285.经上之所以说“他们要在地上掌权”，是因为无论在此处还是其它地方，“地”都表示主在天上和地上的教会。教会不管在何处，都是主的国度。因此，为免有人误以为凡被主救赎的人都将成为君王和祭司，要在地上掌权，通过圣言来证明“地”表示教会显得极其重要。这一点从以下经文可以看出来：
看哪，耶和华使地空虚，使它荒凉；又翻转地面；地必全然空虚；可居之地悲哀衰残，地被其上的居民污秽；所以地被咒诅吞灭，地上的居民被火焚烧，剩下的人稀少。在地中间，必像打过的橄榄树。高处的罅隙都开了，地的根基也震动了；地全然粉碎；地尽都崩裂；地大大震动。地要东倒西歪，好像醉酒的人。（以赛亚书24:1-23）
有狮子从密林中上来，要使你的地荒凉；我观看地，不料，地是空虚混沌；耶和华如此说，全地必然荒凉，地要悲哀。（耶利米书4:7，23-28）
这地悲哀，要到几时呢？全地荒凉，因为没有人放在心上。（耶利米书12:4，11-13）
地上悲哀衰残，黎巴嫩羞愧枯干。（以赛亚书33:9）
我从主那里听见已经决定在全地上施行灭绝的事。（以赛亚书28:2，22）
看哪，耶和华的日子临到，使这地荒凉，使地摇憾，离其本位。（以赛亚书13:9，13）
地就摇撼战抖，山的根基也震动。（诗篇18:7）
地虽改变，我们也不害怕。神发声，地便熔化。（诗篇46:2-3，6，8）
自从立地的根基，你们岂没有明白吗？（以赛亚书40:21，23）
神啊，你丢弃了我们。你使地战抖；求你将裂口医好，因为地在摇动。（诗篇60:1-2）
地和其上的居民都熔化了，我要立定地的柱子。（诗篇75:3）
翅膀刷刷作响之地；你们快行的使者，要到践踏人的民族那里去，他们的地有江河分开。（以赛亚书18:1-2）
因着万军之耶和华的烈怒，地都变黑。（以赛亚书9:19）
你们必成为喜乐之地。（玛拉基书3:12）
我要使你作人民的约，复兴那地。诸天哪！应该歌唱。大地啊！应当快乐。（以赛亚书49:8，13）
在活人之地，你必不得见耶和华。（以赛亚书38:11）
我若不信在活人之地得见恩惠。（诗篇27:13）
温柔的人有福了，因为他们必承受地土。（马太福音5:5）
我耶和华是创造万物，独自展开诸天，铺张大地的。（以赛亚书44:23，24；撒迦利亚书12:1；耶利米书10:11–13；51:15；诗篇136:6）
让大地开裂，产出救恩；创造诸天、形成大地的耶和华如此说。（以赛亚书45:8，12，18，19）
此外还有许多其它经文，若都引用，会占用大量篇幅。
“地”之所以表示教会，是因为“地”通常是指教会所在的迦南地。“天上的迦南”并非别的。还因为当提及“地”时，属灵的天使不是想到地，而是想到地上的人类及其属灵状态，其属灵状态就是教会的状态。“地”也有反面意义，表示诅咒或厄运。因为人若没有教会，就会有诅咒或厄运。反面意义上的地在相关经文有所提及（如以赛亚书14:12；21:9；26:19，21；29:4；47:1；63:6；耶利米哀歌2:10；以西结书26:20；32:24；民数记16:29–33；26:10等）。
285. We are told they "will reign upon the earth" because the earth here and elsewhere means the Lord's church in heaven and on earth. The church in both worlds is the Lord's kingdom. Therefore, lest anyone suppose that people who are redeemed by the Lord all become kings and priests who will reign upon the earth, it is important that we demonstrate from the Word that the earth or land symbolizes the church. This can be seen from the following passages:
Behold, the Lord makes the earth empty and makes (the earth) waste, and will overturn its surface... The land shall be entirely emptied... The (habitable) earth will mourn and... be turned upside down... The earth will be profaned under its inhabitants... Therefore a curse shall devour the earth... and... the inhabitants of the earth shall be burned, and few men will be left... ...in the midst of the land... it shall be like the stripping of an olive tree... ...the cataracts on high are opened, and the foundations of the earth are shaken. The earth is violently broken, the earth is utterly split open, the earth is shaken exceedingly. The earth reels to and fro like a drunkard... (Isaiah 24:1-23.)
