HH.0.0.1, (주2).AC.4229-4231, '주님의 예언들'(마24:32-35)

※ (주2). The Lord’s predictions in Matthew (24 and 25), respecting the consummation of the age and His coming, and the consequent successive vastation of the church and the final judgment, are explained in the prefaces to chapters 26–40 of Genesis (n. 3353–3356, 3486–3489, 3650–3655, 3751–3757, 3897–3901, 4056–4060, 4229–4231, 4332–4335, 4422–4424, 4635–4638, 4661–4664, 4807–4810, 4954–4959, 5063–5071).

 

 

THE LAST JUDGMENT (마24:32-35)

 

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In volume 3(주1) a commencement was made with the explication of the Lord’s predictions in the twenty-fourth chapter of Matthew concerning the last judgment, the explication being prefixed to the last chapters of that volume, and being continued as far as the thirty-first verse of the chapter in the evangelist just referred to (see n. 3353–3356, 3486–3489, 3650–3655, 3897–3901, 4056–4060). The internal sense in a summary of these predictions of the Lord plainly appears from the explications already given, namely, that prediction is there made concerning the successive vastation of the church, and the ultimate setting up of a new church, in the following order:

 

1. That the members of the church would begin not to know what good and truth are, and would dispute about them.

 

2. That they would hold them in contempt.

 

3. That at heart they would not acknowledge them.

 

4. That they would profane them.

 

5. And because the truth of faith and the good of charity would still remain with some, who are called the “elect,” a description is given of the state of the faith as it then existed.

 

6. Next of the state of the charity.

 

7. And finally the commencement of a new church is treated of, which is meant by the words that were last explained:

 

그가 큰 나팔소리와 함께 천사들을 보내리니 그들이 그의 택하신 자들을 하늘 이 끝에서 저 끝까지 사방에서 모으리라 (마24:31) He shall send forth his angels with a trumpet and a great voice, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the end of the heavens even to the end thereof (Matt. 24:31),

 

by which is meant the commencement of a new church (see n. 4060e).

 

 

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When the end of an old church and the beginning of a new church is at hand, then is the last judgment. This is the time that is meant in the Word by the “Last Judgment” (see n. 2117–2133, 3353, 4057), and also by the “coming of the son of man.” It is this very coming that is now the subject before us, as referred to in the question addressed to the Lord by the disciples:

 

예수께서 감람산 위에 앉으셨을 때에 제자들이 조용히 와서 이르되 우리에게 이르소서 어느 때에 이런 일이 있겠사오며 또 주의 임하심과 세상 끝에는 무슨 징조가 있사오리이까 (마24:3) Tell us when shall these things be, especially what is the sign of thy coming, and of the consummation of the age? (Matt. 24:3).

 

It remains therefore to unfold the things predicted by the Lord concerning this very time of his coming and of the consummation of the age which is the last judgment; but in the preface to this chapter only those contained in verses 32 to 35:

 

32무화과나무의 비유를 배우라 그 가지가 연하여지고 잎사귀를 내면 여름이 가까운 줄을 아나니 33이와 같이 너희도 이 모든 일을 보거든 인자가 가까이 곧 문 앞에 이른 줄 알라 34내가 진실로 너희에게 말하노니 이 세대가 지나가기 전에 이 일이 다 일어나리라 35천지는 없어질지언정 내 말은 없어지지 아니하리라 (마24:32-35) Now learn a parable from the fig tree. When her branch is now become tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that the summer is nigh. So also ye, when ye see all these things, know that it is nigh, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away till all these things be accomplished. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away (Matt. 24:32–35).

 

The internal sense of these words is as follows.

 

 

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무화과나무의 비유를 배우라 그 가지가 연하여지고 잎사귀를 내면 여름이 가까운 줄을 아나니 Now learn a parable from the fig tree. When her branch is now become tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that the summer is nigh;

 

signifies the first of a new church; the “fig tree” is the good of the natural; her “branch” is the affection of this; and the “leaves” are truths. The “parable from which they should learn” is that these things are signified. He who is not acquainted with the internal sense of the Word, cannot possibly know what is involved in the comparison of the Lord’s coming to a fig tree and its branch and leaves; but as all the comparisons in the Word are also significative (n. 3579), it may be known from this signification what is meant. A “fig tree” wherever mentioned in the Word signifies in the internal sense the good of the natural (n. 217); that her “branch” is the affection of this is because affection springs forth from good as a branch from its trunk; and that “leaves” are truths may be seen above (n. 885). From all this it is now evident what the parable involves, namely, that when a new church is being created by the Lord, there then appears first of all the good of the natural, that is, good in the external form together with its affection and truths. By the good of the natural is not meant the good into which man is born, or which he derives from his parents, but a good which is spiritual in respect to its origin. Into this no one is born, but is led into it by the Lord through the knowledges of good and truth. Therefore until a man is in this good (that is, in spiritual good), he is not a man of the church, however much from a good that is born with him he may appear to be so.

 

[2] 이와 같이 너희도 이 모든 일을 보거든 인자가 가까이 곧 문 앞에 이른 줄 알라 So also ye, when ye see all these things, know that it is nigh, even at the doors;

 

signifies that when those things appear which are signified in the internal sense by the words spoken just before (verses 29–31), and by these concerning the fig tree, then it is the consummation of the church, that is, the last judgment, and the coming of the Lord; consequently that the old church is then being rejected, and a new one is being set up. It is said, “at the doors,” because the good of the natural and its truths are the first things which are insinuated into a man when he is being regenerated and is becoming the church.

 

내가 진실로 너희에게 말하노니 이 세대가 지나가기 전에 이 일이 다 일어나리라 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all these things be accomplished;

 

signifies that the Jewish nation shall not be extirpated like other nations, for the reason shown above (n. 3479).

 

[3] 천지는 없어질지언정 내 말은 없어지지 아니하리라 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away;

 

signifies that the internals and the externals of the former church would perish, but that the Word of the Lord would abide. (That “heaven” is the internal of the church, and “earth” its external, may be seen above, n. 82, 1411, 1733, 1850, 2117, 2118, 3355e). By the Lord’s “words” are plainly meant not only these now spoken respecting his coming and the consummation of the age, but also all that are in the Word. These words were said immediately after what was said about the Jewish nation, because that nation was preserved for the sake of the Word, as may be seen from the number already cited (n. 3479). From all this it is now evident that the beginnings of a new church are here foretold.