The Bible

 

以西结书 10

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1 我观,见基路伯上的穹苍之中,显出蓝宝的形状,彷佛宝座的形像。

2 主对那穿细麻衣的:你进去,在旋转的轮内基路伯,从基路伯中间将炭取满两手,撒在城上。我就见他进去。

3 进去的时候,基路伯站在殿的右边,彩充满了内院。

4 耶和华的荣耀从基路伯那里上升,停在门槛以上;殿内满了彩,院宇也被耶和华荣耀的光辉充满。

5 基路伯翅膀的响声听到外院,好像全能神说话声音

6 他吩咐那穿细麻衣的说:要从旋转的基路伯中间取。那就进去站在一个子旁边。

7 有一个基路伯基路伯中伸基路伯中间的那里,取些放在那穿细麻衣的人两中,那人就拿出去了。

8 基路伯翅膀,显出有人的样式。

9 我又观,见基路伯旁边有子。这基路伯旁有子,那基路伯旁有子,每基路伯都是如此;子的颜色(原文是形状)彷佛水苍玉。

10 至於的形状,都是个样式,彷佛中套

11 轮行走的时候,向方都能直行,并不掉向何方,他们也随向何方,行走的时候并不掉

12 他们全身,连背带翅膀,并周围都满了眼睛。这个基路伯的子都是如此。

13 至於这些子,我耳中见说是旋转的。

14 基路伯各有脸:第基路伯的脸,第二是人的脸,第三狮子的脸,第四鹰的脸。

15 基路伯升上去了;这是我在迦巴鲁边所见的活物。

16 基路伯行走,也在旁边行走。基路伯展开翅膀,离上升,也不离他们旁边。

17 那些站住,这些也站住;那些上升,这些也一同上升,因为活物的灵在轮中。

18 耶和华的荣耀从殿的门槛那里出去,停在基路伯以上。

19 基路伯出去的时候,就展开翅膀,在我眼前离上升。也在他们的旁边,都停在耶和华殿的东门口。在他们以上有以色列的荣耀。

20 这是我在迦巴鲁边所见、以色列荣耀以的活物,我就知道他们是基路伯

21 各有个脸面,翅膀翅膀有人的样式。

22 至於他们脸的模样,并身体的形像,是我从前在迦巴鲁边所见的。他们俱各直往前行。

   

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Apocalypse Explained #595

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595. And the rainbow above his head, signifies the interior things of the Word. This is evident from the signification of the "rainbow," as being Divine truth such as the Word is in the spiritual sense (of which presently); and from the signification of "above the head," as being what is interior; for "above" and "higher" signify within and interior, as can be seen from this, that in heaven when interior is said higher is meant; for the heavens of the angels who are interior or interiorly wise appear also above the heavens of the angels who are more external or externally wise. For this reason the three heavens are distinguished from one another by their height, the inmost or third heaven appearing above the middle or second heaven, and this above the ultimate or first.

[2] "Higher" signifies interior, because when higher and lower things are together, that is, form what is simultaneous, as in the head of man, they exist together in such an order that those things that had in successive order existed above are placed within, and those that had in successive order existed below are placed without. This is why higher things signify interior things, and lower things signify exterior things. This may be illustrated to the comprehension by the idea of a surface, in the center of which are things purer, and in the circumferences things grosser; things higher and lower form such a surface when they are let down into one and make what is simultaneous. From this it can also be seen, what is signified by the "angel," spoken of just above, "encompassed with a cloud," since for the same reason and from the same idea, "to be encompassed" means by what is without and below.

[3] A "rainbow" signifies interior Divine truth, such as the Word is in the spiritual sense, because the light of heaven, like as the light of the world, according to its incidence upon objects and its modification in them, presents variegations of color and also rainbows; these it has also sometimes been granted me to see in the angelic heaven (as may be seen described in Arcana Coelestia 1623-1625). But the rainbows that appear in the angelic heaven differ from the rainbows that appear in the world, in that the rainbows of heaven are from a spiritual origin, while the rainbows of the world are from a natural origin; for the rainbows of heaven are from the light that arises from the Lord as a sun, and as that sun is in its essence the Lord's Divine love, and the light therefrom is Divine truth, the variegations of light which are presented as rainbows are variegations of intelligence and wisdom with the angels. From this it is that rainbows there signify the form and beauty of spiritual Divine truth. But the rainbows of the world are from a natural origin, namely, from the sun of the world and its light; therefore they are merely modifications and consequent variegations of light by waters that fall from a cloud. And because there are like appearances of color in the spiritual world as in the natural world, and because these correspond, therefore the rainbows of the world have a similar signification as the rainbows of heaven, namely, spiritual Divine truths in their form and beauty; these truths are such as those of the Word in the spiritual sense.

[4] "Rainbows" have a similar signification in Ezekiel:

Above the expanse that was over the head 1 of the cherubim was the appearance of a sapphire stone, the likeness of a throne; and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as of the appearance of a man above upon it. And I saw as it were the appearance of a living coal like the appearance of fire round about within it, from the appearance of his loins and upward; but from the appearance of his loins even downward I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about, as the appearance of a rainbow that is in the cloud in the day of rain so was the appearance of the glory round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of Jehovah (Ezekiel 1:26-28).

As the "cherubim" signify providence and guard that the Lord be not approached except through the good of love, there appeared a throne, and upon the throne the appearance of a man; "throne" signifying the universal heaven, and the "man upon the throne," the Lord Himself; "the appearance of a living coal, like the appearance of fire from the appearance of his loins and upward," signifies celestial Divine love, which reigns in the higher heavens, for the higher heavens are represented by the upper part of the body, from the loins upward, to which they correspond, for these heavens constitute that part in the Greatest Man, which is heaven; "fire like a living coal" signifies that love, so do the "loins," for the "loins" correspond to the marriage of good and truth, which those have who are in the higher heavens; this is why heaven is called a "marriage," and the Lord is called the "bridegroom" and "husband," and heaven and the church the "bride" and "wife." "From his loins downward he appeared like the brightness of fire which was like a rainbow" signifies the spiritual Divine love, which reigns in the lower heavens, for the region of the body from the loins down to the soles of the feet corresponds to that love; and because that love proceeds from celestial Divine love it is called "fire and its brightness;" Divine truth from the Divine good of love is what is bright and presents the appearance of a rainbow. This makes evident also that the translucence of spiritual Divine truth through natural Divine truth is what produces that appearance in the heavens, and consequently that is what it signifies (as was said above; but this can be more clearly understood from what is said on Heaven in the work on Heaven and Hell; that from the Lord's Divine Human it represents One Man, n. 59-86; on the Correspondence of all Things of Heaven with all Things of Man, n. 87-102; and in the Arcana Coelestia, on the correspondence of the loins, n. 3021, 4280, 4462, 5050-5062).

[5] "The bow in the cloud" or the rainbow, has a similar signification in the book of Genesis:

God said to Noah, This is the sign of the covenant which I give between Me and you and every living soul that is with you, unto the generations of an age. I have given My bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. And it shall be in clouding Myself with a cloud over the earth that the bow shall be seen in the cloud; and I will remember My covenant which is between Me and you and every living soul in all flesh; and the waters shall no more be for a flood to destroy all flesh. And the bow shall be in the cloud, and I see it to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living soul in all flesh that is upon the earth (Genesis 9:12-17).

Unless it is known that there is a spiritual sense in every particular of the Word it may be supposed that the bow in the cloud, which is called a rainbow, appears for a sign that the earth shall no more be destroyed by a flood, and yet that bow exists from causes in nature, and is produced mediately when rays of light from the sun pass through the watery particles of rain from a cloud, which shows that like bows or rainbows existed before the flood. For this reason, in consequence of the correspondence between spiritual and natural things, such rainbows as are seen from the earth by men mean such rainbows as are seen by angels in the spiritual world, all of which arise from the light of heaven and its modification in the spiritual-natural sphere there, and thus from spiritual Divine truth, and its translucence in natural Divine truth; for all light in heaven is spiritual, and in its essence is the Divine truth proceeding from the Lord. From this it can be seen that "the bow in the cloud or rainbow" signifies spiritual Divine truth translucent through natural Divine truth, and there is such a translucence with those who are being reformed and regenerated by the Lord by means of Divine truth and a life according to it. In the heavens also this very translucence appears as a rainbow. "The sign of a covenant" signifies the Lord's presence and conjunction with such, for "covenant" signifies conjunction. This sign was given because the "flood," by which the human race was then destroyed, signifies the direful falsities of evil, from which the posterity of the Most Ancient Church perished. The restoration and the establishment of a new church, called the Ancient Church, by Divine truth conjoined to spiritual good, which in its essence is charity, are what rainbows representatively manifest in heaven and thence signify in the world. (But as these words involve more arcana than can be explained briefly, see for a detailed explanation of them Arcana Coelestia 1031-1059.)

Footnotes:

1. Latin has "expanse," the Hebrew "the head," as is also found in AE 253, 280, 297.

  
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Thanks to the Swedenborg Foundation for their permission to use this translation.

The Bible

 

Luke 22

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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!"