99. As a result of the Lord’s becoming also the Word in outmost expressions, the state of the church was entirely changed. The churches prior to the Lord’s advent were all representational churches, and they could see only a shadow of Divine truth. But after the Lord’s advent into the world, a church was established by Him that saw Divine truth in a state of light. The difference is as the difference between evening and morning. The state of the church before His advent is also called evening [in the Word], while the state of the church after His advent is called morning.

Before His advent into the world the Lord was indeed present with people of the church, but indirectly through heaven. But ever since His advent into the world He is present with people of the church directly. For in the world He put on also a natural Divinity in which He is present with people.

The Lord’s glorification is a glorification of His humanity, the humanity He assumed in the world. And the Lord’s glorified humanity is His natural Divinity.

114. Without the Word No One Would Have Any Knowledge of God, of Heaven and Hell, of Life after Death, and Still Less of the Lord

This follows as a general conclusion from everything we have already said and shown: That the Word is Divine truth itself (nos. 1-4). That the Word is the means of conjunction with angels in heaven (nos. 62-69). That the Word throughout contains a marriage of the Lord and the church and so a marriage of goodness and truth (nos. 80-89). That the character of a church is such as its understanding of the Word (nos. 76-79). That the Word exists also in the heavens and is the source from which angels have their wisdom (nos. 70-75). That it is by means of the Word that nations and peoples not in the church have spiritual light (nos. 104-113). And more as well.

One may conclude from this that without the Word no one would have any spiritual intelligence, which consists in having knowledge of God, of heaven and hell, and of life after death. And no one would have any knowledge at all of the Lord, and of faith in and love for Him, thus nothing of redemption, even though it is the means of salvation.

The Lord also says to His disciples, “Without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).

And John [the Baptist] says, “A man can gain nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven” (John 3:27).