为诧异，就用自己的膀臂施行拯救，以公义扶持自己。他以公义为铠甲，以拯救为头盔，以报仇为衣服，以热心为外袍。必有一位救赎主来到锡安雅各中转离过犯的人那里。”（赛 59:16-17，20）
“我为何看见他们惊惶转身退后呢？他们的勇士打败了，急忙逃跑，并不回头，惊吓四围都有！那日是主万军之雅威报仇的日子，要向敌人报仇，刀剑必吞吃得饱，饮血饮足。”（耶 46:5，10）
“大能者啊，愿你腰间佩刀，大有荣耀和威严。为真理、谦卑、公义赫然坐车前往，无不得胜，你的右手必显明可畏的事。你的箭锋快，射中王敌之心，万民仆倒在你以下。神啊，你的宝座是永永远远的，你的国权是正直的。你喜爱公义，恨恶罪恶，所以神，就是你的神，用喜乐油膏你，胜过膏你的同伴。”（诗 45:3-7）
除此数段之外，圣言之中尚有无数经文，共同见证主征战地狱、胜过一切黑暗权势的真理。
【3】这场击溃地狱的征战，唯有主一人独自完成，并无任何天使前来辅佐。是以圣言称他为勇士、战士（赛 42:13；9:6）；又称他为 “荣耀的王、刚强的雅威、争战的勇士”（诗 24:8，10），亦唤作 “雅各的大能者”（诗 132:2）；圣言多处更将祂称作 “万军之雅威”，也就是统管诸天众军的雅威。主的降临，也被命名为雅威的日子，是可畏、严酷、震怒、烈怒、审判、毁灭、征战、吹号、呐喊、喧嚷之日。
还有：“现在这世界受审判，这世界的王要被赶出去。”（约 12:31）“这世界的王已经受了审判。”（约 16:11）“你们可以放心，我已经胜了世界。”（约 16:33）“我看见撒但如闪电从天上坠落。”（路 10:18）此处经文所言的 “世界”“世界的王”“撒但” 与 “魔鬼”，所喻指的尽是地狱之中一切黑暗灵界权势。
【4】启示录自开篇至末卷，完整记述现今基督教会的真实境况，同时预言主将二次降临，制伏众地狱、规整全新天使天堂，继而在地上重建属灵新教会。这般预言虽早已载于书卷之内，却直至今日方才全然揭开。
究其根源，启示录与圣言全部先知书卷相同，皆是全然依照对应法则撰写；若非主亲自揭示其中对应奥秘，世人几乎无法读懂书中任何一节经文。如今为着新教会的缘故，书中全部真理要义，皆已收录于一七六六年在阿姆斯特丹刊行的《揭秘启示录》一书之中。
但凡诚心信服马太福音二十四章内，主论及今世教会光景与祂降临的话语，皆能明晰看见这一切应验之事。然则今日唯有一类人心中信心摇摆不定：他们自幼将当世教会两大谬误深植心底、难以拔除，其一便是认定上帝自永恒便存有三个神性位格，其二便是主张基督十字架受难本身等同于救赎本体。
这般人的心境光景，正如前文第一百一十三节可记念之事中所譬喻：他们如同盛满铁屑与硫磺粉末的皮囊，一旦有水注入，便先行发热、继而燃起火苗，终致皮囊崩裂。同理，每当他们听闻活水所喻的圣言真道，真理经由耳目进入内心，内里便骤生烈怒、竭力排斥，将真道视作足以击碎自身的祸患。
116# 主在世时与地狱争战，战胜并征服它们，从而使它们顺从，这一点从圣言中的大量经文明显看出来，我从中仅引用以下少量经文。以赛亚书：
这从以东而来、穿从波斯拉所溅的衣服的是谁呢？这服装华美，能力广大，大步行走的是谁呢？我凭公义说话，以大能施行拯救。你的衣服为何是红色的呢？你的衣服为何像踹酒榨的呢？我独自踹酒榨；民中无一人与我同在；因此我发怒将他们踹下，发烈怒将他们践踏；他们的血或胜利溅在我衣服上，我污秽了我所有的衣服。因为报仇之日在我心中，我救赎之年已经来到。我的膀臂为我施行拯救；我使他们的胜利倒在地上。祂说，他们诚然是我的百姓，儿女；这样，祂就作了他们的救主；祂以慈爱和怜悯救赎他们。（以赛亚书63:1-9）
