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※ (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 (마24:36-42)

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By way of preface to the preceding chapter there were unfolded the things foretold by the Lord in Matthew, chapter 24, verses 32 to 35, concerning his coming; by which is understood (as there and in other places previously shown) the last period of the former church and the first of a new church. The last period or end of the former church, and the first period or beginning of a new church, have been treated of thus far (see what precedes, chapter 31, n. 4056–4060, and chapter 32, n. 4229–4231). There are now to be unfolded the words that follow in the same chapter of the evangelist, from verses 36 to 42, namely these:

36그러나 그날과 그때는 아무도 모르나니 하늘의 천사들도, 아들도 모르고 오직 아버지만 아시느니라 37노아의 때와 같이 인자의 임함도 그러하리라 38홍수 전에 노아가 방주에 들어가던 날까지 사람들이 먹고 마시고 장가들고 시집가고 있으면서 39홍수가 나서 그들을 다 멸하기까지 깨닫지 못하였으니 인자의 임함도 이와 같으리라 40그때에 두 사람이 밭에 있으매 한 사람은 데려가고 한 사람은 버려둠을 당할 것이요 41두 여자가 맷돌질을 하고 있으매 한 사람은 데려가고 한 사람은 버려둠을 당할 것이니라 42그러므로 깨어 있으라 어느 날에 너희 주가 임할는지 너희가 알지 못함이니라 (마24:36-42) But of that day and hour knoweth no one, not the angels of the heavens, but my father only. And as were the days of Noah, so shall be the coming of the son of man. For as they were in the days before the flood, eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away, so shall also the coming of the son of man be. Then shall two be in the field; one shall be taken, and one shall be left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; one shall be taken, and one shall be left (Matt. 24:36–42).

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What is signified by these words in the internal sense will appear from the following explication—that there is described what the state will be when the old church is being rejected and the new is being set up. That the rejection of the old church and the setting up of the new is what is meant by the “consummation of the age,” and by the “coming of the son of man,” and in general by the last judgment, has been already repeatedly shown; and also that a last judgment has several times taken place on this globe: first, when the Lord’s celestial church, which was the most ancient, perished in the antediluvians by an inundation of evils and falsities, which in the internal sense is the “flood.”

[2] Second, when the spiritual church, which was after the flood, and is called the ancient, being spread over much of the Asiatic world, ceased of itself.

[3] Third, when the representative of a church among the posterity of Jacob was destroyed, which took place when the ten tribes were carried away into perpetual captivity and dispersed among the nations; and finally when Jerusalem was destroyed, and the Jews also were dispersed. Because there was then a consummation of the age after the Lord’s coming, therefore also many things said by the Lord in the evangelists concerning the consummation of that age are also applicable to the Jewish nation, and are likewise applied to them by many at this day. Nevertheless the subject treated of in the above words is specifically and especially the consummation of the age now at hand,1 namely, the end of the Christian church, which is also treated of by John in Revelation. This will be the fourth last judgment on this globe. What the words involve that are contained in verses 36 to 42 adduced above, will appear from their internal sense, which is as follows.

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그러나 그날과 그때는 아무도 모르나니 But of that day and hour knoweth no one;

signifies the state of the church at that time as to goods and truths, that it would not appear to anyone, neither on earth nor in heaven. For by “day and hour” here is not meant day and hour, or time; but state as to good and truth. That times in the Word signify states, see n. 2625, 2788, 2837, 3254, 3356; as also do “days,” n. 23, 487, 488, 493, 893, 2788, 3462, 3785; and thence also hours, but specifically state. That it is here state as to good and truth is because the subject treated of is the church, for good and truth make the church.

[2] 하늘의 천사들도, 아들도 모르고 오직 아버지만 아시느니라 Not the angels of the heavens, but my father only;

signifies that heaven does not know the state of the church as to good and truth specifically, but the Lord alone, and also when that state of the church will come. That the Lord himself is meant by the “father,” see n. 15, 1729, 2004, 2005, 3690; and that the Divine good in the Lord is what is called the “father,” and the Divine truth from the Divine good “the son,” n. 2803, 3703, 3704, 3736; and therefore they who believe that the father is one and the son another, and who separate them from each other, do not understand the Scriptures.

[3] 노아의 때와 같이 인자의 임함도 그러하리라 홍수 전에 For as they were in the days before the flood;

signifies the state of vastation of those who are of the church, which is compared to the state of vastation of the first or most ancient church; the consummation of the age or last judgment of which is described in the Word by the “flood.” That by the “flood” is signified an inundation of evils and falsities and the consequent consummation of that age, see n. 310, 660, 662, 705, 739, 790, 805, 1120. That “days” signify states, see above.

[4] 사람들이 먹고 마시고 장가들고 시집가고 있으면서 Eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage;

signifies their state as to the appropriation of evil and falsity, and the consequent conjunction with these. That “to eat” denotes the appropriation of good, and “to drink” the appropriation of truth, see n. 3168, 3513e, 3596; thus in the opposite sense the appropriation of evil and falsity. That “to marry” denotes conjunction with evil, and “to give in marriage,” conjunction with falsity, may be seen from what has been said and shown respecting marriage and conjugial love (n. 686, 2173, 2618, 2728–2729, 2737–2739, 2803, 3132, 3155), namely, that in the internal sense this is the conjunction of good and truth, but here in the opposite sense the conjunction of evil and falsity. Whatever the Lord spoke, being Divine, is not the same in the internal sense as in the letter. Thus eating and drinking in the holy supper do not signify in the spiritual sense eating and drinking, but the appropriation of the good of the Lord’s Divine love (n. 2165, 2177, 2187, 2343, 2359, 3464, 3478, 3735, 4211, 4217). And as when predicated of the church and the Lord’s kingdom the conjugial is the conjunction of the good of love with the truth of faith, therefore from this conjunction the Lord’s kingdom is called in the Word the heavenly marriage.

[5] 노아가 방주에 들어가던 날까지 Until the day that Noah entered into the ark;

signifies the end of the former church, and the beginning of the new. For by “Noah” is signified the ancient church in general which succeeded the most ancient after the flood (n. 773, and elsewhere); and by the “ark,” the church itself (n. 639). “Day,” which is mentioned several times in these verses, signifies state, as shown just above.

[6] 홍수가 나서 그들을 다 멸하기까지 깨닫지 못하였으니 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away;

signifies that the men of the church will not then know that they are inundated by evils and falsities, because on account of the evils and falsities in which they are they will not know what the good of love to the Lord is, and the good of charity toward the neighbor, and also what the truth of faith, and that this is from that love and charity, and is not possible except with those who live in this love and in this charity. They will also be ignorant that the internal is what saves and condemns, but not the external separate from the internal.

[7] 인자의 임함도 이와 같으리라 So shall the coming of the son of man be;

signifies the Divine truth, and that they will not receive it. It has been said before (Mat. 24:27, 30), that the “coming of the son of man” is the Divine truth which will then be revealed (also in n. 2803, 2813, 3004–3009, and 3704).

[8] 그때에 두 사람이 밭에 있으매 한 사람은 데려가고 한 사람은 버려둠을 당할 것이요 Then shall two be in the field; one shall be taken, and one shall be left;

signifies those within the church who are in good, and those within the church who are in evil—that they who are in good will be saved, and that they who are in evil will be condemned. That a “field” denotes the church as to good, see n. 2971, 3196, 3310, 3317, 3766.

[9] 두 여자가 맷돌질을 하고 있으매 한 사람은 데려가고 한 사람은 버려둠을 당할 것이니라 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; one shall be taken, and one shall be left;

signifies those within the church who are in truth, that is, in the affection of it from good, that they will be saved; and those within the church who are in truth, that is, in the affection of it from evil, that they will be condemned. That in the Word “to grind” and a “mill” have this signification will be evident from what now follows. From all this it is now evident that by these words is described what the state as to good and truth will be within the church when it is being rejected, and a new church is being adopted.

4335. That in the Word by “those who grind” are meant those within the church who are in truth from the affection of good, and in the opposite sense those within the church who are in truth from the affection of evil, may be seen from the following passages. In Isaiah:

1처녀 딸 바벨론이여 내려와서 티끌에 앉으라 딸 갈대아여 보좌가 없어졌으니 땅에 앉으라 네가 다시는 곱고 아리땁다 일컬음을 받지 못할 것임이라 2맷돌을 가지고 가루를 갈고 너울을 벗으며 치마를 걷어 다리를 드러내고 강을 건너라 (사47:1, 2) Come down, and sit upon the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon; sit in the earth, there is not a throne, O daughter of the Chaldeans; take a millstone and grind meal, uncover thy hair, make bare the foot, uncover the thigh, pass through the rivers (Isa. 47:1–2);

the “daughter of Babylon” denotes those whose externals appear holy and good, but their interiors are profane and evil (n. 1182, 1326); the “daughter of the Chaldeans,” those whose externals appear holy and true, but their interiors are profane and false (n. 1368, 1816); “to take a millstone and grind meal” denotes to hatch doctrinal things from the truths which they pervert; for as meal is from wheat or barley, it signifies truths from good, but in the opposite sense truths which they pervert in order to mislead. In Jeremiah:

10내가 그들 중에서 기뻐하는 소리와 즐거워하는 소리와 신랑의 소리와 신부의 소리와 맷돌 소리와 등불 빛이 끊어지게 하리니 11이 모든 땅이 폐허가 되어 놀랄 일이 될 것이며 이 민족들은 칠십 년 동안 바벨론의 왕을 섬기리라 (렘25:10, 11) I will destroy from them the voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voice of the millstones and the light of the lamp; and this whole land shall be for a waste and a desolation (Jer. 25:10–11).

