Potts(1905-1910) 4535
4535. Genesis 35
THE LAST JUDGMENT
Preliminary to the foregoing chapters, from chapter 26, an explication has been given of what the Lord foretold about His advent, or the CONSUMMATION OF THE AGE; and it has been repeatedly shown that by His advent or the consummation of the age is signified the last time of the church, which is called in the Word the Last Judgment. They who do not see beyond the literal sense must suppose that the Last Judgment is the destruction of the world, and this especially from the Revelation, where it is said:
I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city New Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven (Rev. 21:1-2). And also from the prophecies of Isaiah, where are similar words:
Behold I create new heavens and a new earth; therefore the former things shall not be remembered, nor come up upon the heart; but be ye glad and rejoice forever in that which I create, for behold I create Jerusalem an exultation, and her people a gladness (Isa. 65:17, 18; 66:22). [2] They who do not see beyond the literal sense must infer that the universal heaven together with this earth will be annihilated, and that the dead will then for the first time rise again, and dwell in a new heaven and upon a new earth. But that the Word is not to be so understood may be seen from many other passages where the heavens and the earth are mentioned. They who have any faith in an internal sense can plainly see that by "a new heaven and a new earth" is meant a new church, which shall succeed when the former church passes away (see n. 1733, 1850, 3355); and that the "heaven" is its internal and the "earth" its external. [3] This last time of a former church and first time of a new church are what is called the "consummation of the age" of which the Lord spoke in Matthew 24, and also are His advent, for the Lord then leaves the former church and comes to the new church. That this is the "consummation of the age" may be seen also from other passages in the Word, as in Isaiah:
In that day the remains shall return, the remains of Jacob, unto the mighty God; for although Thy people Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, remains of it shall return; a consummation is determined, inundated is righteousness; for a consummation and a determination doth the Lord Jehovih Zebaoth make in the whole earth (Isa. 10:21-23). In the same:
Now be ye not scorners, lest your punishments be strengthened; for a consummation and a decision have I heard from-with the Lord Jehovih Zebaoth upon the whole earth (Isa. 28:22). In Jeremiah:
Thus said Jehovah, The whole earth shall be a waste, yet will I not make a consummation (Jer. 4:27). In Zephaniah:
I will bring men into distresses, and they shall go like the blind, because they have sinned against Jehovah; and their blood shall be poured out like dust, and their flesh like dung, for Jehovah shall make a consummation, yea, a speedy one, with all them that dwell in the land (Zeph. 1:17-18). That the "consummation" here mentioned is the last time of the church, and that the "earth" is the church, is manifest from the particulars. [4] That "earth" or "land" denotes the church, comes from the fact that the land of Canaan was the land where the church had been from the most ancient times, and where afterwards there was the representative of a church among the descendants of Jacob. When this land is said to be "consummated," it is not the nation in it that is meant, but it is the holy of worship that exists with the nation where the church is. For the Word is spiritual, and the land itself is not spiritual, nor the nation therein, but that which is of the church. (That the land of Canaan was the land where the church had been from the most ancient times, may be seen above, n. 567, 3686, 4447, 4454, 4516, 4517; and that for this reason by "land" in the Word is signified the church, n. 566, 662, 1066, 1067, 1262, 3355, 4447.) From this it is manifest what is meant in Isaiah by "making a consummation in the whole land," or "earth," and in Zephaniah by the "speedy consummation of all that dwell in the land." That the Jewish nation which dwelt in that land was not consummated, but the holy of worship with them, is well known. [5] That this is the "consummation" appears still more plainly in Daniel:
Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people, and upon thy city of holiness, to consummate the transgression, and to seal up sins, and to expiate iniquity, and to bring in the righteousness of an age, and to seal up vision and prophet, and to anoint the holy of holies; in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease; at last upon the bird of abominations shall be desolation; and even to the consummation and the determination shall it drop upon the devastation (Dan. 9:24, 27). [6] From all this it may now be seen that by the "consummation of the age," respecting which the disciples said to the Lord, "What shall be the sign of Thy coming and of the consummation of the age?" (Matt. 24:3) nothing else is signified than the last time of the church; and also by these words of the Lord, which are the last in the same evangelist: "Jesus said to the disciples, Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you all the days even unto the consummation of the age" (Matt. 28:20). It was said by the Lord that He would be with the disciples even to the consummation of the age, because by the Lord's twelve disciples the like is signified as by the twelve tribes of Israel, namely, all things of love and faith, consequently all things of the church (see n. 3354, 3488, 3858); which is the same as is meant by the twelve tribes (n. 3858, 3926, 3939, 4060). That it is the consummation of the church when there is no longer any charity and therefore no faith, has been repeatedly shown above. That in this church which is called Christian scarcely anything of charity and its derivative faith survives, thus that the consummation of its age is now at hand, will of the Lord's Divine mercy be shown in the following pages. GENESIS 35
1. And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and abide there; and make there an altar unto God who appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from before Esau thy brother. 2. And Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the gods of the stranger which are in the midst of you, and purify yourselves, and change your garments:
3. And let us arise, and go up to Bethel, and I will make there an altar unto God who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I walked. 4. And they gave unto Jacob all the gods of the stranger which were in their hand, and the earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem. 5. And they journeyed; and a terror of God was upon the cities that were round about them, and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob. 6. And Jacob came to Luz, which is in the land of Canaan, this is Bethel, he and all the people that were with him. 7. And he built there an altar, and called the place El-Bethel; because there the gods were revealed unto him when he fled from before his brother. 8. And Deborah, Rebekah's nurse, died, and she was buried from under Bethel under the oak; and he called the name of it Allon-bacuth. 9. And God was seen by Jacob again when he came from Paddan-aram, and blessed him. 10. And God said to him, Thy name is Jacob; thy name shall no more be called Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name; and He called his name Israel. 11. And God said to him, I am God Shaddai; be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be from thee, and kings shall go forth from thy loins. 12. And the land which I gave to Abraham and to Isaac, to thee I will give it, and to thy seed after thee will I give the land. 13. And God went up from upon him in the place in which He spoke with him. 14. And Jacob set up a pillar in the place in which He spoke with him, a pillar of stone; and he poured out a drink-offering thereon, and poured oil thereon. 15. And Jacob called the name of the place where God spoke with him, Bethel. 16. And they journeyed from Bethel; and there was still a tract of land to come to Ephrath; and Rachel brought forth, and suffered hard things in her bringing forth. 17. And it came to pass in her suffering hard things in her bringing forth that the midwife said unto her, Fear not, for this also is to thee a son. 18. And it came to pass as her soul was going forth that she was about to die; and she called his name Benoni; and his father called him Benjamin. 19. And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, this is Bethlehem. 20. And Jacob set up a pillar upon her grave; this is the pillar of Rachel's grave even to this day. 21. And Israel journeyed, and spread his tent beyond the tower of Eder. 22. And it came to pass, while Israel abode in this land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine, and Israel heard. And the sons of Jacob were twelve. 23. The sons of Leah, Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, and Simeon and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Zebulun. 24. The sons of Rachel, Joseph and Benjamin. 25. And the sons of Bilhah Rachel's handmaid, Dan and Naphtali. 26. And the sons of Zilpah Leah's handmaid, Gad and Asher. These are the sons of Jacob, who were born to him in Paddan-aram. 27. And Jacob came unto Isaac his father to Mamre Kiriath-arba, this is Hebron, where Abraham and Isaac sojourned. 28. And the days of Isaac were a hundred years and eighty years. 29. And Isaac expired and died, and was gathered unto his people, old and sated of days; and Esau and Jacob his sons buried him.
