Arcana Coelestia # 2446
2446. 'Brimstone' means the hell of the evils of self-love, and 'fire' the hell of falsities deriving from these. This is clear from the meaning in the Word of 'brimstone' and of 'fire' produced by it as self-love together with its evil desires and derivative falsities, and so as hell, for hell consists of such. That 'brimstone' and 'fire' have these meanings is clear in David,
Jehovah will rain on the wicked, snares, fire and brimstone. Psalms 11:6.
The fact that it is not fire or brimstone but something else that is meant here by 'fire and brimstone' becomes clear also from its being said that 'Jehovah will rain snares'. In Ezekiel,
I will dispute with him with pestilence and blood; and deluging rain and hailstones, fire and brimstone will I rain on him and on his hordes, and on the many peoples that are with him. Ezekiel 38:22.
This refers to Gog who lays waste the land of Israel, that is, the Church. What Gog is, see 1151. 'Fire' stands for falsities, 'brimstone' for derivative evils, and at the same time for the hells of those who lay waste. In John,
Those who worshipped the beast were thrown into the lake burning with brimstone. Revelation 19:20.
Here they stand for hell. In the same book,
The devil was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night for ever and ever. Revelation 20:10.
Here they plainly stand for hell. In the same book,
As for abominable people, and murderers, and adulterers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, their lot will be in the lake burning with fire and brimstone. Revelation 21:8.
Here also 'fire and brimstone' plainly stands for hell.
[2] That these two stand for the evils of self-love and for falsities deriving from these, in which the hells have their origin, is seen in Isaiah,
The day of Jehovah's vengeance - the year of retributions in the controversy of Zion - and her streams will be turned into pitch, and her dust into brimstone, and her land will become burning pitch. Isaiah 34:8-9.
Here 'burning pitch', mentioned instead of fire, stands for dense and dreadful falsities, 'brimstone' for evils which are the product of self-love. In the same prophet,
Its pyre is fire and much wood; the breath of Jehovah is like a stream of burning brimstone in it. Isaiah 30:33.
In this reference to Tophet, 'a stream of burning brimstone' stands for falsities which are the product of the evils of self-love. In Luke,
On the day Lot went out of Sodom fire and brimstone rained from heaven and destroyed them all - so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed. Luke 17:29-30.
[3] Anyone may see that it is not fire and brimstone that will rain down at that time but that the falsities and desires of self-love, which are meant by 'fire and brimstone' and which make up hell, will be predominant. 'Fire' in the Word means evil desires and at the same time the hells, in which case the smoke from the fire means falsity which arises from and exists in those hells, see 1861. And in John,
I saw horses in the vision, and those seated on them had breastplates of fire and of brimstone. And the heads of the horses were like lions' heads, and out of their mouths there went forth fire, smoke, and brimstone. By these three a third part of mankind was killed - by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone. Revelation 9:17-18.
'Fire, smoke, and brimstone' stands for evils and falsities of every kind, in which, as stated, the hells have their origin.
Luke 18
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He also spoke a parable to them that they must always pray, and not give up,
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saying, "There was a judge in a certain city who didn't fear God, and didn't respect man.
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A widow was in that city, and she often came to him, saying, 'Defend me from my adversary!'
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He wouldn't for a while, but afterward he said to himself, 'Though I neither fear God, nor respect man,
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yet because this widow bothers me, I will defend her, or else she will wear me out by her continual coming.'"
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The Lord said, "Listen to what the unrighteous judge says.
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Won't God avenge his chosen ones, who are crying out to him day and night, and yet he exercises patience with them?
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I tell you that he will avenge them quickly. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"
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He spoke also this parable to certain people who were convinced of their own righteousness, and who despised all others.
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"Two men went up into the temple to pray; one was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector.
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The Pharisee stood and prayed to himself like this: 'God, I thank you, that I am not like the rest of men, extortioners, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.
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I fast twice a week. I give tithes of all that I get.'
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But the tax collector, standing far away, wouldn't even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!'
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I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."
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They were also bringing their babies to him, that he might touch them. But when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them.
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Jesus summoned them, saying, "Allow the little children to come to me, and don't hinder them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
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Most certainly, I tell you, whoever doesn't receive the Kingdom of God like a little child, he will in no way enter into it."
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A certain ruler asked him, saying, "Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"
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Jesus asked him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good, except one--God.
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You know the commandments: 'Don't commit adultery,' 'Don't murder,' 'Don't steal,' 'Don't give false testimony,' 'Honor your father and your mother.'"
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He said, "I have observed all these things from my youth up."
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When Jesus heard these things, he said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have, and distribute it to the poor. You will have treasure in heaven. Come, follow me."
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But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was very rich.
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Jesus, seeing that he became very sad, said, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter into the Kingdom of God!
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For it is easier for a camel to enter in through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God."
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Those who heard it said, "Then who can be saved?"
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But he said, "The things which are impossible with men are possible with God."
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Peter said, "Look, we have left everything, and followed you."
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He said to them, "Most certainly I tell you, there is no one who has left house, or wife, or brothers, or parents, or children, for the Kingdom of God's sake,
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who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the world to come, eternal life."
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He took the twelve aside, and said to them, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all the things that are written through the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be completed.
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For he will be delivered up to the Gentiles, will be mocked, treated shamefully, and spit on.
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They will scourge and kill him. On the third day, he will rise again."
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They understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they didn't understand the things that were said.
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It happened, as he came near Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the road, begging.
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Hearing a multitude going by, he asked what this meant.
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They told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by.
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He cried out, "Jesus, you son of David, have mercy on me!"
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Those who led the way rebuked him, that he should be quiet; but he cried out all the more, "You son of David, have mercy on me!"
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Standing still, Jesus commanded him to be brought to him. When he had come near, he asked him,
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"What do you want me to do?" He said, "Lord, that I may see again."
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Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight. Your faith has healed you."
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Immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God. All the people, when they saw it, praised God.