[2] And in John:

21이에 한 힘 센 천사가 큰 맷돌 같은 돌을 들어 바다에 던져 이르되 큰 성 바벨론이 이같이 비참하게 던져져 결코 다시 보이지 아니하리로다 22또 거문고 타는 자와 풍류하는 자와 퉁소 부는 자와 나팔 부는 자들의 소리가 결코 다시 네 안에서 들리지 아니하고 어떠한 세공업자든지 결코 다시 네 안에서 보이지 아니하고 또 맷돌 소리가 결코 다시 네 안에서 들리지 아니하고 23등불 빛이 결코 다시 네 안에서 비치지 아니하고 신랑과 신부의 음성이 결코 다시 네 안에서 들리지 아니하리로다 너의 상인들은 땅의 왕족들이라 네 복술로 말미암아 만국이 미혹되었도다 (계18:21-23) Every craftsman of every craft shall not be found in Babylon any more, every voice of the millstone shall not be heard therein any more; and the light of a lamp shall not shine therein any more; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall not be heard therein any more (Rev. 18:21–23);

“the voice of a millstone being heard no more in Babylon” denotes that there will be no truth; and “the light of a lamp shining no more,” that there will be no intelligence of truth. In Lamentations:

11대적들이 시온에서 부녀들을, 유다 각 성읍에서 처녀들을 욕보였나이다 12지도자들은 그들의 손에 매달리고 장로들의 얼굴도 존경을 받지 못하나이다 13청년들이 맷돌을 지며 아이들이 나무를 지다가 엎드러지오며 14노인들은 다시 성문에 앉지 못하며 청년들은 다시 노래하지 못하나이다 (애5:11-14) They ravished the women in Zion, the virgins in the cities of Judah; princes were hanged up by their hand, the faces of the old men were not honored; the young men were carried away to grind, and the children fall in the wood (Lam. 5:11–14);

“the young men being carried away to grind” denotes to hatch falsities by applying truths, and thus persuading.

[3] In Moses:

애굽 땅에 있는 모든 처음 난 것은 왕위에 앉아 있는 바로의 장자로부터 맷돌 뒤에 있는 몸종의 장자와 모든 가축의 처음 난 것까지 죽으리니 (출11:5) Every firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sitteth upon his throne, to the firstborn of the maidservant that is behind the mills (Exod. 11:5);

the “firstborn of Egypt” denotes the truths of faith separated from the good of charity, which truths become falsities (n. 3325); the “firstborn of the maidservant that is behind the mills” denotes the affection of such truth, whence come falsities. These things were represented by these historicals.

[4] In the same:

사람이 맷돌이나 그 위짝을 전당 잡지 말지니 이는 그 생명을 전당 잡음이니라 (신24:6) He shall not take in pledge the mills or the millstone, for they are the soul of him that pledgeth (Deut. 24:6).

This law was enacted because by “mills” were signified doctrinal things, and by a “millstone,” the truths thereof, which are what are called the “soul of him that pledgeth.” It is manifest that this law would not have been given, nor would it have been said that it was his “soul,” unless mills and a millstone had a spiritual signification.

[5] That grinding derives its signification from representatives that come forth in the world of spirits has been shown me; for I have seen there those who were as if grinding without any end of use, and merely for their own pleasure. And as in such a case truths are devoid of their own affection from good, they do indeed appear as truths in the outward form; but as there is no internal in them, they are phantasms; and if there is an evil internal, they are then employed to confirm the evil; and thus by application to evil they become falsities.

※ (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.

