108. "'These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword.'" This symbolizes the Lord in relation to doctrinal truths from the Word, by which evils and falsities are dispelled.

In the preceding chapter where the Son of Man is described, who is the Lord in relation to the Word, we are told that a sharp two-edged sword was seen to issue from His mouth (verse 16). This symbolizes a dispersion of falsities by the Lord by means of the Word and doctrine drawn from it, as may be seen in no. 52 above.

The declaration here is made to people and concerning people who place everything having to do with the church in good works only, and not anything in doctrinal truths; and because they ignore or have little regard for doctrinal truths, even though those truths are indispensable, they are later told, "Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth" (verse 16 in this chapter).