La peur de l'inconnu et la peur du changement sont deux idées communes, qui couvrent ensemble un large spectre des peurs que nous avons tendance à avoir dans la vie naturelle. Dans un sens, elles se cachent également derrière le sens spirituel lorsque les gens sont décrits comme ayant "peur" dans la Bible.

(Odkazy: Arcanes Célestes 223-224, 2215, Arcanes Célestes 6849; Exode 3:6; Genèse 3:10, 18:15)

Selon les écrits, les gens sont décrits comme ayant peur lorsqu'un état spirituel plus exalté et plus interne entre en communication avec un état inférieur et plus externe et démontre la nécessité de réformer et d'élever cet état. C'est le cas des bergers du conte de Noël, qui ont d'abord réagi par la peur lorsque des anges sont venus leur parler d'une toute nouvelle ère spirituelle. C'est vrai pour Moïse au buisson ardent, pour Jacob après la vision de l'échelle, et même pour les disciples qui ont vu Jésus marcher sur la mer de Galilée - tous des cas où un état supérieur leur tendait la main et leur demandait d'embrasser une nouvelle phase de vie spirituelle.

Cela vaut également dans un sens plus négatif, lorsque des états de mal et de fausse pensée entrent en contact avec des choses spirituelles et se sentent menacés par la révélation de leur propre misère.

La Bible parle aussi fréquemment de personnes craignant Dieu, une idée connexe mais différente qui est couverte ailleurs.

(Odkazy: Arcanes Célestes 2543, 3718, 5534, 5647, 5662, 6569; L'Apocalypse Expliquée 677 [4])

676. And there were killed in the earthquake names of men seven thousand, signifies that in that change of state all truths of good with them perished, and thus all things of heaven and the church. This is evident from the signification of "to be killed," as being to be killed spiritually, which is to perish by evils and falsities (See above, n. 315, 547, 572, 589); also from the signification of "earthquake," as being a change of state of the interiors with those who are of the church (See above, n. 674); also from the signification of "the names of men," as being the truths of good and the consequent understanding of truth (of which presently); and from the signification of "seven thousand," as being all things of heaven and the church, for "seven" signifies all things, and is predicated of the holy things of heaven and the church (of the signification of this number see above, n. 257; and its signification is retained when it is multiplied by ten, or one hundred, or one thousand, for these numbers signify all things. From this it can be seen that "there were killed in the earthquake names of men seven thousand" signifies that in that change of state all truths of good perished, and thus all things of heaven and the church.

[2] That "the names of men" signify the truths of good and the consequent understanding of truth can be seen from the signification of "name," as being the quality of a thing or state with man; and from the signification of "man," as being intelligence, thus also the understanding of truth. "Name" signifies the quality of a thing or state with man because in the spiritual world there are no names of persons as in the natural world. In the spiritual world all are named according to the quality of their life, thus with a difference within societies and out of them. Within the societies the quality of each one's state of life is constant, for each one there dwells in a quarter and also at a distance from the center according to the quality of his affection and of his intelligence; therefore his name is in accord with this quality. When, therefore, the name of anyone in a society is heard his quality is also recognized. This is why "name" signifies in the spiritual sense the quality of a thing and of a state of life. But outside of societies this naming according to one's state of life is not constant; for before a man-spirit enters into any society he passes through many states in order that he may put off the things that disagree with his ruling love and put on such as agree with it, and yet everyone is named according to the state in which he is, and also according to the idea and perception of what his state is. That names in the spiritual world are uttered spiritually may be seen above n. 102; therefore "name" signifies in the Word what the state of the life is n. 148. So, too, "the name of Jehovah" and "the name of the Lord" signify all things by which He is worshipped, thus all things of love and faith (n. 102, 135); and "man" signifies in the Word the spiritual affection of truth, and thence the understanding of truth (n. 280, 546). From this it is clear what "the names of men" signify.

[3] Why the truths of good and thus the understanding from them were destroyed by the notable change of state which was signified by "a great earthquake" has been told in the preceding article, namely, that at the end of the church, when the Last Judgment is at hand, those who are spiritually good are taken away from those who are only naturally good; and when this is done, then also from the latter all truths of good and consequently all understanding of truth are also taken away; for with the natural, who are destitute of anything spiritual, truths and goods reside in their externals, but falsities and evils in their internals; therefore when the good with whom they had communication as to externals are taken away the externals also are taken away and the internals are disclosed, and these, as has been said, are filled with mere falsities of evil. This is why these words signify that all truths of good and all understanding of truth perished with those who remained.