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Apocalypse Explained # 440

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440. Of the tribe of Manasseh were sealed twelve thousand.- That this signifies the goods of life thence, is evident from the representation, and thence the signification of the tribe of Manasseh, which denotes the Voluntary (voluntarium) of the church, and thence the good of life. The good of life is signified, because this makes one with the Voluntary of the church, or of the men of the church. For a man does what he wills, when it is possible a deed being nothing else but the will (voluntas) acting as is evident from this fact that action ceases when the will ceases, and continues so long as the will remains. What the will of the regenerated man does, is called the good of life. Since then Manasseh and his tribe signify the Voluntary of the church, he also signifies the good of life. Also after regeneration good of life from charity towards the neighbour succeeds as an effect from its cause, and this is signified by Asher and Naphtali. For those who are in charity towards the neighbour are regenerated by the Lord, and those who are regenerated are in the good of life, for they act from charity, and every action from charity is good of life.

[2] The two things which make the church, are, truth of doctrine and good of life, and a man must possess both of these in order to be a man of the church. These two were represented, and thence are signified in the Word, by Ephraim and Manasseh; the truth of doctrine, by Ephraim, and the good of life, by Manasseh. Truth of doctrine is also called the Intellectual of the church, and the good of life its Voluntary (voluntarium). For truth is of the understanding (intellectus), and good of the will (voluntas); and therefore Ephraim and Manasseh signify the Intellectual and the Voluntary of the church, Ephraim signifying the Intellectual, and Manasseh the Voluntary. In order that such things might be represented, and thence signified by Ephraim and Manasseh, they were born to Joseph in the land of Egypt. For Joseph signifies the Celestial-Spiritual, or the spiritual kingdom itself, which is adjoined to the celestial kingdom, and the land of Egypt signifies the Natural. Therefore good of the will in the Natural, born from the Celestial-Spiritual, is signified by Manasseh, and truth of the understanding in the Natural, also born from the same, is signified by Ephraim. It is said of their nativity in Moses,

"And unto Joseph were born two sons before the year of famine came, whom Asenath the daughter of Potipherah, priest of On, bare unto him. And Joseph called the name of the first-born Manasseh; for God hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father's house. And the name of the second called he Ephraim; for God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction" (Genesis 41:50-52).

What is meant by these words in the spiritual sense, may be seen in the Arcana Coelestia 5347-5356), namely, that by the name of the first-begotten, Manasseh, is meant the new Voluntary in the Natural, and its quality, and by the name of the second, Ephraim, the new Intellectual in the Natural and its quality, or what is the same, by Manasseh, the good of the new natural man, and by Ephraim, the truth thereof (see n. 5351, 5354).

[3] That Ephraim and Manasseh have this signification, is evident from the fact that they were adopted by Jacob as Reuben and Simeon, concerning which it is thus written in Moses:

"And Jacob said unto Joseph, Now thy two sons which were born unto thee in the land of Egypt, before I came unto thee into Egypt, are mine; Ephraim and Manasseh shall be mine as Reuben and Simeon; they shall be called after the name of their brethren in their inheritance" (Genesis 48:5, 6).

Because Reuben signifies truth in the understanding, which is the truth of doctrine, and Simeon, truth in the will, which is the good of life, therefore Jacob said that Ephraim and Manasseh should be to him as Reuben and Simeon, consequently Ephraim signifies intellectual truth, and Manasseh voluntary good. But these things are more fully explained in the Arcana Coelestia 6234-6241).

[4] The same is also evident from the blessing of Ephraim and Manasseh by Jacob, at that time Israel, which is as follows:

"Israel blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers, Abraham and Isaac, did walk, the God who hath fed me all my life long unto this day, the angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads, and in them shall my name be called, and the name of my fathers, Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth" (Genesis 48:15, 16).

That Ephraim here also means intellectual truth, and Manasseh, voluntary good, both of them in the natural man, may be seen in the Arcana Coelestia 6274-6285). Again, in the blessing of Ephraim and Manasseh by Moses, it is said of Joseph:

"In the firstling of his bullock he hath honour, and his horns the horns of a unicorn; with them he shall push the peoples together to the ends of the earth; and they are the myriads of Ephraim, and the thousands of Manasseh" (Deuteronomy 33:17).

The explanation of these words may be seen above (n. 316:23, 336:4).

That Ephraim signifies the understanding of truth, and Manasseh, the will of good, each in the natural man, is clear also from the following passages.

