387. And with death, signifies the consequent extinction of spiritual life. This is evident from the signification of "death," as being the extinction of spiritual life (See above, n. 78, 186). That this is what "death" here signifies is evident from the series of things in the internal sense; for it is said that "there was given unto them power to kill with sword, with famine, and with death;" and "sword" signifies falsity destroying truth, "famine" the deprivation of the knowledges of truth and good; thence "death" signifies the extinction of spiritual life; for where falsity reigns, and where there are no knowledges of truth and good, there is no spiritual life, for spiritual life is acquired by means of the knowledges of truth and good applied to the uses of life. For man is born into all evil and falsity from evil; he is therefore born also into an entire ignorance of all spiritual knowledges; therefore in order that he may be led away from the evils and consequent falsities into which he is born, and be led into the life of heaven and be saved, he must needs acquire the knowledges of truth and good, by means of which he can be led into spiritual life and become spiritual. From this series of things in the internal sense it is evident that "death" here signifies the extinction of spiritual life; this is meant, too, by spiritual death.

Title: Sheep

Topic: Salvation

Summary: We often use "sheep" to mean people who are stupid and gullible. Yet Scripture says the best people are "sheep." What does this mean?

Use the reference links below to follow along in the Bible as you watch.

References:
Matthew 25:31, 41
Exodus 23:2
Psalms 79:13; 95:7; 100:3
Isaiah 53:6-7
1 Peter 2:18, 21
Psalms 23; 119:76
Jeremiah 50:6, 17, 19
Ezekiel 34:30-31
Zechariah 13:7
Matthew 10:12; 12:9; 15:24; 26:31; 18:10
Luke 15:1
John 10:1-24