6588.“但神必定眷顾你们”表末期即将到来。这从“眷顾”的含义清楚可知，“眷顾”是指末期，在此是指压迫在埃及的以色列人的末期；在内义上是指一个旧教会的末期和一个新教会的初期。在圣言中，该末期被称为“眷顾”（visitation），既论及总体上的教会，也论及具体的教会里的人；既论及即将诞生的新教会，也论及即将气绝的旧教会；还论及即将得救的教会个体成员，以及即将受到诅咒的人。
在圣言中，“眷顾”（经上或译为降罚、惩罚、刑罚、追讨）和“眷顾的日子”（经上或译为降罚、惩罚、刑罚、追讨的日子）表示这些事物；这一点从以下经文可以看出来，路加福音：
主以色列的神是应当称颂的。因祂眷顾救赎了祂的百姓。因我们神怜悯的心肠，叫清晨的日光或升起的太阳从高处眷顾我们，要照亮坐在黑暗中死荫里的人。（路加福音1:68，78，79）
这是撒迦利亚关于主的预言，告知了祂出生之后将要发生的事；“眷顾”在此表示一个新教会从死里复活，以及那时对那些不知道信之真理和良善之人的启示，从而对他们的解救。因此，经上说：“祂眷顾救赎了祂的百姓”，祂眷顾我们，“要照亮坐在黑暗中死荫里的人”。
摩西五经：
耶和华对摩西说，你去招聚以色列的长老，对他们说，耶和华你们祖宗的神，就是亚伯拉罕、以撒和雅各的神，向我显现，说：我实在眷顾了你们，眷顾你们在埃及的遭遇。（出埃及记3:16）
又：
百姓就信了；他们听见耶和华眷顾以色列人。（出埃及记4:31）
“眷顾”在此表示教会不复存在之时的末期，和它即将开始之时的初期；对埃及人来说是末期，对以色列人来说是初期；因而也表示对后者的解救。
耶利米书：
他们必被带到巴比伦存在那里，直到我眷顾他们的日子。那时，我必将神家的器皿带回来交还此地。（耶利米书27:22）
又：
为巴比伦所定的七十年满了以后，我要眷顾你们，向你们成就我的恩言，把你们带回此地。（耶利米书29:10）
“眷顾”表示解救；一般表示被掳和荒凉的末期。
在以赛亚书，“降罚（或追讨、眷顾）”和“降罚的日子（或追讨的日子、眷顾的日子）”表示教会的末期：
到从远方临到的降罚和毁灭的日子，你们怎样行呢？你们向谁逃奔求救呢？（以赛亚书10:3）.
又：
看哪！耶和华的日子临到，必有残忍、忿恨、烈怒，使这地荒凉。我必因邪恶刑罚世界，因罪孽刑罚恶人。（以赛亚书13:9，11）
耶利米书：
他们必在仆倒的人中仆倒；降罚于他们的时候，他们必致跌倒。（耶利米书8:12）
何西阿书：
降罚的日子来了，报应的日子到了。（何西阿书9:7）
摩西五经：
耶和华对摩西说，现在你去领这百姓，往我所告诉你的地方去，我的使者必走在你前面；只是在我追讨的日子，我必追讨他们的罪。（出埃及记32:34）
路加福音：
耶稣论到耶路撒冷说，他们连一块石头也不留在另一块石头上，因你认不出眷顾你的时候。（路加福音19:44）
“眷顾的日子”表示主的到来和那时的启示；但就犹太民族而言，鉴于他们不承认这一点，所以“眷顾的日子”表示他们当中的教会代表行为的末期；因为当耶路撒冷被毁时，祭祀就走到尽头，这个民族就散落开。
以西结书：
我耳中有大声喊叫说，要使那惩罚这城的人近前来，各人手中各拿毁灭的器械。（以西结书9:1）
此处意思也一样。以赛亚书：
利乏音人必不能再活；因为你刑罚他们，消灭了他们。（以赛亚书26:14）
“利乏音人”表示大洪水之前的上古教会的后代，他们还被称为“拿非利人”和“亚衲人”（参看567，581，1673节）；“你刑罚、消灭了利乏音人”表示该教会的末期，以及把他们投入地狱（1265-1272节）。在耶利米书，“惩罚或追讨”（Visitation）表示报应，因而表示诅咒：
我岂不因这些事惩罚呢？岂不报复这样的民族呢？（耶利米书5:9）
又：
我向以扫追讨的时候，必使灾殃临到他。（耶利米书49:8）
何西阿书：
我必因他所行的惩罚他，报应他的行为。（何西阿书4:9）
Potts(1905-1910) 6588
6588. And visiting God will visit you. That this signifies that the last time will come, is evident from the signification of "being visited," as being the last time, here the last time of the oppression of the sons of Israel in Egypt; in the internal sense, the last time of an old church, and the first of a new one. 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 be 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 (Jer. 9:7). In Moses:
Jehovah said to Moses, Notwithstanding, go, lead this people in, whither I have spoken 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" (see n. 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 (n. 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 works (Hos. 4:9).
