Page:The Doctrines of the New Church Briefly Explained.djvu/112

106 to such as have eyes to see, of the sublime truths of its spiritual sense, and the correspondingly powerful operation of these truths in the renewal of the hearts and lives of men? Hence we may see why this promised second coming was to be "with power and great glory."

But the prophecy assures us that He would be seen coming in or upon the clouds—according to Matthew, "in the clouds of heaven." The term clouds, is not to be literally interpreted here. The science of correspondences reveals to us its true spiritual meaning as used in Scripture. As natural clouds conceal or render obscure the heavenly luminaries, they are, therefore, an appropriate symbol whereby to represent that which causes obscurity in the things of heaven and the church. And such obscurity is one of the consequences of that low mental state in which men are led to accept appearances for realities, and so to abide in the mere sensuous appearance of truth in the letter of Scripture. Thus the truths of the literal sense, as received and understood by the natural man, are what is meant by clouds. And when the deeper heavenly meaning, such as is contained in the spiritual sense of the Word, is disclosed, then the genuine truth is seen in or through the obscurity of the letter. And thus is fulfilled the prophecy of the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven.