Swedenborg and His Mission - A Lecture Delivered Before the Massachusetts Association of the New=jerusalem Church, at Its Session in Boston, April 7, 1859 #255868

The Christian church, forgetful of the lesson which was then taught, has been looking for the literal accomplishment of the prophecy in regard to the second coming of the Lord, wherein it is foretold that he should come in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. Instead of this, he has come as the Divine Truth in his Holy Word. Similar states of mind have led to similar results. The Jews had probably no real belief in a future state, and no higher idea of heaven than of worldly grandeur and prosperity; and, regarding themselves as the Chosen people of God, they expected these from their Messiah. Christians, too, have been looking for his kingdom in this world; not a spiritual kingdom, in which he would descend into their hearts, and reign there; but an earthly kingdom, in which he would appear in person like a prince, when they should enjoy an inconceivable amount of undefined happiness, arbitrarily bestowed upon them in preference to the rest of mankind. Both the first and the second advent of the Lord have now been accomplished, while Jews and Christians stand waiting for the literal fulfilment of the predictions m regard to him, the one for a temporal deliverer, the other for his visi ble appearance in the clouds of heaven.