First Week of Advent: The Coming Kingdom of God

Candle of Hope   “Prophecy”

1st Day of Advent            Sunday Nov 27

Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established on the top of the mountains, And shall be exalted above the hills; And all nations shall flow to it. For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. Isaiah 2:2-53

By the ‘kingdom of God’ in the universal sense, is meant the universal Heaven; in a sense less universal, the true Church of the Lord; in a particular one, everyone who is of true faith, or has been regenerated through the life of faith; and therefore are called heaven... and also, ‘the kingdom of God,’ because the kingdom of God is in them, as the Lord teaches in ... ‘the kingdom of God comes not with observation for behold the kingdom of God is within you’ (Luke 17:20-21).

Arcana Celestia #29.2

2nd Day of Advent            Monday Nov 28

They shall beat their swords into plowshares, And their spears into pruning hooks; Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, Neither shall they learn way any more. Isaiah 2:4

The situation with the Lord’s spiritual Church is that it is spread throughout the whole world, and wherever it exists varies so far as matters of belief or truths of faith are concerned. The same applies to the Lord’s spiritual kingdom in the heavens -- that is to say, in matters of faith, variety is so great that not one community, not even one member of a community, is in complete agreement with any other in the things which constitute the truths of faith. But for all that, the Lord’s spiritual kingdom in the heavens is one, the reason being that with everyone charity is the chief thing….  Arcana Celestia #3267

 

3rd Day of Advent            Tuesday Nov 29

But of that day and hour no one knows, no, not even the angels of heaven, but My father only. But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.  Matthew 24:36-37

When the end of the church is at hand the Word is opened and a new church established. This is meant also by the Lord's coming; for the Lord is the Word, wherefore when the Word is opened the Lord appears. That the Word was opened when the Lord came into the world is known; … it has now also been opened by the revelation of its spiritual sense….           

Apocalypse Explained #612

 

4th Day of Advent            Wednesday Dec 30

For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.

Matthew 24:38-39

Members of the Church at that time will not know that they have been swamped by evils and falsities because, on account of the evils and falsities in which they are immersed, they will have no knowledge of what the good of love to the Lord is and what the good of charity toward the neighbor is, nor also what the truth of faith is. Nor will they know that such truth originates in those forms of good and that it cannot exist except with people who lead lives filled with such love and charity, in addition to which they will have no knowledge of the fact that what is internal saves or condemns, not what is external separated from internal.  Arcana Celestia #4334.6

 

5th Day of Advent            Thursday Dec 1                    

Watch, therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not expect Him.  Matthew 24:42-44

Be watchful, signifies that they should be in truths and in a life according to them. By "watching," in the Word, nothing else is signified; for one who learns truths and lives according to them, is like one who is awakened out of sleep and becomes watchful. But one who is not in truths, but only in worship, is like one who sleeps and dreams. Natural life, considered in itself, or without spiritual life, is nothing else but sleep; but natural life, in which there is spiritual life, is watchfulness; and this cannot be acquired otherwise than by truths, which are in their own light and in their own day, when one is in the life according to them.   Apocalypse Revealed #158

 

6th Day of Advent            Friday            Dec 2

And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring…. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because you redemption draws near.   Luke 21:25, 27-28

 

The Lord’s coming is for the formation of a new heaven from those who have believed in Him, and to inaugurate a new church from those who believe in Him.... The purpose of the actual creation of the universe was none other than the formation of a heaven of angels from human beings, one where all who believe in God might live in everlasting blessedness.

True Christian Religion #773

 

7th Day of Advent            Saturday Dec 3

“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.” He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

Revelation 22:12, 14, 16, 20,

The Lord is perpetually present with every person, wicked as well as good, for no one could live without His presence. But His coming is restricted to those who receive Him, and these are those who believe in Him and keep His commandments.

It is the Lord's perpetual presence that gives a person the faculty of reason and the ability to become spiritual. The Lord's coming, however, takes place with the person who combines heat with that light, that is, combines love with truth. For the heat radiated by that same sun is love for God and towards the neighbor.  True Christian Religion #774