The Bible

 

啟示錄 1

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1 耶穌基督的啟示,就是神賜給他,叫他將必要快成的事指示他的眾僕人。他就差遣使者曉諭他的僕人約翰。

2 約翰便將神的道和耶穌基督的見證,凡自己所看見的都證明出來。

3 念這書上預言的和那些見又遵守其中所記載的,都是有福的,因為日期近了。

4 約翰寫信給亞西亞的七個教會。但願從那昔在、今在、以後永在的神,和他寶座前的七靈,

5 並那誠實作見證的、從死裡首先復活、為世上君王元首的耶穌基督,有恩惠、平安歸與你們!他愛我們,用自己的血使我們脫離(有古卷作:洗去)罪惡,

6 又使我們成為國民,作他父神的祭司。但願榮耀、權能歸給他,直到永永遠遠。阿們!

7 看哪,他駕雲降臨!眾目要看見他,連刺他的人也要看見他;地上的萬族都要因他哀哭。這話是真實的。阿們!

8 主神:我是阿拉法,我是俄梅戛,(阿拉法,俄梅戛:是希利尼字母首末二字),是昔在、今在、以後永在的全能者。

9 我─約翰就是你們的弟兄,和你們在耶穌的患難、國度、忍耐裡一同有分,為神的道,並為給耶穌作的見證,曾在那名叫拔摩的海島上。

10 當主日,我被聖靈感動,見在我面有大聲音如吹號,說:

11 你所看見的當在書上,達與以弗所、士每拿、別迦摩、推雅推喇、撒狄、非拉鐵非、老底嘉、那七個教會。

12 過身來,要看是誰發聲與我說話;既過來,就看見七個金燈臺

13 燈臺中間有一位好像人子,身穿長衣,直垂到腳,胸間束著金

14 他的頭與髮皆白,如白羊毛,如雪;眼目如同燄;

15 腳好像在爐中煆煉光明的銅;聲音如同眾水的聲音。

16 他右手拿著七,從他口中出來一把兩刃的利;面貌如同烈日放光。

17 我一看見,就仆倒在他腳前,像死了一樣。他用右手按著我,:不要懼怕!我是首先的,我是末後的,

18 又是那存活的;我曾死過,現在又活了,直活到永永遠遠;並且拿著死亡和陰間的鑰匙。

19 所以你要把所看見的,和現在的事,並將來必成的事,都出來。

20 論到你所看見、在我右手中的七和七個金臺的奧祕,那七就是七個教會的使者,七臺就是七個教會。

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Arcana Coelestia #8459

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8459. 'Tiny like hoar frost on the earth' means truth in the form of good - uninterrupted and flowing. This is clear from the meaning of 'tiny' as a word having reference to truth, dealt with immediately above; and from the meaning of 'like hoar frost' as in the form of good. The good of truth, the good existing with a member of the spiritual Church, 8458, is compared to hoar frost because it forms more of a continuous sheet than snow. Consisting of tiny white flakes snow has reference to truth, while hoar frost, being the nearest thing to it, has reference to truth that has become good, which is the good of truth. The use of 'snow' to refer to truth is evident from the following places: In Mark,

When Jesus was transfigured His clothes became glistening, intensely white like snow. Mark 9:3.

In Matthew,

The angel 1 at the tomb - his appearance was like lightning, and his garment white as snow. Matthew 28:2-3.

In John,

I saw in the midst of the seven lampstands one like the Son of Man. His head and hair were white, like white wool, like snow. Revelation 1:13-14.

In Jeremiah, The Nazirites were brighter than snow, they were whiter than milk. Lamentations 4:7.

In David,

You will purge me with hyssop and I shall become clean, You will wash me and I shall be made whiter than snow. Psalms 51:7.

In Daniel,

I saw, until thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days was seated. His clothing was white as snow, and the hair of His head like pure wool. Daniel 7:9.

In these places 'snow' has reference to truth because of its whiteness, with which clothes are compared because 'clothes' in the spiritual sense are truths, 4545, 4763, 5248, 5319, 5954, 6914, 6917, 6918. From all this it is evident what 'hoar frost' means, namely truth in the form of good. Truth in the form of good is said to be uninterrupted and flowing because truth is a form that holds good, and good is the life and so to speak soul within that form.

Footnotes:

1. Reading Angelus (The angel), which Swedenborg possibly has in his rough draft, for Angelis (To the angels)

  
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Thanks to the Swedenborg Society for the permission to use this translation.