这些话论及主与地狱的争战。祂所穿的华美的红色“衣服”是指圣言，犹太人已经向它施暴；祂“发怒将他们踹下，发烈怒将他们践踏”描述了祂与地狱的争战和对它们的胜利；“民中无一人与我同在；我的膀臂为我施行拯救；我使他们的胜利倒在地上”描述了祂凭自己的能力独自争战；“这样，祂就作了他们的救主；祂以慈爱和怜悯救赎他们”描述了祂由此带来拯救和救赎。“报仇之日在我心中，我救赎之年已经来到”是指这就是祂降临的原因。
又：
祂见无人，诧异没有一个代求者；因此，祂的膀臂给祂施行拯救，祂的公义扶持祂。因为祂穿上公义为铠甲，将拯救的头盔戴在头上；祂披上报仇的衣服，披戴热心为外袍。必有一位救赎主来到锡安。（以赛亚书59:16，17，20）
耶利米书：
他们惊惶，他们的勇士打败了，急忙逃跑，并不回头。因为这是主万军之耶和华的日子，是祂向敌人报仇的日子；剑必吞吃得饱。（耶利米书46:5，10）
这两段经文都涉及主与地狱的争战和对他们的胜利。诗篇：
大能者啊，愿你大腿边佩剑。你的箭锋利；射中王的仇敌之心，万民仆倒在你以下；你的宝座是永永远远的；你喜爱公义，所以神膏你。（诗篇45:3-7）
以及其它许多经文。
由于主独自征服地狱，没有来自任何天使的帮助，所以祂被称为“勇士和战士”（以赛亚书42:13; 9:6）、“荣耀的王，有大能，在战场上有能的耶和华”（诗篇24:8，10）、“雅各的大能者”（诗篇132:2）；在许多地方，祂被称为“万军之耶和华”，即万象之耶和华。此外，祂的降临被称为“耶和华的日子，可怕、残忍，愤恨、烈怒、报仇、毁灭、战争的日子，吹号、呐喊、喧嚣的日子，等等。我们在福音书中读到：
现在这世界受审判；现在这世界的王要被赶出去。（约翰福音12:31）
这世界的王受了审判。（约翰福音16:11）
你们可以放心，我已经胜了这世界。（约翰福音16:33）
我看见撒但从天上坠落，像闪电一样。（路加福音10:18）
“世界”、“世界的王”、“撒但”和“魔鬼”是指地狱。
此外，启示录从头到尾都在描述当今基督教会的状态，还预言了主会再次降临，征服地狱，形成一个新的天使天堂，最后在地上建立一个新教会。所有这些事都在那里预言了，但直到现在才被披露。这是因为启示录和圣言的所有预言部分一样，是以纯粹的对应写成的；除非主披露这些对应关系，否则几乎没有人能正确理解这本书中的一节经文。但现在为了新教会，启示录的所有内容都在1766年于阿姆斯特丹出版的《揭秘启示录》一书中公开了；那些相信主在马太福音24章所说关于当今教会的状态和祂降临的话之人，都会明白这些内容。但对那些将当今教会的信仰，即相信来自永恒的三个神性位格，以及基督的受难是救赎本身，深深铭刻在自己心上，以至于无法根除的人来说，这还只是一个摇摆不定，或模糊和不确定的信仰。但正如在前面（TCR 113节）记事中所说的，他们就像装满铁屑和硫磺粉的瓶子，如果加上水，那么首先发热，然后着火，从而导致瓶子爆裂。同样，当这些人听到关于活水，即来自圣言的真正真理的任何话，并且这真理通过眼睛或耳朵进入他们的脑海时，他们就会变得异常激动或发热，并猛烈爆发出来，弃绝这真理如同弃绝会爆裂他们脑袋的东西。
116. Many passages in the Word make it clear that while he was in the world the Lord fought battles against the hells, conquered them, brought them under control, and made them obedient to himself. I will extract just a few.
