Rev, F. Robert Tafel. Pastor Emeritus
Cambridge Swedenborg Chapel
www.swedenborgchapel.org
SUNDAY MORNING FORUM
BIBLE STUDY & SWEDENBORGIAN IDEAS
ADVENT 4: ACCEPTING THE UNEXPECTED
The announcement of the angel Gabriel to Mary surely stands among the most unexpected
news anyone could receive. Yet this announcement corresponds to that of the Lord’s coming into our
affections, represented by Mary. May our response be as hers, “Let it be.”
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The word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying, "Go and tell My servant David, 'Thus
says the Lord: "Would you build a house for Me to dwell in?
Now therefore, thus shall you say to My servant David, 'Thus says the Lord of hosts:
"I took you from the sheepfold, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people, over
Israel. And I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have cut off all your enemies
from before you, and have made you a great name, like the name of the great men who are on
the earth. Moreover I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and will plant them, that they
may dwell in a place of their own and move no more; nor shall the sons of wickedness
oppress them anymore, as previously, since the time that I commanded judges to be over My
people Israel, and have caused you to rest from all your enemies. Also the Lord tells you that
He will make you a house. "When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I
will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his
kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom
forever. I will be his Father, and he shall be My son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten
him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men. But My mercy shall not
depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you. And your house
and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established
forever." ' "
2 Samuel 7:4-5, 8-16
Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named
Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The
virgin's name was Mary. And having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, highly favored
one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!" But when she saw him, she was
troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. Then the angel said
to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will
conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great,
and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His
father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there
will be no end." Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I do not know a man?"
And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power
of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be
called the Son of God. Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her
old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. For with God nothing
will be impossible." Then Mary said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me
according to your word." And the angel departed from her.
Luke 1:26-38
Some quotations from the theological writings of Emanuel Swedenborg:
By 'Michael' is not understood any archangel, nor by 'Gabriel' and 'Raphael', but
ministries in heaven are understood. By 'Gabriel' … is understood the ministry with those
who teach out of the Word that Jehovah has come into the world and that the Human He
acquired there is the Son of God and Divine. For this reason the angel who announced this to
Mary is called 'Gabriel' (Luke i 19, 26-35). Those who are in those ministries are also named
'Michaels' and 'Gabriels' in heaven. That by 'an angel' in the highest sense is understood the
Lord, and in the relative sense the heaven [formed] out of angels, then also the angelic
societies….
Apocalypse Revealed #548
'Throne' is used frequently in the Word when reference is made to Divine Truth and
judgment based on this. In these places 'throne' means in the internal sense that which is the
essence of Divine kingship, and 'the one seated on it' is the Lord Himself acting as King or
Judge. But the exact meaning of 'the throne', as with the meaning of quite a number of other
things, is determined by the context….
Divine Truth as this exists in the lowest heaven, and also as it exists in the Church, is
meant by 'the throne'. Thus the context decides whatever specific meaning 'the throne' may
have. The reason 'the throne' means that which belongs to Divine Truth is that in the Word
'king' means truth, and so too does 'kingdom'. The specific meaning that 'throne' has at any
point in the Word is evident from the train of thought in which it occurs….
In Luke, “He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High; and the Lord will
give Him the throne of David His father (Luke 1:32).” These words were spoken by the angel
to Mary. It is clear to anyone that here 'the throne of David' is not the kingdom which David
possessed; for it is not a kingdom on earth but one in heaven. Nor therefore is David meant
by 'David' but the Lord's Divine kingship, while 'the throne' means Divine Truth that goes
forth and constitutes His kingdom.
Arcana Celestia #5313.2, 4
Jesus is called the Son of God, the Son of Man, and the Son of Mary – and by... the
Son of Mary is properly meant the Human which He assumed.... That by the Son of Mary is
meant what is merely human, is manifestly evident from the generation of men, in that the
soul is from the father, and the body from the mother....
True Christian Religion #92
…The Lord did not acknowledge Mary as his mother, but the Church; and therefore
He called her "Woman," and "the mother" of the disciple.
Conjugal Love #119
That Jesus had been the son of Mary is true; but that He is so still is not true; for by the
acts of Redemption He put off the human from the mother and put on the Human from the
Father ... (As) may be seen from this: that He Himself has never called Mary His mother.
True Christian Religion #102
SC 12 / 24 / 2000
12 / 18 / 2005