[2] The lion has come up from his thicket... to make your land desolate... I beheld the earth (when) lo, it was empty and void... ...Jehovah has said, "The whole land shall be desolate... For this shall the earth mourn... (Jeremiah 4:7, 23-28)
How long will the land mourn...? The whole land is made desolate, because no one lays it to heart. (Jeremiah 12:4, 11-13)
The earth mourns and languishes, Lebanon is shamed and withered away. (Isaiah 33:9)
Its land shall become burning pitch...(and) it shall lie waste. (Isaiah 34:9-10)
...I have heard from the Lord... a destruction decreed upon the whole earth. (Isaiah 28:22)
Behold, the day of Jehovah comes... to lay the land desolate..., and the earth will be shaken out of its place... (Isaiah 13:9-13)
The earth shook and trembled, and the foundations of the mountains quaked... (Psalms 18:7)
...we will not fear when the earth is transformed... When He uttered His voice, the earth melted. (Psalms 46:2-3, 6, 8)
Have you not understood the foundations of the earth? (Isaiah 40:21)
O God, You have forsaken us... You have made the earth tremble...; heal its breaches, for it is shaken. (Psalms 60:1-2)
[3] The earth and all its inhabitants will melt away; I will firm up its pillars. (Psalms 75:3)
Woe to a land overshadowed by wings... Go, ...messengers, to... a nation... trodden down, whose land rivers have despoiled. (Isaiah 18:1-2)
By the wrath of Jehovah of Hosts the land is darkened... (Isaiah 9:19)
...you will be a delightful land... (Malachi 3:12)
...I have given You as a covenant of the people to restore the earth... Sing, O heavens! And exult, O earth! (Isaiah 49:8, 13)
I shall not see Yah... in the land of the living. (Isaiah 38:11)
...who caused terror in the land of the living. (Ezekiel 32:23-27)
I would not have believed I would see the goodness... in the land of life. (Psalms 27:13)
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. (Matthew 5:5)
I am Jehovah, who makes all things, who stretches out the heavens alone, who spreads out the earth by Myself. (Isaiah 44,24, cf. Zechariah 12:1, Jeremiah 10:11-13; 51:15, Psalm. 136:6)
Let the earth open, let them bring forth salvation... ...thus said Jehovah, who created the heavens..., who formed the earth... (Isaiah 45:8, 12, 18-19)
...behold, I create new heavens and a new earth... (Isaiah 65:17, cf. 66:22)
And in many other places as well, which, if I were to cite them, would fill a page.
[4] The earth or land symbolizes the church for the reason that it very often means the land of Canaan, which is where the church was. That is the heavenly Canaan. Moreover, when the earth or land is mentioned, angels, being spiritual, do not think of the earth or land, but of the human race dwelling upon it and its spiritual state; and its spiritual state is the state of the church.
The earth or land also has an opposite meaning, and in that sense it symbolizes damnation, since when the church is not present in a person, damnation is. The earth or land is mentioned in that sense in Isaiah 14:12; 21:9; 26:19, 21; 29:4; 47:1; 63:6, Lamentations 2:2, 10, Ezekiel 26:20; 32:24, Numbers 16:29-33; 26:10, and elsewhere.
285. It is said 'they shall reign over the land' because by 'land' here and elsewhere is understood the Lord's Church in the heavens and on Earth (in terris). The Church in both of these is the Lord's kingdom. Therefore, in case anyone should believe that all who have been redeemed by the Lord become kings and priests, and that they are going to reign over a land, it is important that it should be demonstrated out of the Word that 'land' signifies the Church. It is possible for this to be seen from the following passages:
Behold Jehovah emptying the land, and stripping the land bare, and He shall turn over the face thereof; emptying, the land shall be emptied; the habitable land shall mourn and be confounded; the land shall be profaned under its inhabitants; therefore shall the curse devour the land, and the inhabitants of the land shall be burnt up, scarcely a man shall be left; there shall be in the midst of the land as the plucking of an olive tree. The cataracts from on high are opened, and the foundations of the land are shaken; breaking in pieces, the land is broken in pieces: bursting asunder, the land is burst asunder: disturbing, the land is disturbed: staggering, the land staggers as if drunk Isaiah [xxiv] 1-23.