In Isaiah:
Who is this who comes from Edom, from Bozrah with his clothes spattered, this one honorable in his clothing, walking in the magnitude of his strength?
"It is I who speak with justice, great in order to give salvation. "
Why are your clothes reddish? Why are your clothes like those of someone trampling in a winepress?
"I trampled the winepress alone. There was no man from the people with me. Because I trampled people in my anger and stamped on them in my rage, their victory was spattered on my clothes. For the day of revenge was in my heart and the year of my redeemed had come. My arm performed salvation for me. I made the enemies victory go down into the ground. "
He said, "Behold those others are my people, my children. "
That is why he became their Savior. Because of his love and his mercy he redeemed them. (Isaiah 63:19)
These words are about the Lord's battles against the hells. The clothes in which he was honorable and which were reddish mean the Word, to which the Jewish people had done violence. The combat itself against the hells and victory over them is described by his trampling people in his anger and stamping on them in his rage. The fact that he was alone and fought from his own power is described by these phrases: "there was no man from the people with me;" "my arm performed salvation for me;" and "I made the enemies' victory go down into the ground. " His bringing salvation and redemption as a result is described by these phrases: "That is why he became their Savior;" and "because of his love and mercy he redeemed them. " The fact that this was the reason for his coming is meant by these phrases: "the day of revenge was in my heart and the year of my redeemed had come. "
[2] Also in Isaiah:
He saw that there was no one and was astounded that there was no one interceding. Therefore his own arm performed salvation for him and justice made him stand up. Then he put on justice like a breastplate and a helmet of salvation on his head. He put on the clothes of vengeance and covered himself with zeal like a cloak. Then the Redeemer came to Zion. (Isaiah 59:16-17, 20)
In Jeremiah:
They were terrified; their mighty ones were broken. They fled in flight and did not look back. That day belonged to the Lord Jehovih Sabaoth, a day of retribution for him to take revenge on his enemies, for the sword to eat and be satisfied. (Jeremiah 46:5, 10)
These last two passages are about the Lord's combat against the hells and victory over them.
In David:
Strap the sword on your thigh, Powerful One. Your arrows are sharp. Populations fall beneath you - enemies of the king at heart. Your throne is for an age and forever. You have loved justice. God anointed you for this. (Psalms 45:3-7)
There are also many other relevant passages in the Psalms.
[3] Because the Lord conquered the hells alone with no help from any angel he is called Hero and a Man of Wars (Isaiah 42:13; 9:6), the King of Glory, Jehovah the Mighty, a Hero of war (, ), the Mighty One of Jacob (Psalms 132:2), and in many passages "Jehovah Sabaoth," that is, "Jehovah of Armies. " For the same reason his coming is called the terrible day of Jehovah; a cruel day; a day of indignation, rage, anger, revenge, destruction, and war; a day of the trumpet, of the call to arms, of uproar; and so on.
In the Gospel writers we read the following:
Now is the judgment of the world; the Prince of This World is cast to the outside. (John 12:31)
The Prince of This World has been judged. (John 16:11)
Have confidence; I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)
I saw Satan falling like a thunderbolt out of heaven. (Luke 10:18)
In these passages "the world," "the Prince of This World," "Satan," and "the Devil" mean hell.
[4] In addition, the Book of Revelation from beginning to end de scribes the condition of the Christian church today and the fact that the Lord is going to come again, take control of the hells, make a new angelic heaven, and then establish a new church on earth. All this is foretold there but it has not been disclosed before today. The reason is that the Book of Revelation, like all the prophetic portions of the Word, was written in pure correspondences. If the correspondences had not been disclosed by the Lord, hardly anyone could have correctly understood a single verse there.
