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Ezekiel 27

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1 και-C γιγνομαι-VBI-AMI3S λογος-N2--NSM κυριος-N2--GSM προς-P εγω- P--AS λεγω-V1--PAPNSM

2 υιος-N2--VSM ανθρωπος-N2--GSM λαμβανω-VB--AAD2S επι-P *σορ-N---ASF θρηνος-N2--ASM

3 και-C ειπον-VF2-FAI2S ο- A--DSF *σορ-N---DSF ο- A--DSF καταοικεω-V2--PAPDSF επι-P ο- A--GSF εισοδος-N2--GSF ο- A--GSF θαλασσα-N1S-GSF ο- A--DSN εμποριον-N2N-DSN ο- A--GPM λαος-N2--GPM απο-P νησος-N2--GPF πολυς-A1--GPF οδε- D--APN λεγω-V1--PAI3S κυριος-N2--NSM ο- A--DSF *σορ-N---DSF συ- P--NS ειπον-VAI-AAI2S εγω- P--NS περιτιθημι-VAI-AAI1S εμαυτου- D--DSF καλλος-N3E-ASN εγω- P--GS

4 εν-P καρδια-N1A-DSF θαλασσα-N1S-GSF ο- A--DSM *βεελιμ-N---DSM υιος-N2--NPM συ- P--GS περιτιθημι-VAI-AAI3P συ- P--DS καλλος-N3E-ASN

5 κεδρος-N2--NSF εκ-P *σανιρ-N---GS οικοδομεω-VCI-API3S συ- P--DS ταινια-N1A-NPF σανιδος-N3D-GPF κυπαρισσος-N2--GSF εκ-P ο- A--GSM *λιβανος-N2--GSM λαμβανω-VVI-API3P ο- A--GSN ποιεω-VA--AAN συ- P--DS ιστος-N2--APM ελατινος-A1--APM

6 εκ-P ο- A--GSF *βασανιτις-N3D-GSF ποιεω-VAI-AAI3P ο- A--APF κωπη-N1--APF συ- P--GS ο- A--APN ιερος-A1A-APN συ- P--GS ποιεω-VAI-AAI3P εκ-P ελεφας-N3--GSM οικος-N2--APM αλσωδης-A3H-APM απο-P νησος-N2--GPF ο- A--GPM *χεττιιν-N---GPM

7 βυσσος-N2--NSF μετα-P ποικιλια-N1A-GSF εκ-P *αιγυπτος-N2--GSF γιγνομαι-VBI-AMI3S συ- P--DS στρωμνη-N1--NSF ο- A--GSN περιτιθημι-VE--AAN συ- P--DS δοξα-N1S-ASF και-C περιβαλλω-VF2-FAN συ- P--AS υακινθος-N2--ASF και-C πορφυρα-N1A-ASF εκ-P ο- A--GPF νησος-N2--GPF *ελισαι-N---GS και-C γιγνομαι-VBI-AMI3S περιβολαιον-N2N-NPN συ- P--GS

8 και-C ο- A--NPM αρχων-N3--NPM συ- P--GS ο- A--NPM καταοικεω-V2--PAPNPM *σιδων-N---ASF και-C *αραδιος-N2--NPM γιγνομαι-VBI-AMI3P κωπηλατης-N1M-NPM συ- P--GS ο- A--NPM σοφος-A1--NPM συ- P--GS *σορ-N---VSF ος- --NPM ειμι-V9--IAI3P εν-P συ- P--DS ουτος- D--NPM κυβερνητης-N1M-NPM συ- P--GS

9 ο- A--NPM πρεσβυτερος-A1A-NPMC *βυβλιοι-N---GP και-C ο- A--NPM σοφος-A1--NPM αυτος- D--GPM ειμι-V9--IAI3P εν-P συ- P--DS ουτος- D--NPM ενισχυω-V1--IAI3P ο- A--ASF βουλη-N1--ASF συ- P--GS και-C πας-A3--NPN ο- A--NPN πλοιον-N2N-NPN ο- A--GSF θαλασσα-N1S-GSF και-C ο- A--NPM κωπηλατης-N1M-NPM αυτος- D--GPM γιγνομαι-VBI-AMI3P συ- P--DS επι-P δυσμη-N1--APF δυσμη-N1--GPF

