47. For it is written in Gen. xviii. that God appeared to Abraham in the form of three men, and told him of a son which should proceed forth out of his loins, whom Sarah should bear unto him, upon whom the Covenant passed. Now what did the appearance of these three men typify? Nothing else but the Trinity of the Deity, and the manifestation of the divine formed word through the three Principles. Therefore the divine image was represented in three men, for it is a threefold ens, but one only essence, viz. three worlds, and yet in one another as one; but differenced in three Principles, viz. with the dark wrathful fire-world, and with the holy light-and-love-fire-world, and with the outward visible world.
48. Out of these three worlds man was created, even into an image of the divine manifestation; therefore God showed himself to Abraham in the same ens and essence, as in the form of the angelical message, and yet spoke of himself.
49. For the represented ens, through which God spoke, was angelical and human: it would become human, for Christ, as to the person of the creature, should be a prince or an angelical hierarchy; so likewise God appeared to Abraham in this ens, essence and property with his own indwelling voice.
50. Very exceeding wonderful is the history concerning Abraham, for the kingdom of Christ is therein wholly represented. Not only the kingdom upon the earth in the time of the four elements, which also is portrayed and set forth under it, but yet only as a pilgrimage, which should not be the right kingdom, for Abraham must continually wander up and down, and also his posterity. And yet God promised him the country wherein he was a pilgrim for his propriety, that he and his children should eternally possess the same.
51. For so God said to Abraham, Lift up your eyes, and look from the place where you are, northward, southward, eastward, and westward; for all the land which you see, to you will I give it, and to your seed for ever (Gen. xiii. 14). But now they obtained possession of this land a long time after; and were first brought in by Joshua; and Abraham and his grand-children lived not to obtain it, and they were very often driven out from thence; and yet God said he would give it to Abraham and his children for an eternal possession.
52. But we see at present that they have it not in possession; for the Turks have now possession of it; and Abraham's seed, viz. the Jews, have at present neither land nor princedom, but are almost in all places only as captives. But now the purpose of God must stand, his word must be true: Abraham in his seed shall eternally possess it, for eternal is not temporal only.
53. Therefore also God spoke of the place, and shows the same to Abraham, that he might see it with his eyes. And even here lies the Great Mystery; for Paradise was in the world, and Adam lost Paradise; but in Abraham's seed, viz. in Christ, Paradise was again restored, not according to the mortal man, but according to the heavenly.
54. Now we see at present that Christendom has not these lands or countries in possession; and so likewise the Jews have them not;
and now seeing that Abraham shall eternally possess them in his seed, viz. in the holy seed, thereupon we are to consider of the place of the holy Paradise aright; as the prophetical spirit in Ezekiel, and Daniel, and others of them do signify and declare; but especially St John, in the Revelation, concerning the holy Jerusalem, which comes down from God out of heaven, as a bride prepared and adorned to her bridegrom; and in all, thus much is signified: that Christ in Abraham's seed shall take in his kingdom.
47. For it is written in Gen. xviii. that God appeared to Abraham in the form of three men, and told him of a son which should proceed forth out of his loins, whom Sarah should bear unto him, upon whom the Covenant passed. Now what did the appearance of these three men typify? Nothing else but the Trinity of the Deity, and the manifestation of the divine formed word through the three Principles. Therefore the divine image was represented in three men, for it is a threefold ens, but one only essence, viz. three worlds, and yet in one another as one; but differenced in three Principles, viz. with the dark wrathful fire-world, and with the holy light-and-love-fire-world, and with the outward visible world.
48. Out of these three worlds man was created, even into an image of the divine manifestation; therefore God showed himself to Abraham in the same ens and essence, as in the form of the angelical message, and yet spoke of himself.
49. For the represented ens, through which God spoke, was angelical and human: it would become human, for Christ, as to the person of the creature, should be a prince or an angelical hierarchy; so likewise God appeared to Abraham in this ens, essence and property with his own indwelling voice.
50. Very exceeding wonderful is the history concerning Abraham, for the kingdom of Christ is therein wholly represented. Not only the kingdom upon the earth in the time of the four elements, which also is portrayed and set forth under it, but yet only as a pilgrimage, which should not be the right kingdom, for Abraham must continually wander up and down, and also his posterity. And yet God promised him the country wherein he was a pilgrim for his propriety, that he and his children should eternally possess the same.
51. For so God said to Abraham, Lift up your eyes, and look from the place where you are, northward, southward, eastward, and westward; for all the land which you see, to you will I give it, and to your seed for ever (Gen. xiii. 14). But now they obtained possession of this land a long time after; and were first brought in by Joshua; and Abraham and his grand-children lived not to obtain it, and they were very often driven out from thence; and yet God said he would give it to Abraham and his children for an eternal possession.
52. But we see at present that they have it not in possession; for the Turks have now possession of it; and Abraham's seed, viz. the Jews, have at present neither land nor princedom, but are almost in all places only as captives. But now the purpose of God must stand, his word must be true: Abraham in his seed shall eternally possess it, for eternal is not temporal only.
53. Therefore also God spoke of the place, and shows the same to Abraham, that he might see it with his eyes. And even here lies the Great Mystery; for Paradise was in the world, and Adam lost Paradise; but in Abraham's seed, viz. in Christ, Paradise was again restored, not according to the mortal man, but according to the heavenly.
54. Now we see at present that Christendom has not these lands or countries in possession; and so likewise the Jews have them not;
and now seeing that Abraham shall eternally possess them in his seed, viz. in the holy seed, thereupon we are to consider of the place of the holy Paradise aright; as the prophetical spirit in Ezekiel, and Daniel, and others of them do signify and declare; but especially St John, in the Revelation, concerning the holy Jerusalem, which comes down from God out of heaven, as a bride prepared and adorned to her bridegrom; and in all, thus much is signified: that Christ in Abraham's seed shall take in his kingdom.
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