Now, for the sake of the new church, everything in the Book of Revelation has been disclosed in Revelation Unveiled, published in Amsterdam, 1766. Some will see those things - those who believe the Word of the Lord in Matthew 24 about the state of the church today and about his coming. In fact, the only people who are still ambivalent are those who have planted two of the modern-day church's beliefs so deeply in their own hearts that those beliefs cannot be uprooted: the belief in three divine Persons from eternity; and the belief that the suffering on the cross was the actual redemption. As noted in the memorable occurrence above at 113[:2], these people are like beakers full of iron filings and powdered sulfur. If water is poured in the beakers, first there is increasing heat and then there is fire, which breaks the beakers. Likewise, when these people hear some living water, which is the genuine truth in the Word, and it goes into their eyes or ears, they burst violently into flames and expel it as something that is about to break their heads.
116. There are many passages in the Word which prove that, when the Lord was in the world, He fought against the hells, overcame and conquered them and thus made them obedient to Him; I will quote only these few.
In Isaiah:
Who is this coming from Edom, with stained clothes from Bozrah? A fine figure he is in his clothing, striding out in the excess of his strength. It is I who speak in righteousness, I who am mighty to save. Why are your clothes ruddy, like the clothing of one who treads the wine-vat? I have trodden the wine-vat alone, and of the people there was not a man with me. Therefore I trod them down in my anger, and I trampled them in my wrath. Hence their victory is sprinkled over my clothing. For the day of vengeance is in my heart, and the year of my redeemed has come. My arm was my salvation, I brought their victory down to the ground. He said, Behold, they are my people, my sons. Therefore he became a saviour for them. For his love and tenderness he redeemed them, Isaiah 63:1-9.
This is a description of the Lord's battle against the hells. The clothing which is ruddy and in which He is a fine figure, means the Word, to which the Jewish people offered violence. The actual battle with the hells and His victory over them is described by His treading them down in His anger and trampling them in His wrath. His fighting alone and by His own power is described by the words 'of the people there was not a man with me, my arm was my salvation, I brought their victory down to the ground.' His saving and redeeming is described thus: 'Therefore he became a saviour for them, for his love and tenderness he redeemed them.' This was the reason for His coming, as is meant by 'the day of vengeance is in my heart, and the year of my redeemed has come.'
[2] In another passage of Isaiah:
He saw that there was no one, and was amazed that there was none to intercede, Therefore his arm was his salvation and righteousness raised him up. So he put on righteousness as a breast-plate, and the helmet of salvation on his head, and he put on the clothing of vengeance, and covered himself with jealous anger like a cloak. Then the Redeemer came to Zion, Isaiah 59:16-17, 20.
In Jeremiah:
They were broken, their brave men were bruised. They fled away and did not look back. That is the day of the Lord Jehovih Zebaoth, a day of revenge, that He may take vengeance on his enemies; let the sword devour and be sated, Jeremiah 46:5, 10.
Both of these passages describe the Lord's battle against the hells and His victory over them.
In the Psalms of David:
Gird your sword on your thigh, o mighty one. Sharp are your arrows, the peoples will fall before you, the enemies of the king will lose heart. Your throne is for ever, eternal; you loved righteousness, therefore has God anointed You, Psalms 45:3-7.
There are many other passages besides.
[3] Since the Lord conquered the hells alone with no help from any angel, He is therefore called 'Hero and Man of War' (Isaiah 42:13; 9:6), 'the King of glory, Jehovah the strong, the hero of war' (Psalms 24:8, 10), the strong one of Jacob (Psalms 132:2) and in many places 'Jehovah Zebaoth', that is, 'Jehovah of hosts.' His coming is called 'the day of Jehovah, terrible, cruel, the day of indignation, of anger, of wrath, of vengeance, of ruin, of war, of the trumpet, of sounding off, of uproar, etc.'
In the Gospels we read:
Now is the judgment of the world; the prince of this world shall be cast out, John 12:31.
The prince of this world has been judged, John 16:11.
Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world, John 16:33.
I saw Satan falling from heaven like a thunderbolt, Luke 10:18.
