The Inner Meaning of the Prophets and Psalms #151
151. Internal Meaning of Ezekiel, Chapter 28
1-5 Since they believe that they are learned from mere knowledges [cognitiones] and say in their heart that they are most intelligent from themselves, (2, 3)
6-10 therefore they will falsify all knowledges [cognitiones] of truth, and will perish thereby. (2, 3, 16)
11 Respecting learning from the Word. (2, 3)
12 From the Word they have all truths and goods of heaven and of the church; (2, 11)
12-18 in consequence of which they were in intelligence at first, but afterwards this was dissipated by means of their pride. (2)
19-20 Natural love consumed all things of the church, resulting in their destruction. (3)
21-23 Of the understanding of truth, which is meant by Zidon: it will perish by means of falsities. (2)
24 Their destruction, lest the church should be still further destroyed. (3)
25-26 A new church will come into existence, when the former has been condemned. (11)
The sword, famine, and pestilence
The three words, sword, famine and pestilence, appear in a group in 26 different Bible verses. That's not an accident. Sword, famine and pestilence describe a trio of bad things that can happen to us physically.
In the Word, those three words describe spiritual destruction we can bring upon ourselves if we believe false ideas and develop evil habits.
In Apocalypse Revealed 323, we read that:
1) a sword means the destruction of spiritual life by falsities,
2) famine means the destruction of spiritual life by evils
3) pestilence means a complete destruction.
Rev. Jonathan Rose provides an interesting Bible Study on this subject, in a related video, shown here.