THE EXPLANATION of Isaiah Chapter 24

(Note: Rev. Smithson's translation of the Isaiah text is appended below the explanation)

1. BEHOLD, Jehovah empties the earth, and makes it waste; He overturns the face thereof, and scatters the inhabitants thereof.

VERSE 1. By the "earth", when mentioned in the Word, is not meant the universal globe, but the church, and specifically that region where the church is, as formerly the land of Canaan, when the Jewish church was there, and in Europe, where the Christian church now is. Arcana Coelestia 566, 662.

The reason why by the "earth" is signified the church, is, because very frequently by the "earth" is meant the land of Canaan, and in that land was the church. The heavenly Canaan is nothing else. And also when the "earth" is named, the angels who are spiritual do not think of the earth, but of the human race upon the earth, and of its spiritual state; and its spiritual state is the state of the church. In the opposite sense, when the "earth" is spoken of as being perverted and destroyed, it signifies condemnation. Apocalypse Revealed 285.

Verses 1, 2. Behold, Jehovah empties the earth; - and it shall be, as with the people, so with the priest, etc. - Here the "earth" stands for the church, which is "emptied and made void, and its face overturned, or perverted, and its inhabitants scattered", etc., when there is no longer any interior truths and goods, which are signified by the "priest" and the "people"; nor exterior goods and truths, which are the "servant" and the "handmaid"; which happens when external things rule over internal. Arcana Coelestia 2567.

Verses 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 18, 19, 20. Behold, Jehovah empties the earth, and makes it waste; He overturns the faces thereof, etc. - what by the "earth", or land, is not understood the earth, but the church, must be evident to every one. The reason why the church is thus described, is, because the earths or lands in the spiritual world, upon which angels and spirits dwell, undergo such changes according to the changes of the state of the church with the inhabitants thereof, even so as "to be moved." The reason why it is said that "Jehovah empties the earth, and makes it waste", likewise that " in emptying it shall be emptied, and in spoiling it shall be spoiled", is, because the earths or lands there, when the church is devastated with those who dwell upon them, altogether change their appearance. The paradises with their flowerets, verdures, and the like, with which they before flourished, disappear, and instead thereof appearances most unpleasant take place, as sands and rocky places, also heaths full of thickets and briers, with other things of a like nature, corresponding to the falsities and evils which devastated the church. The devastation thereof as to the Good of love and charity, is signified by "emptying the earth", and the desolation thereof as to the Truth of doctrine and of faith is signified by "making it waste" and by "spoiling it"; and the change itself by "overturning the faces thereof." "The earth mourns, it withers: the world languishes, it withers: the earth also is polluted under her inhabitants; therefore has a curse devoured the earth", signifies that there shall not anything grow there or flourish, but that it shall be barren, and filled with things useless; by reason whereof the earth is said to "mourn", to "languish", and to be "devoured with a curse." Whereas these things take place when they that dwell there have no longer any concern for the holy things of the church, therefore it is said, "For they have transgressed the laws, they have surmounted the statute, they have broken the everlasting covenant." Inasmuch as the earths or lands in the spiritual world are sometimes inundated, sometimes violently shaken, and also here and there cleave asunder and open towards hell; which is beneath and lifts itself up, and as this takes place according to the quantity and quality of the falsities and evils which are loved, and the consequent falsification and denial of the Goods and the Truths of the church, therefore it is said that "The floodgates from on high are opened, and the foundations of the earth are shaken; the earth is utterly shattered to pieces; and the earth reels as a drunkard." These things also actually take place in the spiritual world, when the state of the church is there changed into the contrary. From these considerations it may appear whence it is that, by the "earth", here and elsewhere in the Word, is understood the church. Apocalypse Explained 697. See also Arcana Coelestia 1066.

2. And it shall be, as with the people, so with the priest; as with the servant, so with his master: as with the handmaid, so with her mistress; as with the buyer; so with the seller; as with the lender, so with the borrower; as with the usurer, so with the giver of usury:

Verse 2. [These words, which express the relationships in civil life, involve the insubordination and confusion which result when "the face of the earth is overthrown", or when the church, as in the Bible version, is "turned upside down", and all its principles are in disorder and confusion. In which case what is external rules over what is internal, and all the relationship between higher and lower principles is destroyed. This is the case at the end of a church, and especially at the period of its judgment. The same also depicts the states of the unregenerate mind, when no distinction is made between internal and external principles, and when the due subordination of the latter to the former is not considered and established; in which state nothing of heaven can be received into the mind.]

The "buyer" signifies those who procure the knowledges of Truth and Goodness. (Arcana Coelestia 2967)

The "seller", those who communicate these knowledges, (Arcana Coelestia 5886)

The "lender" denotes those who instruct others; and the "borrower", those instructed. (Arcana Coelestia 9209 9174)

A "usurer" signifies those who do good for the sake of gain: and a "non-usurer", those who do good from charity. Arcana Coelestia 9210.

3. The earth shall be utterly emptied, and utterly spoiled; for Jehovah has spoken this word.

Verses 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 16, 19, 20, 21, 23. The earth shall be emptied, etc.

From all these verses in which the "earth" is mentioned, it is very evident that by the "earth" is not understood the earth but the church. Let all the particulars in these verses be well considered, and this will be evident. He who is in a spiritual idea when the "earth" is named, does not think of the earth itself, but of the nations there and of their quality. Those who are in heaven think still more of the earth as being the church, and this because they are spiritual.

In this chapter, the church, as being destroyed, is treated of. Its destruction as to the Good of love and the Truth of faith, which make the church, is signified by "Jehovah emptying the earth, and laying it waste", by its being "violently moved", by its "languishing", by its being "devoured by a curse", by being "polluted or profaned", by "the floodgates from on high being opened", by its being "broken down", by its "foundations moved", by its "reeling like a drunkard", etc. All these things cannot be said of the earth, nor of any nation, but of the church. Apocalypse Explained 304.

Verses 3, 4, 10, 11, 12. The earth shall be utterly emptied; the earth is also polluted under her inhabitants, etc. - Here also the devastation of the church is treated of. "The earth, which shall be emptied, confounded, and polluted", is the church; "city" is the Truth of doctrine; "house" the Good thereof; "the wine, over which there is an outcry in the streets", is the Truth of doctrine falsified, over which there is contest and indignation. Apocalypse Explained 223.

4. The earth mourns, it withers; the world languishes, it withers : the lofty people of the land do languish.

5. The earth is also polluted under her inhabitants; for they have transgressed the laws, they have surmounted the statute, they have broken the everlasting covenant.

Verses 4, 5. The earth mourns; the lofty people of the land do languish. The earth is also polluted under her inhabitants, etc. - The desolation of the church as to its Truths and Goods, on account of the pride of self-derived intelligence, and the profanation of its Truths which are from Good, are thus described. The desolation is described by "mourning" and "languishing."

The church, as to truths and goods, by the "earth" and the "world."

The pride of self-derived intelligence, by "the lofty people of the land"; and the profanation of its truths which are from Good, by "the earth being polluted or profaned under her inhabitants." Apocalypse Explained 741.

Verse 5. They have broken the everlasting covenant.

The Word is the real and very covenant which the Lord makes with man, and man with the Lord; for the Lord came down as the Word, that is, as the Divine Truth; and, specifically; the precepts of the Decalogue are the covenant of conjunction between the Lord and man, and consequently the principal medium of his salvation. True Christian Religion 730.

6. Therefore has a curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are punished: therefore are the inhabitants of the earth burnt up, and few are the men that are left.

Verses. 6, 7, 9, 10. Therefore has a curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are punished; - the new wine mourns, etc.

- The perversion of the church is described in these words; which perversion. takes place when the false rules in the place of Truth, in consequence of which there is no longer any Good, since good is acquired by means of truths. By "the land which the curse has devoured" is signified the church; the "curse" denoting the perversion thereof. By "the new wine which shall mourn", and "the vine which shall languish", is signified all the Truth of the church; to "mourn" and to "languish" denoting its deprivation. That there shall no longer be any celestial delight and blessing, is signified by "All the glad in heart do sigh; with a song they shall no more drink wine." That they shall be averse from all things which agree with Truths, is signified by "The strong drink shall be bitter to them that drink it; "strong drink" here signifying what is derived from truths, and in agreement therewith. But that the doctrine of what is false shall be destroyed, is signified by "The city of emptiness is broken down;", the "city" signifying doctrine, and "emptiness" the false. And that good and wisdom shall be no longer with man, is signified by "Every house is shut up; so that no one can enter"; which takes place when there is no Truth, but only what is false. Apocalypse Explained 376.

Verse 6. Therefore are the inhabitants of the earth burnt up, and few are the men that are left.

- By "the inhabitants of the earth" are signified the goods of the church, which are said to be "burnt up", when the loves of self and of the world begin to reign; that in such case the spiritual affection of truth and wisdom thence derived would cease is signified by "few men being left." Apocalypse Explained 280. See also Arcana Coelestia 477, 4287.

