Apocalypse Explained # 1043
1043. And inwrought with gold and precious stone, signifies the appearance of that religious persuasion in externals as if it were from spiritual good and truth, and yet in internals it is from infernal evil and falsity. This is evident from the signification of "gold," as being spiritual good and the evil opposite thereto, which is called infernal evil. That "gold" signifies good may be seen above n. 242. Also from the signification of "precious stone," as being both truth from a spiritual origin and the falsity opposite thereto, which is called infernal falsity. That "precious stone" means truth from a spiritual origin may be seen above (n. 717).
(Continuation. )
[2] Something has been said about good and truth from a celestial origin, and good and truth from a spiritual origin; and something shall now be said about the evil and falsity that are opposite to these. As the heavens are divided into two kingdoms, namely, into a celestial kingdom and a spiritual kingdom, so are the hells divided into two dominions opposite to those kingdoms. The dominion opposite to the celestial kingdom is called devilish, and the dominion opposite to the spiritual kingdom is called infernal. These dominions are distinguished in the Word by the names Devil and Satan. There are two dominions in the hells, because the heavens and the hells are opposite to each other; and opposite must fully correspond to opposite that there may be equilibrium. For the existence and subsistence of all things, both in the natural world and in the spiritual world, depend upon an exact equilibrium between two activities that are opposite; and when these act against each other manifestly, they act by forces, but when not manifestly they act by endeavors [conatus]. By means of equilibriums all things in both worlds are preserved; without this all things would perish. In the spiritual world the equilibrium is between good from heaven and evil from hell; and thus between truth from heaven and falsity from hell. For the Lord continually arranges that all kinds and species of good and truth in the heavens shall have opposite to them in the hells evils and falsities of kinds that correspond by opposition; thus goods and truths from a celestial origin have for their opposites evils and falsities that are called devilish; and in like manner goods and truths from a spiritual origin have for their opposites evils and falsities that are called infernal.
[3] The cause of these equilibriums is to be found in the fact that the Divine goods and the Divine truths that the angels in the heavens receive from the Lord, the spirits in the hells turn into evils and falsities. All angels, spirits, and men are kept by the Lord in equilibrium between good and evil, and thus between truth and falsity, in order that they may be in freedom; and thus may be led from evil to good and from falsity to truth easily and as if by themselves, although in fact they are led by the Lord. For the same reason they are led in freedom from good to evil, and from truth to falsity, and this, too, as if by themselves, although the leading is from hell.
耶利米书 2
2
你去向耶路撒冷人的耳中喊叫说,耶和华如此说:你幼年的恩爱,婚姻的爱情,你怎样在旷野,在未曾耕种之地跟随我,我都记得。
3
那时以色列归耶和华为圣,作为土产初熟的果子;凡吞吃他的必算为有罪,灾祸必临到他们。这是耶和华说的。
5
耶和华如此说:你们的列祖见我有甚麽不义,竟远离我,随从虚无的神,自己成为虚妄的呢?
6
他们也不说:那领我们从埃及地上来,引导我们经过旷野,沙漠有深坑之地,和乾旱死荫、无人经过、无人居住之地的耶和华在哪里呢?
7
我领你们进入肥美之地,使你们得吃其中的果子和美物;但你们进入的时候就玷污我的地,使我的产业成为可憎的。
8
祭司都不说,耶和华在哪里呢?传讲律法的都不认识我。官长违背我;先知藉巴力说预言,随从无益的神。
10
你们且过到基提海岛去察看,打发人往基达去留心查考,看曾有这样的事没有。
11
岂有一国换了他的神吗?其实这不是神!但我的百姓将他们的荣耀换了那无益的神。
12
诸天哪,要因此惊奇,极其恐慌,甚为凄凉!这是耶和华说的。
13
因为我的百姓做了两件恶事,就是离弃我这活水的泉源,为自己凿出池子,是破裂不能存水的池子。
15
少壮狮子向他咆哮,大声吼叫,使他的地荒凉;城邑也都焚烧,无人居住。
16
挪弗人和答比匿人也打破你的头顶。
17
这事临到你身上,不是你自招的吗?不是因耶和华─你神引你行路的时候,你离弃他吗?
18
现今你为何在埃及路上要喝西曷的水呢?你为何在亚述路上要喝大河的水呢?
19
你自己的恶必惩治你;你背道的事必责备你。由此可知可见,你离弃耶和华─你的神,不存敬畏我的心,乃为恶事,为苦事。这是主─万军之耶和华说的。
20
我在古时折断你的轭,解开你的绳索。你说:我必不事奉耶和华;因为你在各高冈上、各青翠树下屈身行淫(或译:我在古时折断你的轭,解开你的绳索,你就说:我必不事奉别神。谁知你在各高冈上、各青翠树下仍屈身行淫)。
21
然而,我栽你是上等的葡萄树,全然是真种子;你怎麽向我变为外邦葡萄树的坏枝子呢?
22
你虽用硷、多用肥皂洗濯,你罪孽的痕迹仍然在我面前显出。这是主耶和华说的。
23
你怎能说:我没有玷污、没有随从众巴力?你看你谷中的路,就知道你所行的如何。你是快行的独峰驼,狂奔乱走。
24
你是野驴惯在旷野,欲心发动就吸风,起性的时候,谁能使他转去呢?
25
我说:你不要使脚上无鞋,喉咙乾渴。你倒说:这是枉然。我喜爱别神,我必随从他们。
26
贼被捉拿,怎样羞愧,]以色列家和他们的君王、首领、祭司、先知也都照样羞愧。
27
他们向木头说:你是我的父;向石头说:你是生我的。他们以背向我,不以面向我;及至遭遇患难的时候却说:起来拯救我们。
28
你为自己做的神在哪里呢?你遭遇患难的时候,叫他们起来拯救你罢!犹大啊,你神的数目与你城的数目相等。
30
我责打你们的儿女是徒然的,他们不受惩治。你们自己的刀吞灭你们的先知,好像残害的狮子。
31
这世代的人哪,你们要看明耶和华的话。我岂向以色列作旷野呢?或作幽暗之地呢?我的百姓为何说:我们脱离约束,再不归向你了?
32
处女岂能忘记他的妆饰呢?新妇岂能忘记他的美衣呢?我的百姓却忘记了我无数的日子!
33
你怎麽修饰你的道路要求爱情呢?就是恶劣的妇人你也叫他们行你的路。
34
并且你的衣襟上有无辜穷人的血;你杀他们并不是遇见他们挖窟窿,乃是因这一切的事。
35
你还说:我无辜;耶和华的怒气必定向我消了。看哪,我必审问你;因你自说:我没有犯罪。