683# “说，世上的国成了我们主和主基督的”表示当恶人与善人分离，从主发出的神性良善和神性真理被清晰接受时，天上和地上的一切事物都服从主。这从“世上的国”、“主和主基督”的含义清楚可知：当成了主的时，“世上的国”是指从主发出的神性以爱和信被接受(对此，我们很快就会谈到)；“主和主基督”是指神性之爱的神性良善和从这爱发出的神性真理方面的主。下文会看到，主凭神性良善而被称为“主”，凭神性真理而被称为“基督”。
“主的国”表示对神性良善和神性真理的接受，因而在那些接受的人那里，这一点可从以下事实清楚看出来：主通过从祂发出、通常被称为神性良善和神性真理之物，同样通过公义和公平，以及爱和信在天堂天使和教会之人中间掌权。主正是通过这些掌权；因此，严格来说，它们才是主在那些接受它们之人那里的国。当这些在天使和世人那里掌权时，就是主自己掌权，因为从祂发出的事物就是祂自己。天堂里的主正是发出的神性。
诚然，主不仅掌管那些接受来自祂的属天和属灵的神性事物的人，还掌管那些不接受的人，如地狱里的所有人；然而，不能说主的国在地狱，因为那里的人完全不愿意被发出的神性并照其秩序的律法管理；事实上，他们否认主，转身离开祂；然而，主仍掌管他们，但不是作为祂国度的臣民和公民，而是作为顽固和叛逆的人来掌管，约束他们，好使他们不互相行恶，尤其不向那些属于主国度的人行恶。
主的国就是从祂发出并被接受之物，这一点可从圣言中提到主国的经文清楚看出来，如在主祷文：
愿你的国降临；愿你的旨意行在地上，如同行在天上。(马太福音6:10)
此处“国”明显表示对从主发出的神性良善和神性真理的接受，主在神性良善和神性真理中与天堂天使和教会之人在一起，因为经上补充说“愿你的旨意行在地上，如同行在天上”，当这些以内心和灵魂，也就是以爱和信被接受时，神的旨意就成就了。
在别处：
你们要先求天国和祂的义，这一切都要加给你们了。(马太福音6:33)
“天国”在灵义上表示神性真理，“义”表示神性良善，故经上说：“你们要先求天国和祂的义。”但在至高意义上，“天国”表示主，因为祂是其国度的全部，“义”在至高意义上表示主的功德。由于被主掌管的人只渴望和热爱诸如属于主的那类事物，所以在他自己不知道的情况下，他永远被引向幸福；这就是为何经上说“这一切都要加给他了”，意思是，倾向于拯救他的一切，都必照着他的心愿成就。
由于天堂凭对来自主的神性真理的接受而为天堂，教会同样如此，所以在一般意义上，天堂和教会由“神的国”和“天国”来表示；因此，在马太福音，那些接受神性真理的人被主称为“天国之子”：
田地就是世界，种就是天国之子，稗子就是那恶者之子。(马太福音13:38)
很明显，“天国之子”表示那些接受神性真理的人，因为经上说“种就是天国之子，稗子就是那恶者之子”，“种”表示神性真理，“稗子”表示地狱的虚假；这些人被称为“(儿)子”，是因为就圣言的灵义而言，“儿子”表示真理，在反面意义上表示虚假(参看AE 166节)。
此外，“神的国”表示来自良善的真理方面的教会，以及天堂(可参看AE 48节)；在人那里的“神的国”表示从主处于来自良善的真理，因而处于智慧，随之处于抵制虚假和邪恶的能力；因此，“掌权”唯独属于主(也可参看AE 333节)。
683. Saying, The kingdoms of the world, are become our Lord's and His Christ's.- That this signifies all things in the heavens and on earth subject to the Lord, when the evil have been separated from the good, and that then the Divine Good and the Divine Truth proceeding from the Lord are clearly received, is evident from the signification of the kingdoms of the world when they have become the Lord's, as denoting that the proceeding Divine from the Lord is received in love and faith, concerning which we shall speak presently; and from the signification of the Lord and His Christ, as denoting the Lord as to the Divine Good of Divine Love, and as to the Divine Truth proceeding from that love. That the Lord is called Lord from Divine Good, and Christ from Divine Truth, will be seen below.
