658. For in them is consummated the anger of God, signifies the devastation of the church and then its end. By "consummation" is signified the devastation of the church and then its end, as will be seen presently; by "the anger of God" is signified evil with men, which, because it is against God, is called the anger of God; not that God is angry with man, but because man, from his evil, is angry with God, and because it appears to man, when he is punished and tormented for it, as is the case after death in hell, as if it were from God, therefore, in the Word, anger and wrath, yea evil, is attributed to God. But this in the sense of the letter only, because this sense is written according to appearances and correspondences, but not in the spiritual sense, for in this latter there is no appearance and correspondence, but truth in its light; concerning that wrath, see above (n. 525, 635). It is said that in those plagues "the anger of God is consummated," and that thereby is signified the devastation of the church and then its end; the reason shall be explained. Every church, in process of time, decreases, by receding from the good of love and the truths of faith, until there is nothing of them left; and this takes place by the successive increase of evil and falsity; and when there is no longer any good of love and faith, then there is nothing but evil and falsity; and when this is the case, there is an end of the church. In this end, man knows no other than that evil is good and falsity truth, for he loves them from the delight he feels in them, and therefore confirms them. [2] This is the end which is signified by "consummation," and is called "devastation," in the following passages:
I have heard a consummation and decision from Jehovah upon the whole earth (Isa. 28:22). The consummation being decreed, justice has overflowed, for the Lord Jehovih of Hosts maketh a consummation and decision in the whole earth (Isa. 10:22-23). In the fire of the zeal of Jehovah shall the whole earth be eaten up, for He shall make a speedy consummation with all the inhabitants of the earth (Zeph. 1:18). At length upon the bird of abominations there shall be desolation, and even to a consummation and decision shall it drop upon the devastation (Dan. 9:27). The whole earth shall be a waste, yet will I not make a consummation (Jer. 4:27). Jehovah said, I will go down, and will see whether they have made a consummation according to the cry which is to come unto me (Gen. 18:21). This is concerning Sodom. The iniquity of the Amorites is not yet consummated (Gen. 15:16). The end of the church is also meant by "the consummation of the age" spoken of by the Lord in these passages:
The disciples asked Jesus, What shall be the sign of Thy coming and of the consummation of the age? (Matt. 24:3). At the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares to burn; gather the wheat into the barn; so shall it be in the consummation of the age (Matt. 13:30, 40). In the consummation of the age, the angels shall go forth, and shall separate the evil from among the just (Matt. 13:49). Jesus said to the disciples, Behold, I am with you until the consummation of the age (Matt. 28:20). "Until the consummation of the age" is until the end of the church, when there is the New Church, with which the Lord will then be.
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