Letters To The Editors
Letters may be sent to the Editors of New Church Life at Box 743 , Bryn Athyn , PA 19009 or e-mailed to Bruce . Henderson @ newchurch . org .
Response to “ Finding the Humanity In Judas Iscariot ”
To The Editors :
I was fascinated by the Rev . Christopher Barber ’ s article on Judas Iscariot . ( New Church Life , May / June , 2017 ) Thank you , Chris ! What I am supplying in no way implies any critique , but I did notice the absence of Arcana Coelestia 4751 , which has featured in many articles on Judas in these pages , including two of my own : New Church Life March , 1988 , page 95 , and March 2009 , page 111 , the latter dealing entirely with the Lord governing His own states .
The Lord has self-control over His own glorification , unlike any of us in regeneration . So when the Lord finally told Judas , “ What you do , do it quickly ” ( John 13:29 ) it involved the Lord ’ s own glorification , and also establishing the Christian Church .
Arcana Coelestia 4751 points out that “ Judas also , in that he sold the Lord , the like is represented here by Judah who said , ‘ Come , let us sell Joseph .’” If we then follow the story of Joseph being sold to the Ishmaelites , but it was to the Midianite states , this reveals the spiritual stages in between the Church as it was with Israel and such as it was to be . That means the Christian Church , finally the True or New Christian Church , which is “ true Christianity now for the first time beginning to dawn .” ( True Christian Religion 700 )
It turns out each true church , the Most Ancient , Ancient , Israelite , Christian and New ( as In Nebuchadnezzar ’ s dream image ), has been identical as to internals , differing only as to externals . “[ Here is ] . . . a comparison with the good and truth of the Ancient and the Primitive [ Christian ] Churches . . . . When the external of the Ancient and Jewish Churches are unfolded or unwrapped , the Christian Church is disclosed . This is meant by the veil of the temple being rent asunder .” ( Arcana Coelestia 4772 )
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