八、新天新教会之必要
182# 由此亦可明见：倘若主不建立新天与新教会，则凡血气的，无一人能得拯救。
《马太福音》记曰：“因为那时必有大灾难，从世界的起头直到如今，没有这样的灾难，后来也必没有。若不减少那日子，凡有血气的总没有一个得救的。”（太24:21-22）
此章所论，乃世代的终结；所谓世代的终结，即现今教会之终局。因此，经文所谓“减少那日子”，乃指终结旧教会，并设立新教会。谁不知晓，若非主降世并成就救赎，凡有血气者，无一能够得救？所谓成就救赎，其义即为建立新天、设立新教会。主将再临于世，此事祂已在福音书中预先宣告（太24:30-31；可13:26；路12:40；21:27）；在《启示录》中亦多有明示，尤以末章为著。至于今日主仍在施行救赎，即为使人能够得救而建立新天、设立新教会，此事已于前文“论救赎”一题下阐明。
【2】若非主设立新教会，凡有血气者便不能得救；其中含有一大奥秘：只要大龙及其党羽仍停留于灵界，即他们被摔下去之处，则凡与神性良善相结合的神性真理，便不能传达到地上之人那里，而不被颠倒、歪曲，或至于灭没。这正是《启示录》所言：“大龙就是那古蛇，名叫魔鬼，又叫撒但，是迷惑普天下的；它被摔在地上，它的使者也一同被摔下去。……地与海有祸了，因为魔鬼知道自己的时候不多，就气忿忿地下到你们那里去了。”（启12:9，12）
及至大龙被投入地狱之后（启20:10），约翰便看见新天新地，又见新耶路撒冷由上帝那里从天而降（启21:1-2）。所谓“大龙”，乃指那些处于现今教会之信仰中的人。
【3】我在灵界屡次与那些主张人因唯信称义者交谈，并对他们说：你们的教义不但错误，而且悖理；它使人在属灵之事上陷于安逸无惧、盲目、沉睡与黑夜，由此终致灵魂之死；我亦劝他们离弃此教义。然而他们回答说：“为何要离弃？教士高于平信徒的学问卓越，不正全赖此一教义么？”
我便答曰：如此看来，你们所注目的，并非灵魂得救这一目的，而是自身名声之卓越；又因你们将圣言之真理附会于自己的虚假原则，并由此玷污、奸淫这些真理，所以你们乃是无底坑的使者，名为亚巴顿与亚玻伦；经上记着：“有无底坑的使者作它们的王，按着希伯来话，名叫亚巴顿，希利尼话，名叫亚玻伦。”（启9:11）这两个名号所表示的，乃是藉全然歪曲圣言而毁坏教会者。
他们却答道：“这算什么？我们凭着对那信仰奥秘的知识，乃是神谕；我们从其中如从圣所发出答复。因此，我们并非亚玻伦，而是阿波罗。”
我闻言愤然曰：你们若自命为阿波罗，实则亦是利维坦；你们中为首者，乃曲行之利维坦；其次者，乃长行之利维坦。上帝必以祂刚硬而有力的大刀刑罚他们，正如《以赛亚书》所言：“到那日，雅威必用他刚硬有力的大刀，刑罚利维坦，就是那快行的蛇；刑罚利维坦，就是那曲行的蛇，并杀海中的大龙。”（赛27:1）
然而，他们听见这些话，只是一味嗤笑。
182# （8）出于同样的原因，除非主建立一个新天堂和一个新教会，否则没有肉体能得救。在马太福音，经上说：
那时必有大灾难，从世界的起头直到如今，没有这样的灾难，将来也不会有。若不缩短那些日子，凡肉体都不会得救。（马太福音24:21，22）
这一章论述了“时代的完结”，“时代的完结”是指当今教会的结束；因此，“缩短那些日子”是指结束这个教会，并建立一个新教会。谁不知道除非主降世，并施行救赎，否则没有肉体能得救？施行救赎是指建一个新天堂和一个新教会。主在福音书（马太福音24:30，31; 马可福音13:26; 路加福音12:40; 21:27）和启示录，尤其启示录的最后一章中预言，祂会再次降世。前面关于救赎那一章（TCR 114-137节）已经说明，如今为了人可以得救，祂正在通过形成一个新天堂和建立一个新教会而完成一次救赎。
有一个迄今为止不为人知的伟大奥秘或真理，即：除非主建立一个新教会，否则没有肉体能得救；这个奥秘或真理是这样：只要龙及其团伙仍留在他被扔在的灵人界，就没有与神性良善结合的任何神性真理能在不被败坏和歪曲，或不灭亡的情况下通过灵人界到达地上的人那里。这就是启示录中这些话的意思：
龙被摔在地上，他的使者也同他被摔下去。只是住在地与海上的有祸了，因为魔鬼发大怒下到他们那里去了。（启示录12:9，12，13）
但当那龙被扔进地狱时（启示录20:10），约翰就看见一个新天和一个新地，并看到新耶路撒冷由神那里从天而降（启示录21:1，2）。“龙”是指那些处于当今教会的信仰之人。
在灵界，我曾多次与那些相信唯信使人称义的人交谈。我告诉他们说，他们的教义既是错误的，也是荒谬的；它在属灵事物上给人带来自满、瞎眼、沉睡和黑夜，最终给灵魂带来死亡。我劝他们放弃，但得到的答复是：“为什么放弃它？这是神职人员可以声称比平信徒更有学问的唯一理由。”我回答说：“在这种情况下，他们不会视灵魂的拯救为目标，而是视自己卓越的声誉为目标。由于他们将圣言中的真理应用于自己的虚假原则，从而玷污了它们，所以他们就是深渊或无底坑的使者，被称为亚巴顿和亚玻伦（启示录9:11），这些名字表示那些通过彻底歪曲圣言而摧毁教会的人。”但他们回答说：“你是什么意思？正因我们知道唯信的奥秘，所以我们才是神谕，并从它那里，如同从一个圣所那里给出回应；因此，我们不是亚玻伦，而是阿波罗。”听到这个答复，我气愤地说：“如果你们是阿波罗，那么你们也是利维坦，你们的领袖是弯曲的利维坦，你们其余的人是伸展的利维坦，神必用祂又大又强有力的剑察罚你们（以赛亚书27:1）。”但他们却嘲笑这些话。
