Arcana Coelestia # 482
482. What the “years” and the “numbers of years” which occur in this chapter, signify in the internal sense, has hitherto been unknown. Those who abide in the literal sense suppose them to be secular years, whereas from this to the twelfth chapter there is nothing historical according to its appearance in the literal sense, but all things in general and every single thing in particular contain other matters. And this is the case not only with the names, but also with the numbers. In the Word frequent mention is made of the number three, and also of the number seven, and wheresoever they occur they signify something holy or most sacred in regard to the states which the times or other things involve or represent; and they have the same signification in the least intervals of time as in the greatest, for as the parts belong to the whole, so the least things belong to the greatest, for there must be a likeness in order that the whole may properly come forth from the parts, or the greatest from its leasts. Thus in Isaiah:
Now hath Jehovah spoken, saying, Within three years, as the years of a hireling, and the glory of Moab shall be rendered worthless (Isaiah 16:14).
Again:
Thus hath the Lord said unto me, Within a year, according to the years of a hireling, and all the glory of Kedar shall be consumed (Isaiah 21:16), where both the least and the greatest intervals are signified.
In Habakkuk:
Jehovah, I have heard Thy renown, and was afraid; O Jehovah, revive Thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known (Habakkuk 3:2), where the “midst of the years” signifies the Lord’s advent. In lesser intervals it signifies every coming of the Lord, as when man is being regenerated; in greater, when the church of the Lord is arising anew.
It is likewise called the “year of the redeemed” in Isaiah:
The day of vengeance is in My heart, and the year of My redeemed is come (Isaiah 63:4).
So also the thousand years in which Satan was to be bound (Revelation 20:2, 7), and the thousand years of the first resurrection (Revelation 20:4-6), (Revelation 20:6) by no means signify a thousand years, but their states; for as “days” are used to express states, as shown above, so also are “years,” and the states are described by the number of the years. Hence it is evident that the times in this chapter also involve states; for every church was in a different state of perception from the rest, according to the differences of genius, hereditary and acquired.
Isaiah 21
1
The burden of the wilderness of the sea. As whirlwinds in the South sweep through, it comes from the wilderness, from an awesome land.
2
A grievous vision is declared to me. The treacherous man deals treacherously, and the destroyer destroys. Go up, Elam; attack! I have stopped all of Media's sighing.
3
Therefore my thighs are filled with anguish. Pains have taken hold on me, like the pains of a woman in labor. I am in so much pain that I can't hear. I so am dismayed that I can't see.
4
My heart flutters. Horror has frightened me. The twilight that I desired has been turned into trembling for me.
5
They prepare the table. They set the watch. They eat. They drink. Rise up, you princes, oil the shield!
6
For the Lord said to me, "Go, set a watchman. Let him declare what he sees.
7
When he sees a troop, horsemen in pairs, a troop of donkeys, a troop of camels, he shall listen diligently with great attentiveness."
8
He cried like a lion: "Lord, I stand continually on the watchtower in the daytime, and every night I stay at my post.
9
Behold, here comes a troop of men, horsemen in pairs." He answered, "Fallen, Fallen is Babylon; and all the engraved images of her gods are broken to the ground.
10
You are my threshing, and the grain of my floor!" That which I have heard from Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel, I have declared to you.
11
The burden of Dumah. One calls to me out of Seir, "Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?"
12
The watchman said, "The morning comes, and also the night. If you will inquire, inquire. Come back again."
13
The burden on Arabia. In the forest in Arabia you will lodge, you caravans of Dedanites.
14
They brought water to him who was thirsty. The inhabitants of the land of Tema met the fugitives with their bread.
15
For they fled away from the swords, from the drawn sword, from the bent bow, and from the heat of battle.
16
For the Lord said to me, "Within a year, as a worker bound by contract would count it, all the glory of Kedar will fail,
17
and the residue of the number of the archers, the mighty men of the children of Kedar, will be few; for Yahweh, the God of Israel, has spoken it."
