Arcana Coelestia #2446
2446. 'Brimstone' means the hell of the evils of self-love, and 'fire' the hell of falsities deriving from these. This is clear from the meaning in the Word of 'brimstone' and of 'fire' produced by it as self-love together with its evil desires and derivative falsities, and so as hell, for hell consists of such. That 'brimstone' and 'fire' have these meanings is clear in David,
Jehovah will rain on the wicked, snares, fire and brimstone. Psalms 11:6.
The fact that it is not fire or brimstone but something else that is meant here by 'fire and brimstone' becomes clear also from its being said that 'Jehovah will rain snares'. In Ezekiel,
I will dispute with him with pestilence and blood; and deluging rain and hailstones, fire and brimstone will I rain on him and on his hordes, and on the many peoples that are with him. Ezekiel 38:22.
This refers to Gog who lays waste the land of Israel, that is, the Church. What Gog is, see 1151. 'Fire' stands for falsities, 'brimstone' for derivative evils, and at the same time for the hells of those who lay waste. In John,
Those who worshipped the beast were thrown into the lake burning with brimstone. Revelation 19:20.
Here they stand for hell. In the same book,
The devil was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night for ever and ever. Revelation 20:10.
Here they plainly stand for hell. In the same book,
As for abominable people, and murderers, and adulterers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, their lot will be in the lake burning with fire and brimstone. Revelation 21:8.
Here also 'fire and brimstone' plainly stands for hell.
[2] That these two stand for the evils of self-love and for falsities deriving from these, in which the hells have their origin, is seen in Isaiah,
The day of Jehovah's vengeance - the year of retributions in the controversy of Zion - and her streams will be turned into pitch, and her dust into brimstone, and her land will become burning pitch. Isaiah 34:8-9.
Here 'burning pitch', mentioned instead of fire, stands for dense and dreadful falsities, 'brimstone' for evils which are the product of self-love. In the same prophet,
Its pyre is fire and much wood; the breath of Jehovah is like a stream of burning brimstone in it. Isaiah 30:33.
In this reference to Tophet, 'a stream of burning brimstone' stands for falsities which are the product of the evils of self-love. In Luke,
On the day Lot went out of Sodom fire and brimstone rained from heaven and destroyed them all - so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed. Luke 17:29-30.
[3] Anyone may see that it is not fire and brimstone that will rain down at that time but that the falsities and desires of self-love, which are meant by 'fire and brimstone' and which make up hell, will be predominant. 'Fire' in the Word means evil desires and at the same time the hells, in which case the smoke from the fire means falsity which arises from and exists in those hells, see 1861. And in John,
I saw horses in the vision, and those seated on them had breastplates of fire and of brimstone. And the heads of the horses were like lions' heads, and out of their mouths there went forth fire, smoke, and brimstone. By these three a third part of mankind was killed - by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone. Revelation 9:17-18.
'Fire, smoke, and brimstone' stands for evils and falsities of every kind, in which, as stated, the hells have their origin.
Psalms 83
1
God, don't keep silent. Don't keep silent, and don't be still, God.
2
For, behold, your enemies are stirred up. Those who hate you have lifted up their heads.
3
They conspire with cunning against your people. They plot against your cherished ones.
4
"Come," they say, "and let's destroy them as a nation, that the name of Israel may be remembered no more."
5
For they have conspired together with one mind. They form an alliance against you.
6
The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites; Moab, and the Hagrites;
7
Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek; Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre;
8
Assyria also is joined with them. They have helped the children of Lot. Selah.
9
Do to them as you did to Midian, as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the river Kishon;
10
who perished at Endor, who became as dung for the earth.
11
Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb; yes, all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna;
12
who said, "Let us take possession of God's pasturelands."
13
My God, make them like tumbleweed; like chaff before the wind.
14
As the fire that burns the forest, as the flame that sets the mountains on fire,
15
so pursue them with your tempest, and terrify them with your storm.
16
Fill their faces with confusion, that they may seek your name, Yahweh.
17
Let them be disappointed and dismayed forever. Yes, let them be confounded and perish;
18
that they may know that you alone, whose name is Yahweh, are the Most High over all the earth. For the Chief Musician. On an instrument of Gath. A Psalm by the sons of Korah.