182. 8. In fact, if the Lord were not building a new heaven and a new church, the human race would not be preserved. We read in Matthew,
Then there will be a great affliction such as has never existed since the world began until now and will never exist again. In fact, unless those days were cut short no flesh would be preserved. (Matthew 24:21-22)
This chapter in Matthew concerns "the close of the age," which means the end of the modern-day church. "Cutting those days short" means ending that church and starting a new one.
Surely everyone knows that unless the Lord had come into the world and redeemed us, we could not have been saved. "Redeeming us" means constructing a new heaven and a new church.
In the Gospels the Lord predicted that he was going to come into the world again (Matthew 24:30-31; Mark 13:26; Luke 12:40; 21:27; see also the Book of Revelation, especially in the last chapter). As I have shown above in the second part of the last chapter, on redemption [114-137], today the Lord is again redeeming us, constructing a new heaven, and building a new church for the purpose of saving humankind.
[2] Here is the great secret as to why the human race could not be preserved if the Lord were not building a new church. As long as the dragon and its crew stay down in the world of spirits where they were thrown, no divine truth united to divine good can get across to people on earth without being perverted and falsified or ceasing to exist. This is what the Book of Revelation means when it says,
The dragon was thrown down onto the earth and its angels were thrown with it. Woe to those who live on the earth and in the sea, because the Devil has come down to them in a giant rage. (Revelation 12:9, 12-13)
It was after the dragon was thrown down into hell (Revelation 20:10) that John saw a new heaven and a new earth and saw the New Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven (Revelation 21:1-2). The "dragon" means those who share the belief of the church today.
[3] In the spiritual world I have talked several times with people who say faith alone makes us just. I said that their teaching is wrong and also absurd; it brings on spiritual complacency, blindness, sleep, and night; and it is eventually lethal to the soul. I urged them to give it up.