In Isaiah:

"Through the wrath of Jehovah of hosts is the land darkened and the people have become as fuel of fire; a man shall not spare his brother. And if he cut down on the right hand, he shall yet be hungry; and if he eat on the left hand, they shall not be satisfied; they shall eat every man the flesh of his own arm; Manasseh, Ephraim; and Ephraim, Manasseh; they together against" Jehovah (9:19-21).

That by Manasseh eating Ephraim, and Ephraim, Manasseh, is here signified that all the good and truth of the church would perish, the good by falsity, and the truth by evil, may be seen above (n. 386:2), where these things are explained in detail.

[5] In David:

"Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine; Ephraim also is the strength of my head; Judah is my lawgiver" (Psalm 60:7; 108:8).

Manasseh here signifies the good of the church, Ephraim, its truth, and Gilead, the Natural; and because truth from good in the Natural possesses Divine power, it is therefore said, "Ephraim is the strength of my head." The reason why there is Divine power by means of truth from good in the Natural is, that the Natural is the ultimate into which interior things, which are celestial and spiritual, flow, and there they exist and subsist together; they are consequently there in their fulness, in which and from which is all Divine operation. Therefore the sense of the letter of the Word possesses Divine power, because it is natural; concerning this see above (n. 346), and in the Arcana Coelestia 9836). From these considerations the reason is evident why Ephraim is called the strength of the head of Jehovah. Judah is called His lawgiver, because by Judah is signified Divine Truth internal, or the Word in the spiritual sense, and similarly by lawgiver and law.

[6] In the same:

"Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that sittest upon the cherubim, shine forth. Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh, stir up thy strength, and come and save us" (Psalm 80:1, 2).

It is plain from the spiritual sense that these words contain a supplication to the Lord to instruct those who are of the church, and lead them by truths to good, and so to heaven. The Lord is called "shepherd of Israel" because He instructs and leads; it is therefore said, "Thou that leadest Joseph like a flock," and by Joseph are meant those of the church who are in truths from good. Thou that dwellest between the cherubim, signifies the Lord above the heavens, whence He sends forth the light which enlightens the mind and therefore it is said "shine forth." Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh, stir up thy strength, signifies that the light of truth may penetrate even to those who are in natural truth and good, thus to the ultimates in the church. Ephraim means those who are in natural truth, such as the truth of the Word in the sense of the letter; Manasseh means those who are in natural good, which is the delight of doing good and learning truth; Benjamin means the conjunctive [principle] of good and truth, or the conjoining medium in the Natural; by stirring up strength is meant to penetrate even there with light. Come and save us, signifies that they should be saved.

[7] Because all the good which is in the natural man flows in from the Lord through the Spiritual, and apart from that influx no good can exist in the Natural, and because Manasseh represented, and thence signifies, good from a spiritual source in the natural man, therefore an inheritance was given to that tribe beyond or without the Jordan, and also on this side, or within the Jordan; to half of the tribe, beyond or without the Jordan, and to the other half, on this side, or within the Jordan (see Num. 32:33, 39, 40; Deuteronomy 3:13; Joshua 13:29-31; 17:5-13, 16-18). The land beyond, or without the Jordan, represented and signified the external church with men in the natural man, but the land on this side, or within the Jordan, represented and signified the internal church with men in the spiritual man. Concerning this distinction, see above (n. 434:11). And good is that which makes the church; this good flows in immediately out of the spiritual man into the natural; apart from this influx the church does not exist in man. This is the reason why an inheritance both within and without the Jordan was given to the tribe of Manasseh, which signified the good of the church. That spiritual good flows into natural good immediately, but into natural truth mediately, may be seen in the Arcana Coelestia (3314, 3573, 3576, 3616, 3969, 3995, 4563); and that hence there is a parallelism between spiritual good and natural good, but not between spiritual truth and natural truth (1831, 1832, 3514, 3564).

[8] That Manasseh signifies the good of the church, or the good of life, which is the same with the good of the will, is evident from the representation and thence the signification of Ephraim, which denotes the truth of the church, or the truth of doctrine, and this is the same with truth of the understanding; for they were brethren, and good and truth are termed brethren in the Word. That Ephraim signifies the truth of doctrine, and thence the Intellectual of the church, may be seen in the Arcana Coelestia 5354), where many passages from the Word, in which Ephraim is mentioned, are quoted and explained; see also in the same work (n. 3969, 6222, 6234, 6238, 6267, 6296).

  
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Translation by Isaiah Tansley. Many thanks to the Swedenborg Society for the permission to use this translation.