Elliott(1983-1999) 6588
6588. 'And God will certainly visit you' means that the final period is about to come. This is clear from the meaning of 'being visited' as the final period, here that of the oppression of the children of Israel in Egypt, which in the internal sense is the final period of the old Church and the first of the new. In the Word this final period is called 'visitation', and this is used in reference both to the Church collectively and to those within the Church individually. It is used in reference to a new Church that is being born and an old one that is breathing its last, and to the individual member of the Church who is being saved, as well as to one who is damned.
[2] The fact that these things are meant in the Word by 'visitation' and 'the day of visitation' may be seen from the following places: In Luke,
Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and brought deliverance to His people, through the hearta of mercy of our God, by which the risen sun from on high has visited us, to appear to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death. Luke 1:68, 78, 79.
In this prophecy of Zechariah regarding the Lord, telling what would happen after He had been born, 'being visited' stands for the raising up from death of a new Church and the enlightenment at that time of those who had no knowledge of the truth and good of faith, thus the deliverance of them. It is for this reason that the words 'He has visited and brought deliverance to His people, . . . has visited [us], to appear to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death' are used.
[3] In Moses,
Jehovah said to Moses, Gather the elders of Israel and say to them, Jehovah, the God of your fathers, has appeared to me, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, I will certainly visit you and what has been done to you in Egypt. Exod 3:16.
And in the same author,
The people believed and heard that Jehovah had visited the children of Israel. Exod 4:31.
'Being visited' here stands for the final period when the Church has gone out of existence and for the first period when it comes into existence - for the final period among the Egyptians, and for the first among the children of Israel, and so for the deliverance of them too.
[4] In Jeremiah,
They will be carried away to Babel, and there they will be until the day [ visit them. Then I will cause the vessels of the house of God to come up, and I will bring them back to this place. Jer 27:22.
In the same prophet,
When seventy years have been completed at Babel I will visit you and fulfill My promiseb to you and bring you back to this place. Jer 29:10.
'Visiting' stands for delivering, in general for the final period of captivity and desolation.
[5] 'Visitation' and 'the day of visitation' stand for the final period of the Church in Isaiah,
What will you do on the day of visitation and devastation? It will come from afar. To whom will you flee for help? Isa 10:3.
In the same prophet,
Behold, the day of Jehovah comes, cruel, and one of indignation and wrath and anger, to make the earth a waste. I will visit the world for evil, and the wicked for their iniquity. Isa 13:9, 11.
In Jeremiah,
They will fall among those who fall, and in the time of their visitation they will stumble. Jer 8:12.
In Hosea,
The days of visitation have come, the days of recompense have come. Hosea 9:7.
In Moses,
Jehovah said to Moses, All the same, go, lead this people to [the place] of which I have spoken to you; behold, My angel will go before you. But on the day of My visiting, I will visit them for their sin. Exod 32:34.
In Luke,
Jesus said regarding Jerusalem, They will not leave in you stone upon stone, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation. Luke 19:44.
'The day of visitation' stands for the Lord's Coming, and enlightenment at that time. But in reference to the Jewish nation - seeing that it did not recognize His Coming - 'the day of visitation' stands for the final period of the representative acts of the Church among them. For once Jerusalem was destroyed sacrifices came to an end and that nation was scattered abroad.
[6] In Ezekiel,
A loud voice called out in my ears, saying, The visitations of the city have drawn near, and each man has his weapon of destruction in his hand. Ezek 9:1.
Here the meaning is similar. In Isaiah,
The Rephaim will not rise. To that end You have visited them, You have wiped them out. Isa 16:14.
'The Rephaim' stands for descendants of the Most Ancient Church which existed before the Flood. They are also called the Nephilim and the Anakim, regarding whom see 567, 581, 1673. 'You have visited and wiped out the Rephaim' stands for the final period of that Church; it also stands for the casting of them into hell, regarding which see 1265-1272. 'Visitation' stands for retribution, thus for damnation, in Jeremiah,
Shall I not visit them on account of this? Or will not My soul be avenged on a nation which is like this? Jer 5:9.
In the same prophet,
I will bring the disaster of Esau upon him, at the time I visit him. Jer 49:8.
In Hosea,
I will visit upon him his ways, and requite his works. Hosea 4:9.