I received the response, "Why stop? This is the sole reason that the clergy can claim to be better educated than lay people. "
I replied that in that case they must view a superior reputation as their goal, not the saving of souls. Since they have applied the truths in the Word to their own false principles, which means they have contaminated them, they are the angels of the abyss called Abaddons and Apollyons (Revelation 9:11; those names mean people who have destroyed the church by completely falsifying the Word).
They replied, "What? Since we know the mysteries of that faith, we are oracles. We give answers from that faith as if it were a sacred shrine. We are not Apollyons; we are Apollos. "
Irritated at that, I said, "If you are Apollos you are also leviathans. The leaders among you are coiled leviathans, and the followers among you are uncoiled leviathans. God will visit you with his sword, great and strong" (Isaiah 27:1).
They just laughed at that.
182. (viii) FURTHER, UNLESS A NEW HEAVEN AND A NEW CHURCH ARE FOUNDED BY THE LORD, NO FLESH CAN BE SAVED.
We read in Matthew:
Then there shall be great affliction, such as never was from the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will be. Indeed, unless those days were cut short, no flesh would be saved, Matthew 24:21-22.
That chapter deals with the completion of the age, by which is meant the end of the present-day church. Therefore 'cutting short those days' means bringing it to an end and setting up a new one. Is there anyone who does not know that if the Lord had not come into the world and carried out the redemption, no flesh could have been saved? Carrying out redemption means founding a new heaven and a new church. The Lord predicted in the Gospels that He would come into the world again (Matthew 24:30-31; Mark 13:26; Luke 12:40; 21:27), and also in Revelation, especially in the last chapter. I have shown above in the section on Redemption [114-137], that the Lord is carrying out redemption to-day too, founding a new heaven and starting a new church, for the sake of man's salvation.
[2] The great secret about no flesh being able to be saved, if the Lord had not started a new church, is this. So long as the dragon with his crew stays in the world of spirits, into which he was thrown, no Divine truth united with Divine good can get through to people on earth without being perverted and falsified or being destroyed. This is what is meant by this passage in Revelation:
The dragon was cast down to earth, and his angels were cast down with him. Woe to those that live on the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to them having great wrath, Revelation 12:9, 12-13.
But after the dragon was cast into hell (Revelation 20:10), then John saw a new heaven and a new earth, and the New Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven (Revelation 21:1-2). The dragon means those who hold the faith of the present-day church.
[3] I have several times in the spiritual world talked with those who believe that man is justified by faith alone, and I have told them that their doctrine is wrong and also absurd; it induces carelessness, blindness, sleep and darkness in spiritual matters, leading to the death of the soul. I have pleaded with them to abandon it. But I got the answer: 'Abandon it? Surely this is the one thing upon which the superiority of the clergy's learning over that of laymen depends.' I replied that in that case the salvation of souls was no part of their purpose, but only the superiority of their reputations. Because they had used the truths of the Word to support their false principles, thus adulterating them, they were angels of the abyss, those called Abaddons and Apollyons 1 (Revelation 9:11), by whom are meant those who destroy the church by totally falsifying the Word. 'What do you mean?' they replied; 'our knowledge makes us oracles of the mysteries of that faith, and we give its replies as if from a shrine. So we are not Apollyons, but Apollos.' This made me cross and I said: 'If you are Apollos, you are also leviathans, your first rank twisted leviathans, the second elongated leviathans, whom God will visit with His hard and mighty sword (Isaiah 27:1). But at this they laughed.
Footnotes:
1. Hebrew and Greek words for 'destroyer'.
182. (8) So, too, unless a new heaven and a new church were established by the Lord there could no flesh be saved. It is said in Matthew:
Then shall be great tribulation, such as hath not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days be shortened no flesh would be saved (24:21, 22).
This chapter treats of "the consummation of the age," by which the end of the present church is meant; therefore "to shorten those days" means to bring that church to an end and establish a new one. Who does not know that unless the Lord had come into the world and wrought redemption no flesh could have been saved? To work redemption means to found a new heaven and a new church. That the Lord would again come into the world He foretold in the Gospels,Matthew 24:30, 31; Mark 13:26; Luke 12:40; 21:27; and in the Apocalypse, particularly in the last chapter. That He is also effecting a redemption at this day by founding a new heaven and establishing a new church to the end that man may be saved, has been shown above in the chapter on Redemption.
