544. And unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.- That this signifies their persuasive [power], and its effect and potency is evident from the signification of a scorpion, which denotes the infatuating and suffocating persuasive [power] of which we shall speak presently; and from the signification of power, which denotes potency and effect, in this case, the potency of the sensual man from the persuasive [power] and its effect, because it infatuates and suffocates. What this persuasive [power], signified by the scorpion, is, and its nature, scarcely any one in the world yet knows, because the persuasive [power] of the spirit of the sensual man is that in which he is when he becomes a spirit, but not while he lives as a man in the world. The reason is, that a man in the world rarely utters what his spirit thinks and intimately loves, for he has been taught from infancy to converse about such things as pertain to civil and moral life, and even such as pertain to spiritual life, although his spirit, which thinks and wills inwardly, is differently inclined. While man's spirit dwells in the body, it makes a show of such things before the world, because otherwise he cannot secure favour, so as to attain the ends which his spirit aims at, and which are principally honours and gains, and a name and reputation on account of them. This is the reason why the nature and quality of the infatuating and suffocating persuasive [power], signified by the scorpion, are not known in the world. Such, however, is its nature with the spirits in whom it is operative, that it infuses itself into the exterior mind (animus) and interior mind (mens) of another, and lulls asleep, and almost extinguishes his Rational and Intellectual, so that he cannot know otherwise than that which he speaks is true even if it be most false. Those who are under such persuasive influence do not speak from any kind of reason, but from a blind faith without reason, because from the ultimate Sensual, for in this no reason exists, but only a persuasive faith inflated by the fire of the love of self, and grounded in such things as proceed from the body, and flow in from the world. It is this fire which inflates, draws out and infuses itself into another; wherefore those are more especially in this persuasive [power], who have filled themselves with falsities from the love of self, and have believed themselves to be wiser than others. This persuasive [influence] is called infatuating, because it stupefies the understanding; and it is called suffocating, because it takes away from another the power of free respiration; for every one's respiration synchronizes with the thought of his mind. But because such a persuasive [influence] is most hurtful and pernicious, because it brings on swooning, as it were, in the mind of another, so that he can see nothing rationally, therefore spirits are severely prohibited from using it, and those who do use it are separated from others, and are either punished or sent down into hell. For in the spiritual world every one is allowed to confirm the opinions of his mind, whether true or false, by things rational and intellectual, but not by any persuasive fascination. But more concerning this persuasive [power], may be seen in the Arcana Coelestia; as, that those affected by it are inwardly bound (n. 5096); that those who make use of it shut up the Rational of others, and, as it were, suffocate them (n. 3895, 5128). That the Nephilim, Anakim, and Rephaim, mentioned in the Word, were, above all others, in direful persuasions of falsity (n. 581, 1268, 1270, 1271, 1673, 7686). That before the coming of the Lord, they infested all in the other life by their direful persuasions, and almost extinguished their spiritual life (n. 7686). That they were cast into hell by the Lord, when He was in the world, and that that hell still appears as under a misty rock, and those who approach near to it fall into a swoon (n. 311, 581, 1268, 1270, 7686). Concerning my own experience of some of the devils from that hell, who were permitted to assault me with their influence, seen, n. 1268, 1271. Concerning the mischief arising from the persuasion of falsity (n. 794, 806). That there are many kinds of persuasions of falsity (n. 1673, 1675). Such a deadly persuasive [power] is signified by the scorpion, because the scorpion, when it stings a man, induces a similar mental swooning, and thence death, if a remedy be not applied.

[2] Destructive persuasions are also signified by scorpions, in the following passages:

Thus in Luke:

Jesus said to the seventy whom He had sent out, "I beheld Satan as lightning falling from heaven. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, so that nothing shall by any means hurt you" (10:18, 19).

That serpents and scorpions do not here mean serpents and scorpions, is evident, for the Lord says, that He saw Satan as lightning falling from heaven, and that He gives them power (potestas) over all the potency (potentia) of the enemy. Serpents and scorpions therefore, in the internal sense, signify the crew of Satan, who had been in the subtle and direful persuasions of falsity, by which men would be spiritually destroyed after death, unless defended by the Lord. The antediluvians, who were called Nephilim, were in such persuasive [power] above others, and, unless the Lord, when in the world, had subdued them and cast them into hell, and closed it, no mortal could have been saved; for they infested, and almost destroyed, whomsoever they met in the spiritual world. That the Lord freed the spiritual world from these and similar spirits, is meant by His seeing Satan falling from heaven, and by His giving to those who are in truths from good derived from Him the power of treading upon serpents and scorpions.

[3] This direful persuasive [power] is also signified by scorpions, in the following passage of Ezekiel:

"Son of man, be not afraid of them, and of their words, for they are refractory and thorny with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions; be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their faces." For they are "hard in their faces, and obdurate in heart" (2:6, 7).

By dwelling among scorpions is meant, among those who have persuaded themselves, and strongly persuade others, to admit falsities, and who do not admit any truth; therefore they are called refractory and thorny, likewise hard in faces, and obdurate in heart. In the case of those who are strongly persuaded of falsity, the interiors of the rational mind are closed, and therefore they think and speak only from the ultimate Sensual, which is hard and stubborn, and also hardens and renders stubborn the interiors of others to whom it addresses itself when it is enkindled by the fire of the love of self. For, in the spiritual world, there is a communication of minds, that is, of thoughts and affections, and from those who are in such persuasive [power], there is infusion; hence result the effects above mentioned.

[4] So in Moses:

Jehovah God, "who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness of the serpent, the fiery flying serpent and the scorpion" (Deuteronomy 8:15).

The journeyings and wanderings of the children of Israel in the wilderness for forty years, represented and signified the temptations of the faithful, and as these are caused by the injections and persuasions of falsities from evil spirits, it is said, that they were led through a terrible wilderness of the serpent, the fiery flying serpent and the scorpion. Moreover, serpents in general signify the ultimate Sensual of man, and the various species of serpents signify various states of that Sensual as to evils and falsities. For sensual men are, above all others, crafty and malicious, and themselves believe, and induce others to believe, that they excel in ability, understanding, and judgment; but I can affirm, that they have neither understanding nor judgment, but are as stupid, in regard to the essentials of faith and life, as they are ingenious in contriving evils and persuading falsities. And wickedness, as is well known, is not wisdom, for wisdom is of truth from good, but wickedness is of falsity from evil, and falsity from evil destroys truth from good, because they are opposites, and what is opposite destroys.