689.之所以通过约翰的施洗预备道路，是因为如上所述，人们以此方式被引入未来主的教会，并被带入天堂中那些等候和渴望弥赛亚的人中。他们因此受到天人保护，以防魔鬼从地狱逃出来毁灭他们。为此，玛拉基书中写到：
祂来的日子，谁能当得起呢？免得耶和华来咒诅遍地。（玛拉基书3:2；4:6）
以赛亚书中同样写到：
看哪，耶和华的日子临近了，必有残忍、忿恨、烈怒；在祂忿恨中发烈怒的日子，祂必使天震动，使地摇撼，离其本位。（以赛亚书13:6，9，13，22；22:5，12）
又在耶利米书：
那时被称荒废、杀戮、毁灭的日子。（耶利米书4:9；7:32；46:10，21；47:4；40:8，26）.
以西结书：
烈怒、密云与黑暗的日子。（以西结书13:5；30:2，3，9；34:11，12；38:14，16，18，19）
还有阿摩司书（5:13，18，20；8:3，9，13）。
约珥书：
耶和华的日子大而可畏，谁能当得起呢？（2:1，2，11；3:2，4）
西番雅书：
当那日，必有哭号，耶和华的大日临近，那日，是忿怒的日子，是急难困苦的日子，是荒废凄凉的日子，当耶和华发怒的日子，必吞灭全地，祂要使这地的一切居民纯全。（西番雅书1:7－18）（等等）
从上述经文明显可知，当耶和华即将降世时，除非通过洗礼为祂预备道路（在天上，洗礼的效果就是关闭地狱，防止犹太人彻底灭绝），否则他们将全部灭亡。耶和华也对摩西说：
我若一霎时临到你们中间，必灭绝你们。（出埃及记33:5）
这一事实通过约翰对即将受他洗的众人所说的话清楚可知：
毒蛇的种类，谁指示你们逃避将来的忿怒呢？（马太福音3:7；路加福音3:7）
约翰施洗时也教导基督和祂的来临，这一点从（路加福音3:16；约翰福音1:25，26，31－33；3:26）明显可知。这些经文清楚表明约翰如何预备道路。
689. 之所以通过约翰的施洗预备道路, 是因为如上所述, 人们以此方式被引入未来主的教会, 并被带入天堂中那些等候和渴望弥赛亚的人中。 他们因此受到天人保护, 以防魔鬼从地狱逃出来毁灭他们。 为此, 玛拉基书中写到:
祂来的日子, 谁能当得起呢? 免得耶和华来咒诅遍地。 (玛拉基书3:2; 4:6)
以赛亚书中同样写到:
看哪, 耶和华的日子临近了, 必有残忍, 忿恨, 烈怒; 在祂忿恨中发烈怒的日子, 祂必使天震动, 使地摇撼, 离其本位。 (以赛亚13:6, 9, 13, 22; 22:5, 12)
又在耶利米书:
那时被称荒废, 杀戮, 毁灭的日子。 (耶利米书4:9; 7:32; 46:10, 21; 47:4; 49:8, 26)。
以西结书:
烈怒, 密云与黑暗的日子。 (以西结书13:5; 30:2-3, 9; 34:11-12; 38:14, 16, 18-19)
还有阿摩司书 (阿摩司书5:13, 18, 20; 8:3, 9, 13)。
约珥书:
耶和华的日子大而可畏, 谁能当得起呢? (约珥2:1-2, 11; 3:2, 4)
西番雅书:
当那日, 必有哭号, 耶和华的大日临近, 那日, 是忿怒的日子, 是急难困苦的日子, 是荒废凄凉的日子, 当耶和华发怒的日子, 必吞灭全地, 祂要使这地的一切居民纯全。 (西番雅书1:7-18) (等等)
从上述经文明显可知, 当耶和华即将降世时, 除非通过洗礼为祂预备道路 (在天上, 洗礼的效果就是关闭地狱, 防止犹太人彻底灭绝), 否则他们将全部灭亡。 耶和华也对摩西说:
我若一霎时临到你们中间, 必灭绝你们。 (出埃及记33:5)
这一事实通过约翰对即将受他洗的众人所说的话清楚可知:
毒蛇的种类, 谁指示你们逃避将来的忿怒呢? (马太福音3:7; 路加福音3:7)
约翰施洗时也教导基督和祂的来临, 这一点从 (路加福音3:16; 约翰福音1:25-26, 31-33; 3:26) 明显可知。 这些经文清楚表明约翰如何预备道路。
689. John's baptism prepared the way because, as shown above [677-678], it brought the baptized people into the Lord's church that was to come, and brought them into the company of those in heaven who were awaiting and desiring the Messiah. Therefore angels protected them by preventing devils from breaking out of hell and destroying them. This is why we read in Malachi, "Who can endure the day of his coming?" (Malachi 3:2), and "so that Jehovah will not come and strike the earth with a curse" (Malachi 4:6).
