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Jeremija 51

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1 Nõnda ütleb Issand: 'Vaata, ma äratan Paabeli kallale, 'mu vastase südame' elanike kallale hävitava tuule.

2 Ja ma läkitan Paabeli kallale võõraid, kes tuulavad teda ja laastavad tema maad, kui nad õnnetusepäeval on igalt poolt tema kallal.

3 Ammukütt vinnastagu oma amb ammuküti vastu ja selle vastu, kes suurustab oma soomusrüüs. Ärge säästke tema noori mehi, hävitage sootuks kogu ta vägi,

4 et mahalöödud langeksid kaldealaste maal ja läbipistetud tema tänavail.

5 Sest Iisrael ja Juuda ei jää oma Jumala, vägede Issanda leskedeks, vaid kaldealaste maa on täis süüd Iisraeli Püha vastu.

6 Põgenege Paabelist ja igaüks päästku oma hing, et teie ei hukkuks tema süü pärast! Sest see on Issanda kättemaksuaeg, kes tasub temale, mis ta on teinud.

7 Paabel oli kuldkarikas Issanda käes, mis tegi joobnuks kogu maailma; rahvad jõid tema veini, seetõttu rahvad hullusid.

8 Äkitselt langeb Paabel ja purustatakse. Ulguge tema pärast! Võtke palsamit tema haavade jaoks, vahest ta saab terveks!

9 Me tahtsime Paabelit ravida, aga ta ei paranenud. Jätkem ta maha ja mingem igaüks oma maale, sest kohus tema üle ulatub taevani ja tõuseb pilvedeni.

10 Issand on toonud esile meie õigused; tulgem ja jutustagem Siionis Issanda, oma Jumala teost.

11 Teritage nooli, haarake kilbid! Issand on äratanud Meedia kuningate vaimu, sest tema kavatsuseks Paabeli kohta on selle hävitamine. Sest see on Issanda kättemaks, kättemaks tema templi eest.

12 Tõstke lipp Paabeli müüride vastu, tugevdage valvet, seadke vahimehi, paigutage varitsejaid! Sest nagu Issand on kavatsenud, nõnda tema teebki teoks, mis ta Paabeli elanike kohta on ütelnud.

13 Sina, kes sa elad suurte vete ääres, varandustest rikas, on tulnud sinu lõpp, küünar, kust sind katki lõigatakse.

14 Vägede Issand on vandunud iseenesele: tõesti, ma täidan sind inimestega otsekui rohutirtsudega, ja nad tõstavad sinu vastu sõjakisa.

15 Tema on oma rammuga teinud maa, tarkusega rajanud maailma ja mõistusega laotanud taeva.

16 Kui tema teeb häält, siis on taevas vee kohin ja ta tõstab pilved maa äärest; tema teeb vihmale välgud ja toob tuule välja selle aitadest.

17 Inimesed on kõik rumalad, mõistusest ilma. Iga kullassepp jääb häbisse jumalakuju pärast, sest tema valatud kujud on pettus ja neis pole vaimu.

18 Need on tühised, naeruväärt töö: oma katsumisajal nad hukkuvad.

19 Nende sarnane ei ole see, kes on Jaakobi osa, sest tema on kõige looja ja ta pärisosa kepp. Vägede Issand on tema nimi.

20 Sina, Paabel, olid mulle vasaraks, relvaks, sinuga purustasin ma rahvaid ja sinuga hävitasin ma kuningriike.

21 Sinuga purustasin ma hobuse ja ratsaniku, sinuga purustasin ma vankri ja sõitja.

22 Sinuga purustasin ma mehe ja naise, sinuga purustasin ma vana ja noore, sinuga purustasin ma noormehe ja neitsi.

23 Sinuga purustasin ma karjase ja karja, sinuga purustasin ma põllumehe ja härjapaari, sinuga purustasin ma maavanemad ja asevalitsejad.