7. The new wine mourns; the vine languishes; all that were glad of heart do sigh.

8. The joy of the tabrets ceases; the noise of them that exult is no more; the joy of the harp ceases:

9. With a song they shall no more drink wine; the strong drink shall be bitter to them that drink it.

Verses.7-9. The new wine mourns; the wine languishes, etc.

- Treating of the devastation of the spiritual church, or of the Good and Truth of that church. Spiritual Good, which should cease, is signified by "the new wine mourning", and "the joy of the tabrets ceasing" and that its Truth was to cease, is signified by "the vine languishing", and "the joy of the harp ceasing"; for by "new wine" is signified spiritual Good, and the joy thereof by the "tabret"; and by the "vine" is signified spiritual Truth, and the joy thereof by the "harp."

Inasmuch as it is the affection of those things which should cease, it is therefore said - "All the glad in heart do sigh; the noise of them that exult is no more"; "gladnesses" and "mirths", in the Word, signifying spiritual gladnesses and mirth, all which are from the affections of Truth and Good.

It is added, "With a song they shall no more drink wine"; because by "singing" is signified testification of gladness from the affection of Truth, and by "wine" is signified Truth itself. Apocalypse Explained 323.

Verses 7, 9. All that were glad of heart do sigh. With a song they shall no more drink wine: the strong drink [sicera] shall be bitter to them that drink it.

- By "the glad of heart sighing", and by "not drinking wine with a song", is signified that all internal beatitude of mind and all felicity of heart will perish, on account of the destruction of the Truth of spiritual Good. By "strong drink being bitter to those "who drink it", is signified that the Truth of Good is become unpleasant from its falsification and its adulteration. Apocalypse Explained 618

10. The city of emptiness is broken down: every house is shut up, so that no one can enter.

Verses 10, 11. By "the city of emptiness" is signified the doctrine in which is not Truth but falsity. By a "house [shut up]" is signified the good of the will, and hence of the life [destroyed]. By "an outcry in the streets over wine" is signified lamentation over the defect of Truth, and its being mixed with falsity; "wine" signifies the Truth of the church from the Word; hence it is said "in the streets", because a "street" also signifies Truth, and where the lamentation is made. ", Joy" and "gladness" are mentioned, because "joy" is predicated of delight from the affection of Good, and "gladness" of delight from the affection of Truth. That those delights will cease, is signified by "all joy being commixed [or desolate, see note], and by "the gladness of the earth being banished"; the "earth" signifies the church. Apocalypse Explained 652.

11. There is an outcry in the streets over wine; all joy is desolate; the gladness of the earth is banished.

12. The remnant in the city is desolation; the gate is battered down by devastation.

Verses 10-12. "The city of emptiness being broken" means also the human mind deprived of Truth; "every house shut up" signifies without good; that a "house" signifies what is good, see Arcana Coelestia 2233.

By "the outcry over wine in the streets" is signified a state of the false; that "outcry" is predicated of falsities, see Arcana Coelestia 2240; that "wine" is Truth, over which there is an outcry, because it does not exist, see Arcana Coelestia 1071; that "streets" are what lead to truths, see Arcana Coelestia 2336.

"The gladness which is desolate" is predicated of Truth, and "the joy of the earth banished" of Good.

Hence it is evident what is signified by "the remnant of the city being desolation", and by "the gate being battered down by devastation"; the "gate" is said to be devastated when nothing but evils and falsities prevail. Arcana Coelestia 285l.

Verses 11, 12, 13. There is an outcry in the streets over wine, etc. By these words is described mourning over the devastation of the church as to celestial Good, and as to spiritual Good, which, in its essence, is Truth derived from celestial Good. This devastation is compared to "the shaking of the olive-tree", and to "the gleanings when the vintage is finished." Apocalypse Explained 919.

13. For thus shall it be in the inmost of the land, in the midst of the peoples; as the shaking of the olive, as the gleanings when the vintage is finished.

Verse 13. These things are said concerning the church devastated as to Good and as to Truth, and in which there is nothing but the evil and the false. "In the inmost of the land", denotes evil being through the whole of the church; and "in the midst of the peoples", denotes the false being through the whole thereof. Therefore the church is compared with "the shaking of the olive-tree," and with "the gleanings that are left when the vintage is finished"; the "olive-tree" signifying the Good of the church, the "vintage" the Truth thereof; and the "shakings" and "gleanings" thereof signify devastation. Apocalypse Explained 313

14. These shall lift up their voice, they shall sing for the majesty of Jehovah, they shall shout aloud from the sea.

15. Wherefore in the fires, glorify you Jehovah; in the islands of the sea, the name of Jehovah the God of Israel.

Verses 14, 15. In this chapter the devastation of the church is treated of, and in these verses the institution of a New Church among the Gentiles is signified, whose joy is described by "lifting up the voice", and by "singing for the majesty of Jehovah", and by "shouting aloud from the sea, or from the west"; for by the "sea", when thereby the west is understood, is signified the natural principle, because those who, in the spiritual world, dwell in the western quarter, are in natural good, but in the eastern quarter are those who are in celestial good; and since the Gentiles, amongst whom the church would be, were in natural good, therefore it is said, "In the fires [urim], glorify you Jehovah; in the islands of the sea, the name of Jehovah the God of Israel"; by which is signified that they would worship the Lord from goods and truths in the natural man, for the term "Urim" signifies fire, and a focus by which is signified the good of love belonging to the natural man; and "the islands of the sea" signify the knowledges of Truth and Good which are of the natural man; and to " glorify", or to " honour", signifies to adore. By "Jehovah "and" the God of Israel" is understood the Lord, who is called "Jehovah" where Good is treated of, and "the God of Israel" where Truth is treated of; wherefore it is said, "In the fires [urim] , glorify you Jehovah", that is, from Good; and "in the islands of the sea, the name of the God of Israel," that is, from Truths. Hence it is evident that by "the islands of the sea" are signified the truths of the natural man. Apocalypse Explained 406.

16. From the uttermost part of the earth we have heard songs, Glory to the just! But I said, My leanness, my leanness, woe unto me! the treacherous dealers have dealt very treacherously; yea, the treacherous dealers have dealt very, treacherously.

17. The terror, the pit, and the snare, are upon you, O inhabitant of the earth!

Verse 16. My leanness. - See the Exposition of Isaiah Chapter 17:4.

Verse 17. The terror, the pit, and the snare, are upon you, O inhabitant of the earth!

-"Terror" denotes disturbance and commotion of mind, whence it sticks or hesitates between evils and goods, and thence between falsities and truths. The "pit" signifies the false, induced by reasonings grounded in the fallacies of the senses, to favour the delights of the love of self and of the world, The "snare" signifies the enticement and the deception of evil thence derived; that a "snare", in the spiritual sense, is enticement and deception by the delights of the loves of self and of the world, thus the enticement and deception of evils, and this by reasonings grounded in the fallacies of the senses which favour those delights, is evident to everyone, for ensnarings and entrappings are from no other source. Neither do the diabolical crew assault anything else with man except those his loves which they render delightful by every method, until he is taken, and when he is taken, the man reasons from falsities against truths, and from evils against goods; and in such case he is not content herewith, but also takes delight in ensnaring and enticing others to falsities and evils. The reason why he also takes this delight, is, because in such a case he becomes one of the diabolical crew. Inasmuch as a "snare" a "gin", a "net" signifies such things, they also signify the destruction of spiritual life, and thereby perdition, since in those loves, as was said above, all evils originate. For in the love of self, originate contempt of others in comparIson to self, and presently a scornful look and abusive speech, afterwards enmity if they do not favour, at length the delight of hatred, the delight of revenge, thus the delight of tyrannical behaviour, yea, of cruelty. This love, in the other life, rises to such an excess that unless the Lord favours it, and gives to those who are influenced by it dominion over others, they not only despise Him, but treat with scorn the Word which speaks of Him, and, at length, from hatred and revenge they act against Him. And, so far as they cannot effect their purposes against Him, they practise them with fierceness and cruelty against all who profess Him. Hence it is evident what is the origin of such qualities in the diabolical crew, that is, that it is from self-love; wherefore a "snare", as it signifies the delight of the love of self and of the world, signifies also the destruction of the spiritual life and perdition, for the all of faith and love to the Lord and the all of love towards the neighbour is destroyed by the delight of the love of self and the world where it has dominion; see what was cited, Arcana Coelestia 9335.

That these loves are the origin of all evils, and that hell is from them and in them, and that those loves are fires there, is at this day unknown in the world, when yet it might be known from this consideration that those loves are opposite to love towards the neighbour and to love to God, and that they are opposite to humiliation of heart, and that from them alone exists all contempt, all hatred, all revenge, and all fierceness and cruelty, as every considerate person may know. Arcana Coelestia 9348.

18. And it shall be, that whoso flees from the voice of the terror, shall fall into the pit; and whoso ascends from the midst of the pit, shall be taken in the snare: for the floodgates from on high are opened, and the foundations of the earth are shaken.

