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The Bible

 

Ιερεμία 51

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1 Ουτω λεγει Κυριος· Ιδου, εγω εγειρω ανεμον φθοροποιον επι την Βαβυλωνα και επι τους κατοικους αυτης τους υψωσαντας την καρδιαν αυτων κατ' εμου.

2 Και θελω εξαποστειλει επι την Βαβυλωνα λικμητας και θελουσιν εκλικμησει αυτην και εκκενωσει την γην αυτης· διοτι εν τη ημερα της συμφορας κυκλοθεν θελουσιν εισθαι εναντιον αυτης.

3 Τοξοτης επι τοξοτην ας εντεινη το τοξον αυτου και επι τον πεποιθοτα επι τον θωρακα αυτου· και μη φειδεσθε τους νεους αυτης· εξολοθρευσατε απαν το στρατευμα αυτης.

4 Και οι τραυματιαι θελουσι πεσει εν τη γη των Χαλδαιων και οι κατακεκεντημενοι εν ταις οδοις αυτης.

5 Διοτι ο Ισραηλ δεν εγκατελειφθη ουδε ο Ιουδας παρα του Θεου αυτου, παρα του Κυριου των δυναμεων, αν και η γη αυτων ενεπλησθη ανομιας εναντιον του Αγιου του Ισραηλ.

6 Φυγετε εκ μεσου της Βαβυλωνος και διασωσατε εκαστος την ψυχην αυτου· μη απολεσθητε εν τη ανομια αυτης· διοτι ειναι καιρος εκδικησεως του Κυριου· ανταποδομα αυτος ανταποδιδει εις αυτην.

7 Η Βαβυλων εσταθη ποτηριον χρυσουν εν τη χειρι του Κυριου, μεθυον πασαν την γην· απο του οινου αυτης επιον τα εθνη· δια τουτο τα εθνη παρεφρονησαν.

8 Επεσεν εξαιφνης η Βαβυλων και συνετριβη· ολολυζετε δι' αυτην· λαβετε βαλσαμον δια τον πονον αυτης, ισως ιατρευθη.

9 Μετεχειρισθημεν ιατρικα δια την Βαβυλωνα αλλα δεν ιατρευθη· εγκαταλειψατε αυτην, και ας απελθωμεν εκαστος εις την γην αυτου· διοτι η κρισις αυτης εφθασεν εις τον ουρανον και υψωθη εως του στερεωματος.

10 Ο Κυριος εφανερωσε την δικαιοσυνην ημων· ελθετε και ας διηγηθωμεν εν Σιων το εργον Κυριου του Θεου ημων.

11 Στιλβωσατε τα βελη· πυκνωσατε τας ασπιδας· ο Κυριος ηγειρε το πνευμα των βασιλεων των Μηδων· διοτι ο σκοπος αυτου ειναι εναντιον της Βαβυλωνος, δια να εξολοθρευση αυτην· επειδη η εκδικησις του Κυριου ειναι εκδικησις του ναου αυτου.

12 Υψωσατε σημαιαν επι τα τειχη της Βαβυλωνος, ενδυναμωσατε την φρουραν, στησατε φυλακας, ετοιμασατε ενεδρας· διοτι ο Κυριος και εβουλευθη και θελει εκτελεσει εκεινο, το οποιον ελαλησεν εναντιον των κατοικων της Βαβυλωνος.

13 Ω η κατοικουσα επι υδατων πολλων, η πληρης θησαυρων, ηλθε το τελος σου, το περας της πλεονεξιας σου.

14 Ο Κυριος των δυναμεων ωμοσεν εις εαυτον, λεγων, Εξαπαντος θελω σε γεμισει απο ανθρωπων ως απο ακριδων, και θελουσιν εκπεμψει αλαλαγμον εναντιον σου.

15 Αυτος εποιησε την γην εν τη δυναμει αυτου, εστερεωσε την οικουμενην εν τη σοφια αυτου και εξετεινε τους ουρανους εν τη συνεσει αυτου.

16 Οταν εκπεμπη την φωνην αυτου, συνισταται πληθος υδατων εν ουρανοις, και αναγει νεφελας απο των ακρων της γης· καμνει αστραπας δια βροχην και εξαγει ανεμον εκ των θησαυρων αυτου.

17 Πας ανθρωπος εμωρανθη υπο της γνωσεως αυτου· πας χωνευτης κατησχυνθη απο των γλυπτων· διοτι ψευδος ειναι το χωνευτον αυτου και πνοη εν αυτω δεν υπαρχει.

18 Ματαιοτης ταυτα, εργον πλανης· εν καιρω επισκεψεως αυτων θελουσιν απολεσθη.

19 Η μερις του Ιακωβ δεν ειναι ως αυτα, διοτι αυτος ειναι ο πλασας τα παντα· και ο Ισραηλ ειναι η ραβδος της κληρονομιας αυτου· Κυριος των δυναμεων το ονομα αυτου.

20 Συ ησο πελεκυς μου, οπλα πολεμου, και δια σου συνετριψα εθνη και δια σου εξωλοθρευσα βασιλεια·

21 και δια σου συνετριψα ιππον και αναβατην αυτου, και δια σου συνετριψα αμαξαν και αναβατην αυτης·

22 και δια σου συνετριψα ανδρα και γυναικα, και δια σου συνετριψα γεροντα και νεον, και δια σου συνετριψα νεανισκον και παρθενον·

23 και δια σου συνετριψα ποιμενα και ποιμνιον αυτου, και δια σου συνετριψα γεωργον και ζευγος αυτου· και δια σου συνετριψα στρατηγους και αρχοντας.

24 Και θελω ανταποδωσει επι την Βαβυλωνα και επι παντας τους κατοικους της Χαλδαιας πασαν την κακιαν αυτων, την οποιαν επραξαν εν Σιων ενωπιον σας, λεγει Κυριος.

25 Ιδου, εγω ειμαι εναντιον σου, ορος φθοροποιον, λεγει Κυριος, το οποιον φθειρεις πασαν την γην· και θελω εκτεινει την χειρα μου επι σε και θελω σε κατακυλισει απο των βραχων και σε καταστησει ορος πυρικαυστον.

26 Και δεν θελουσι λαβει απο σου λιθον δια γωνιαν ουδε λιθον δια θεμελια, αλλα θελεις εισθαι ερημωσις αιωνια, λεγει Κυριος.

27 Υψωσατε σημαιαν επι την γην, σαλπισατε σαλπιγγα εν τοις εθνεσιν, ετοιμασατε εθνη κατ' αυτης, παραγγειλατε κατ' αυτης, εις τα βασιλεια του Αραρατ, του Μιννι και του Ασχεναζ· καταστησατε επ' αυτην αρχηγους· αναβιβασατε ιππους ως ακριδας ορθοτριχας.

28 Ετοιμασατε κατ' αυτης εθνη, τους βασιλεις των Μηδων, τους στρατηγους αυτης και παντας τους αρχοντας αυτης και πασαν την γην της επικρατειας αυτης.

29 Και η γη θελει σεισθη και στεναξει· διοτι η βουλη του Κυριου θελει εκτελεσθη κατα της Βαβυλωνος, δια να καταστηση την γην της Βαβυλωνος ερημον, ανευ κατοικου.

30 Οι ισχυροι της Βαβυλωνος εξελιπον απο του να πολεμωσιν, εμειναν εν τοις οχυρωμασιν· η δυναμις αυτων εξελιπεν· εγειναν ως γυναικες· εκαυσαν τας κατοικιας αυτης· οι μοχλοι αυτης συνετριβησαν.

31 Ταχυδρομος θελει δραμει εις απαντησιν ταχυδρομου και μηνυτης εις απαντησιν μηνυτου, δια να αναγγειλωσι προς τον βασιλεα της Βαβυλωνος οτι η πολις αυτου ηλωθη απο των ακρων αυτης,

32 και οτι αι διαβασεις επιασθησαν, και κατεκαυσαν εν πυρι τους καλαμωνας, και οι ανδρες του πολεμου κατετρομαξαν.