24 Aga nüüd tasun ma Paabelile ja kõigile Kaldea elanikele teie nähes kõik nende kurja, mis nad tegid Siionile, ütleb Issand.

25 Vaata, ma olen su vastu, sa hävitusemägi, ütleb Issand, kes hävitasid kogu maa. Ma sirutan oma käe su vastu ja veeretan sind kaljudelt alla ning teen sind põlenud mäeks.

26 Ja sinust ei võeta nurgakivi ega kivi alusmüüri jaoks, vaid sa jääd igavesti hävitatuks, ütleb Issand.

27 Tõstke maal lipp, puhuge sarve rahvaste seas, pühitsege rahvad tema vastu, kutsuge tema vastu Ararati, Minni ja Askenase kuningriigid, pange tema vastu värbamispealik, tooge üles hobuseid otsekui karuseid rohutirtsuvastseid!

28 Pühitsege ta vastu rahvad, Meedia kuningad, nende maavanemad ja kõik asevalitsejad ning kogu nende valitsusealune maa!

29 Siis väriseb maa ja viskleb valudes, sest täituvad kavatsused, mis Issandal on Paabeli vastu, et teha Paabeli maa lagedaks, kus ükski ei ela.

30 Paabeli kangelased lakkavad sõdimast, nad istuvad kindlustes, nende jõud hääbub, nad muutuvad naisteks; tema hooned põletatakse, tema riivid murtakse.

31 Jooksja jookseb jooksjale ja sõnumiviija sõnumiviijale vastu, kuulutama Paabeli kuningale, et tema linn on igast küljest vallutatud,

32 et koolmed on võetud, pilliroopaadid tules põletatud ja sõjamehed kabuhirmus.

33 Sest nõnda ütleb vägede Issand, Iisraeli Jumal: Paabeli tütar on nagu rehepaik selle kõvakstampimise ajal: veel pisut, siis tuleb temale lõikusaeg.

34 'Nebukadnetsar, Paabeli kuningas, on mind neelanud, kimbutanud, kõrvale pannud nagu tühja astja; ta on mind neelanud nagu lohe, on täitnud oma kõhu minu maiuspaladega, ta on mind ära ajanud.

35 Vägivald, mida olen kannatanud, ja mu kokkuvarisemine tulgu Paabeli peale!' ütleb Siioni elanik. 'Ja mu veri Kaldea elanike peale!' ütleb Jeruusalemm.

36 Seepärast ütleb Issand nõnda: Vaata, mina ajan sinu riiuasja ja tasun, mis sul on tasuda; mina lasen taheneda tema mere ja kuivatan tema allika.

37 Paabel muutub kivihunnikuks, ðaakalite asupaigaks, jubeduseks ja parastamise põhjuseks, kus ükski ei ela.

38 Nad möirgavad küll üheskoos nagu lõvid ja urisevad nagu lõvikutsikad.

39 Kui nad on elevil, siis ma teen neile joomingu ja lasen nad purju jääda, et nad hõiskaksid ja uinuksid igavesse unne ega ärkaks, ütleb Issand.

40 Mina viin nad tappa nagu talled, nagu jäärad koos sikkudega.

41 Kuidas küll vallutatakse Seesak, ja võetakse see, kes on kuulus kogu maal. Kuidas küll Paabel saab jubeduseks rahvaste seas!

42 Meri tõuseb üle Paabeli, ta kaetakse selle kohisevate lainetega.

43 Tema linnad muutuvad õudseks, maa põuaseks ja lagedaks, maaks, kus ükski ei ela ja millest inimlaps läbi ei lähe.

44 Ma karistan Beeli Paabelis ja kisun ta suust, mis ta on neelanud; rahvad ei voola enam tema juurde, Paabeli müürgi variseb maha.

45 Minge ära selle keskelt, minu rahvas, ja päästke igaüks oma elu Issanda tulise viha eest!

46 Ärgu ainult teie süda mingu araks ja ärge kartke kuulujutte, mis maal kostavad, kui ühel aastal tuleb üks kuulujutt ja järgmisel aastal teine, kui maal on vägivald ja valitseja on valitseja vastu!

