11
εἰπὸν πρὸς τοὺς ἀλείφοντας πεσεῖται καὶ ἔσται ὑετὸς κατακλύζων καὶ δώσω λίθους πετροβόλους εἰς τοὺς ἐνδέσμους αὐτῶν καὶ πεσοῦνται καὶ πνεῦμα ἐξαῖρον καὶ ῥαγήσεται
Ezekiel 13:11
Apocalypse Revealed #500
500. The beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them. This symbolically means that those people who are caught up in the interior tenets of the doctrine regarding faith alone will oppose these two essential elements of the New Church, attack them, and reject them, in themselves and, as far as they are able, in others.
The beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit means the people who ascended out of the bottomless pit having the appearance of locusts in Revelation 9:1-12. That they were people caught up in the interior tenets of the doctrine regarding faith alone may be seen in the exposition there. To make war means, symbolically, to oppose and attack these two essential elements of the church, as we shall see next. To overcome them and kill them means, symbolically, to reject them and root them out, in themselves and, as far as they are able, in others.
[2] People caught up in the interior tenets of the doctrine regarding faith alone will attack and reject these two essential elements because they have established in themselves two ideas contrary to them, first, that it is not the Lord but God the Father to whom they should turn; and secondly, that a life in accordance with the Ten Commandments is not a spiritual life, but simply a moral and civic life, and they maintain this to keep anyone from believing that he is saved by works rather than by their faith alone.
All those people who in schools and universities have deeply impressed these dogmas on their minds do not afterward turn away from them. There are three reasons for this, hitherto unknown. First, they have introduced themselves as to their spirit into association with people in the spiritual world like themselves, where there are many satanic spirits who find delight only in falsities, and from these spirits they cannot possibly be set free unless they reject those falsities. Nor can they do that unless they turn to God the Savior directly and begin to live a Christian life in accordance with the Ten Commandments.
[3] The second reason is their belief that they are granted instant forgiveness for their sins and thus salvation in the act of faith, and afterward in the state or progression of it through the same act continued, preserved and retained by the Holy Spirit, apart from any exercises of charity. After that, then, once people have imbibed these ideas, they regard their sins as of no account in the sight of God, and so continue in their impure lives.
Moreover, because they know how to cleverly defend such ideas with falsifications of the Word in the presence of uneducated listeners, and with fallacious arguments in the presence of learned ones, we are told here that the beast from the bottomless pit overcame and killed the two witnesses. But this is the case only with people who love to live self-indulgently and are carried away by the delights of their appetites. Whenever these people think about salvation, they harbor at heart their lusts, and with both hands embrace that faith of theirs, because then they can be saved by uttering certain words in a confident tone and do not have to attend to anything having to do with their life for God's sake, but only for the sake of the world.
[4] The third reason is that people who in their youth have imbibed the interior tenets of that faith, called the mysteries of justification, when afterward promoted to a respectable ministry, do not think to themselves about God and heaven, but about themselves and the world, retaining the mysteries of their faith only for the sake of their reputation so as to be respected as wise, and because of their wisdom, accounted worthy to be rewarded with riches.
Such is the case as a result of that faith because it has nothing of religion in it. The reality of this may be seen in the third narrative account above, in no. 484.
[5] That wars in the Word symbolize spiritual wars, which are attacks on truth and are waged by reasonings based on falsities, is clear from the following passages:
...spirits of demons... go out... to gather them for war on the great day of God Almighty. (Revelation 16:14)
...the dragon was angry with the woman, and it went away to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. (Revelation 12:17)
It was granted to (the dragon's beast) to make war with the saints... (Revelation 13:7)
Prepare holy war against (the daughter of Zion)..., and let us go up at noon. (Jeremiah 6:4)
You have not gone up into the breaches... to stand in battle on the day of Jehovah. (Ezekiel 13:5)
In Salem is (God's) tabernacle, and His dwelling place in Zion, where He broke the flaming arrows, the bow... and... war. (Psalms 76:2-3)
Jehovah shall go forth like a mighty man; He shall stir up zeal like a man of war. (Isaiah 42:13, cf. Psalms 24:8)
In that day Jehovah... will be... for a spirit of justice to him who sits in judgment, ...to those who turn back the battle at the gate. (Isaiah 28:5-6)
Deliver me... from the evil man; preserve me from the violent man... All day they gather for war. They sharpen their tongues like serpents. (Psalms 140:1-3)
...many will come in My name, saying, "I am the Christ," and will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled. (Matthew 24:5-7, cf. Mark 13:6-8, Luke 21:8-10)
The wars of the kings of the north and south and other wars in Daniel 10, 11, and 12 symbolize no other than spiritual wars. And so, too, the wars in other places, as in Isaiah 2:3-5, 13:4, 21:14-15, 31:4; Jeremiah 49:25-26; Hosea 2:18; Zechariah 10:5, 14:3; Psalm 18:35 1 , 46:8-9.
[6] As wars in the Word symbolize spiritual wars, therefore the ministry of the Levites was called military service, as is apparent from the following, that the command was given for the Levites to be numbered, to "perform military service, to do the work in the tabernacle of meeting" (Numbers 4:23, 35, 39, 43, 47).
This is the service of the Levites: ...to perform military service in the ministry of the tabernacle of meeting; but at the age of fifty years he must cease the military service, and shall minister no more. (Numbers 8:24-25)
See also no. 447 above, where we established from the Word that armies symbolize the church's goods and truths, and in an opposite sense, its evils and falsities.