[2] The great mystery that unless a new church is established by the Lord no flesh can he saved, is this: That so long as the dragon with his horde remains in the world of spirits into which he has been cast, no Divine truth united to Divine good can pass through that world to men on earth without being perverted and falsified, or without its perishing. This is what is meant in the Apocalypse by the words:
The dragon was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. Woe to those that inhabit the earth and the sea, for the devil has come down unto them having great anger (12:9, 12, 13).
But when the dragon had been cast into hell (120:10),
John saw a new heaven and a new earth, and he saw the New Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven (21:1, 2);
"the dragon" meaning those who are in the faith of the present church.
[3] In the spiritual world I have several times talked with those who believe that men are justified by faith alone; and I have told them that their doctrine is both erroneous and absurd, and induces upon men security, blindness, sleep, and in spiritual things a night, and consequently death to the soul; and I have exhorted them to discard it; but I received the answer, "Why discard it? Does not the superiority of the learning of the clergy over that of the laity hang upon that sole doctrine?" I replied, "In that case they do not regard the salvation of souls as any object, but the superiority of their own reputation; and as they have adapted the truths of the Word to their false principles, and have thus adulterated them, they are those angels of the abyss, called Abaddons and Apollyons (Revelation 9:11), who signify those that destroy the church by a total falsification of the Word." But they made answer, "What do you mean? By our knowledge of the mysteries of that faith we are oracles, and from it as from a sanctuary we give responses; therefore we are not Apollyons but Apollos." Indignant at this reply I said, "If you are Apollos you are also leviathans - your leaders the crooked leviathans, and the rest of you the stretched-out leviathans, whom God will visit with His sore and great sword" (Isaiah 27:1). But at this they laughed.
182. (8) FOR THE SAME REASON, UNLESS A NEW HEAVEN AND A NEW EARTH WERE ESTABLISHED BY THE LORD, NO FLESH SHOULD BE SAVED.
It is written in Matthew:
"Then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved" 24:21-22.
This chapter treats of the consummation of the age, by which is meant the end of the present Church; therefore, by shortening those days is meant bringing it to an end and establishing a new one. Who does not know that unless the Lord had come into the world and accomplished redemption no flesh could have been saved? and to accomplish redemption means to form a new heaven and a New Church. That the Lord would come again into the world He foretold in the Evangelists:
Matthew 24:30-31; Mark 13:28; Luke 12:40; 21:27;
and in the Revelation, particularly in the last chapter. It has also been shown above in the section on redemption that He is to-day accomplishing the work of redemption, by forming a new heaven and establishing a new church in order that man may be saved.
[2] There is a great truth, hitherto unknown, underlying the fact that unless a New Church is established by the Lord no flesh can be saved. This is, that as long as the dragon with his crew remained in the world of spirits, into which he was cast, it was impossible for any Divine truth conjoined with Divine good to pass through to men on earth, without being perverted and falsified, or destroyed. This is what is meant in the Revelation by these Words:
The dragon "was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him... Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto them (A.V., you), having great wrath 12:9, 12-13.
But when the dragon was cast into hell, 20:10, then John saw the new heaven and the new earth, and the New Jerusalem descending from God out of heaven, 21:1-2.
By the dragon are meant those who are in the faith of the present Church.
MEMORABILIA.
I have sometimes conversed in the spiritual world with those who hold the doctrine of justification by faith alone, and I have told them that their doctrine is erroneous and absurd, that it induces carelessness, blindness, sleep and night in spiritual matters, and consequently brings death to the soul. I exhorted them to give it up, but I received the reply: "Why give it up? The superiority of the learning of the clergy over that of the laity depends solely upon this doctrine." But I answered that they evidently did not regard the salvation of souls as an end in view, but the superiority of their own reputation; and therefore, because they applied the truths of the Word to their own false principles, and thus defiled them, they were angels of the abyss, called Abaddons and Apollyons, Revelation 9:11, by whom are signified those who destroy the Church by the complete falsification of the Word. But they replied: "How can this be? By our knowledge of the mysteries of this faith we are oracles, and from this faith as from a shrine we deliver responses; and so we are not Apollyons but Apollos." 1 Indignant at this I said: "If you are Apollos you are also leviathans. The chief among you are crooked leviathans, and those lower in station are piercing leviathans, 2 whom God shall punish with His sore and great sword" Isaiah 27:1. But they laughed at these words.