There are similar statements in Isaiah: "Behold, the cruel day of Jehovah has come, a day of indignation and wrath and anger. I will shake heaven, and the earth will quake out of its place in the day of the wrath of his anger" (Isaiah 13:9, 13; see also Isaiah 13:6; 22:5, 12).
In Jeremiah that day is called a day of devastation, vengeance, and disaster (Jeremiah 4:9; 7:32; 46:10, 21; 47:4; 49:8, 26). In Ezekiel it is called a day of anger, cloud, and darkness (Ezekiel 13:5; 30:2-3, 9; 34:11-12; 38:14, 16, 18-19). Amos, too, refers to it in similar terms (Amos 5:8, 18, 20; 8:3, 9, 13). We read in Joel: "Great and dreadful is the day of Jehovah. Who will endure it?" (Joel 2:11; see also Joel 2:1-2, 29, 31). Also in Zephaniah: "In that day there will be the sound of a cry. The great day of Jehovah is near. That day will be a day of wrath, a day of distress and repression, a day of devastation and desolation. In the day of Jehovah's wrath the whole earth will be consumed, and he will make an end of all the inhabitants of the earth" (Zephaniah 1:7-18). There are similar statements in other passages as well.
[2] These passages make it clear that if baptism had not prepared the way for Jehovah as he was coming down into the world - a baptism that had the effect in heaven of closing off the hells and protecting the Jews from total annihilation - [all people there, as stated above, would have been struck with a curse and would have perished]. Likewise Jehovah says to Moses, "If I rise up among you, I will consume the entire population in a single moment" (Exodus 33:5). This is further reinforced by what John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him: "Brood of vipers, who warned you to escape from the impending anger?" (Matthew 3:7; Luke 3:7). For references to John teaching about Christ and his Coming as he was baptizing, see Luke 3:16; , 31-33; 3:22 and following. All the passages just given clarify how John prepared the way.
689. The reason why John's baptising prepared the way was that by this means, as shown above, people were introduced into the coming church of the Lord, and brought into the company of those in heaven who were awaiting and longing for the Messiah. They were thus protected by angels to prevent devils breaking out of hell and destroying them. This is why it says in Malachi, 'Who will endure the day of his coming' and 'so that Jehovah may not come and strike the land with a curse' (Malachi 4:6). Likewise in Isaiah:
Look, the cruel day of Jehovah is coming, a day of wrath and an explosion of anger. I shall make the heaven tremble, and the earth will be shaken from its place on the day of the explosion of His anger, Isaiah 13:6, 9, 13, 22; 22:5, 12.
Also in Jeremiah that day is called a day of laying waste, of revenge and ruin (Jeremiah 4:9; 7:32; 46:10, 21; 47:4; 49:8, 26). In Ezekiel it is called a day of wrath, of cloud and thick darkness (Ezekiel 13:5; 30:2-3, 9; 34:11-12; 38:14, 16, 18-19). Equally in Amos (Amos 5:13, 18, 20; 8:3, 9, 13); in Joel, the great and terrible day of Jehovah, and who will endure it? (Joel 2:1-2, 11; 3:2, 4). In Zephaniah:
On that day there will be a shout. The great day of Jehovah is at hand, the day of the explosion of His anger is that day, the day of anguish and affliction, the day of laying waste and devastation. On the day of the explosion of Jehovah's anger the whole earth will be consumed, and He will bring about an ending with all the inhabitants of the earth, Zephaniah 1:7-18.