Bilješke:
1. The citation in the first edition is in error. Either this or Psalms 27:3 was perhaps intended.
Luke 22
1
Now the feast of unleavened bread, which is called the Passover, drew near.
2
The chief priests and the scribes sought how they might put him to death, for they feared the people.
3
Satan entered into Judas, who was surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered with the twelve.
4
He went away, and talked with the chief priests and captains about how he might deliver him to them.
5
They were glad, and agreed to give him money.
6
He consented, and sought an opportunity to deliver him to them in the absence of the multitude.
7
The day of unleavened bread came, on which the Passover must be sacrificed.
8
He sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat."
9
They said to him, "Where do you want us to prepare?"
10
He said to them, "Behold, when you have entered into the city, a man carrying a pitcher of water will meet you. Follow him into the house which he enters.
11
Tell the master of the house, 'The Teacher says to you, "Where is the guest room, Where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?"'
12
He will show you a large, furnished upper room. Make preparations there."
13
They went, found things as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.
14
When the hour had come, he sat down with the twelve apostles.
15
He said to them, "I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer,
16
for I tell you, I will no longer by any means eat of it until it is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God."
17
He received a cup, and when he had given thanks, he said, "Take this, and share it among yourselves,
18
for I tell you, I will not drink at all again from the fruit of the vine, until the Kingdom of God comes."
19
He took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and gave to them, saying, "This is my body which is given for you. Do this in memory of me."
20
Likewise, he took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.
21
But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table.
22
The Son of Man indeed goes, as it has been determined, but woe to that man through whom he is betrayed!"
23
They began to question among themselves, which of them it was who would do this thing.
24
There arose also a contention among them, which of them was considered to be greatest.
25
He said to them, "The kings of the nations lord it over them, and those who have authority over them are called 'benefactors.'
26
But not so with you. But one who is the greater among you, let him become as the younger, and one who is governing, as one who serves.
27
For who is greater, one who sits at the table, or one who serves? Isn't it he who sits at the table? But I am in the midst of you as one who serves.
28
But you are those who have continued with me in my trials.
29
I confer on you a kingdom, even as my Father conferred on me,
30
that you may eat and drink at my table in my Kingdom. You will sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel."
31
The Lord said, "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan asked to have you, that he might sift you as wheat,
32
but I prayed for you, that your faith wouldn't fail. You, when once you have turned again, establish your brothers."
33
He said to him, "Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death!"
34
He said, "I tell you, Peter, the rooster will by no means crow today until you deny that you know me three times."
35
He said to them, "When I sent you out without purse, and wallet, and shoes, did you lack anything?" They said, "Nothing."
36
Then he said to them, "But now, whoever has a purse, let him take it, and likewise a wallet. Whoever has none, let him sell his cloak, and buy a sword.
37
For I tell you that this which is written must still be fulfilled in me: 'He was counted with transgressors.' For that which concerns me has an end."
38
They said, "Lord, behold, here are two swords." He said to them, "That is enough."
39
He came out, and went, as his custom was, to the Mount of Olives. His disciples also followed him.
40
When he was at the place, he said to them, "Pray that you don't enter into temptation."
41
He was withdrawn from them about a stone's throw, and he knelt down and prayed,
42
saying, "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done."
43
An angel from heaven appeared to him, strengthening him.
44
Being in agony he prayed more earnestly. His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground.
45
When he rose up from his prayer, he came to the disciples, and found them sleeping because of grief,
46
and said to them, "Why do you sleep? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation."
47
While he was still speaking, behold, a multitude, and he who was called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He came near to Jesus to kiss him.
48
But Jesus said to him, "Judas, do you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?"
49
When those who were around him saw what was about to happen, they said to him, "Lord, shall we strike with the sword?"
50
A certain one of them struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear.
51
But Jesus answered, "Let me at least do this"--and he touched his ear, and healed him.
52
Jesus said to the chief priests, captains of the temple, and elders, who had come against him, "Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs?
53
When I was with you in the temple daily, you didn't stretch out your hands against me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness."
54
They seized him, and led him away, and brought him into the high priest's house. But Peter followed from a distance.
55
When they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard, and had sat down together, Peter sat among them.
56
A certain servant girl saw him as he sat in the light, and looking intently at him, said, "This man also was with him."
57
He denied Jesus, saying, "Woman, I don't know him."
58
After a little while someone else saw him, and said, "You also are one of them!" But Peter answered, "Man, I am not!"
59
After about one hour passed, another confidently affirmed, saying, "Truly this man also was with him, for he is a Galilean!"
60
But Peter said, "Man, I don't know what you are talking about!" Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed.
61
The Lord turned, and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the Lord's word, how he said to him, "Before the rooster crows you will deny me three times."
62
He went out, and wept bitterly.
63
The men who held Jesus mocked him and beat him.
64
Having blindfolded him, they struck him on the face and asked him, "Prophesy! Who is the one who struck you?"
65
They spoke many other things against him, insulting him.
66
As soon as it was day, the assembly of the elders of the people was gathered together, both chief priests and scribes, and they led him away into their council, saying,
67
"If you are the Christ, tell us." But he said to them, "If I tell you, you won't believe,
68
and if I ask, you will in no way answer me or let me go.
69
From now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God."
70
They all said, "Are you then the Son of God?" He said to them, "You say it, because I am."
71
They said, "Why do we need any more witness? For we ourselves have heard from his own mouth!"