[2] That the kingdom of the Lord means the reception of Divine Good and Divine Truth, that is, with those who receive, is evident from this fact, that the Lord reigns with the angels of heaven, and with the men of the church by means of that which proceeds from Him, which is commonly called Divine Good and Divine Truth, also justice and judgment, as well as love and faith. It is by means of these that the Lord reigns; they are therefore strictly the kingdom of the Lord with those who receive them. For when these reign with angels and men then the Lord Himself reigns, because those things which proceed from Him are Himself. The Lord in heaven is nothing else than the proceeding Divine.
[3] The Lord, indeed, not only rules those who receive celestial and spiritual Divine things from Him, but also those who do not receive, as all those who are in hell; yet it cannot be said that the kingdom of the Lord is there, since they are utterly unwilling to be governed by the proceeding Divine, and according to the laws of its order; in fact, they deny the Lord, and turn themselves away from Him; but still the Lord does rule them, not as the subjects and citizens of His kingdom, but as those who are refractory and rebellious, holding them under restraints in order that they may not do evil to one another, and especially to those who belong to His kingdom.
[4] That the Lord's kingdom is that which proceeds from Him, and is received, is evident from passages in the Word where the kingdom of God is mentioned, as in the Lord's Prayer:
"Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, as in heaven, so also upon the earth" (Matthew 6:10).
That kingdom there means the reception of the Divine Good and Divine Truth which proceed from the Lord, and in which the Lord is with the angels of heaven and with men of the church, is evident, for it is said, "Thy will be done, as in heaven, so also upon the earth," and the will of God is done when those things are received in the heart and soul, that is, in love and faith.
[5] And elsewhere:
"Seek ye first the kingdom of the heavens and the justice thereof, then all things shall be added to you" (Matthew 6:33).
The kingdom of the heavens, in the spiritual sense, means the Divine Truth, and justice the Divine Good, therefore it is said, Seek ye first the kingdom of the heavens and the justice thereof. And, in the highest sense, the kingdom of the heavens means the Lord, since He is the all of His kingdom, and justice, in the same sense, signifies the Lord's merit; and because man, who is ruled by the Lord, desires and loves only those things that are of the Lord, he is, unknown to himself, for ever led to felicities; for this reason it is said, "all things shall be added to him," which means, that all things tending to salvation shall come to pass according to his desire.
[6] Since heaven is heaven from the reception of Divine Truth from the Lord, and similarly the church, so heaven and the church are meant in a general sense by the kingdom of God, and by the kingdom of the heavens; therefore those who receive Divine Truth, are called by the Lord "sons of the kingdom," in Matthew:
"The field is the world, the seed are the sons of the kingdom, the tares are the sons of the evil (mali)" (166).
[7] Moreover, that the kingdom of God signifies the church as to truths from good, and also heaven, may also be seen above (n. 48); and that the kingdom of God with man signifies to be in truths from good from the Lord, consequently to be in wisdom, and thence in the power of resisting falsities and evils, and thus that to reign is of the Lord alone, may also be seen above (n. 333).
683. Saying, The kingdoms of the world are become our Lord's and His Christ's, signifies all things in the heavens and on earth subject to the Lord, when the evil have been separated from the good, and that then the Divine good and Divine truth proceeding from the Lord are clearly received. This is evident from the signification of "the kingdoms of the world when they have become the Lord's," as being that the Divine proceeding from the Lord is received in love and faith (of which presently); also from the signification of "the Lord and His Christ," as being the Lord in relation to the Divine good of the Divine love, and in relation to the Divine truth proceeding from that love. That the Lord is called "Lord" from Divine good, and "Christ" from Divine truth, will be seen below.