19. The earth is grievously shaken; the earth is utterly shattered to pieces; the earth is violently moved.

Verse 18. In this and in other passages of the Word, they who are in the false and evil are described as fleeing and in fear of being slain. Such fear is their ruling affection, because there is no one to defend them; everyone who is in the evil and the false bears hatred towards his neighbour, and hence each of them is desirous to slay another. That they who are principled in evil and the false are afraid of all others, may best appear from the case of evil spirits in another life. Such as have deprived themselves of all charity, wander about and flee hither and thither; whithersoever they go, if it be to any societies of other spirits, they are immediately discovered as to their evil nature and qualities, in consequence of the perception prevalent in another life, and are not only driven away, but likewise severely punished, even to the destruction of life, were it possible; for the evil spirits are particularly delighted in punishing and tormenting one another, and their highest satisfaction consists therein. And what has heretofore been an arcanum, all this is grounded in the very nature of evil and the false, inasmuch as whatsoever any person wishes for another returns upon himself; for evil and the false have within them the punishment of evil and the false, consequently the fear of punislunent. Arcana Coelestia 390, 391.

Verses 18, 19, 20. The floodgates from on high are opened, and the foundations of the earth are shaken, etc.

- That these things are not said of the earth, but of the church, must be evident to everyone; for who can understand that "the foundations of the earth are shaken", that "the earth is moved and reels as drunkard", and also that "it 'moveth this way and that, like a lodge"? But when, instead of the earth the church is thought of, these expressions are easily understood. That the change and perversion thereof is signified, is evident from its being said, "For her transgression is heavy upon her; and she shall fall, and not rise again." And by "the floodgates which are opened from on high", is understood an inundation of evil and the false. Apocalypse Explained 400. See also, as to "floodgates", Arcana Coelestia 767.

20. The earth reels like a drunkard; and moveth this way and that, like a lodge for the night: for her transgression is heavy upon her; and she shall fall, and not rise again.

21. And it shall be in that day, that Jehovah shall visit the host of the high [ones] that are on high; and on earth the kings of the earth.

Verse 20. See Chapter 19:14, and Chapter 28:1-8, the Exposition.

Verses 21, 23. Jehovah shall visit the host of the high [ones] that are on high, etc.

- To "visit" signifies to destroy, because visitation precedes judgment, (see above, Chapter 10:3, the Exposition), when they are destroyed who are in evils and thence in falsities.

By the host of the high [ones] that are on high", are signified all the evils which originate in the love of self; the "host" denoting all evils; by "the kings of the earth " are signified falsities of every kind; the "earth", or land, denoting the church.

Hence it may appear what is signified by "Jehovah shall visit the host of the high [ones] that are on high; and on earth the kings of the earth. The reason why it is said "The host of the high [ones] that are on high", is because they who are principled in the love of self, in the spiritual world, seek high places. (See Chapter 2:12-17, Expositlon.)

By "the moon then being confounded", and "the sun being ashamed, is signified there being no more reception of divine Truth and of divine Good; the "moon" and the "sun" signifying the Truth of faith and the Good of love, which are said to be "confounded and ashamed" when they are no more received, but instead thereof what is false and evil. Apocalypse Explained 401.

22. And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners for the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison; and, after many days, they shall be visited.

Verse 22. They shall be gathered together, as prisoners. - [or as the bound] for the pit, etc.

- The "prisoners, or the "bound in the pit", are those who are in vastations, or those who are in temptations, All that locality [in the world of spirits] nearest under the sole of the foot and around, is called "the house of the prison, where all those are kept who are in vastation, that is, those who have been in false doctrines, and in evil of life from false principles, and yet in good as to their intentions. Such cannot be received into heaven before they have put off these false principles, and also the delight of life which they thence derived. They who are there are let into temptations, for false principles and the delights thence derived can only be cast out by temptations. The place where they are, or rather the state in which they are is signified in general by "the house of the prison", and the places themselves by "pits." They who are in vastations are called "bound", not that they are in any bond [or chains], but because they are not in liberty as to their former [prioresJ thoughts and affections. That such are signified in the Word by the "bound", and by "those who are in prison", is evident from other passages in the Word, as in Isaiah:

"I will give You for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; to open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison-house." (Isaiah 42:6, 7)

Where the Lord and His advent are treated of. "To open the blind eyes, and to bring out the prisoners from the prison", etc., signifies those who are in ignorance of what is Good and True, but who nevertheless desire to know and to be imbued therewith. Arcana Coelestia 5037.

As to vastations in the other life, see Arcana Coelestia 1106 to 1113.

After many days, they shall be visited. - [These words signify that, after having passed through all the states necessary for their purification, they will be delivered by the Lord and elevated to His kingdom.]

23. And the moon shall be confounded, and the sun shall be ashamed; for Jehovah of Hosts shall reign on Mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before His ancients [shall be] glory.

Verse 23. And the moon shall be confounded, and the sun shall be ashamed, etc. - By the "moon" and the "sun" are here also understood idolatrous worship, and also the false of faith and the evil of love [or a false faith and an evil love]. By "mountain " and by "Jerusalem "is understood heaven and the church; and by "ancients", or elders, are understood truths from Good, wherefore it is also said that "before them is glory", for by "glory" is signified Divine Truth in heaven. Apocalypse Explained 270.

The moon shall be confounded, etc. - [As the destruction of the earth or of the entire church is the subject of this chapter, so the heavens, or specifically the "moon" and the "sun", are also exhibited as being confounded and ashamed, because the "earth" signifies the church as to lts externals, and the "heavens" the church as to its internals. (See the Exposition of Isaiah Chapter 1:2.) The moon is said to be "confounded", or more literally to "blush", and the sun to be "ashamed", which are, expressions predicable of the human countenance, because the "face" also corresponds to the interiors; and as all things in heaven and in the church are regarded by the Lord as represented by a "man", or as having relation to the human form, (see Chapter 1:2, note.)

Therefore the moon is said to "blush" when divine Truth is not received by the men of the church; but instead thereof fallacies and falsities; and the sun of heaven is said to be "ashamed" when the divine Good is not received, but instead thereof evil.

In other passages describing the ruin of the church, the moon is said not to cause its light to shine", and the sun to be "darkened." See above, Chapter 13:10, the Exposition; see also Joel 2:10; Matthew 24:29; Revelation 6:12.

As to the peculiar terms employed in this passage of Isaiah to denote the "sun" and the "moon", see the note, P: 257.

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Isaiah Chapter 24

1. BEHOLD, Jehovah empties the earth, and makes it waste; He overturns the face thereof, and scatters the inhabitants thereof.

2. And it shall be, as with the people, so with the priest; as with the servant, so with his master: as with the handmaid, so with her mistress; as with the buyer; so with the seller; as with the lender, so with the borrower; as with the usurer, so with the giver of usury:

3. The earth shall be utterly emptied, and utterly spoiled; for Jehovah has spoken this word.

4. The earth mourns, it withers; the world languishes, it withers : the lofty people of the land do languish.

5. The earth is also polluted under her inhabitants; for they have transgressed the laws, they have surmounted the statute, they have broken the everlasting covenant.

6. Therefore has a curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are punished: therefore are the inhabitants of the earth burnt up, and few are the men that are left.

7. The new wine mourns; the vine languishes; all that were glad of heart do sigh.

8. The joy of the tabrets ceases; the noise of them that exult is no more; the joy of the harp ceases:

9. With a song they shall no more drink wine; the strong drink shall be bitter to them that drink it.

10. The city of emptiness is broken down: every house is shut up, so that no one can enter.

11. There is an outcry in the streets over wine; all joy is desolate; the gladness of the earth is banished.

12. The remnant in the city is desolation; the gate is battered down by devastation.

13. For thus shall it be in the inmost of the land, in the midst of the peoples; as the shaking of the olive, as the gleanings when the vintage is finished.

14. These shall lift up their voice, they shall sing for the majesty of Jehovah, they shall shout aloud from the sea.

15. Wherefore in the fires, glorify you Jehovah; in the islands of the sea, the name of Jehovah the God of Israel.

16. From the uttermost part of the earth we have heard songs, Glory to the just! But I said, My leanness, my leanness, woe unto me! the treacherous dealers have dealt very treacherously; yea, the treacherous dealers have dealt very, treacherously.

17. The terror, the pit, and the snare, are upon you, O inhabitant of the earth!

18. And it shall be, that whoso flees from the voice of the terror, shall fall into the pit; and whoso ascends from the midst of the pit, shall be taken in the snare: for the floodgates from on high are opened, and the foundations of the earth are shaken.

19. The earth is grievously shaken; the earth is utterly shattered to pieces; the earth is violently moved.

20. The earth reels like a drunkard; and moveth this way and that, like a lodge for the night: for her transgression is heavy upon her; and she shall fall, and not rise again.

21. And it shall be in that day, that Jehovah shall visit the host of the high [ones] that are on high; and on earth the kings of the earth.

22. And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners for the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison; and, after many days, they shall be visited.

23. And the moon shall be confounded, and the sun shall be ashamed; for Jehovah of Hosts shall reign on Mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before His ancients [shall be] glory.

376. It has thus far been shown that "oil" signifies celestial good, which is the good of love to the Lord; it shall now be shown that "wine" signifies spiritual good, which is the good of charity towards the neighbor and the good of faith; and as this good in its essence is truth, it is said in the general explanation that "the oil and the wine hurt not," which signifies that there must no harm be done to the internal or spiritual sense of the Word in respect either to good or to truth, or what is the same, that there must no harm be done to the goods and truths which are in the internal or spiritual sense of the Word. The good of charity and the good of faith in their essence are truth, because that good is implanted by the Lord in man's intellectual part by means of the truths that are called the truths of faith, and when man lives according to these truths they become goods; for by means of truths a new will is formed in that part, and whatever proceeds from the will is called good. This will, moreover, is the same as conscience, and conscience is a conscience of truth, for it is formed by truths of every kind from the doctrine of the church, and from the sense of the letter of the Word (but on this subject see further in The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem 130-138; and the extracts from the Arcana Coelestia 139-141). From this now it is that "wine" signifies truth.

[2] Furthermore, there are goods and truths internal and external; internal goods and truths are signified by "the oil and the wine" that must not be hurt; but external goods and truths are signified by "wheat and barley." External goods and truths are those that are in the sense of the letter of the Word, while internal goods and truths are those that are in the internal or spiritual sense of the Word; or external goods and truths are such as are in the lower heavens with the angels there, that is, in the ultimates of heaven, while internal goods and truths are such as are in the higher heavens with the angels there, that is, in the third and second heavens. These goods and truths are genuine goods and truths themselves, but the former are truths and goods because they correspond, thus are correspondences; internal goods and truths have immediate communication with the angels of heaven, while external goods and truths have not an immediate but a mediate communication through correspondences. This is why the Jews, because they were only in the sense of the letter and had no knowledge of the signification of things in the spiritual sense, were unable to do harm to the spiritual sense in respect either to good or to truth, and consequently were unable to do harm to genuine goods and truths. So the Christian Church at this day is unable to do harm to the genuine goods and truths which are in the spiritual sense of the Word, for it has been ignorant of that sense, and at the same time ignorant of genuine goods and truths.

[3] The spiritual sense of the Word was not disclosed to Christians, because genuine goods and truths, such as are in the higher heavens, lie concealed in the spiritual sense of the Word; and so long as these goods and truths were unperceived and unknown that sense could not be opened, since these goods and truths could not be seen. In the Christian churches genuine goods and truths have not been perceived and known for the reason that those churches have been divided, in general, into the Papal and the Evangelical; and those in the Papal Church are utterly ignorant of truths, because they do not depend upon the Word, thus upon the Lord who is the Word, that is, Divine truth, but upon the pope, from whose mouth scarcely anything proceeds except what is from the love of ruling, and that love is from hell; therefore with them scarcely a single truth of the church exists; while in the Evangelical churches faith alone has been assumed as the essential means of salvation, and as a consequence the good of love and charity has been rejected as nonessential, and where good is rejected no truth which is truth in itself can exist, since all truth is from good; for the Lord flows into man's good, and by means of good illustrates him and gives him the light to perceive truths, therefore without that light, which is man's very spiritual life, there is no truth, however much it may sound like truth because it is from the Word; it is truth falsified by the ideas that are held in respect to it; for from faith separate from charity, or from truths without good, no other result can follow. This is why the spiritual sense of the Word could not be disclosed to the Christian churches, for if it had been disclosed, they would have falsified and perverted it by ideas from fallacies, and thus would have profaned it. This also is why no one will ever hereafter be admitted into the spiritual sense of the Word unless he is in genuine truths from good, and no one can be in genuine truths from good unless in heart he acknowledges the Lord alone as the God of heaven and earth, for from Him is every good and thence every truth. The spiritual sense of the Word is at this day opened, and therewith also genuine truths and goods are disclosed, because the Last Judgment has been accomplished by the Lord, and thus all things in the heavens and in the hells have been reduced to order; and for this reason it can be provided by the Lord that no harm can be done to genuine truths and goods, which are in the spiritual sense of the Word, and this could not have been provided before (See in the small work on The Last Judgment 73).

[4] That "wine" signifies spiritual good, or the good of charity and the good of faith, which in its essence is truth, can be seen from the following passages in the Word. In Isaiah:

Ho, everyone that thirsteth, come ye to the waters; and he that hath no silver; come ye, buy and eat; buy wine and milk without silver and without price (Isaiah 55:1).

Anyone can see that this does not mean that wine and milk may be bought without silver, "wine and milk" therefore signify things spiritual, namely, "wine" spiritual good, which in its essence is truth, as was said above, but "milk" the good of that truth. That these are given by the Lord freely to those who are ignorant of truth and good, and yet in a desire for these, is signified by "he that hath no silver, come ye, buy and eat; buy without silver;" "to buy" signifies to acquire for oneself, and "to eat" signifies to make one's own, which is done by application as from oneself. Those who are ignorant of truth and good, and yet are in a desire for them, are evidently meant, for it is said, "Ho, everyone that thirsteth, come ye to the waters," "to thirst" signifying to desire, and "waters" signifying truths, here the Word where truths are.

[5] In Joel:

It shall come to pass in that day, the mountains shall drop down sweet wine, and the hills shall flow with milk; all the water-courses of Judah shall flow with waters (Joel 3:18).

This treats of the Lord's coming, and of the new heaven and the new church from Him. It is well known that the mountains in the land of Canaan, or in Judea, did not then drop down sweet wine, nor the hills flow with milk, nor the water-courses of Judah flow with waters more than before, therefore these words must mean something else than new wine, milk, and waters, or than mountains, hills, and water-courses, namely, "that the mountains shall drop down sweet wine" [mustum] or wine [vinum], means that from the good of love to the Lord there shall be genuine truth; "the hills shall flow with milk" means that from the good of charity towards the neighbor there shall be spiritual life; and "all the water-courses of Judah shall flow with waters" means that from the particulars of the Word there shall be truths. (For "Judah" signifies the Lord's celestial kingdom, and also the Word, see Arcana Coelestia 3881[1-11], 6363; therefore "its water-courses" signify the particulars of the Word; that "mountains" signify the good of love to the Lord, n. Arcana Coelestia 795, 4210, 6435, 8327, 8758, 10438, 10608; and "hills" the good of charity towards the neighbor, n. 6435, 10438; and this because in heaven those who are in the good of love to the Lord dwell upon mountains, and those who are in the good of charity towards the neighbor dwell upon hills, n. Arcana Coelestia 10438, and Heaven and Hell, n. 188.)

[6] In Amos:

Behold the days come, that the ploughman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that draweth forth seed; and the mountains shall drop down sweet wine, and all the hills shall dissolve. I will bring back the captivity of My people Israel, and they shall build the waste cities; and they shall inhabit them, and they shall plant vineyards and drink the wine thereof, and they shall make gardens and eat the fruit of them. Then will I plant them upon their ground (Amos 9:13-15).

This chapter treats first of the vastation of the church, and then of its restoration by the Lord; and "the people Israel" do not mean that people, but those with whom the church was to be established; and "the ploughman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that draweth forth the seed," signifies that he who receives good and truth shall also perform uses, or bear fruit, thus that with the man of the church the two shall be present at the same time; "the mountains shall drop down sweet wine, and all the hills shall dissolve," signifies, as just above, that from the good of love to the Lord and from the good of charity towards the neighbor there shall be truths in abundance, "sweet wine" here, or "wine," meaning truth; that "the captivity of the people Israel shall be brought back" signifies the restoration of the church among the Gentiles, for "captivity" means spiritual captivity, in which those are who are remote from goods and truths, and yet in a desire for them (See Arcana Coelestia 9164). "The waste cities that they shall build" signify the doctrinals of truth and good from the Word, before destroyed and at that time to be restored; "the vineyards which they shall plant," and "the wine of which they shall drink," signify all things of the church from which there is intelligence, "a vineyard" signifies the spiritual church, and therefore "vineyards" signify all things of the church; "wine" signifies the truth of the church in general, and "to drink it" signifies to be instructed and become intelligent, thus intelligence; and "the gardens which they shall make, and the fruit of which they shall eat," signifies wisdom, "gardens" meaning all things of intelligence, and their "fruit" signifying the goods of life, thus "to eat their fruit" signifies the appropriation of good, thus wisdom, for wisdom comes when truths are committed to the life; and because this is what is meant, therefore it is said of Israel, "I will plant them upon their ground."

[7] In Moses:

He bindeth his foal to the vine, the son of his she-ass unto the noble vine; he washeth his vesture in wine, and his covering in the blood of the grapes. His eyes are red with wine, and his teeth white with milk (Genesis 49:1, 12).

