Apocalypse Explained # 607
607. And lifted up his hand to heaven, signifies bearing witness before the angels respecting the state of the church. This is evident from the signification of "to lift up the hand to heaven," as being bearing witness before the angels; that it means respecting the state of the church is evident from what follows. That bearing witness before the angels is what is here signified by "lifting up the hand to heaven" may be concluded from this, that bearing witness is expressed by raising the hands to heaven; also from this, that "he sware by Him that liveth unto the ages of the ages that time shall be no more," as immediately follows, and "to swear" is an expression of bearing witness, and the "time that shall be no more" means the state of the church.
Zephaniah 1:4-6
4
I will stretch out my hand against Judah, and against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem. I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place: the name of the idolatrous and pagan priests,
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those who worship the army of the sky on the housetops, those who worship and swear by Yahweh and also swear by Malcam,
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those who have turned back from following Yahweh, and those who haven't sought Yahweh nor inquired after him.
