Editing Swedenborgianism (section)

== Eschatology ==
New Church adherents do not believe in an [[Eschatology|end of the world]]. The church has passed through several ages, each ending with a spiritual [[Last Judgement]]; the last of these occurred in 1757. Judgments also occurred at the time of [[Genesis flood narrative|Noah's Flood]] and Jesus' crucifixion. The purpose of the judgments is to separate good from evil in the intermediate spiritual world lying between heaven and hell. As a result of the judgments, a new age (or new church) begins among the people on earth. The New Church is a result of revelation.<ref>TCR, n. 776.</ref>

Four churches have preceded the New Church. The first was the "Most Ancient Church" before the flood, when contact with heaven was direct. The second was the "Ancient Church", following the flood, which was destroyed by idolatry. The third was Judaism, which began with the revelation of the [[Ten Commandments]] to [[Moses]] on [[Mount Sinai]]. The fourth was Christianity, established by Jesus and his apostles, which divided into the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]], the [[Catholic Church]], and Protestantism.<ref>TCR, n. 760, 786.</ref>

Adherents believe that the New Church, the final phase, is a renewal of Christianity based on Jesus' [[Second Coming]].<ref>TCR, n. 115, 753, 754, 772, 773.</ref> It is the fulfilment of the prophecy of a [[New Jerusalem]] in the [[Book of Revelation]].<ref>TCR, n. 118, 182, 197, 307.</ref> Swedenborg said that the New Church would be established gradually, since the false beliefs of the former churches had to be set aside.<ref>TCR, 784.</ref>