10 *περσης-N1M-NPM και-C *λυδοι-N2--NPM και-C *λιβυες-N3--NPM ειμι-V9--IAI3P εν-P ο- A--DSF δυναμις-N3I-DSF συ- P--GS ανηρ-N3--NPM πολεμιστης-N1--NPM συ- P--GS πελτη-N1--APF και-C περικεφαλαια-N1A-APF κρεμαζω-VAI-AAI3P εν-P συ- P--DS ουτος- D--NPM διδωμι-VAI-AAI3P ο- A--ASF δοξα-N1S-ASF συ- P--GS

11 υιος-N2--NPM *αραδιος-N2--GPM και-C ο- A--NSF δυναμις-N3I-NSF συ- P--GS επι-P ο- A--GPN τειχος-N3E-GPN συ- P--GS φυλαξ-N3K-NPM εν-P ο- A--DPM πυργος-N2--DPM συ- P--GS ειμι-V9--IAI3P ο- A--APF φαρετρα-N1A-APF αυτος- D--GPM κρεμαζω-VAI-AAI3P επι-P ο- A--GPF ορμη-N1--GPF συ- P--GS κυκλος-N2--DSM ουτος- D--NPM τελειοω-VAI-AAI3P συ- P--GS ο- A--ASN καλλος-N3E-ASN

12 *καρχηδονιοι-N---NPM εμπορος-N2--NPM συ- P--GS απο-P πληθος-N3E-GSN πας-A1S-GSF ισχυς-N3U-GSF συ- P--GS αργυριον-N2N-ASN και-C χρυσιον-N2N-ASN και-C σιδηρος-N2--ASM και-C κασσιτερος-N2--ASM και-C μολιβος-N2--ASM διδωμι-VAI-AAI3P ο- A--ASF αγορα-N1A-ASF συ- P--GS

13 ο- A--NSF *ελλας-N3--NSF και-C ο- A--NSF συμπας-A1S-NSF και-C ο- A--NPN παρατεινω-V1--PAPNPN ουτος- D--NPM ενπορευομαι-V1I-IMI3P συ- P--DS εν-P ψυχη-N1--DPF ανθρωπος-N2--GPM και-C σκευος-N3E-APN χαλκους-A1C-APN διδωμι-VAI-AAI3P ο- A--ASF εμπορια-N1A-ASF συ- P--GS

14 εκ-P οικος-N2--GSM *θεργαμα-N---GS ιππος-N2--APM και-C ιππευς-N3V-APM διδωμι-VAI-AAI3P αγορα-N1A-ASF συ- P--GS

15 υιος-N2--NPM *ροδιοι-N2--GPM εμπορος-N2--NPM συ- P--GS απο-P νησος-N2--GPF πληθυνω-VAI-AAI3P ο- A--ASF εμπορια-N1A-ASF συ- P--GS οδους-N3--APM ελεφαντινος-A1--APM και-C ο- A--DPM ειςαγω-V1--PMPDPM αντιδιδωμι-V8I-IAI2S ο- A--APM μισθος-N2--APM συ- P--GS

16 ανθρωπος-N2--APM εμπορια-N1A-ASF συ- P--GS απο-P πληθος-N3E-GSN ο- A--GSM συμμικτος-A1B-GSM συ- P--GS στακτη-N1--ASF και-C ποικιλμα-N3M-APN εκ-P *θαρσις-N---GS και-C *ραμωθ-N---N και-C *χορχορ-N---N διδωμι-VAI-AAI3P ο- A--ASF αγορα-N1A-ASF συ- P--GS

17 *ιουδας-N1T-NSM και-C ο- A--NPM υιος-N2--NPM ο- A--GSM *ισραηλ-N---GSM ουτος- D--NPM εμπορος-N2--NPM συ- P--GS εν-P σιτος-N2--GSM πρασις-N3E-DSF και-C μυρον-N2N-GPN και-C κασια-N1A-GSF και-C πρωτος-A1--ASNS μελι-N3--ASN και-C ελαιον-N2N-ASN και-C ρητινη-N1--ASF διδωμι-VAI-AAI3P εις-P ο- A--ASM συμμικτος-A1B-ASM συ- P--GS

18 *δαμασκος-N2--NS εμπορος-N2--NSM συ- P--GS εκ-P πληθος-N3E-GSN πας-A1S-GSF δυναμις-N3I-GSF συ- P--GS οινος-N2--NSM εκ-P *χελβων-N---G και-C εριον-N2N-APN εκ-P *μιλητος-N2--GS

