387. And with death. That this signifies the consequent extinction of spiritual life, is plain from the signification of death, as denoting the extinction of spiritual life (concerning which see above, n. 78, 186). That this is here signified by death is plain from the series of things in the internal sense; for it is said that power was given unto them to kill with the sword, with famine, and with death: and by the sword is signified falsity destroying truth; by famine, the deprivation of the knowledges of truth and good; whence by death is signified 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 it is acquired by the knowledges of truth and good applied to the uses of life. For man is born into all evil and the falsity thence, therefore he is also born entirely ignorant of all spiritual knowledges; in order, therefore, that he may be led from the evils and the falsities thence, into which he is born, and be led into the life of heaven, and be saved, it is necessary that he should learn the knowledges of truth and good, by which he can be introduced [into spiritual life] and become spiritual. From this series of things in the internal sense it is evident, that by death is here signified the extinction of spiritual life; this also is signified by spiritual death.

8913. Verses 18-20 And all the people saw the voices and torches, ¹ and the voice of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and the people saw and were violently shaken, and stood afar off. And they said to Moses, Speak yourself to us, and we will hear; and do not let God speak to us, lest perhaps we die. And Moses said to the people, Do not fear, for God has come in order to test you, and in order that His fear may be before your faces, so that you do not sin.

'And all the people saw the voices and torches' means perception of God's truths that spring from good. 'And the voice of the trumpet' means those same truths going through heaven. 'And the mountain smoking means the good itself of truth, which cannot be perceived except in an outward form. 'And the people saw and were violently shaken' means the quivering that takes place when they are received. 'And stood afar off' means remoteness from internal things. 'And they said to Moses' means complaint. 'Speak yourself to us, [and we will hear]' means the reception of truth in an adjusted form, which - in that form - they will obey. 'And do not let God speak to us' means truth in an unadjusted form. 'Lest perhaps we die' means that this form will destroy the life of heaven with them. 'And Moses said to the people' means an informing. 'Do not fear, for God has come in order to test you' means that the life of heaven will not be destroyed, [but that they are tested] solely so that the existence and essential nature of that life may be known. 'And in order that His fear may be before your faces, and you do not sin' means consequent holy fear of the Divine, and preservation of spiritual life as a result.

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