[2] The lion has come up out of the thicket to reduce thy land to a waste; I saw the land when, behold, it was empty and void; Jehovah said, The whole land shall be a waste, therefore the land shall mourn. Jeremiah 4:7, 23-28.
How long shall the land mourn? The whole land is desolate, because there is no man laying [it] to heart. Jeremiah 12:4, 11-13.
The land mourns and languishes, Lebanon has blushed and withered away. Isaiah 33:9.
The land shall be turned into burning pitch, and be laid waste. Isaiah 34:9-10.
I have heard from the Lord a consummation and cutting short upon the whole land. Isaiah 28:2, 22.
Behold the day of Jehovah shall come to lay the land waste, and the land shall be shaken out of its place. Isaiah 13:9-13.
The land was disturbed and it trembled, and the foundations of the mountains quaked. Psalms 18:6-7 [H.B. 7-8].
We will not fear when the land is moved; when He shall have uttered [His] voice, the land shall melt. Psalms 46:2-3, 6, 8 [H.B. 3-4, 7, 9].
Do you not understand the foundations of the land? Isaiah 40:21, 23.
O God, Thou hast forsaken us, Thou hast made the land begin to tremble; heal the breaches thereof, for it has been disturbed. Psalms 60:1-2 [H.B. 3-4].
[3] The land and all its inhabitants shall melt; I will strengthen the pillars of it. Psalms 75:2-3 [H.B. 3-4].
Woe to the land shadowed with wings. Go, O ambassadors to a nation trodden down, whose land the rivers have spoiled. Isaiah 18:1-2.
In the wrath of Jehovah Zebaoth is the land darkened. Isaiah 9:19; [H.B. 18].
You shall be a land of good pleasure. Malachi 3:[11], 12.
I have given thee for a covenant of the people to restore the land; sing, O heavens, and exult, O land. Isaiah 49:8, 13.
Thou shalt not 1see Jah in the land of the living ones. Isaiah 38:11.
Who gave terror in the land of the living ones. Ezekiel 32:23-27.
Unless I had believed to see good in the land of life. Psalms 27:13.
Blessed are the gentle, for they shall accept the inheritance of the land. Matthew 5:5.
I am Jehovah, making all things, the Only One spreading out the heavens, extending the land by Myself. Isaiah 44:23-24; Zechariah 12:1; Jeremiah 10:11-13; 51:15; Psalms 136:6.
Let the land open itself, let it bring forth (fructificare) health; thus said Jehovah, creating the heavens, forming the land. Isaiah 45:8, 12, 18-19.
Behold, I create new heavens, and a new land. Isaiah 65:17; 66:22; besides in many other places which, if they were quoted, would fill a page.
[4] The reason why the Church is signified by 'land' is because very often by 'land' is understood the land of Canaan, and in that land was the Church, the 'heavenly Canaan' being nothing else. It is also because when a land is named, angels, who are spiritual, do not think of the land but of the human race that is upon it and its spiritual state, and the spiritual state is the state of the Church. 'Land' also has an opposite sense, and in that it signifies damnation, for where there is no Church with a man there is damnation. 'Land' is named in this sense [in]. Isaiah 14:12; 21:9; 26:19, 21; 29:4; 47:1; 63:6; Lamentations 2:2, 10; Ezekiel 26:20; 32:24; Numbers 16:29-33; 26:10; and elsewhere.
285. It is said, "They shall reign on the earth," because by "earth" here and elsewhere is meant the Lord's church in the heavens and on the earth. The church, wherever it may be, is the Lord's kingdom. Lest, therefore, anyone should believe that all who are redeemed by the Lord become kings and priests, and that they will reign on the earth, it is important that it be shown from the Word that the earth signifies the church. This may be seen from the following passages:
Behold, Jehovah maketh the earth void, and maketh the earth empty, and turneth over the face of it; the earth shall be made utterly void; the habitable earth shall mourn and be confounded; the earth shall be profaned under its inhabitants; therefore the curse shall devour the earth, and the inhabitants of the earth shall be burnt up, and few men shall be left; there shall be in the midst of the earth as the plucking of an olive tree. The cataracts from on high are opened, and the foundations of the earth are shaken; the earth is utterly broken in pieces; the earth is altogether burst asunder; the earth is thoroughly shaken; the earth staggereth like a drunkard, (Isaiah 24:1-23).