Footnotes:
1. Apollo, god of divination, healing, poetry and music.
2. primi vestrum Leviathanes tortuosi, et seeundi vestrum Leviathanes oblongi. Isaiah 27:1.
182. TUM HOC, QUOD NISI NOVUM COELUM ET NOVA ECCLESIA A DOMINO CONDUNTUR, NON CONSERVARETUR ULLA CARO. Legitur apud Matthaeum, Erit tunc afflictio magna, qualis non fuit ab initio Mundi usque nunc, nec fiet; imo nisi abbreviarentur dies illi, non conservaretur ulla caro, 24:21-22; agitur in illo Capite de Consummatione saeculi, per quam intelligitur finis Ecclesiae hodiernae; quare per abbreviare dies illos, intelligitur finire illam, et instaurare novam. Quis non scit, quod nisi Dominus in Mundum venisset, et Redemptionem fecisset, nulla caro salvari potuerit; per Redemptionem facere, intelligitur novum Coelum et novam Ecclesiam condere. Quod Dominus denuo in Mundum venturus sit, praedixit apud Evangelistas, Matthaeus 24:30-31; Marcus 13:26; Luca 12:40, 21:27 inque Apocalypsi, imprimis in Capite ultimo: quod etiam hodie Redemptionem faciat, condendo novum Coelum et instaurando novam Ecclesiam, propter finem ut homo salvari possit, in Lemmate de Redemptione, supra ostensum est.
[2] Magnum Arcanum, quod nisi Nova Ecclesia a Domino instauratur, non conservari possit ulla caro, est hoc; quod quamdiu Draco cum sua turba in Mundo spirituum, in quem conjectus est, commoratur, tamdiu non possit aliquod 1 Divinum Verum unitum Divino bono pertransire ad homines telluris, quin pervertatur et falsificetur, aut pereat; id est quod intelligitur in Apocalypsi per hoc, Draco projectus est in terram, et Angeli ejus cum illo projecti sunt; vae habitantibus Terram et Mare, quia descendit Diabolus ad illos habens iram magnam, 12:9, 12-13, at postquam Draco projectus est in Infernum, Cap. 20:10, tunc Johannes vidit Coelum novum et Terram novam, ac vidit novam Hierosolymam descendentem a Deo e Coelo, Cap. 21:1-2. Per Draconem intelliguntur, qui in fide hodiernae Ecclesiae sunt.
[3] Aliquoties in Mundo spirituali loquutus sum cum Justificatoribus hominum per solam fidem, et dixi, quod Doctrina illorum sit erronea, et quoque absona, quodque inducat securitatem, caecitatem, somnum et noctem in rebus spiritualibus, et inde lethum animae, 2 exhortans ut ab illa desistant; sed responsum tuli, quid desistere; nonne excellentia eruditionis Clericorum prae Laicis ab illa sola dependet; sed retuli, quod sic non pro aliquo fine spectent salutem animarum, sed excellentiam suae famae, et quod quia falsis suis principiis applicuerunt vera Verbi, et sic adulteraverunt illa, sint Angeli abyssi, vocati ABADDONES 3 et APOLLYONES, Apocalypsis 9:11, per quos significantur Perditores Ecclesiae per totalem falsificationem Verbi; sed responderunt, quid hoc; sumus per scientiam mysteriorum illius fidei Oracula, et ex illa ut ex adyto reddimus responsa, quare non sumus Apollyones sed APOLLINES; ex his indignatus dixi, si estis Apollines, estis etiam LEVIATHANES, primi vestrum Leviathanes tortuosi, et secundi vestrum Leviathanes oblongi, quos Deus gladio suo duro et magno visitabit, Esaias 27:1 sed ad haec riserunt.
Footnotes: