Apocalypse Explained # 404
404. Verse 14. And the heaven departed as a book rolled up, signifies that the spiritual man became closed up. This is evident from the signification of "heaven," as being the church in general and in particular; for the church is the heaven of the Lord on the earth; moreover, the church makes one with heaven by conjunction; therefore when "heaven and earth" are mentioned in the Word, the church internal and external is meant, for the internal of the men of the church is heaven with them, and their external is the world with them; and as "heaven and earth" signify the church internal and external so they signify the internal and external man, or the spiritual and the natural man; for as man in whom is the good of love and of faith is a church, so the church, in general exists from the men in whom the church is. This makes clear why it is that "heaven" here means the internal or spiritual man. It is said "the spiritual man," by which is meant the spiritual mind, which is the higher or interior mind of man, while the lower or exterior mind is called the natural man. The above is evident also from the signification of "departed as a book rolled up," as meaning that it became closed up; for the spiritual mind, which is, as was said, the higher or interior mind with man, is opened by truths applied to life, thus by goods, but it is closed up by falsities applied to life, thus by evils; and the closing up is as the rolling up of the scroll of a book. That this is so was made very clear by the appearances in the spiritual world when the Last Judgment was accomplished; for the mountains and the hills there then appeared sometimes to be rolled up as the scroll of a book is rolled up, and those that were upon them were then rolled down into hell. The cause of this appearance was this: that the interiors of their minds, through which somewhat of light from heaven had before flowed in, were then closed up. What takes place in general with many, takes place with everyone in particular of a like character, for in the spiritual world such as the general is, such is the particular (See in the work on Heaven and Hell 73). By "book" is meant a scroll, because in ancient times there were no types and thus no books like those at the present day, but there were scrolls of parchments; so "books" in Revelation mean scrolls, and "heaven departed as a book rolled up" means as a scroll rolled up; the same as in Isaiah:
All the host of the heavens shall waste away, and the heavens shall be rolled up as a book (Isaiah 34:4).
Isaiah 3
1
For, behold, the Lord, Yahweh of Armies, takes away from Jerusalem and from Judah supply and support, the whole supply of bread, and the whole supply of water;
2
the mighty man, the man of war, the judge, the prophet, the diviner, the elder,
3
the captain of fifty, the honorable man, the counselor, the skilled craftsman, and the clever enchanter.
4
I will give boys to be their princes, and children shall rule over them.
5
The people will be oppressed, everyone by another, and everyone by his neighbor. The child will behave himself proudly against the old man, and the base against the honorable.
6
Indeed a man shall take hold of his brother in the house of his father, saying, "You have clothing, you be our ruler, and let this ruin be under your hand."
7
In that day he will cry out, saying, "I will not be a healer; for in my house is neither bread nor clothing. You shall not make me ruler of the people."
8
For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen; because their tongue and their doings are against Yahweh, to provoke the eyes of his glory.
9
The look of their faces testify against them. They parade their sin like Sodom. They don't hide it. Woe to their soul! For they have brought disaster upon themselves.
10
Tell the righteous "Good!" For they shall eat the fruit of their deeds.
11
Woe to the wicked! Disaster is upon them; for the deeds of his hands will be paid back to him.
12
As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. My people, those who lead you cause you to err, and destroy the way of your paths.
13
Yahweh stands up to contend, and stands to judge the peoples.
14
Yahweh will enter into judgment with the elders of his people, and their leaders: "It is you who have eaten up the vineyard. The spoil of the poor is in your houses.
15
What do you mean that you crush my people, and grind the face of the poor?" says the Lord, Yahweh of Armies.
16
Moreover Yahweh said, "Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with outstretched necks and flirting eyes, walking to trip as they go, jingling ornaments on their feet;
17
therefore the Lord brings sores on the crown of the head of the women of Zion, and Yahweh will make their scalps bald."
18
In that day the Lord will take away the beauty of their anklets, the headbands, the crescent necklaces,
19
the earrings, the bracelets, the veils,
20
the headdresses, the ankle chains, the sashes, the perfume bottles, the charms,
21
the signet rings, the nose rings,
22
the fine robes, the capes, the cloaks, the purses,
23
the hand mirrors, the fine linen garments, the tiaras, and the shawls.
24
It shall happen that instead of sweet spices, there shall be rottenness; instead of a belt, a rope; instead of well set hair, baldness; instead of a robe, a wearing of sackcloth; and branding instead of beauty.
25
Your men shall fall by the sword, and your mighty in the war.
26
Her gates shall lament and mourn; and she shall be desolate and sit on the ground.
