366. That they should kill one another. That this signifies the falsification or extinction of truths, is manifest from the signification of killing, as denoting to extinguish truths; for by killing in the Word is signified to kill spiritually, or to kill the spiritual part of man or his soul, which is to extinguish truths. The reason why it also denotes to falsify, is, because when truths are falsified, they are also extinguished; for by falsification a different understanding of them is arrived at, and truth is truth according to the understanding of any one concerning it; for the love and the principle which have rule in man, draw and apply all things to them, even truths themselves; wherefore, when the love is evil, or the principle false, then the truths are infected with the evil of the love, or the falsity of the principle, and so are extinguished; this therefore is what is here signified by, "that they should kill one another." That this takes place when there is no good with man, and especially when there is no good in the doctrine of his church, is manifest from the preceding words, where it is said: "When he had opened the second seal, there went out a red horse; and it was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth"; by which is signified a second state of the church, when the understanding of the Word is destroyed as to good, whence divisions arise in the church (concerning which see above, n. 361, 364, 365).

[2] That the understanding of the Word, or, what is the same, the understanding of truth, is destroyed when there is no good with man, that is, where there is no love to the Lord and charity towards the neighbour, may be seen above (n. 365); for good in man, or what is the same, love in him, is the fire of his life, and truth in him, or the faith of truth, is the light thence; therefore according to the quality of the good or the quality of the love in him, such is the truth, or the faith of truth in him. Hence it is evident that if man is in evil, or in an evil love, he cannot be in the truth, or in the faith of truth; for the quality of the light which issues from that fire, is light to those who are in hell, which is a fatuous light, like the light from burning coals, which light is turned into mere darkness from the light flowing in from heaven. Such also is the light called natural light (lumen) with the evil, when they reason against the things of the church.

[3] That they should falsify truths and thereby extinguish them, is also meant by the Lord's words in Matthew:

Jesus said to the disciples, "The brother shall deliver up the brother, the father the son; the children shall rise up against the parents, and cause them to be put to death" (10:21).

And in Luke:

"Ye shall be betrayed by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolk, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death" (21:16).

By parents, brethren, children, [kinsfolk,] and friends, are not meant here parents, brethren, children, kinsfolk, friends, nor by disciples are meant disciples, but the goods and truths of the church, also evils and falsities; and that evils will extinguish goods, and falsities truths. (That such things are signified by these names, see the Arcana Coelestia 10490.)

345. And honour, and glory. That this signifies that to Him alone belong all Divine good and Divine truth, and thence all the good of love and the truth of faith which angels and men possess, is clear from the signification of honour and glory, when said of the Lord, as denoting the Divine good and the Divine truth (concerning which also see above, n. 280). And because by honour and glory, when said of the Lord, are signified Divine good and Divine truth, consequently, when said of man, by honour and glory are signified all the good of love and the truth of faith, from which angels and men have all wisdom and intelligence. These things are said by those who are in the ultimates of heaven, who know, although they do not see and perceive, this; for all those who belong to the church know, because it is according to doctrine, that all good and truth are from God, and those who lead a good life retain and believe this, neither do they examine how it happens; hence it is that they also are in heaven, although in its ultimate. But those who become spiritual, not only know, but also see and perceive that it is so; consequently they are in the higher heavens. When these come into the spiritual world, they see truths and perceive them in the light of heaven; nor do they admit the precept received by many in the world, that the understanding should be under some blind obedience to faith. It is different with those who are in the ultimates of heaven, who, because they do not see and perceive, remain in that precept; but still they are instructed, and being instructed, they know truths.