但以理書 8
1
伯沙撒王在位第三年,有異象現與我─但以理,是在先前所見的異象之後。
2
我見了異象的時候,我以為在以攔省書珊城(或譯:宮)中;我見異象又如在烏萊河邊。
3
我舉目觀看,見有雙角的公綿羊站在河邊,兩角都高。這角高過那角,更高的是後長的。
4
我見那公綿羊往西、往北、往南牴觸。獸在他面前都站立不住,也沒有能救護脫離他手的;但他任意而行,自高自大。
5
我正思想的時候,見有一隻公山羊從西而來,遍行全地,腳不沾塵。這山羊兩眼當中有一非常的角。
6
他往我所看見、站在河邊有雙角的公綿羊那裡去,大發忿怒,向他直闖。
7
我見公山羊就近公綿羊,向他發烈怒,牴觸他,折斷他的兩角。綿羊在他面前站立不住;他將綿羊觸倒在地,用腳踐踏,沒有能救綿羊脫離他手的。
8
這山羊極其自高自大,正強盛的時候,那大角折斷了,又在角根上向天的四方(原文是風)長出四個非常的角來。
9
四角之中有一角長出一個小角,向南、向東、向榮美之地,漸漸成為強大。
10
他漸漸強大,高及天象,將些天象和星宿拋落在地,用腳踐踏。
11
並且他自高自大,以為高及天象之君;除掉常獻給君的燔祭,毀壞君的聖所。
12
因罪過的緣故,有軍旅和常獻的燔祭交付他。他將真理拋在地上,任意而行,無不順利。
13
我聽見有一位聖者說話,又有一位聖者問那說話的聖者說:這除掉常獻的燔祭和施行毀壞的罪過,將聖所與軍旅(或譯:以色列的軍)踐踏的異象,要到幾時才應驗呢?
15
我─但以理見了這異象,願意明白其中的意思。忽有一位形狀像人的站在我面前。
16
我又聽見烏萊河兩岸中有人聲呼叫說:加百列啊,要使此人明白這異象。
17
他便來到我所站的地方。他一來,我就驚慌俯伏在地;他對我說:人子啊,你要明白,因為這是關乎末後的異象。
18
他與我說話的時候,我面伏在地沉睡;他就摸我,扶我站起來,
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說:我要指示你惱怒臨完必有的事,因為這是關乎末後的定期。
21
那公山羊就是希利尼王(希利尼:原文是雅完;下同);兩眼當中的大角就是頭一王。
22
至於那折斷了的角,在其根上又長出四角,這四角就是四國,必從這國裡興起來,只是權勢都不及他。
23
這四國末時,犯法的人罪惡滿盈,必有一王興起,面貌凶惡,能用雙關的詐語。
24
他的權柄必大,卻不是因自己的能力;他必行非常的毀滅,事情順利,任意而行;又必毀滅有能力的和聖民。
25
他用權術成就手中的詭計,心裡自高自大,在人坦然無備的時候,毀滅多人;又要站起來攻擊萬君之君,至終卻非因人手而滅亡。
Arcana Coelestia #795
795. 'All the high mountains beneath the whole sky were covered' means that all goods stemming from charity were done away with. This is clear from the meaning of 'mountains' among the most ancient people. Among them 'mountains' meant the Lord, for they conducted their worship of Him on mountains because these were the loftiest parts of the earth. Consequently 'mountains' meant heavenly things which they also called 'the most high', and accordingly love and charity, and so the goods that stem from love and charity, which are heavenly things. In the contrary sense also, the people who are haughty are called 'mountains' in the Word, and so mountains also mean self-love. The Most Ancient Church also is meant in the Word by 'mountains' from the fact that mountains rose up above the earth and were nearer so to speak to heaven, where things have their origins.
[2] That 'mountains' means the Lord, and all heavenly things deriving from Him, that is, goods that stem from love and charity, is clear from the following places in the Word. These show what 'mountains' means in particular, for every single detail takes its meaning from the matter to which it applies. In David,
The mountains will bring peace, and the hills, in righteousness. Psalms 72:3.
'Mountains' stands for love to the Lord, 'hills' for love towards the neighbour, such as existed with the Most Ancient Church, which, since it was of such a nature, is also meant in the Word by 'mountains' and therefore 'hills'. In Ezekiel,
On My holy mountain, on the mountain height of Israel, said the Lord Jehovih, there all the house of Israel, all of them that are in the land, will serve Me. Ezekiel 20:40.
Here 'holy mountain' stands for love to the Lord, 'mountain height of Israel' for charity towards the neighbour. In Isaiah,
It will be in the latter days that the mountain of the house Jehovah will be established on the top of the mountains, and raised above the hills. Isaiah 2:2.
This stands for the Lord and consequently for everything heavenly.
[3] In the same prophet,
Jehovah Zebaoth will make for all peoples on this mountain a feast of fat things, and He will swallow up on this mountain the face 1 of the covering. Isaiah 25:6-7.
'Mountain' stands for the Lord and consequently for everything heavenly. In the same prophet,
It will be that on every high mountain, and on every lofty hill, there will be brooks, streams of water. Isaiah 30:25.
'Mountains' stands for goods that stem from love, 'hills' for goods that stem from charity, such goods being the source of truths of faith, which are 'brooks and streams of water'. In the same prophet,
You will have a song as in the night when a feast is hallowed, and joy of heart as when one goes with a flute to come to the mountain of Jehovah, to the Rock of Israel. Isaiah 30:29.
'Mountain of Jehovah' stands for the Lord with reference to goods that stem from love, 'Rock of Israel' for the Lord with reference to goods that stem from charity.
[4] In the same prophet,
Jehovah Zebaoth will come down to fight on Mount Zion and on its hill. Isaiah 31:4.
Here and in many other places 'Mount Zion' stands for the Lord and consequently for everything celestial, which is love, and 'hill' for what is celestial but lower, which is charity.
In the same prophet,
Get you up on to the high mountain, O Zion, herald of good tidings; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings. Isaiah 40:9.
'Getting up on to the high mountain and declaring good tidings' is worshipping the Lord from love and charity, which are inmost things, and are therefore also called most high. That which is inmost is referred to as the most high. In the same prophet,
Let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains. Isaiah 42:11.
'Inhabitants of the rock' stands for those who abide in charity, 'shouting from the top of the mountains' for worshipping the Lord from love. In the same prophet,
How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of Him who is bringing good tidings, causing peace to be heard, bringing good tidings of good, causing salvation to be heard. Isaiah 52:7
'Bringing good tidings on the mountains' in like manner stands for preaching about the Lord from doctrine concerning love and charity, and for worshipping from these. In the same prophet,
The mountains and the hills will resound before you with song, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Isaiah 55:12.
This stands for worshipping the Lord from love and charity, which are 'the mountains and the hills', and from faith deriving from these, which is 'the trees of the field'.
[5] In the same prophet,
I will set all My mountains as a way, and My pathways will be raised up. Isaiah 49:11.
'Mountains' stands for love and charity, 'way' and 'pathway' for the truths of faith deriving from these, which are said to be 'raised up' when they stem from love and charity, which are inmost. In the same prophet,
He who trusts in Me will take possession in the land, and will inherit My holy mountain. Isaiah 57:13.
This stands for the Lord's kingdom where there is nothing other than love and charity. In the same prophet,
I will bring forth seed from Jacob, and from Judah the heir of My mountains, and My chosen ones will possess it. Isaiah 65:9.
'Mountains' stands for the Lord's kingdom and for celestial goods, and 'Judah' for the celestial Church. In the same prophet,
Thus said the High and Lofty One inhabiting eternity, whose name is the Holy One. I dwell as the High and Holy One Isaiah 57:15.
Here 'high' stands for holy. Consequently 'mountains', on account of their height above the earth, meant the Lord, and holy heavenly things that are His. This also is why it was from Mount Sinai that the Lord proclaimed the Law. Love and charity are also what the Lord means by 'mountains' when, in reference to the close of the age, He says that those who were then in Judaea were to flee to the mountains, Matthew 24:16; Luke 21:21; Mark 13:14. Here 'Judaea' stands for the vastated Church.
Footnotes:
1. literally, the faces