2444. 'Jehovah rained on Sodom and on Gomorrah brimstone and fire' means the hell of those governed by the evils of self-love, and by falsities deriving from these. This is clear from the meaning of 'raining on' as to be condemned, of 'brimstone' as the hell of the evils of self-love, and of 'fire' as the hell of falsities deriving from these, dealt with in the paragraphs that follow this; and also from the meaning of 'Sodom' as evil that stems from self-love, and of 'Gomorrah' as falsity deriving from this evil, dealt with in 2220, 2246, 2322. Here 'Gomorrah' as well is mentioned; no previous mention of it has been made in this chapter for the reason that 'Gomorrah' means falsity, which is the product of the evil of self-love. For inside the Church, whose final period or judgement is the subject at this point, this is the evil which in the main acts against good, and falsity deriving from evil which acts against truth. These two are joined together in such a way that anybody who is subject to the one is subject to the other, and indeed in a like ratio and to a like degree. It does indeed seem to be other than this, but the reality reveals itself in the next life if not in this world. Regarding the nature of self-love, and how great the evils are which arise from it, and that the hells have their origin in it, see 693, 694, 760, 1307, 1308, 1321, 1594, 1691, 2041, 2045, 2051, 2057, 2219.

1308. 'And let us make a name for ourselves' means that as a result they might gain a reputation for power. This becomes clear from the meaning of 'making a name for oneself' Indeed they know that everybody wishes to engage in worship of some kind, for that wish is common, existing even with every gentile. When anyone considers the universe' even more someone who considers the order of it, he acknowledges some supreme Being. And because he seeks his own welfare he offers that supreme Being his adoration. Furthermore there is something within which dictates this, for such an idea flows in from the Lord through the angels present with every individual. Anyone with whom this is not the case is under the control of spirits from hell, and does not acknowledge God. Because those who build towers of Babel know this they use matters of doctrine and holy things to make a name for themselves. Without that they could not be worshipped, which is the meaning of the statement coming next about their otherwise being scattered over the face ¹ of the whole earth, that is, receiving no recognition. From this it also follows that the higher such people are able to rear their heads up into heaven, the more they make a name for themselves. Their dominion is greatest with people who have some conscience, for these they lead wherever they like. But those who have no conscience they govern by various external bonds.

Poznámky pod čarou: