750. 'Until God's words shall be consummated' signifies until all the things that have been foretold concerning them have been fulfilled. By 'to be consummated' is signified to be fulfilled; and by 'God's words' are signified the things that have been foretold in the Word; and because it is said 'to be consummated' it signifies until all [have been fulfilled]. This is said of the Protestants, and of the fact that they are going 'to give the kingdom to the beast', that is, that they are going to acknowledge the Word, and the Church is going to be founded upon it, as just above (n. 749). But indeed they acknowledge the Word and say that the Church should be founded upon it; nevertheless they found the doctrine of their Church upon the single saying of Paul, that MAN IS JUSTIFIED BY FAITH ALONE WITHOUT THE WORKS OF THE LAW (Rom. iii 28), understood altogether falsely (n. 417). Because here it is said 'until God's words shall be consummated' it shall also be stated what is signified by these, the Lord's last words to His disciples:-
Going, make all nations disciples, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you all the days even until the consummation of the age, Amen Matt. xxviii 19, 20.
'Even until the consummation of the age' is even until the end of the Church (n. 658); and then if they do not approach the Lord Himself and live in accordance with His precepts, they are left by the Lord; and having been left by the Lord they become like pagans who have no religion. And then the Lord is only with those who will be of His New Church (e nova Ipsius Ecclesia). These things are signified by 'until God's words shall be consummated', and by 'even until the consummation of the age'.
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