73.今后世界的状态将与目前一样；因为灵界发生的巨变不会给尘世的外表造成任何变化。所以世上还是有文明、政治事务，有和平、有条约、有战争，以及其它社会大小事务，一如从前。主说：
在末期必有战争，民族要起来攻击民族，国家要起来攻击国家；并且到处要有饥荒、瘟疫和地震。（马太福音24:6-7）
主不是说自然界中的这类事件，而是说与它们相对应的灵界事件。因为圣言中的预言并不涉及地上的国家和民族，因而不涉及它们之间的战争；也不涉及地上的饥荒、瘟疫或地震，只涉及与它们相对应的灵界事件。《属天的奥秘》一书解释了这些事件的性质，相关资料可参看下面的脚注。
然而，今后教会的状态将有所不同。表面上看，教会似乎还是那样，但内在将会不同。表面上看，各教会将和以前一样四分五裂，其教义也和以前一样各不相同，外邦人或异教徒的宗教体系也是如此。但从今以后，教会里的人由于属灵自由的恢复，在思想信仰事物，因而思想与天堂有关的属灵事物方面将有更大的自由。因为天堂和地狱里的一切现已恢复秩序，而支持或反对神性事物的一切思维要么从天堂，要么从地狱流入：支持神性事物的思维从天堂流入，反对神性事物的思维从地狱流入。不过，人们将意识不到这种状态的变化，因为他们不反思它，事实上对属灵自由或来自灵界的流注一无所知。然而，这一切在天堂会被感知到，人们死后也能感知到。正因属灵的自由向人们恢复，所以圣言的预言现在得以披露出来，更内在的神性真理则通过它被揭示出来。在以前的状态下，人们不会明白灵义；即便有人明白，也会亵渎之。人们的自由取决于天堂与地狱之间的平衡，人们只有在自由的状态下才能被改造（参看HH597e节）。
脚注：
在圣言中，“战争”表示属灵的争战（AC1659，1664，8295，10455节）。因此，圣言中提到的一切战争武器，如“弓”、“剑”、“盾牌”等，都表示属灵争战中所用到的某种事物或武器（AC1788，2686节）。在圣言中，“国”表示真理或虚假方面的教会（AC1672，2547节）。“民族”表示教会中那些处于良善或陷入邪恶的人（AC1159，1205，1258，1260，1416，1849，4574，6005，6306，6858，8054，8317，9320，9327节）。“饥荒”表示良善和真理的知识的缺乏（AC1460，3364，5277，5279，5281，5300，5360，5376，5893节），也表示教会的荒凉（AC5279，5415，5576，6110，6144，7102节）。“瘟疫”表示良善和真理的荒废和结束（AC7102，7505，7511节）。“地震”表示教会状态的变化（AC3355节）。
73. The State of the World and the Church from Now On
The state of the world from now on will be very much the same as it has been up to the present. This is because the immense change that has taken place in the spiritual world does not impose any change on the earthly world with respect to its outward form. So the business of civil life will go on afterward as it did before; there will be times of peace, and treaties, and wars as there were before; and other things characteristic of communities on both a large and a small scale will continue.
When the Lord said that in the last times there will be wars, that nation will then rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and that there will be famines, plagues, and earthquakes in various places (Matthew 24:6, 7), he was referring not to events like this in the earthly world but to events in the spiritual world that correspond to such events on earth. The prophecies in the Word are not about kingdoms on earth or nations here, so they are not about wars between them. They are not about famines, plagues, or earthquakes on earth either, but about events that correspond to all these in the spiritual world. In Secrets of Heaven there are explanations of what these events are like: for references, see the footnote below. 1
[2] As for the state of the church, though, this is what will not be the same from now on. It will be similar in outward appearance, but different with respect to what lies within. Outwardly, the churches will continue to be divided as they have been, each will continue to put forward its own body of teaching as it has in the past, and the religions among non-Christians will continue to be much the same as they have been. However, from now on the people in the church will have greater freedom of thought concerning matters of faith and concerning spiritual things that have to do with heaven because their spiritual freedom has been restored. Everything in the heavens and the hells has now been brought back into its proper order, and it is either from the heavens or from the hells that all our thinking in favor of divine principles or against them flows in-our thinking in favor of divine principles flows in from the heavens and our thinking against them flows in from the hells. We do not notice this inner change of state, though, because we do not reflect on it or know anything about spiritual freedom or about inflow. 2It is perceived in heaven, though, and after we die we will perceive it too.
