Apocalypse Explained # 844
844. Verse 18. Here is wisdom, signifies that this is their doctrine in all its complex, which is thought to be wisdom, although it is insanity. This is evident from the signification of "here is wisdom," as being that all those things that have been said of the dragon and his two beasts is the doctrine of those who have separated faith from life, which however is not wisdom, as it is reputed, but insanity. That this is the meaning of "here is wisdom" follows from what precedes, that "no one is able to buy 1 and sell save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name," which signifies that no one should learn or teach anything else but what had been acknowledged, and thus accepted in doctrine. From this it can be concluded that "wisdom" here means wisdom in their own eyes; which, nevertheless, is insanity appearing to them to be wisdom. Insanity is meant by "wisdom," because those who are in falsities, when they have confirmed their falsities believe themselves to be wiser than others. The evil do the like when they are in their evils and are contriving devices by which they may do evil to the good; they then appear to themselves to be ingenious, yea even wiser than others, and yet before the eyes of angels they appear crazy. And this is why their insanity when they are in falsities is called in the Word "wisdom and intelligence," as in the following passages:
O Lord God, Thou hast hid these things from the wise and intelligent, and hast revealed them unto babes (Matthew 11:25; Luke 10:21).
Woe to the wise in their own eyes, and the intelligent before their own faces (Isaiah 5:21).
I will visit upon the fruit of the proud heart of the king of Assyria and upon the splendor of the exaltation of his eyes; for he hath said, In the power of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom; because I was intelligent (Isaiah 10:12, 13).
Surely the princes of Zoan are fools, the wise of the counselors of Pharaoh; how say ye unto Pharaoh, I am the son of the wise (Isaiah 19:11).
The wisdom of his wise men shall perish, and the intelligence of his intelligent shall hide itself (Isaiah 29:14).
He casteth the wise men backward (Isaiah 44:25).
A sword against the inhabitants of Babylon, and against her princes, and against her wise ones (Jeremiah 50:35).
This is why the magi in Babylon and elsewhere were called wise men (Daniel 2:48).
From this it is clear that wisdom is predicated in the Word also of those who are not wise, also of those who are insane from falsities, like as "diadems" are attributed to them (as to the dragon, Revelation 12:3, and to his beast i (Revelation 12:1) n the first verse of this chapter); and it is said of the woman who sat on the scarlet beast:
That she was arrayed in purple and scarlet, gilded with gold, adorned with precious stones and pearls (Revelation 17:4).
Likewise the evil are called "strong" and "mighty," when in fact they are anything but strong and mighty (See above, n. 783).
Poznámky pod čarou:
1. The photolithograph has "edere et vendere" for "emere et vendere."
Nahum 1
1
The burden of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite,
2
God is jealous, and the LORD avengeth; the LORD avengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies.
3
The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: The LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.
4
He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers: Bashan languisheth, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon languisheth.
5
The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, even the world, and all that dwell therein.
6
Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him.
7
The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.
8
But with an over-running flood he will make an utter end of the place thereof, and darkness shall pursue his enemies.
9
What do ye imagine against the LORD? he will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time.
10
For while they are folded together as thorns, and while they are drunken as drunkards, they shall be devoured as stubble fully dry.
11
There is one come out of thee, that imagineth evil against the LORD, a wicked counselor.
12
Thus saith the LORD; Though they are quiet, and likewise many, yet thus shall they be cut down, when he shall pass through. Though I have afflicted thee, I will afflict thee no more.
13
For now I will break his yoke from off thee, and will burst thy bonds asunder.
14
And the LORD hath given a commandment concerning thee, that no more of thy name be sown: out of the house of thy gods will I cut off the graven image and the molten image: I will make thy grave; for thou art vile.
15
Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace! O Judah, keep thy solemn feasts, perform thy vows: for the wicked shall no more pass through thee; he is utterly cut off.
