327、我与古教会的一些人谈过。｛注1｝所谓古教会，是在大洪水之后建立的，延伸到许多王国，即亚述，美索不达米亚，叙利亚，埃塞俄比亚，阿拉伯，利比亚，埃及，非利士，直到推罗和西顿，以及到达约旦河两岸的迦南地。｛注2｝该教会的人知道主，知道祂将要来，并吸收了信之良善，然而终究堕落了，成了偶像崇拜者。这些灵人在前方左边｛注3｝一个黑暗的地方，处境悲惨。他们说话就就像单音笛子发出的音调，几乎没有理性的思考。他们说，他们已经在那里呆了许多个世纪了，有时被放出来，以便向他人提供某些卑微的服务。由此，我想到许多基督徒，他们表面上不是偶像崇拜者，但心里却是，因为他们实际上崇拜自己和世界，在心里否认主。在来世等待他们的就是这种命运。
｛注1｝：【英217】参见上文第1、322节注释【英2】和【英212】。
｛注2｝：在地球上，第一个或上古教会（Most Ancient Church）就是创世记头几章所描述的教会，该教会比其他所有教会更属天（607，895，920，1121-1124，2896，4493，8891，9942，10545）。在天堂，属天之人是怎样的（1114-1125）。大洪水后有各种教会，它们都被称为古教会（Ancient Churches）（1125-1127，1327，10355）。古教会的人是怎样的（609，895）。古教会是代表教会（519，521，2896）。古教会有一部圣经，但它已经遗失了（2897）。古教会开始衰落时的特征（1128）。上古教会或最早的教会与古教会之间的区别（597，607，640，641，765，784，895，4493）。犹太教会所颁布的律例、典章和律法，在某种程度上与古教会的相似（4288，4449，10149）。上古教会和古教会的上帝就是主，祂被称为耶和华（1343，6846）。
｛注3｝：【英218】关于史威登堡指称灵界空间位置的方法，见上文第3节注释【英22】。
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327. 我曾与古教会的一些人交谈过. 大洪水后建立的所谓“古教会”遍及许多国家, 包括亚述, 美索不达米亚, 叙利亚, 埃塞俄比亚, 阿拉伯, 利比亚, 埃及, 非利士, 直至推罗和西顿, 以及约旦河两岸的迦南地. 该教会的人知道那将要来的主, 并吸收信之良善; 然而终究堕落了, 成了偶像崇拜者. 这些灵人在前方左侧一个黑暗的地方, 处于悲惨的状态. 他们的言语就像单音道的声音, 几乎没有理性思维. 他们说, 他们已在那里许多个世纪了, 有时被放出来, 以便向他人提供某些卑微的服务. 这让我反思许多基督徒, 他们虽表面上不是偶像崇拜者, 但心里却是, 因为他们实际上拜自己和世界, 从心里否认主. 在来世等待他们的, 就是这种命运.
注: 在地球上, 第一个或最早的教会就是创世记头几章所描述的那个教会, 该教会是最为属天的(天国的奥秘 607, 895, 920, 1121-1124, 2896, 4493, 8891, 9942, 10545节). 在天堂, 属天之人是什么样(天国的奥秘 1114-1125节). 大洪水后有各种教会, 它们都被称为古教会(天国的奥秘 1125-1127, 1327, 10355节). 古教会的人是什么样(天国的奥秘 609, 895节). 古教会是代表教会(天国的奥秘 519, 521, 2896节). 古教会有一部圣言, 但它已经遗失了(天国的奥秘 2897节). 古教会开始堕落时的特征(天国的奥秘 1128节). 上古教会或最早的教会与古教会之间的区别(天国的奥秘 597, 607, 640, 641, 765, 784, 895, 4493节). 犹太教会所强制执行的律例, 典章和律法在某种程度上类似于古教会的(天国的奥秘 4288, 4449, 10149节). 上古教会和古教会的神就是主, 祂被称为耶和华(天国的奥秘 1343, 6846节).
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327. 我也曾與古教會的一些人交談。(所謂"古教會,"系指洪水以後盛行於許多國家的宗教文化體系, 包括亞述, 米所波大米, 敘利亞, 埃塞俄比亞, 阿爾巴尼亞, 利比亞, 埃及, 非利士, 直至推羅, 西頓, 也包括約旦河兩岸的迦南。)當時的人知道那將要來的主, 也吸取信仰的良善品質。但是他們終究墮落了, 成了偶像崇拜者。他們住在前方左側一個黑暗的地域, 情況並不樂觀。他們發出尖利, 單調的聲音, 幾無理性的思維。他們自稱在那裡已有千百年了, 有時被放出以進行某種卑微的服務。
這讓我反思許多基督徒的景況, 雖然他們並不敬拜偶像, 心裡卻是偶像崇拜者, 因為他們崇拜自己和世界, 從心裡否認主。到了靈界, 等候他們的結局將是如此。
327. I have talked with some people who were in the early church. (By "the early church," we mean the religious culture [that prevailed] after the flood over many kingdoms, throughout Assyria, Mesopotamia, Syria, Ethiopia, Arabia, Libya, Egypt, Philistia as far as Tyre and Sidon, and the land of Canaan on both sides of the Jordan. 1People then knew about the Lord who was going to come, and they absorbed the good qualities of faith; but nevertheless they did fall away and become idolaters. They are in the front toward the left in a dark area, and are in a sorry state. They have piping, monotone voices, and practically no rational thought. They said they had been there for centuries and that sometimes they were let out in order to be of some menial service to others.