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Arcana Coelestia # 9836

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9836. 'Two shoulders joined together shall it have at its two ends, and it shall be joined together' means an everlasting preservation of good and truth on every side by all exertion and power through a total uniting together. This is clear from the meaning of 'shoulders' as all the force and power, dealt with in 1085, 4931-4937, though the expressions 'placing on the shoulders' and 'carrying on them', used below in reference to the two shoham stones on which the names of the sons of Israel were engraved, mean an everlasting preservation of good and truth (for all forms of good and truths in their entirety are meant by 'the names of the sons of Israel', a subject dealt with further on); from the meaning of 'joined together' as a total uniting; and from the meaning of 'the two ends', or to the right and to the left, as on every side, dealt with in 8613.

[2] The implications of all this are that the ephod, as has been shown above, represented the outermost part of the Lord's spiritual kingdom. Thus the shoulder-pieces, on which the two shoham stones with the names of the sons of Israel had been placed, represented the everlasting preservation of good and truth; and the joining together of the ephod on the shoulders, and also in front of the breast and behind the back, represented a total uniting. This helps to make clear what is meant by the details stated further on regarding the shoulder-pieces and the engravings on them, namely the everlasting preservation of the good and truth present by all exertion and power, thus the preservation of the heavens. The stones with the names of the sons of Israel had been placed on the shoulder-pieces of the ephod, which represented the outermost part of the spiritual kingdom, because all preservation is dependent on the condition of what exists on last and lowest levels. For everything within terminates and forms a base for itself there on which to rest and remain in existence. Things on last and lowest levels resemble the soles and the upper parts of the feet on which the entire body stands; they are also like the hands and arms through which the body exercises its powers. Furthermore the strength of the body is concentrated there. This also explains why the hands and arms, the soles and feet too, correspond to the last and lowest parts of heaven. The fact that power and might reside in things which are last and lowest was represented in the Ancient Church by Nazirites and the hair on their head, in which their might resided, as is evident from Samson in Judges 14-16, and also their holiness, 3301. Regarding the hair, which on those men's heads was their Naziriteship, that it corresponds to the lowest levels of good and truth, or good and truth on lowest levels, see 3301, 5247, 6437.

[3] The residing of power in last and lowest things, and also the preservation in these of more internal ones in their proper condition, are matters which may be understood by people who know what the situation is with things in the natural order which follow one another in sequence and consequently exist together with one another. Things which follow in sequence finally come together on the last and lowest level, where they exist side-by-side in the same order. This being so, the things existing together with one another, which are last and lowest, serve those following one another in sequence, which are prior and higher, as corresponding supports on which they rest and are thereby preserved.

[4] 'The shoulders' means all the force and power exerted in offering resistance, breaking, or impelling. This is clear in Ezekiel,

You push with side and shoulder, and butt with your horns all the weak sheep, until you have scattered them abroad. Ezekiel 34:21.

In the same prophet,

Egypt has been a staff of reed to the house of Israel. When they took hold of you by the hand, you were broken, and you tore open their whole shoulder. 1 Ezekiel 29:6-7.

'Tearing open the whole shoulder' stands for depriving of all the power to grasp truths, 'Egypt' being the perverted factual knowledge which causes such deprivation.

[5] In Zechariah,

They refused to listen, and turned 2 a stubborn shoulder. Zechariah 7:11.

'Turning a stubborn shoulder' stands for offering resistance. In David,

They thought a wicked deed, [but] they did not prevail; for You will set a shoulder against them. Psalms 21:11-12.

'Setting a shoulder against them' too stands for offering resistance, and so stands for power. The fact that 'shoulder' means power is evident from representatives in the next life, where those who offer resistance are seen setting an opposing shoulder.

[6] Placing onto the shoulders and carrying on them means preserving everlastingly in a state of good and truth through all exertion and power. This is clear in Isaiah,

The nations will bring your sons in their bosom, and carry your daughters on their shoulder. Isaiah 49:22.

This refers to a new Church. 'Sons' means truths, and 'daughters' forms of good; and 'carrying on the shoulder' stands for preserving them. The preservation of good in its proper condition was also represented by the action of the children of Israel, who carried their dough on their shoulder when they were going out of Egypt, Exodus 12:34; and by that of the sons of Kohath, who carried holy things 3 on their shoulder, Numbers 7:9. This explains why the Lord, who spoke by means of correspondences, said that when the lost sheep was found the owner placed it on his shoulder, rejoicing, Luke 15:5. 'The sheep that was lost and found' is good as it resides with someone who comes to his senses.

