him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of Jehovah; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” Now John the Baptist was the harbinger or forerunner of the Messiah, and was sent to prepare his way. This is admitted by all who profess the Christian religion. Indeed it is distinctly asserted by all of the Evangelists, who each apply this prophecy to John. Thus it is said in Mat. 3; 1, 2, 3, “In those days came John the Baptist preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare ye the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.” Now this is the same as if John had said, “Jesus Christ, who is coming after me with a fire baptism, is Jehovah. I am sent to prepare the way for Him to make his paths straight. And this is what the prophet refers to when he says, The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, ‘Prepare ye the way of Jehovah; make straight in the desert a high-way for our God.’”
What can be more conclusive than this in proof of the doctrine of the New Church, that Jesus Christ and Jehovah are identically the same Divine Person?
Concerning the Lord's advent, we read again in the prophecy of Is. 15: 9, “It shall be said in
