4
The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings: I beheld till its wings were plucked; and it was lifted up from the earth, and made to stand upon two feet as a man, and a man's heart was given to it.
Daniel 7:4
Arcana Coelestia #6000
6000. 'And God spoke to Israel in visions of the night' means obscure revelation. This is clear from the meaning of 'God spoke in visions' as revelation. For revelations were made either by means of dreams, or by night visions, or by daytime visions, or by utterances made within a person, or by utterances made outside him by angels who had become visible, as well as by utterances made outside by angels who had not become visible. Various kinds of revelation are meant in the Word by all these. 'A vision of the night' means revelation that is obscure, since 'night' means obscurity, 1712, 2514, and in the spiritual sense obscurity implies that truth is not visible. In the Word 'night' also means falsity due to evil; for people who because of evil are subject to falsity dwell in the obscurity of night, which is why all in hell are said to be in night. Those in hell do, it is true, have an inferior kind of light, for they see one another; but that light is like the light emitted by a coal fire, which is turned into darkness and pitch darkness when heavenly light flows in. This is why the inhabitants of hell are said to be in night and are called angels of the night and darkness, whereas the inhabitants of heaven are called angels of the day and light.
[2] The meaning of 'the night' as obscurity and also falsity may be seen in addition from the following places in the Word: In John,
Jesus said, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day he does not stumble. But if anyone walks in the night he stumbles, because the light is not in him. John 11:9-10.
'Twelve hours' stands for all states of truth. 'Walking in the day' stands for living in the truth, and 'walking in the night' for living in falsity.
[3] In the same gospel,
I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; night is coming when nobody will be able to work. John 9:4.
'Day' stands for truth coming from good, and 'night' for falsity coming from evil. The first period of the Church is what is meant by 'day', for at this time truth is entertained by people because they are governed by good. But the final period of the Church is what is meant by 'night', for at that time no truth at all is entertained by its members, because they are not governed by good; and when someone is not governed by good, that is, by charity towards the neighbour, then even if told perfect truths he does not entertain them. In this situation there is no perception at all of what truth is, because the light of truth falls on matters of a bodily and worldly nature, to which alone such people give their attention and which alone they love and consider to have any reality. It does not fall on things of a heavenly nature because they are considered to be of little or no value at all compared with other things. Consequently the light of truth is swallowed up by and snuffed out in what is a mass of thick darkness, like sunlight falling on an object that is black. This is what is meant by 'night is coming when nobody will be able to work'; and the situation is like this at the present day.
[4] In Matthew,
While the bridegroom was tarrying all the virgins were drowsy and went to sleep. But at midnight there was a shout, Behold, the bridegroom is coming. Matthew 25:5-7.
'Midnight' too stands for the final period of the old Church when no faith at all exists because no charity at all does so, and also for the first period of the new Church. In Luke,
I tell you, in that night there will be two upon one bed; one will be taken, the other left. Luke 17:34.
'Night' in the same way here stands for the final period of the old Church, and the first of the new.
[5] In Matthew,
Jesus said to the disciples, All of you will be made to stumble [by sinning] against Me this night. And to Peter, This night, before the cock crows, you will deny Me three times. Matthew 26:31, 34.
The Lord allowed Himself to be arrested at night, and this was a sign that Divine Truth dwelt for them in the obscurity of night and that falsity springing from evil existed in place of it. Peter's denial of the Lord three times that night also represented the final period of the Church when the truth of faith is indeed taught, but no one believes it. This final period is 'night' because at this time people utterly deny the Lord in their hearts. For like the twelve tribes of Israel, the twelve apostles represented all the aspects of faith, 577, 2089, 2129 (end), 2130 (end), 3272, 3354, 3488, 3858, 3913, 3926, 3939, 4060; and Peter represented the faith of the Church, see Preface to Genesis 18, also Preface to Genesis 22, as well as 3750, 4738. So it was that the Lord said to Peter that he would deny Him three times that night, and to the disciples, 'All of you will be made to stumble [by sinning] against Me this night'.
[6] In Isaiah,
One was calling to me from Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night? The watchman said, Morning comes, and also the night.
This refers to the Coming of the Lord, which is 'morning'. That Coming took place when spiritual truth existed no longer on earth, which is 'the night'.
[7] In Zechariah,
There will be one day, which is known to Jehovah, not day nor night, because around evening time there will be light. It will happen, that on that day living waters will go out from Jerusalem. And Jehovah will be King over all the earth; on that day there will be one Jehovah, and His name one. Zechariah 14:7-9.
This too refers to the Lord, and also to a new Church. The prophecy that Jehovah, who will be King, will be one and that His name will be one refers to the Lord's Divine Human, which will be one with the Divine Himself, called the Father. Prior to the Lord's Coming the Divine Human was Jehovah in the heavens; for it was by His passing through the heavens that He presented Himself as a Divine Person before the eyes of many on earth. In those times the Divine Human was not so much one with the Divine Himself, called the Father, as when the Lord had made the Divine Human within Himself completely one with the Father. Prior to His Coming the two were seemingly distinct and separate, as is evident from Genesis 19:24, where it says that Jehovah rained on Sodom and Gomorrah brimstone and fire from 1 Jehovah out of heaven, 2447. A day when it will be 'not day nor night' is the time when the Lord was born, for then it was 'evening', that is, when representatives in the Church came to an end. 'Light around evening time' is Divine Truth which is to appear then.
[8] In Isaiah,
Surely at night Ar has been laid waste, Moab has been cut off; surely at night Kir of Moab has been laid waste. Isaiah 15:1.
'Moab' stands for natural good, and in the contrary sense for adulterated good, 2468; in this text a laying waste of that good is referred to. Acts of laying waste are said to happen at night because they are occasions when truth is rendered obscure and falsity enters in. In Jeremiah,
The great city will weep bitterly in the night, and her tears are on her cheeks. Lamentations 1:2.
This refers to a desolation of truth, 'night' standing for falsity.
[9] In David,
You will not be afraid of the terror of the night, of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the death that lays waste at noonday. Psalms 91:5-6.
'The terror of the night' stands for falsities arising from evil that come from hell. 'The arrow that flies by day' stands for falsity that is taught openly and is destructive of good. 'The death that lays waste at noonday' is evil that is openly practised in life and is destructive of good. In John,
The gates of the holy Jerusalem will not be shut by day, for there is no night there. Revelation 21:25.
There will be no night there, nor do they need a lamp or light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. Revelation 22:5.
'There will be no night there' stands for no falsity there. In Daniel,
Daniel said, I saw in my vision when it was night. After this also I saw in visions of the night. Daniel 7:2, 7.
'Visions of the night' also stands for obscure revelation; for that chapter in Daniel describes four beasts and their horns, and gives many details belonging to revelation that was obscure. Something similar is involved with the different coloured horses that Zechariah saw at night, Zechariah 1:8 and following verses.
V:
1. Two Latin words meaning from and with are in fact used here; they represent a double preposition in the Hebrew.
Matthew 26
1
It happened, when Jesus had finished all these words, that he said to his disciples,
2
"You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified."
3
Then the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people were gathered together in the court of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas.
4
They took counsel together that they might take Jesus by deceit, and kill him.
5
But they said, "Not during the feast, lest a riot occur among the people."
6
Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper,
7
a woman came to him having an alabaster jar of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he sat at the table.
8
But when his disciples saw this, they were indignant, saying, "Why this waste?
9
For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor."
10
However, knowing this, Jesus said to them, "Why do you trouble the woman? Because she has done a good work for me.
11
For you always have the poor with you; but you don't always have me.
12
For in pouring this ointment on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial.
13
Most certainly I tell you, wherever this Good News is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of as a memorial of her."
14
Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests,
15
and said, "What are you willing to give me, that I should deliver him to you?" They weighed out for him thirty pieces of silver.
16
From that time he sought opportunity to betray him.
17
Now on the first day of unleavened bread, the disciples came to Jesus, saying to him, "Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?"
18
He said, "Go into the city to a certain person, and tell him, 'The Teacher says, "My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples."'"
19
The disciples did as Jesus commanded them, and they prepared the Passover.
