Apocalypse Explained # 130
130. Verse 12. And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write, signifies for remembrance to those within the church who are in temptations. This is evident from the signification of "writing," as being for remembrance (See Arcana Coelestia 8620); and from the signification of "angel," as being a recipient of Divine truth, and in the highest sense Divine truth itself proceeding from the Lord (of which more in what follows); and from the signification of the "church in Pergamum," as being those within the church who are in temptations.
That these are meant by the "church in Pergamum" is clear from the things written to that church, which follow. From no other source can it be known what is signified by each of the seven churches. For as was shown before, what is meant is not any church in Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, or Laodicea, but all who are of the Lord's church, and by each of these churches something that constitutes the church with man is meant. And as the first things of the church are the knowledges of truth and good, and the affections of spiritual truth, these are first treated of, namely, in what is written to the angel of the Ephesian church and of the Smyrnean church; of the knowledges of truth and good to the angel of the Ephesian church, and of the spiritual affection of truth to the angel of the Smyrnean church. And as no one can be imbued with the knowledges of truth and good in respect to life, and be steadfast in the spiritual affection of truth, unless he undergoes temptations, so temptations are now treated of in what is written to the angel of the church in Pergamum. From this it appears in what order the things follow that are taught under the names of the seven churches.
[2] It is said "To the angel of the church, write," and not, To the church, because by "angel" is signified Divine truth, which makes the church; for Divine truth teaches how man is to live that he may become a church. That "angel" in the Word, in its spiritual sense, does not mean any angel, but in the highest sense, Divine truth proceeding from the Lord, and in a respective sense, he that receives it, can be seen from this, that all the angels are recipients of Divine truth from the Lord, and no angel is of himself an angel; but he is so far an angel as he receives Divine truth; for angels more than men know and perceive that all the good of love and all the truth of faith are from the Lord, not from themselves, and as the good of love and the truth of faith constitute their wisdom and intelligence, and as these constitute the whole angel, they know and say that they are merely recipients of the Divine proceeding from the Lord, and thus are angels in the degree in which they receive it. On this account they desire that the term "angel" should be understood spiritually, that is, in a sense abstracted from persons, and as meaning Divine truths. By Divine truth is meant at the same time Divine good, because these proceed from the Lord united (See in the work on Heaven and Hell, n.
[133-140] 1 .
[3] And as Divine truth proceeding from the Lord constitutes the angel, by "angel" in the Word in the highest sense is meant the Lord Himself, as in Isaiah:
The angel of the faces of Jehovah delivered them, in His love and His pity He redeemed them, and took them up, and carried them all the days of eternity (Isaiah 63:9).
In Moses:
The angel who hath redeemed me from all evil, bless them (Genesis 48:16).
In the same:
I send an angel before thee to keep thee in the way; take ye heed of His faces, for my name is in the midst of Him (Exodus 23:20-23).
[4] As the Lord in respect to Divine truth is called an "angel," so also Divine truths are meant by "angels" in the spiritual sense, as in the following passages:
The Son of man shall send His angels, and they shall gather out of His kingdom all things that cause stumbling. In the consummation of the age the angels shall come forth and sever the wicked out of the midst of the just (Matthew 13:41, 49).
In the consummation of the age the Son of man shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and shall gather together the elect from the four winds (Matt. 24:3, 31).
When the Son of man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory (Matthew 25:31).
Jesus said, After this ye shall see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man (John 1:51).
In these passages, in the spiritual sense, by "angels" Divine truths and not angels are meant. So when it is here said that, in the consummation of the age, "the angels are to gather out all things that cause stumbling," "are to sever the wicked from the midst of the just," "are to gather together the elect from the four winds with a great sound of a trumpet," and that "the Son of man with the angels is to sit upon a throne of glory," it is not meant that angels, together with the Lord, are to do these things, but that the Lord alone will do them by means of His Divine truths; for angels have no power of themselves, but all power is the Lord's through His Divine truth (See in the work on Heaven and Hell 230-233). That "ye shall see the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man," means the like, namely, that Divine truths should be in Him and from Him.
[5] Moreover, in other places also "angels" mean Divine truths from the Lord, consequently the Lord in respect to Divine truths, as:
To the seven angels were given seven trumpets, and the angels sounded on the trumpets (Revelation 8:2, 6-8, 10, 12, 13; 9:1, 13, 14).
It is said that to the angels were given trumpets, and that they sounded thereon, because "trumpets" and their "sound" signify Divine truth to be revealed (See above, n. 55). Similar things are also meant:
By the angel warring against the dragon (Revelation 12:7, 9);
By the angel flying in the mid-heaven, having the eternal
gospel (Revelation 14:6);
By the seven angels pouring out the seven bowls (Rev. 16:1-4, 8, 10, 12);
By the twelve angels upon the twelve gates of the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:12).
That this is so will also be seen in what follows.
[6] That by "angels" are meant Divine truths which are from the Lord is clearly manifest in David:
Jehovah maketh His angels winds, and His ministers a flaming fire (Psalms 104:4);
by which words are signified Divine truth and Divine good; for the "wind" of Jehovah in the Word signifies Divine truth, and His "fire" Divine good (as can be seen from what is shown in the Arcana Coelestia, as that the "wind of the nostrils" of Jehovah is Divine truth, n.8286; that the "four winds" are all things of truth and good, n. 3708, 9642, 9668; consequently "to breathe" in the Word signifies the state of the life of faith, n. 9281; from which it is evident what is signified by Jehovah's "breathing" into the nostrils of Adam (Genesis 2:7); by the Lord's "breathing" upon His disciples (John 20:22); and by these words, "The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the voice thereof, but knowest not whence it cometh" (John 3:8); concerning which see n. 96, 97, 9229, 9281 also n. 1119, 3886, 3887, 3889, 3892, 3893; that "flaming fire" is Divine love, and therefore Divine good, see in the work on Heaven and Hell 133-140, 566-568; and above, n. 68).
[7] That "angel" signifies Divine truth proceeding from the Lord is clearly manifest from these words in Revelation:
He measured the wall of the New Jerusalem, a hundred and forty-four cubits, the measure of a man, which is that of an angel (Revelation 21:17).
That the wall of the New Jerusalem is not the measure of an angel anyone can see, but that all protecting truths are there meant by an "angel" is evident from the signification of the "wall of Jerusalem," and of the number "one hundred and forty-four." (That the "wall" signifies all protecting truths, see Arcana Coelestia 6419; that the number "one hundred and forty-four" signifies all things of truth in the complex, n. 7973; that "measure" signifies the quality of a thing in respect to truth and good, n. 3104, 9603, 10262. These things may also be found explained as to the spiritual sense, in The small work on The New Jerusalem and its Doctrine 1.)
[8] Because by "angels" in the Word Divine truths are signified, therefore the men through whom Divine truths are made known are sometimes called "angels" in the Word, as in Malachi:
The priest's lips ought to guard knowledge, and they shall seek the law at his mouth, because he is the angel of Jehovah (Malachi 2:7).
He is said to be the "angel of Jehovah," because he teaches Divine truth; not that he is the angel of Jehovah, but the Divine truth that he teaches is. Moreover, it is known in the church that no one has Divine truth from himself. "Lips" also here signify the doctrine of truth, and "law" Divine truth itself. (That "lips" signify the doctrine of truth, see Arcana Coelestia 1286, 1288; and that "law" signifies Divine truth itself, see n. 3382, 7463)
[9] From this it is that John the Baptist also is called an angel:
Jesus said, This is he of whom it is written, Behold, I send Mine angel before Thy face, who shall prepare Thy way before Thee (Luke 7:27).