33 Διοτι ουτω λεγει ο Κυριος των δυναμεων, ο Θεος του Ισραηλ. Η θυγατηρ της Βαβυλωνος ειναι ως αλωνιον, καιρος ειναι να καταπατηθη· ετι ολιγον και θελει ελθει ο καιρος του θερισμου αυτης.

34 Ναβουχοδονοσορ ο βασιλευς της Βαβυλωνος με κατεφαγε, με συνετριψε, με κατεστησεν αγγειον αχρηστον, με κατεπιεν ως δρακων, ενεπλησε την κοιλιαν αυτου απο των τρυφερων μου, με εξωσεν.

35 Η εις εμε και εις την σαρκα μου αδικια ας ελθη επι την Βαβυλωνα, θελει ειπει η κατοικουσα την Σιων· και το αιμα μου επι τους κατοικους της Χαλδαιας, θελει ειπει η Ιερουσαλημ.

36 Δια τουτο ουτω λεγει Κυριος· Ιδου, εγω θελω διαδικασει την δικην σου και θελω εκδικησει την εκδικησιν σου, και θελω καταστησει την θαλασσαν αυτης ξηραν και θελω ξηρανει την πηγην αυτης.

37 Και η Βαβυλων θελει εισθαι εις σωρους, κατοικητηριον θωων, θαμβος και συριγμος, ανευ κατοικου.

38 Θελουσι βρυχασθαι ομου ως λεοντες, θελουσιν ωρυεσθαι ως σκυμνοι λεοντων.

39 Θελω καμει αυτους να θερμανθωσιν εν τοις συμποσιοις αυτων, και θελω μεθυσει αυτους, δια να ευθυμησωσι και να υπνωσωσιν υπνον αιωνιον και να μη εξυπνησωσι, λεγει Κυριος.

40 Θελω καταβιβασει αυτους ως αρνια εις σφαγην, ως κριους μετα τραγων.

41 Πως ηλωθη η Σησαχ και εθηρευθη το καυχημα πασης της γης· πως εγεινεν Βαβυλων θαμβος εν τοις εθνεσιν.

42 Η θαλασσα ανεβη επι την Βαβυλωνα· κατεκαλυφθη υπο του πληθους των κυματων αυτης.

43 Αι πολεις αυτης κατεσταθησαν θαμβος, γη ανυδρος και αβατος γη, εν η δεν κατοικει ουδεις ανθρωπος ουδε υιος ανθρωπου διερχεται δι' αυτης.

44 Και θελω τιμωρησει τον Βηλ εν Βαβυλωνι και εκβαλει εκ του στοματος αυτου οσα κατεπιε· και τα εθνη δεν θελουσι συναχθη πλεον προς αυτον, και αυτο το τειχος της Βαβυλωνος θελει πεσει.

45 Λαε μου, εξελθετε εκ μεσου αυτης και σωσατε εκαστος την ψυχην αυτου απο της οργης του θυμου του Κυριου·

46 μηποτε η καρδια σας χαυνωθη και φοβηθητε υπο της αγγελιας ητις θελει ακουσθη εν τη γη· θελει δε ελθει αγγελια το εν ετος, και μετα τουτο η αγγελια το αλλο ετος, και καταδυναστεια εν τη γη, εξουσιαστης εναντιον εξουσιαστου.

47 Δια τουτο, ιδου, ερχονται ημεραι και θελω καμει εκδικησιν επι τα γλυπτα της Βαβυλωνος· και πασα η γη αυτης θελει καταισχυνθη και παντες οι τετραυματισμενοι αυτης θελουσι πεσει εν τω μεσω αυτης.

48 Τοτε οι ουρανοι και η γη και παντα τα εν αυτοις θελουσιν αλαλαξει επι Βαβυλωνα· διοτι οι εξολοθρευται θελουσιν ελθει επ' αυτην απο βορρα, λεγει Κυριος.

