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כל־אלמנה ויתום לא תענון׃
Apocalypse Revealed # 496
496. These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy. (11:6) This symbolically means that people who turn away from these two essential elements of the New Church cannot receive any truth from heaven.
Heaven here means the angelic heaven. Thus the rain symbolizes truth for the church from there. Consequently to close heaven so that no rain falls means, symbolically, that people cannot receive any truth for the church from heaven. Truth for the church from heaven is doctrinal truth from the Word.
We are told that the two witnesses have the power to shut heaven, but as in no. 494 above, the meaning here is not that they have that power, but that people who turn away from the two essential elements of the New Church close heaven to themselves, because they continue to be caught up in their falsities.
That rain symbolizes Divine truth from heaven is clear from the following passages:
My doctrine shall drop as the rain, My word shall fall as the dew... (Deuteronomy 32:2)
(If) you... serve other gods..., (Jehovah will) shut up heaven so that there be no rain... (Deuteronomy 11:16-17, see also 11:11, 11:14)
I will lay waste (My vineyard).... I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain on it. (Isaiah 5:6)
The showers have been withheld, and there has been no late rain. Yet you continue to have a harlot's forehead... (Jeremiah 3:3)
For as the rain comes down... from heaven..., so shall My word (go) forth from My mouth. (Isaiah 55:10-11)
Rejoice then, you children of Zion, and be glad in Jehovah... For He has given you seasonable rain in righteousness. (Joel 2:23)
You have caused to drop, O God, a kindly rain... (Psalms 68:9)
He shall come down like rain upon the grass of the meadow... In His days the righteous shall flourish... (Psalms 72:6-7)
He will come to us as rain, as the late... rain waters the earth. (Hosea 6:3)
...my word shall rain down on them, and they will wait for me as for the rain, and they will open their mouth for the late rain. (Job 29:22-23)
Son of man, say...: "You are a land that is not cleansed, which will have no rain in the day of wrath. There is a conspiracy of her prophets in her midst... (Ezekiel 22:24-25)
And so on elsewhere, as in Isaiah 30:23; Jeremiah 5:24; 10:12-13; 14:3-4; 51:16.
A flooding rain stands for the destruction of truth in Ezekiel 13:11, 13-14; 38:22. For temptation or trial in Matthew 7:24-27.
Psalms 72
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God, give the king your justice; your righteousness to the royal son.
2
He will judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice.
3
The mountains shall bring prosperity to the people. The hills bring the fruit of righteousness.
4
He will judge the poor of the people. He will save the children of the needy, and will break the oppressor in pieces.
5
They shall fear you while the sun endures; and as long as the moon, throughout all generations.
6
He will come down like rain on the mown grass, as showers that water the earth.
7
In his days, the righteous shall flourish, and abundance of peace, until the moon is no more.
8
He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, from the River to the ends of the earth.
9
Those who dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him. His enemies shall lick the dust.
10
The kings of Tarshish and of the islands will bring tribute. The kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.
11
Yes, all kings shall fall down before him. All nations shall serve him.
12
For he will deliver the needy when he cries; the poor, who has no helper.
13
He will have pity on the poor and needy. He will save the souls of the needy.
14
He will redeem their soul from oppression and violence. Their blood will be precious in his sight.
15
They shall live, and to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba. Men shall pray for him continually. They shall bless him all day long.
16
Abundance of grain shall be throughout the land. Its fruit sways like Lebanon. Let it flourish, thriving like the grass of the field.
17
His name endures forever. His name continues as long as the sun. Men shall be blessed by him. All nations will call him blessed.
18
Praise be to Yahweh God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds.
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Blessed be his glorious name forever! Let the whole earth be filled with his glory! Amen and amen.
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This ends the prayers by David, the son of Jesse. BOOK III A Psalm by Asaph.