There are other passages too.
[2] From these it is plain that if the way had not been prepared by baptism for Jehovah to come down into the world, the effect of which in the heavens was to shut off the hells and to protect the Jews from total extinction, [all there would have been struck with a curse and would have perished] 1 . Jehovah also says to Moses:
In a single moment, if I were to go up in your midst, I should consume the people, Exodus 33:5.
The truth of this is clearly to be seen from John's words to the crowds who came out to be baptised by him:
You brood of vipers, who has warned you to run away from the wrath to come? Matthew 3:7; Luke 3:7.
For John also teaching about Christ and His coming when he baptised, see Luke 3:16; John 1:25-26, 31-33; 3:26. These passages make it plain how John prepared the way.
Footnotes:
1. The sentence is incomplete; the words in brackets are restored from 688.
689. The way was prepared by the baptism of John, because by means of that baptism, as shown above, men were introduced into the future church of the Lord, and in heaven were inserted among those who were there looking for and longing for the Messiah; and they were thus guarded by angels, that devils from hell might not break forth and destroy them. Wherefore it is written in.
Malachi:
Who shall abide the day of His coming? and lest Jehovah come and smite the earth with a curse (Malachi 3:2; 4:6).
So also in Isaiah:
Behold, the day of Jehovah cometh, cruel and of indignation, and of wrath of anger; I will move heaven and the land shall be shaken out of its place, in the day of the wrath of His anger (Isaiah 13:6, 9, 13, 22; 22:5, 12).
Again, in Jeremiah:
That day is called a day of wasting, of vengeance, and of destruction (Jeremiah 4:9; 7:32; 46:10, 21; 47:4; 40:8, 26).
In Ezekiel:
A day of wrath, of cloud and of thick darkness (Ezekiel 13:5; 30:2, 3, 9; 34:11, 12; 38:14, 16, 18, 19).
Also in Amos:
(Amos 5:13, 18, 20; 8:3, 9, 13).
And in Joel:
The day of Jehovah is great and very terrible, and who can abide it? (Joel 2:1, 2, 11; 3:2, 4).
And in Zephaniah:
In that day there shall be the noise of a cry, that the great day of Jehovah is near, that that is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, that in the day of Jehovah's wrath the whole land shall be devoured, and that He will make a consummation with all them that dwell in the land (Zephaniah 1:7-18). (Besides other passages.)
From all this it is clear that unless a way had been made ready for Jehovah when He was descending into the world, by means of baptism, the effect of which in heaven was to close up the hells and guard the Jews against total destruction [they would all have perished]. Jehovah also says to Moses:
In one moment if I come up into the midst of thee I will consume the people (Exodus 33:5).
That it is so is very clear from the words of John to the multitudes going out to him to be baptised:
Ye offspring of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? (Matthew 3:7; Luke 3:7).
That John when he was baptizing taught Christ and His coming is evident from (Luke 3:16; John 1:25, 26, 31-33; 3:26). All this makes clear how John prepared the way.
689. A way was prepared by the Baptism of John because, as was shown above, by it men were introduced into the future Church of the Lord, and were inserted in heaven among those there who awaited and longed for the Messiah. They were guarded by angels, lest devils might break forth from hell and destroy them. Therefore, it is said in Malachi,
"Who may abide the day of His coming?" lest Jehovah come and smite the earth with a curse, Malachi 3:2; 4:6.
Similarly in Isaiah,
"Behold, the day of JEHOVAH cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger... Therefore, I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place... in the day of His fierce anger" Isaiah 13:6, 9, 13, 22; 22:5, 12.
Again in Jeremiah,
That day is called a day of wasting, of vengeance, and of destruction, Jeremiah 4:9; 7:32; 46:10, 21; 47:4; 49:8, 26.
