773. The Lord's coming is for the formation of a new heaven from those who have believed in Him, and to inaugurate a new church from those who believe in Him from now on; these are the two purposes in His coming. The purpose of the actual creation of the universe was none other than the formation of a heaven of angels from human beings, one where all who believe in God might live in everlasting blessedness. For the Divine love, which is in God and in essence is God, could have no other aim; nor could the Divine wisdom, which is also in God and is God, produce any other result. It is because the creation of the universe had as its purpose a heaven of angels formed from the human race, and at the same time a church on earth, as the means by which a person may pass into heaven, and because the salvation of people, which depends upon people being born in the world, is thus a continuation of creation, that the Word in many passages speaks of creating, by which is meant forming for heaven; for example, in the following:
Create for me, God, a clean heart, and make new a steadfast spirit within me. Ps. 51:10.
You open your hand, and they are filled with good; you send forth your spirit, and they are created. Ps. 104:28, 30.
The people who are going to be created will praise Jah. Ps. 102:18.
Thus spoke Jehovah your Creator, Jacob, who formed you, Israel. I have redeemed you, I have called you by your* name, you are mine. Everyone who is called by my name, I have created him to my glory. Isa. 43:1, 7.
They were prepared on the day you were created. You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, until perversity was found in you. Ezek. 28:13, 15.
This is said of the king of Tyre. So that they may see, know, attend and understand, that the hand of Jehovah has done this, and the Holy One of Israel has created this. Isa. 41:20.
From these passages it can be clear what create means in the following:
Jehovah creating the heavens and spreading out the earth, giving breath to the people upon it, and spirit to those that walk upon it. Isa. 42:5; 45:12, 18.
Behold, I create a new heaven and a new earth. Rejoice for ever, what I am creating. Behold, I shall make Jerusalem an exultation. Isa. 65:17, 18.
* The Latin has 'my name', but the verse is quoted elsewhere in this form.
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