It is because spiritual freedom has been restored to us that now the spiritual meaning of the Word has been disclosed and its inner divine truths unveiled. 3In our former state we would not have understood the spiritual meaning, and anyone who did understand it would have profaned it.
On the fact that we have freedom by means of the balance between heaven and hell and that we can be reformed only while in a state of freedom, see Heaven and Hell 597-end.
Footnotes:
1. [Swedenborg note] Wars in the Word mean spiritual battles: 1659, 1664, 8295, 10455. Therefore all weapons of war mentioned in it, such as bows, swords, and shields, mean weapons used in spiritual battles: 1788, 2686. Kingdoms in the Word mean churches and their truths and falsities: 1672, 2547. Nations mean people who are focused on doing good or else people who are focused on doing evil: 1159, 1205, 1258, 1260, 1416, 1849, 4574, 6005, 6306, 6858, 8054, 8317, 9320, 9327. Famine means a lack of knowledge about what is good and true (1460, 3364, 5277, 5279, 5281, 5300, 5360, 5376, 5893); it also means a desolate state in the church (5279, 5415, 5576, 6110, 6144, 7102). A plague means the stripping away and annihilating of what is good and true: 7102, 7505, 7511. An earthquake means a fundamental change in the state of the church: 3355.
2. For more on “inflow,” see note 5 in Last Judgment 9. [Editors]
3. With this reference to the disclosure of “the spiritual meaning of the Word” and the unveiling of “its inner divine truths,” Swedenborg alludes to the publication of his own theological writings. For further references on the spiritual meaning of the Bible, see note 1 in Last Judgment 1. On the reasons Swedenborg gives for its remaining hidden until the Last Judgment was accomplished, see Divine Providence 264; Supplements 11-12; True Christianity 776-780; Revelation Explained (= Swedenborg 1994-1997a) 375:5-6. [LSW]
73. XI. THE FUTURE STATE OF THE WORLD AND THE CHURCH.
The future state of the world will be exactly the same as it has been up to now; for the mighty change which has taken place in the spiritual world does not cause any change in the external appearance of the natural world. So just as before there will be politics, peace-treaties, alliances and wars, and all the other general and particular features of society. When the Lord said:
There will be wars, and then nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there will be famines, plagues and earthquakes in various places. Matthew 24:6-7.
He did not mean such events in the natural world, but corresponding ones in the spiritual world. For the Word in its prophecies is not concerned with kingdoms on earth or the peoples on it, so not with their wars either; nor is it concerned with famine, plague and earthquakes on earth, but with the events in the spiritual world which correspond to them. The nature of these has been explained in ARCANA CAELESTIA, a collection of references to which may by seen at the end of the chapter. 1
[2] The future state of the church, however, will not be the same. It may seem much the same in outward appearance, but inwardly it will be different. In outward appearance the churches will be divided from one another as before, their teachings will differ as before, and so will the religious systems of the heathen. But people in the church will henceforward have more freedom in thinking about matters of faith, and so about the spiritual matters which have to do with heaven, because of the restoration of spiritual freedom. For now everything in the heavens and the hells has been restored to order, and it is from there that all thought is influenced about Divine matters or against them; from the heavens when thought favours what is Divine, from the hells when it opposes it. But people will be unaware of this change of state, since they do not reflect on it, nor indeed do they know anything about spiritual freedom or influence from the spiritual world. However, in heaven this is perceived, and people after their deaths can do so too. It is because people have had their spiritual freedom restored that the spiritual sense of the Word has now been disclosed, and by this means Divine truths of a more inward kind have been revealed. For in their previous state people would not have understood them, and if anyone did so, he would have profaned them. It may be seen in HEAVEN AND HELL 597-603) that people's freedom depends upon an equilibrium between heaven and hell; and that people can only be reformed, if they enjoy freedom.
