启示录21
1.我又看见一个新天新地。因为先前的天和先前的地已经过去了，海也不再有了。
2.我约翰又看见圣城新耶路撒冷由神那里从天而降，预备好了，就如新妇妆饰整齐，等候丈夫。
3.我听见有大声音从天上出来说，看哪！神的帐幕在人间。祂要与人同住，他们要作祂的子民；祂要亲自与他们同在，作他们的神。
4.神要擦去他们眼上一切的眼泪。不再有死亡，也不再有悲哀、哭号、疼痛，因为以前的事都过去了。
5.坐宝座的说，看哪！我将一切都更新了。又对我说，你要写上，因这些话是真实可信的。
6.祂又对我说，都成了！我是阿拉法和俄梅戛；是初和终。我要将生命水的泉源白白赐给那口渴的人喝。
7.得胜的，必承受这些为业。我要作他的神，他要作我的儿子。
8.惟有胆怯的、不忠的、可憎的、杀人的、淫乱的、行邪术的、拜偶像的和一切说谎话的，他们的分就在烧着硫磺的火湖里，这是第二次的死。
9.拿着七个金香瓶、盛满末后七灾的七位天使中，有一位来同我说话，说，你来，我要将新妇，就是羔羊的妻，指示你。
10.我在灵里被那天使带到一座又大又高的山上，他将那大城，就是由神那里从天而降的圣耶路撒冷指示我。
11.城中有神的荣耀，城的光辉如同极贵的宝石，好像碧玉石，明如水晶。
12.有高大的墙，有十二个门，门上有十二位天使，又有名字写在上头，就是以色列人十二支派的名字。
13.东边有三门，北边有三门，南边有三门，西边有三门。
14.城墙有十二根基，根基上有羔羊十二使徒的名字。
15.对我说话的，拿着金苇子，要量那城和城门、城墙。
16.城是四方的，长宽一样大。天使用苇子量那城，共有一万二千斯他丢；长、宽、高都是一样。
17.又量了城墙，按着人的尺寸，就是天使的尺寸，共有一百四十四肘。18.墙的构造是碧玉的，城是精金的，如同明净的玻璃。
19.城墙的根基是用各样宝石修饰的。第一根基是碧玉，第二是蓝宝石，第三是绿玛瑙，第四是绿宝石，
20.第五是红玛瑙，第六是红宝石，第七是橄榄石，第八是绿柱石，第九是黄玉，第十是绿玉，第十一是紫玛瑙，第十二是紫晶。
21.十二个门是十二颗珍珠，每门是一颗珍珠。城内的街道是精金，好像明透的玻璃。
22.我未见城内有殿，因主神全能者和羔羊为城的殿。
23.那城不需要日月照耀它，因有神的荣耀光照它，又有羔羊为城的灯。24.得救的列族要在城的光里行走，地上的君王必将自己的荣耀、尊贵归与那城。
25.城门白昼总不关闭，在那里原没有黑夜。他们必将列族的荣耀、尊贵归与那城。
26.凡不洁净的，并那行可憎与虚谎之事的，总不得进那城；只有名字写在羔羊生命册上的才得进去。
本章论述了最后审判之后天堂与教会的状态；此后，新教会将通过新天堂而存在于地上，并单单敬拜主（1-8节）。它与主的结合（9，10节）。描述了它出于圣言的聪明（11节）；因而它的教义（12-21）；以及它的所有性质（22-26节）。
第1节.“我又看见一个新天新地”表一个新天堂由主通过基督徒形成，如今被称作基督天堂，那些敬拜主，并照其圣言中的诫命生活，因而拥有仁与信的人就在该天堂；所有基督徒的婴孩也在这里（876节）。“因为先前的天和先前的地已经过去了”表不是由主，而是由那些从基督教界进入灵界的人所形成的天堂，这些天堂在最后审判之日都被驱散了（877节）。“海也不再有了”表由最初建立教会以来的基督徒所组成的天堂外在同样被驱散，不过这要等到那些写在主生命册上的人从那里被接出去，并得救之后（878节）。
第2节.“我约翰又看见圣城新耶路撒冷由神那里从天而降”表在前教会终结时，主要建立新教会，新教会和新天堂要在教义和生活的神性真理上相联（879-880节）。“预备好了，就如新妇妆饰整齐，等候丈夫”表新教会通过圣言与主结合（881节）。
第3节.“我听见有大声音从天上出来说，看哪！神的帐幕在人间”表主出于爱讲说并宣告好消息，以便祂自己将以其神性人与世人同在（882节）。“祂要与人同住，他们要作祂的子民；祂要亲自与他们同在，作他们的神”表主的结合，该结合具有这样的性质，他们在主里面，主在他们里面（883节）。
第4节.“神要擦去他们眼上一切的眼泪。不再有死亡，也不再有悲哀、哭号、疼痛，因为以前的事都过去了”表主将拿走他们心灵的一切悲伤，以及对罚入地狱、来自地狱的邪恶与虚假并它们所导致的试探的恐惧，他们必不记起它们，因为那使他们受尽苦难的龙已经被逐出去了（844-845节）。
第5节.“坐宝座的说，看哪！我将一切都更新了。又对我说，你要写上，因这些话是真实可信的”表最后审判完成后，主确认关于新天堂和新教会的一切（886节）。
第6节.“祂又对我说，都成了”表这是神性真理（887节）。“我是阿拉法和俄梅戛；是初和终”表主是天地之神，天上和地上的一切事物都是祂所造的，由祂的圣治掌管并照圣治成就（888节）。“我要将生命水的泉源白白赐给那口渴的人喝”表给那些出于属灵的功用而渴慕真理的人，即主将从祂自己通过圣言把有助于这种功用的一切事物都赐给他们（889节）。
第7节.“得胜的，必承受这些为业。我要作他的神，他要作我的儿子”表那些战胜自己里面的邪恶，也就是魔鬼，并且当受到巴比伦人和龙们的试探时没有屈服的人将进入天堂，在那里住在主里面，主也住在他们里面（890节）。
第8节.“惟有胆怯的、不忠的、可憎的”表那些没有处于信，也没有处于仁，因而陷入各种邪恶的人（891节）。“杀人的、淫乱的、行邪术的、拜偶像的和一切说谎话的”表所有无视十诫，没有避开其中所提到如罪的任何邪恶，因而活在它们当中的人（892节）。“他们的分就在烧着硫磺的火湖里”表他们拥有地狱，就是对虚假的爱和对邪恶的欲望所在之地（893节）。“这是第二次的死”表罚入地狱（894节）。
第9节.“拿着七个金香瓶、盛满末后七灾的七位天使中，有一位来同我说话，说，你来，我要将新妇，就是羔羊的妻，指示你”表来自主出于天堂至内层的流注和显明，是关于新教会的，新教会将通过圣言与主结合（895节）。
第10节.“我在灵里被那天使带到一座又大又高的山上，他将那大城，就是由神那里从天而降的圣耶路撒冷指示我”表约翰被提到第三层天堂，他的视觉被打开了，主的新教会教义以城的形式显现在他面前（896节）。
第11节.“城中有神的荣耀，城的光辉如同极贵的宝石，好像碧玉石，明如水晶”表在新教会，圣言将被理解，因为它将凭其灵义而变得透明（897节）。
第12节.“有高大的墙”表新教会的教义所来自的字义中的圣言（898节）。“有十二个门”表其中对真理与良善的一切认知，人凭这些认知被引入新教会（899节）。“门上有十二位天使，又有名字写在上头，就是以色列人十二支派的名字”表天上的神性真理与良善，也就是在这些认知里面的教会的神性真理与良善，它们会守卫，防止有人进入，除非他凭来自主的衍生物而在它们里面（900节）。
第13节.“东边有三门，北边有三门，南边有三门，西边有三门”表对真理与良善的认知，其中就有来自主出于天堂的属灵生命，被引入新教会也是凭着它们，这些认知是为了那些或多或少处于爱或对良善的情感之人，也为了那些或多或少处于智慧或对真理的情感之人（901节）。
第14节.“城墙有十二根基”表字义中的圣言包含新教会教义的全部事物（902节）。“根基上有羔羊十二使徒的名字”表来自圣言关于主和照其诫命生活的教义的全部事物（903节）。
第15节.“对我说话的，拿着金苇子，要量那城和城门、城墙”表主将理解和认识主的新教会在教义及其引入真理，以及它们所源自圣言上的性质的能力赐给那些处于爱之良善的人（904节）。
第16节.“城是四方的”表它里面的公正（905节）。“长宽一样大”表在新教会，良善与真理如本质与形式那样合而为一（906节）。“天使用苇子量那城，共有一万二千斯他丢；长、宽、高都是一样”表新教会出于教义的性质被显示，即其一切事物皆源于爱之良善（907，908节）。
第17节.“又量了城墙，共有一百四十四肘”表显示新教会中圣言的性质，其一切真理和良善皆源于圣言（909节）。“按着人的尺寸，就是天使的尺寸”表新教会的性质，即它与天堂合而为一（910节）。
第18节.“墙的构造是碧玉的”表对新教会的人来说，圣言字义中的一切神性真理因灵义中的神性真理而透明（911节）。“城是精金的，如同明净的玻璃”表因而新教会的全部就是与来自主出于天堂的光一起流入的爱之良善（912节）。
第19，20节.“城墙的根基是用各样宝石修饰的”表取自圣言字义的新耶路撒冷教义的全部事物在那里的人当中将照着接受而显现在光中（914节）。“第一根基是碧玉，第二是蓝宝石，第三是绿玛瑙，第四是绿宝石，第五是红玛瑙，第六是红宝石，第七是橄榄石，第八是绿柱石，第九是黄玉，第十是绿玉，第十一是紫玛瑙，第十二是紫晶”表在那些直接靠近主，并通过避恶如罪照十诫生活的人当中，源于圣言字义的该教义井然有序的全部事物，因为是这些人而非其他人处于爱神爱邻教义，爱神爱邻是宗教信仰的两大根基（915节）。
第21节.“十二个门是十二颗珍珠，每门是一颗珍珠”表对主的承认和认知将对源于圣言的真理与良善的一切认知结合为一体，并引入新教会（916节）。“城内的街道是精金，好像明透的玻璃”表新教会及其教义的一切事物在形式上是与来自主出于天堂的光一起流入的爱之良善（917节）。
第22节.“我未见城内有殿，因主神全能者和羔羊为城的殿”表新教会不会有任何脱离内在之物的外在之物，因为在其神性人中的主自己就是那被靠近、敬拜和爱慕的独一无二者，新教会的一切事物皆来自祂的神性人 （918节）。
第23节.“那城不需要日月照耀它，因有神的荣耀光照它，又有羔羊为城的灯”表新教会之人不会处于自我之爱和自己的聪明，因而不会单单处于属世之光，还将处于唯独来自主出于神性真理的属灵之光（919节）。
第24节.“得救的列族要在城的光里行走”表所有处于生活的良善，并信主的人都将在那里照神性真理生活，并在自己里面从内在看到它们，如同肉眼看到物体那样（920节）。“地上的君王必将自己的荣耀、尊贵归与那城”表所有处于源自属灵良善的智慧之真理的人都将在那里称谢主，并将他们所具有的一切真理和一切良善都归给祂（921节）。
第25节.“城门白昼总不关闭，在那里原没有黑夜”表那些处于来自主源于爱之良善的真理之人不断被接进新耶路撒冷，因为那里没有任何信之虚假（922节）。“他们必将列族的荣耀、尊贵归与那城”表那些进去的人将带来称谢、承认和信仰，即主是天地之神，教会的一切真理和宗教的一切良善皆来自祂（923节）。
第26节.“凡不洁净的，并那行可憎与虚谎之事的，总不得进那城”表那些玷污圣言的良善，歪曲圣言的真理，并出于确认，因而也出于虚假作恶的人无一被接进主的新教会（924节）。“只有名字写在羔羊生命册上的才得进去”表除了那些信主并照其圣言中的诫命生活之人外，其他人都不会被接进新教会，也就是新耶路撒冷。
876.启21:1.“我又看见一个新天新地”表一个新天堂由主通过基督徒形成，如今被称作基督天堂，那些敬拜主，并照其圣言中的诫命生活，因而拥有仁与信的人就在该天堂；所有基督徒的婴孩也在这里。“新天”和“新地”不是指肉眼所见的属世天堂，和世人所居的属世大地，而是指属灵的天堂，和该天堂之地，也就是天使所在之地。谁都明白并承认，所指的是这个天堂，以及该天堂之地，只要他在阅读圣言时，能在某种程度上从纯属世和物质观念中退出。显然，所指的是天使天堂，因为在接下来的这一节，经上说他“看见圣城新耶路撒冷由神那里从天而降，预备好了，就如新妇妆饰整齐，等候丈夫”，这句话的意思是教会降下来，而不是说什么耶路撒冷降下来；地上的教会由主那里从天使天堂而降，因为天堂天使和地上的世人在教会的一切事物上都合而为一（626节）。由此可见，那些出于这些话，以及本节接下来的话为自己捏造关于世界毁灭、万物更新教条的人曾经或现在的想法何等属世和物质化。
启示录前面，尤其14、15章有几次论述了这个新天堂。它之所以被称作基督天堂，是因为它不同于古天堂（ancient heavens），古天堂由主降世前的教会之人构成。这些古天堂在基督天堂之上；因为天堂就像广袤的穹苍，一个在另一个之上；每个天堂自身也被划分为三层天堂，即：至内层或第三层天，中间层或第二层天，最低层或第一层天，这个新天堂也是如此。我曾看见他们，并与他们交谈。自最初建立基督教会以来所有敬拜主，照其圣言中的诫命生活，因而从主通过圣言处于仁，同时处于信，由此未处于死信，而是处于活信的人都在这个新天堂。关于该天堂的各种事物，可参看前文（612，613，626，631，659，661，845，846，856节）。所有基督徒的婴孩也在这个新天堂，因为天使一直以教会的两大基本要素，即对主是天地之神的承认和遵行十诫的生活来教育他们。
876. REVELATION: CHAPTER 21
1. Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. And there was no more sea.
2. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3. And I heard a great voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. And He Himself will be with them their God.
4. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more toil (suffering), for the former things have passed away."
5. Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful."
6. And He said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who thirsts I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely.
7. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.
8. But the fearful, faithless, and abominable, and murderers, the sexually licentious, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."
9. Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, "Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife."
10. And he carried me away in the spirit onto a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
11. having the glory of God; and its light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, bright as crystal.
12. It had a great and high wall, and twelve gates, and over the gates twelve angels, with names written on them, which are those of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:
13. three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west.
14. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
15. And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall.
16. The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed at twelve thousand furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height were equal.
17. Then he measured its wall, a hundred and forty-four cubits, the measure of a man, that is, of an angel.
18. The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass.
19. The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald,
20. the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.
21. The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.
22. But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.
23. The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it, and the Lamb is its lamp.
24. And the nations that are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth shall bring their glory and honor into it.
25. Its gates shall not be shut by day, for there shall be no night there.
26. And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it.
27. But there shall not enter it anything unclean, or that creates an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.
THE SPIRITUAL MEANING
The Contents of the Whole Chapter
This chapter has as its subject the state of heaven and the church following the Last Judgment, that through the New Heaven, a New Church will afterward emerge on earth which will worship the Lord alone (verses 1-8). Its conjunction with the Lord (verses 9, 10). A description of it as regards its intelligence gained from the Word (verse 11); as regards its consequent doctrine (verses 12-21); and as regards its whole character (verses 22-26).
The Contents of the Individual Verses:
| Verse Contents | Spiritual Meaning |
|---|---|
| 1. Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, | The Lord formed a new heaven out of Christians, which today is called the Christian heaven and is inhabited by people who worshiped the Lord and lived in accordance with His commandments in the Word, who consequently possess charity and faith. Found there also are all the little children of Christians. |
| for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. | The heavens formed, not by the Lord, but by the people themselves who came into the spiritual world from the Christian world, all of which were dispersed at the time of the Last Judgment. |
| And there was no more sea. | The outer part of the heaven composed of Christians since the church was first established was likewise dispersed, after those who were written in the Lord's Book of Life were liberated from there and saved. |
| 2. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, | The New Church to be established by the Lord at the end of the previous one, which will be affiliated with the New Heaven and possess Divine truths in its doctrine and in its life. |
| prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. | This church conjoined with the Lord through the Word. |
| 3. And I heard a great voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, | The Lord speaking out of love and proclaiming that He will now be present with people in His Divine humanity. |
| and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. And He Himself will be with them their God. | Their conjunction with the Lord, which is of such a nature that the people are in Him and He in them. |
| 4. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more toil, for the former things have passed away." | The Lord will take away from them all grief of mind, all fear of damnation, all fear of evils and falsities from hell, and of temptations or trials on account of them, and they will remember them no more, because the dragon that inflicted them has been cast out. |
| 5. Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful." | The Lord assuring them all as regards the New Heaven and the New Church after the Last Judgment was completed, |
| 6. And He said to me, "It is done! | that it is the Divine truth; |
| I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. | that the Lord is God of heaven and earth, and that He formed everything in the heavens and on earth, and governs all things by His Divine providence and directs them in accordance with it. |
| To him who thirsts I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely. | To those who desire truths for some useful spiritual purpose, the Lord will give of Himself through the Word everything conducive to that useful purpose. |
| 7. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. | People who overcome the evils, that is, the Devil, in themselves, and do not succumb when tempted by adherents of Babylon or followers of the dragon, shall enter into heaven and dwell there in the Lord and have the Lord in them. |
| 8. But the fearful, faithless, and abominable, | People who have no faith and no charity, and are consequently caught up in evils of every kind, and murderers, the sexually licentious, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars and all those who have no regard for the Ten Commandments, and do not refrain from any of the evils named there as sins, and therefore live caught up in them shall have their part in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, for them hell awaits where their loves of falsities and lusts for evil reside. |
| which is the second death." | Damnation. |
| 9. Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, "Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife." | An influx and revelation from the Lord from the inmost of heaven regarding the New Church, which will be conjoined with the Lord through the Word. |
| 10. And he carried me away in the spirit onto a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, | John transported into the third heaven and his sight opened there, and the Lord's New Church in respect to its doctrine presented to him in the form of a city. |
| 11. having the glory of God; and its light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, bright as crystal. | In that church the Word will be understood, because its spiritual sense will come shining through. |
| 12. It had a great and high wall, | The Word in its literal sense from which the doctrine of the New Church comes. |
| and twelve gates, | All the concepts of truth and goodness by which a person is introduced into the church. |
| and over the gates twelve angels, with names written on them, which are those of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: | The Divine truths and goods of heaven in those concepts, which are also the Divine truths and goods of the church, and safeguards to keep someone from entering into them unless he does so from the Lord. |
| 13. three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west. | Concepts of truth and goodness which have in them spiritual life from the Lord out of heaven and introduce into the New Church are provided for people who possess more or less love or affection for goodness, and for people who possess more or less wisdom or affection for truth. |
| 14. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, | The Word in its literal sense contains all of the doctrines of the New Church. |
| and on them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. | All of the doctrines from the Word regarding the Lord and living in accordance with His commandments. |
| 15. And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. | To people who possess the goodness of love, the Lord grants a faculty for understanding and knowing the nature of the Lord's New Church as regards its doctrine and its introductory truths, and as regards the Word from which they are drawn. |
| 16. The city is laid out as a square; | Justice in that church. |
| its length is as great as its breadth. | Goodness and truth in that church are united, like essence and form. |
| And he measured the city with the reed at twelve thousand furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height were equal. | John shown the character of that church arising from its doctrine, that every part of it arose from the goodness of love. |
| 17. Then he measured its wall, a hundred and forty-four cubits, | John shown the nature of the Word in that church, that from it come all of its truths and goods. |
| the measure of a man, that is, of an angel. | The character of that church, as being united with heaven. |
| 18. The construction of its wall was of jasper; | With people of that church the Divine truth in the spiritual sense shines through every Divine truth in the literal sense. |
| and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. | Therefore everything connected with that church embodies the goodness of love flowing in together with light out of heaven from the Lord. |
| 19. The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: | All of the doctrines of the New Jerusalem taken from the Word's literal sense will, among the people in that church, be seen in a state of light, in accordance with their reception of it. |
| the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, 20. the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. | All of the doctrines of that church from the Word's literal sense in their order, with those who turn directly to the Lord and live in accordance with the Ten Commandments by refraining from evils as being sins; for they and no others possess a doctrine of love toward God and love for the neighbor, which are the two foundations of religion. |
| 21. The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each gate was of one pearl. | An acknowledgment and concept of the Lord join all the concepts of truth and goodness in the Word into one and introduce into the church. |
| And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. | Every truth of that church and its doctrine embodies the goodness of love flowing in together with light from the Lord out of heaven. |
| 22. But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. | That church will have no external element divorced from an internal one, because it turns to the Lord Himself in His Divine humanity, from whom comes everything connected with the church, and worships and adores Him alone. |
| 23. The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it, and the Lamb is its lamp. | People of that church will not be caught up in self-love and their own intelligence and so possess a natural sight only, but from the Word's Divine truth will possess a spiritual light from the Lord alone. |
| 24. And the nations that are saved shall walk in its light, | All those people who live a good life and believe in the Lord will live in that church in accordance with Divine truths and will see those truths inwardly in themselves as the eye sees its objects. |
| and the kings of the earth shall bring their glory and honor into it. | All those people who possess truths of wisdom springing from spiritual goodness will in that church confess the Lord and attribute to Him all the truth and all the goodness that they possess. |
| 25. Its gates shall not be shut by day, for there shall be no night there. | The New Jerusalem continually receives into it people who possess truths that spring from the goodness of love from the Lord, because it has no falsity in its faith. |
| 26. And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it. | Those who enter the New Jerusalem will bring with them a confession, acknowledgment and faith that the Lord is God of heaven and earth, and that every truth of the church and every good of religion comes from Him. |
| 27. But there shall not enter it anything unclean, or that creates an abomination or a lie, | No one is received into the Lord's New Church who adulterates the goods in the Word and falsifies its truths, and who does evils deliberately and so also devises falsities. |
| but only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life. | The only people received into the New Church, or New Jerusalem, are those who believe in the Lord and live in accordance with His commandments in the Word. |
THE EXPOSITION
21:1 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth. This symbolically means that the Lord formed a new heaven out of Christians, which today is called the Christian heaven and is inhabited by people who worshiped the Lord and lived in accordance with His commandments in the Word, who consequently possess charity and faith. Found in that heaven also are all the little children of Christians.
The new heaven and new earth do not mean the natural heavens that are visible to our eyes or the natural earth inhabited by the human race. Rather they mean a spiritual heaven and the land of that heaven where angels dwell. That that heaven and the land of that heaven are meant is something everyone sees and acknowledges if only he can be drawn away from a purely natural and material idea when he reads the Word.
It is apparent that an angelic heaven is meant because we are told in the very next verse that John saw the holy city Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. This does not mean some Jerusalem coming down, but the church, and the church on earth descends from the Lord out of the angelic heaven, since angels in heaven and people on earth are united in everything having to do with the church (no. 626).
It can be seen from this how naturally and materially some people have thought and continue to think who, from these words and those that follow in this verse, have fabricated for themselves the dogma regarding the destruction of the world and everything's being created anew.
[2] This new heaven was the subject several times before in the book of Revelation, especially in chapters 14, 15. It is called the Christian heaven, because it is apart from the ancient heavens which were constituted of people of the church before the Lord's advent. These ancient heavens are above the Christian heaven, for the heavens are like expanses, one above another. The same is the case with each of the heavens, for every heaven is in itself distinguished into three heavens - an inmost or third heaven, an intermediate or second heaven, and a lowest or first heaven. So with this new heaven. I have seen its inhabitants and spoken with them.
This new Christian heaven is inhabited by all those people who from the first establishment of the Christian Church have worshiped the Lord and lived in accordance with His commandments in the Word, and who consequently possess both charity and faith from the Lord through the Word, thus whose faith is not a lifeless one but a living one.
Regarding this heaven, see various mentions above, in nos. 612, 613, 626, 631, 659, 661, 845, 846, 856.
Found in that heaven likewise are all the little children of Christians, because they are brought up by angels in the two essential elements of the church, namely an acknowledgment of the Lord as God of heaven and earth, and living in accordance with the Ten Commandments.
876. THE TWENTY-FIRST CHAPTER
1. And I saw a new heaven and a new land, for the former heaven and the former land were passed away; and the sea was no more.
2. And I John saw the holy city New Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold God's tabernacle is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and He Himself shall be with them their God.
4. And God shall wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither sorrow, nor crying, nor labour (hardship) shall be any more, for the former things have passed away.
5. And the One sitting upon the throne said, Behold I am making all things new. And He said unto me, Write, for these words are true and trustworthy.
6. And He said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the Ending. To the thirsting one I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely.
7. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be God to him, and he shall be a son to Me.
8. But as for the fearful, and the untrustworthy, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and enchanters, and idolaters, and all liars, their part is in the lake burning with fire and sulphur; which is the second death.
9. And there came unto me one of the seven angels having the seven phials full of the seven last plagues, and spoke with me saying, Come, I will show thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.
10. And he carried me away in the spirit above a great and high mountain, and showed me the great City the holy Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God.
11. Having the glory of God, and the light thereof like a most precious stone, as it were a jasper stone shining crystal clear.
12. Having a great and high wall, having twelve gates, and over the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon which are those of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel.
13. Towards the east three gates, towards the north three gates, towards the south three gates, towards the west three gates.
14. And the wall of the city having twelve foundations and in them the names of the Lamb's twelve apostles.
15. And the one speaking with me had a golden reed that he might measure the City, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.
16. And the city lies foursquare, and the length thereof is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand stadia; 1the length and the breadth and the height of it were equal.
17. And he measured the wall thereof a hundred and forty-four cubits, the measure of a man, that is, of an angel.
18. And the construction of the wall thereof was of jasper, and the city was pure gold like unto pure glass.
19. And the foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every precious stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald.
20. The fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst.
21. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each one of the gates was of one pearl, and the Street of the city was of pure gold as it were transparent glass.
22. And I saw no temple therein, for the Lord God Almighty is the temple thereof, and the Lamb.
23. And the city has no need of the sun, nor of the moon, to shine in it, for the glory of God has enlightened it, and the lamp thereof is the Lamb.
24. And the nations that are being saved shall walk its the light thereof, and the kings of the land shall bring their glory and honour into it.
25. And the gates thereof shall not be closed during the day, for night shall not be there; and they shall bring the glory and the honour of the nations into it.
26. And there shall not enter into it any unclean thing nor one doing abomination and a lie; but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life.
THE SPIRITUAL SENSE
THE CONTENTS OF THE WHOLE CHAPTER
In this chapter it treats of the state of heaven and the Church after the last judgment.
That after it by means of the New Heaven there is going to come into existence a New Church on earth, which will worship the Only Lord (verses 1-8).
Its conjunction with the Lord (verses 9-10).
A description of it as to intelligence derived from the Word (verse 11); as to the doctrine thence (verses 12-21); and as to its every quality (verses 22-26).
THE CONTENTS OF EACH OF THE VERSES
1. And I saw a new heaven and a new land, signifies that by the Lord a new heaven has been formed out of Christians, which at this day is called the Christian heaven, where those are who had worshipped the Lord and lived in accordance with His precepts in the Word, who consequently have charity and faith; in which heaven are all the little children of Christians.
For the former heaven and the former land were passed away, signifies the heavens not made by the Lord but by those who came into the spiritual world out of Christendom, which were all done away with at the day of the last judgment.
And the sea was no more, signifies the external of the heaven composed of Christians since the first establishment of the Church likewise having been done away with, after those who were written in the Lord's book of life were taken out of it and saved.
2. And I John saw the holy city New Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven, signifies the New Church going to be set up by the Lord at the end of the former one, which [New Church] in companionship with the New Heaven will be in Divine truths as to both doctrine and life.
Prepared as a bride [adorned] for her husband, signifies that Church conjoined with the Lord by means of the Word.
3. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold God's tabernacle is with men, signifies the Lord out of love speaking and declaring the glad tidings that He Himself is now going to be present with men in His Divine Human.
And He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and He Himself shall be with them their God, signifies the Lord's conjunction, which is such that they are in Him, and He in them.
4. And God shall wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither sorrow, nor crying, nor labour shall be any more, for the former things have passed away, signifies that the Lord will take from them all grief of mind, fear of damnation, of evils and untruths out of hell and of the temptations resulting from them, and they shall not remember them, because the dragon who had inflicted them has been cast out.
5. And the One sitting upon the throne said, Behold I am making all things new, and He said unto me, Write, for these words are true and trustworthy, signifies the Lord confirming all concerning the New Heaven and the New Church after the last judgment has been completed.
6. And He said unto me, It is done, signifies that it is the Divine Truth (veritas).
I am Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the Ending, signifies that the Lord is the God of heaven and earth, and that all things in the heavens and on earth (in terris) were made by Him, and are governed by His Divine Providence, and are done in accordance therewith.
To the thirsting one I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely, signifies that to those who desire truths on account of any spiritual use the Lord out of Himself by means of the Word is going to give all the things that conduce to that use.
7. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be God to him, and he shall be a son to Me, signifies that those who overcome the evils with themselves, that is, the devil, and do not yield when they are being tempted by the Babylonians and the dragonists, are going to come into heaven and live there in the Lord and the Lord in them.
8. But as for the fearful and the untrustworthy and the abominable, signifies those who are in no faith, and in no charity, and consequently are in all kinds of evils.
And murderers, and whoremongers, and enchanters, and idolaters, and [all] liars, signifies all those who make the precepts of the Decalogue of no account, and do not flee from any of the evils there mentioned as sins, and therefore live in them.
Their part is in the lake burning with fire and sulphur, signifies theirs is the hell where are the loves of untruth and the lusts of evil.
Which is the second death, signifies damnation.
9. And there came unto me one of the seven angels having the seven phials full of the seven last plagues, and spoke with me saying, Come, I will show thee the bride, the Lamb's wife, signifies an influx and making manifest from the Lord out of the inmost of heaven concerning the New Church, which will be conjoined to the Lord by means of the Word.
10. And he carried me away in the spirit above a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, signifies John transported into the third heaven, and his sight opened there, before whom was made manifest the Lord's New Church as to doctrine in the form of a city.
11. Having the glory of God, and the light thereof like a most precious stone as it were a jasper stone shining crystal clear, signifies that in that Church the Word will be understood, because it will be transparent by virtue of its spiritual sense.
12. Having a great and high wall, signifies the Word in the sense of the letter from which the doctrine of the New Church will be derived.
Having twelve gates, signifies all the cognitions of truth and good there by means of which a man is introduced into the Church.
And over the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon which are those of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel, signifies the Divine truths and goods of heaven, which also are the Divine truths and goods of the Church, in those cognitions, and guards lest anyone should enter unless he be in them by derivation from the Lord (ex Domino).
13. Towards the east three gates, towards the north three gates, towards the south three gates, and towards the west three gates, signifies that the cognitions of truth and good, in which they have spiritual life out of heaven from the Lord, by means of which introduction into the New Church is effected, are for those who are in the love or affection of good, [some] more and [some] less, and for those who are in the wisdom or affection of truth, [some] more and [some] less.
14. And the wall of the city having twelve foundations, signifies that the Word in the sense of the letter contains all the things of the doctrine of the New Church.
And in them the names of the Lamb's twelve apostles, signifies all the things of the doctrine derived from the Word concerning the Lord and concerning a life in accordance with His precepts.
15. And the one speaking with me had a golden reed that he might measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof, signifies that by the Lord there is given to those who are in the good of love the capability of understanding and knowing the quality of the Lord's New Church as to the doctrine and its introductory truths, and as to the Word from which it is derived.
16. And the city lies foursquare, signifies justice in that [Church].
The length thereof is as large as the breadth, signifies that the good and truth in that Church make one like essence and form.
And he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand stadia 1; the length and the breadth and the height of it were equal, signifies the quality of that Church out of the doctrine was shown, that all the things thereof were derived from the good of love.
17. And he measured the wall thereof, a hundred and forty-four cubits, signifies that it was shown what the quality of the Word is in that Church, that from it are derived all its truths and goods.
The measure of a man, that is, of an angel, signifies that Church's quality of making one with heaven.
18. And the construction of the wall thereof was of jasper, signifies that every Divine truth in the sense of the letter with the men of that Church is transparent by virtue of the Divine Truth in the spiritual sense.
And the city was pure gold like unto pure glass, signifies that consequently everything of that Church is the good of love inflowing together with light out of heaven from the Lord.
19. And the foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every precious stone, signifies that all the things of the doctrine of the New Jerusalem selected out of the sense of the letter of the Word with those who are there are going to appear in light according to reception.
The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, [20] the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysohite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst, signifies all the things of that doctrine derived from the sense of the letter of the Word in their order with those who approach the Lord directly and live in accordance with the precepts of the Decalogue by fleeing from evils as sins; for these and no others are in the doctrine of love directed to God and of love towards the neighbour, which two are the foundations of religion.
21. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, and each one of the gates was of one pearl, signifies that the acknowledgment and cognition of the Lord conjoins into one all the cognitions of truth and good that are derived from the Word, and introduces into the Church.
And the street of the city was pure gold as it were transparent glass, signifies that every truth of that Church and of its doctrine is in form the good of love inflowing together with light out of heaven from the Lord.
22. And I saw no temple therein, for the Lord God Almighty is the temple thereof, and the Lamb, signifies that in this Church there will not be any external separated from what is internal, because the Lord Himself in His Divine Human, from Whom is everything of the Church, is the only One being approached, worshipped and adored.
23. And the city has no need of the sun and the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God has enlightened it, and the lamp thereof is the Lamb, signifies that the men of that Church will not be in the love of self and in self-derived intelligence (in propria intelligentia), and consequently in natural light only, but in spiritual light out of the Divine truth of the Word from the Only Lord.
24. And the nations that are being saved shall walk in the light thereof, signifies that all who are in good of life and believe in the Lord shall live there in accordance with Divine truths, and they shall see those truths inwardly in themselves, as the eye sees objects.
And the kings of the hand shall bring their glory and honour into it, signifies that all who are in truths of wisdom derived from spiritual good will confess the Lord there and ascribe to Him all the truth and all the good that are with them.