John is called an "angel," because by him, in the spiritual sense, is signified the Word, which is Divine truth, in like manner as by Elias (See Arcana Coelestia 7643, 9372, and what is signified; this is what is meant by the persons mentioned in the Word, see n. 665, 1097, 1361, 3147, 3670, 3881, 4208, 4281, 4288, 4292, 4307, 4500, 6304, 7048, 7439, 8588, 8788, 8806, 9229).
[10] It is said that by "angels" in the Word, in its spiritual sense, Divine truths proceeding from the Lord are meant, because these constitute the angels; when angels utter these truths, they speak not from themselves, but from the Lord. The angels not only know that this is so, but they also perceive it. The man who believes that nothing of faith is from himself, but that all faith is from God, also knows this, indeed, but he does not perceive it. That nothing of faith is from man, but all faith is from God, is the same as saying that nothing of truth that has life is from man, but all truth is from God, for truth is of faith and faith is of truth.
Joel 2
1
Stoßet in die Posaune auf Zion, und blaset Lärm auf meinem heiligen Berge! Beben sollen alle Bewohner des Landes; denn es kommt der Tag Jehovas, denn er ist nahe:
2
ein Tag der Finsternis und der Dunkelheit, ein Tag des Gewölks und der Wolkennacht. Wie die Morgendämmerung ist es ausgebreitet über die Berge, ein großes und mächtiges Volk, desgleichen von Ewigkeit her nicht gewesen ist und nach ihm nicht mehr sein wird bis in die Jahre der Geschlechter und Geschlechter.
3
Vor ihm her verzehrt das Feuer, und nach ihm lodert die Flamme; Vor ihm ist das Land wie der Garten Eden, und nach ihm eine öde Wüste, und auch keine Entronnenen läßt es übrig.
4
Sein Aussehen ist wie das Aussehen von
ossen; und wie
eitpferde, also rennen sie.
5
Gleich Wagengerassel hüpfen sie auf den Gipfeln der Berge, gleich dem Prasseln der Feuerflamme, welche Stoppeln verzehrt; sie sind wie ein mächtiges Volk, zum Kampfe gerüstet.
6
Vor ihm zittern die Völker, alle Angesichter erblassen.
7
Sie rennen wie Helden, wie Kriegsleute ersteigen sie die Mauer; und sie ziehen ein jeder auf seinem Wege, und ihre Pfade wechseln sie nicht;
8
und keiner drängt den anderen, sie ziehen jeder einzeln auf seiner Bahn; und sie stürzen zwischen den Waffen hindurch und verwunden sich nicht (O. brechen nicht ab, d. h. halten in ihrem Zuge nicht inne.)
9
Sie laufen in der Stadt umher, rennen auf die Mauer, steigen in die Häuser; durch die Fenster dringen sie ein wie der Dieb.
10
Vor ihnen erbebt die Erde, erzittert der Himmel; Sonne und Mond verfinstern sich, und die Sterne verhalten ihren Glanz.
11
Und Jehova läßt vor seinem Heere her seine Stimme erschallen, denn sein Heerlager ist sehr groß, denn der Vollstrecker seines Wortes ist mächtig; denn groß ist der Tag Jehovas und sehr furchtbar, und wer kann ihn ertragen?
12
Aber auch jetzt noch, spricht Jehova (Eig. ist der Spruch Jehovas,) kehret um zu mir (Eig. bis zu mir, d. i. völlig zu mir) mit eurem ganzen Herzen, und mit Fasten und mit Weinen und mit Klagen.
13
Und zerreißet euer Herz und nicht eure Kleider, und kehret um zu Jehova, eurem Gott; denn er ist gnädig und barmherzig, langsam zum Zorn und groß an Güte, und läßt sich des Übels gereuen.
14
Wer weiß? er möchte umkehren und es sich gereuen lassen, und er möchte Segen hinter sich zurücklassen: Speisopfer und Trankopfer für Jehova, euren Gott (Vergl. Kap. 1,9-12.)