19 και-C οινος-N2--ASM εις-P ο- A--ASF αγορα-N1A-ASF συ- P--GS διδωμι-VAI-AAI3P εκ-P *ασηλ-N---GS σιδηρος-N2--NSM εργαζομαι-VT--XMPNSM και-C τροχος-N2--NSM εν-P ο- A--DSM συμμικτος-A1B-DSM συ- P--GS ειμι-V9--PAI3S

20 *δαιδαν-N---NS εμπορος-N2--NPM συ- P--GS μετα-P κτηνος-N3E-GPN εκλεκτος-A1--GPN εις-P αρμα-N3M-APN

21 ο- A--NSF *αραβια-N1A-NSF και-C πας-A3--NPM ο- A--NPM αρχων-N3--NPM *κηδαρ-N---GS ουτος- D--NPM εμπορος-N2--NPM συ- P--GS δια-P χειρ-N3--GSF συ- P--GS καμηλος-N2--APM και-C κριος-N2--APM και-C αμνος-N2--APM εν-P ος- --DPM ενπορευομαι-V1--PMI3P συ- P--AS

22 εμπορος-N2--NPM *σαβα-N---GS και-C *ραγμα-N---GS ουτος- D--NPM εμπορος-N2--NPM συ- P--GS μετα-P πρωτος-A1--GPNS ηδυσμα-N3M-GPN και-C λιθος-N2--GPM χρηστος-A1--GPM και-C χρυσιον-N2N-ASN διδωμι-VAI-AAI3P ο- A--ASF αγορα-N1A-ASF συ- P--GS

23 *χαρραν-N---NS και-C *χαννα-N---NS ουτος- D--NPM εμπορος-N2--NPM συ- P--GS *ασσουρ-N---NS και-C *χαρμαν-N---NS εμπορος-N2--NPM συ- P--GS

24 φερω-V1--PAPNPM εμπορια-N1A-ASF υακινθος-N2--ASF και-C θησαυρος-N2--APM εκλεκτος-A1--APM δεω-VM--XMPAPM σχοινιον-N2N-DPN και-C κυπαρισσινος-A1--APN

25 πλοιον-N2N-NPN εν-P αυτος- D--DPM *καρχηδονιοι-N---NPM εμπορος-N2--NPM συ- P--GS εν-P ο- A--DSN πληθος-N3E-DSN εν-P ο- A--DSM συμμικτος-A1B-DSM συ- P--GS και-C ενπιμπλημι-VSI-API2S και-C βαρυνω-VCI-API2S σφοδρα-D εν-P καρδια-N1A-DSF θαλασσα-N1S-GSF

26 εν-P υδωρ-N3T-DSN πολυς-A1--DSN αγω-V1I-IAI3P συ- P--AS ο- A--NPM κωπηλατης-N1M-NPM συ- P--GS ο- A--NSN πνευμα-N3M-NSN ο- A--GSM νοτος-N2--GSM συντριβω-VAI-AAI3S συ- P--AS εν-P καρδια-N1A-DSF θαλασσα-N1S-GSF

27 ειμι-V9--IAI3P δυναμις-N3I-NPF συ- P--GS και-C ο- A--NSM μισθος-N2--NSM συ- P--GS και-C ο- A--GPM συμμικτος-A1B-GPM συ- P--GS και-C ο- A--NPM κωπηλατης-N1M-NPM συ- P--GS και-C ο- A--NPM κυβερνητης-N1M-NPM συ- P--GS και-C ο- A--NPM συμβουλος-N2--NPM συ- P--GS και-C ο- A--NPM συμμικτος-A1B-NPM συ- P--GS εκ-P ο- A--GPM συμμικτος-A1B-GPM συ- P--GS και-C πας-A3--NPM ο- A--NPM ανηρ-N3--NPM ο- A--NPM πολεμιστης-N1--NPM συ- P--GS ο- A--NPM εν-P συ- P--DS και-C πας-A1S-NSF ο- A--NSF συναγωγη-N1--NSF συ- P--GS εν-P μεσος-A1--DSM συ- P--GS πιπτω-VF2-FMI3P εν-P καρδια-N1A-DSF θαλασσα-N1S-GSF εν-P ο- A--DSF ημερα-N1A-DSF ο- A--GSF πτωσις-N3I-GSF συ- P--GS

28 προς-P ο- A--ASF φωνη-N1--ASF ο- A--GSF κραυγη-N1--GSF συ- P--GS ο- A--NPM κυβερνητης-N1M-NPM συ- P--GS φοβος-N2--DSM φοβεω-VC--FPI3P