This is in the prophecy of Israel the father respecting Judah, by whom here Judah is not meant, but the Lord in relation to the celestial kingdom; and "wine" and the "blood of grapes" mean the Divine truth. (What the rest signifies, and that "wine" signifies Divine truth, because this has reference to the Lord, see Arcana Coelestia 6375-6381.)

[8] In the same:

Jacob brought of his venison to his father Isaac, and he did eat; and he brought him wine, and he drank. And Isaac blessed him, saying, God give thee of the dew of heaven, and of the fatnesses of the earth, and plenty of corn and new wine (Genesis 27:25, 27-28, 37).

Those who do not know that the Word is spiritual in its particulars may suppose that by "Isaac" here is meant Isaac, and by "Jacob" Jacob, and therefore that by "the fatnesses of the earth," and "the corn and new wine," no other and deeper things are meant; but "Isaac" here represents the Lord, and "Jacob" the church; thence the "fatnesses of the earth" mean the celestial things that are of the good of love; and "corn and new wine" every good and truth of the church. (But these words may also be seen explained in Arcana Coelestia n. 3570, 3579, 3580.)

[9] In the same:

If ye shall harken to My commandments, I will give rain to your land in its time, the former rain and the latter rain; and thou shall gather in thy corn, and thy new wine, and thy fresh oil (Deuteronomy 11:13-14).

These blessings of the earth were promised to the sons of Israel if they would hear and do the commandments of Jehovah, and the blessings followed because with them the church was representative, and the things that were said and commanded by Jehovah corresponded to things spiritual, thus these blessings of the earth to the blessings of heaven. The blessings of heaven, to which the blessings of the earth correspond, all have reference to the things that are of the good of love and the truth of faith; these blessings therefore are signified by "the former rain and the latter rain," for "rain" in particular signifies Divine truth flowing in out of heaven, from which all things of the church and heaven with man are born, grow, and are brought forth; therefore "the corn, new wine, and oil, which they should gather in," signify every good and truth of the external and internal man.

[10] In the same:

Thus Israel dwelt securely, alone by the fountain of Jacob, in a land of corn and new wine; yea, his heavens shall drop down dew (Deuteronomy 33:28).

This was the conclusion of the blessings of the sons of Israel by Moses, which were all prophetical, and every son or every tribe of Israel signified something of the church (as in Genesis 49); and here "Israel" signifies the church itself; and "to dwell securely, alone by the fountain of Jacob," signifies to live without infestation from evils and falsities, and to be led by the Lord alone through Divine truth, the "fountain of Jacob" meaning Divine truth and the Word; and "to live in a land of corn and new wine" signifies in every good and truth of the church; and "yea, his heavens shall drop down dew," signifies influx out of heaven.

[11] In the same:

He made him ride upon the high places of the earth, and gave him butter of the herd, and milk of the flock, with the fat of lambs, and of rams, the sons of Bashan, and of he-goats, with the fat of the kidneys of wheat; and thou drinkest the blood of the grape, unmixed wine (Deuteronomy 32:13-14).

These things are said of the Ancient Church, which was the church previous to the Israelitish Church, and was in the good of charity and in truths of faith. The goods of every kind, in which it was, are meant by these things, namely, the "butter of the herd," the "milk of the flock," "the fat of lambs," "the fat of rams," "the fat of goats," "the fat of the kidneys of wheat;" and spiritual truths are meant by "the blood of the grape" and "unmixed wine."

[12] In Jeremiah:

They shall come and sing aloud in the height of Zion, and shall flow together unto the good of Jehovah, to the corn, and to the new wine, and to the fresh oil, and to the sons of the flock and of the herd (Jeremiah 31:12).

"Corn," "new wine," and "fresh oil," signify goods and truth of every kind (what these mean in particular, see above, n. 374). In Isaiah:

Jehovah hath sworn by His right hand, and by the arm of His strength, Surely I will no longer give thy corn to be food for thine enemies, and the sons of the alien shall not drink thy new wine for which thou hast labored; but they that gather it shall eat it and praise Jehovah, and they that bring it together shall drink it in the courts of holiness (Isaiah 62:8-9).

This is said of Jerusalem, which signifies the church in relation to doctrine; therefore "the corn that shall no longer be given as food for the enemies, and the new wine that the sons of the alien shall not drink" signify in general the good and truth of the church, which shall no longer be consumed by evils and falsities; "enemies" here meaning evils, and "the sons of the alien" falsities, and "to eat," or "to have food given them," and "to drink," mean to consume. That goods and truths will remain with those who receive them, and thence make use of them, is signified by "they that gather it shall eat it," and "they that bring it together shall drink it;" worship from these is signified by "praising Jehovah," and "drinking in the courts of holiness."

[13] In the same:

Gladness is taken away, and exultation from Carmel; and in the vineyards there is no singing aloud, no shouting for joy; the treader treadeth not out the wine in the wine-vats; I have made the vintage-shouting to cease (Isaiah 16:10).

This describes the taking away of the heavenly enjoyment that is from good and its truths, because good and truth itself is taken away; the good of the church is meant by "Carmel," and its truths by "vineyards" and by "treading out the wine in the wine-vats;" the enjoyments thereof that are taken away are meant by "gladness," "exultation," "singing aloud," "shouting," and "vintage-shouting," for it was a custom to sing in the vineyards, and in the winepresses when the grape was trodden into wine, that enjoyments from truths, which were signified by "wine," might be represented.

[14] In Jeremiah:

With more than the weeping of Jazer I will weep for thee, O vine of Sibmah; thy shoots are passed over the sea, they reach even to the sea of Jazer; upon thy autumn fruits, and upon thy vintage the devastator is fallen. Whence gladness and exultation is gathered out of Carmel, and out of the land of Moab; and I have caused the wine to cease in the wine-vats; none shall tread with shouting; their shouting shall be no shouting (Jeremiah 48:32-33).

This also treats of the taking away of the heavenly enjoyment that is from the good of love and the truths thence, for all heavenly enjoyment is in these and from these. Lamentation over it is meant by "weeping" [flere fletum]; deprivation of it is meant by "gladness and exultation is gathered out of Carmel," likewise by "the devastator falling upon it," "the wine failing," and "the shouting being no shouting;" the good that was taken away, for which there was lamentation, is meant by "the autumn fruits;" and the truths of good that were taken away are meant by "the vintage," and by "the wine in the wine-vats." That truths were banished, and that they perished through knowledges [scientifica] is meant by "the vine of Sibmah," and by its "shoots that have gone over the sea, even to the sea of Jazer," "sea" signifying the knowing faculty [scientificum].

[15] In Lamentations:

The infant and the suckling faint in the broad places of the city. They say to their mothers, Where is the corn and the wine? when they faint as one pierced in the broad places of the city, when their soul is poured out upon their mother's bosom (Lam. 2:11-12).

These words contain a lamentation over the Jewish Church, that every good and truth thereof has perished; and the lamentation is described by "the infant and the suckling who faint in the broad places of the city, and say to their mothers, Where is the corn and the wine?" The "infant and the suckling" signify those who are in the good of innocence, and in an abstract sense, the good of innocence itself; by this good every good of the church is meant, since it is the essential of all its goods (See in the work on Heaven and Hell, n. 276-283, 285, 288, 341, 382). "The broad places of the city" signify the truths of doctrine; "mothers" all things of the church; "corn and wine" all the good and truth of the church in general. It is said that "they faint as one pierced in the broad places of the city, when their soul is poured out upon their mother's bosom," because "one pierced" signifies those who perish spiritually from the deprivation of truth, and "soul" signifies spiritual life. (That "the broad places of the city, in which they faint," signify the truths of doctrine, see Arcana Coelestia, n. 2336; and that "the mother, into whose bosom the soul is poured out," signifies the church, n. 2691, 2717, 3703, 4257, 5581, 8897)

[16] In Zephaniah:

Their wealth shall be for plunder, and their houses for a waste, that they may build houses but not inhabit them, and plant vineyards but not drink the wine thereof (Zephaniah 1:13).

The "wealth that shall be for plunder" signifies spiritual wealth, which is the knowledges of good and truth; "the houses that shall be for devastation" signify the things of the church in man; that from these when devastated one profits nothing and receives nothing, even though he listens to them, and sees them in the Word, is signified by "building and not inhabiting, and planting vineyards and not drinking the wine thereof," "houses" meaning the goods of the church, and "vineyards" with "wine" its truths.

[17] Like things are meant in Micah:

Thou shalt sow but shalt not reap; thou shalt tread the olive but shalt not anoint thee with oil, and the new wine but shall not drink wine (Micah 6:15).

In Amos:

Vineyards of desire shall ye plant, but ye shall not drink the wine of them (Amos 5:11).

And in Hosea:

The threshing-floor and the wine-vat shall not feed them, and the new wine shall dissemble unto them. They shall not pour forth wine to Jehovah, and these shall not be agreeable unto Him (Hosea 9:2, 4).

