827. Saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast. That this signifies an ordinance appointed that such things should be fully taught and believed by all in the church, is evident from the signification of them who dwell on the earth, as denoting all who belong to the church (see above, n. 826). And from the signification of the image made to the beast, as denoting the doctrine of faith separated from good works, and the worship therefrom; and all this confirmed from the literal sense of the Word by means of reasonings from the natural man. Hence by making that image is signified to make a statute, or to ordain that it shall be altogether so taught and believed; as also has been done in the churches where the doctrine of faith separate has been received.

The reason why the image signifies these things is, that all spiritual things may be exhibited by means of images, also by idols, in the spiritual world; and the particulars of doctrine may be presented by them in effigy, which I have also seen done. Hence it is that images and idols have such significations in the Word. That idols signify falsities of doctrine, may be seen above (n. 587, 650, 654, 780). Hence, then, by saying to them that dwell upon the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, is signified an ordinance appointed that such things should be fully taught and believed by all in the church.

Amongst those who belonged to the Ancient Churches images were made representative of their doctrine, and of the worship therefrom. The sons of Israel, however, on account of their propensity to idolatry, were forbidden to make them. This is evident from the Word.

[2] In order, therefore, that it may be known that images signify such things, the following passages from the Word shall be adduced by way of confirmation. Thus in Moses:

"Thou shalt not make to thyself any graven image, nor the likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters under the earth: thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor worship them" (Exodus 20:4, 5).

"Ye shall not make to you idols, nor sculptured thing, nor raise up a statue to you, nor shall ye give the stone of an image in your land to bow yourselves down to them" (Leviticus 26:1).

"Lest ye make to you a sculptured image of any likeness, the figure of a male or female, the figure of any beast which is in the earth, the figure of any bird of wing which flieth under heaven, the figure of any reptile in the earth, the figure of any fish which is in the waters under the earth" (Deuteronomy 4:16-18).

The reason why it was forbidden the sons of Israel to make idols, sculptured things, images, and figures of anything in the heavens, in the earth, and in the waters was, because the Ancient Churches, which were before the Israelitish Church, were representative churches; and because the sons of Jacob were altogether external men; and external men at that time, when all worship was representative, were prone to idolatries, therefore to the worship of such things as appeared before their eyes. Now whereas the Ancient Churches were representative, therefore the men of those churches made to themselves sculptured things and images of various kinds, which represented and thence signified things heavenly; and the ancients were delighted with them on account of their signification. Therefore when they looked upon those things they were reminded of the heavenly things which they represented. And because they belonged to their religion, they made use of them in worship. Hence they had groves and high places, and also sculptured, molten, and painted figures, which they placed either in groves, or upon mountains, or in temples, or in their houses. Hence in Egypt, where the science of representations, which is the same as the science of correspondences, flourished, they had images, idols, and sculptured things; this also was the origin of their hieroglyphics. The case was the same with various other nations. But when the men of those churches, from being internal became external, then the celestial and spiritual things which were represented and thence signified, remained as traditions with their priests and wise men, who were called magi and diviners. Hence the common people, by reason of the religious principle which their fathers saw in those things, began to worship them, and to call them their gods. Now because the sons of Jacob were external men more than all others, and consequently prone to idolatries, and also to magic, therefore they were strictly forbidden to make to themselves sculptured things, images, and figures of the likeness of anything existing in the heavens, upon the earth, and in the sea; because everything in the world is representative, as fowls, beasts, fishes, reptiles. For so far as they worshipped them idolatrously, so far they did not acknowledge Jehovah. But still, because the church with them also was representative, the Tabernacle was built, in which representatives were placed, chiefly of celestial things, as the table of show-bread, the golden altar of incense, the lampstand with the lamps, the ark with the mercy-seat, and the cherubs above it, the altar not far from the door of the Tabernacle, upon which was the sacred fire. And afterwards the Temple was built, in which also all things were representative, as the paintings therein, the lavers on the outside, the brazen sea supported by oxen, also the columns and porticos, with the vessels of gold, all which it was allowed them to worship as holy, on condition that they acknowledged the Tabernacle, and afterwards the Temple, for the dwelling-place of Jehovah. These things were granted them to prevent their turning aside to idolatry and magic, which then existed in the various nations in Asia; as in Egypt, Syria, Assyria, Babylon, Tyre and Sidon, Arabia, Ethiopia, Mesopotamia, and especially in and about the land of Canaan.