29 και-C καταβαινω-VF--FMI3P απο-P ο- A--GPN πλοιον-N2N-GPN πας-A3--NPM ο- A--NPM κωπηλατης-N1M-NPM συ- P--GS και-C ο- A--NPM επιβατης-N1M-NPM και-C ο- A--NPM πρωρευς-N3V-NPM ο- A--GSF θαλασσα-N1S-GSF επι-P ο- A--ASF γη-N1--ASF ιστημι-VF--FMI3P

30 και-C αλαλαζω-VF--FAI3P επι-P συ- P--AS ο- A--DSF φωνη-N1--DSF αυτος- D--GPM και-C κραζω-VFX-FMI3P πικρος-A1A-ASM και-C επιτιθημι-VF--FAI3P επι-P ο- A--ASF κεφαλη-N1--ASF αυτος- D--GPM γη-N1--ASF και-C σποδος-N2--ASF υποστρωννυω-VF--FMI3P

32 και-C λαμβανω-VF--FMI3P ο- A--NPM υιος-N2--NPM αυτος- D--GPM επι-P συ- P--AS θρηνος-N2--ASM και-C θρηνημα-N3M-ASN συ- P--DS

33 ποσος-A1--ASM τις- I--ASM ευρισκω-VB--AAI2S μισθος-N2--ASM απο-P ο- A--GSF θαλασσα-N1S-GSF ενπιμπλημι-VAI-AAI2S εθνος-N3E-APN απο-P ο- A--GSN πληθος-N3E-GSN συ- P--GS και-C απο-P ο- A--GSM συμμικτος-A1B-GSM συ- P--GS πλουτιζω-VAI-AAI2S πας-A3--APM βασιλευς-N3V-APM ο- A--GSF γη-N1--GSF

34 νυν-D συντριβω-VDI-API2S εν-P θαλασσα-N1S-DSF εν-P βαθυς-A3U-DSM υδωρ-N3T-GSN ο- A--NSM συμμικτος-A1B-NSM συ- P--GS και-C πας-A1S-NSF ο- A--NSF συναγωγη-N1--NSF συ- P--GS εν-P μεσος-A1--DSM συ- P--GS πιπτω-VBI-AAI3P πας-A3--NPM ο- A--NPM κωπηλατης-N1M-NPM συ- P--GS

35 πας-A3--NPM ο- A--NPM καταοικεω-V2--PAPNPM ο- A--APF νησος-N2--APF στυγναζω-VAI-AAI3P επι-P συ- P--AS και-C ο- A--NPM βασιλευς-N3V-NPM αυτος- D--GPM εκστασις-N3I-DSF εκιστημι-VHI-AAI3P και-C δακρυω-VAI-AAI3S ο- A--ASN προσωπον-N2N-ASN αυτος- D--GPM

36 εμπορος-N2--NPM απο-P εθνος-N3E-GPN συριζω-VAI-AAI3P συ- P--AS απωλεια-N1A-NSF γιγνομαι-VBI-AMI2S και-C ουκετι-D ειμι-VF--FMI2S εις-P ο- A--ASM αιων-N3W-ASM

   

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Apocalypse Revealed # 538

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538. Having seven heads. This symbolizes irrationality owing to their falsifying and profaning the Word's truths.

A head symbolizes wisdom and intelligence, and in an opposite sense, irrationality. However, the seven heads here, being the heads of the dragon, symbolize more specifically irrationality owing to a falsification and profanation of the Word's truths. For the number seven is predicated of things that are holy, and in an opposite sense, of things that are profane (no. 10). Consequently we are told next that on its heads were seen seven jewels, 1 and jewels symbolize the Word's truths, there truths falsified and profaned.

That a head symbolizes wisdom and intelligence is apparent from the following passages:

I will give you wise and intelligent men..., and I will make them your heads. (Deuteronomy 1:13)

...Jehovah... has closed your eyes, namely, the prophets; and He has covered your heads, namely, the seers. (Isaiah 29:10)

In Daniel 2:32 the head of Nebuchadnezzar's image of fine gold symbolizes the wisdom of the first age, which existed in people of the Most Ancient Church.

That in an opposite sense a head symbolizes irrationality and foolishness is apparent in the book of Psalms:

God will smite the head of His enemies, the hairy crown of the one who walks in his guilty ways. (Psalms 68:21)

In Genesis 3:15 the head of the serpent that would be trampled has the same symbolism, and so does "striking the head over much land" in Psalms 110:6-7; Lamentations 2:10; 2 Samuel 13:19).

