The New Jerusalem Part 1

Having marked the anniversary of the establishment of the New Church this week, today we share the first of a two part article looking at what the new Jerusalem is, what it means that it is Jerusalem, and what it means to be a part of the “the holy city, New Jerusalem.” -Editor.

Why Jerusalem? Have you ever wondered about that? Why not Bethel or Bethlehem? Maybe I should back up a bit.

We’re talking about the establishment of the New Church today (the actual anniversary was on the 19th). Often around June 19th we talk about stories from the book of Revelation because some of the elements in the stories are symbolic of the New Church. And at the end of the book, chapter 21 and 22—the last 2 chapters of the whole Bible—there’s this vision of a huge, golden, holy city, coming down from heaven.

Let’s read a little bit of the vision.

Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. Revelation 21:1-2

Lots of different aspects of this city are described and the detail that caught my attention this time was Jerusalem. It’s called “the holy city, New Jerusalem.”

Why Jerusalem?

Click to read more ...

Other Revelations

Stephen brings our attention to how the Lord is revealing himself to us, and to others, in the present. He challenges the notion that the Bible and Swedenborg's writings are the exclusive and static emanations of a God who only wanted to speak twice. The water is still moving under the bridge. -Editor.

This is a New Church perspective on other revelations. Other revelations meaning: revelations from God through human beings other than those who wrote down the Bible and the Heavenly Doctrines.

The great thing about the New Church doctrines is that they allow for the validity of other religions and place all value in the embodiment of faith through action, good will and love.

But what about revelations? Don’t we consider the Word, including the Writings of Swedenborg, as the Divine Truth? We do. And sometimes those words “Divine Truth” get to have overtones that make it sound like “Final Truth,” or even “the Only Truth.” But that would be ridiculous, don’t you agree? That would be similar to asserting that the Hindu, Muslim or Native American religions are invalid, and they are not.

Click to read more ...

If the Second Coming happened why is there still so much pain and dysfunction in the world?

Ronnie is walking a fine line. Informed by the teachings of the New Church, he acknowledges the torment in the world, yet finds a place for this agony within a benevolent perspective. -Editor.

Many people in this world are waiting for the Second Coming because they are so frustrated with some of the apparent pain and dysfunction in the world. So how can we say that the Second Coming has taken place when there is so much craziness in the world?

Well, here is my best understanding from the Heavenly Teachings of the New Church on this issue:

The ideal world portrayed in the last chapters of the book of Revelation is coming, and is on its way. The New Heaven has already been formed, and it is growing daily. The New Earth, which represents a New Church, is still among the few for a period, and this is what is symbolized by the woman in the wilderness being kept safe in the wilderness for a time, time and half a time (Revelation 12:14).

Click to read more ...

Do You Think the World Will End in Your Lifetime? Part 1

As we approach the New Church Day celebrations on June 19th, we are publishing this two part essay in which Judah asks what the New Church can offer to the discussion of 'end times.' This subject was most recently invigorated by Harold Camping's May 21st prediction of judgement day. -Editor.

Do you think the world will end in your lifetime? According to a poll on livecitizen.com, there are three possible answers to this question: a.Yes, May 21, maybe in 2012 b.No, it’s all religious garbage c.I don’t know Well? What do you think? You’ve got three options, friend: Doomsday draws nigh! Or maybe the only judgment is that Harold Camping has just hammered the last nail into the coffin of religion. Or maybe we don’t have a clue.

Click to read more ...

The Hidden Influence and Relevance of Swedenborg 2: Egypt, Assyria, and Quantum Mechanics

This is the second of three sections of an essay by Curtis Childs on the significance of Emanuel Swedenborg's work. Start with Section 1: Why We Are Here. Finally, turn to Section 3: Swedenborg's Influence. - Editor.

Perhaps one of Swedenborg’s most striking revisions of Christian thought centers around what is today called the Holy Bible. While Jesus Christ’s use of parables to teach is well documented in the New Testament, Swedenborg lays out, especially in his multi-volume work Secrets of Heaven, an extremely thorough, systematic, and extensive exegesis illustrating the belief that the entire Bible is, in fact, an allegory. Swedenborg’s interpretation relies on “correspondences,” the idea that the places, characters, and even the words appearing in Biblical text simultaneously represent aspects of God, humanity’s relationship to the divine, and a map of each of our personal spiritual journeys. The actual concept, though consistent, is quite complex, as one scholar studying Swedenborg’s Secrets of Heaven noted, “unfortunately, any straightforward definition of correspondence fails to capture the incredible richness of the Swedenborgian concept” (Woofenden 47).

Click to read more ...