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여호와께서 그에게 이르시되 나를 위하여 삼년 된 암소와, 삼년 된 암염소와, 삼년 된 수양과, 산비둘기와, 집비둘기 새끼를 취할지니라
Arcana Coelestia #1839
1839. Behold a terror of great darkness falling upon him. That this signifies that the darkness was terrible, and that “darkness” means falsities, is evident from the signification of “darkness,” as being falsities, to be explained presently. The state of the church before its consummation, when the sun was “going down,” is described by the “terror of great darkness;” but its state when the sun had gone down is described by the “thick darkness” and the other things mentioned in verse 17.
[2] The same is thus described by the Lord in Matthew:
The sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken (Matthew 24:29).
This does not mean that the sun of the world will be darkened, but the celestial which is of love and charity; nor the moon, but the spiritual which is of faith; nor that the stars will fall from heaven, but that the knowledges of good and truth with the man of the church will do so, for these are “the powers of the heavens;” nor will these things take place in heaven, but on earth; for heaven is never darkened.
[3] That “a terror of great darkness fell upon him,” means that the Lord was horrified at so great a vastation. So far as anyone is in the celestial things of love, so far does he feel horror when he perceives a consummation. So it was with the Lord, above all others; for He was in love itself, both celestial and Divine.
[4] That “darkness” signifies falsities is evident from very many passages in the Word; as in Isaiah:
Woe unto them that put darkness for light, and light for darkness (Isaiah 5:20);
“darkness” denotes falsities, and “light” truths. In the same:
He shall look onto the land, and behold darkness, distress, and the light is darkened (Isaiah 5:30);
“darkness” denoting falsities, and “the light darkened” the truth not appearing.
[5] In the same:
Behold, darkness covereth the earth, and thick darkness the peoples (Isaiah 60:2).
In Amos:
The day of Jehovah, it is darkness, and not light. Shall not the day of Jehovah be darkness, and not light? and thick darkness and no brightness in it? (Amos 5:18, 20).
In Zephaniah:
The great day of Jehovah is near; that day is a day of wrath, a day of straitness and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and thick darkness, a day of cloud and shade (Zeph. 1:14-15).
In these passages, the “day of Jehovah” denotes the last time and state of the church; “darkness and thick darkness” falsities and evils.
[6] The Lord likewise calls falsities “darkness” in Matthew:
If thine eye be evil, thy whole body is 1 darkened. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness (Matthew 6:33).
“Darkness” here denotes the falsities which take possession of those who are in knowledges; and the meaning is, how great is this darkness above that of others, or of the Gentiles, who have not knowledges.
[7] Again in Matthew:
The sons of the kingdom shall be cast out into the outer darkness (Matthew 8:12; 22:13).
“The outer darkness” denotes the more direful falsities of those who are in the church; for they darken the light, and bring up falsities against truths, which Gentiles cannot do.
In John:
In Him was life, and the life was the light of men; and the light appeareth in the darkness, but the darkness comprehended it not (John 1:4-5).
“The darkness” here denotes falsities within the church.
[8] Falsities outside of the church are also called “darkness,” but such as can be illuminated. Such are spoken of in Matthew:
The people that sat in darkness saw a great light, and to them that sat in the region and shadow of death, did light spring up (Matthew 4:16);
“darkness” here denoting the falsities of ignorance, such as are those of the Gentiles.
[9] In John:
And this is the judgment, that the Light is come into the world, but men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their works were evil (John 3:19);
“the Light” denotes truths, and “the darkness” falsities; and “the Light” denotes the Lord, because all truth is from Him; and “the darkness” the hells, because all falsity is from them.
[10] Again:
Jesus said, I am the Light of the world; he that followeth Me shall not walk in the darkness (John 8:12).
And again:
Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness seize upon you, for he that walketh in the darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth in Me may not abide in the darkness (John 12:35, 46).
“The light” denotes the Lord, from whom are all good and truth; “the darkness” falsities, which are dispersed by the Lord alone.
[11] The falsities of the last times, which are called “darkness” in the verse before us, or of which the “terror of great darkness” is predicated, were represented and signified by the darkness that came upon the whole earth, from the sixth hour to the ninth [at the crucifixion], and also by the sun being then darkened, by which was represented and signified that there was then no longer either love or faith (Matthew 27:45; Mark 15:33; Luke 23:44-45).
Fußnoten:
Matthew 6
1
"Be careful that you don't do your charitable giving before men, to be seen by them, or else you have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.
2
Therefore when you do merciful deeds, don't sound a trumpet before yourself, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may get glory from men. Most certainly I tell you, they have received their reward.
3
But when you do merciful deeds, don't let your left hand know what your right hand does,
4
so that your merciful deeds may be in secret, then your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
5
"When you pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Most certainly, I tell you, they have received their reward.
6
But you, when you pray, enter into your inner room, and having shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
7
In praying, don't use vain repetitions, as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their much speaking.
8
Therefore don't be like them, for your Father knows what things you need, before you ask him.
9
Pray like this: 'Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.
10
Let your Kingdom come. Let your will be done, as in heaven, so on earth.
11
Give us today our daily bread.
12
Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors.
13
Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.'
14
"For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
15
But if you don't forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
16
"Moreover when you fast, don't be like the hypocrites, with sad faces. For they disfigure their faces, that they may be seen by men to be fasting. Most certainly I tell you, they have received their reward.
17
But you, when you fast, anoint your head, and wash your face;
18
so that you are not seen by men to be fasting, but by your Father who is in secret, and your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.
19
"Don't lay up treasures for yourselves on the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal;
20
but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consume, and where thieves don't break through and steal;
21
for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
22
"The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is sound, your whole body will be full of light.
23
But if your eye is evil, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
24
"No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You can't serve both God and Mammon.
25
Therefore, I tell you, don't be anxious for your life: what you will eat, or what you will drink; nor yet for your body, what you will wear. Isn't life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
26
See the birds of the sky, that they don't sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns. Your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren't you of much more value than they?
27
"Which of you, by being anxious, can add one moment to his lifespan?
28
Why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They don't toil, neither do they spin,
29
yet I tell you that even Solomon in all his glory was not dressed like one of these.
30
But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today exists, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, won't he much more clothe you, you of little faith?
31
"Therefore don't be anxious, saying, 'What will we eat?', 'What will we drink?' or, 'With what will we be clothed?'
32
For the Gentiles seek after all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
33
But seek first God's Kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well.
34
Therefore don't be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Each day's own evil is sufficient.