47 Sest vaata, päevad tulevad, mil ma karistan Paabeli nikerdatud kujusid; ja kogu tema maa jääb häbisse ning kõik langevad surnult maha sel maal.

48 Siis rõõmustavad Paabeli pärast taevas ja maa ja kõik, mis neis on, kui põhja poolt tulevad tema kallale hävitajad, ütleb Issand.

49 Paabelgi langeb Iisraeli mahalöödute pärast, nagu Paabeli pärast langesid mahalöödud kogu maal.

50 Teie, mõõga eest pääsenud, minge, ärge jääge seisma! Mõelge kaugel Issandale ja teile meenugu Jeruusalemm!

51 'Me häbeneme, kui kuuleme laimu; häbi katab meie palet, kui muulased tulevad Issanda koja pühaduste kallale.'

52 Seepärast, vaata, päevad tulevad, ütleb Issand, mil ma karistan tema nikerdatud kujusid ja kogu ta maal oigavad haavatud.

53 Kuigi Paabel peaks tõusma taevani ja kuigi ta kindlustaks oma võimsa kõrgendiku, kummatigi tulevad minult tema kallale hävitajad, ütleb Issand.

54 Kuula! Hädakisa Paabelist ja suurest hävingust kaldealaste maal!

55 Sest Issand hävitab Paabeli ja lõpetab sealt suure lärmi, kuigi ta lained kohisevad nagu suured veed ja kostab ta hüüete kära.

56 Sest tema kallale, Paabeli kallale, tuleb hävitaja ja tema kangelased võetakse vangi, nende ammud murtakse katki; sest kättemaksu Jumal, Issand, maksab kindlasti kätte.

57 Ja ma teen joobnuks tema vürstid ja targad, maavanemad, asevalitsejad ja kangelased, et nad uinuksid igavesse unne ega ärkaks enam, ütleb kuningas, kelle nimi on vägede Issand.

58 Nõnda ütleb vägede Issand: Laiad Paabeli müürid kistakse maani maha, ja tema kõrged väravad põletatakse tules. Rahvad vaevavad endid ilmaaegu ja rahvahõimud väsitavad endid tule tarvis.'

59 Ülesanne, mille prohvet Jeremija andis Serajale, Mahseja poja Neerija pojale, kui see läks koos Juuda kuninga Sidkijaga Paabelisse selle valitsemise neljandal aastal; Seraja oli majutuspealik.

60 Jeremija oli kirjutanud ühte raamatusse kogu selle õnnetuse, mis Paabelile oli tulemas, kõik need sõnad, mis Paabeli kohta on kirjutatud.

61 Ja Jeremija ütles Serajale: 'Kui sa jõuad Paabelisse, siis vaata, et sa loed kõik need sõnad

62 ja ütled: Issand, sina oled rääkinud selle paiga kohta, et sa hävitad selle, nõnda et siin ei ela ükski, ei inimene ega loom, vaid et see jääb igavesti laastatuks!

63 Ja kui sa selle raamatu oled lõpuni lugenud, siis seo selle külge kivi ja viska see keset Frati jõge

64 ning ütle: Nõnda vajub Paabel ega tõuse enam õnnetuse pärast, mille ma temale toon: nad peavad väsima!' Siiani on Jeremija sõnad.

   

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Apocalypse Explained # 741

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741. That seduceth the whole world, signifies that pervert all things of the church. This is evident from the signification of "the whole world," as being all things of the church (of which presently); and as all things of the church are signified by "the whole world," so "to seduce it" signifies to pervert those things; for all things of the church are perverted when the good of charity, which is the good of life, is separated and removed from faith as not contributing and effecting anything to salvation. Thereby all things of the Word and thence all things of the church are falsified, for the Lord says that the law and the prophets 1 hang on these two commandments, "To love God above all things, and the neighbor as thyself." These two commandments signify to live and act according to the commandments of the Word; for to love is to will and to do, since what a man interiorly loves, that he wills, and what he wills that he does. "The law and the prophets" signify all things of the Word.

