In Volume Three^a an explanation was begun of what the Lord has foretold in Matthew 24 about the Last Judgement. The explanation stands in the preliminary sections to the final chapters of that volume and has been taken as far as Matthew 24:31, see 3353-3356, 3486-3489, 3650-3655, 3897-3901, 4056-4060. The internal sense in brief of all that He foretold is evident from the explanations contained in those paragraphs; that is to say, He foretold the progressive ruination of the Church and the establishment at length of a new Church, in the following order:

1 People ceased to know what good or truth was, and instead began to argue with one another about these.

2 They treated them with contempt.

3 They did not in their hearts acknowledge them.

4 They profaned them.

5 And because the truth of faith and the good of love would continue to exist with some who are called the elect, the state of faith as this will be at that time is described.

6 Then the state of charity as this will be.

7 And finally the beginning of a new Church is dealt with, which is meant by the words which were explained last of all, namely,

And He will send out His angels with a trumpet and a loud voice, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other end of them. Verse 31.

These words are used to mean the beginning of a new Church, see the end of 4060.

Notes