GENESIS

original: prædicitur, quæ fuit destructio Hierosolymæ...
The destruction of Jerusalem and the scattering of the Jewish nation (among whom the Church then resided) throughout the entire world was predicted. The fourth "consummation" term: consummation; meaning the completion or end of a specific spiritual era is that of today's Christian Church, which was predicted by the Lord in the Gospels and also by John in the Book of Revelation, and which is now imminent.

4058. In the preceding parts of this chapter in Matthew, the subject was the successive devastation of the Church:
1. First, people would begin to lose the knowledge of what is good and true, instead arguing about them.
2. Second, they would treat those truths with contempt.
3. Third, they would fail to acknowledge them in their hearts.
4. Fourth, they would profane them.

These stages were discussed in that chapter from verses 3 to 22. Because the truth of faith and the good of charity term: charity; in this context, it refers to spiritual love and goodwill toward others would still remain in the midst of these events—specifically among those called "the elect"—the text from verses 23 to 28 deals with the state of the truth of faith as it will then exist. The verses currently being cited deal with the state of "good" (which is charity and love), as well as the beginning of a new Church.

4059. From every detail mentioned in these verses, it is clearly evident that there is an internal sense term: internal sense; the mystical or spiritual meaning hidden beneath the literal words of Scripture. Without understanding this sense, it is impossible to know what these prophecies involve—such as the sun being darkened, the moon losing its light, the stars falling from heaven, and the powers of the heavens being shaken. One might also wonder about the Lord appearing in the clouds of heaven and angels sounding a trumpet to gather the elect.

Anyone who does not know the internal sense of these words will believe that such physical events will occur; indeed, they might believe the world is going to perish along with everything visible in the universe. However, that the "Last Judgment" does not mean the physical destruction of the world, but rather the consummation or devastation of the Church regarding charity and faith, can be seen in entry number 3353. This is also clearly evident from the words that follow in the same chapter of Matthew: "Then two will be in the field; one will be taken, and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken, and the other left" (Verses 40, 41).

4060. Therefore, the state of the Church at that time regarding "good"—that is, regarding charity toward one's neighbor and love for the Lord—is signified by those words. The phrase, "Immediately after the tribulation of those days," signifies the state of the Church regarding the truth of faith, which was discussed just before. In the Word term: the Word; the Bible or Divine revelation, the desolation of truth is frequently called "tribulation" or "affliction." That "days" signify states of being can be seen in entries 23, 487, 488, 493, 893, 2788, 3462, and 3785.

From this, it is clear that these words mean that after there is no longer any faith, there will be no charity. For faith leads to charity because it teaches what charity is; charity receives its specific quality from the truths of faith, while the truths of faith receive their essence and their life from charity, as shown in the [following] parts...