[2] There are two principles of evil and falsity into which the church successively falls. One is dominion over all things of the church and of heaven, which dominion is meant in the Word by "Babel" or "Babylonia;" into this the church falls by reason of evil; the other is the separation of faith from charity, in consequence of which separation all the good of life perishes; this is meant in the Word by "Philistia," and is signified by "the he-goat" in Daniel, and by "the dragon" in Revelation; into this the church falls by reason of falsity. But since this chapter treats of "the dragon," which especially signifies the religion of faith separate from charity, I will mention in passing some things whereby the defenders of faith separate seduce the world. They especially seduce by teaching that as from oneself no one can do good that is in itself good, or can do good without placing merit in it, so good works can contribute nothing to salvation; nevertheless, goods should be done on account of use for the public good; and these are the goods that are meant in the Word and thence in preachings, and in some of the prayers of the church. How great an error this is shall now be told. When a man does good from the Word, that is, because it is commanded by the Lord in the Word, he does it not from himself but from the Lord, for the Lord is the Word (John 1:1, 14), and the Lord is in those things that man has from the Word, as He teaches in these words in John:

He that keepeth My word, I will come unto him and will make My abode with him (John 14:23).

This is why the Lord so often commands that His words and commandments must be done; and that those who do them shall have eternal life; so also that everyone will be judged according to his works. From this it then follows that those who do good from the Word do good from the Lord, and good from the Lord is truly good, and so far as it is from the Lord there is no merit in it.

[3] That good from the Word, thus from the Lord, is truly good, is evident also from these words in Revelation:

I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hear My voice and open the door, I will come in to him and will sup with him and he with Me (Revelation 3:20).

This shows that the Lord is always and continually present and bestows the effort to do good, but that man must open the door, that is, must receive the Lord; and he receives Him when he does good from His Word. Although this appears to man to be done as of himself, yet it is not of man but of the Lord in him. It so appears to man because he has no other feeling than that he thinks from himself and acts from himself; and yet when he thinks and acts from the Word he does it as if of himself, therefore he then also believes that he does it of the Lord.

[4] From this it can be seen that the good that a man does from the Word is spiritual good, and that this conjoins man to the Lord and to heaven. But the good that a man does for the world's sake and for the sake of the communities in the world, which is called civil and moral good, conjoins him to the world and not to heaven. Moreover, the conjunction of the truth of faith is with spiritual good, which is the good of charity towards the neighbor, because faith in itself is spiritual, and what is spiritual cannot be conjoined with any other good than what is equally spiritual. But civil and moral good, separate from spiritual good, is not good in itself, because it is from man; yea, so far as self and the world lie concealed in it, it is evil; this good, therefore, cannot be conjoined with faith, yea, if it were to be conjoined faith would be dissipated.

[5] "To seduce the whole world" signifies to pervert all things of the church, because "the world" signifies in general the church as to all things of it, both goods and truths; but in particular it signifies the church in respect to good; this is the signification of "world" when "the earth" also is mentioned. That "the earth" in the Word signifies the church has been shown above (n. 304, 697); but when "the world" is also mentioned "the earth" signifies the church in respect to truth. For there are two things that constitute the church, namely, truth and good, and these two are signified by "earth" and "world" in the following passages.

[6] In Isaiah:

With my soul have I desired Thee in the night; yea, with my spirit in the midst of me have I early waited for Thee; for when Thou teachest the earth Thy judgments, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness (Isaiah 26:9).

