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Jeremiah 51

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1 ο- A--NSM λογος-N2--NSM ο- A--NSM γιγνομαι-VB--AMPNSM προς-P *ιερεμιας-N1T-ASM απας-A3P-DPM ο- A--DPM *ιουδαιος-N2--DPM ο- A--DPM καταοικεω-V2--PAPDPM εν-P γη-N1--DSF *αιγυπτος-N2--DSF και-C ο- A--DPM καταημαι-V5--PMPDPM εν-P *μαγδωλος-N2--DS και-C εν-P *ταφνας-N---DS και-C εν-P γη-N1--DSF *παθουρης-N---GSM λεγω-V1--PAPNSM

2 ουτως-D ειπον-VBI-AAI3S κυριος-N2--NSM ο- A--NSM θεος-N2--NSM *ισραηλ-N---GSM υμεις- P--NP οραω-VX--XAI2P πας-A3--APN ο- A--APN κακος-A1--APN ος- --APN επιαγω-VBI-AAI3P επι-P *ιερουσαλημ-N---ASF και-C επι-P ο- A--APF πολις-N3I-APF *ιουδα-N---GSM και-C ιδου-I ειμι-V9--PAI3P ερημος-N2--NPF απο-P ενοικεω-V2--PAPNSM

3 απο-P προσωπον-N2N-GSN πονηρια-N1A-GSF αυτος- D--GPM ος- --GSF ποιεω-VAI-AAI3P παραπικραινω-VA--AAN εγω- P--AS πορευομαι-VC--APPNPM θυμιαω-V3--PAN θεος-N2--DPM ετερος-A1A-DPM ος- --DPM ου-D γιγνωσκω-VZI-AAI2P

4 και-C αποστελλω-VAI-AAI1S προς-P συ- P--AP ο- A--APM παις-N3D-APM εγω- P--GS ο- A--APM προφητης-N1M-APM ορθρος-N2--GSM και-C αποστελλω-VAI-AAI1S λεγω-V1--PAPNSM μη-D ποιεω-VA--AAS2P ο- A--ASN πραγμα-N3M-ASN ο- A--GSF μολυνσις-N3I-GSF ουτος- D--GSF ος- --GSF μισεω-VAI-AAI1S

5 και-C ου-D ακουω-VAI-AAI3P εγω- P--GS και-C ου-D κλινω-VAI-AAI3P ο- A--ASN ους-N3--ASN αυτος- D--GPM αποστρεφω-VA--AAN απο-P ο- A--GPN κακος-A1--GPN αυτος- D--GPM προς-P ο- A--ASN μη-D θυμιαω-V3--PAN θεος-N2--DPM ετερος-A1A-DPM

6 και-C σταζω-VAI-AAI3S ο- A--NSF οργη-N1--NSF εγω- P--GS και-C ο- A--NSM θυμος-N2--NSM εγω- P--GS και-C εκκαιω-VCI-API3S εν-P πολις-N3I-DPF *ιουδα-N---GSM και-C εξωθεν-D *ιερουσαλημ-N---GSF και-C γιγνομαι-VCI-API3P εις-P ερημωσις-N3I-ASF και-C εις-P αβατος-A1B-ASM ως-C ο- A--NSF ημερα-N1A-NSF ουτος- D--NSF

7 και-C νυν-D ουτως-D ειπον-VBI-AAI3S κυριος-N2--NSM παντοκρατωρ-N3 -NSM ινα-C τις- I--ASN συ- P--NP ποιεω-V2--PAI2P κακος-A1--APN μεγας-A1--APN επι-P ψυχη-N1--DPF συ- P--GP εκκοπτω-VA--AAN συ- P--GP ανθρωπος-N2--ASM και-C γυνη-N3K-ASF νηπιος-A1A-ASM και-C θηλαζω-V1--PAPASM εκ-P μεσος-A1--GSM *ιουδα-N---GSM προς-P ο- A--ASN μη-D καταλειπω-VV--APN συ- P--GP μηδεις-A3--ASM

8 παραπικραινω-VA--AMD2S εγω- P--AS εν-P ο- A--DPN εργον-N2N-DPN ο- A--GPF χειρ-N3--GPF συ- P--GP θυμιαω-V3--PAN θεος-N2--DPM ετερος-A1A-DPM εν-P γη-N1--DSF *αιγυπτος-N2--DSF εις-P ος- --ASF ειςερχομαι-VBI-AAI2P ενοικεω-V2--PAN εκει-D ινα-C εκκοποω-VA--AAS2P και-C ινα-C γιγνομαι-VB--AMS2P εις-P καταρα-N1A-ASF και-C εις-P ονειδισμος-N2--ASM εν-P πας-A3--DPN ο- A--DPN εθνος-N3E-DPN ο- A--GSF γη-N1--GSF

9 μη-D επιλανθανω-VX--XMI2P συ- P--NP ο- A--GPN κακος-A1--GPN ο- A--GPM πατηρ-N3--GPM συ- P--GP και-C ο- A--GPN κακος-A1--GPN ο- A--GPM βασιλευς-N3V-GPM *ιουδα-N---GSM και-C ο- A--GPN κακος-A1--GPN ο- A--GPM αρχων-N3--GPM συ- P--GP και-C ο- A--GPN κακος-A1--GPN ο- A--GPF γυνη-N3K-GPF συ- P--GP ος- --GPM ποιεω-VAI-AAI3P εν-P γη-N1--DSF *ιουδα-N---GSM και-C εξωθεν-D *ιερουσαλημ-N---GSF

10 και-C ου-D παυω-VAI-AMI3P εως-P ο- A--GSF ημερα-N1A-GSF ουτος- D--GSF και-C ου-D αντιεχω-V1I-IMI3P ο- A--GPN προσταγμα-N3M-GPN εγω- P--GS ος- --GPN διδωμι-VAI-AAI1S κατα-P προσωπον-N2N-ASN ο- A--GPM πατηρ-N3--GPM αυτος- D--GPM

11 δια-P ουτος- D--ASN ουτως-D ειπον-VBI-AAI3S κυριος-N2--NSM ιδου-I εγω- P--NS επιιστημι-V6--PAI1S ο- A--ASN προσωπον-N2N-ASN εγω- P--GS

12 ο- A--GSN αποολλυω-VA--AAN πας-A3--APM ο- A--APM καταλοιπος-A1B-APM ο- A--APM εν-P *αιγυπτος-N2--DSF και-C πιπτω-VF2-FMI3P εν-P ρομφαια-N1A-DSF και-C εν-P λιμος-N2--DSM εκλειπω-VF--FAI3P απο-P μικρος-A1A-GSM εως-P μεγας-A1--GSM και-C ειμι-VF--FMI3P εις-P ονειδισμος-N2--ASM και-C εις-P απωλεια-N1A-ASF και-C εις-P καταρα-N1A-ASF

13 και-C επισκεπτω-VF--FMI1S επι-P ο- A--APM καταημαι-V5--PMPAPM εν-P γη-N1--DSF *αιγυπτος-N2--DSF ως-C επισκεπτομαι-VAI-AMI1S επι-P *ιερουσαλημ-N---ASF εν-P ρομφαια-N1A-DSF και-C εν-P λιμος-N2--DSM και-C εν-P θανατος-N2--DSM

14 και-C ου-D ειμι-VF--FMI3S σωζω-VT--XMPNSM ουδεις-A3--NSM ο- A--GPM επιλοιπος-A1B-GPM *ιουδα-N---GSM ο- A--GPM παραοικεω-V2--PAPGPM εν-P γη-N1--DSF *αιγυπτος-N2--DSF ο- A--GSN επιστρεφω-VA--AAN εις-P γη-N1--ASF *ιουδα-N---GSM επι-P ος- --ASF αυτος- D--NPM ελπιζω-V1--PAI3P ο- A--DPF ψυχη-N1--DPF αυτος- D--GPM ο- A--GSN επιστρεφω-VA--AAN εκει-D ου-D μη-D επιστρεφω-VA--AAS3P αλλα-C η-C ανασωζω-VT--XMPNPM

