The Bible

 

Danijel 11

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1 moje potpore i moga okrilja.

2 A sada ću ti otkriti istinu. Evo: još će tri kralja ustati za Perziju: četvrti će biti bogatiji od svih ostalih, pa kad se zbog svoga bogatstva osili, sve će podići protiv kraljevstva grčkoga.

3 Ustat će junački kralj, vladat će silnom moću i činiti što ga bude volja.

4 A čim se ustane, njegovo će se kraljevstvo raspasti i bit će razdijeljeno na četiri vjetra nebeska, ali ne među njegove potomke; i neće više biti tako moćno kao za njegove vladavine, jer će njegovo kraljevstvo biti razoreno i predano drugima, a ne njima.

5 Kralj će Juga postati moćan; jedan će od njegovih zapovjednika biti moćniji od njega i zavladat će većom moću nego što je njegova.

6 Nekoliko godina kasnije oni će se udružiti, a kći kralja Juga doći će kralju Sjevera da sklope ugovor. Ali ona tim neće sačuvati snagu svoje mišice i njezino se potomstvo neće održati: bit će predana ona, i njezina pratnja, i njezino dijete, i njezin pomagač u tim vremenima.

7 No jedan će se izdanak njezina korijena podići na njezino mjesto, navalit će na vojsku, prodrijet će u tvrđavu kralja Sjevera, postupati s njima po miloj volji i pobijediti ih.

8 Pa i njihove bogove, njihove kipove i njihovo dragocjeno suđe, srebrno i zlatno, odnijet će kao plijen u Egipat. Nekoliko godina bit će jači od kralja Sjevera,

9 koji će onda prodrijeti u kraljevstvo kralja Juga, odakle će se vratiti u svoju zemlju.

10 Ali će se onda njegovi sinovi naoružati, skupit će silnu vojsku, odlučno će navaliti i poput poplave proći, zatim će se opet zametnuti rat sve do njegove utvrde.

11 Tada će se kralj Juga razgnjeviti i zavojštiti na kralja Sjevera; podići će silnu vojsku i nadvladati vojsku njegovu.

12 Mnoštvo će biti uništeno, a on će se zbog toga uzoholiti; pobit će desetke tisuća, ali se neće održati:

13 kralj će Sjevera opet dići vojsku veću nego prije, i poslije nekoliko godina navalit će s velikom, dobro opremljenom vojskom.

14 U to vrijeme mnogi će se podići protiv kralja Juga; ustat će i nasilnici iz tvog naroda da se ispuni viđenje, ali će propasti.

15 Doći će kralj Sjevera: podići će nasipe da zauzme jedan utvrđeni grad. Mišice Juga neće odoljeti, pa ni izabrane čete neće imati snage da se odupru.

16 Onaj će navaliti protiv njega i učinit će s njime kako mu se prohtije - nitko mu se neće oprijeti: zaustavit će se u Divoti, uništenje je u njegovim rukama.

17 Čvrsto odlučivši da se pošto-poto domogne svega njegova kraljevstva, sklopit će s njim ugovor dajući mu jednu kćer za ženu da ga upropasti, ali mu neće uspjeti, neće se to zbiti.

18 Zatim će se okrenuti prema otocima i mnoge će osvojiti, ali će jedan zapovjednik dokrajčiti tu sramotu, sramotu mu sramotom vratiti.

19 Brže će nagnuti prema utvrdama svoje zemlje, ali će posrnuti, pasti, više ga neće biti.

20 Na njegovo će mjesto doći jedan koji će u diku kraljevstva poslati poreznika, ali će u kratko vrijeme poginuti bez gnjeva i boja.

21 Na njegovo će se mjesto uzdići nitkov kome ne pripada kraljevska čast. Ali on će iznenada doći i spletkama se domoći kraljevstva.