"Night" signifies a state in which there is no light of truth, and "morning" a state in which there is the light of truth; the latter state is from love, but the former is when there is as yet no love. So "the soul that desired Jehovah in the night" signifies a life that is not yet in the light of truth; and "the spirit in the midst of him with which he waited for Jehovah in the morning" signifies a life that is in the light of truth; so it is added, "for when Thou teachest the earth Thy judgments, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness," which signifies that the church is in truths from the Lord, and by means of truths is in good; "earth" signifying the church in respect to truths, and "world," the church in respect to good; for "judgment" in the Word is predicated of truth, and "righteousness" of good, and "inhabitants" signifying the men of the church who are in the goods of doctrine and thence of life. (That "judgment" in the Word is predicated of truth, and "righteousness" of good, may be seen in the Arcana Coelestia 2235, 9857; and that "to inhabit" signifies to live, and thence "inhabitants" those who are in the good of doctrine and thus of life, may be seen above, n. 133, 479, 662)

[7] In Lamentations:

The kings of the earth believed not, and all the inhabitants of the world, that the enemy and the adversary would come into the gates of Jerusalem (Lamentations 4:12).

"The kings of the earth" signify the men of the church who are in truths, and "the inhabitants of the world" the men of the church who are in good; that "kings" signify those who are in truths may be seen above (n. 31, 553, 625); and that "the inhabitants" signify those who are in good has been shown just above. Thence it is clear that the "earth" signifies the church in respect to truths, and the "world" the church in respect to good. And as all things of the doctrine of the church were destroyed by falsities and evils, it is said that "they believed not that the enemy and the adversary would come into the gates of Jerusalem;" "enemy" signifying the falsities that destroyed the truths of the church, which are meant by "the kings of the earth," and "adversary" signifying the evils that destroyed the goods of the church, which are meant by "the inhabitants of the world;" "Jerusalem" meaning the church in respect to doctrine.

[8] In David:

Let all the earth fear Jehovah, let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him (Psalms 33:8).

Here, too, the "earth" signifies those who are in the truths of the church, and "the inhabitants of the world" those who are in the goods of the church. In the same:

The earth is Jehovah's and the fullness thereof, the world and they that dwell therein; He hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the rivers (Psalms 24:1, 2).

Here, also, the "earth" signifies the church in respect to truth, and "the fullness thereof" signifies all truths in the complex; and the "world" signifies the church in respect to good, and "they that dwell" signify goods in the complex. What is signified by "founding it upon the seas and establishing it upon the rivers" may be seen above (n. 275, 518).

[9] In Isaiah:

We have conceived, we have travailed, we have as it were brought forth wind; we have not wrought salvation in the earth, and the inhabitants of the world 2 have fallen 3 (Isaiah 26:18).

Here, again, the "earth" stands for the church in respect to truths, and the "world" for the church in respect to goods. (The rest may be seen explained above, n. 721.) In the same:

Come near, ye nations, to hear, and attend ye people; let the earth hear and the fullness thereof, the world and all its offspring (Isaiah 34:1).

That "nations" mean those who are in goods, and "peoples" those who are in truths, may be seen above (n. 175, 331, 625); therefore it is added, "let the earth hear and the fullness thereof, the world and all its offspring," "the earth and the fullness thereof" signifying the church in respect to all truths, and "the world and all its offspring" the church in respect to all goods.

[10] In the same:

All ye inhabitants of the world and ye dwellers on the earth, when the ensign of the mountains shall be lifted up, see ye, and when the trumpet shall be sounded, hear ye (Isaiah 18:3).

"The inhabitants of the world and the dwellers on the earth" signify all in the church who are in goods and truths, as above; the Lord's coming is signified by "when the ensign of the mountains shall be lifted up, see ye, and when the trumpet shall be sounded, hear ye;" "the ensign upon the mountains," as well as "the sounding of the trumpet," signify a calling together to the church.

[11] In David:

Before Jehovah, for He cometh, for He cometh to judge the earth; He shall judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in truth (Psalms 96:13; 98:9).

This treats of the Lord's coming, and the last judgment at that time. Because the "world" signifies those of the church who are in good, and "peoples" those who are in truths, it is said that "He shall judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in truth;" "righteousness" as well as the "world" refers to good. In the same:

Before the mountains were brought forth, and before the earth and the world were formed, from everlasting and even to everlasting Thou art God (Psalms 90:2).