15 και-C αποκρινω-VCI-API3P ο- A--DSM *ιερεμιας-N1T-DSM πας-A3--NPM ο- A--NPM ανηρ-N3--NPM ο- A--NPM γιγνωσκω-VZ--AAPNPM οτι-C θυμιαω-V3--PAI3P ο- A--NPF γυνη-N3K-NPF αυτος- D--GPM θεος-N2--DPM ετερος-A1A-DPM και-C πας-A1S-NPF ο- A--NPF γυνη-N3K-NPF συναγωγη-N1--NSF μεγας-A1--NSF και-C πας-A3--NSM ο- A--NSM λαος-N2--NSM ο- A--NPM καταημαι-V5--PMPNPM εν-P γη-N1--DSF *αιγυπτος-N2--DSF εν-P *παθουρης-N---DSM λεγω-V1--PAPNPM

16 ο- A--NSM λογος-N2--NSM ος- --ASM λαλεω-VAI-AAI2S προς-P εγω- P--AP ο- A--DSN ονομα-N3M-DSN κυριος-N2--GSM ου-D ακουω-VF--FAI1P συ- P--GS

17 οτι-C ποιεω-V2--PAPNPM ποιεω-VF--FAI1P πας-A3--ASM ο- A--ASM λογος-N2--ASM ος- --NSM εκερχομαι-VF--FMI3S εκ-P ο- A--GSN στομα-N3M-GSN εγω- P--GP θυμιαω-V3--PAN ο- A--DSF βασιλισσα-N1S-DSF ο- A--GSM ουρανος-N2--GSM και-C σπενδω-V1--PAN αυτος- D--DSF σπονδη-N1--APF καθα-D ποιεω-VAI-AAI1P εγω- P--NP και-C ο- A--NPM πατηρ-N3--NPM εγω- P--GP και-C ο- A--NPM βασιλευς-N3V-NPM εγω- P--GP και-C ο- A--NPM αρχων-N3--NPM εγω- P--GP εν-P πολις-N3I-DPF *ιουδα-N---GSM και-C εξωθεν-D *ιερουσαλημ-N---GSF και-C πιμπλημι-VSI-API1P αρτος-N2--GPM και-C γιγνομαι-VBI-AMI1P χρηστος-A1--NPM και-C κακος-A1--APN ου-D οραω-VBI-AAI1P

18 και-C ως-C διαλειπω-VBI-AAI1P θυμιαω-V3--PAPNPM ο- A--DSF βασιλισσα-N1S-DSF ο- A--GSM ουρανος-N2--GSM αλασσω-VCI-API1P πας-A3--NPM και-C εν-P ρομφαια-N1A-DSF και-C εν-P λιμος-N2--DSM εκλειπω-VBI-AAI1P

19 και-C οτι-C εγω- P--NP θυμιαω-V3--PAI1P ο- A--DSF βασιλισσα-N1S-DSF ο- A--GSM ουρανος-N2--GSM και-C σπενδω-VAI-AAI1P αυτος- D--DSF σπονδη-N1--APF μη-D ανευ-P ο- A--GPM ανηρ-N3--GPM εγω- P--GP ποιεω-VAI-AAI1P αυτος- D--DSF χαυων-N3W-APM και-C σπενδω-VAI-AAI1P σπονδη-N1--APF αυτος- D--DSF

20 και-C ειπον-VBI-AAI3S *ιερεμιας-N1T-NSM πας-A3--DSM ο- A--DSM λαος-N2--DSM ο- A--DPM δυνατος-A1--DPM και-C ο- A--DPF γυνη-N3K-DPF και-C πας-A3--DSM ο- A--DSM λαος-N2--DSM ο- A--DPM αποκρινω-VC--APPDPM αυτος- D--DSM λογος-N2--APM λεγω-V1--PAPNSM

21 ου-D ο- A--GSN θυμιαμα-N3M-GSN ος- --GSM θυμιαω-VAI-AAI2P εν-P ο- A--DPF πολις-N3I-DPF *ιουδα-N---GSM και-C εξωθεν-D *ιερουσαλημ-N---GSF συ- P--NP και-C ο- A--NPM πατηρ-N3--NPM συ- P--GP και-C ο- A--NPM βασιλευς-N3V-NPM συ- P--GP και-C ο- A--NPM αρχων-N3--NPM συ- P--GP και-C ο- A--NSM λαος-N2--NSM ο- A--GSF γη-N1--GSF μιμνησκω-VSI-API3S κυριος-N2--NSM και-C αναβαινω-VZI-AAI3S επι-P ο- A--ASF καρδια-N1A-ASF αυτος- D--GSM

22 και-C ου-D δυναμαι-V6I-IMI3S κυριος-N2--NSM ετι-D φερω-V1--PAN απο-P προσωπον-N2N-GSN πονηρια-N1A-GSF πραγμα-N3M-GPN συ- P--GP απο-P ο- A--GPN βδελυγμα-N3M-GPN ος- --GPN ποιεω-VAI-AAI2P και-C γιγνομαι-VCI-API3S ο- A--NSF γη-N1--NSF συ- P--GP εις-P ερημωσις-N3I-ASF και-C εις-P αβατος-A1B-ASM και-C εις-P αρα-N1A-ASF ως-C εν-P ο- A--DSF ημερα-N1A-DSF ουτος- D--DSF

23 απο-P προσωπον-N2N-GSN ος- --GPM θυμιαω-V3I-IAI2P και-C ος- --GPM αμαρτανω-VBI-AAI2P ο- A--DSM κυριος-N2--DSM και-C ου-D ακουω-VAI-AAI2P ο- A--GSF φωνη-N1--GSF κυριος-N2--GSM και-C εν-P ο- A--DPN προσταγμα-N3M-DPN αυτος- D--GSM και-C εν-P ο- A--DSM νομος-N2--DSM αυτος- D--GSM και-C εν-P ο- A--DPN μαρτυριον-N2N-DPN αυτος- D--GSM ου-D πορευομαι-VCI-API2P και-C επιλαμβανω-VBI-AMI3S συ- P--GP ο- A--APN κακος-A1--APN ουτος- D--APN

24 και-C ειπον-VBI-AAI3S *ιερεμιας-N1T-NSM ο- A--DSM λαος-N2--DSM και-C ο- A--DPF γυνη-N3K-DPF ακουω-VA--AAD2P ο- A--ASM λογος-N2--ASM κυριος-N2--GSM

25 ουτως-D ειπον-VBI-AAI3S κυριος-N2--NSM ο- A--NSM θεος-N2--NSM *ισραηλ-N---GSM υμεις- P--NP γυνη-N3K-NPF ο- A--DSN στομα-N3M-DSN συ- P--GP λαλεω-VAI-AAI2P και-C ο- A--DPF χειρ-N3--DPF συ- P--GP πληροω-VAI-AAI2P λεγω-V1--PAPNPF ποιεω-V2--PAPNPF ποιεω-VF--FAI1P ο- A--APF ομολογια-N1A-APF εγω- P--GP ος- --APF ομολογεω-VAI-AAI1P θυμιαω-V3--PAN ο- A--DSF βασιλισσα-N1S-DSF ο- A--GSM ουρανος-N2--GSM και-C σπενδω-V1--PAN αυτος- D--DSF σπονδη-N1--APF ενμενω-VA--AAPNPF ενμενω-VAI-AAI2P ο- A--DPF ομολογια-N1A-DPF συ- P--GP και-C ποιεω-V2--PAPNPF ποιεω-VAI-AAI2P

26 δια-P ουτος- D--ASN ακουω-VA--AAD2P λογος-N2--ASM κυριος-N2--GSM πας-A3--NSM *ιουδα-N---NSM ο- A--NPM καταημαι-V5--PMPNPM εν-P γη-N1--DSF *αιγυπτος-N2--DSF ιδου-I ομνυμι-VAI-AAI1S ο- A--DSN ονομα-N3M-DSN εγω- P--GS ο- A--DSM μεγας-A1--DSM ειπον-VBI-AAI3S κυριος-N2--NSM εαν-C γιγνομαι-VB--AMS3S ετι-D ονομα-N3M-ASN εγω- P--GS εν-P ο- A--DSN στομα-N3M-DSN πας-A3--GSM *ιουδα-N---GSM ειπον-VB--AAN ζαω-V3--PAI3S κυριος-N2--NSM κυριος-N2--NSM επι-P πας-A1S-DSF γη-N1--DSF *αιγυπτος-N2--DSF

27 οτι-C ιδου-I εγω- P--NS εγειρω-VX--XAI1S επι-P αυτος- D--APM ο- A--GSN κακοω-VA--AAN αυτος- D--APM και-C ου-D αγαθοω-VA--AAN και-C εκλειπω-VF--FAI3P πας-A3--NSM *ιουδα-N---NSM ο- A--NPM καταοικεω-V2--PAPNPM εν-P γη-N1--DSF *αιγυπτος-N2--DSF εν-P ρομφαια-N1A-DSF και-C εν-P λιμος-N2--DSM εως-P αν-X εκλειπω-VB--AAS3P

28 και-C ο- A--NPM σωζω-VT--XMPNPM απο-P ρομφαια-N1A-GSF επιστρεφω-VF--FAI3P εις-P γη-N1--ASF *ιουδα-N---GSM ολιγος-A1--NPM αριθμος-N2--DSM και-C γιγνωσκω-VF--FMI3P ο- A--NPM καταλοιπος-A1B-NPM *ιουδα-N---GSM ο- A--NPM καταιστημι-VH--AAPNPM εν-P γη-N1--DSF *αιγυπτος-N2--DSF καταοικεω-VA--AAN εκει-D λογος-N2--NSM τις- I--GSN ενμενω-VF2-FAI3S

29 και-C ουτος- D--NSN συ- P--DP ο- A--NSN σημειον-N2--NSN οτι-C επισκεπτω-VF--FMI1S εγω- P--NS επι-P συ- P--AP εις-P πονηρος-A1A-APN

30 ουτως-D ειπον-VBI-AAI3S κυριος-N2--NSM ιδου-I εγω- P--NS διδωμι-V8--PAI1S ο- A--ASM *ουαφρη-N---ASM βασιλευς-N3V-ASM *αιγυπτος-N2--GSF εις-P χειρ-N3--APF εχθρος-N2--GSM αυτος- D--GSM και-C εις-P χειρ-N3--APF ζητεω-V2--PAPGPM ο- A--ASF ψυχη-N1--ASF αυτος- D--GSM καθα-D διδωμι-VAI-AAI1S ο- A--ASM *σεδεκιας-N1T-ASM βασιλευς-N3V-ASM *ιουδα-N---GSM εις-P χειρ-N3--APF *ναβουχοδονοσορ-N---GSM βασιλευς-N3V-GSM *βαβυλων-N3W-GSF εχθρος-N2--GSM αυτος- D--GSM και-C ζητεω-V2--PAPGSM ο- A--ASF ψυχη-N1--ASF αυτος- D--GSM

31 ο- A--NSM λογος-N2--NSM ος- --ASM λαλεω-VAI-AAI3S *ιερεμιας-N1T-NSM ο- A--NSM προφητης-N1M-NSM προς-P *βαρουχ-N---ASM υιος-N2--ASM *νηριος-N2--GSM οτε-D γραφω-V1I-IAI3S ο- A--APM λογος-N2--APM ουτος- D--APM εν-P ο- A--DSN βιβλιον-N2N-DSN απο-P στομα-N3M-GSN *ιερεμιας-N1T-GSM εν-P ο- A--DSM ενιαυτος-N2--DSM ο- A--DSM τεταρτος-A1--DSM ο- A--DSM *ιωακιμ-N---DSM υιος-N2--DSM *ιωσια-N---GSM βασιλευς-N3V-GSM *ιουδα-N---GSM

32 ουτως-D ειπον-VBI-AAI3S κυριος-N2--NSM επι-P συ- P--DS *βαρουχ-N---NSM

33 οτι-C ειπον-VAI-AAI2S οιμμοι-I οιμμοι-I οτι-C προςτιθημι-VAI-AAI3S κυριος-N2--NSM κοπος-N2--ASM επι-P πονος-N2--ASM εγω- P--DS κοιμαω-VCI-API1S εν-P στεναγμος-N2--DPM αναπαυσις-N3I-ASF ου-D ευρισκω-VB--AAI3P

