Apocalypse Revealed # 435
435. And their teeth were like lions' teeth. This symbolically means that matters of the senses, which constitute the lowest elements of the natural self's life, appeared to them to have power over all else.
Teeth symbolize the lowest elements of the natural self's life, which are called sensual, as discussed in no. 424 above. These sensual elements are of two kinds, one having to do with the will, the other with the intellect. Sensual elements having to do with the will are symbolized by women's hair, as said just above in no. 434; and sensual elements having to do with the intellect are symbolized by teeth. The latter, which is to say, sensual people caught up in falsities by conviction, appear to themselves to have power over everything, so that they cannot be overcome. Therefore the locusts' teeth, which symbolize such sensual elements, were like lions' teeth - a lion symbolizing power (no. 241).
That teeth symbolize the lowest elements of a person's life - those elements called sensual - and that when these are divorced from the interior levels of the mind, they are caught up in nothing but falsities and attack truths and destroy them, can be seen from the following passages:
With my soul I lie down among lions...; their teeth are a spear and arrows... (Psalms 57:4)
O God, destroy their teeth in their mouth! Turn aside the molars of the young lions... (Psalms 58:6)
...a nation has come up against My land, strong..., its teeth the teeth of a lion, and it has the molars of a fierce lion. (Joel 1:6)
...O Jehovah..., You have broken the teeth of the impious. (Psalms 3:7)
...a beast (came up from the sea), terrible, dreadful, and exceedingly strong, which had huge iron teeth; it was devouring and breaking in pieces... (Daniel 7:3, 7).
Blessed be Jehovah, who has not given us as prey to their teeth. (Psalms 124:6)
Since sensual people do not see any truth in its own light, but reason and argue about everything as to whether it is so, and since these altercations in the hells sound outside the hells like the gnashing of teeth, which regarded in itself is a colliding of falsity and truth, it is apparent what the gnashing of teeth symbolizes in Matthew 8:12; 13:42, 50; 22:13; 24:51; 25:30, and Luke 13:28; and in some measure what to gnash with the teeth symbolizes in Job 16:9, Psalms 35:15-16; 37:12; 112:10, Micah 3:5, and Lamentations 2:16.
Psalms 102
1
Hear my prayer, Yahweh! Let my cry come to you.
2
Don't hide your face from me in the day of my distress. Turn your ear to me. Answer me quickly in the day when I call.
3
For my days consume away like smoke. My bones are burned as a torch.
4
My heart is blighted like grass, and withered, for I forget to eat my bread.
5
By reason of the voice of my groaning, my bones stick to my skin.
6
I am like a pelican of the wilderness. I have become as an owl of the waste places.
7
I watch, and have become like a sparrow that is alone on the housetop.
8
My enemies reproach me all day. Those who are mad at me use my name as a curse.
9
For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mixed my drink with tears,
10
Because of your indignation and your wrath, for you have taken me up, and thrown me away.
11
My days are like a long shadow. I have withered like grass.
12
But you, Yahweh, will remain forever; your renown endures to all generations.
13
You will arise and have mercy on Zion; for it is time to have pity on her. Yes, the set time has come.
14
For your servants take pleasure in her stones, and have pity on her dust.
15
So the nations will fear the name of Yahweh; all the kings of the earth your glory.
16
For Yahweh has built up Zion. He has appeared in his glory.
17
He has responded to the prayer of the destitute, and has not despised their prayer.
18
This will be written for the generation to come. A people which will be created will praise Yah.
19
For he has looked down from the height of his sanctuary. From heaven, Yahweh saw the earth;
20
to hear the groans of the prisoner; to free those who are condemned to death;
21
that men may declare the name of Yahweh in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem;
22
when the peoples are gathered together, the kingdoms, to serve Yahweh.
23
He weakened my strength along the course. He shortened my days.
24
I said, "My God, don't take me away in the midst of my days. Your years are throughout all generations.
25
Of old, you laid the foundation of the earth. The heavens are the work of your hands.
26
They will perish, but you will endure. Yes, all of them will wear out like a garment. You will change them like a cloak, and they will be changed.
27
But you are the same. Your years will have no end.
28
The children of your servants will continue. Their seed will be established before you." By David.