"Mountains" signify those who dwell upon mountains in the heavens, who are those that are in celestial good, while "the earth and the world" signify the church consisting of those who are in truths and in goods.

[12] In the same:

Jehovah reigneth, He is clothed with majesty, Jehovah is clothed with strength, He girdeth Himself; the world also shall be established, nor shall it be moved; Thy throne is established from then, Thou art from eternity (Psalms 93:1, 2).

This is said of the Lord when about to come into the world; and as He has glory and power from the Human that He united to His Divine, it is said that "He is clothed with majesty and strength," and that "He girdeth Himself;" for the Lord assumed the Human that He might have power to subjugate the hells. The church that He was about to establish and protect forever is signified by "the world that shall be established and shall not be moved," and "the throne that shall be established;" for the "world" signifies heaven and the church as to the reception of Divine good, and "throne" heaven and the church as to the reception of Divine truth.

[13] In the same:

Say among the nations, Jehovah reigneth; the world also shall be established, neither shall it be moved; He shall judge the peoples in uprightness; the heavens shall be glad and the earth shall rejoice (Psalms 96:10, 11).

This, too, is said of the Lord about to come, and of the church to be established by Him and protected to eternity, which is signified by "the world that shall be established and not moved," as above; and as the "world" signifies the church in respect to good it is added that "He shall judge the peoples in uprightness;" the "peoples," like "earth," signify those who are in the truths of the church, therefore it is said "the peoples of the earth," but "the inhabitants of the world;" "uprightness" also means truths. The joy of those who are in the church in the heavens and in the church on earth is signified by "the heavens shall be glad and the earth shall rejoice."

[14] In the same:

Jehovah shall judge the world in righteousness, He shall judge the peoples in uprightness (Psalms 9:8).

Because the "world" means the church in respect to good, and "righteousness" is predicated of good, it is said "Jehovah shall judge the world in righteousness;" and as those are called "peoples" who are in truths, and "uprightness" means truths, as above, it is said, "He shall judge the peoples in uprightness." In Jeremiah:

Jehovah maketh the earth by His power, and prepareth the world by His wisdom, and by His intelligence He stretcheth out the heavens (Jeremiah 10:12; 51:15).

"Jehovah maketh the earth by His power" signifies that the Lord establishes the church by the power of Divine truth; "He prepareth the world by His wisdom" signifies that He forms the church that is in good from Divine good by means of Divine truth; "by His intelligence He stretcheth out the heavens" signifies that thus He enlarges the heavens.

[15] In David:

The heavens are Thine and the earth is Thine, the world and the fullness thereof Thou hast founded (Psalms 89:11).

"The heavens and the earth" signify the church in the heavens and in the earths, both in respect to truths, and "the world and the fullness thereof" signifies the church in the heavens and in the earths, both in respect to goods, "fullness" meaning goods and truths in the whole complex. In the same:

If I were hungry I would not tell thee, for the world is Mine and the fullness thereof (Psalms 50:12).

This is said of sacrifices, that the Lord does not delight in them, but in confession and works, for it is added:

Should I eat the flesh of the stout ones, or drink the blood of he-goats? Sacrifice unto God confession, and pay thy vows to the Most High (Psalms 50:13-14).

So "if I should be hungry" signifies if I should desire sacrifices; but as the Lord desires worship from goods and truths it is said "for the world is Mine and the fullness thereof;" "fullness" signifying goods and truths in the whole complex, as above. This is said of the beasts that were sacrificed, but these signify in the spiritual sense various kinds of good and truth.

[16] In Matthew:

These good tidings of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world, for a witness unto all, and then shall the end come (Matthew 24:14).