In Ezekiel,
A day of anger, cloud, and thick darkness, Ezekiel 13:5; 30:2-3, 9; 34:11-12; 38:14, 16, 18-19;
and also in Amos,
Amos 5:13, 18, 20; 8:3, 9, 13;
in Joel,
"The day of JEHOVAH is great and very terrible: and who can abide it?" Joel 2:1-2, 11;
and in Zephaniah,
In that day there shall be the noise of a cry. The great day of JEHOVAH is at hand; that day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation. In the day of the wrath of JEHOVAH the whole earth shall be consumed, and He shall bring about its consummation with all the inhabitants of the earth, Zephaniah 1:7-18;
besides in other passages. From this it is evident that:
[all in the world would have perished] unless a way had been prepared, by means of Baptism, for the descent of Jehovah into the world. For this had the effect in heaven of closing the hells, and guarding the Jews from total destruction. Jehovah also says to Moses,
If I should come up into the midst of thee in a moment, I should consume the people, Exodus 33:5.
That this is so is plainly evident from the words of John to the multitudes going out to be baptized by him,
"O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?" Matthew 3:7; Luke 3:7.
That John also, when he baptized, preached Christ and His coming, may be seen in Luke 3:16; John 1:25-26, 31-33; John 3:26.
Thus it is plain how John prepared the way.
689. Quod praeparata sit via per Baptisma Johannis, erat causa, quia per illud, ut supra ostensum est, introducti sunt in Ecclesiam futuram Domini, et in Coelo inserti sunt illis ibi, qui exspectaverunt et desideraverunt Messiam, et sic custoditi ab Angelis, ne Diaboli ab Inferno erumperent, et perderent illos; quare dicitur apud Malachiam, Quis sustinebit diem adventus 1 Ipsius, et ne Jehovah veniat, et percutiat terram anathemate, Malachiam 3:2, 23. 2 Similiter apud Esaiam, "Ecce dies Jehovae venit crudelis, et indignationis et excandescentiae et irae: commovebo Coelum, et trepidabit terra e loco suo, in die excandescentiae irae Ipsius," Esaias 13:6, 9, 13, 22; 22:5, 12. 3 Item apud Jeremiam, Ille dies vocatur dies vastationis, ultionis et exitii, Jeremias 4:9; 7:32; 46:10, 21; 47:4; 49:8, 26. Apud Ezechielem, Dies irae, nubis et caliginis, 13:5; 30:2-3, 9; 34:11-12; 38:14, 16, 18-19. Pariter apud Amosum 5:13, 18, 20; 8:3, 9, 13. Apud Joelem, Magnus dies Jehovae, et terribilis, et quis sustinebit illum, 2:1-2, 11; 3:2, 4. 4 Et apud Zephaniam, 5 "In die illo erit vox clamoris, propinquus dies Jehovae magnus, dies excandescentiae dies hic, dies angustiae et coarctationis, dies vastationis et devastationis; in die excandescentiae Jehovae comedetur tota terra, et consummationem faciet cum omnibus habitatoribus terrae," 1:7-18; praeter aliis in locis:
[2] ex quibus patet, quod nisi praeparata esset via Jehovae descendenti in Mundum per Baptisma, cujus effectus in Coelo fuit, ut occluderentur Inferna, et custodirentur Judaei a totali interitu[, omnes ibi anathemate percussi fuissent, et periissent]: 6 dicit etiam Jehovah ad Mosen, "Momento uno, si ascenderem in medio tui, consumerem 7 Populum," Exodus 33:5. Quod ita sit, patet clare a verbis Johannis ad turbas exeuntes ut baptizarentur ab illo, "Progenies viperarum quisnam monstravit vobis effugere a futura ira," Matthaeus 3:7, Luca 3:7. Quod Johannes etiam docuerit Christum et Ipsius adventum, cum baptizabat, videatur Luca 3:16, Johannes 1:25-26, 31-33; 3:26, seq. 8 Ex his patet, quomodo Johannes praeparavit viam.
Footnotes:
1. Prima editio: aduentus.
2. Sic Schmidt, sed Biblia Hebraica 3:2, 24 et Biblia Anglica 4:2, 6. Prima editio: Cap. 3:24.
3. Prima editio: 5, 11.
4. Sic Schmidt et Biblia Hebraica, sed 2:29, 31 apud Biblia Anglica.
5. Prima editio: Sachariam.
6. Sic 688 supra ad finem, cf. Apocalypsi Explicata 724:7-8.