Footnotes:
1. Wars in the Word mean spiritual battles (1659, 1664, 8295, 10455). Thus all the weapons of war, such as bow, sword and shield, have some meaning relating to spiritual battles (1788, 2686). Kingdoms mean churches as regards truths and falsities (1672, 2547). Nations mean those who have different kinds of good and of evil (1059, 1159, 1205, 1258, 1260, 1416, 1849, 4574, 6005, 6306, 7830, 8054, 8317, 9320, 9327). 2Famine means the failure of knowledge of truth and good (1460, 3364, 5277, 5279, 5281, 5300, 5360, 5376, 5893); also the desolation of the church (5279, 5415, 5576, 6110, 6144, 7102). Plague means the laying waste and ending of good and truth (7102, 7505, 7507, 7511). Earthquakes mean changes in a church's state (3355).
2. [Reference apparently incorrect.]
73. XI. THE STATE OF THE WORLD AND OF THE CHURCH HEREAFTER.
The state of the world hereafter will be altogether similar to what it has been heretofore, for the great change which has taken place in the spiritual world, does not induce any change in the natural world as to the external form; so that after this there will be civil affairs as before, there will be peace, treaties, and wars as before, with all other things which belong to societies in general and in particular. The Lord said that:
In the last times there will be wars, and then nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in divers places (Matthew 24:6, 7).
This does not signify that such things will exist in the natural world, but that the things corresponding with them will exist in the spiritual world: for the Word in its prophecies does not treat of the kingdoms on earth, nor of the nations there, thus neither concerning their wars, nor of famines, pestilences, and earthquakes there, but of such things as correspond to them in the spiritual world; what these things are, is explained in the Arcana Caelestia, and a collection of passages on the subject may be seen below. 1But as for the state of the church, this it is which will be dissimilar hereafter; it will be similar indeed as to the external appearance, but dissimilar as to the internal. As to the external appearance divided churches will exist as heretofore, their doctrines will be taught as heretofore; and the same religions as now will exist among the Gentiles. But henceforth the man of the church will be in a more free state of thinking on matters of faith, thus on the spiritual things which relate to heaven, because spiritual freedom has been restored to him. For all things in the heavens and in the hells are now reduced into order, and all thought concerning Divine things and against the Divine inflows from thence; from the heavens all thought which is in harmony with Divine things, and from the hells all which is against Divine things. But man does not observe this change of state in himself, because he does not reflect upon it, and because he knows nothing of spiritual freedom and of influx; nevertheless it is perceived in heaven, and also by man himself after his death. Because spiritual freedom has been restored to man, therefore the spiritual sense of the Word has now been disclosed, and by it interior Divine truths have been revealed; for man in his former state would not have understood them, and he who would have understood them, would have profaned them. That man has freedom by means of the equilibrium between heaven and hell, and, that man cannot be reformed except in freedom, may be seen in the work on Heaven and Hell (597 at the end).
Footnotes:
1. That "wars" in the Word signify spiritual combats (1659, 1664, 8295, 10455). Hence all "the arms of war," as "the bow," "the sword," "the shield," signify something of spiritual combat (1788, 2686). "Kingdoms" signify churches as to truths and as to falsities (1672, 2546). "Nations" signify those in the church who are in goods and who are in evils (1059, 1159, 1205, 1258, 1260, 1416, 1849, 4574, 8005, 6306, 6858, 8054, 8317, 9320, 9327). "Famine" signifies a defect of the knowledges of good and truth (1480, 3364, 5277, 5278, 5281, 5300, 5360, 5376, 5893). It also signifies the desolation of the church (5279, 5415, 5576, 6110, 6144, 7102). "Pestilence" signifies the vastation and consummation of good and truth (7102, 7505, 7507, 7511). "Earthquakes" signify changes of the state of the church (3355).
