Page:A Compendium of the Theological Writings of Emanuel Swedenborg.djvu/157

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THE DOCTRINE OF THE LORD.
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things; and he so thinks and speaks too when he thinks and speaks from the spirit. But when he speaks from doctrinals he says quite the contrary; namely, that he is not to rise again till the last day,—when yet it is the last day with every one when he dies; and then also is his judgment, as many also say. These things are said in order that it may be known that no man rises again in the body with which he was clothed in the world; but that the Lord so arose, and this because He glorified or made His body Divine while He was in the world. (A. C. n. 5078.)

The Redemption.

Redemption itself was the Subjugation of the Hells, and the establishment of Order in the Heavens, and preparation thereby for a new spiritual church. (T. C. R n. 115.)

That the Lord while He was in the world fought against the hells, and conquered and subjugated them, and thus brought them under obedience to Him, is evident from many passages in the Word, of which I shall select these few:—In Isaiah: "Who is this that cometh from Edom, besprinkled as to His garments from Bozrah? this [that is] honourable in His apparel, travelling in the multitude of His strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. Wherefore art Thou red in Thine apparel, and Thy garment as one that treadeth in the wine-press? I have trodden the wine-press alone; and of the people [there was] not a man with Me; therefore I trod them in Mine anger, and trampled them in My wrath; thence their victory is sprinkled upon My garments; . . for the day of vengeance is in Mine heart, and the year of My redeemed is come: . . . Mine arm brought salvation to Me; . . . I made their victory descend to the earth. . . . He said, Behold My people, they are children; therefore He became to them a Saviour; . . . in His love and in His pity He redeemed them" (lxiii. 1-9). These things are said of the Lord's conflict against the hells. By the garment in which He was honourable and which was red the Word is meant, to which violence was offered by the Jewish people. The conflict itself against the hells and the victory over them is described by the saying that He trod them in His anger, and trampled them in His wrath. That He fought alone and of His own power is described by the words: "Of the people [there was] not a man with Me; . . . Mine arm brought salvation to Me; I made their victory descend to the earth." That thereby He saved and redeemed is meant by these: "Therefore He became to them a Saviour; in His love and in His pity He redeemed them." That this was the cause of His coming is meant by the words: "The day of vengeance is in Mine heart, and