[7] Since 'carrying on the shoulder' had this meaning it is also said of those who love and preserve gold and silver that they carry them on their shoulder, Isaiah 46:7. Carrying also means holding something in its proper state or condition, see 9500. All this shows what was meant by the engraving of the names of the sons of Israel on the two shoham stones and the placement of them on the shoulder-pieces of the ephod, and by the injunction that 'Aaron shall bear (or carry) them on his two shoulders for a remembrance', verse 12. 'Carrying on the shoulder', when it has reference to subjection, means servitude, see Genesis 49:15; Psalms 81:6; Isaiah 9:4; 10:27; Matthew 23:4; Zephaniah 3:9. But when it has reference to dominion it means supreme power, Isaiah 9:6; 22:22.

Poznámky pod čarou:

1. literally, you dug through for them all the shoulder

2. literally, gave

3. literally, the works of the holy place (or of holiness)

  
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Thanks to the Swedenborg Society for the permission to use this translation.

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Apocalypse Explained # 316

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316. Having seven horns. That this signifies to whom belongs Omnipotence, is evident from the signification of a horn, as denoting the power of truth against falsity, but when predicated of the Lord, as denoting all power or omnipotence. The reason why the Lamb was seen to have horns seven in number, was because by seven is signified all, and it is said of what is holy (see above, n. 257). Horn and horns signify power, because the power of horned animals, as of oxen, rams, goats, and others, lies in their horns. That horn or horns signify the power of truth against falsity, and, in the highest sense, where said of the Lord, Omnipotence, and, in the opposite sense, the power of falsity against truth, is evident from many passages in the Word; and because it is thence evident what horns in the Word signify, of which mention is so often made in Daniel, and also in the Apocalypse, and because they are still in use in the coronation of kings, I wish to quote them.

[2] In Ezekiel:

"In that day will I make the horn of the house of Israel to grow, and I will give thee the opening of the mouth in the midst of them; that they may know that I am Jehovah" (29:21).

To make the horn of the house of Israel to grow, signifies truth in abundance, the house of Israel denoting the church; because this is signified by horn and its increase, therefore it is also said, "And I will give thee the opening of the mouth," by which is meant the preaching of the truth.

[3] In the first book of Samuel:

"The horn hath exalted her in Jehovah; my mouth is enlarged against mine enemies, because I rejoice in thy salvation. He shall give strength unto his king, and shall exalt the horn of his anointed" (2:1, 10).

This is a prophetical saying of Hannah. By, "The horn hath exalted her in Jehovah," is signified that the Divine truth filled her, and rendered her powerful against falsities; and because this is signified, therefore it is said, "My mouth is enlarged against my enemies"; the enlargement of the mouth denoting the preaching of truth with power, and the enemies denoting the falsities which disperse Divine truth. By, "He shall give strength unto his king, and shall exalt the horn of his anointed," is signified the Lord's Omnipotence from Divine good by Divine truth; for strength in the Word is said of the power of good, and horn of the power of truth; and the anointed of Jehovah denotes the Lord as to the Divine Human, which possesses Omnipotence (as may be seen, n. 3008, 3009, 9954).

[4] In David:

Jehovah "hath exalted the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints, of the sons of Israel, a people near unto him" (Psalms 148:14).

By, "He hath exalted the horn of his people," is signified that He hath filled them with Divine truths; therefore it is said,

"The praise of all his saints, of the sons of Israel, a people near unto him," for they are called saints who are in Divine truths, because the Divine truth is what is called holy (as may be seen above, n. 204). Israel denotes the church which is in truths, the sons thereof denote truths; people is also said of those who are in truths, and they are said to be near who are thereby conjoined with the Lord.

[5] In the same:

"Jehovah God of hosts, thou art the grace of their strength; and by thy good pleasure thou shalt exalt our horn" (89:8, 17).

By to exalt the horn is also here signified to fill with Divine truth, and thereby to give power against falsities; on which account it is said, "Jehovah God of hosts, thou art the grace of their strength"; grace also in the Word is predicated of the church, and of the doctrine of truth therein.

[6] In the same:

"A good man sheweth mercy and lendeth. His justice endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with glory" (Psalms 112:5, 9).

That horn signifies Divine truth, is evident from this consideration, that it is said, his justice endureth for ever, and his horn shall be exalted with glory; justice in the Word is said of good, therefore the horn is said of truth; for in every particular of the Word there is a marriage of good and truth; glory also signifies Divine truth.

[7] In Habakkuk:

"The brightness" of Jehovah God "shall be as the light; he hath horns coming out of his hand; and there is the hiding of his strength" (3:4).

