The Bible

 

Ezekiel 28

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1 HE ENs Ord kom til mig således:

2 Mennesskesøn, sig til Tyruss Fyrste: Så siger den Herre HE EN: Fordi dit Hjerte hovmoder sig og du siger: "Jeg er en Gud, på et Gudesæde sidder jeg midt ude i Havet!" skønt du er et Menneske og ingen Gud, og fordi du føler dig i Hjertet som en Gud;

3 se, du er visere end Daniel, ingen Vismand måler sig med dig;

4 ved din Visdom og indsigt vandt du dig igdom og samlede dig Guld og Sølv i dine Skatkamre;

5 ved dit store Handelssnilde øgede du din igdom, så dit Hjerte hovmodede sig over den -

6 derfor, så siger den Herre HE EN: Fordi du i dit Hjerte føler dig som en Gud,

7 se, derfor bringer jeg fremmede over dig, de grummeste Folk, og de skal drage deres Sværd mod din skønne Visdom og vanhellige din Glans.

8 De skal styrte dig i Graven, og du skal de ihjelslagnes Død i Havets Dyb.

9 Mon du da Ansigt til Ansigt med dem, der dræber dig, vil sige: "Jeg er en Gud!" du, som i deres Hånd, der slår dig ihjel, er et Menneske og ikke en Gud.

10 De uomskårnes Død skal du for fremmedes Hånd, så sandt jeg har talet, lyder det fra den Herre HE EN.

11 Og HE ENs Ord kom til mig således:

12 Menneskesøn, istem en Klagesang over kongen af Tyrus og sig til ham: Så siger den Herre HE EN: Du var Indsigtens Segl, fuld af Visdom og fuldkommen i Skønhed.

13 I Eden, Guds Have, var du; alle Slags Ædelsten var din Klædning, Harneol, Topas, Jaspis, Krysolit, Sjoham, Onyks, Safir, ubin, Smaragd og Guld var på dig i indfattet og indlagt Arbejde; det var til ede, den Dag du skabtes.

14 Du var en salvet, skærmende Kerub; jeg gjorde dig dertil; på det hellige Gudebjerg var du; du vandrede imellem Guds Sønner.

15 Fuldkommen var du i din Færd, fra den Dag du skabtes, indtil der fandtes Brøde hos dig.

16 Ved din megen Handel fyldte du dit Indre med Uret og forbrød dig; da vanhelligede jeg dig og viste dig bort fra Gudebjerget og tilintetgjorde dig, skærmende Kerub, så du ikke blev mellem Guds Sønner.

17 Dit Hjerte hovmodede sig over din Skønhed, du satte din Visdom til på Grund af din Glans. Jeg, slængte dig til Jorden og overgav dig til Konger, at de skulde nyde Skuet af dig.

18 Med dine mange Misgerninger, ved din uredelige Handel vanhelligede du dine Helligdomme. Da lod jeg Ild bryde løs i din Midte, og den fortærede dig; jeg gjorde dig til Støv på Jorden for alle, som så dig.

19 Alle blandt Folkeslagene, der kendte dig, stivnede af Skræk over dig; du blev en ædsel, og borte er du for evigt.

20 HE ENs Ord kom til mig således:

21 Menneskesøn, vend dit Ansigt mod Zidon og profeter imod det

22 og sig: Så siger den Herre HE EN: Se, jeg kommer over dig, Zidon, og herliggør mig på dig; og du skal kende, at jeg er HE EN, når jeg holder Dom over dig og viser min Hellighed på dig.

23 Jeg sender Pest over dig og Blod i dine Gader; ihjelslagneMænd skal segne i din Midte for Sværd, der er rettet imod dig fra alle Sider; og du skal kende, at jeg er HE EN.

24 Fremtidig skal der ikke være nogen Tidsel til at såre eller Torn til at stikke Israels Hus blandt alle dets Naboer, som nu håner dem; og de skal kende, at jeg er den Herre HE EN.

25 siger den Herre HE EN: Når jeg samler Israels Slægt fra de Folkeslag, de er spredt iblandt, vil jeg hellige mig på dem for Folkenes Øjne, og de skal bo i deres Land, som jeg gav min Tjener Jakob;

26 de skal bo trygt deri, bygge Huse og plante Vingårde, ja bo trygt, medens jeg holder Dom over alle dem, der håner dem fra alle Sider; og de skal kende, at jeg er HE EN deres Gud.

   


The Project Gutenberg Association at Carnegie Mellon University

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Apocalypse Revealed #606

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606. 13:17 So that no one can buy or sell if he does not have the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of its name. This symbolically means that no one is allowed to teach from the Word, or consequently to be inaugurated into the priesthood, to be accorded the badge of the teaching office, to be granted the doctor's cap, and called orthodox, but one who acknowledges that doctrine and swears to a belief in it and love for it, and to such as is in conformity with it, or such as does not conflict with it.

To buy and to sell mean, symbolically, to acquire concepts, in this case concepts having to do with that doctrine, and to teach them, as shown below. The mark of the beast symbolizes an acknowledgment that one is a Reformed Christian, and a confession that one is such (no. 605). The name of the beast symbolizes the character of the doctrine, a name symbolizing character (nos. 81, 122, 165, 584), and the beast symbolizing the doctrine accepted by the laity, thus by the general populace (no. 567). Moreover, because the verse says "or the name of the beast," it symbolizes its character or such as is in conformity with it. A number symbolizes the character of a thing (no. 448), and because the verse says "or the number of its name," it symbolizes the character of the doctrine or such as does not conflict with it.

It is stated so, because the doctrine symbolized by the dragon and its beast is not the same throughout the kingdoms in which Reformed Protestants are found, though it is the same in respect to this postulate or principal tenet of the doctrine, that faith justifies and saves apart from works of the law.

[2] That to buy and to sell mean, symbolically, to acquire concepts for oneself and to teach them, and so likewise to market, trade, and make a profit, is clear from the following passages:

Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money... (Isaiah 55:1)

You have sold yourselves for nothing; (therefore) you shall not be redeemed with money. (Isaiah 52:3)

With your wisdom and your understanding you have gained riches for yourself...; by your great wisdom in your trading you have increased your riches... (Ezekiel 28:4-5)

Since Tyre symbolized the church in respect to its concepts of goodness and truth, therefore we are told the following concerning Tyre:

All the ships of the sea... were... to market your merchandise... Tarshish was your trader...(in) silver... Javan, Tubal, and Meshech were your merchants. With human life... they carried on your trading... Syria was your trader... with chrysoprase... Your riches, your wares, and your merchandise..., ...those carrying on your trade..., will fall into the midst of the seas on the day of your ruin. (Ezekiel 27:9, 12-13, 16, 27)

Wail, you ships of Tarshish! For (Tyre) is laid waste..., whose merchants are princes, and whose traders are the honored of the earth? (Isaiah 23:1-8)

Trading has the same meaning in the Lord's parable about a man traveling to a far country, who gave his servants talents to trade with and make a profit (Matthew 25:14-30). In another parable about a man who gave his servants ten minas for them to do business with (Luke 19:12-26). In the parable regarding a treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid, who sold all that he had and bought the field (Matthew 13:44). And in the one about a man seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one precious one, sold all that he had and bought it (Matthew 13:45-46).

Such have they become..., your merchants from your youth; they shall wander each one from his region, not saving you. (Isaiah 47:15)

And so on elsewhere.

  
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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.