Moreover, seven heads later in the book of Revelation, namely, in Revelation 13:1, 3; 17:3, 7, 9, also symbolize irrationality owing to a falsification and profanation of truths.

Poznámky pod čarou:

1. The word translated as "jewels" here means diadems or crowns in the original Greek and Latin, but the writer's definition of the term elsewhere make plain that he regularly and consistently interpreted it to mean jewels or gems.

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

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Apocalypse Revealed # 532

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532. CHAPTER 12

1. Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.

2. Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth.

3. And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven jewels 1 on its heads.

4. Its tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born.

5. She bore a male Child who would shepherd all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne.

6. Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they may feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days.

7. And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and its angels fought,

8. but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer.

9. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, which leads the whole world astray; it was cast to the earth, and its angels were cast out with it.

10. Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now salvation, and power, and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, which accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.

11. And they overcame it by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.

12. Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that it has a short time."

13. Now when the dragon saw that it had been cast to the earth, it pursued the woman who gave birth to the male Child.

14. But the woman was given two wings of the great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she might be nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the face of the serpent.

15. So the serpent spewed water out of its mouth like a river after the woman, that it might cause her to be swept away by the river.

16. But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the river which the dragon had spewed out of its mouth.

17. And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and it went off to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

18. Then I stood on the sand of the sea. 2

THE SPIRITUAL MEANING

The Contents of the Whole Chapter

The subject now is the New Church and its doctrine. The woman here means the New Church, and the child that she bore, its doctrine.

Dealt with also are people in today's church who, in accordance with their doctrine, believe in a trinity of Persons and a duality in the Person of Christ, and in justification by faith alone. These are meant by the dragon.

Depicted finally is these people's persecution of the New Church because of its doctrine, and the Lord's protection of it until it grows from being among few to being among many.

The Contents of the Individual Verses:

Verse ContentsSpiritual Meaning
1. Now a great sign appeared in heaven:A revelation from the Lord concerning His New Church in heaven and on earth and the difficulty of its doctrine's being accepted and the antagonism to it.
a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet,The Lord's New Church in heaven, which is the New Heaven, and the New Church to come on earth, which is the New Jerusalem.
and on her head a crown of twelve stars.Its wisdom and intelligence resulting from its concepts of Divine goodness and truth drawn from the Word.
2. Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth.The emerging doctrine of the New Church and the difficulty of its being accepted owing to the opposition to it by people meant by the dragon.
3. And another sign appeared in heaven:A revelation from the Lord concerning people antagonistic to the New Church and its doctrine.
behold, a great, fiery red dragonPeople in the Protestant Reformed Church who make God three entities and the Lord two, and who divorce charity from faith, making faith saving and not at the same time charity.
having seven headsIrrationality owing to their falsifying and profaning the Word's truths.
and ten horns,Much power.
and seven jewels 1 on its heads.All the Word's truths falsified and profaned.
4. Its tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth.By falsifying the Word's truths they exiled all spiritual concepts of goodness and truth from the church, and by appeals to falsity completely destroyed them.
And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born.Those people meant by the dragon endeavor to snuff out the doctrine of the New Church at its first appearance.
5. She bore a male ChildThe doctrine of the New Church,
who would shepherd all nations with a rod of iron.which by truths drawn from the literal sense of the Word, together with rational arguments in accord with people's natural sight, will convince all those willing to be convinced whose worship is a lifeless worship owing to their divorcing faith from charity.
And her Child was caught up to God and His throne.The Lord's protection of the doctrine and its being guarded by angels in heaven.
6. Then the woman fled into the wilderness,The church being at first among few.
where she has a place prepared by God, that they may feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days.The state of that church then, that in the meantime provision may be made for it to exist among more people, until it grows to its appointed state.
7. And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and its angels fought,The falsities of the previous church fighting against the truths of the New Church.
8. but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer.They were convicted of being caught up in falsities and evils, and yet they persisted in them, and therefore they were forcibly withdrawn from any conjunction with heaven and cast down.
9. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan,Those people now turned away from the Lord to themselves, and from heaven to the world, and so were caught up in the evils of their lusts and in falsities.
which leads the whole world astray;They pervert everything having to do with the church.
it was cast to the earth, and its angels were cast out with it.They were cast into the world of spirits, which is midway between heaven and hell, from which a direct conjunction is formed with people on earth.
10. Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now salvation, and power, and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of His Christ have come,The joy of angels in heaven that the Lord alone now reigns in heaven and the church, and that those people are saved who believe in Him.
for the accuser of our brethren, which accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.By the Last Judgment those were removed who stood in opposition to the doctrine of the New Church.
11. And they overcame it by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony,Victory gained by the Divine truth of the Word and acknowledgment of the Lord,
and they did not love their lives to the death.and they did not love themselves more than the Lord.
12. Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them!The new state of heaven, that the inhabitants are in the Lord and have the Lord in them.
Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath,A lamentation over people in the church who are caught up in the falsities of their faith and thus in evil practices, because they are in league with followers of the dragon,
knowing that it has but a short time."because it knew that a new heaven had been formed, that a new church on earth was therefore imminent, and that it would then be cast into hell, along with its followers.
13. Now when the dragon saw that it had been cast to the earth, it pursued the woman who gave birth to the male Child.After they were cast down, followers of the dragon in the world of spirits immediately began to harass the New Church because of its doctrine.
14. But the woman was given two wings of the great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place,The Divine vigilance for that Church and protection while it was still among a few.
where she might be nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the face of the serpent.Because of the cunning of those leading astray, to provide vigilantly for the New Church to spread among more people, until it grows to its appointed state.
15. So the serpent spewed water out of its mouth like a river after the woman, that it might cause her to be swept away by the river.A multitude of reasonings flowing from falsities in order to destroy the church.
16. But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the river which the dragon had spewed out of its mouth.The multitude of reasonings come to nothing in the face of the spiritual truths rationally understood that are advanced by the Michaels of whom the New Church is formed.
17. And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and it went off to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.The hatred ignited in those people who believe themselves wise because of their arguments in support of the mystical union of the Divine and the human in the Lord and in support of justification by faith alone, against those who acknowledge the Lord alone as God of heaven and earth, and the Ten Commandments as law to be lived, and their attacking new converts with the intention of leading them astray.
18. Then I stood on the sand of the sea. 3 John's spiritual state now natural.