The "threshing-floor and the wine-vat" signify the same as "corn and wine," because corn and wine are there collected; that they will not profit by what they hear is signified by "they shall not feed them, and the new wine shall dissemble unto them;" and that thence their worship is not accepted is signified by "they shall not pour forth wine to Jehovah, and these (that is, the offerings) shall not be agreeable unto Him."

[18] In Joel:

Awake, ye drunkards, and weep; and howl, all ye drinkers of wine, because of the sweet wine which is cut off from your mouth. The field is devastated, the ground mourned, for the corn was devastated, the new wine was dried up, the fresh oil languisheth; the husbandmen were ashamed; the vine-dressers howled (Joel 1:5, 10-11).

What these words signify in the spiritual sense, may be seen above n. 374, where they are explained; "wine" and "sweet wine" meaning the truth of the church, and "vine-dressers" those who are in truths and teach them. This treats of a devastated church, in which goods and truths have perished.

[19] In Ezekiel:

Damascus was thy trader in the multitude of thy works, in the multitude of all riches, in the wine of Heshbon ¹ and the wool of Zachar (Ezekiel 27:18).

This is said of Tyre, which signifies the church in relation to the knowledges of good and truth; and "Damascus," which was a city in Syria, signifies the concordant knowing faculty [scientificum]; and the "tradings" referred to in this chapter signify the acquisition and communication and also the use of these. Because "Damascus" signifies the concordant knowing faculty, it is called a "trader in the multitude of all works and riches," "works" by which uses are effected, signifying the knowledges of good, and "riches" the knowledges of truth; and as the knowledges of truth and good are in the natural man, for therein is everything pertaining to cognition and knowing that is perceptible, therefore it is said "in the wine of Heshbon and the wool of Zachar," the "wine of Heshbon" signifying natural truth, and the "wool of Zachar" natural good.

[20] In Isaiah:

A malediction shall devour the earth; the new wine shall mourn, the vine shall languish, all the glad of heart shall sigh. They shall not drink wine with a song; strong drink shall be bitter to them that drink it. The city of voidness shall be broken down; every house shall be shut, that no one come in (Isaiah 24:6-7, 9-10).

These words describe the perversion of the church, which takes place when falsity rules in place of truth, whence there is no longer any good; for man has good by means of truths. "The earth that the malediction will devour" signifies the church, "malediction" meaning its perversion; the "new wine that will mourn," and the "vine that will languish," signify all truth of the church, "to mourn" and "to languish" signifying deprivation of it; that there shall no longer be any heavenly enjoyment and blessedness is signified by "all the glad of heart shall sigh, they shall not drink wine with a song;" that they shall turn away from all things that agree with truths is signified by "strong drink shall be bitter to them that drink it," "strong drink" signifying the things that are from truths and agree with them. But that the doctrine of falsity shall be destroyed is signified by "the city of voidness shall be broken down," "city" meaning doctrine, and "a void" falsity; and that there shall no longer be any good or wisdom with man is signified by "every house shall be shut, that no one come in," which takes place when there is no truth, but only falsity.

[21] In Amos:

Who drink out of bowls of wine, and anoint themselves with the firstfruits of the oils; but they are not grieved for the breach of Joseph (Amos 6:6).

This and what precedes in that chapter describes those who are in external worship without internal, such as the Jews were formerly and still are; the "bowls of wine out of which they drink" are the externals of truth from which is worship; and the "firstfruits of the oils with which they anoint themselves" are the externals of good, from which also is worship; "Joseph" signifies the internal of the church or its spiritual; not being affected because this perishes is signified by "they are not grieved for his breach." (That external worship without internal is no worship, see Arcana Coelestia 1094, 1175, 7724; that the Jews were formerly and still are in external worship without internal, n. 1200, 3147, 3479, 8871; that "Joseph" signifies the spiritual church, thus also the spiritual of the church, n. 3969, 3971, 4669, 6417)

[22] In Zechariah:

I will render the house of Judah mighty and I will save the house of Joseph; on this account they shall be as the mighty Ephraim, and their heart shall be glad as if with wine (Zechariah 10:6-7).

"The house of Judah" signifies the Lord's celestial church, and the "house of Joseph" the Lord's spiritual church; and "to render mighty their houses" signifies to multiply with them truths from good, for all might is of truth from good; therefore it is said, "they shall be as the mighty Ephraim;" "Ephraim" signifying the understanding of truth from good, which is called mighty from its multiplication; heavenly enjoyment therefrom is signified by "their heart shall be glad as if with wine," "wine" meaning truth from good from which that enjoyment comes. (That truths have all power from good, see in the work o n Heaven and Hell 228-233; and also above, n. 209, 333; that "Judah" in the Word signifies the Lord's celestial kingdom, Arcana Coelestia 3881[1-11], 6363; and "Ephraim" the intellectual of the church, n. 3969, 5354, 6222, 6234, 6238, 6267, 6296.)

[23] In Daniel:

Belshazzar king of Babylon, and his magnates, and his wives, and his concubines, drank wine out of vessels of the temple of Jerusalem, and praised the gods of silver, brass, iron, wood, and stone. Therefore there was written on the wall, Numbered, weighed, and divided. And then he [Nebuchadnezzar] was driven out from the sons of man, and his dwelling was with the wild asses (Daniel 5:2-5, 21).

In the internal sense this describes the profanation of good and truth, which also is meant by "Babel" or "Babylon;" for "to drink wine out of the vessels of the temple of Jerusalem" signifies to draw the truths of the church from the Word, "to drink wine" meaning to draw truths, and "the vessels of the temple of Jerusalem" meaning the truths that belong to the doctrine of the church from the Word; and "to praise the gods of gold, silver, brass, iron, wood, and stone" signifies worship from the love of self and the world; for these gods signify idolatrous worship of every kind, and profanation; that it was therefore written on the wall, "numbered, weighed, divided" signifies separation from all things of heaven and the church. That afterwards "the king was driven out from the sons of man, and his dwelling was with the wild asses" signifies separation from all truth, and the allotment of his life with the infernals, "sons of man" meaning the truths of the church, "wild asses" those who are in dire falsities like those in the hells, and "dwelling" meaning the allotment of the life.

[24] In Joel:

They have cast a lot upon My people; for they have given a boy for a harlot, and sold a girl for wine, which they drank (Joel 3:3).

"To cast lots upon the people" signifies to dissipate the truths of the church, "to cast a lot" signifying to dissipate, and "people" signifying the church in relation to truths, thus also the truths of the church; "to give a boy for a harlot" signifies to falsify truth, "boy" meaning the truth of the church, and "harlot" falsity; and "to sell a girl for wine, which they drank" signifies to pervert the good of the church by truth falsified, "girl" meaning the good of the church, and "wine" truth falsified.

[25] Because "wine" signified the truth of the church that is from good, it was commanded that, with the sacrifices upon the altar, a meal-offering and a drink-offering should be offered, and the meal-offering was bread, and the drink-offering wine; these signified worship of the Lord from the good of love, and from the truths therefrom; for all worship is from these. (On the drink-offerings, the portions of wine with them at the different sacrifices, see Exodus 29:40, 41; Leviticus 23:13, 18; Numbers 6:1-4, 15, 17; 15:4-7, 10, 24; 28:7-10, 24, 31; 29:6, 11, 16, 19, 22, 25, 27, 28, 31, 34, 38, 39; and besides Genesis 35:14) This makes clear what is signified in Joel:

The meal-offering and the drink-offering was cut off from the house of Jehovah; the priests, the ministers (of the altar), mourned (Joel 1:9);

namely, that worship from the good of love, and from the truths therefrom, had perished. Who cannot see that the meal-offering and the drink-offering, which were bread and wine, were not pleasing to Jehovah in worship, unless they had signified such things as are of heaven and the church?

[26] From this it can now be seen what the bread and wine in the Holy Supper involve, namely, the bread, the good of love to the Lord from the Lord, and the wine, the good of faith, which in its essence is truth. (But on the Holy Supper and the bread and wine of it, see The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem 210-222.) Because "wine" signifies the good of faith, which in its essence is truth, when the Lord instituted the sacrament of the supper, He said:

I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this product of the vine until that day when I will drink it with you new in My Father's kingdom (Matthew 26:29).

I say unto you, I will not drink of the product of the vine until the kingdom of God shall come (Luke 22:18).

"The product of the vine," that is, "wine," which the Lord "would drink with them new in His Father's kingdom," or "when the kingdom of God should come," means that all Divine truth in heaven and the church would then be from His Divine Human; He therefore calls it "new," and also He calls it "the new testament in his blood" (Luke 22:20); for "the Lord's blood" has a like signification as "wine" (See above, n. 30, 328, 329). And as everything Divine, since the Lord has risen, proceeds from Him, He says that He will drink it with them when the kingdom of God shall come, and it came when He reduced all things to order in the heavens and in the hells. That the kingdom of God came at the same time with the Lord and that it is from Him can be seen from Matthew 3:2; 4:8; 10:7; 12:28; 16:28; Mark 1:14, 15; 9:1; Luke 1:32, 33; 9:11, 27, 60; 10:11; 16:16; 17:20, 21; 23:42, 51; John 18:36. Now, because "bread" signifies the good of love, and "wine" the good of faith, which in its essence is the truth from that good, and in the highest sense, "bread" signifies the Lord in respect to Divine good, and "wine" the Lord in respect to Divine truth, and because there is a correspondence between spiritual things and natural, (and such a correspondence that when "bread" and "wine" are in man's thought, the good of love and the good of faith are in the angels' thoughts), and because all things of heaven and the church have reference to the good of love and the good of faith, therefore the Lord instituted the Holy Supper in order that by means of it there might be a conjunction of the angels of heaven with the men of the church.