[3] From this it is evident why it is that idols, in the Word, signify the falsities of religion; and images, doctrinals.

That such things existed among the various nations in the countries of Asia, is evident from the gods of Laban the Syrian, which Rachel the wife of Jacob took away (Genesis 31:19, 20); from the calves and other idols in Egypt; from the hieroglyphics there engraved and painted in temples, and upon obelisks, and walls; from Dagon the idol of the Philistines in Ekron, from the idols made by Solomon, and afterwards by the kings in the Temple of Jerusalem, and in Samaria; from the altars, statues, images, and groves, amongst the nations of the land, which the children of Israel were commanded to destroy, as is evident from various passages in the Word.

[4] It was also from the science of correspondences and representations

That the priests and diviners of the Philistines advised them to make golden images of the hemorrhoids and mice which laid waste the land, and to place them near the ark, which they sent back upon a new cart drawn by kine, that so they might give glory to the God of Israel (1 Sam. 6:1 and following verses).

For at that time their priests and diviners knew what all those things represented; and that the images of the hemorrhoids and mice signified the falsities of their religion, which, as gifts, would be rendered propitiatory, by making them of gold.

[5] Doctrinals are also signified by images in the following passages. Thus in Ezekiel:

"They shall cast their silver into the streets, and their gold shall be an abomination, because they have transposed the gracefulness of their adorning for pride, and made thereof images of their abominations and detestations; therefore I have given it to them for an abomination" (7:20).

The subject there treated of is concerning the devastation of the church by falsities and evils, which is there meant by the sword, pestilence, and famine (verse 15), which shall consume them. By the silver which they shall cast into the streets, and by the gold which shall be for an abomination, is signified the truth of the church and the good thereof turned into falsity and evil. To cast them into the streets, signifies to disperse them, and to be for an abomination signifies to be turned into infernal evil. For this is to be turned to abomination. Their transposing the gracefulness of their adorning for pride, and making thereof images of their abominations and detestations, signifies, that, they filled the whole church and the doctrine thereof, and all things which are contained therein, with things profane; the gracefulness of their adorning signifying the church and its doctrine; and images of abominations and detestations signifying all things pertaining thereto, thus its doctrinals, which are goods and truths profaned. Abominations are goods profaned; and detestations, truths profaned.

[6] In the same:

"Thou hast taken the vessels of thy adorning, of my gold and of my silver which I had given thee, and hast made the images of a male, with which thou hast committed whoredom" (16:17).

These things are said of the abominations of Jerusalem, by which are meant the adulterations of the good and truth of doctrine from the Word. The vessels of adorning of gold and silver, signify the knowledges of good and truth from the Word. To make images of a male, signifies to make doctrinals from falsities appear as if they were from truths. And to commit whoredom with them, signifies the falsification of them.

[7] Again:

Aholibah committed whoredom in Egypt, "she loved the sons of Ashur; she added to her whoredoms when she saw men painted upon the wall, the images of the Chaldeans painted with vermilion, she doated upon them at the beholding of her eyes" (23:8, 12, 14, 16).