15
Stoßet in die Posaune auf Zion, heiliget ein Fasten, rufet eine Festversammlung aus!
16
Versammelt das Volk, heiliget eine Versammlung, bringet die Ältesten zusammen, Versammelt die Kinder und die Säuglinge an den Brüsten; der Bräutigam trete aus seiner Kammer, und die Braut aus ihrem Gemach!
17
Die Priester, die Diener Jehovas, sollen weinen zwischen der Halle und dem Altar und sprechen: Schone, Jehova, deines Volkes und gib nicht dein Erbteil der Schmähung hin, daß sie den Nationen zur Spottrede (Eig. zum Sprichwort) seien! Warum soll man unter den Völkern sagen: Wo ist ihr Gott?
18
Dann eifert Jehova für sein Land, und er hat Mitleid mit seinem Volke.
19
Und Jehova antwortet und spricht zu seinem Volke: Siehe, ich sende euch das Korn und den Most und das Öl, daß ihr davon satt werdet; und ich werde euch nicht mehr zum Hohne machen unter den Nationen.
20
Und ich werde den von Norden Kommenden von euch entfernen und ihn in ein dürres und wüstes Land vertreiben, seinen Vortrab in das vordere Meer und seinen Nachtrab in das hintere Meer (d. h. in das Tote und in das Mittelländische Meer;) und sein Gestank wird aufsteigen, und aufsteigen sein übler Geruch (Eig. seine Fäulnis,) weil er Großes getan hat (Zugleich: sich überholen hat.)
21
Fürchte dich nicht, Erde; frohlocke und freue dich! denn Jehova tut Großes.
22
Fürchtet euch nicht, ihr Tiere des Feldes! denn es grünen die Auen der Steppe; denn der Baum trägt seine Frucht, der Feigenbaum und der Weinstock geben ihren Ertrag. (W. ihre Kraft)
23
Und ihr, Kinder Zions, frohlocket und freuet euch in Jehova, eurem Gott! Denn er gibt euch den Frühregen nach rechtem Maße, und er läßt euch
egen herabkommen: Frühregen und Spätregen wie zuvor (So mit geringer Textänderung; im hebr. Texte steht: Frühregen und Spätregen zuerst.)
24
Und die Tennen werden voll Getreide sein, und die Kufen überfließen von Most und Öl.
25
Und ich werde euch die Jahre erstatten, welche die Heuschrecke, der Abfresser und der Vertilger und der Nager gefressen haben-mein großes Heer, das ich unter euch gesandt habe.
26
Und ihr werdet essen, essen und satt werden, und werdet den Namen Jehovas, eures Gottes, preisen, der Wunderbares an euch getan hat. Und mein Volk soll nimmermehr beschämt werden.
27
Und ihr werdet wissen (O. erkennen, erfahren,) daß ich in Israels Mitte bin, und daß ich, Jehova, euer Gott bin, und keiner sonst. Und mein Volk soll nimmermehr beschämt werden.
28
Und danach wird es geschehen, daß ich meinen Geist ausgießen werde über alles Fleisch; und eure Söhne und eure Töchter werden weissagen, eure Greise werden Träume haben, eure Jünglinge werden Gesichte sehen.
29
Und selbst über die Knechte und über die Mägde werde ich meinen Geist ausgießen in jenen Tagen. -
30
Und ich werde Wunder geben im Himmel und auf der Erde: Blut und Feuer und
auchsäulen;
31
die Sonne wird sich in Finsternis verwandeln und der Mond in Blut, ehe der Tag Jehovas kommt, der große und furchtbare. -
32
Und es wird geschehen, ein jeder, der den Namen Jehovas anrufen wird, wird errettet werden; denn auf dem Berge Zion und in Jerusalem wird Errettung (O. werden Entronnene) sein, wie Jehova gesprochen hat, und unter den Übriggebliebenen, welche (O. wen) Jehova berufen wird.