Because horns signify Divine truth with power, therefore it is said, "The brightness of Jehovah God shall be as the light," and in the horns is the hiding of His strength. By the brightness of Jehovah and the light, is signified Divine truth; and by the hiding of His strength in the horns, is signified the omnipotence of the Divine good by the Divine truth, for all the power of good is by means of truth; and in Divine truth lies concealed the Omnipotence which is of Divine good.

[8] In David:

"I have found David my servant; with the oil of holiness have I anointed him: with whom my hand shall be established; mine arm also shall strengthen him. My truth and my mercy shall be with him; and in my name shall his horn be exalted" (Psalms 89:20, 21, 24).

By David is meant the Lord as to the Divine truth (as may be seen above, n. 205); and by his horn shall be exalted, is meant His Divine power, which He has from Divine good by means of Divine truth; therefore it is said, "My truth and my mercy shall be with him"; mercy in the Word, when said of Jehovah or the Lord, signifies the Divine good of the Divine love. Because by David is meant the Lord as to Divine truth proceeding from His Divine Human, He is therefore called David My servant; by servant in the Word is not meant a servant in the general sense, but whatever serves, and it is said of truth, because it serves good for use, here for power.

[9] In the same:

"I will make the horn of David to bud; I will place a lamp for mine anointed" (Psalms 132:17).

Here by David is meant the Lord as to Divine truth, and also by anointed; by making His horn to bud, is signified the multiplication of Divine truth in the heavens and on the earths from Him; therefore it is also said, "I will place a lamp for mine anointed," by which the same is meant. That the Lord as to Divine truth proceeding from His Divine good, is called a lamp, may be seen above, n. 62.

[10] In the same:

"Jehovah is my strength, my rock, my fortress; God [is] my rock in which I confide, my shield, and the horn of my salvation" (Psalms 18:1, 2; 2 Sam. 22:3).

Strength and rock, when said of Jehovah or the Lord, as in this passage, signify omnipotence; the fortress and rock in which he trusts, signify defence; the shield and horn of salvation signify salvation thence; strength, fortress, and shield in the Word are said of Divine good; stone, rock, and horn are said of Divine truth; hence by those things are signified omnipotence, defence, and salvation, which are from the Divine good by the Divine truth.

[11] In Luke:

"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, and hath raised up a horn of salvation in the house of David; that he might save us from our enemies" (1:68, 69, 71).

This is a prophetical [saying] of Zacharias concerning the Lord and His advent. The horn of salvation, in the house of David, signifies omnipotence of saving by means of Divine truth from Divine good; the horn denotes that omnipotence; the house of David denotes the Lord's church. The enemies from which He should save us, are the falsities of evil, for these are the enemies from which the Lord saves those who receive Him; that there were no other enemies from which the Lord preserved those who are there meant by His people, is known.

[12] In Micah:

"Rise and thresh, O daughter of Zion, for I will make thy horn iron, and I will make thy hoofs brass, that thou mayest break in pieces many peoples" (4:13).

Rise and thresh, O daughter of Zion, signifies the dissipation of evil with those who belong to the church; to thresh, denotes to dissipate; and the daughter of Zion denotes the church which is in the affection of good. I will make thy horn iron, signifies Divine truth mighty and powerful; and thy hoofs brass, has a similar signification, hoofs denoting truths in ultimates. That thou mayest break in pieces many peoples, signifies that thou mayest disperse falsities; for "peoples" is said of truths, and, in an opposite sense, of falsities.

[13] In Zechariah:

"I saw, and behold the four horns which dispersed Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem; he shewed me four smiths, and he said, These horns which have scattered Judah, so that not a man lifteth up his head, these have come to terrify them, to cast down the horns of the nations who lift up the horn against the land of Judah to scatter it" (1:18-21).

By these things the vastation of the church is described, and afterwards its restoration. By Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem, are signified the church and its doctrine; the horns which scattered them, signify the falsities of evil, which have vastated the church; smiths signify the same as iron, namely, truth in ultimates, which is mighty and powerful, consequently the same as the horn of iron; therefore it is said concerning them, "These have come to cast down the horns of the nations which lift up the horn against the land of Judah." The horns of the nations denote the falsities of evil which have vastated the church, and which are to be dispersed in order that it may be restored.

[14] In Lamentations:

"The Lord hath destroyed in his wrath the fortifications of the daughter of Judah; he hath cast them down to the earth; he hath profaned the kingdom and the princes thereof; he hath cut off in the wrath of [his] anger all the horn of Israel" (2:2, 3).