[27] Because such things are meant by "bread and wine" in heaven, therefore:

Melchizedek, king of Salem, going out to meet Abram, brought out bread and wine; and he was a priest to God Most High. And he blessed Abram (Genesis 14:18-19).

"Melchizedek" here represents the Lord in relation to Divine good and in relation to Divine truth, as priest in relation to Divine good, and as king to Divine truth; therefore he "brought out bread and wine," "bread" signifying Divine good, and "wine" Divine truth; or when applied to man, "bread" signifying the good of love to the Lord, and "wine" the good of faith, which is from the reception of Divine truth.

[28] The "wine" spoken of by the Lord in the following passages has a like signification:

They do not put new wine into old wine-skins, else the skins burst, and the wine is spilled; but they put [new] wine into fresh wine-skins, and both are preserved (Matthew 9:17).

And no man having drunk old wine straightway desireth new; for he saith, The old is more useful (Luke 5:39).

This comparison, like all others in the Word, is from correspondences, "wine" signifying truth, "old wine" the truth of the old or Jewish Church, and "wine-skins" things that contain, "old wine-skins" the statutes and judgments of the Jewish Church, and "fresh wine-skins" the precepts and commandments of the Lord. That the statutes and judgments of the Jewish Church, which related especially to sacrifices and representative worship, are not in agreement with the truths of the Christian Church is meant by "they do not put new wine into old wine-skins, else the wine-skins burst and the wine is spilled; but they put [new] wine into fresh wine-skins, and both are preserved together." That those who have been born and educated in the externals of the Jewish Church cannot be brought immediately into the internals belonging to the Christian Church is signified by "no man having drunk old wine straightway desireth new; for he saith, "The old is more useful."

[29] The same is signified by "the water turned into wine at Cana of Galilee," thus described in John:

At the wedding in Cana of Galilee, when the wine failed, there were six water-pots of stone set there, according to the cleansing of the Jews. Jesus said, Fill the water-pots; and they filled them to the brim. Then he said unto them Draw out now, and bear unto the ruler of the feast; and they bare it. While the ruler of the feast tasted the water that was made wine, he calleth the bridegroom, and saith unto him, Every man setteth on first the good wine; and when they have had enough, the inferior; thou hast kept the good wine until now (John 2:1-10).

It should be known that all the miracles done by the Lord, as well as all the miracles by Him spoken of in the Old Testament, signified, that is, contained within them, such things as belong to heaven and the church, and that thence His miracles were Divine (See Arcana Coelestia 7337, 8364, 9051). So with this miracle; here, as elsewhere in the Word, "a wedding" signifies the church; "in Cana of Galilee" means among the Gentiles; "water" the truth of the external church, such as was the truth of the Jewish Church from the sense of the letter of the Word, and "wine" the truth of the internal church, such as is the truth of the Christian Church; therefore the Lord's "making the water wine" signifies that of the truths of the external church He will make truths of the internal church by opening the internal things that have lain concealed in them. "The six water-pots of stone, set there according to the cleansing of the Jews," signify all these truths in the Word, and thence in the Jewish Church and its worship; these were all representative and significative of things Divine in the Lord and from the Lord, which contained things eternal. For this reason there were "six water-pots of stone, set for the cleansing of the Jews;" the number "six" signifies all, and is predicated of truths; "stone" signifies truth, and "the cleansing of the Jews" purification from sins; thus all things of the Jewish Church are signified, since that church regards purification from sins as its all, for so far as anyone is purified from sins, so far he becomes a church. "The ruler of the feast" means those who are in the knowledges of truth; his saying to the bridegroom, "every man setteth on first the good wine; and when men have had enough, the inferior; thou hast kept the good wine until now," signifies that every church has its beginning in truths from good, but falls away into truths not of good, but that now, at the end of the church, truth from good, or genuine truth, is granted, namely by the Lord.

[30] It is because "wine" signifies the truth of the church, and "oil" the good of the church, that the Lord says, in the parable of the man who was wounded by thieves:

That the Samaritan poured oil and wine into his wounds (Luke 10:33-34);

where "the man wounded by thieves" means those who are infested and have their conscience hurt by evil men, who are "robbers;" and "the Samaritan" means the Gentiles that are in the good of charity; therefore "his pouring into his wounds oil and wine" signifies the spiritual things that heal a man thus injured, "oil" meaning the good of love, and "wine" the good of faith, or truth. What the rest signifies, namely, "that he set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and told them to take care of him," may be seen above (n. 375[8]), where they are explained. That "wine" signifies the truth of the church can be seen not only from the passages cited, but also from others in the Word (as Isaiah 1:21, 22; 25:6; 36:17; Hosea 7:4, 5, 14; 14:5-7; Amos 2:8; Zechariah 9:15, 17; Psalms 104:14-16).

[31] As most things in the Word have also a contrary sense, so, too, has "wine," and in that sense it signifies truth falsified, and also falsity, as in the following passages. In Isaiah:

Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, to the flower of his fading adornment, which is on the head of the valley of the fat ones frenzied with wine; the crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, they shall be trampled under the feet; these go astray through wine, and through strong drink they err; the priest and the prophet go astray through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they err through wine, ² they go astray among the seeing, they waver in judgment (Isaiah 28:1, 3, 7).

This is said of those who are insane in things spiritual because they believe themselves to be intelligent of themselves, and glory in it; the state of such is here described by pure correspondences; those who are insane in things spiritual or in truths are meant by "the drunkards," and those who thence believe themselves intelligent by "Ephraim," and hence glorying in intelligence or learning is meant by the "crown of pride;" for those who are in falsities of doctrine and have confirmed themselves in them, when they are illustrated and see truths, in the other life become like drunkards. The learned who have confirmed themselves in falsities become such, and to confirm oneself in falsities is to confirm from oneself and not from the Lord. This makes clear what is signified by "woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim;" "the flower of the fading adornment that is on the head of the valley of the fat ones frenzied with wine" signifies the truth of the church destroyed even as it is born by the glorying of the self-intelligence that is of the natural man separated from the spiritual, when falsity is seen instead of truth, "the flower of the adornment" meaning truth as it is born declining or perished; "the head of the valley of the fat ones" means the intelligence of the natural man; "frenzied with wine" means those who see falsity in place of truth; "the crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, they shall be trampled under the feet," signifies that this intelligence shall utterly perish; "these go astray through wine, and through strong drink they err," signifies through falsities and through such things as are from falsities; "the priest and the prophet go astray through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are gone astray through strong drink," signifies that such are those who ought to be in the doctrine of good and truth, and in a sense abstracted from persons that such is their doctrine itself; "they go astray among the seeing, they waver in judgment," signifies that they do not see the truths of intelligence. That these words have such a signification no one can see except from the spiritual sense; without that it could not be known that "crown" and "head" signify intelligence, that "drunkards" signify those who are insane in things spiritual, that "Ephraim" signifies here man's own understanding, or that which is from himself, that "valley" signifies the lower things of the mind, which are natural and sensual, and that "priest and prophet" signify the doctrine of good and truth.

[32] In the same:

Linger ye, wonder, be astounded, and cry out; they are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink; for Jehovah hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed up your eyes; the prophets and your heads, the seers hath He covered (Isaiah 29:9-10).

This is said of those who can see nothing of truth when they hear or read it from the Word; those who are such are called "drunken but not with wine," and "they stagger, but not with strong drink," "wine" signifying in particular the truth of the spiritual and thus of the rational man, and "strong drink" the truth of the natural man therefrom. Because such are meant it is said, "Jehovah hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed up your eyes," "the spirit of deep sleep" meaning no perception, and the "eyes closed up" no understanding. "The prophets and your heads [the seers] hath He covered," signifies those who are in the doctrine of truth and were wise and intelligent thence; "prophets" signify those who are in the doctrine of truth, and in an abstract sense, doctrine itself, "heads" signify the wise, and in an abstract sense, wisdom, and "seers" signify the intelligent, and in an abstract sense, intelligence. Wonder at such gross stupidity is described by "Linger ye, wonder, be astounded," and lamentation over it by "cry out." Such are those who are in a life of evil, and at the same time in the principles of falsity, however learned they are believed to be; for a life of evil shuts out the perception of good by which thought has life and light, and the principles of falsity shut out the understanding of truth, on which account they see from the sensual man only, and not at all from the spiritual.

