144. Or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. That this signifies, if not, when visitation comes, that they shall be dispersed, is evident from the signification of, I will come to thee quickly, when said of the Lord, as being visitation, concerning which more will be said in what follows, and from the signification of the sword of my mouth, as being truth combating against falsity, and then dispersion of falsities (concerning which see above, n. 73, 131). Here, however, it signifies the dispersion of those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, and the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, that is, of those who have the understanding enlightened and teach truths, and yet love to destroy by guile those who belong to the church; also those who separate good from truth, or charity from faith (concerning whom see above, n. 140 and 142). The reason why coming quickly denotes visitation is, that the coming of the Lord in the Word signifies visitation (as may be seen, Arcana Coelestia 6895). Visitation is the exploration of man after death as to his quality, before he is judged.

142. (Verse 15) So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate. That this signifies those who separate good from truth, or charity from faith, which is contrary to Divine order, is evident from what was said and shown above, n. 107, where similar words occur. To which must be added, that those who separate truth from good, or faith from charity, turn away from themselves all influx of heaven into the good works which they do, in consequence of which their good works are not good; for heaven flows in, that is the Lord, through heaven, into the good of man's love, therefore he who casts out the good of charity from the doctrine of the church, and instead of it receives only those things which are said to belong to faith, is excluded from heaven, the truths pertaining to him not having life. And it is the life of truth, which is good, that conjoins, but not truth without life, or faith without charity. (But more may be seen concerning these things in The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem, where it treats concerning charity, n. 84-107, and concerning faith, n. 108-122.)