The total vastation of the church is here treated of. The last time, when it is devastated, is signified by the wrath of the Lord's anger; and its total vastation is described by, "He hath destroyed the fortifications of the daughter of Judah, he hath cast them down to the ground, he hath profaned the kingdom and the princes thereof." The daughter of Judah denotes the church; her fortifications denote truths from good; the kingdom and the princes denote the truths of its doctrine; hence it is evident what is signified by, "He hath cut off all the horn of Israel," namely, all the power of the truth of the church to resist the falsities of evil.

[15] In Daniel:

Daniel saw in a vision four beasts ascending out of the sea; the fourth exceedingly strong, having teeth of iron. He devoured and brake in pieces; and he had ten horns; and I gave heed, and behold, another little horn came up among them, and three of the former horns were uprooted before it; in this horn there were eyes as the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things. I saw that this horn made war with the saints, and had prevailed against them, and that it spake words against the Most High; as to the ten horns, they are ten kings, and it shall humble three kings (7:3, 7, 8, 20, 21, 23, 24, 25).

That by horns are here meant falsities which destroy the truths of the church, or the power of falsities against truths, is evident. By the beast ascending out of the sea, is signified the love of self, from which all evils [originate], in this case the love of ruling over heaven and earth, to which things holy are made subservient as means; of this quality is the love that is meant by Babylon in the Apocalypse. The beast was seen to ascend out of the sea, because by the sea is signified the natural man separated from the spiritual; for he is then such as to desire nothing more than to rule over all, and to confirm his rule from the sense of the letter of the Word. The ten horns signify falsities of every kind, for ten denotes all; therefore it is also said, that the ten horns are ten kings, for kings signify truths, and, in an opposite sense, as here, falsities. The little horn which came up among them, before which three of the former horns were uprooted, signifies the full perversion of the Word by the application of the sense of its letter to confirm the love of dominion. This horn is called little, because it does not appear that the Word is perverted; and that which does not appear before the sight of a man's spirit, or before his understanding, is considered either as nothing, or as little; in the spiritual world there is such an appearance of things to be apprehended only by a few. The three horns which were uprooted before it, signify the truths of the Word there, which are thus destroyed by falsifications; those truths are also signified by the three kings who were humbled by it. By three are not signified three, but what is full, thus that truths were completely destroyed. Because that horn signifies the perversion of the Word as to the sense of its letter, and this sense appears before the eyes of men as if it were to be thus and not otherwise understood, consequently to be contradicted by no one, it is therefore said of this horn, that in it there were eyes as the eyes of a man and a mouth speaking great things. The eyes signify the understanding; and eyes as the eyes of a man, the understanding, as it were, of the truth and the mouth signifies thought and speech thence.

From these considerations it may now be seen what is meant by all and each of the things here mentioned; as what by the beast ascending out of the sea, which had ten horns, and teeth of iron, and devoured and brake in pieces; what by the little horn which came up among them, before which three of the horns were uprooted, in which were eyes as the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things; also what by it made war with the saints and prevailed against them, and that it spake words against the Most High; and that the horns were so many kings.

[16] In the same:

"I saw in a vision a ram which had two horns, and the horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last. It shall push towards the west, the north, and the south. Then, behold, a he-goat of the she-goats came from the west upon the faces of the whole earth; it had a horn visible between its eyes. He ran unto the ram in the fury of his strength, and he brake his two horns, and he cast him down to the ground, and stamped upon him. But the great horn of the he-goat was broken; and there came up four in place thereof toward the four winds of the heavens. Presently out of one of them came forth a little horn, which grew exceedingly toward the south, and toward the east, and toward glory. And it grew, even to the host of the heavens; and it cast down of the host to the ground, and stamped upon them. Yea, even to the prince of the host it exalted itself; and the dwelling of his sanctuary was cast down, because it cast down truth to the earth" (8:2-12, 21, 25).

Here is described another thing which vastates the church, namely, faith alone. By the ram is signified the good of charity and faith thence, and by the he-goat faith separate from charity, or faith alone; or, what is the same, those who are therein; by their horns are signified truths from good and falsities from evil, combating; truths from good by the horns of the ram, and falsities from evil by the horns of the he-goat. By the ram having two high horns, one higher than the other, and the higher coming up last, is signified the truth of faith from the good of charity; and this is seen according to the influx of good and truth with men and spirits, for all good is received behind, and all truth in front, because the cerebellum is formed to receive the good of the will, and the cerebrum to receive the truth of the understanding. By the west, the north, and the south, towards which the ram pushed, are signified the goods and truths which those receive who are in charity and the faith thence, and by which they disperse evils and falsities.

