The Bible

 

Matthew 10:23

Study

       

23 But when they persecute you in this city, flee to the other; for verily I say to you, Ye shall not have completed the cities of Israel until the Son of man be come.

Commentary

 

Spirits

  

In Genesis 1:2, this signifies the Lord's mercy. (Arcana Coelestia 19)

This signifies the Divine Truth. (Arcana Coelestia 24)

This signifies, when spoken of the Lord, the very Divine Life, consequently Himself, in particular the Life of His Wisdom. (Arcana Coelestia 49, 50, 51)

In Habakkuk 2:19, this signifies nothing celestial or spiritual there. (Arcana Coelestia 643[2])

In Ezekiel 13:11, this signifies the desolation of falsity. (Arcana Coelestia 739[2])

In Isaiah 11:4, this signifies doctrine. (Arcana Coelestia 1286[2])

'The seven spirits' in Revelation 1:4 signify everyone in divine truth, and by extension, the divinely true things or divine truth itself. 'The seven spirits' in Matthew 12:45 signify all falsities of evil, and as a result, a total extinction of goodness and truth.

(References: Apocalypse Revealed 10)


From Swedenborg's Works

 

Arcana Coelestia #51

Study this Passage

  
/ 10837  
  

51. As regards what the image is, an image is not a likeness but is 'according to a likeness'. Therefore it is said, 'Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness'. A spiritual man is an image, whereas a celestial man is a likeness or exact replica. The spiritual man is the subject in this present chapter, the celestial man in the next. The spiritual man, who is an image, is called by the Lord 'a son of light', as in John,

He who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may be sons of light. John 12:35-36.

He is also called 'a friend',

You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. John 15:14-15

The celestial man however, who is a likeness, is called 'a son of God', in John,

As many as received Him, to them He gave power to be sons of God, to those believing in His Name, who were born, not of blood, 1 nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:12-13.

Footnotes:

1. literally, of bloods

  
/ 10837  
  

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