25. And the gates thereof shall not be closed during the day, for night shall not be there, signifies that those who are in truths derived from the good of love from the Lord are continually being received into the New Jerusalem, because there is not anything untrue of faith there.
And they shall bring the glory and the honour of the nations into it, signifies that those who enter will bring with them the confession, acknowledgement and faith that the Lord is the God of heaven and earth, and that every truth of the Church and every good of religion is from Him.
26. And there shall not enter into it any unclean thing, nor one doing abomination and a lie, signifies that no one is received into the Lord's New Church who adulterates the goods and falsifies the truths of the Word, and who does evils from confirmation and thus also untruths.
But only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life, signifies that no others are received into the New Church, which is the New Jerusalem, but those who believe in the Lord and live in accordance with His precepts in the Word.
THE EXPOSITION
[verse 1] 'And I saw a new heaven and a new land' signifies that by the Lord a new heaven has been formed out of Christians, which at this day is called the Christian heaven, where those are who had worshipped the Lord and lived in accordance with His precepts in the Word, who consequently have charity and faith; in which heaven are all the little children of Christians. By 'a new heaven' and by 'a new land' is understood neither the natural heaven visible before the eyes, nor the natural land inhabited by men, but a spiritual heaven and the land of that heaven, where there are angels. That this heaven and the land of this heaven is understood everyone sees and acknowledges, provided that he can be withdrawn in some measure from a purely natural and material idea when he is reading the Word. It is plain that the angelic heaven is understood, because in the verse immediately following it is said that he 'saw the holy city Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.' By this there is not understood any Jerusalem coming down, but the Church; and the Church on earth (in terris) comes down from the Lord out of the angelic heaven because the angels of heaven and the men of the earth in all the things of the Church make one (626). From these considerations it can be seen how naturally and materially those have thought and do think, who out of these words and the ones following in this verse have contrived for themselves a dogmatic tenet about the destruction of the world and about a new creation of all things.
[2] This new heaven has been treated of several times in the Apocalypse, especially in chapters 14 and 15. It is called the Christian heaven because it is distinct from the ancient heavens, which came into existence from the men of the Church before the Lord's coming. These ancient heavens are above the Christian heaven; for the heavens are like expanses, one above another. The case is similar with each heaven, for each heaven by itself is distinguished into three heavens, an inmost or third, a middle or second, and a lowest or first. Likewise in the case of this New Heaven. I have seen them and I have spoken with them. In this new Christian heaven are all those who from the first establishment of the Christian Church have worshipped the Lord and lived in accordance with His precepts in the Word, and who consequently have been in charity and faith together from the Lord by means of the Word, thus who are not in a dead but a living faith. Concerning this heaven various things may be seen above (612-613, 626, 631, 659, 661, 845-846, 856). In that heaven there are as well all the little children of Christians, because they have been educated by angels in the two Essentials of the Church, which are the acknowledgment of the Lord as the God of heaven and earth, and a life in accordance with the precepts of the Decalogue.
Footnotes:
1. Plural of stadium=approx. one-eighth of a mile.
876. Revelation 21
1. And I saw a New Heaven and a New Earth, for the former heaven and the former earth were passed away; and the sea was no more.
2. And I John saw the holy city New Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a Bride adorned for her Husband.
3. And I heard a great voice out of heaven, saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and He Himself shall be with them their God.
4. And God shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall be no more, neither mourning nor crying, neither shall there be labor [trouble] anymore, for the former things have passed away.
5. And He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And He said unto me, Write; for these words are true and faithful.
6. And He said unto me, It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give unto him that thirsteth of the fountain of the water of life freely.
7. He that overcometh shall possess as an inheritance all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be My son.
8. But the fearful, and the unfaithful, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake burning with fire and brimstone; which is the second death.
9. And there came unto me one of the seven angels having the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and he spoke with me, saying, Come, I will show thee the Bride, the Lamb's Wife.
10. And he carried me away in the spirit upon a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,
11. Having the glory of God, and her light was like unto a stone most precious, as it were a jasper stone, shining like crystal.
12. Having a wall great and high, having twelve gates, and over the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are those of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel.
13. On the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates.
14. And the wall of the city having twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
15. And he that was speaking with me had a golden reed, to measure the city and the gates thereof and the wall thereof.
16. And the city lieth foursquare, and the length thereof is as large as the breadth; and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand stadia; the length and the breadth and the height of it were equal.
17. And he measured the wall thereof, a hundred forty-four cubits, the measure of a man which is of an angel.
18. And the structure of the wall thereof was jasper, and the city was pure gold like pure glass.
19. And the foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every precious stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald,
20. The fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprasus, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst.
21. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each one of the gates was of one pearl; and the street of the city was pure gold as it were transparent glass.
22. And I saw no temple therein; for the Lord God Almighty is the temple of it and the Lamb.
23. And the city hath no need of the sun and of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God did lighten it, and the lamp thereof is the Lamb.
24. And the nations which are saved shall walk in the light of it, and the kings of the earth shall bring their glory and honor into it.
25. And the gates of it shall not be shut by day; for there shall be no night there; and they shall bring the glory and honor of the nations into it.
26. And there shall not enter into it any unclean thing and that doeth abomination and a lie, but they that are written in the Lamb's book of life.
THE SPIRITUAL SENSE
The contents of the whole chapter
In this chapter it treats of the state of heaven and the church after the Last Judgment; that after this, through the New Heaven, the New Church will exist on the earth, which will worship the Lord alone (verses 1-8). Its conjunction with the Lord (verses 9-10). The description of it as to intelligence from the Word (ver, (Revelation 21:11)Spiritual Diary 11); as to doctrine thence (verses 12-21); and as to all its quality (verses 22-26).
The contents of each verse, (Revelation 21:1)
Verse 1. "And I saw a New Heaven and a New Earth" signifies that a New Heaven was formed from Christians by the Lord, which at this day is called the Christian Heaven, where they are who had worshiped the Lord, and had lived according to His commandments in the Word, who thence have charity and faith; in which are also all the infants of Christians, (876). "For the former heaven and the former earth were passed away" signifies the heavens which were formed not by the Lord, but by those who came out of the Christian world into the spiritual world, who were all dispersed at the day of the Last Judgment, (877). "And the sea was no more" signifies that the external of the heavens collected from Christians since the first establishment of the church was in like manner dispersed, after they who were written in the Lord's book of life were taken thence and saved, (878).
Verse 2. (Revelation 21:2) "And I John saw the holy city New Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven" signifies the New Church to be established by the Lord at the end of the former church, which will be consociated with the New Heaven in Divine truths as to doctrine and as to life, (879-880). "Prepared as a bride adorned 1for her husband" signifies that church conjoined with the Lord through the Word, (881).
Verse 3. "And I heard a great voice out of heaven, saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men" signifies the Lord from love speaking and declaring the glad tidings, that He Himself will now be present with men in His Divine Human, (882). "And He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and He Himself shall be with them their God" signifies the conjunction of the Lord, which is of such a nature, that they are in Him, and He in them, (883).
Verse 4. "And God shall wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither mourning nor crying, neither shall there be labor anymore, for the former things have passed away" signifies that the Lord will take from them all grief of mind, fear of damnation, of evils and falsities from hell, and of temptations from them, and they shall not remember them because the dragon, which had caused them, is cast out, (844-845).
Verse 5. "And He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And He said unto me, Write, for these words are true and faithful" signifies the Lord confirming all concerning the New Heaven and the New Church after the Last Judgment has been executed, (886).
Verse 6. "And He said unto me, It is done" signifies that it is the Divine truth, (887). "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End" signifies that the Lord is the God of heaven and earth, and that all things in the heavens and on earth were made by Him, and are ruled by His Divine Providence, and are done according to it, (888). "I will give unto him that thirsteth of the fountain of the water of life freely" signifies that to those who desire truths from any spiritual use, the Lord will give from Himself through the Word all things that conduce to that use, (889).
Verse 7. "He that overcometh shall possess as an inheritance all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be My son" signifies that they who overcome evils in themselves, that is, the devil, and do not succumb when they are tempted by the Babylonians and the dragonists, will come into heaven, and there live in the Lord and the Lord in them, (890).
Verse 8. "But the fearful, and the unfaithful, and the abominable" signifies those who are in no faith, and in no charity, and thence in all kinds of evils, (891). "And murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and liars" signifies all those who make no account of the commandments of the Decalogue, and do not shun any evils there named as sins, and therefore live in them, (892). "Shall have their part in the lake burning with fire and brimstone" signifies they have hell where are the loves of falsity and the lusts of evil, (893). "Which is the second death" signifies damnation, (894).