20
Now when evening had come, he was reclining at the table with the twelve disciples.
21
As they were eating, he said, "Most certainly I tell you that one of you will betray me."
22
They were exceedingly sorrowful, and each began to ask him, "It isn't me, is it, Lord?"
23
He answered, "He who dipped his hand with me in the dish, the same will betray me.
24
The Son of Man goes, even as it is written of him, but woe to that man through whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would be better for that man if he had not been born."
25
Judas, who betrayed him, answered, "It isn't me, is it, Rabbi?" He said to him, "You said it."
26
As they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks for it, and broke it. He gave to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is my body."
27
He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave to them, saying, "All of you drink it,
28
for this is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the remission of sins.
29
But I tell you that I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on, until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father's Kingdom."
30
When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
31
Then Jesus said to them, "All of you will be made to stumble because of me tonight, for it is written, 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.'
32
But after I am raised up, I will go before you into Galilee."
33
But Peter answered him, "Even if all will be made to stumble because of you, I will never be made to stumble."
34
Jesus said to him, "Most certainly I tell you that tonight, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times."
35
Peter said to him, "Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you." All of the disciples also said likewise.
36
Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to his disciples, "Sit here, while I go there and pray."
37
He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and severely troubled.
38
Then he said to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here, and watch with me."
39
He went forward a little, fell on his face, and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from me; nevertheless, not what I desire, but what you desire."
40
He came to the disciples, and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "What, couldn't you watch with me for one hour?
41
Watch and pray, that you don't enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."
42
Again, a second time he went away, and prayed, saying, "My Father, if this cup can't pass away from me unless I drink it, your desire be done."
43
He came again and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.
44
He left them again, went away, and prayed a third time, saying the same words.
45
Then he came to his disciples, and said to them, "Sleep on now, and take your rest. Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
46
Arise, let's be going. Behold, he who betrays me is at hand."
47
While he was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and clubs, from the chief priest and elders of the people.
48
Now he who betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, "Whoever I kiss, he is the one. Seize him."
49
Immediately he came to Jesus, and said, "Hail, Rabbi!" and kissed him.
50
Jesus said to him, "Friend, why are you here?" Then they came and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.
51
Behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck the servant of the high priest, and struck off his ear.
52
Then Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back into its place, for all those who take the sword will die by the sword.
53
Or do you think that I couldn't ask my Father, and he would even now send me more than twelve legions of angels?
54
How then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that it must be so?"
55
In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, "Have you come out as against a robber with swords and clubs to seize me? I sat daily in the temple teaching, and you didn't arrest me.
56
But all this has happened, that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled." Then all the disciples left him, and fled.
57
Those who had taken Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together.
58
But Peter followed him from a distance, to the court of the high priest, and entered in and sat with the officers, to see the end.
59
Now the chief priests, the elders, and the whole council sought false testimony against Jesus, that they might put him to death;
60
and they found none. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none. But at last two false witnesses came forward,
61
and said, "This man said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.'"
62
The high priest stood up, and said to him, "Have you no answer? What is this that these testify against you?"
63
But Jesus held his peace. The high priest answered him, "I adjure you by the living God, that you tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of God."
64
Jesus said to him, "You have said it. Nevertheless, I tell you, after this you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of the sky."
65
Then the high priest tore his clothing, saying, "He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Behold, now you have heard his blasphemy.
66
What do you think?" They answered, "He is worthy of death!"
67
Then they spit in his face and beat him with their fists, and some slapped him,
68
saying, "Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who hit you?"
69
Now Peter was sitting outside in the court, and a maid came to him, saying, "You were also with Jesus, the Galilean!"
70
But he denied it before them all, saying, "I don't know what you are talking about."
71
When he had gone out onto the porch, someone else saw him, and said to those who were there, "This man also was with Jesus of Nazareth."
72
Again he denied it with an oath, "I don't know the man."
73
After a little while those who stood by came and said to Peter, "Surely you are also one of them, for your speech makes you known."
74
Then he began to curse and to swear, "I don't know the man!" Immediately the rooster crowed.
75
Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said to him, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times." He went out and wept bitterly.
