9. 'For the time is near' signifies that the state of the Church is such that it cannot any longer endure so as to have conjunction with the Lord. There are two Essentials through which there is conjunction with the Lord and thereby salvation, ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE ONE GOD, and REPENTANCE OF LIFE. Today, however, instead of an acknowledgment of the One God, there is an acknowledgment of three [Gods], and instead of a repentance of life there is repentance of the mouth only, [saying] that one is a sinner; and there is no conjunction through these two. Therefore unless a new Church rises up, which acknowledges those two Essentials, and lives them, no one can be saved. On account of this danger the time has been shortened by the Lord, in accordance with His words in Matthew:-
Then shall he great affliction, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until now, nor shall be; yea, except those days should he shortened, no flesh would be preserved Matt. xxiv 21, 22.
That near or nearness of time is not understood may be seen below (n. 947).
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