Verse 9. "And there came unto me one of the seven angels having the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and he spoke with me, saying, Come, I will show thee the Bride, the Lamb's Wife" signifies influx and manifestation from the Lord out of the inmost of heaven, concerning the New Church, which will be conjoined to the Lord through the Word, (895).
Verse 10. "And he carried me away in the spirit upon a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God" signifies that John was taken up into the third heaven, and his sight there opened, before whom was made manifest the Lord's New Church as to doctrine, in the form of a city, (896).
Verse 11. "Having the glory of God, and her light was like unto a stone most precious, as it were a jasper stone, shining like crystal" signifies that in that church the Word will be understood, because translucent from its spiritual sense, (897).
Verse 12. "Having a wall great and high" signifies the Word in the sense of the letter from which is the doctrine of the New Church, (898). "Having twelve gates" signifies all the knowledges of truth and good therein by which man is introduced into the church, (899). "And over the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are those of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel" signifies the Divine truths and goods of heaven, which are also the Divine truths and goods of the church in those knowledges, and guards lest anyone enter unless he is in them from the Lord, (900).
Verse 13. "On the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates" signifies that the knowledges of truth and good, in which is spiritual life from heaven from the Lord, and by which introduction into the New Church is effected, are for those who are more or less in the love or the affection of good, and for those who are more or less in wisdom or the affection of truth, (901).
Verse 14. "And the wall of the city having twelve foundations" signifies that the Word in the sense of the letter contains all things of the doctrine of the New Church, (902). "And in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb" signifies all things of doctrine from the Word concerning the Lord, and concerning life according to His commandments, (903).
Verse 15. "And he that spoke with me had a golden reed, to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof" signifies that there is given by the Lord, to those who are in the good of love, the faculty of understanding and knowing what the quality of the Lord's New Church is as to doctrine and its introductory truths, and as to the Word from which they are, (904).
Verse 16. "And the city lieth foursquare" signifies justice in it, (905). "The length thereof is as large as the breadth" signifies that good and truth in that church make one, like essence and form, (906). "And he measured the city with the reed twelve thousand stadia, the length and the breadth and the height of it were equal" signifies the quality of that church from doctrine shown, that all things of it were from the good of love, (907, 908).
Verse 17. "And he measured the wall thereof a hundred forty-four cubits" signifies that it was shown what the quality of the Word is in that church, that from it are all its truths and goods, (909). "The measure of a man, that is, of an angel" signifies the quality of that church that it makes one with heaven, (910).
Verse 18. "And the structure of the wall thereof was jasper" signifies that all the Divine truth in the sense of the letter of the Word, with the men of that church, is translucent from the Divine truth in the spiritual sense, (911). "And the city was pure gold, like unto pure glass" signifies that thence the all of that church is the good of love flowing in together with light out of heaven from the Lord, (912).
Verse 19. "And the foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every precious stone" signifies that all things of the doctrine of the New Jerusalem taken from the sense of the letter of the Word, with those who are in it, will appear in the light according to reception, (914). "The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald (verse 20), the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprasus, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst" signifies all things of that doctrine in their order from the sense of the letter of the Word, with those who immediately approach the Lord, and live according to the commandments of the Decalogue by shunning evils as sins, for these and no others are in the doctrine of love to God and love toward the neighbor, which two are the fundamentals of religion, (915).
Verse 21. "And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, everyone of the gates was of one pearl" signifies that the acknowledgment and knowledge of the Lord conjoins into one all the knowledges of truth and good, which are from the Word, and introduces into the church, (916[1-2]); and the street of the city was pure gold as it were transparent glass" signifies that every truth of that church and of its doctrine is in form the good of love flowing in together with light out of heaven from the Lord, (917).
Verse 22. "And I saw no temple therein; for the Lord God Almighty is the temple of it and the Lamb" signifies that in this church there will not be any external separated from the internal, because the Lord Himself in His Divine Human, from whom is the all of the church, is alone approached, worshiped, and adored, (918).
Verse 23. "And the city hath no need of the sun and the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God did lighten it, and the lamp thereof is the Lamb" signifies that the men of that church will not be in self-love and in their own intelligence, and thence in natural light alone, but in spiritual light from the Divine truth of the Word from the Lord alone, (919).
Verse 24. "And the nations which are saved shall walk in the light of it" signifies that all who are in the good of life, and believe in the Lord, will there live according to Divine truths, and will see them inwardly in themselves, as the eye sees objects, (920). "And the kings of the earth shall bring their glory and honor into it" signifies that all who are in the truths of wisdom from spiritual good, will there confess the Lord, and ascribe to Him every truth and every good that is with them, (921).
Verse 25. "And the gates of it shall not be shut by day; for there shall be no night there" signifies that they will be continually received into the New Jerusalem, who are in truths from the good of love from the Lord, because there is not any falsity of faith there, (922). "And they shall bring the glory and honor of the nations into it" signifies that they who enter will bring with them the confession, acknowledgment, and faith, that the Lord is the God of heaven and earth, and that every truth of the church and every good of religion is from Him, (923).
Verse 26. "And there shall not enter into it any unclean thing and that doeth abomination and a lie" signifies that no one is received into the Lord's New Church who adulterates the goods and falsifies the truths of the Word, and who does evils from confirmation and thus also falsities, (924[1-2]); but they that are written in the Lamb's book of life" signifies that no others will be received into the New Church, which is the New Jerusalem, but they who believe in the Lord, and live according to His commandments in the Word, (925).
Footnotes:
1. The original Latin omits "adorned."
THE EXPLANATION, (Revelation 21:1)
Verse 1. And I saw a New Heaven and a New Earth, signifies that a New Heaven was formed from Christians by the Lord, which at this day is called the Christian Heaven, where they are who had worshiped the Lord and had lived according to His commandments in the Word, in whom therefore there is charity and faith; in which heaven also are all the infants of Christians. By "a New Heaven and a New Earth" is not meant the natural heaven visible to the eyes, nor the natural earth inhabited by men, but the spiritual heaven is meant, and the earth belonging to that heaven, where the angels are. That this heaven and the earth of this heaven is meant, everyone may see and acknowledge, if he can in some measure be withdrawn from a purely natural and material idea, when he reads the Word. That the angelic heaven is meant is evident, because it is said in the next verse, that "he saw the holy city Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a Bride adorned for her Husband," by which is not meant any Jerusalem coming down, but the church, and the church on earth comes down from the Lord out of the angelic heaven, because the angels of heaven and the men on earth in all things of the church make one, (626). From these things it may be seen, how naturally and materially they have thought and do think, who, from these words and those which follow in the same verse, have fabricated for themselves the dogma about the destruction of the world, and of the new creation of all things.
[2] This New Heaven is occasionally treated of above in Revelation (especially in chapters 14, 15). It is called the Christian Heaven, because it is distinct from the ancient heavens, which existed from the men of the church before the Lord's coming. These ancient heavens are above the Christian Heaven; for the heavens are like expanses, one above another; it is the same with each particular heaven; for each heaven by itself is distinguished into three heavens, an inmost or third, a middle or second, and a lowest or first, and so it is with this New Heaven; I have seen them and have spoken with them. In this New Christian Heaven are all those who, from the first establishment of the Christian Church, worshiped the Lord, and lived according to His commandments in the Word, and who, therefore, were in charity, and at the same time in faith from the Lord through the Word, thus who were not in a dead but in a living faith. Various things respecting this heaven may be seen above, (612, 613, 626, 631, 659, 661, 845, 846, 856). In that heaven likewise are all the infants of Christians, because they are educated by the angels in those two essentials of the church, which are the acknowledgment of the Lord as the God of heaven and earth, and a life according to the commandments of the Decalogue.
876. CAPUT XXI.
ET vidi Caelum novum et Terram novam, quia prius Caelum et prior Terra transiit; et Mare non erat amplius.
2. Et ego Johannes vidi urbem sanctam Hierosolymam Novam, descendentem a Deo e Caelo, paratam sicut Sponsam ornatam Marito Suo.
3. Et audivi vocem magnam e Caelo dicentem, Ecce Tabernaculum Dei cum hominibus, et habitabit cum illis, et illi populi Ipsius erunt, et Ipse erit cum illis Deus illorum 4. Et absterget Deus omnem lachrymam ex oculis eorum, et mors non erit amplius, neque luctus, neque clamor, neque labor (aerumna), non erit amplius; quia priora transiverunt.
5. Et dixit Sedens super Throno, Ecce nova omnia facio: et dixit mihi, Scribe, quia haec Verba vera et fida sunt.
6. Et dixit mihi, Factum est; Ego sum Alpha et Omega, Principium et Finis; Ego sitienti dabo ex fonte aquae vitae gratis.