※ (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 (마24:29-31)

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In volume 3,(주1) by way of preface to chapters 26, 27, 28, 29, and 30, there have been unfolded the things spoken and foretold by the Lord concerning the consummation of the age or last judgment, in the twenty-fourth chapter of Matthew, from the third to the twenty-eighth verse. The words which follow there in order remain to be explained, in this place the contents of verses 29–31, where we read these words:

29그 날 환난 후에 즉시 해가 어두워지며 달이 빛을 내지 아니하며 별들이 하늘에서 떨어지며 하늘의 권능들이 흔들리리라 30그 때에 인자의 징조가 하늘에서 보이겠고 그 때에 땅의 모든 족속들이 통곡하며 그들이 인자가 구름을 타고 능력과 큰 영광으로 오는 것을 보리라 31그가 큰 나팔소리와 함께 천사들을 보내리니 그들이 그의 택하신 자들을 하늘 이 끝에서 저 끝까지 사방에서 모으리라 (마24:29-31) But immediately after the affliction of those days the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken. And then shall appear the sign of the son of man in heaven, and then shall all the tribes of the earth wail; and they shall see the son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And 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. 24:29–31).

4057

What the consummation of the age, or last judgment is, has already been explained, namely, that it is the last period of the church. Its last period is said to be when there is no longer in it any charity and faith; and it has also been shown that there have been several such consummations, or last periods. The consummation of the first church was described by the flood; and the consummation of the second church by the extirpation of the nations in the land of Canaan, and also by the extirpations and cuttings off frequently described in the prophets. The consummation of the third church is not described in the Word, but is foretold—that is, the destruction of Jerusalem, and the dispersion of the Jewish nation, with which was the church, over the whole world. The fourth consummation is that of the present Christian church, which is foretold by the Lord in the evangelists, and also by John in Revelation, and which is now at hand.(주2)

4058

In the foregoing verses of this chapter of Matthew there is described the successive vastation of the church; namely, that first they began not to know what good and truth are, but disputed about them; next that they treated them with contempt; in the third place that they did not acknowledge them at heart; and fourthly, that they profaned them. These states are described from the third to the twenty-second verse; and as the truth of faith and the good of charity were still to remain in the midst (that is, with some who are called the “elect”) the quality of the state of the truth of faith at that time is described in verses 23 to 28; and in the following verses, now to be explained, there is described the state of the good that is of charity and of love; and also the beginning of a new church.

4059

From the particulars contained in these verses it is very manifest that they have an internal sense, and that unless this sense is understood, it is impossible to know what they involve—as that the sun shall be darkened, that the moon shall not give her light, that the stars shall fall from heaven, and that the powers of the heavens shall be shaken; and then that the Lord shall appear in the clouds of heaven, that his angels shall sound with a trumpet, and shall gather together his elect. He who knows not the internal sense of these words, must believe that such things are to come to pass; nay, that the world is to perish, with everything we behold in the universe. And yet that by the last judgment there is not meant any destruction of the world, but the consummation or vastation of the church in respect to charity and faith, may be seen above (n. 3353); and is plainly manifest from the words which follow in this same chapter of Matthew:

40그 때에 두 사람이 밭에 있으매 한 사람은 데려가고 한 사람은 버려둠을 당할 것이요 41두 여자가 맷돌질을 하고 있으매 한 사람은 데려가고 한 사람은 버려둠을 당할 것이니라 (마24:40, 41) Then shall two men be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left; two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left (Matt. 24:40–41).

4060

Therefore that by the words now before us there is signified the state of the church at that time in respect to good (that is, as to charity toward the neighbor and love to the Lord), is evident from their internal sense, which is as follows:

그 날 환난 후에 즉시 But immediately after the affliction of those days;

signifies the state of the church in respect to the truth of faith (concerning which just above). In the Word the desolation of truth in various places is called “affliction.” (That “days” are states may be seen above, n. 23, 487, 488, 493, 893, 2788, 3462, 3785.) From this it is manifest that by these words is signified that after there is no longer any faith, there will be no charity. For faith leads to charity, because it teaches what charity is, and charity receives its quality from the truths of faith; but the truths of faith receive their essence and their life from charity, as has been repeatedly shown in the preceding volumes.

[2] 해가 어두워지며 달이 빛을 내지 아니하며 The sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light;

signifies love to the Lord, which is the “sun”; and charity toward the neighbor, which is the “moon.” “To be darkened and not to give their light” signifies that they will not appear, and thus will vanish away. (That the “sun” is the celestial of love, and the “moon” the spiritual of love; that is, that the “sun” is love to the Lord, and the “moon” charity toward the neighbor, which comes forth through faith, may be seen above, n. 1053, 1529, 1530, 2120, 2441, 2495.) The reason why this is the signification of the “sun and moon,” is that in the other life the Lord appears as a sun to those in heaven who are in love to him, and who are called the celestial; and as a moon to those who are in charity toward the neighbor, and who are called the spiritual (see n. 1053, 1521, 1529–1531, 3636, 3643).