THE EXPOSITION

Now a great sign appeared in heaven. (12:1) This symbolizes a revelation from the Lord concerning His New Church in heaven and on earth and the difficulty of its doctrine's being accepted and the antagonism to it.

A sign from heaven means a revelation concerning things to come, and a great sign appearing in heaven means a revelation concerning the New Church, for the woman clothed with the sun, as described in this chapter, symbolizes that church. The male child that she bore symbolizes its doctrine. Her being in pain to give birth symbolizes the difficulty of that doctrine's being accepted. The dragon's attempting to devour the male child, and then persecuting the woman, symbolizes its antagonism. All this is the meaning of the great sign that appeared in heaven.

In the Word a sign is mentioned in relation to things to come, and it is then a revelation. It is mentioned in relation to truth, too, and it is then an attestation. And it is also mentioned in relation to the character of a state or object, and it is then an indicator.

A sign is mentioned in relation to things to come, and is then a revelation, in the following places:

Let them... declare to us what will happen..., that we may... know the latter end of them; or give us to hear things to come. Show signs for the future... (Isaiah 41:22-23)

(The disciples said to Jesus,) "What will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?" (Matthew 24:3, cf. Mark 13:4, Luke 21:7)

...there will be... signs from heaven... There will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars. (Luke 21:11, 25)

Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear... (Matthew 24:30)

(Hezekiah the king was told:) "This will be the sign... that Jehovah will do this thing... I will bring the shadow... on the sundial of Ahaz... backward." (Later Hezekiah said,) "What is the sign that I shall go up to the house of Jehovah?" (Isaiah 38:7-8, 22)

And so, too, elsewhere.

That a sign is mentioned in relation to truth and is then an attestation, and in relation to the character of a state and is then an indicator, is apparent from other passages in the Word.

Poznámky pod čarou:

1. The word translated as "jewels" here means diadems or crowns in the original Greek and Latin, but the writer's definition of the term elsewhere make plain that he regularly and consistently interpreted it to mean jewels or gems.

2. In most manuscripts, the Textus Receptus, the received text of the Greek New Testament, makes this verse part of the first verse of the next chapter (13:1), as do numerous translations into other languages. The Alexandrian text, however, and the text of Westcott and Hort, together with some translations, including those Latin versions consulted by the writer, make it verse 18 of the present chapter.

3. In most manuscripts, the Textus Receptus, the received text of the Greek New Testament, makes this verse part of the first verse of the next chapter (13:1), as do numerous translations into other languages. The Alexandrian text, however, and the text of Westcott and Hort, together with some translations, including those Latin versions consulted by the writer, make it verse 18 of the present chapter.

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