7. Vincens haereditario possidebit omnia; et ero illi Deus, et ille erit Mihi filius.
8. Timidis autem, et infidis, et abominabilibus, et homicidis, et scortatoribus, et incantatoribus, et idololatris, et omnibus mendacibus, pars illorum in stagno ardente igne et sulphure; quae est altera mors.
9. Et venit ad me unus septem Angelorum habentium septem phialas plenas Septem plagis ultimis, et locutus est mecum, dicens, Veni, ostendam tibi Sponsam Agni Uxorem.
10. Et abstulit me in spiritu super montem magnum et altum, et ostendit mihi urbem magnam sanctam Hierosolymam, descendentem e CaelO a Deo:
11. Habentem gloriam Dei; et lumen ejus simile lapidi pretiosissimo, tanquam lapidi jaspidi instar crystalli splendenti:
12. Habentem murum magnum et altum, habentem portas duodecim, et super portis angelos duodecim, et nomina superscripta, quae sunt duodecim tribuum filiorum Israelis:
13. Ab oriente portae tres, a septentrione portae tres, a meridie portae tres, ab occasibus portae tres.
14. Et murus urbis habens fundamenta duodecim, et in illis nomina duodecim apostolorum Agni.
15. Et loquens cum me habebat calamum aureum, ut metiretur urbem et portas ejus et murum ejus.
16. Et urbs quadrangularis sita est, et longitudo ejus tanta est quanta et latitudo: et mensus est urbem calamo ad stadia duodecies mille; longitudo et latitudo et altitudo ejus aequalia erant.
17. Et mensus est murum ejus, centum quadraginta quatuor cubitorum, mensura hominis quae est Angeli.
18. Et erit structura muri ejus jaspis, et 1urbs aurum purum simile vitro puro.
19. Et fundamenta muri urbis omni lapide pretioso exornata: fundamentum primum jaspis, secundum sapphirus, tertium chalcedonius, quartum smaragdus,
20. Quintum sardonyx, sextum sardius, septimum chrysolithus, octavum beryllus, nonum topazius, decimum chrysoprasus, undecimum hyacinthus, duodecimum amethystus.
21. Et duodecim portae duodecim margaritae; unaquaevis portarum erat ex una margarita; et platea urbis aurum purum tanquam vitrum pellucidum.
22. Et templum non vidi in ea, quia Dominus Deus Omnipotens Templum ejus est et Agnus.
23. Et urbs non opus habet sole, neque luna, ut luceant in ea; quia Gloria Dei illustravit eam, et Lucerna ejus Agnus.
24. Et gentes quae salvantur in luce ejus ambulabunt, et reges terrae afferent gloriam et honorem Suum in illam.
25. Et portae ejus non claudentur interdiu, nox enim non erit ibi; et afferent gloriam et honorem gentium in illam.
26. Et non intrabit in illam ullum immundum, et faciens abominationem et mendacium, nisi qui scripti in Libro vitae Agni.
SENSUS SPIRITUALIS.
CONTENTUM TOTIUS CAPITIS.
AGITUR IN HOC CAPITE DE STATU CAELI ET ECCLESIAE POST ULTIMUM JUDICIUM:
QUOD POST HOC, PER NOVUM CAELUM NOVA ECCLESIA IN TERRIS, QUAE SOLUM DOMINUM COLET, EXSTITURA SIT (vers. 1-8);
CONJUNCTIO EJUS CUM DOMINO (Vers 9, 10); 2DESCRIPTIO EJUS QUOAD INTELLIGENTIAM EX VERBO (vers. 11);
QUOAD DOCTRINAM INDE (vers. 12-21);
ET QUOAD OMNE QUALE EJUS (vers. 22-26).
CONTENTA SINGULORUM VERSUUM.
1. "Et vidi Caelum novum et Terram novam," significat quod a Domino Novum Caelum ex Christianis formatum sit, quod hodie vocatur Caelum Christianum, ubi sunt qui Dominum coluerant, et secundum praecepta Ipsius in Verbo vixerant, quibus inde est charitas et fides; in quo etiam sunt omnes infantes Christianorum (876); "quia prius Caelum et prior Terra transiit," significat Caelos non a Domino, sed ab ipsis qui ex Christiano orbe in spiritualem mundum venerunt factos, qui omnes die Ultimi Judicii dissipati sunt (877); "et Mare non erat amplius," significat externum Caeli a prima Ecclesiae instauratione collecti ex Christianis, postquam inde exempti sunt et salvati qui in Libro vitae Domini scripti sunt; similiter dissipatum esse (878).
2. "Et ego Johannes vidi urbem sanctam Hierosolymam Novam descendentem a Deo e Caelo," significat Novam Ecclesiam in fine prioris a Domino instaurandam, quae consociata Novo Caelo in Divinis veris quoad doctrinam et quoad vitam erit (879, 880); "paratam sicut Sponsam (ornatam) Marito suo." significat Ecclesiam illam per Verbum conjunctam Domino (881).
3. "Et audivi vocem magnam e Caelo, dicentem, Ecce Tabernaculum Dei cum hominibus," significat Dominum ex amore loquentem et evangelizantem, quod Ipse nunc in Divino Humano Suo apud homines praesens futurus sit (882); "et habitabit cum illis, et illi populi Ipsius erunt, et Ipse erit cum illis Deus eorum," significat conjunctionem Domini, quae talis est ut illi sint in Ipso et Ipse in illis (883).
4. "Et absterget Deus omnem lachrymam ex oculis illorum, et mors non erit amplius neque luctus, neque clamor, neque labor, non erit amplius; quia priora transiverunt," significat quod Dominus auferet illis omnem dolorem animi, timorem pro damnatione, pro malis et falsis ex Inferno, proque tentationibus ex illis, et non recordabuntur illorum, quia Draco, qui intulerat, ejectus est (884, 885).
5. "Et dixit Sedens super Throno, Ecce nova omnia facio: et dixit mihi, Scribe, quia haec verba vera et fida sunt," significat Dominum confirmantem omnes de Novo Caelo et de Nova Ecclesia post peractum Ultimum Judicium (886).
6. "Et dixit mihi, Factum est," significat quod sit Divina Veritas (887); "Ego sum Alpha et Omega, Principium et Finis," significat quod Dominus sit Deus Caeli et Terrae, et quod ab Ipso omnia in Caelis et in Terris facta sint, ac per Divinam Ipsius providentiam regantur, et secundum illam fiant (888); "Ego sitienti dabo ex fonte aquae vitae gratis," significat quod Dominus illis qui desiderant vera ex aliquo usu spirituali, daturus sit ex Se per Verbum omnia quae usui illi conducunt (889).
7. "Vincens haereditario possidebit omnia; et ero illi Deus et ille erit Mihi filius," significat quod qui vincunt mala apud se, hoc est, Diabolum, et non succumbunt cum tentantur a Babyloniis et Draconicis, in Caelum venturi sint, et ibi victuri in Domino et Dominus in illis (890).
8. "Timidis autem, et infidis, et abominabilibus," significat illos qui in nulla fide sunt, et in nulla charitate, et inde in omnis generis malis (891); "et homicidis, et scortatoribus, et incantatoribus, et idololatris, et (omnibus) mendacibus," significat omnes illos qui nihili faciunt praecepta Decalogi, et non fugiunt aliqua mala ibi nominata ut peccata, et ideo vivunt in illis (892); "pars illorum in stagno ardente igne et sulphure," significat illis Infernum ubi amores falsi et cupiditates mali sunt (893); "quae est altera mors," significat damnationem (894).
9. "Et venit ad me unus septem Angelorum habentium septem phialas plenas septem plagis ultimis, et locutus est mecum dicens, Veni, ostendam tibi Sponsam Agni Uxorem," significat influxum et manifestationem a Domino ex intimo Caeli de Nova Ecclesia, quae per Verbum erit conjuncta Domino (895).
10. "Et abstulit me in spiritu super montem magnum et altum, et ostendit mihi urbem magnam, sanctam Hierosolymam, descendentem e Caelo a Deo," significat Johannem translatum in tertium Caelum, et visum ejus ibi apertum, coram quo manifestata est Nova Domini Ecclesia quoad doctrinam in forma urbis (896).
11. "Habentem gloriam Dei; et lumen ejus simile lapidi pretiosissimo, tanquam lapidi jaspidi instar crystalli splendenti," significat quod in illa Ecclesia erit Verbum intellectum, quia translucens ex Sensu spirituali ejus (897).
12. "Habentem murum magnum et altum," significat Verbum in Sensis litera," ex quo doctrina Novae Ecclesiae (898); "habentem portas duodecim," significat ibi omnes cognitiones veri et boni, per quas homo introducitur in Ecclesiam (899); "et super portis angelos duodecim, et nomina superscripta, quae sunt duodecim tribuum filiorum Israelis," significat Divina vera et bona Caeli, quae etiam sunt Divina vera et bona Ecclesiae, in cognitionibus illis, et custodias, ne quis intret nisi in illis sit ex Domino (900).
13. "Ab oriente portae tres, a septentrione portae tres, a meridie portae tres, et ab occasibus portae tres," significat quod cognitiones veri et boni, in quibus spiritualis vita est e Caelo a Domino, per quas fit introductio in Novam Ecclesiam, sint pro illis qui in amore seu affectione boni sunt plus et minus, et pro illis qui in sapientia seu affectione veri sunt plus et minus (901).
14. "Et murus urbis habens fundamenta duodecim," significat quod Verbum in Sensu literae contineat omnia doctrinae Novae Ecclesiae (902); "et in illis nomina duodecim Apostolorum Agni," significat omnia doctrinae ex Verbo de Domino et de vita secundum praecepta Ipsius (903).
15. "Et loquens cum me habebat calamum aureum, ut metiretur urbem et portas ejus et murum ejus," significat quod detur a Domino illis qui in bono amoris sunt facultas intelligendi et sciendi qualis est Nova Domini Ecclesia quoad doctrinam et ejus vera introducentia, et quoad Verbum ex quo (904).
16. "Et urbs quadrangularis sita est," significat justitiam in illa (905); "longitudo ejus tanta est quanta et latitudo," significat quod bonum et verum in illa Ecclesia unum faciant, sicut essentia et forma (906); "et mensus est urbem calamo ad stadia duodecies mille, longitudo et latitudo et altitudo ejus aequalia erant," significat ostensum quale illius Ecclesiae ex doctrina, quod omnia ejus essent ex bono amoris (907).
17. "Et mensus est murum ejus, centum quadraginta quatuor cubitorum," significat quod ostensum sit quale est Verbum in illa Ecclesia, quod ex illo sint omnia vera et bona ejus (909); "mensura hominis quae est Angeli," significat quale Ecclesiae istius quod unum faciat cum Caelo (910).
18. "Et erat structura muri ejus jaspis," significat quod omne Divinum Verum in Sensu literae apud homines istius Ecclesiae transluceat ex Divino Vero in Sensu spirituali (911); "et urbs aurum purum simile vitro puro," significat quod inde omne Ecclesiae illius sit bonum amoris influens una cum luce e Caelo a Domino (912).
19, 20. "Et fundamenta muri urbis omni lapide pretioso exornata," significat quod omnia doctrinae Novae Hierosolymae ex Sensu literae Verbi desumpta apud illos qui ibi sunt, apparitura sint in luce secundum receptionem (914); "fundamentum primum jaspis, secundum sapphirus, tertium chalcedonius, quartum smaragdus, quintum sardonyx, sextum sardius, septimum chrysolithus, octavum beryllus, nonum topazius, decimum chrysoprasus, undecimum hyacinthus, duodecimum amethystus," significat omnia doctrinae illius ex Verbi Sensu literae in suo ordine apud illos qui immediate adeunt Dominum, et vivunt secundum praecepta Decalogi fugiendo mala ut peccata; hi enim et non alii in doctrina amoris in Deum et amoris erga proximum sunt, quae duo sunt fundamenta religionis (915).
21. "Et duodecim portae duodecim margaritae, et unaquaevis portarum erat ex una margarita," significat quod cognitio et cognitio Domini omnes cognitiones veri et boni, quae ex Verbo sunt, conjungat in unum, et introducat in Ecclesiam (916); et platea urbis aurum purum tanquam vitrum pellucidum," significat quod omne verum Ecclesiae illius et doctrinae ejus sit in forma bonum amoris influens una cum luce e Caelo a Domino (917).
22. "Et Templum non vidi in ea, quia Dominus Deus Omnipotens Templum ejus est et Agnus," significat quod in hac Ecclesia non aliquod externum separatum ab interno erit, quia Ipse Dominus in Divino Humano Suo, a Quo est omne Ecclesiae, Solus aditur, cogitur et adoratur (918).
23. "Et urbs non opus habet sole et luna ut luceant in ea, quia Gloria Dei illustravit eam, et Lucerna ejus Agnus," significat quod homines illius Ecclesiae non erunt in amore sui et in propria intelligentia, et inde in lumine solo naturali, sed ex Divino vero Verbi a Solo Domino in luce spirituali (919).
24. "Et gentes quae salvantur in luce ejus ambulabunt," significat quod omnes qui in bono vitae sunt et credunt in Dominum, ibi vivent secundum Divina vera, et videbunt illa intus in se, sicut oculus objecta (920); "et reges terrae afferent gloriam et honorem suum in illam," significat quod omnes qui in veris sapientiae sunt ex bono spirituali, ibi confitebuntur Dominum, et Ipsi addicabunt omne verum et omne bonum, quae apud se sunt (921).
25. "Et portae ejus non claudentur interdiu, nox enim non erit ibi," significat quod in Novam Hierosolymam jugiter recipiantur qui in veris ex bono amoris a Domino sunt, quia non ibi est aliquod falsum fidei (922); "et afferent gloriam et honorem gentium in illam," significat quod qui intrant secum ferent confessionem, agnitionem et fidem, quod Dominus sit Deus Caeli et Terrae, et quod omne verum Ecclesiae et omne bonum Religionis sit ab ipso (923).
26. "Et non intrabit in illam ullum immundum, et faciens abominationem et mendacium," significat quod nemo in Novam Domini Ecclesiam recipiatur, qui adulterat bona et falsificat vera Verbi, et qui facit mala ex confirmatione et sic quoque falsa (924); "nisi qui scripti in Libro vitae Agni," significat quod non alii in Novam Ecclesiam, quae est Nova Hierosolyma, recipiantur, quam qui credunt in Dominum, et vivunt secundum praecepta Ipsius in Verbo (925).
EXPLICATIO.
(Vers. 1.) "Et vidi Caelum novum et Terram novam," significat quod a Domino novum Caelum ex Christianis formatum sit, quod hodie vocatur Caelum Christianum, ubi sunt qui Dominum coluerant, et secundum praecepta Ipsius in Verbo vixerant, quibus inde est charitas et fides; in quo Caelo etiam sunt omnes infantes Christianorum. - Per "Caelum novum" et per "Terram novam," non intelligitur caelum naturale coram oculis aspectabile, nec terra naturalis ab hominibus habitata, sed intelligitur Caelum spirituale et Terra illius Caeli, ubi sunt angeli; quod hoc Caelum et hujus Caeli Terra intelligatur, quisque videt et agnoscit, si modo aliquantum abduci potest ab idea pure naturali et materiali, cum legit Verbum. Quod Caelum angelicum intelligatur, patet, quia in versu mox sequente dicitur, quod viderit "urbem sanctam Hierosolymam descendentem a Deo e Caelo, paratam sicut Sponsam ornatam Marito suo," per quam non intelligitur aliqua Hierosolyma descendens, sed Ecclesia; et Ecclesia in terris descendit a Domino e Caelo angelico, quia angeli Caeli et homines telluris in omnibus Ecclesiae unum faciunt (626). Ex his videri potest, quam naturaliter et materialiter cogitaverunt et cogitant, qui ex his verbis et ex sequentibus in hoc versu sibi finxerunt dogmaticum de interitu mundi, et de nova creatione omnium. De hoc Caelo Novo actum est supra aliquoties in Apocalypsi (imprimis in cap. 14 et 15). Vocatur Caelum Christianum, quia distinctum est a Caelis antiquis, qui ab hominibus Ecclesiae ante Adventum Domini exstiterunt. Hi antiqui Caeli sunt supra Caelum Christianum; Caeli enim sunt sicut expansa, unum supra alterum: similiter unumquodvis Caelum; unumquodvis enim Caelum per se distinguitur in tres Caelos, intimum seu tertium, medium seu secundum, ac infimum seu primum; similiter hoc novum Caelum; vidi illos et locutus sum cum illis. In novo hoc Caelo Christiano sunt omnes qui ab Ecclesiae Christianae prima instauratione coluerunt Dominum, et vixerunt secundum praecepta Ipsius in Verbo, et inde qui a Domino per Verbum in charitate et simul fide fuerunt, ita qui non in fide mortua sed in fide viva. De hoc Caelo videantur varia supra (612, 613, 626, 631, 659, 661, 845, 846, 856). Pariter in illo Caelo sunt omnes infantes Christianorum, quia ab angelis educati in duo illa Essentialia Ecclesiae, quae sunt Agnitio Domini pro Deo Caeli et Terrae, ac Vita secundum praecepta Decalogi.
Footnotes:
1. et pro "at"
2. Vers. pro "n."