[2] That "the kingdom of the Lord" means the reception of Divine good and Divine truth, thus with those who receive, can be seen from this, that with the angels of heaven and with the men of the church the Lord reigns through that which proceeds from Him, which is commonly called Divine good and Divine truth, likewise justice and judgment, also love and faith. It is through these that the Lord reigns, consequently these are strictly the Lord's kingdom with those who receive them; for when these reign with angels and men then the Lord Himself reigns, for the things that proceed from Him are Himself. The Lord in heaven is no other than the Divine proceeding.
[3] The Lord indeed not only rules those that receive Divine celestial and spiritual things from Him, but also those that do not receive, as all who are in hell; still it cannot be said that the Lord's kingdom is in hell, since those there are altogether unwilling to be ruled by the Divine that proceeds and according to the laws of its order; they even deny the Lord and turn themselves away from Him; yet the Lord does rule them, not like subjects and citizens of His kingdom, but like those who are refractory and rebellious, holding them in bonds that they may not do evil to one another, and especially to those who belong to His kingdom.
[4] That the Lord's kingdom is that which proceeds from Him and is received can be seen from passages in the Word where "the kingdom of God" is mentioned, as in the Lord's Prayer:
Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done, as in heaven so also upon the earth (Matthew 6:10).
"Kingdom" evidently means here the reception of Divine good and Divine truth proceeding from the Lord, and in which the Lord is with the angels of heaven and the men of the church, for it is added, "Thy will be done, as in heaven so also upon the earth," and the will of God is done when these are received in heart and soul, that is, in love and faith.
[5] And elsewhere:
Seek ye first the kingdom of the heavens 1and His righteousness and all things shall be added to you (Matthew 6:33).
"The kingdom of the heavens" means in the spiritual sense Divine truth, and "righteousness" Divine good, therefore it is said, "Seek ye first the kingdom of the heavens and His righteousness." But in the highest sense "the kingdom of the heavens" means the Lord, since He is the all of His kingdom, and in the same sense "righteousness" signifies the Lord's merit. And as a man who is ruled by the Lord desires and loves only such things as are of the Lord, he is, unknown to himself, forever led to felicities; and this is why it is said that "all things shall be added to him," meaning that all things that tend to his salvation shall come to pass according to his desire.
[6] Since heaven is heaven from the reception of Divine truth from the Lord, likewise the church, so in a general sense heaven and the church are meant by "the kingdom of God" and "the kingdom of the heavens;" therefore those who receive Divine truth are called by the Lord "sons of the kingdom," in Matthew:
The field is the world, the seed are the sons of the kingdom, the tares are the sons of the evil one (166).
[7] Moreover, "the kingdom of God" signifies the church in respect to truths from good, and also heaven (as may be seen above, n. 48; and "the kingdom of God" with man signifies to be in truths from good from the Lord, thus in wisdom, and consequently in the power to resist falsities and evils, therefore "to reign" belongs to the Lord alone (See also above, n. 333.
Footnotes:
1. The Greek has "God," as found also in AC (first sentence = motto); 5449; Heaven and Hell 64.
683. "Dicentes, Facta sunt regna mundi Domini nostri et Christi Ipsius." - Quod significet omnia in caelis et in terris subjecta Domino, quando separati sunt mali a bonis, et quod tunc Divinum Bonum ac Divinum Verum procedens a Domino clare recipiatur, constat ex significatione "regnorum mundi", cum facta sunt Domini, quod sit quod recipiatur Divinum procedens a Domino amore et fide (de qua sequitur); et ex significatione "Domini et Christi Ipsius", quod sit Dominus quoad Divinum Bonum Divini Amoris, et quoad Divinum Verum ex illo Amore procedens; quod Dominus dicatur "Dominus" ex Divino Bono, ac "Christus" ex Divino Vero, videbitur infra.