[2] The lion hath come up from the thicket to lay waste thy land; I saw the earth, when, behold, it was void and empty; Jehovah said, The whole earth shall be waste, therefore the earth shall mourn, (Jeremiah 4:7, 23-28).
How long shall the earth mourn; the whole earth is desolate, because there is not a man that layeth it to heart, (Jeremiah 12:4, 11-13).
The earth mourneth and languisheth, Lebanon is ashamed and is withered away, (Isaiah 33:9).
The earth shall become burning pitch, and be laid waste, (Isaiah 34:9-10).
I have heard a consummation and decree from the Lord upon the whole earth, (Isaiah 28:2, 22).
Behold, the day of Jehovah cometh to lay the earth waste, and the earth shall be shaken out of its place, (Isaiah 13:9, 13).
The earth was shaken and trembled, and the foundations of the mountains quaked, (Psalms 18:7).
We will not fear when the earth is changed; when He uttereth his voice, the earth shall melt, (Psalms 46:2-3, 6, 8).
Have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth? (Isaiah 40:21, 23).
O God, Thou hast deserted us, Thou hast made the earth to tremble; heal its breaches, because it is shaken, (Psalms 60:1-2).
[3] The earth and all its inhabitants shall melt; I will make firm its pillars, (Psalms 75:3).
Woe to the land shadowed with wings; go, ye ambassadors, to a nation trodden down, whose land the rivers have spoiled, (Isaiah 18:1-2).
Through the wrath of Jehovah Zebaoth is the earth darkened, (Isaiah 9:19).
Ye shall be a land of good pleasure, (Malachi 3:12).
I have given thee for a covenant of the people, to restore the earth; sing, O heavens; and exult, O earth, (Isaiah 49:8, 13).
Thou shalt not see Jah in the land of the living, (Isaiah 38:11).
Who gave terror in the land of the living, (Ezekiel 32:23-27).
Unless I believed to see good in the land of life, (Psalms 27:13).
Blessed are the meek, for they shall receive the earth as an inheritance, (Matthew 5:5).
I am Jehovah that maketh all things, that spreadeth out the heavens alone, that stretcheth out the earth by Myself, (Isaiah 44:23-24; Zechariah 12:1; Jeremiah 10:11-13; 51:15; Psalms 136:6).
Let the earth open itself, let it bring forth salvation; thus said Jehovah, that createth the heavens, that formeth the earth, (Isaiah 45:8, 12, 18-19).
Behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, (Isaiah 65:17; 66:22).
Besides many other places, which, if they were adduced, would fill pages.
[4] The reason why the church is signified by "the earth" is because by "earth" the land of Canaan is often meant, in which was the church; "the heavenly Canaan" is no other; as, also, because when "the earth" is named, the angels, who are spiritual, do not think of the earth, but of the human race that is upon it and of its spiritual state, and its spiritual state is the state of the church. "The earth" has also an opposite sense, and in that it signifies damnation, because when there is no church with man, there is damnation; in this sense the earth is mentioned in Isaiah 14:12; 21:9; 26:19, 21; 29:4; 47:1; 63:6; Lamentations 2:10; Ezekiel 26:20; 32:24; Numbers 16:29-33; 26:10.
285. Dicitur "regnabunt super terra," quia per "terram" hic et alibi intelligitur Ecclesia Domini in Caelis et in terris; Ecclesia utrobivis est Regnum Domini: ne itaque quis credat, quod omnes qui a Domino redempti sunt, fiant Reges et Sacerdotes, et quod regnaturi super terra, interest ut ex Verbo demonstretur, quod terra significet Ecclesiam: hoc videri potest ex sequentibus locis:
"Ecce Jehovah evacuans Terram, et exinaniens Terram, et evertet facies ejus: evacuando evacuabitur Terra: lugebit et confundetur Terra habitabilis: Terra prophanabitur sub habitatoribus suis propterea maledictio comedet Terram et exurentur habitatores Terrae, et relictus erit homo rarus: erit in medio Terrae sicut strictura oleae. Cataractae ab alto apertae sunt, et commota sunt fundamenta Terrae: confringendo confracta est Terra: disrumpendo disrupta est Terra: commovendo commota est Terra: titubando titubat Terra sicut ebrius," (Esaj. 24:1-23);
"Ascendit leo ex vepreto ad redigendum Terram tuam in vastitatem: vidi Terram, cum ecce vacuum et inane: dixit Jehovah, vastitas erit tota Terra, propterea lugebit Terra," (Jeremias 4:7, 23-28);
"Quousque lugebit Terra: desolata est tota Terra, quia non vir ponens super cor," (Jeremias 12:4, 11-13);
"Luget et elanguescit Terra, erubuit Libanus et emarcuit," (Esaias 33:9);
Erit Terra in picem ardentem, et vastata," (Esaias 34:9-10);
"Consummationem et decisionem audivi a Domino super universam Terram," (Esaias 28:2, 22);
"Ecce dies Jehovae veniet ad ponendum Terram in vastitatem, et concutietur Terra e loco suo, (Esaias 13:9, 13);
"Commota est et contremuit Terra, et fundamenta montium trepidarunt," (Psalm 18:8 (B.A. 7)); 1
"Non timebimus cum mutabitur Terra: cum dederit vocem, liquescet Terra," (Psalm 46:3-4, 7, 9 (B.A. 2-3, 6, 8));
"Annon intelligitis fundamenta Terrae," (Esaias 40:21, 23)
"Deus deseruisti nos, tremefecisti Terram: sana fracturas ejus, quia commota est," (Psalm 60:3-4 (B.A. 1-2));
"Liquescent Terra et omnes habitatores ejus: Ego firmabo columnas ejus," (Psalm 75:4 (B.A. 3)); 2
"Vae Terrae inumbratae alis: ite legati ad gentem conculcatam, cujus Terram depraedati sunt fluvii," (Esaias 18:1-2);
"In excandescentia Jehovae Zebaoth obscurata est Terra," (Esaias 9:18 (B.A. 19)); 3
"Eritis vos Terra beneplaciti," (Malachias 3:12); 4
"Dedi Te in foedus populi ad restituendum Terram: cantate Caeli et exulta Terra," (Esaias 49:8, 13);
"Non videbo 5Jah in Terra viventium," (Esaias 38:11);
"Qui dederunt terrorem in Terra viventium," (Ezechiel 32:23-27);
"Nisi crederem videre bonum in Terra vitae," (Psalm 27:13);
"Beati mites, quia haereditatem Terrae accipient," (Matthaeus 5:5)
"Ego Jehovah faciens omnia, expandens Caelos Solus, extendens Terram a Me Ipso," (Esaias 44:23-24; Sacharias 12:1; Jeremias 10:11-13; 51:15; Psalm 136:6); 6
"Aperiat se Terra, fructificent salutem: sic dixit Jehovah, creans Caelos formans Terram," (Esaias 45:8, 12, 18-19);
"Ecce Ego creans Caelos novos, et Terram novam," (Esaias 65:17; 66:22);
praeter multis aliis in locis, quae si adducerentur, implerent membranam. Causa quod per "terram" significetur Ecclesia, est quia multoties per "terram" intelligitur Terra Canaan, et in illa fuit Ecclesia; "Canaan caelestis" non aliud est: tum quia cum nominatur "terra," Angeli, qui spirituales sunt, non cogitant terram, sed humanum genus quod super illa, et ejus statum spiritualem, et status spiritualis est status Ecclesiae. "Terra" etiam oppositum sensum habet, et in eo significat damnationem, quoniam cum nulla Ecclesia est apud hominem, est damnatio; in hoc sensu nominatur "Terra," (Esaias 14:12; 21:9; 26:19, 21; 29:4; 47:1; 63:6; Threni 2:2, 10; Ezechiel 26:20; 32:24; Numeri 16:29-33; 26:10; et alibi).
Footnotes:
1. 8 pro "7, 8"
2. 4 pro "3, 4"
3. 9:18 pro "49:8, 13"
4. 12 pro "11, 12"
5. videbo pro "videbis"
6. Psalm. pro "cap."