Apocalypse Revealed # 606
606. 13:17 So that no one can buy or sell if he does not have the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of its name. This symbolically means that no one is allowed to teach from the Word, or consequently to be inaugurated into the priesthood, to be accorded the badge of the teaching office, to be granted the doctor's cap, and called orthodox, but one who acknowledges that doctrine and swears to a belief in it and love for it, and to such as is in conformity with it, or such as does not conflict with it.
To buy and to sell mean, symbolically, to acquire concepts, in this case concepts having to do with that doctrine, and to teach them, as shown below. The mark of the beast symbolizes an acknowledgment that one is a Reformed Christian, and a confession that one is such (no. 605). The name of the beast symbolizes the character of the doctrine, a name symbolizing character (nos. 81, 122, 165, 584), and the beast symbolizing the doctrine accepted by the laity, thus by the general populace (no. 567). Moreover, because the verse says "or the name of the beast," it symbolizes its character or such as is in conformity with it. A number symbolizes the character of a thing (no. 448), and because the verse says "or the number of its name," it symbolizes the character of the doctrine or such as does not conflict with it.
It is stated so, because the doctrine symbolized by the dragon and its beast is not the same throughout the kingdoms in which Reformed Protestants are found, though it is the same in respect to this postulate or principal tenet of the doctrine, that faith justifies and saves apart from works of the law.
[2] That to buy and to sell mean, symbolically, to acquire concepts for oneself and to teach them, and so likewise to market, trade, and make a profit, is clear from the following passages:
Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money... (Isaiah 55:1)
You have sold yourselves for nothing; (therefore) you shall not be redeemed with money. (Isaiah 52:3)
With your wisdom and your understanding you have gained riches for yourself...; by your great wisdom in your trading you have increased your riches... (Ezekiel 28:4-5)
Since Tyre symbolized the church in respect to its concepts of goodness and truth, therefore we are told the following concerning Tyre:
All the ships of the sea... were... to market your merchandise... Tarshish was your trader...(in) silver... Javan, Tubal, and Meshech were your merchants. With human life... they carried on your trading... Syria was your trader... with chrysoprase... Your riches, your wares, and your merchandise..., ...those carrying on your trade..., will fall into the midst of the seas on the day of your ruin. (Ezekiel 27:9, 12-13, 16, 27)
Wail, you ships of Tarshish! For (Tyre) is laid waste..., whose merchants are princes, and whose traders are the honored of the earth? (Isaiah 23:1-8)
Trading has the same meaning in the Lord's parable about a man traveling to a far country, who gave his servants talents to trade with and make a profit (Matthew 25:14-30). In another parable about a man who gave his servants ten minas for them to do business with (Luke 19:12-26). In the parable regarding a treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid, who sold all that he had and bought the field (Matthew 13:44). And in the one about a man seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one precious one, sold all that he had and bought it (Matthew 13:45-46).
Such have they become..., your merchants from your youth; they shall wander each one from his region, not saving you. (Isaiah 47:15)
And so on elsewhere.
耶利米书 8
1
耶和华说:到那时,人必将犹大王的骸骨和他首领的骸骨、祭司的骸骨、先知的骸骨,并耶路撒冷居民的骸骨,都从坟墓中取出来,
2
抛散在日头、月亮,和天上众星之下,就是他们从前所喜爱、所事奉、所随从、所求问、所敬拜的。这些骸骨不再收殓,不再葬埋,必在地面上成为粪土;
3
并且这恶族所剩下的民在我所赶他们到的各处,宁可拣死不拣生。这是万军之耶和华说的。
4
你要对他们说,耶和华如此说:人跌倒,不再起来麽?人转去,不再转来麽?
5
这耶路撒冷的民,为何恒久背道呢?他们守定诡诈,不肯回头。
6
我留心听,听见他们说不正直的话。无人悔改恶行,说:我做的是甚麽呢?他们各人转奔己路,如马直闯战场。
7
空中的鹳鸟知道来去的定期;斑鸠燕子与白鹤也守候当来的时令;我的百姓却不知道耶和华的法则。
8
你们怎麽说:我们有智慧,耶和华的律法在我们这里?看哪,文士的假笔舞弄虚假。
9
智慧人惭愧,惊惶,被擒拿;他们弃掉耶和华的话,心里还有甚麽智慧呢?
10
所以我必将他们的妻子给别人,将他们的田地给别人为业;因为他们从最小的到至大的都一味地贪婪,从先知到祭司都行事虚谎。
11
他们轻轻忽忽地医治我百姓的损伤,说:平安了!平安了!其实没有平安。
12
他们行可憎的事知道惭愧麽?不然,他们毫不惭愧,也不知羞耻。因此他们必在仆倒的人中仆倒;我向他们讨罪的时候,他们必致跌倒。这是耶和华说的。
13
耶和华说:我必使他们全然灭绝;葡萄树上必没有葡萄,无花果树上必没有果子,叶子也必枯乾。我所赐给他们的,必离开他们过去。
14
我们为何静坐不动呢?我们当聚集,进入坚固城,在那里静默不言;因为耶和华─我们的神使我们静默不言,又将苦胆水给我们喝,都因我们得罪了耶和华。
15
我们指望平安,却得不着好处;指望痊愈的时候,不料,受了惊惶。
16
听见从但那里敌人的马喷鼻气,他的壮马发嘶声,全地就都震动;因为他们来吞灭这地和其上所有的,吞灭这城与其中的居民。
17
看哪,我必使毒蛇到你们中间,是不服法术的,必咬你们。这是耶和华说的。
19
听啊,是我百姓的哀声从极远之地而来,说:耶和华不在锡安麽?锡安的王不在其中麽?耶和华说:他们为甚麽以雕刻的偶像和外邦虚无的神惹我发怒呢?
21
先知说:因我百姓的损伤,我也受了损伤。我哀痛,惊惶将我抓住。
22
在基列岂没有乳香呢?在那着岂没有医生呢?我百姓为何不得痊愈呢?