[3] The sun and moon in the heavens (that is, the Lord) is never darkened, nor does it lose its light, but it shines perpetually; and so neither is love to the Lord darkened with the celestial, nor does charity toward the neighbor lose its light with the spiritual, in the heavens; nor on earth with those with whom these angels are, that is, those who are in love and charity. Those however who are in no love and charity, but in the love of self and of the world, and consequently in hatred and revenge, bring that “darkening” upon themselves. The case herein is as it is with the sun of this world, which shines continuously; but when the clouds interpose, it does not appear (n. 2441).

[4] 별들이 하늘에서 떨어지며 하늘의 권능들이 흔들리리라 And the stars shall fall from heaven; and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.

signifies that the knowledges of good and truth will perish. Nothing else is signified by “stars” when these are mentioned in the Word (n. 1808, 2849). And the powers of the heavens shall be shaken; signifies the foundations of the church, which are said to be “shaken” and “made to quake” when they perish. For the church on earth is the foundation of heaven, because the influx of good and truth from the Lord through the heavens finally terminates in the goods and truths that are with the man of the church. When therefore the man of the church is in such a perverted state as no longer to admit the influx of good and truth, the powers of the heavens are said to be “shaken.” For this reason it is always provided by the Lord that something of the church shall remain; and that when an old church perishes, a new one shall be set up again.

[5] 그 때에 인자의 징조가 하늘에서 보이겠고 And then shall appear the sign of the son of man in heaven;

signifies the appearing of Divine truth at that time; the “sign” signifies the appearing; the “son of man,” the Lord as to Divine truth (see n. 2803, 2813, 3704). It was this appearing or this “sign,” concerning which the disciples asked when they said, “Tell us when shall these things be, and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the consummation of the age” (verse 3). For they knew from the Word that when the age should be consummated, the Lord would come; and they learned from the Lord himself that he would “come again,” by which they understood that the Lord would once more come into the world; not yet knowing that the Lord has come whenever the church has been vastated, not indeed in person, as when he assumed the human by birth and made it Divine; but by means of appearings—either manifest, as when he appeared to Abraham in Mamre, to Moses in the bush, to the people of Israel on Mount Sinai, and to Joshua when he entered the land of Canaan; or not so manifest, as by inspirations through which the Word was given, and afterwards through the Word; for the Lord is present in the Word, because all things in the Word are from him and concerning him, as may be seen from what has already been frequently shown. This latter is the appearing here signified by the “sign of the son of man,” and which is described in this verse.

[6] 그 때에 땅의 모든 족속들이 통곡하며 And then shall all the tribes of the earth wail;

signifies that all who are in the good of love and the truth of faith shall be in grief. That “wailing” signifies this, may be seen in Zechariah 12:10–14; and that “tribes” signify all things of good and truth, or of love and faith, and consequently those who are in them, may be seen above (n. 3858, 3926). They are called the “tribes of the earth,” because those are meant who are within the church. (That the “earth” is the church may be seen above, n. 662, 1066, 1067, 1262, 1733, 1850, 2117, 2928, 3355.)

[7] 그들이 인자가 구름을 타고 능력과 큰 영광으로 오는 것을 보리라 And they shall see the son of man coming in the clouds of the heavens with power and great glory;

signifies that the Word will then be revealed as to its internal sense, in which the Lord is; the “son of man” is the Divine truth therein (n. 2803, 2813, 3704); the “cloud” is the literal sense; “power” is predicated of the good, and “glory” of the truth, therein. (That these things are signified by “seeing the son of man coming in the clouds of the heavens,” see the preface to the eighteenth chapter.) This is the “coming of the Lord” here meant, and not that he will literally appear in the clouds. Now follows the subject of the setting up of a new church, which takes place when the old one is vastated and rejected.

[8] 그가 큰 나팔 소리와 함께 천사들을 보내리니 He shall send forth his angels with a trumpet and a great voice;

signifies election, not by visible angels, still less by trumpets, and by great voices; but by the influx of holy good and holy truth from the Lord through angels; and therefore by “angels” in the Word there is signified something of the Lord (n. 1925, 2821, 3039); here, there are signified things that are from the Lord and concerning the Lord. By the “trumpet” and the “great voice” there is signified evangelization, as elsewhere in the Word.

[9] 그들이 그의 택하신 자들을 하늘 이 끝에서 저 끝까지 사방에서 모으리라 And they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the end of the heavens even to the end thereof;

signifies the setting up of a new church. The “elect” are those who are in the good of love and of faith (n. 3755–3900); the “four winds” from which they shall be gathered together, are all states of good and truth (n. 3708); “from the end of the heavens to the end of them” denotes the internals and the externals of the church. Such therefore are the things signified by these words of the Lord.