34 ειπον-VBI-AAI3P αυτος- D--DSM ουτως-D ειπον-VBI-AAI3S κυριος-N2--NSM ιδου-I ος- --APM εγω- P--NS οικοδομεω-VAI-AAI1S εγω- P--NS κατααιρεω-V2--PAI1S και-C ος- --APM εγω- P--NS φυτευω-VAI-AAI1S εγω- P--NS εκτιλλω-V1--PAI1S

35 και-C συ- P--NS ζητεω-V2--PAI2S σεαυτου- D--DSM μεγας-A1--APN μη-D ζητεω-VA--AAS2S οτι-C ιδου-I εγω- P--NS επιαγω-V1--PAI1S κακος-A1--APN επι-P πας-A1S-ASF σαρξ-N3K-ASF λεγω-V1--PAI3S κυριος-N2--NSM και-C διδωμι-VF--FAI1S ο- A--ASF ψυχη-N1--ASF συ- P--GS εις-P ευρεμα-N3M-ASN εν-P πας-A3--DSM τοπος-N2--DSM ος- --GSM εαν-C βαδιζω-VA--AAS2S εκει-D

   

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Apocalypse Explained #697

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697. And to destroy those that destroy the earth.- That this signifies hell with those who destroy the church, is evident from the signification of destroying, when said of those who destroy the church, as denoting damnation and hell; for since to give reward to His servants the prophets and saints signifies salvation and heaven with those who are in truths from good, that is, those who form the church, therefore to destroy the earth signifies damnation and hell; and from the signification of earth, as denoting the church concerning which, see above (n, 29, 304, 413:4, 417). To destroy the earth therefore signifies to destroy the church. That by land (terra) in the Word, is meant the church, has been shown above in many places, as well as in the Arcana Coelestia. There are many reasons why land, in the Word, signifies the church; that is, when no particular land is mentioned, such as the land of Egypt, of Edom, of Moab, of Assyria, of Chaldea, of Babylon and others, the land of Canaan is meant, and those who are in spiritual thought cannot think of that land as a land, since that would be to have an earthly and not a heavenly idea, but they think of the character of the nation there in regard to the church. Similarly when any one is thinking of a church, or religion or worship, and from that thought lands are spoken of, the land is not thought of but only the character of the people of the land in regard to the church, religion or worship. For this reason, when a man reads in the Word the term land (terra) the angels, who are spiritual, think of the church, and what the angels think, this is the spiritual sense of the Word, since the spiritual sense of the Word is for angels, and also for those men who are spiritual; for the Word in the letter is natural, but still interiorly or in its bosom it is spiritual, and when the natural is withdrawn, the spiritual which is within or in its bosom is disclosed.

[2] Moreover, there are lands in the spiritual world, or in the world where spirits and angels are, equally as in the natural world where men are, and these lands are quite alike in external appearance. In that world there are plains, valleys, mountains, hills, rivers, and seas, and also fields, meadows, forests, gardens, and paradises. And the lands, there, are beautiful in appearance, exactly according to the state of the church with those who dwell upon them, and they also undergo changes according to the changes of the church in the inhabitants. In a word, the lands there correspond completely with the reception of the good of love and the truth of faith in those who dwell there. It is also for this reason that land in the Word signifies the church, for the quality of the land is according to the quality of the church there, and correspondence is the cause of this. In that world, the land itself makes one with the church, just as a correspondent does with the subject to which it corresponds, as an effect with its efficient cause, as the eye with its sight, speech with the understanding, action with the will, the expression of the face with the affection of the thought, in a word, as the instrumental with its principal, of which it is said that they constitute one thing; so is it in the spiritual world, as to the quality of the land with the quality of the church. From these things it is evident why land in the Word signifies the church, and why to destroy the earth (or land) here signifies to destroy the church.

[3] So also in the following passages.

In Isaiah:

"Is this the man that shaketh the earth, that causeth kingdoms to tremble, that hath made the world a desert, and destroyed the cities thereof? Thou hast destroyed thy land, thou hast slain thy people" (14:16, 17, 20).