[2] Quod "regnum Domini" sit receptio Divini Boni ac Divini Veri, ita apud illos qui recipiunt, constare potest ex eo, quod Dominus apud angelos caeli et apud homines ecclesiae regnet per id quod procedit ab Ipso, quod communiter vocatur Divinum Bonum ac Divinum Verum, tum justitia et judicium, et quoque amor et fides: haec sunt per quae Dominus regnat; proinde illa sunt proprie regnum Domini apud illos qui recipiunt; nam cum illa regnant apud angelos et homines tunc Ipse Dominus regnat, quae enim procedunt ab Ipso sunt Ipse; Dominus in caelo non aliud est quam Divinum procedens.
[3] Dominus quidem non modo regit illos qui recipiunt Divina caelestia et spiritualia ab Ipso, sed etiam illos qui non recipiunt, sicut omnes in inferno; sed usque non dici potest quod ibi sit regnum Domini, quoniam prorsus nolunt regi ex Divino quod procedit, et secundum ejus ordinis leges; immo negant Dominum, et se avertunt ab Ipso; at usque Dominus regit illos, non sicut regni sui subditos et cives, sed sicut refractarios et rebelles, tenendo in vinculis ne malum faciant sibi mutuo, ac imprimis illis qui e regno Ipsius sunt.
[4] Quod illud sit regnum Domini quod procedit ab Ipso et recipitur, constare potest a locis in Verbo ubi "regnum Dei" dicitur: ut in Oratione Domini,
"Adveniat regnum tuum, fiat voluntas tua, sicut in caelo etiam in terra" (Matthaeus 6:10):
quod ibi per "regnum" intelligatur receptio Divini Boni ac Divini Veri, quae procedunt a Domino, et in quibus est Dominus apud angelos caeli et apud homines ecclesiae, patet; nam sequitur, "Fiat voluntas tua sicut in caelo etiam in terra"; voluntas Dei fit cum illa recipiuntur corde et anima, hoc est, amore et fide.
[5] Et alibi,
"Quaerite primo regnum 1
caelorum et ejus justitiam, tunc..omnia adjicientur vobis" (Matthaeus 6:33):
per "regnum caelorum" in spirituali sensu intelligitur Divinum Verum, et per "justitiam" Divinum Bonum; quare dicitur, "Quaerite primo regnum caelorum et ejus justitiam"; et in supremo sensu per "regnum caelorum" intelligitur Dominus, quoniam Ipse est omne sui regni, et per "justitiam" in eodem sensu significatur meritum Domini: et quia homo, qui regitur a Domino, non vult et amat nisi quae Domini sunt, ducitur ipso nesciente ad felicia in aeternum; ideo dicitur quod "omnia adjicientur illi", per quod intelligitur quod omnia ad salutem illius optato evenient.
[6] Quoniam caelum est caelum ex receptione Divini Veri a Domino, similiter ecclesia, ideo caelum et ecclesia in communi sensu intelligitur per "regnum Dei" et per "regnum caelorum": quare illi qui recipiunt Divinum Verum vocantur a Domino "filii regni", apud Matthaeum,
"Ager est mundus, semen. .sunt filii regni, zizania sunt filii mali" (13:38):
quod recipientes Divini Veri intelligantur per "filios regni patet, nam dicitur "Semen sunt filii regni, et zizania sunt filii mali"; per "semen" intelligitur Divinum Verum, et per "zizania" falsum infernale; et vocantur "filii", quia "filii" in Verbi sensu spirituali significant vera, ac in opposito sensu falsa, videatur supra (n. 166).
[7] Praeterea quod "regnum Dei" significet ecclesiam quoad vera ex bono, et quoque caelum, videatur etiam supra (n. 48): et quod "regnum Dei apud hominem" significet in veris ex bono esse a Domino, ita in sapientia, et inde in potentia resistendi falsis et malis, et sic quod "regnare" sit solius Domini, etiam supra (n. 333).
Footnotes:
1. The editors made a correction or note here.