By Aholibah is meant Jerusalem, by which is signified the church as to doctrine, consequently the doctrine of the church. By committing whoredom is signified the falsification and adulteration of the Word. And because by Egypt are signified natural truths, which are called scientifics, and by Ashur rational truths; also, in the opposite sense, falsities, it is therefore evident what is signified by committing whoredom with them. Because as by the Chaldeans are signified the truths of the Word profaned, because applied to the loves of self and the world, hence by the images of the Chaldeans are signified doctrinals employed to excuse those loves. Painted with vermilion, signifies their appearing outwardly as truths, although inwardly they are profane. The same is signified by men painted upon the wall, a painted wall denoting the appearance of doctrinals in externals. Similar things are signified by images in Isaiah 2:16; in David, Psalm 73:20; also in the following passages in the Apocalypse, 14:9-11; 15:2; 16:2; 19:20; 20:4. See also what is said concerning idols and sculptured things above (n. 587, 650, 654, 780), where other passages from the Word are adduced and explained.

649. And when they shall have finished their testimony.- That this signifies in the end of the church, when the Divine of the Lord is no longer acknowledged, and thence when there is no longer the good of love and the truth of doctrine, is evident from the signification of testimony, as denoting the acknowledgment of the Divine in the Lord, and thence the good of love and truth of doctrine, of which we shall speak presently; and from the signification of finishing, as denoting to end; and because this ending takes place in the end of the church, therefore the end of the church is here signified by finishing. And because there is then no longer any acknowledgment of the Divine in the Lord, therefore there is not any good of love and truth of doctrine.

[2] That this is signified by testimony, is evident from what has been thus far said concerning the two witnesses, namely, that by them is meant the good of love and of charity and the truth of doctrine and of faith, because these principally bear witness concerning the Lord, for they are from Him, and are of Him with man, therefore their testimony signifies preaching concerning them. That the acknowledgment of the Divine in the Lord is here signified by testimony, is evident from the statement in the Apocalypse:

"That the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy" (19:10).

For unless man acknowledges this from the heart, and believes it from spiritual faith, he cannot be in any power of receiving the good of love and the truth of doctrine.

[3] At the end of the church the Lord is, indeed, preached, and also, from doctrine, a Divine similar to the Divine of the Father is attributed to Him; but nevertheless scarcely any one thinks of His Divine, because it is placed above or outside of His Human, therefore when they look to His Divine they do not look to the Lord, but to the Father as to another, when yet the Divine, which is called the Father, is in the Lord, as He Himself teaches in John (10:30, 38; 14:7). Hence it is that man does not think of the Lord otherwise than as of an ordinary man, and his faith flows from that thought, although he may say with his lips that he believes in His Divine. Let any one examine, if he can, the idea of his thought concerning the Lord, whether it be not of this character, and if this is the case, he cannot be conjoined to Him in faith and love, nor by conjunction receive any good of love and truth of faith. It is for these reasons that at the end of the church there is not any acknowledgment of the Lord, that is, of the Divine in the Lord and from the Lord. There is a kind of belief as though the Divine of the Lord were acknowledged, because it is affirmed in the doctrine of the church. But when the Divine is separated from His Human, so far His Divine is not acknowledged inwardly, but only outwardly, and to acknowledge it outwardly is to acknowledge it with the mouth only and not in the heart, or in speech only and not in faith.

[4] That this is so is evident from the case of Christians in the other life, where the thoughts of the heart are made manifest. When they are permitted to speak from doctrine, and from what they have heard from preaching, then they attribute a Divine to the Lord, and call it their faith; but when their interior thought and faith are examined, then [it is found] that they have no other idea concerning the Lord than as it were of an ordinary man in whom there is nothing Divine. The interior thought of man is the ground of his faith, and because such is the thought and thence the faith of his spirit, it is evident that there is not any acknowledgment of the Divine in the Lord and from the Lord in the Christian world at the end of the church. In a word, there is, indeed, an external, but no internal acknowledgment of the Divine of the Lord; and external acknowledgment belongs to the natural man alone, but internal acknowledgment belongs to his spirit itself; and the external is laid asleep after death, and the internal belongs to his spirit. From these considerations it may in some degree be evident what is meant by the beast coming up out of the abyss shall overcome and kill the two witnesses, and by their bodies being seen on the street of the city which is called Sodom and Egypt, and by the spirit of life afterwards entering into them.