Apocalypse Revealed #936
936. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. This symbolizes the resulting rational truths by which people caught up in evils and the accompanying falsities are brought to think sanely and to live decently.
The leaves of the tree symbolize rational truths, as will be seen below. Nations symbolize people governed by goods and the accompanying truths, and in an opposite sense people caught up in evils and the accompanying falsities (no. 483). Here they symbolize people caught up in evils and the accompanying falsities, because we are told that the leaves were for healing them, and people caught up in evils and the accompanying falsities cannot be healed by the Word, because they do not read it. However, if they have the judgment, they can be healed by rational truths.
The same symbolic meanings found in this verse are found in the following verses in Ezekiel:
Behold, there was water, flowing from under the threshold of the temple (which turned into a river), along (whose) bank... were very many trees (good for food) on one side and the other..., (whose) leaves do not fall, and whose fruit is not consumed. They bear fruit again every month..., (on which account) their fruit is good for food, and their leaves for healing. (Ezekiel 47:1, 7, 12)
The subject there is also a new church.
Leaves symbolize rational truths because a tree symbolizes a person (nos. 89, 400), and every part of the tree - its branches, leaves, flowers, fruits, and seeds - then symbolizes accordant elements in the person. The branches symbolizes a person's sensory and natural truths, the leaves his rational truths, the flowers the first spiritual truths in his rational mind, the fruits the goods of love and charity, and seeds the final elements in the person and also the first.
[2] That leaves symbolize rational truths is clearly apparent from things seen in the spiritual world. For trees are also seen there, with leaves and fruits. Gardens and parks are found there that consist of trees. In the case of people possessing goods of love and at the same time truths of wisdom, fruit trees are seen with an abundance of beautiful leaves. But in the case of people who possess the truths of some wisdom, and who speak in accordance with reason, but lack goods of love, the trees appear full of leaves, but without any fruits. And in the case of people without any goods or truths of wisdom, the only trees seen are bare of any leaves, like trees in winter in the world. An irrational person is just such a tree.
[3] Rational truths are truths which most readily welcome spiritual truths, for a person's rational mind is the first receptacle of spiritual truths. Indeed, seated in a person's rational mind is his perception of truth in a form that the person does not himself see by deliberation, as he does the ideas that reside beneath his rational mind in a lower level of thought that is connected with his outer sight.
Leaves also symbolize rational truths in Genesis 3:7; 8:11; Isaiah 34:4; Jeremiah 8:13; 17:8; Ezekiel 47:12; Daniel 4:12, 14; Psalm 1:3; Leviticus 26:36; Matthew 21:19, 24:32; Mark 13:28. However, their symbolic meanings vary according to the kinds of trees. The leaves of the olive tree and grape vine symbolize rational truths seen as a result of celestial and spiritual light; the leaves of the fig tree symbolize rational truths seen as a result of a natural sight, and the leaves of the fir tree, poplar, oak, and pine symbolize rational truths seen a a result of a sensual sight. The leaves of the latter strike terror in the spiritual world when blown to and fro by a strong wind. These are the leaves meant in Leviticus 26:36 and Job 13:25. However, not so the leaves of the former.
Matthew 24
1
Jesus went out from the temple, and was going on his way. His disciples came to him to show him the buildings of the temple.
2
But he answered them, "You see all of these things, don't you? Most certainly I tell you, there will not be left here one stone on another, that will not be thrown down."
3
As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be? What is the sign of your coming, and of the end of the age?"
4
Jesus answered them, "Be careful that no one leads you astray.
5
For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will lead many astray.
6
You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you aren't troubled, for all this must happen, but the end is not yet.
7
For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there will be famines, plagues, and earthquakes in various places.
8
But all these things are the beginning of birth pains.
9
Then they will deliver you up to oppression, and will kill you. You will be hated by all of the nations for my name's sake.
10
Then many will stumble, and will deliver up one another, and will hate one another.
11
Many false prophets will arise, and will lead many astray.
12
Because iniquity will be multiplied, the love of many will grow cold.
13
But he who endures to the end, the same will be saved.
14
This Good News of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world for a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.
15
"When, therefore, you see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand),
16
then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.
17
Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take out things that are in his house.
18
Let him who is in the field not return back to get his clothes.
19
But woe to those who are with child and to nursing mothers in those days!
20
Pray that your flight will not be in the winter, nor on a Sabbath,
21
for then there will be great oppression, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, nor ever will be.
22
Unless those days had been shortened, no flesh would have been saved. But for the sake of the chosen ones, those days will be shortened.
23
"Then if any man tells you, 'Behold, here is the Christ,' or, 'There,' don't believe it.
24
For there will arise false christs, and false prophets, and they will show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones.
25
"Behold, I have told you beforehand.
26
If therefore they tell you, 'Behold, he is in the wilderness,' don't go out; 'Behold, he is in the inner rooms,' don't believe it.
27
For as the lightning flashes from the east, and is seen even to the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
28
For wherever the carcass is, there is where the vultures gather together.
29
But immediately after the oppression of those days, the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken;
30
and then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky. Then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory.
31
He will send out his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together his chosen ones from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.
32
"Now from the fig tree learn this parable. When its branch has now become tender, and puts forth its leaves, you know that the summer is near.
33
Even so you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
34
Most certainly I tell you, this generation will not pass away, until all these things are accomplished.
35
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
36
But no one knows of that day and hour, not even the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
37
"As the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
38
For as in those days which were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ship,
39
and they didn't know until the flood came, and took them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
40
Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and one will be left;
41
two women grinding at the mill, one will be taken and one will be left.
42
Watch therefore, for you don't know in what hour your Lord comes.
43
But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have watched, and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.
44
Therefore also be ready, for in an hour that you don't expect, the Son of Man will come.
45
"Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his lord has set over his household, to give them their food in due season?
46
Blessed is that servant whom his lord finds doing so when he comes.
47
Most certainly I tell you that he will set him over all that he has.
48
But if that evil servant should say in his heart, 'My lord is delaying his coming,'
49
and begins to beat his fellow servants, and eat and drink with the drunkards,
50
the lord of that servant will come in a day when he doesn't expect it, and in an hour when he doesn't know it,
51
and will cut him in pieces, and appoint his portion with the hypocrites. There is where the weeping and grinding of teeth will be.