The world, the prince of the world, Satan and the devil all mean hell.
[4] Apart from these passages, the whole of Revelation from beginning to end describes the present state of the Christian church, and prophesies the Lord's second coming, His conquest of the hells, the creation of a new heaven of angels and then the establishment of a new church on earth. All these things were there foretold, but they have not been revealed before the present time. The reason is that Revelation, like all the prophetical parts of the Word, was written purely in correspondences, and if these had not been revealed by the Lord, hardly anyone could have correctly understood a single verse. Now for the sake of the new church all its contents have been revealed in my book "The Apocalypse Revealed" (published at Amsterdam, 1766).
Those will see this who believe the Lord's words in Matthew, chapter 24, about the state of the church today and about His coming. But this is only a flickering faith so far with those who have, so deeply that it cannot be extirpated, imprinted on their hearts the faith of the present-day church about a Trinity of Divine Persons from eternity, and about Christ's passion as being the real act of redemption. But these people are (as was said above in the experience related in 113) like leather skins filled with iron filings and powdered sulphur; if water is poured in, heat is first produced, then flame which makes the skins burst. It is the same with those who hear something about living water, which is the genuine truth of the Word, and this enters through their eyes or ears; they become hot and inflamed with anger, and they reject it as something which would burst their heads.
116. That when the Lord was in the world He fought against the hells, and conquered and subdued them, and so reduced them to obedience, is evident from many passages in the Word, from which I will present the few which follow. In Isaiah:
Who is this that cometh from Edom, His garments sprinkled from Bozrah? this that is glorious in His apparel, walking in the multitude of His strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. Wherefore art thou red in Thine apparel, and Thy garments like his that treadeth in the wine-vat? I have trodden the wine-press alone; and of the people not a man was with Me therefore have I trodden them in Mine anger, and trampled them in My wrath; therefore their victory is sprinkled upon My garments. For the day of vengeance is in My heart, and the year of My redeemed hath come. Mine arm brought salvation to Me; I have made their victory to go down into the earth. He said, Surely they are My people, children; so He became a Savior for thee Because of His love and His pity He redeemed them (63:1-9).
This refers to the Lord's combat against the hells. The "apparel" in which He was glorious, and which was red, means the Word, to which the Jewish people had done violence; His combat against the hells and His victory over them are described by His "treading the people in His anger, and trampling them in His wrath;" that He fought alone from His own power is described by the words, "of the people not a man was with Me; Mine arm brought salvation to Me; I have made their victory to go down to the earth;" that thereby He wrought salvation and redemption is declared in the words, "So He became a Savior for them; because of His love and His pity He redeemed them." That this was the reason of His coming is meant by the words, "the day of vengeance is in My heart, and the year of My redeemed hath come."
[2] Again in Isaiah:
He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor; therefore His arm brought salvation unto Him, and his righteousness sustained Him. For He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation upon His head; and He put on the garments of vengeance, and clothed Himself with zeal as with a robe. Then the Redeemer came to Zion (59:16, 17, 20). In Jeremiah:
They were dismayed, their mighty ones were beaten down, they fled apace and looked not back. For this is the day of the Lord Jehovih of Hosts, a day of vengeance that He may avenge Him of His adversaries; and the sword shall devour and it shall be satiate (46:5, 10).
Both of these passages refer to the Lord's combat against the hells and His victory over them. In David:
Gird the sword upon the thigh, O mighty One. 'Thine arrows are sharp; the people shall fall under Thee, enemies of the king from the heart; Thy throne is for the age and for eternity; Thou hast loved righteousness, therefore God hath anointed Thee (Psalms 45:3-7);
also in many other places.
[3] Because the Lord conquered the hells alone, with no help from any angel, He is called:
Mighty and a man of war (Isaiah 42:13; 9:6)
The King of glory, Jehovah the Mighty, Mighty in battle (Psalms 24:8, 10)
The Mighty One of Jacob (Psalms 132:2);
and in many places "Jehovah of Hosts," that I, Jehovah of armies; and His coming is called the day of Jehovah, terrible, cruel, the day of indignation, of wrath, of anger, of vengeance, of destruction, of war, of a trumpet, of a noise, of a tumult, and so on. And we read in the Gospels:
Now is the judgment of this world; now shall the prince of this world be cast out (John 12:31).
The prince of this world hath been judged (John 16:11).
Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world (John 16:33).
I beheld Satan as lightning falling from heaven (Luke 10:18).
"The world," "the prince of this world," "satan," and "the devil," mean hell.
[4] Moreover, in the Apocalypse from beginning to end the present character of the Christian church is set forth, also that the Lord is to come again, and is to subjugate the hells, and form a new angelic heaven, and at last establish a new church on earth. All these things are there predicted, but have not been disclosed until now. This is because the Apocalypse, like all the prophetical parts of the Word, was written in pure correspondences; and unless these had been disclosed by the Lord scarcely anyone would be able to understand rightly a single verse in that book; but now, on account of a new church, all its contents have been laid open in the Apocalypse Revealed (Amsterdam, 1766); and will be seen by those who believe the Word of the Lord in Matthew 24, about the present state of the church, and His coming. But this is as yet only a vacillating belief with those who have impressed on their hearts, so deeply that it cannot be rooted out, the faith of the church at this day in three Divine persons from eternity, and in Christ's passion as being redemption itself. But such (as has been said in the Memorable Relation above, n. 113) are like bottles filled with iron chips and pulverized sulfur, in which, if water be added, first heat is produced, and then flame, which bursts the bottles. So when these hear anything about the living water, which is genuine truth from the Word, and that truth enters their minds through the eyes or ears, they become violently excited and inflamed, and reject the truth as something that might split their heads.
116. While the Lord was in the world, He fought against the hells, overcame and subdued them, and so brought them under obedience to Himself. This is evident from many passages in the Word, of which I will quote these few:
"Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in His apparel, travelling in the greatness of His strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to sate. Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat? I have trodden the wine-press alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment. For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come. . . Mine own arm brought salvation unto me... and I will bring down their strength to the earth. . . For He said, Surely they are my people, my children. . . So He was their Saviour... In His love and pity He redeemed them" Isaiah 63:1-9.
These words are spoken of the Lord's combat against the hells. By the garment in which He was honourable, and which was red, is signified the Word, which was violated by the Jewish people. His combat against the hells and His victory over them are described by His treading them in His anger, and trampling them in His fury. That He fought alone, and from His own power, is described by these words:
"Of the people there was none with me. Mine own arm brought salvation unto me... and I will bring down their strength to the earth." That He thus saved and redeemed them, is signified by these words: "So He was their Saviour... In His love and pity He redeemed them." That this was the cause of His Coming is under-stood by these words: "The day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come."
[2] Again, it is written in Isaiah:
"And He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore His arm brought salvation unto Him, and His righteousness, it sustained Him. For He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon His head; and He put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloak... And the Redeemer shall come to Zion" 59:16-17, 20.
In Jeremiah it is written:
They were dismayed. "Their mighty ones are beaten down, and are fled apace, and look not back... For this is the day of JEHOVIH ZEBAOTH, a day of vengeance, that He may avenge Him of His adversaries: and the sword shall devour, and it shall be satiate" Jeremiah 46:5, 10.
These passages relate to the Lord's combat against the hells, and His victory over them. It is written also in David:
"Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O Most Mighty... Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the king's enemies; whereby the people fall under thee. Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever. . Thou lovest righteousness... therefore God hath anointed thee" Psalms 45:3-7;
and in many other places.
[3] As the Lord conquered the hells alone, without help from any angel, He is therefore called Mighty, and a Man of War, Isaiah 42:13; 9:6;
the King of glory, JEHOVAH strong and mighty in battle, Psalms 24:8, 10;
the mighty God of Jacob, Psalms 132:2;
and in many places He is called JEHOVAH ZEBAOTH, that is, JEHOVAH of Hosts. Further, His Coming is called 'The day of JEHOVAH, terrible and cruel, a day of indignation, of flaming anger, of wrath, of vengenance, of destruction, of war, of a trumpet, of noise, of tumult,' and so on. It is written also in the Evangelists,
"Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out" John 12:31;
"The prince of this world is judged" John 16:11;
"Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world" John 16:33.