22 Pred njim će biti preplavljene i skršene navalne snage i sam knez Saveza.

23 Unatoč sporazumu s njime, izdajnički će navaliti i svladati ga s malo ljudi.

24 Iznenada će upasti u bogate pokrajine i postupat će kako nisu postupali njegovi očevi ni očevi njegovih otaca, rasipajući među svoje plijen, pljačku i bogatstvo, smišljat će osnove protiv tvrdih gradova, ali samo za neko vrijeme.

25 Pokrenut će, s velikom vojskom, svoju snagu i hrabrost protiv kralja Juga. Kralj Juga krenut će u rat s mnogom i moćnom vojskom, ali neće izdržati, jer će se protiv njega skovati spletke.

26 I oni koji jeđahu za njegovim stolom skršit će ga: njegova će vojska biti uništena i mnogi će posječeni popadati.

27 Oba će kralja smišljati zlo; sjedeći za istim stolom, govorit će laži jedan drugome: ali neće uspjeti, jer je svršetak odložen do određenog vremena.

28 Vratit će se on u svoju zemlju s velikim blagom; srcem protiv svetoga Saveza, učinit će svoje i vratiti se u svoju zemlju.

29 U određeno vrijeme opet će krenuti protiv Juga, ali sada neće biti kao prvi put.

30 Kitimski će brodovi navaliti na njega, i on će se uplašiti. Vratit će se, bjesnjeti protiv svetoga Saveza i opet će se sporazumjeti s onima koji napustiše sveti Savez.

31 Čete će njegove doći i oskvrnuti svetište-tvrđu, dokinut' svagdašnju žrtvu i ondje postaviti grozotu pustoši.

32 Svojim će spletkama navesti na otpad one koji se ogrešuju o Savez, ali ljudi koji ljube Boga ostat će postojani i vršit će svoje.

33 Umnici u narodu poučavat će mnoštvo, ali će ih jedno vrijeme zatirati mačem i ognjem, izgnanstvom i pljačkanjem.

34 Dok ih budu zatirali, samo će im nekolicina pomagati, a mnogi će im se pridružiti prijevarno.

35 Od umnika neki će pasti, da se prokušaju, probrani, čisti do vremena svršetka, jer još nije došlo određeno vrijeme.

36 Kralj će raditi što god mu se prohtije, uznoseći i uzdižući sebe iznad svih bogova: protiv Boga nad bogovima govorit će hule i uspijevat će dok se gnjev ne navrši - jer ono što je određeno, to će se ispuniti.

37 Neće mariti za bogove svojih otaca ni za Miljenika ženÄa niti za kojega drugog boga: samog će sebe izdizati iznad sviju.

38 Mjesto njih častit će boga tvrđava, boga koga nisu poznavali njegovi očevi, častiti ga zlatom i srebrom, dragim kamenjem i drugim dragocjenostima.

39 Navalit će na tvrđave gradova pomoću stranog boga: one koji njega priznaju obasut će počastima i dat će im vlast nad mnoštvom i dijelit će im zemlju za nagradu.

40 U vrijeme svršetka kralj će se Juga zaratiti s njime; kralj će Sjevera navaliti na nj svojim kolima, svojim konjanicima i svojim mnogim brodovima. Provalit će u zemlje i proći njima poput poplave.

41 Prodrijet će u Divotu i mnogi će pasti. Njegovim će rukama izmaći Edom i Moab i glavnina sinova Amonovih.

42 Pružit će svoju ruku za zemljama: Egipat mu neće izmaći.

43 On će se domoći zlatnog i srebrnog blaga i svih dragocjenosti Egipta. Pratit će ga Libijci i Etiopljani.

44 Ali će ga uznemiriti vijesti s istoka i sa sjevera te će poći vrlo gnjevan da uništi i zatre mnoštvo.

45 Postavit će svoje dvorske šatore između mora i Svete gore Divote. Ali će i njemu doći kraj, i nitko mu neće pomoći.

   

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Arcana Coelestia #9642

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9642. 'The boards for the south side, southwards' means even to the more internal and the inmost parts [of it], where truth dwells in light. This is clear from the meaning of 'the boards of the dwelling-place' as the good supporting heaven, dealt with in 9634; from the meaning of 'the side (or corner)', when the term is used in reference to the four quarters, as the specific state meant by that quarter, dealt with below; and from the meaning of 'the south, southwards' 1 as the more internal and the inmost parts, where truth dwells in light. 'The south' or 'midday' means a state of light, which is a state of intelligence produced by truths, thus also an interior state; for in the heavens the light, and the intelligence and wisdom that accompany the light, increases towards the more internal parts. Further away from those parts truth dwells in shade; and this state of truth is meant by 'the north'. This then is why 'the south side, southwards' means even to the more internal and the inmost parts, where truth dwells in light.

[2] The same things are meant by 'the south' in Isaiah,

I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Do not withhold. Bring My sons from afar, and My daughters from the end of the earth. Isaiah 43:6.

This refers to a new Church. 'Saying to the north' means speaking to those who are in darkness or have no knowledge of the truths of faith, who are gentiles outside the Church. 'Saying to the south' means speaking to those who dwell in the light provided by cognitions or knowledge of goodness and truth, who are people within the Church. This explains why the latter are told not to 'withhold' [those sons and daughters], but the former 'to give them up'.

[3] In Ezekiel,

Set your face the way of the south, and drop [your words] towards the south, and prophesy against the forest of the field to the south, and say to the forest of the south, Behold, I am kindling in you a fire, which will devour in you every green tree; and all faces from south to north will be scorched. Set your face towards Jerusalem, and drop [your words] against the sanctuaries, and prophesy against the land of Israel. Ezekiel 20:46-21:2.

'The south' here stands for those who have the light of truth provided by the Word, thus those who belong to the Church, yet who are influenced by falsities which they substantiate from the sense of the letter of the Word wrongly explained. This is why the expressions 'the forest of the field towards the south' and 'the forest of the south' are used. 'A forest' is a state in which factual knowledge is predominant, whereas 'a garden' is one in which truth is predominant. From this it is evident what the meaning is of 'setting one's face the way of the south, and dropping [one's words] towards the south, and prophesying against the forest of the field to the south', and then of 'set your face towards Jerusalem, and drop [your words] against the sanctuaries, and prophesy against the land of Israel'. 'Jerusalem' and 'the land of Israel' mean the Church, and 'the sanctuaries' there things of the Church.

[4] In Isaiah,

If you bring out for the hungry your soul 2 and satisfy the afflicted soul, your light will rise in the darkness, and your thick darkness will be as at midday. Isaiah 58:10.

'Darkness' and 'thick darkness' stand for lack of knowledge of truth and good, 'light' and 'midday' for an understanding of them. In the same prophet, Give counsel, execute judgement, set your shade like the night in the middle of the day; 3 hide the outcasts, do not reveal the wanderer. Isaiah 16:3.

'In the middle of the day' stands for in the midst of the light of truth. In Jeremiah,

Prepare for 4 battle against the daughter of Zion; arise, and let us go up into the south, 5 for the day goes away, for the shadows of evening are set at an angle. Jeremiah 6:4.

'Going up into the south' stands for going up against the Church, where truth dwells in light from the Word. In Amos,

I will make the sun go down in the south, 5 and I will darken the land in broad daylight. Amos 8:9.

This stands for blotting out all the light of truth which is provided by the Word.

[5] In David,

You will not be afraid of the terror of the night, of the arrow that flies by day, of the pestilence in thick darkness, of death that lays waste at noonday. Psalms 91:5-6.

'The terror of the night' stands for falsities arising from evil that come from hell; 'the arrow that flies by day' stands for falsity which is taught openly; 'death that lays waste at noonday' stands for evil that is openly present in people's lives, and that destroys truth wherever it is able to dwell in its own light from the Word.

[6] And in Isaiah,

The prophecy of the wilderness of the sea. As whirlwinds in the south sweep through, 6 it comes from the wilderness, from a terrible land. Isaiah 21:1.

In Daniel,

The he-goat of the she-goats made himself exceedingly great, and his horn grew exceedingly towards the south, and towards the east, and towards the glorious [land]. And it grew even towards the host of heaven, and cast down to the earth some of the host, and of the stars, and trampled on them. Daniel 8:8-10.

This refers to the state of the future Church. It foretells that the Church will be ruined by teachings about faith separated from the good of charity, 'the he-goat of the she-goats' being this kind of faith, 4169 (end), 4769. 'The horn's growing towards the south' stands for the power of falsity from this faith directed against truths, 'towards the east' for directing it against forms of good, and 'towards the glorious [land]' for directing it against the Church. 'Towards the host of heaven' stands for directing that power against all the forms of good and the truths belonging to heaven, and 'casting down to the earth some of the host, and of the stars' stands for destroying these, and also even the cognitions or knowledge of good and truth, 4697.

[7] The whole of Chapter 11 in the same prophet describes a war between the king of the south and the king of the north. 'The king of the south' means the light of truth derived from the Word, and 'the king of the north' reasoning about truths which is based on factual knowledge. The shifting fortunes which the Church will experience until it ceases to exist are described by the different phases in the course of that war.

[8] Because 'the south' meant truth dwelling in light it was decreed that the tribes of Reuben, Simeon, and Gad should camp towards the south, Numbers 2:10-15. Encampments represented the arrangement of all things in heaven as determined by the truths and forms of the good of faith and love, 4236, 8103 (end), 8193, 8196, and 'the twelve tribes' which formed the camp meant all the truths and forms of good in their entirety, 3858, 3862, 3926, 3939, 4060, 6335, 6337, 6397, 6640, 7836, 7891, 7996, 7997. 'The tribe of Reuben' meant the truth of faith present in doctrine, 3861, 3866, 5542, 'the tribe of Simeon' the truth of faith subsequently present in life, 3869-3872, 4497, 4502, 4503, 5482, and 'the tribe of Gad' works motivated by that truth in doctrine and life, 6404, 6405. From these meanings it is evident why these three camped towards the south; for all things on the side of truth or faith belong in the south because they are in light.

[9] From all this it is now clear what 'the south side' means, namely where the state of truth dwelling in light is to be found. For all states of the good of love and the truth of faith are meant by the four corners of the earth, states of the good of love being meant by the east and west sides, and states of the truth of faith by the south and north ones. Much the same is meant by 'the four winds', as in the Book of Revelation,

... angels standing over the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, in order that the wind should not blow onto the earth. Revelation 7:1.

And elsewhere,

Satan will come out to deceive the nations which are at the four corners of the earth. Revelation 20:7-8.

In Matthew,

He will send angels, and gather the elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. 7 Matthew 24:31.

And in Ezekiel,

Come from the four winds, O spirit, and breathe into these killed, that they may live. Ezekiel 37:9.

[10] Because those winds, that is, those four quarters, meant all aspects of good and truth, thus all aspects of heaven and the Church, and 'a temple' meant heaven or the Church, it had been the custom since ancient times to site temples in an east-west direction. This was because the east meant the good of love on the rise, and the west the good of love on the decline. This custom had its origin in representative signs, which were well known to the ancients who belonged to the Church.

Footnotes:

1. Two different words denoting the south are used here. The first (meridies) also means noon or midday and is translated as such in some quotations below. The second (auster) is sometimes used to mean more specifically a south wind.

2. i.e. If you bring food out of store for the hungry

3. or the south

4. literally, Sanctify

5. or at noon

6. literally, for passing through

7. literally, from the bounds of the heavens to the bounds of the heavens

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