By the he-goat of the she-goats which came upon the faces of the whole earth, is signified faith separate from charity, arising from evil of life; the he-goat of the she-goats denotes that faith; the west denotes evil of life; and the earth denotes the church; it had a horn visible between the eyes, signifies that it was of self-intelligence; that he ran unto the ram in the fury of his strength, and brake his two horns, and threw him down to the ground, and stamped upon him, signify the complete destruction of charity and the faith thence; for when charity is destroyed faith also is destroyed, for the latter is from the former. The great horn of the he-goat being broken, and four coming up in place thereof, towards the four winds of the heavens, signify all falsities conjoined with the evils thence; the horns signify the falsities of evil, four their conjunction, and the four winds of the heavens all, as well falsities as evils. That out of one of them came forth a little horn, signifies justification thereby, for this is born from the principle of faith alone; it is said to be little, because it does not appear as a falsity.

That this horn grew exceedingly towards the south, and towards the east, and towards glory; and grew even to the host of the heavens, and cast down of the host to the ground, and stamped upon them, signifies that it destroyed all the truths and goods of the church. The south denotes where truth is in the light; the east and glory denote where good is in clearness by truth; the host of the heavens denote all the truths and goods of heaven and the church; to cast down the host to the ground, and to stamp upon them, signifies to entirely destroy; that it exalteth itself, even to the prince of the host, and that the dwelling of his sanctuary was cast down, signifies the denial of the Lord's Divine Human, and the consequent vastation of the church. The prince of the host denotes the Lord as to the Divine Human, because from that proceed all the truths and goods which constitute the church; the dwelling of the sanctuary denotes the church where those things are; that they are truths destroyed by falsities that are meant, is evident, for it is said, it cast down the truth to the ground.

That such things are signified by the ram and the he-goat, and by their horns, is plainly evident from appearances in the spiritual world; for, when those who have confirmed themselves in the doctrine of faith alone, and of justification thereby, dispute there with those who are in the doctrine of charity and the faith thence, then to others who stand afar off he-goats, or a he-goat appear with similar horns, and with like insult and fury against rams or a ram, and he also appears to tread the stars under his feet. These things have been also seen by me, and at the same time by those who stood by me, who were thence convinced that such things are meant in Daniel; and also that similar things are meant by the sheep on the right hand, and the goats on the left (Matthew 25:32 to the end); namely, by the sheep those who are in the good of charity, and by the he-goats those who are in faith alone.

From these passages, adduced from Daniel, it may in some measure appear what is signified in the Revelation:

By a dragon being seen having ten horns (12:3).

By a beast being seen ascending out of the sea, which also had ten horns (13:1).

And by the woman that was seen sitting upon a scarlet coloured beast, which had seven heads and ten horns; concerning which the angel said, the ten horns which thou sawest, are ten kings (17:3, 7, 12).

But on these subjects see the explanation in the following pages.

[17] That the power of falsity against truth is signified by a horn or horns, is also clear from the following passages: In Jeremiah:

"The horn of Moab is cut off, and his arm is broken" (48:25).

By Moab those are signified who are in spurious goods, and in falsified truths thence, which in themselves are falsities. The destruction of these falsities is signified by the horn of Moab being cut off, and the destruction of those evils by his arm being broken.

[18] In Lamentations:

"Jehovah hath caused the enemy to rejoice over thee; he hath exalted the horn of thine adversaries" (2:17).

By enemy is meant evil, and by adversaries the falsities of evil; to exalt the horn of the adversaries, is for falsities to prevail over truths and destroy them.

[19] In Ezekiel:

"Ye thrust with side and with shoulder, and push all the infirm sheep with your horns till ye have scattered them abroad" (34:21).

To thrust with side and shoulder, is with all strength and effort; to push with [your] horns the infirm sheep till ye have scattered them abroad, signifies by falsities to destroy the well disposed, who are not yet in truths from good, but still desire to be.

[20] In Amos:

"In the day that I shall visit the transgressions of Israel upon him, I will visit upon the altars of Bethel, that the horns of the altar may be cut off, and fall to the ground" (3:14).

By the altars of Bethel worship from evil is signified, and by the horns of the altar are signified the falsities of that evil; and that these are to be destroyed, is signified by the horns being cut off, and falling to the ground.

[21] In the same:

"Those who rejoice over a thing of nought; who say, Have we not taken to us horns by our own strength?" (6:13).

To take horns by our own strength, signifies by the power of one's own intelligence to acquire the falsities by which truths are destroyed.