Because the "world" signifies the church in respect to good it is said that "these good tidings shall be preached unto all nations," for the "nations" who are to hear and receive signify all who are in good. Moreover, "nations" signify all who are in evils, who also will hear; but then the "world" signifies the whole church when it is already in evils; therefore it is said that "then shall the end come."

[17] In the first book of Samuel:

Jehovah raiseth up the depressed out of the dust, He exalteth the needy from the dunghill, to make them sit with princes, and He shall make them to inherit the throne of glory; for the bases of the earth are Jehovah's, and He hath set the world upon them (1 Samuel 2:8).

This is the prophecy of Hannah the mother of Samuel. "To raise up the depressed out of the dust and the needy from the dunghill" signifies the instruction of the Gentiles, and the enlightenment in interior truths which would be revealed by the Lord, and thus the removal from evils and falsities. "The bases of the earth" signify exterior truths, such as those of the sense of the letter of the Word, for on those truths interior truths have their foundation; therefore the "world" which He hath set upon them signifies the church in respect to all its goods and truths. (But as to this see above, n. 253, 304)

[18] In Isaiah:

Jacob shall cause them that are to come to take root, Israel shall blossom and bud, so that the faces of the world shall be filled with the increase (Isaiah 27:6).

"Jacob" means the external church, and "Israel" the internal church; and as the internal of the church is founded upon its externals, and internals are thereby multiplied and made fruitful, it is said that "Jacob shall cause them that are to come to take root, and Israel shall blossom and bud;" the consequent fructification of the church is signified by "the faces of the world shall be filled with the increase."

[19] In the same:

Is this the man that maketh the earth to tremble, that maketh the kingdoms to quake, that hath made the world a wilderness, and thrown down the cities thereof? Prepare slaughter for his sons for the iniquity of their fathers, that they rise not up and possess the earth and the faces of the world be filled with cities (Isaiah 14:16, 17, 21).

This is said of Lucifer, by whom "Babylon" is meant, that is, the love of ruling over heaven and over the earth; therefore "to make the earth to tremble, to make the kingdoms to quake, to make the world a wilderness and throw down the cities thereof," signifies to destroy all things of the church; the "earth" meaning the church in respect to truth; "kingdoms," churches distinguished according to truths; the "world" the church in respect to good, and "cities" doctrinals. "To prepare slaughter for the sons for the iniquity of their fathers" signifies the destruction of the falsities that arise from their evils; "that they possess not the earth and fill the faces of the world with cities" signifies lest falsities and evils, and doctrinals from them, take possession of the whole church.

[20] In the same:

The earth shall mourn and be confounded, the world shall languish and be confounded, the exaltation of the people of the earth shall languish, and the earth itself shall be profaned under its inhabitants (Isaiah 24:4, 5).

This describes the desolation of the church in respect to its truths and goods by reason of the pride of self-intelligence, and the profanation of truths that are from good. The desolation is described by "mourning, being confounded, and languishing;" the church in respect to truths and goods is signified by "the earth and the world;" the pride of self-intelligence by "the exaltation of the people of the earth," and the profanation of truths that are from good by "the earth shall be profaned under its inhabitants."

[21] In Nahum:

The mountains shall quake before Him, and the hills shall melt; the earth shall be burnt up before Him, and the world and all that dwell therein (Nahum 1:5).

What is signified by the "mountains" that shall quake, and the "hills" that shall melt, may be seen above (n. 400, 405). But "the earth and the world and they that dwell therein shall be burnt up" signifies that the church in respect to all its truths and goods will be destroyed by infernal love.

[22] In David:

The channels of waters appeared and the foundations of the world were revealed at Thy rebuke, O Jehovah, at the breath of the spirit of Thy nostrils (Psalms 18:15; 2 Samuel 22:16).