Elliott(1983-1999) 4535
4535. The preliminary sections of previous chapters - Chapter 26 onwards - explained what the Lord foretold about His Coming or THE CLOSE OF THE AGE. Frequently in those sections it has been shown that His Coming or the Close of the Age means the last period of the Church, which in the Word is called the Last Judgement. Those who do not look beyond the literal sense cannot know of the Last Judgement as anything else than the destruction of the world, the particular source for such an idea being the Book of Revelation. There it is said that [John] saw 'a new heaven and a new earth, for the former heaven and the former earth had passed away; and there was no more sea', and in addition that he saw 'the Holy City, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven', Rev 21:1, 2. Prophetical utterances in Isaiah, where similar predictions occur, are also a source of the same idea,
Behold, I am creating new heavens and a new earth; therefore the former things will not be remembered or come to mind.a Be glad and rejoice for ever in the things I am creating; behold, I will create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. Isa 65:17, 18; 66:22.
[2] Those who do not look beyond the literal sense cannot conceive of anything else than this- that the whole sky together with this planet will be annihilated, and then the dead - for the first time - will rise again and dwell in the new heaven and on the new earth. But these places in the Word should not be understood in that way, as may be recognized from other places in the Word where the heavens and the earth are referred to. Those who have any belief in an internal sense can see plainly that 'a new heaven' and 'a new earth' are used to mean a new Church which takes over when the previous one passes away, 1733, 1850, 3355 (end), and that 'heaven' is the internal aspect of that new Church and 'earth' the external aspect of it.
[3] This last period of the previous Church and the first of the new one are also called the Close of the Age, about which the Lord has spoken in Matthew 24. They are called also His Coming, for at that time the Lord departs from the previous Church and comes to the new. The description of that period as the Close of the Age may also be seen from other places in the Word, as in Isaiah,
On that day a remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the God of power. For though your people Israel will be as the sand of the sea, a remnant of it will return. The close has been determined, overflowing with righteousness, for the Lord Jehovih Zebaoth is bringing the whole earth to its close and to its determined end. Isa 10:20-23.
In the same prophet,
Now do not be derisive, lest your punishments increase, for a close and a cutting off I have heard from the Lord Jehovih Zebaoth over the whole earth. Isa 28:22.
In Jeremiah,
Thus said Jehovah, The whole earth will be a waste, yet I will not bring it to a close. Jer 4:27.
In Zephaniah,
I will bring men into distress, and they will go as the blind, because they have sinned against Jehovah; and their blood will be poured out like dust, and their flesh like dung. For Jehovah will bring to a close, indeed to a hasty one, all the inhabitants of the earth. Zeph 1:17, 18.
From each detail stated here it is evident that 'a close' means the last period of the Church and 'the earth' the Church itself.
[4] The reason why 'the earth (or land)' means the Church is that the land of Canaan was the land where the Church had existed since most ancient times, and later on where among the descendants of Jacob a representative of the Church existed. When this land is said to have been 'brought to a close' it is not the nation dwelling there that is meant but the holiness of worship which existed with the nation where the Church was. For the Word is spiritual; but the actual land is not spiritual, nor is the nation dwelling in it, only that which constitutes the Church there. For evidence that the land of Canaan was the land where the Church had existed from most ancient times, see 567, 3686, 4447, 4454, 4516, 4517; and this explains why 'the land' or 'the earth' in the Word means the Church, 566, 662, 1066, 1067, 1262, 3355, 4447. From all this one may see what is meant in Isaiah by 'bringing the whole earth to a close', and in Zephaniah by 'bringing all the inhabitants of the earth to a hasty one'. It is well known that the Jewish nation which inhabited that land was not 'brought to a close' but that the holiness of worship among them was.
[5] This meaning of 'the close' is even clearer in Daniel,
Seventy weeks have been decreed concerning your people and your holy city to bring transgression to a close and to seal up sins and to atone for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up vision and prophet, and to anoint the Most Holy Place. In the middle of the week he will cause sacrifice and offering to cease. At length upon the bird of desolations will come desolation; until a close and a cutting off will it drop upon the devastation. Dan 9:24, 27.
[6] From this one may now see that the close of the age - about which the disciples were asking when they said to the Lord 'What will be the sign of Your coming and of the close of the age?' Matt 24:3 - does not mean anything else than the final period of the Church. The same is also meant by the Lord's words, which are the very last in the same gospel,
Jesus said to the disciples, Teaching them to observeb all things whatever I have commanded you; and behold, I am with you at all timesc even to the close of the age. Matt 28:20.
The reason why the Lord said that He would be with the disciples even to the close of the age is that the Lord's twelve disciples are similar in meaning to the twelve
tribes of Israel. That is to say, they mean all things of love and faith, and therefore all things of the Church, see 3354, 3488, 3858, as do the twelve tribes, 3858, 3926, 3939, 4060. The fact that
the Church reaches its close when no charity exists there any longer, nor consequently any faith, has been shown several times already; and that within the Church at the present day, called the Christian
Church, scarcely any trace of charity or consequently of faith survives there; and that the close of the age is accordingly now at hand, will in the Lord's Divine mercy be shown further on. a
lit. come up upon the heart b Reading servare (to observe) for the imperative servate (observe)
c lit. I am with you all the days
29 And Isaac breathed his last, and died, and was gathered to his peoples, old and full of days. And Esau and Jacob his sons buried him.
Latin(1748-1756) 4535
4535. GENESEOS CAPUT TRIGESIMUM QUINTUMAnte capita quae praecedunt a cap. xxvi huc usque, explicata sunt quae Dominus praedixerat de Adventu Ipsius seu de CONSUMMATIONE SAECULI, et aliquoties ibi ostensum quod per Adventum Ipsius seu Consummationem saeculi, significetur Ultimum Tempus Ecclesiae, quod in Verbo etiam ultimum Judicium vocatur: qui non ultra sensum litteralem vident, non aliter scire possent quam quod Ultimum Judicium sit Interitus Mundi, hoc {1} imprimis ex Apocalypsi ubi dicitur, Quod viderit caelum novum et terram novam; prius enim caelum et prior terra transiit; et mare non erat amplius:
insuper quod Viderit civitatem Sanctam Hierosolymam novam descendentem a Deo e caelo, xxi 1, 2;
et quoque ex propheticis Esaiae, ubi similia {2}, Ecce Ego creans caelos novos et terram novam; ideo non commemorabuntur priora nec ascendent super cor: laetamini et exsultate in aeternum, quae Ego creans: ecce Ego creaturus Hierosolymam, exsultationem, et populum ejus laetitiam, lxv 17, 18; lxvi 22. [2] Qui non ultra sensum litteralem vident, non aliter capiunt quam quod universum caelum cum tellure hac in nihilum casurum, et quod tunc primum resurrecturi mortui et {3} in novo caelo ac super nova terra habitaturi; sed quod Verbum hic non ita intelligendum sit constare potest a pluribus aliis locis in Verbo, ubi caeli et terra nominantur: qui de sensu interno aliquam fidem habent, ii manifeste videre possunt quod per novum caelum et novam terram intelligatur nova Ecclesia quae succedet cum prior transit, videatur n. 1733, 1850, 3355 f, et quod `caelum' sit internum ejus, et `terra' externum. Ultimum hoc tempus Ecclesiae prioris et primum Ecclesiae novae est quod etiam vocatur consummatio saeculi, de qua Dominus apud Matthaeum xxiv locutus est, et Adventus Ipsius, nam tunc recedit Dominus a priore Ecclesia et venit ad novam: quod consummatio saeculi illud sit, etiam ab aliis locis in Verbo constare potest; ut apud Esaiam, In die illo... reliquiae revertentur, reliquiae Jacobi ad Deum potentem; nam etsi fuerit populus tuus Israel sicut arena maris, reliquiae revertentur ex eo; consummatio definita, inundata justitia; nam consummationem et definitionem Dominus Jehovih Zebaoth faciens in tota terra, x 20-23:
