908. And in his hand a sharp sickle. That this signifies Divine truth minutely exploring and separating, is evident from the signification of a sickle, as denoting Divine truth minutely exploring and separating. That this is signified by sickle, is because it has nearly the same signification as a sword (gladius); and a sword (machaera), in the spiritual sense, denotes Divine truth combating against falsity and dispersing it, as may be seen above (n. 73, 131, 367). Here, therefore, instead of a sword (gladius) and a sword (machaera), a sickle is mentioned, because a harvest is treated of; concerning which and the sickle, more will be said in what follows.

The reason why a sharp sickle signifies Divine truth minutely exploring and separating is, that by harvest is signified the last state of the church preceding the Last Judgment, when the Lord explores every one, and makes a separation, on the accomplishment of which the good are raised into heaven, and the evil cast into hell, which is the Last Judgment. That previously such exploration and separation take place, and have also taken place at this day, has been shown from some experience, in the work concerning the Last Judgment, and also above; more also shall be said concerning it in an Appendix at the end of that work.

[2] That sharp signifies accurate, minute, and completely, is evident without explanation. For a sharp sickle, like a sharp sword, acts more minutely and penetrates in a more subtle manner, as is evident from the following passages. In Isaiah:

Jehovah "hath set my mouth as a sharp sword" (49:2).

Where by the mouth of the prophet also is signified Divine truth; therefore it is compared to a sharp sword, by which is meant its penetrating, completely dispersing, and destroying falsity. Similarly in the Apocalypse:

"Out of the mouth of the Son of man went forth a sharp two-edged sword" (1:16; 2:12; 19:15, 21).

The tongue of the impious, which, speaking falsities from interior evil, penetrates and disperses truths, is also compared to a sharp sword, and sharp arrows. As in David:

"My soul, I lie in the midst of lions, the sons of man are set on fire, their teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword" (Psalm 57:4).

And in another place:

"Jehovah, deliver my soul from the lip of a lie, from the tongue of guile, sharp arrows of the mighty" (Psalm 120:2, 4).

Where the lip of a lie, and the tongue of guile, denote falsities from evil; and the dispersion of truth by these is signified by a sharp sword and sharp arrows. Similarly in Ezekiel (5:1).