This is said of Lucifer, by whom Babel is here meant, as is evident from what here precedes and follows; the earth which he shook and destroyed signifies the church. The kingdoms which he causeth to tremble signify the churches into which the general church is divided. The world which he made a desert signifies the church in general; the cities which he destroyed signify the truths of the doctrine thereof, and the people that he slew signify the men of the church, whose spiritual life he destroyed.

[4] In Jeremiah:

"Behold, I am against thee, O destroying mountain, destroying the whole earth" (51:25).

This also is said of Babel, which is called a destroying mountain, because a mountain signifies the love of ruling, here, over heaven and earth, to which the goods and truths of the church are caused to serve as means; to destroy all the earth signifies therefore to utterly destroy the whole church.

[5] In Daniel:

The fourth beast ascending out of the sea "shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces" (7:23).

This beast also signifies the love of ruling over the whole heaven and the whole earth, and those who are of Babel have this love, as may be seen above (n. 316:15, 556:5); therefore to devour, to tread down, and break the earth in pieces, signifies to utterly destroy the church. Who is there that does not see that no beast will ascend out of the sea, and devour, tread down, and break all the earth in pieces, but that some evil and diabolical love, will thus act towards the church.

In Moses:

"There shall not be any more a flood to destroy the earth" (Genesis 9:11).

Here the earth also signifies the church, which was destroyed by the antediluvians, but which should be destroyed no more.

[6] In Isaiah:

"Jehovah maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and he overturneth the faces thereof. In emptying the earth shall be emptied, and in spoiling it shall be spoiled; the habitable earth shall mourn, shall be confounded; the world shall languish, shall be confounded; the earth itself shall be profaned; because they have transgressed the laws, passed by the statute, made void the covenant of eternity, therefore a curse shall devour the earth; the flood-gates from on high are opened, and the foundations of the earth are shaken, the earth is utterly broken; the earth is moved exceedingly, the earth staggereth as a drunkard, and it is moved to and fro as a hut" (24:1, 3-6, 18-20).

That the earth here does not mean the earth, but the church, must be evident to every one. The church is thus spoken of, because the lands (terroe) in the spiritual world, upon which angels and spirits dwell, undergo such changes as are here described, according to the changes of the state of the church with those who dwell there; in fact even movements take place in them. It is said that Jehovah maketh the earth empty and maketh it waste, that in emptying it shall be emptied, and in spoiling it shall be spoiled, because the lands (terroe) there, when the church in those who dwell upon them is laid waste, completely change their appearance. The gardens, flower-gardens, lawns, and similar places in which those lands previously abounded, disappear, and instead of them there arise unpleasant things such as, sandy and rocky places, plains full of thorns and briars, and things of a like nature, which correspond to the falsities and evils that have laid waste the church. The devastation of the church as to the good of love and of charity is signified by making the earth empty; and its desolation as to the truths of doctrine and of faith is signified by making it waste and spoiling it, and the change itself by overturning the faces thereof. The habitable earth shall mourn, shall be confounded; the world shall languish, shall be confounded; a curse shall devour the earth, signifies that nothing shall grow and flourish there, but that it shall be barren, and filled with useless things, on account of which the earth is said to mourn, to languish, and to be devoured with a curse. Since these things take place when they that dwell there have no longer any regard for the holy things of the church, therefore it is said, because they have transgressed the laws, passed by the statute, made void the covenant of eternity. As the lands there are sometimes inundated, sometimes violently shaken, and also here and there gape and open towards the hell, which is beneath and lifts itself up - which takes place according to the nature, and extent of the falsities and evils that are loved, and the consequent falsification and denial of the goods and truths of the church - it is therefore said, that the flood-gates from on high are open, the foundations of the earth are shaken, the earth is broken, and staggereth as a drunkard. These things also actually take place in the spiritual world, when the state of the church is there changed into a contrary one. From this it is evident, why the earth, here and elsewhere in the Word, means the church.

  
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Translation by Isaiah Tansley. Many thanks to the Swedenborg Society for the permission to use this translation.