apud eundem, Nunc ne irrideatis, ne forte invalescant punitiones vestrae, quia consummationem et decisionem audivi a cum Domino Jehovih Zebaoth super universam terram, xxviii 22:
apud Jeremiam, Sic dixit Jehovah, Vastitas erit tota terra, consummationem tamen non faciam, iv 27:
apud Zephaniam, In angustias redigam homines, et ibunt sicut caeci ejus, quia Jehovae peccarunt, et effundetur sanguis eorum sicut pulvis, et caro eorum sicut stercus,... quia Jehovah consummationem et quidem festinatam faciet cum omnibus habitatoribus terrae, i 17, 18;
quod `consummatio' ibi sit ultimum tempus Ecclesiae, et quod `terra sit Ecclesia, a singulis patet: quod terra sit Ecclesia, est inde quia terra Canaan fuit terra ubi ab antiquissimis temporibus Ecclesia, ac dein apud posteros Jacobi repraesentativum Ecclesiae;
haec terra cum dicitur consummata, non est gens ibi quae intelligitur, sed est sanctum cultus {4} quod apud gentem ubi Ecclesia; Verbum enim (t)est spirituale, et ipsa terra non est spirituale, nec gens quae ibi, sed id quod est Ecclesiae: quod terra Canaan fuerit terra ubi ab antiquissimis temporibus Ecclesia, videatur n. 567, 3686, 4447, 4454, 4516, 4517; et quia ita, quod per `terram' in Verbo significetur Ecclesia, n. 566, 662, 1066, 1067, 1262, 3355, 4447; inde patet quid apud Esaiam intelligitur per `consummationem facere in tota terra'; et apud Zephaniam per `consummationem festinatam cum omnibus habitatoribus terrae'; quod gens Judaica, quae fuit habitator terrae illius, non consummata sit, sed quod sanctum cultus apud illos, notum est. [5] Quod consummatio id sit, manifestius adhuc constat apud Danielem, Septimanae septuaginta decisae sunt super populum tuum, et super urbem sanctitatis tuam, ad consummandum praevaricationem, et ad obsignandum peccata, et ad expiandum iniquitatem, et ad adducendum justitiam saeculi, et ad obsignandum visionem et prophetam, et ad ungendum sanctum sanctorum:... in medio septimanae cessare faciet sacrificium et oblationem: tandem super avem desolationum desolatio, et usque ad consummationem et decisionem, stillabit super devastationem, ix 24, 27. [6] Inde nunc (x)videri potest quod per consummationem saeculi, de qua discipuli ad Dominum, Quodnam signum Tui Adventus et Consummationis saeculi? [Matth.] xxiv 3, non aliud significetur quam ultimum tempus Ecclesiae; et quoque per haec verba Domini, quae ultima sunt apud eundem Evangelistam, Jesus ad discipulos; Docentes servate omnia quaecumque mandavi vobis; et ecce Ego vobiscum sum omnibus diebus usque ad consummationem saeculi, xxviii 20;
quod dIctum a Domino quod cum discipulis esset usque ad consummationem saeculi, est quia per duodecim discipulos Domini significantur similia quae per duodecim tribus Israelis, nempe omnia amoris et fidei, proinde omnia Ecclesiae, videatur n. 3354, 3488, 3858; quod per duodecim tribus, n. 3858, 3926, 3939, 4060:
