The Bible

 

但以理书 10

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1 波斯王古列第年,有事显给称为伯提沙撒的但以理。这事是真的,是指着争战;但以理通达这事,明白这异象。

2 当那时,我─但以理悲伤了个七日。

3 美味我没有,酒没有入我的,也没有用油抹我的身,直到满了个七日。

4 二十日,我在底格里斯边,

5 举目观,见有身穿细麻衣,腰束乌法精金带。

6 他身体如水苍玉,面貌如闪电,眼目如把,手和脚如光明的铜,说声音如大众的声音

7 这异象惟有我─但以理一人见,同着我的人没有见。他们却战兢,逃跑隐藏,

8 只剩下我一人。我见了这异象便浑身无力,面貌失色,毫无气力。

9 我却见他说声音,一见就面伏在沉睡了。

10 忽然,有一按在我身上,使我用膝和掌支持微起。

11 他对我:大蒙眷爱的但以理啊,要明白我与你所,只管站起来,因为我现在奉差遣来到你这里。他对我,我便战战兢兢地立起来。

12 他就:但以理啊,不要惧!因为从你第一日专求明白将的事,又在你面前刻苦己,你的言语已蒙应允;我是因你的言语而

13 但波斯国的魔君拦阻我二十日。忽然有大君(就是使长;二十节同)中的位米迦勒帮助我,我就停留在波斯诸那里。

14 现在我,要使你明白本国之民日後必遭遇的事,因为这异象关乎後许多的日子。

15 他向我这样,我就脸面朝,哑口无声。

16 不料,有一位像人的,摸我的嘴唇,我便开向那站在我面前的:我啊,因见这异象,我大大愁苦,毫无气力。

17 仆人怎能与我说话呢?我一见异象就浑身无力,毫无气息。

18 有一位形状像人的又摸我,使我有力量。

19 :大蒙眷爱的哪,不要惧,愿你平安!你总要坚强。他一向我说话,我便觉得有力量,:我,因你使我有力量。

20 他就:你知道我为何见你麽?现在我要回去与波斯的魔君争战,我去後,希利尼(原文是雅完)的魔君必

21 但我要将那录在真确书上的事告诉你。除了你们的大君米迦勒之外,没有帮助我抵挡这两魔君的。

   

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Apocalypse Revealed #779

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779. Since oil is mentioned here among sacred ingredients of worship, and symbolizes celestial good, we must say something now about the oil used in anointing, oil which was used by ancient peoples and afterward commanded to the children of Israel.

In ancient times people anointed stones set up as pillars, as is apparent from Genesis 28:18-19, 22. They also anointed weapons of war, shields and bucklers (2 Samuel 1:21, Isaiah 21:5). The Israelites were commanded to prepare holy oil with which to anoint all the sacred ecclesiastical vessels; and they used it to anoint the altar and all its vessels, as well as the Tabernacle and all its vessels (Exodus 30:22-33, 40:9-11; Leviticus 8:10-12; Numbers 7:1). They used it to anoint the men who exercised the functions of the priesthood and their garments (Exodus 29:7, 29, 30:30, 40:13-15; Leviticus 8:12; Psalm 133:1-3). They used it to anoint prophets (1 Kings 19:15, 16). They used it to anoint kings, and kings were called therefore Jehovah's anointed (1 Samuel 10:1, 15:1, 16:3, 6, 12, 24:6, 10, 26:9, 11, 16, 23; 2 Samuel 1:16, 2:4, 7, 5:3, 17, 19:21; 1 Kings 1:34, 35, 19:15, 16; 2 Kings 9:3; 11:12; 23:30; Lamentations 4:20; Habakkuk 3:13; Psalms 2:2, 6; 20:6; 28:8; 45:7; 84:9; 89:20, 38, 51; 132:17).

[2] Anointing with holy oil was commanded because oil symbolized the goodness of love and represented the Lord, who in His humanity is Himself Jehovah's anointed and His only anointed, being anointed not with oil, but with the Divine goodness itself of Divine love. Consequently He is also called the Messiah in the Old Testament and Christ in the New Testament (John 1:41; 4:25), Messiah and Christ meaning "the Anointed."

That is why priests, kings, and all ecclesiastical vessels were anointed, and having been anointed were called holy - not that they were holy in themselves, but because by virtue of the anointing they represented the Lord in His Divine humanity. Consequently it was a sacrilege to harm a king, because he was Jehovah's anointed (1 Samuel 24:6, 10; 26:9).

[3] Furthermore, it was an accepted practice to anoint themselves and others to attest to their gladness of heart and goodwill, but with ordinary oil or some other fine oil, and not with holy oil (Matthew 6:17; Mark 6:13; Luke 7:46; Isaiah 61:3; Amos 6:6; Micah 6:15; Psalms 92:10; 104:15; Daniel 10:3; Deuteronomy 28:40). They were not permitted to anoint themselves or others with holy oil (Exodus 30:31-33).

  
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Many thanks to the General Church of the New Jerusalem, and to Rev. N.B. Rogers, translator, for the permission to use this translation.

Commentary

 

Mark

  

'A mark' signifies an acknowledgment and a confession. 'To receive a mark on the right hand and on the forehead,' as in Revelation 13:16, signifies that no one is acknowledged to be a reformed Christian unless he receives the doctrine that faith is the only means of salvation, or that faith, without the works of the law, justifies and saves.

(References: Apocalypse Revealed 605; Revelation 13, 16)