Latin(1748-1756) 6588
6588. `Et Deus visitando visitabit vos': quod significet quod ultimum tempus venturum, constat ex significatione `visitari' quod sit ultimum tempus, hic {1}oppressionis filiorum Israelis in Aegypto, in sensu interno ultimum tempus Ecclesiae veteris et primum novae; hoc ultimum tempus in Verbo vocatur `visitatio', et praedicatur tam de Ecclesia in communi quam de illis qui intra Ecclesiam sunt, in particulari; deque Ecclesia nova quae nascitur, et de Ecclesia vetere quae exspirat; in particulari de homine Ecclesiae qui salvatur, tum quoque qui damnatur. [2] Quod haec in Verbo significentur per visitationem, et diem visitationis, constare potest ab his locis: apud Lucam, Benedictus Dominus Deus Israelis, quia visitavit et fecit liberationem populo Suo:... per viscera misericordiae Dei nostri; in quibus visitavit nos ortus ab alto, ut appareat illis qui in tenebris et umbra mortis sedent, i 68, 78, 79;propheticum Zachariae de Domino nato; `visitari' hic pro exsuscitatione novae Ecclesiae, et illustratione tunc illorum qui in ignorantia veri et boni fidei essent, ita de illorum liberatione; quare dicitur `visitavit et fecit liberationem populo Suo, visitavit ut appareat illis qui in tenebris et umbra mortis sedent': [3]apud Mosen, Jehovah ad Mosen, {2} Congrega seniores Israelis, et dic ad eos, Jehovah Deus patrum vestrorum visus est mihi, Deus Abrahami, Jishaki et Jacobi, dicendo, Visitando visitabo vos, et quod factum est vobis in Aegypto, [Exod.] iii 16:
et apud eundem, Credidit populus et audiverunt, quod visitavisset Jehovah filios Israelis, (Exod.) iv 31;
`visitari' hic pro ultimo tempore cum desiit Ecclesia, et pro primo cum incohat; pro ultimo apud Aegyptios, et pro primo apud filios Israelis, ita quoque pro horum liberatione: [4]apud Jeremiam, Babelem abducentur, ibique erunt usque ad diem quo visitavero eos; ...tunc ascendere faciam vasa domus Dei, et reducam ea ad locum {3}hunc, xxvii 22:
apud eundem, Cum impleti fuerint Babeli septuaginta anni, visitabo vos, et stabiliam super {4}vos verbum Meum bonum, et reducam vos ad locum hunc, xxix 10;
`visitare' pro liberare {5} in communi pro {6}ultimo tempore captivitatis et desolationis. [5]Visitatio et dies visitationis pro ultimo tempore Ecclesiae, apud Esaiam, Quid facietis die visitationis et devastationis? e longinquo veniet, ad quem fugietis pro auxilio? x 3:
apud eundem, Ecce dies Jehovae venit crudelis, et indignationis, et excandescentiae, et irae, ad ponendum terram in vastitatem, ...visitabo super orbem malum, et super impios iniquitatem eorum, xiii 11:
apud Jeremiam, Cadent inter cadentes, et tempore visitationis eorum impingent, viii 12:
apud Hosheam, Venerunt dies visitationis, venerunt dies retributionis, ix 7:
apud Mosen, Jehovah ad Mosen, Verumtamen, i, duc populum hunc in quam locutus sum tibi; ecce angelus Meus ibit coram te, at in die visitandi Me, visitabo super eos peccatum eorum, Exod. xxxii 34:
apud Lucam, Jesus de Hierosolyma; Non relinquent in te lapidem super lapide, quia non agnovisti tempus visitationis tuae, xix 44;
`dies visitationis' pro Adventu Domini, et illustratione tunc; {7}at respective ad {8}gentem Judaicam, quia non {9}agnovit, pro ultimo tempore repraesentativorum Ecclesiae apud illos; nam destructa Hierosolyma cessarunt sacrificia, et {10}gens illa dispersa: [6]apud Ezechielem, Clamavit in {11}auribus meis vox magna, dicendo, Appropinquarunt visitationes urbis, et viro instrumentum perditionis ejus in manu ejus, ix 1;
similiter: apud Esaiam, Rephaim non resurgent, eo quod visitasti, exstinxisti eos, xxvi 14;
`Rephaim' pro posteritate Ecclesiae Antiquissimae quae ante diluvium, qui etiam vocati Nephilim et Enakim, de quibus videatur n. 567, 581, 1673; `visitasti et exstinxisti Rephaim' pro ultimo tempore illius Ecclesiae; tum {12} pro conjectione eorum {13} in infernum, de {14}qua re videatur n. 1265-1272. Visitatio {15} pro retributione, ita pro damnatione, apud Jeremiam, Num propter hoc non visitaverim? ...aut num de gente, quae sicut haec, non sumpserit ultionem anima Mea? v 9:
apud (x)eundem, Exitium Esavi adducam super eum, tempore quo visitabo eum, xlix 8:
apud Hosheam, Visitabo super illum vias illius, et opera illius retribuam, iv 9. @1 captivitatis$ @2 i Et$ @3 suum A I$ @4 vobis$ @5 i et$ @6 instauratione Ecclesiae post vastationem ejus$ @7 et$ @8 Judaeos$ @9 agnoverunt$ @10 illi dispersi$ @11 oribus I$ @12 i quoque$ @13 i qui a posteritate illa$ @14 quibus$ @15 i etiam$