quod consummatio Ecclesiae sit quando ibi nulla amplius charitas et inde nulla fides, prius aliquoties ostensum est': quod in hac Ecclesia quae Christiana vocatur, vix aliquid {5} charitatis et inde fidei supersit, ita quod consummatio ejus saeculi nunc adsit, in sequentibus, ex Divina Domini Misericordia, ostendetur. @1 i et$ @2 i plura$ @3 at I$ @4 Ecclesiae$ @5 i amplius$
CAPUT XXXV
1. Et dixit DEUS ad Jacobum, Surge, ascende Bethelem, et commorare {1} ibi, et fac ibi {2} altare DEO viso ad te in fugiendo te a coram Esau fratre tuo. @1 mane$ @2 tibi I$ 2. Et dixit Jacob ad domum suam, et ad omnes qui cum illo, Removete deos alienigenae, qui in medio vestri, et purificemini, et mutate vestes vestras. 3. Et surgamus, et ascendamus Bethelem, et faciam ibi altare DEO respondenti mihi in die angustiae meae, et fuit mecum in via quam ambulavi. 4. Et dederunt ad Jacobum omnes deos alienigenae, qui in manu illorum, et inaures quae in auribus illorum, et abscondidit illa Jacob sub quercu quae juxta Shechem. 5. Et profecti sunt; et fuit terror DEI super urbes quae circumcirca illos, et non persecuti post filios Jacobi. 6. Et venit Jacob ad Luz, quae in terra Canaan, haec Bethel, ille et omnis populus qui cum illo. 7. Et aedificavit ibi altare, et vocavit locum El-Bethel, quia ibi revelati ad illum dii, in fugiendo illo a coram fratre suo. 8. Et moriebatur Deborah nutrix Rebeccae, et sepeliebatur desubter Bethel sub quercu, et vocavit nomen ejus Allon Bacuth. 9. Et visus DEUS ad Jacobum adhuc, in veniendo illo e Paddan Aram, et benedixit illi. 10. Et dixit illi DEUS, Nomen tuum Jacob, non vocabitur nomen tuum amplius Jacob, quin immo Israel erit nomen tuum; et vocavit nomen illius Israel. 11. Et dixit illi DEUS, Ego DEUS Shaddai, fructificare et multiplicare, gens et coetus gentium erit e te, et reges e lumbis tuis exibunt. 12. Et terram quam dedi Abrahamo et Jishako, tibi dabo eam, et semini tuo post te dabo terram. 13. Et ascendit desuper illo DEUS in loco quo locutus cum illo. 14. Et statuit Jacobus statuam in loco quo locutus cum illo, statuam lapidis, et libavit super illam libamen, et fudit super illam oleum. 15. Et vocavit Jacob nomen loci ubi locutus cum illo DEUS, Bethel. 16. Et profecti a Bethel, et fuit adhuc tractus terrae ad veniendum (x)Ephratam, et peperit Rachel, et dura passa in pariendo illam. 17. Et factum in dura patiendo illam, in pariendo illam, et dixit illi obstetrix, Ne timeas, quia etiam hic tibi filius. 18. Et factum in exire animam illius quod moritura, et vocavit nomen illius Benoni; et pater illius vocavit illum Benjamin. 19. Et moriebatur Rachel, et sepeliebatur in via Ephrath, haec Bethlehem. 20. Et statuit Jacob statuam super sepulcrum illius, haec statua sepulcri Rachelis, usque ad hodie. 21. Et profectus Israel, et tetendit tentorium suum ab ultra turrim Eder. 22. Et factum in residendo Israel in terra hac, et ivit Reuben, et cubuit cum Bilhah concubina patris sui, et audivit Israel. Et fuerunt filii Jacobi duodecim. 23. Filii Leae; primogenitus Jacobi Reuben, et Shimeon, et Levi, et Jehudah, et Jisaschar, et Zebulun. 24. Filii Rachelis, Joseph et Benjamin. 25. Et filii Bilhae ancillae Rachelis, Dan et Naphthali. 26. Et filii Zilpae ancillae Leae, Gad et Asher: hi filii Jacobi, qui nati illi in Paddan Aram. 27. Et venit Jacob ad Jishakum patrem suum, Mamre Kiriath Arba, haec Hebron, ubi peregrinatus Abraham et Jishak. 28. Et fuerunt dies Jishaki centum anni et octoginta anni. 29. Et exspiravit Jishak, et mortuus est, et collectus ad populos suos, senex et satur dierum; et sepeliverunt illum Esau et Jacob filii illius.