Apocalypse Explained #383
383. His name was Death, and Hell followed with him. That this signifies eternal damnation, appears from the signification of name, as denoting the quality of a thing (concerning which see above, n. 102, 148); here, the quality of the Word, [with those] who are in evils and the falsities thence; from the signification of death as denoting damnation (concerning which also see above, n. 186), for spiritual death is nothing else; from the signification of hell, as denoting evil and the falsity thence, because in these and from these hell exists. Furthermore, by hell is signified the same as by death, namely, damnation, but because both are here mentioned, and thus [hell] is distinguished from Death, by hell is signified eternal damnation; for those who come into hell remain there to eternity; therefore it is also said, "and Hell followed with him," to follow with him signifying to abide therein, namely, in damnation to eternity. From these considerations it is evident that by "his name was Death, and Hell followed with him," is signified eternal damnation.
Revelation 17:8
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The beast that you saw was, and is not; and is about to come up out of the abyss and to go into destruction. Those who dwell on the earth and whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel when they see that the beast was, and is not, and shall be present.