That all things of the church in respect to its truths and goods were overturned from the foundation is signified by "the channels of waters appeared and the foundations of the world were revealed;" "the channels of waters" meaning the truths, and "the foundations of the world" its goods, and "to appear" and "to be revealed" meaning to be overturned from the foundation. That this destruction is from the hatred and fury of the evil against Divine things is signified by "at Thy rebuke, O Jehovah, at the breath of the spirit of Thy nostrils;" the "rebuke" and "the spirit of Jehovah's nostrils" have a similar signification as "His anger and wrath" mentioned elsewhere in the Word. But since the Lord has no anger or wrath against the evil, while the evil have against the Lord, and as anger and wrath appear to the evil when they perish to be from the Lord, therefore this is so said according to that appearance. "The breath of the spirit of Jehovah's nostrils" means also the east wind, which destroys by drought, and overturns by its penetrating power.

[23] In the same:

The voice of Thy thunder is in the world, the lightnings enlightened the world, the earth trembled and quaked (Psalms 77:18).

His lightnings shall enlighten the world; the earth shall see and fear, the mountains shall melt like wax before Jehovah, before the Lord of the whole earth (Psalms 97:4, 5).

This describes the state of the wicked because of the Lord's presence in His Divine truth, which state is like that of the sons of Israel when the Lord appeared to them upon Mount Sinai. That they then heard thunders, saw lightnings, and that the mountain appeared to be in a consuming fire as of a furnace, and they feared exceedingly, is known from the Word. This was because they were evil in heart; for the Lord appears to everyone according to what is his quality, to the good as a recreating fire, and to the evil as a consuming fire. From this it is clear what is signified by "the voice of Thy thunder is in the world, the lightnings enlightened the world, the earth trembled and quaked;" and "the mountains shall melt before Jehovah, the Lord of the whole earth;" "the world" meaning all that are of the church who are in goods, but here who are in evils, and the "earth" all that are of the church who are in truths, but here who are in falsities.

[24] In Isaiah:

I will visit malice upon the world, and upon the wicked their iniquity (Isaiah 13:11).

Here, too, the "world" means those that are of the church who are in evils, and the "wicked" those who are in falsities, therefore it is said "I will visit malice upon the world, and upon the wicked their iniquity;" "malice" means evil, and "iniquity" is predicated of falsities.

[25] In Job:

They shall thrust him away from light unto darkness, and chase him out of the world (Job 18:18).

Because "light" signifies the truth, and the "world" the good of the church, and when the wicked man casts himself from truth into falsity he also casts himself from good into evil, it is said "they shall thrust him away from light into darkness, and chase him out of the world," "darkness" meaning falsities, and "to chase out of the world" meaning to cast out from the good of the church.

[26] In Luke:

Men will faint for fear and for expectation of the things coming upon the whole world; for the powers of the heavens shall be shaken; and then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud of the heavens with power and much glory (Luke 21:26, 27).

This is said of the consummation of the age, which is the last time of the church, when there is no longer any truth because there is no good; the state of heaven at that time is described by these words, that "men will faint for fear and for expectation of the things coming upon the whole world;" this describes the fear of those who are in the heavens, that everything of the church in respect to its good and therefore in respect to its truths would perish, and the expectation of help from the Lord. That the power of Divine truth is weakened is signified by "the shaking of the powers of the heavens;" "the powers of the heavens" meaning Divine truths in respect to power; that the Lord will then make evident Divine truth, which has power and from which is intelligence, is signified by "then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud of the heavens, with power and much glory."

[27] "The earth and the world" have a like signification in the following passage in Revelation:

They are the spirits of demons doing signs to go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them together unto the war (Revelation 16:14).

It is said "unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world," because one thing of the church is signified by "earth," and another by "world." As the "world" signifies the church in respect to good it also signifies all things of the church, for good is the essential of the church; therefore where there is good there is also truth, for every good desires truth and wishes to be conjoined to truth and to be spiritually nourished by it, thus also reciprocally.

Poznámky pod čarou:

1. The Latin has here has "prophet."

2. The Hebrew has "not," as is also found in 721.

3. The Latin here has "earth," but in the explanation "world," as in the Hebrew.

  
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Thanks to the Swedenborg Foundation for their permission to use this translation.

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