Apocalypse Explained #1056
1056. And they that dwell on the earth shall wonder. That this signifies those of that religious persuasion who reject the Word, is evident from the signification of them that dwell on the earth, as denoting those who are of that religious persuasion. For by the earth is signified the church; but, in this case, that religious persuasion, because the church is not there. For the church is only where the Lord is worshipped and the Word is read.
That those who reject the Word are meant is evident from what follows; that is, that they are those whose names are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world; and that they are those who saw the beast, which was, and is not, but yet is. For by the beast is signified the Word, as was said above. Therefore their wonder is, that the Word still is, although it was, and is not.
Concerning the second kind of Profanation:-
[2] The love of ruling by the holy things of the church as a means, entirely closes the interiors of the human mind from inmost to outmost, according to the quality and quantity of that love. But in order that it may be known how they are closed, something shall first be said concerning the interiors of the human mind.
Man has a spiritual mind, a rational mind, a natural mind, and a sensual mind. By the spiritual mind he is in heaven, and is a heaven in its least form. By the natural mind he is in the world, and is a world in its least form. Heaven with man communicates with the world in him through the rational mind; and with the body through the sensual mind. After man's birth the sensual mind is first opened; afterwards the natural mind; and, as he studies to become intelligent, the rational mind; and, as he studies to become wise, the spiritual mind. But afterwards, as he becomes wise, the spiritual mind becomes with him as the head, and the natural mind as the body, to which the rational mind serves for conjunction, as the neck to the head, and then the sensual mind is like the sole of the foot.
[3] All these minds with infants are so disposed by the Lord, through an influx of innocence from heaven, that they may be opened. But with those who, from their youth, begin to be inflamed with the lust of ruling by the holy things of the church, as means, the spiritual mind is entirely closed, and also the rational mind; lastly, the natural mind, down to the sensual mind, as it is said in heaven, even to the nose. And thus they become merely sensual men; these are the most stupid of all in spiritual things, and thence in rational things; and the most cunning of all in worldly matters and those of a civil kind. That they are so stupid in spiritual things, they themselves do not know, because in heart they do not believe those things, and because they believe cunning to be prudence, and malice to be wisdom.
All of this kind, however, differ according to the quality and quantity of the lust of ruling and of its exercise also, according to the quality and quantity of persuasion that they are holy; and according to the quality of the good and truth from the Word, which they profane.
Psalms 86
1
Bow down thine ear, O LORD, hear me: for I am poor and needy.
2
Preserve my soul; for I am holy: O thou my God, save thy servant that trusteth in thee.
3
Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily.
4
Rejoice the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.
5
For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.
6
Give ear, O LORD, unto my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications.
7
In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me.
8
Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord; neither are there any works like unto thy works.
9
All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name.
10
For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone.
11
Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.
12
I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore.
13
For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.
14
O God, the proud are risen against me, and the assemblies of violent men have sought after my soul; and have not set thee before them.
15
But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.
16
O turn unto me, and have mercy upon me; give thy strength unto thy servant, and save the son of thine handmaid.
17
Shew me a token for good; that they which hate me may see it, and be ashamed: because thou, LORD, hast holpen me, and comforted me.