73. (XI.) DE STATU MUNDI ET ECCLESIAE POSTHAC.
Status mundi posthac prorsus similis erit qualis fuerat hactenus; nam magna illa mutatio, quae facta est in mundo spirituali, non inducit aliquam mutationem mundo naturali quoad externam formam; quare aeque posthac erunt civilia ut prius, erunt paces, foedera, et bella, ut prius, et cetera quae sunt societatum in genere et in specie. Quod Dominus dixerit quod ultimis temporibus,
Erunt bella, ac tunc insurget gens contra gentem, et regnum contra regnum, et erunt fames, pestes, et terrae motus singulis locis (Matthaeus 24:6-7),
Non significat talia in naturali mundo, sed correspondentia in spirituali; Verbum enim in propheticis non agit de regnis in terra, nec de gentibus ibi, ita nec de bellis eorum, et quoque non de fame, peste, et terrae motibus ibi, sed de talibus quae eis correspondent in spirituali mundo, quae qualia sunt, explicatum est in Arcanis Caelestibus, ex quibus Collecta videantur sub linea. 1Quod autem statum ecclesiae attinet, ille est qui non erit similis posthac; similis quidem quoad externam apparentiam, sed dissimilis quoad internam quoad externam apparentiam erunt ecclesiae divisae ut prius, doctrinae earum docebuntur ut prius, similiter religiosa apud Gentes; sed homo ecclesiae erit posthac In liberiori statu cogitandi de rebus fidei, ita de spiritualibus quae sunt caeli, quia liberum spirituale restitutum est, omnia enim nunc in ordinem redacta sunt in caelis et in infernis, et inde influit omnis cogitatio de Divinis et contra Divina; cum Divinis e caelis, et contra Divina ex infernis; sed hanc status mutationem homo nec in se animadvertet, quoniam non reflectit super id, nec scit aliquid de libero spirituali, nec de influxu; verumtamen in caelo id percipitur, et quoque ab ipso homine post mortem ejus. Quia homini liberum spirituale restitutum est, ideo sensus spiritualis Verbi nunc detectus est, ac per id Divina vera interiora revelata sunt; illa enim homo in priori statu non intellecturus esset, et qui intellecturus, is profanaturus. Quod homini liberum sit per aequilibrium inter caelum et infernum, et quod homo non nisi quam in libero reformari possit, videatur in opere De Caelo et Inferno (597 ad finem).
(EX ARCANIS CAELESTIBUS)
Footnotes:
"1. Quod ""bella"" in Verbo significent pugnas spirituales ("1659, 1664, 8295, 10455).
Quod inde omnia "arma belli" aliquid pugnae spiritualis significent, sicut "arcus," "gladius," "clipeus" (1788, 2686). Quod "regna" significent ecclesias quoad vera et quoad falsa (1672, 2547).
Quod "gentes" significent illos ibi qui in bonis et qui in malis (1059, 1159, 1205, 1258, 1260, 1416, 1849, 4574, 6005, 6306, 7830 (6858?), 8054, 8317, 9320, 9327).
Quod "fames" significet defectum cognitionum boni et veri (1460, 3364, 5277, 5279, 5281, 5300, 5360, 5376, 5893): quod etiam desolationem ecclesiae (5279, 5415, 5576, 6110, 6144, 7102). Quod "pestis" significet vastationem et consummationem boni et veri (7102, 7505, 7507, 7511).
Quod "terrae motus" significent mutationes status ecclesiae (3355).