This led me to reflect on the many Christians who are not idolaters outwardly but are inwardly because they actually worship themselves and the world, and at heart deny the Lord. This is the kind of lot that awaits them in the other life.
Footnotes:
1. The first or earliest church on this planet was the one described in the opening chapters of Genesis, and this church was above all heavenly: Arcana Coelestia 607, 895, 920, 1121-1124, 2896, 4493, 8891, 9942, 10545. What those people are like in heaven: 1114-1125. There were various churches after the flood, referred to as the early church; together with some description: 1125-1127, 1327, 10355. What the people of the early church were like: 609 [607], 895. The early churches were symbolic churches: 519, 521, 2896. There was a Word in the early church, but it has been lost: 2897. What the early church was like as it began to decline: 1128. The difference between the earliest church and the early church: 597, 607, 640-641, 765, 784, 895, 4493. The statutes, judgments, and laws that were obligatory in the Jewish church were to some extent like those of the early church: 4288, 4449, 10149. The Lord was the God of the earliest church and of the early church, and was known as Jehovah: 1343, 6846.
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327. I have talked with some who were in the Ancient Church. That is called the Ancient Church which was after the deluge, and extended through many kingdoms, namely, Assyria, Mesopotamia, Syria, Ethiopia, Arabia, Libya, Egypt, Philistia as far as Tyre and Zidon, and through the land of Canaan on both sides of the Jordan. 1The men of this Church knew about the Lord that He was to come, and were imbued with the goods of faith, and yet they fell away and became idolaters. These spirits were in front towards the left, in a dark place and in a miserable state. Their speech was like the sound of a pipe of one tone, almost without rational thought. They said they had been there for many centuries, and that they are sometimes taken out that they may serve others for certain uses of a low order. From them I was led to think about many Christians-who are inwardly though not outwardly idolaters, since they are worshippers of self and of the world, and in heart deny the Lord-what kind of lot awaits them in the other life.
Footnotes:
1. The first and Most Ancient Church on this earth was that which is described in the first chapters of Genesis, and that Church above all others was celestial (Arcana Coelestia 607, 895, 920, 1121-1124, 2896, 4493, 8891, 9942, 10545).
What the celestial are in heaven (Arcana Coelestia 1114-1125).
There were various Churches after the flood which are called ancient Churches (Arcana Coelestia 1125-1127, 1327, 10355).
What the men of the Ancient Church were (Arcana Coelestia 609, 895).
The ancient Churches were representative Churches (Arcana Coelestia 519, 521, 2896).
In the Ancient Church there was a Word, but it has been lost (Arcana Coelestia 2897).
The character of the Ancient Church when it began to decline (Arcana Coelestia 1128).
The difference between the Most Ancient Church and the Ancient Church (Arcana Coelestia 597, 607, 640-641, 765, 784, 895, 4493).
The statutes, the judgments, and the laws, which were commanded in the Jewish Church, were in part like those in the Ancient Church (Arcana Coelestia 4288, 4449, 10149).
The God of the Most Ancient Church and of the Ancient Church was the Lord, and He was called Jehovah (Arcana Coelestia 1343, 6846).
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327. I have talked with some who were in the Ancient Church. That is called the Ancient Church that was established after the deluge, and extended through many kingdoms, namely, Assyria, Mesopotamia, Syria, Ethiopia, Arabia, Libya, Egypt, Philistia as far as Tyre and Zidon, and through the land of Canaan on both sides of the Jordan. 1The men of this church knew about the Lord that He was to come, and were imbued with the goods of faith, and yet they fell away and became idolaters. These spirits were in front towards the left, in a dark place and in a miserable state. Their speech was like the sound of a pipe of one tone, almost without rational thought. They said they had been there for many centuries, and that they are sometimes taken out that they may serve others for certain uses of a low order. From this I was led to think about many Christians-who are inwardly though not outwardly idolaters, since they are worshipers of self and of the world, and in heart deny the Lord-what lot awaits such in the other life.
Footnotes:
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327. Locutus sum cum quibusdam, qui in Ecclesia Antiqua fuerunt, (Ecclesia Antiqua dicitur, quae fuit post diluvium, tunc per plura regna extensa, nempe per Assyriam, Mesopotamiam, Syriam, Aethiopiam, Arabiam, Libyam, Aegyptum, Philisthaeam usque ad Tyrum et Zidonem, per terram Canaanem cis et trans Jordanem, 1et qui tunc noverunt de Domino quod venturus, ac imbuti bonis fidei, at usque desciverunt, et facti idololatrae. Erant antrorsum versus sinistrum, in loco tenebricoso, et in statu miserabili. Loquela eorum fuit sicut tibialis, unius toni, paene absque cogitationis rationali. Dicebant quod ibi fuerint per plura saecula, et quod inde quandoque eximantur, ut inserviant aliis pro aliquibus usibus, qui viles sunt. Ex illis cogitare datum est de pluribus Christianis, qui non exterius idololatrae sunt, sed interius, sunt enim cultores sui et mundi, ac corde negant Dominum, qualis sors illos in altera vita maneat.
Footnotes: