101. Before the Current Word in the World Today, There Was a Word That Has Been Lost

Before the Word in the Israelite nation given through Moses and the Prophets, worship employing sacrifices was known, and people prophesied in the name of Jehovah, as can be seen from reports in the books of Moses.

That worship employing sacrifices was known: This can be seen from its being commanded to the children of Israel to overturn the altars of the gentiles, break in pieces their pillars, and cut down their groves (Exodus 34:13, Deuteronomy 7:5, 12:3).

It can be seen from the time when Israel in Shittim began to commit harlotry with the daughters of Moab, that the daughters invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods, and especially that Israel joined itself to Baal-Peor, and Jehovah’s anger was inflamed therefore against Israel (Numbers 25:1-3).

It can also be seen from the altars that Balaam, who came from Syria, caused to be built, and from his sacrificing oxen and flocks (Numbers 22:40, 23:1-2, 14, 29-30).

[2] That people prophesied in the name of Jehovah: This can be seen from the prophecies of Balaam (Numbers 23:7-10, 18-24, 24:3-9, 15-24). His prophesying concerning the Lord, that a Star would arise out of Jacob and a scepter out of Israel (Numbers 24:17). His prophesying in the name of Jehovah (Numbers 22:13, 18, 23:3, 5, 8, 16, 26, 24:1, 13). It is apparent from this that a Divine worship like the worship in the Israelite nation instituted by Moses existed among gentiles.

[3] That such worship existed also before the time of Abram: A glimmer of this is reflected in Moses’ words in Deuteronomy 32:7-8. But it is still more plainly apparent from the action of Melchizedek, king of Salem, who brought out bread and wine and blessed Abram, and from Abram’s giving him tithes of everything (Genesis 14:18-20). Melchizedek, moreover, represented the Lord, for he is called the priest of God Most High (Genesis 14:18). Regarding the Lord, we are also told in the book of Psalms, “You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek” (Psalms 110:4). That is why Melchizedek brought out bread and wine as holy elements of the church, like the holy elements in the sacrament of Holy Supper, and why he could bless Abram, and why Abram gave him tithes of everything.

76. The Church Is Formed by the Word, and Its Character Is Such as Its Understanding of the Word

That the church is formed by the Word is not something to be doubted, for the Word is Divine truth itself (see nos. 1-4). The Word is the source of the church’s doctrine (nos. 50-61). And the Word makes possible a conjunction with the Lord (nos. 62-69).

But that it is an understanding of the Word that forms the church — this may be doubted, since there are people who believe they are part of the church because they possess the Word, read it or hear it from a preacher, and know something of its literal sense. But they do not know how this or that in the Word is to be understood, and some people place little value in it.

We must show here, therefore, that it is not the Word that forms the church, but people’s understanding of it, and that the character of the church is such as the understanding of the Word among the people in the church.

Confirmation of this is as follows: