Bible

 

Skaičiai 16:21

Studie

       

21 “Pasitraukite iš šio susirinkimo, Aš juos bematant sunaikinsiu”.

Ze Swedenborgových děl

 

Apocalypse Revealed # 395

Prostudujte si tuto pasáž

  
/ 962  
  

395. Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. (8:5) This symbolizes spiritual love, containing celestial love, and its influx into the lower regions where those people were who were caught up in a faith divorced from charity.

A censer, just like incense, symbolizes worship springing from a spiritual love. This is apparent from what we have already shown, and from the fact that in the Word, a container has the same symbolism as what it contains, even as a cup and plate have the same symbolism as wine and food (Matthew 23:25-26, Luke 22:20, and elsewhere).

Fire from the altar of burnt offering symbolizes Divinely given celestial love, because that altar symbolized worship springing from that love (see no. 392 above). And fire in the highest sense symbolizes Divine love (no. 494).

Spiritual love, or charity, takes its essence from celestial love, or love toward the Lord. Apart from that love, spiritual love or charity has in it no vitality, for spirit and life have no other origin than the Lord.

This was represented in the Israelite Church by their taking fire for their censers and burning incense only from the altar of burnt offering, as can be seen in the books of Moses (Leviticus 16:12-13).

It was also a statute, therefore, that fire burn continually on the altar of burnt offering and not go out (Leviticus 6:13). The reason was that the fire of that altar symbolized the Lord's Divine love, and thus love toward the Lord.

Throwing the censer to the earth symbolizes an influx into lower regions.

  
/ 962  
  

Many thanks to the General Church of the New Jerusalem, and to Rev. N.B. Rogers, translator, for the permission to use this translation.

Bible

 

Revelation 8

Studie

   

1 When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.

2 I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.

3 Another angel came and stood over the altar, having a golden censer. Much incense was given to him, that he should add it to the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar which was before the throne.

4 The smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel's hand.

5 The angel took the censer, and he filled it with the fire of the altar, and threw it on the earth. There followed thunders, sounds, lightnings, and an earthquake.

6 The seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.

7 The first sounded, and there followed hail and fire, mixed with blood, and they were thrown to the earth. One third of the earth was burnt up, and one third of the trees were burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.

8 The second angel sounded, and something like a great burning mountain was thrown into the sea. One third of the sea became blood,

9 and one third of the living creatures which were in the sea died. One third of the ships were destroyed.

10 The third angel sounded, and a great star fell from the sky, burning like a torch, and it fell on one third of the rivers, and on the springs of the waters.

11 The name of the star is called "Wormwood." One third of the waters became wormwood. Many people died from the waters, because they were made bitter.

12 The fourth angel sounded, and one third of the sun was struck, and one third of the moon, and one third of the stars; so that one third of them would be darkened, and the day wouldn't shine for one third of it, and the night in the same way.

13 I saw, and I heard an eagle, flying in mid heaven, saying with a loud voice, "Woe! Woe! Woe for those who dwell on the earth, because of the other voices of the trumpets of the three angels, who are yet to sound!"