[33] In the same:

The dogs are strong of soul, they know not satiety; and they are shepherds who know not intelligence. Come, I will take wine and we will be drunk with strong drink (Isaiah 56:11-12).

This is said of those who care for nothing but worldly and earthly things, which close the internal spiritual man. These, from having no perception of good and no understanding of truth, are called "dogs strong of soul, they know not satiety," that is, they are unable to receive good, "to know" here signifies to be able, and "satiety" reception of good, for satiety is predicated of food, by which spiritual nourishment is signified. That they have no understanding of truth is meant by "they are shepherds who know not intelligence;" those are called "shepherds" who believe themselves able to instruct others, for "to feed" means to instruct; and because such persons love falsities and things falsified, it is added, "Come, I will take wine, and we will be drunk with strong drink."

[34] In Jeremiah:

Thus said Jehovah, God of Israel, Every bottle shall be filled with wine. Behold I fill all the inhabitants of this land, and the kings sitting for David upon his throne, and the priests and the prophets, all the inhabitants of Jerusalem with drunkenness (Jeremiah 13:12-13).

Here, too, "wine" signifies falsity, and "every bottle that shall be filled with wine" signifies the mind of man, since the mind is a recipient of truth or of falsity, as a bottle is of wine; "the kings sitting for David upon his throne" signify those who would otherwise be in Divine truths, "priests" those who would be in Divine goods, "prophets," those who would be in doctrine, "the inhabitants of Jerusalem" all who are of the church; and "the drunkenness with which they shall be filled" signifies insanity in spiritual things.

[35] In the same:

I am become like a drunkard, and like a man into whom wine hath passed, because of Jehovah, and because of the words of His Holiness. For the land is full of adulterers (Jeremiah 23:9-10).

This is a lamentation over the adulteration of good and falsification of truth in the church, which is signified by "the land is full of adulterers;" these are meant by "adulteries," and the church by "land." Insanity in spiritual things through reasonings from evils against Divine goods and from falsities against Divine truth is signified by, "I am become like a drunkard, and like a man into whom wine has passed, because of Jehovah, and because of the words of His Holiness;" "to become like a drunkard and like a man into whom wine hath passed" signifies confusion of mind and insanity by reasoning from evils and falsities; "because of Jehovah" signifies because of Divine goods, and "because of the words of his holiness" signifies because of Divine truths.

[36] In Isaiah:

Hear now this, thou afflicted, and drunken but not with wine (Isaiah 51:21).

The "drunken but not with wine," mean here those who are in falsities from ignorance of truth. That:

Noah drank of the wine and was drunken, and therefore lay naked in the midst of his tent (Genesis 9:21);

means in the spiritual sense, something entirely different from the meaning in the letter; likewise:

Lot's being made drunken by his daughters, and their then lying with him (Genesis 19:32-34).

What is meant by the drunkenness of Noah in the spiritual sense may be seen in Arcana Coelestia 1070-1081); and what by the drunkenness of Lot (n. 2465 end). "Drunkenness" also elsewhere in the Word signifies insanity in spiritual things, and lapsing into errors (Isaiah 19:11, 12, 14; Jeremiah 25:27; Joel 1:5-7; Jeremiah 51:7; Leviticus 10:8, 9).

[37] That "wine" in a contrary sense signifies falsity, is also evident from Isaiah:

Woe unto them that rise early in the morning, that follow strong drink; to them that delay until twilight till wine inflames them. But they do not look upon the work of Jehovah, and they see not the working of His hands. Woe to the wise in their own eyes, and the intelligent before their own faces. Woe unto the mighty in drinking wine, and to men of strength to mingle strong drink (Isaiah 5:11-12, 21-22).

This is said of those who frame for themselves doctrinals from self-intelligence not from the Lord, or from Him out of the Word, which consequently are mere falsities. "Woe unto them who rise early in the morning, who follow strong drink, to them who delay until twilight till wine inflame them; but they do not look upon the work of Jehovah, and they see not the working of His hands" signifies therefore the perverted states of those who believe that they are illustrated of themselves, whence they are in falsities of doctrine, and care not for the Word, from which they might know goods and truths of life and of doctrine. "To rise early in the morning," and "to delay until twilight" signifies to be illustrated; and "to follow strong drink," and "to be inflamed with wine" signifies to hatch out doctrinals of themselves; "not to look upon the work of Jehovah," and "not to see the working of His hands" signifies not to care for the Word, or the goods of life and the truths of doctrine there disclosed; "the work of Jehovah" is predicated of the goods of life, and "the working of His hands" of the truths of doctrine, both from the Word; because such persons are meant, therefore it is said, "Woe to the wise in their own eyes, and the intelligent before their own faces;" "the wise in their own eyes" signifying those who are wise from their own intelligence, and "the intelligent before their own faces" signifying those who are intelligent from their own affection, "eyes" signifying the understanding, and "face" affection. And "woe unto the mighty in drinking wine, and to men of strength to mingle strong drink," signifies unto such as aspire after great things, and are ingenious in confirming the falsities that favor the loves of self and their own principles; "the mighty" are those who aspire to great things; "men of strength" those who are ingenious, and seem to themselves to be intelligent; "to drink wine" means to imbibe falsities, and "to mingle strong drink" means to confirm them. Such are all those who are in the love of self, and who seek after the reputation for learning, for such are in what is their own, and cannot be elevated above it; therefore their own thought is in the corporeal sensual, by which no truth is seen, and no spiritual good is perceived. But those who are not in the love of self, and who seek intelligence for the sake of the uses of life, are elevated by the Lord from what is their own into the light of heaven, and though not themselves aware of it, are illustrated.

[38] In Hosea:

Whoredom and new wine have taken up the heart. My people ask the wood, and their rod answereth them; for the spirit of whoredom hath led them astray, and they have committed whoredom under their God. Ephraim is joined to idols; their wine is gone; in whoring they commit whoredom (Hosea 4:11-12, 17-18).

This treats of those who falsify truths; the falsification of truth is signified by "whoredom," and the falsity therefrom by "new wine." This makes clear what is signified by "whoredom and new wine have taken up the heart; the spirit of whoredoms hath seduced them, they have committed whoredom under their God, and the wine hath departed, in whoring they commit whoredom," namely, that such falsify Divine truths, and consequently have no truth at all, "to commit whoredom under their God" signifies to falsify Divine truths, and "the wine hath departed" signifies that consequently they have no truth at all; "Ephraim, who is joined to idols" signifies those who are in self-intelligence, and the "idols to which he is joined" signify the falsities of religion. "My people ask the wood, and their rod answereth them" signifies that they consult their self-love, and favor it from self-intelligence; for "wood" or an idol of wood, which they ask, signifies self-love, and "the rod that answers" signifies power from what is one's own, thus intelligence.

[39] In Revelation:

Babylon is fallen is fallen, the great city, because of the wine of the wrath of her whoredom she hath made all nations to drink. If anyone worshipeth the beast he shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which hath been mingled unmixed in the cup of the anger [of God]; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone (Revelation 14:8-10);

I will show thee the judgment of the great harlot that sitteth upon many waters, with whom the kings of the earth committed whoredom, and they that dwell in the earth were made drunk from the wine of her whoredom (Revelation 17:1-2).

For of the wine of the wrath of her whoredom have all nations drunk, and the kings of the earth have committed whoredom with her (Revelation 18:3).

"The wine of the anger of God" signifies the falsity of evil, and "the wine of whoredom" signifies truth falsified; what the rest means will appear in the explanation of it, likewise what these words mean in Revelation:

Babylon the great was remembered before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the wrath of God's anger (Revelation 16:19);

"The wine of God's anger" having the same meaning as "the chalice, or cup, of God's anger."

[40] In Jeremiah:

Babylon hath been a cup of gold in the hand of Jehovah, making the whole earth drunken; the nations have drunk of her wine, therefore the nations are mad (Jeremiah 51:7).

And in David:

There is a cup in the hand of Jehovah, and He hath mingled the wine, hath filled it with mixture, and hath poured out; but the lees of it all the wicked of the earth shall suck out and drink (Psalms 75:8).

As the "meal-offering" and the "drink-offering," which were bread and wine, signify worship from the good of love and the truths of faith, so in a contrary sense, the "meal-offering" and "drink-offering" signify worship from the evils that are of the love of evil, and from the falsities of faith; this was signified by the "meal-offering" and "drink-offering" that were offered to idols and to the gods (Isaiah 57:6; 65:11; Jeremiah 7:18; 44:17-19; Ezekiel 20:28; Deuteronomy 32:38). From the signification of "wine" it can be seen what "vineyard," "vine," its "branches," and "grapes" signify in the Word, namely, that "a vineyard" signifies the spiritual church, that is, the church that is in the truths and goods of doctrine from the Lord, "a vine" the doctrine itself, its "branches" truths from which doctrine is formed, and "the grapes" which are the fruit of vineyards and of vines, the goods of charity and the goods of faith (but of these elsewhere).

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