"I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven" Luke 10:18.
By the world, the prince of the world, Satan, and the Devil, is signified hell.
[4] Moreover, in the Revelation, from beginning to end, is described the character of the Christian Church at the present day; and there is foretold that the Lord will come again, and subdue the hells, and form a new angelic heaven, and afterwards establish a New Church on earth. All these things are there predicted, but they have not been disclosed till the present time. The reason of this is that the Book of Revelation, like all the prophetical parts of the Word, was written by pure correspondences; and unless these had been disclosed by the Lord, scarcely any one could have rightly understood a single verse in that Book. However, for the sake of the New Church, all things therein have now been made known in the work entitled, APOCALYPSE REVEALED, published at Amsterdam, in the year 1766; and they will understand these things who believe the Word of the Lord as it is written in Matthew 24, concerning the present state of the Church and His Coming. But this belief is as yet only vague and uncertain with those who have the belief of the Church of to-day in a trinity of Divine Persons from eternity, and in the Passion of Christ as constituting redemption itself, so deeply implanted in their hearts that it cannot be eradicated. They resemble those described in the incident recorded in 113. They are like bottles filled with fragments of iron and powdered sulphur. When water is poured into them, heat is at first generated and then fire, which causes the bottles to burst. In like manner when they hear anything of that living water, which is the genuine truth of the Word, and when it enters into their minds either through their eyes or their ears, they become heated, and violently flare up, and cast it out as something which would burst their heads.
116. Quod Dominus dum in Mundo fuit, pugnaverit contra Inferna, ac illa vicerit et subjugaverit, et sic illa sub suam obedientiam miserit, constat ex multis locis in Verbo, ex quibus haec pauca depromam; apud Esajam, Quis Hic qui venit ex Edom, conspersus vestes ex Bozra, hic honorabilis in vestitu suo, incedens in multitudine roboris sui: Ego qui loquor in justitia, magnus ad salvandum; quare rubicundus quoad vestem tuam, et vestis tua sicut calcantis in torculari; torcular calcavi solus, et de populo non vir mecum: propterea calcavi illos in ira mea, et conculcavi illos in excandescentia 1 mea, inde sparsa est victoria eorum super vestes meas; nam dies vindictae in corde meo, et annus Redemptorum meorum venit; salutem praestitit Mihi brachium meum; descendere feci in terram victoriam eorum: dixit, ecce populus meus illi, filii, ideo factus est illis in Salvatorem; ob amorem suum et ob clementiam suam Ille redemit eos, 63:1-9. Haec de pugna Domini contra Inferna; per vestem, in qua honorabilis, et quae rubicunda, intelligitur Verbum, cui violentia a populo Judaico illata est; ipsa pugna contra Inferna, et victoria super illa, describitur per quod calcaverit illos in ira sua, et conculcaverit in excandescentia sua; quod solus et ex propria potentia pugnaverit, describitur per haec, de populo non vir Mecum, salutem Mihi praestitit brachium meum, descendere feci in terram victoriam eorum; quod per id salvaverit et redemerit, per haec, ideo factus est illis in Salvatorem, ob amorem suum et 2 ob clementiam suam Redemit illos; quod hoc fuerit causa adventus Ipsius, intelligitur per haec, dies vindictae in corde meo, et annus Redemptorum meorum venit.