[22] In David:

"I said unto the proud, Boast not; and to the wicked, Lift not up the horn. Lift not up your horn on high; speak not with a stiff neck. All the horns of the wicked also will I cut off; the horns of the just shall be exalted" (Psalms 75:4, 5, 10).

By lifting up the horn on high, is signified to defend falsity strongly against the truth; therefore it is also said, "Speak not with a stiff neck." By cutting off their horns, is signified to destroy their falsities; and by exalting the horns of the just, is signified to make powerful and strong the truths of good.

[23] Because by lifting on high and by exalting the horns is signified to fill with truths, and to render them powerful and strong against falsities, therefore those truths are also called the horns of the unicorn, because these are elevated. As in Moses:

"The first-born of his ox he hath honour, and his horns are the horns of the unicorn; with them he shall push the peoples together to the ends of the earth; and they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh" (Deuteronomy 33:17).

These things are said concerning Joseph, by whom, in the highest sense, is represented the Lord as to the Divine spiritual, or as to Divine truth in heaven; hence by Joseph are also signified those who are in the Lord's spiritual kingdom (as may be seen, n. 3969, 3971, 4669, 6417). The first-born of the ox having honour, signifies the good of spiritual love; his horns being the horns of the unicorn, signify truths in their fulness, and in their power thence; to push the peoples to the ends of the earth, signifies to instruct in truths all those who belong to the church, and thereby to dissipate falsities. The ten thousands of Ephraim, and the thousands of Manasseh, signify the store and abundance of truth and thence of wisdom, and the store and abundance of good and thence of love. That Ephraim, in the Word, signifies the Intellectual of the church, which pertains to truth, and that Manasseh signifies the Voluntary of the church, which pertains to good, may be seen, n. 3969, 5354, 6222, 6234, 6238, 6267, 6296; and that by ten thousands and thousands are signified very many, consequently, store and abundance.

[24] In David:

"Save me from the mouth of the lion; and hear me from the horns of the unicorns" (Psalms 22:21).

By the lion is signified falsity vehemently destroying truth; and by the horns of the unicorns are signified the truths that prevail against falsities.

[25] In the same:

"My horn is like the horn of a unicorn" (Psalms 92:10).

Like the horn of a unicorn, signifies truth as to fulness and power.

[26] In the Apocalypse:

"And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is in the sight of God" (9:13).

The altar of incense, which was called also the golden altar, was representative of the hearing and reception of all things of worship, that are from love and charity from the Lord, thus the representative of such things of worship as are elevated by the Lord. The horns of the altar represented truths proceeding from the good of love; hence it is evident why the voice was heard from the four horns of the altars, for truths are the means by which good acts and speaks.

[27] Because altars represented the worship of the Lord from the good of love, and since all worship, that is truly worship, is performed from the good of love by means of truths, therefore there were horns to the altars. That there were horns to the altar of incense, is evident in Moses:

"Thou shalt make four horns to the altar of incense; they shall be from it. And thou shalt overlay them with gold" (Exodus 30:2, 3, 10; 37:25, 26).

And that there were horns to the altar of burnt-offering it is said elsewhere in the same:

"Thou shalt make the horns upon the four corners of the altar of burnt-offering; from it his horns shall be" (Exodus 27:2; 38:2).

That the horns were from the altar itself, signified that the truths, which the horns represented, proceed from the good of love, which the altar itself represented; for all truth is from good. That there were four, and [one] at each corner, signified that they were for the four quarters in heaven, by which are signified all things of truth from good.

[28] Because all expiations, and purifications are effected by truth from good, therefore expiation was made upon the horns of the altars,

Upon the horns of the altar of incense (Exodus 30:10; Leviticus 4:7).

And upon the horns of the altar of burnt-offering (Leviticus 4:25, 30, 34; 8:15; 9:9; 16:18).

And because all Divine protection is by means of truths from good, therefore also

Those who committed evils and feared death caught hold of the horns of the altar and were preserved (1 Kings 1:50, 51, 53);

But those who from premeditation, and wilfully, committed evil, were not preserved (1 Kings 2:28-31).

Further, because horns signified truths from good, therefore also, when kings were anointed, this was done by oil from a horn. That David was thus anointed, may be seen (1 Sam. 16:1, 13); and that "Solomon was so" (1 Kings 1:39); the oil signified the good of love. From this signification of horns, which the ancients knew, it was customary to make the horn, budding forth and fragrant; whence the expression, cornucopia.

  
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Translation by Isaiah Tansley. Many thanks to the Swedenborg Society for the permission to use this translation.