Apocalypse Revealed # 452
452. And out of their mouths came fire, smoke, and brimstone. This symbolically means that interiorly regarded, their thoughts and discourses contained nothing else, and issuing from them was nothing but a love of self and the world, which is a characteristic trait of the will, a conceit in their own intelligence, which is a characteristic trait of the intellect, and the lusts attendant on evil and falsity, which are a characteristic trait flowing from them both.
Out of their mouths means from their thoughts and discourses. Fire symbolizes a love of self and the world, which is a characteristic trait of the will (nos. 450, 468, 494). Smoke symbolizes a conceit in one's own intelligence, which is a characteristic trait of the intellect, emanating from the love of self and the world like smoke from a fire (no. 422). And brimstone symbolizes the lusts attendant on evil and falsity, which are a characteristic trait flowing from them both.
This is not, however, apparent from these people's discourses in public in the world. But it is clearly apparent to angels in heaven. Consequently we say that their thoughts and discourses, interiorly regarded, are of this character.
Fire symbolizes hellish love, and brimstone the lusts flowing from that love through a conceit in one's own intelligence, in the following places:
I will rain down on him... fire and brimstone. (Ezekiel 38:22)
Upon the wicked (Jehovah) will rain... fire and brimstone... (Psalms 11:6)
...the day of Jehovah's vengeance... Its streams shall be turned into pitch, and its dust into brimstone...; its smoke shall ascend forever. (Isaiah 34:8-10)
On the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone... Even so will it be in the day the Son of Man is revealed. (Luke 17:29-30. Cf. Genesis 19:24)
If anyone worships the beast and his image..., he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone... (Revelation 14:9.10)
The beast, the false prophet, and the devil were cast into the lake of fire and brimstone (Revelation 19:20; 20:10; 21:8).
The breath of Jehovah, like a stream of brimstone, shall kindle (the pyre). (Isaiah 30:33)
The whole land is brimstone, salt, and burning; it shall not be sown, nor shall it sprout..., like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah... (Deuteronomy 29:22-23)
Brimstone is scattered on the habitation (of the wicked). (Job 18:15)
Psalms 103
1
Praise Yahweh, my soul! All that is within me, Praise his holy name!
2
Praise Yahweh, my soul, and don't forget all his benefits;
3
who forgives all your sins; who heals all your diseases;
4
who redeems your life from destruction; who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies;
5
who satisfies your desire with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
6
Yahweh executes righteous acts, and justice for all who are oppressed.
7
He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the children of Israel.
8
Yahweh is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness.
9
He will not always accuse; neither will he stay angry forever.
10
He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor repaid us for our iniquities.
11
For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his loving kindness toward those who fear him.
12
As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
13
Like a father has compassion on his children, so Yahweh has compassion on those who fear him.
14
For he knows how we are made. He remembers that we are dust.
15
As for man, his days are like grass. As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.
16
For the wind passes over it, and it is gone. Its place remembers it no more.
17
But Yahweh's loving kindness is from everlasting to everlasting with those who fear him, his righteousness to children's children;
18
to those who keep his covenant, to those who remember to obey his precepts.
19
Yahweh has established his throne in the heavens. His kingdom rules over all.
20
Praise Yahweh, you angels of his, who are mighty in strength, who fulfill his word, obeying the voice of his word.
21
Praise Yahweh, all you armies of his, you servants of his, who do his pleasure.
22
Praise Yahweh, all you works of his, in all places of his dominion. Praise Yahweh, my soul!