[2] Iterum apud Esajam, "Vidit quod non quisquam, et obstupuit quod non esset intercedens; ideo salutem praestitit Ipsi brachium suum, et Justitia suscitavit Ipsum; inde induit Justitiam sicut loricam, et galeam salutis super caput suum, et induit vestes vindictae, et texit Se zelo sicut pallio; tunc venit Zioni Redemptor;" Esajas 59:16-17, 20. Apud Jeremiam, "Illi consternati sunt, fortes eorum contusi sunt; fugam fugerunt, nec respexerunt; dies ille Domino Jehovih Zebaoth, dies ultionis, ut vindictam sumat de hostibus suis; comedat gladius et saturetur," Jeremias 46:5, 10, haec et illa de pugna Domini contra Inferna, et de victoria super illa. Apud Davidem, "Accinge gladium super femur, Potens; tela tua acuta, populi cadent sub Te, e corde hostes Regis: Thronus tuus in saeculum et aeternum, amasti Justitiam, propterea unxit Te Deus," Psalm 45:4-8; 3 praeter in permultis aliis locis.
[3] Quoniam Dominus Solus vicit Inferna, cum nulla ope alicujus Angeli, ideo vocatur HEROS et VIR BELLORUM, Esaias 42:13, 4 9:5. 5 REX GLORIAE, JEHOVAH 6 FORTIS, HEROS BELLI, 7 Psalm 24:8, 10. 8 FORTIS JACOBI, Psalm 132:2 et multis in locis Jehovah Zebaoth, hoc est, Jehovah Exercituum: et quoque Adventus Ipsius, vocatur Dies Jehovae terribilis, crudelis, indignationis, excandescentiae, irae, vindictae, exitii, belli, buccinae, clangoris, tumultus, etc. Apud Evangelistas leguntur haec, Nunc Judicium est Mundi, Princeps Mundi hujus ejicietur foras, Johannes 12:31. Princeps hujus Mundi judicatus est, Johannes 16:11. Confidite, Ego vici Mundum, Johannes 16:33. Vidi Satanam sicut fulmen e Coelo cadentem, Luca 10:18 per Mundum, Principem mundi, Satanam et Diabolum, intelligitur Infernum.
[4] Praeter haec in Apocalypsi a principio ad finem describitur, qualis Ecclesia Christiana hodie est, tum quod Dominus iterum venturus sit, ac Inferna subjugaturus, ac Novum Coelum Angelicum facturus sit, et deinde Novam Ecclesiam in terris instauraturus. Haec omnia ibi praedicta sunt, sed non prius quam hodie detecta; causa est, quia Apocalypsis, sicut omnia Prophetica Verbi, conscripta fuit per meras Correspondentias, quae nisi a Domino detectae fuissent, vix aliquis potuisset rite intelligere unum versiculum ibi, at nunc propter Novam Ecclesiam, omnia quae ibi, in APOCALYPSI REVELATA, Amstelodami, An. 1766 edita, detecta sunt, et videbunt illa, qui credunt Verbo Domini apud Matthaeum 24, de statu Ecclesiae hodiernae, et de adventu Ipsius; sed haec fides vacillat solum apud illos adhuc, qui fidem hodiernae Eecclesiae de Trinitate Personarum Divinarum ab aeterno, et de Passione Christi quod fuerit ipsa Redemptio, tam alte impresserunt cordibus suis, ut eradicari non possit; sed hi sunt, ut in MEMORABILI supra 113, dictum est, sicut utres repleti ramentis ferri, et pulvere sulphureo, in quae si immittitur aqua, fit primum incalescentia, et postea flamma, ex qua utres illi rumpuntur; similiter illi, dum audiunt aliquod de aqua viva, quae est genuinum verum Verbi, et hoc intrat per oculos aut aures, vehementer excandescunt et inflammantur, et rejiciunt sicut tale, quod rumperet Capita illorum.
Footnotes:
1. Prima editio: excandeseentia.
2. Sic supra et Vera Christiana Religio 92, sed prima editio: amorem et.
3. Sic Schmidt et Biblia Hebraica, sed 45:3-7 apud Biblia Anglica. Prima editio: Psalm. 45:4-7.
4. Prima editio: 15.
5. Sic Schmidt et Biblia Hebraica, sed 9:6 apud Biblia Anglica.
6. Prima editio: JEMOVAH.
7. Prima editio: PELLI.
8. Prima editio: Psalm. XIV.