49 Καθως η Βαβυλων εκαμε τους τετραυματισμενους του Ισραηλ να πεσωσιν, ουτω και εν Βαβυλωνι θελουσι πεσει οι τετραυματισμενοι πασης της γης.

50 Οι εκφυγοντες την μαχαιραν, υπαγετε, μη στεκεσθε· ενθυμηθητε τον Κυριον μακροθεν, και Ιερουσαλημ ας αναβη επι την καρδιαν σας.

51 Κατησχυνθημεν, διοτι ηκουσαμεν ονειδισμον· αισχυνη κατεκαλυψε το προσωπον ημων· διοτι εισηλθον ξενοι εις το αγιαστηριον του οικου του Κυριου.

52 Δια τουτο, ιδου, ερχονται ημεραι, λεγει Κυριος, και θελω καμει εκδικησιν επι τα γλυπτα αυτης· και καθ' ολην την γην αυτης οι τετραυματισμενοι θελουσιν οιμωζει.

53 Και αν η Βαβυλων αναβη εως του ουρανου και αν οχυρωση το υψος της δυναμεως αυτης, θελουσιν ελθει παρ' εμου εξολοθρευται επ' αυτην, λεγει Κυριος.

54 Φωνη κραυγης ερχεται απο Βαβυλωνος και συντριμμος μεγας εκ γης Χαλδαιων,

55 διοτι ο Κυριος εξωλοθρευσε την Βαβυλωνα και ηφανισεν εξ αυτης την μεγαλην φωνην· τα δε κυματα εκεινων ηχουσιν· ο θορυβος της φωνης αυτων εξακουεται ως υδατων πολλων·

56 διοτι ο εξολοθρευτης ηλθεν επ' αυτην, επι την Βαβυλωνα, και οι δυνατοι αυτης συνεληφθησαν, τα τοξα αυτων συνετριβησαν· επειδη Κυριος ο Θεος των ανταποδοσεων θελει εξαπαντος καμει ανταποδοσιν.

57 Και θελω μεθυσει τους ηγεμονας αυτης και τους σοφους αυτης, τους στρατηγους αυτης και τους αρχοντας αυτης και τους δυνατους αυτης· και θελουσι κοιμηθη υπνον αιωνιον και δεν θελουσιν εξυπνησει, λεγει ο Βασιλευς, του οποιου το ονομα ειναι ο Κυριος των δυναμεων.

58 Ουτω λεγει ο Κυριος των δυναμεων· τα πλατεα τειχη της Βαβυλωνος θελουσιν ολοτελως κατασκαφη, και αι πυλαι αυτης αι υψηλαι θελουσι κατακαη εν πυρι, και οσα οι λαοι εκοπιασαν θελουσιν εισθαι εις ματην, και οσα τα εθνη εμοχθησαν θελουσιν εισθαι δια το πυρ.

59 Ο λογος, τον οποιον Ιερεμιας ο προφητης προσεταξεν εις τον Σεραιαν τον υιον του Νηριου υιου του Μαασιου, οτε επορευετο μετα του Σεδεκιου βασιλεως του Ιουδα εις Βαβυλωνα, κατα το τεταρτον ετος της βασιλειας αυτου· ητο δε ο Σεραιας κοιτωναρχης.

60 Εγραψε δε ο Ιερεμιας εν ενι βιβλιω παντα τα κακα, τα οποια εμελλον να ελθωσιν επι την Βαβυλωνα, παντας τους λογους τουτους τους γεγραμμενους κατα της Βαβυλωνος.

61 Και ειπεν ο Ιερεμιας προς τον Σεραιαν, Οταν ελθης εις την Βαβυλωνα και ιδης και αναγνωσης παντας τους λογους τουτους,

62 τοτε θελεις ειπει, Κυριε, συ ελαλησας κατα του τοπου τουτου, δια να εξολοθρευσης αυτον, ωστε να μη υπαρχη ο κατοικων εν αυτω, απο ανθρωπου εως κτηνους, αλλα να ηναι ερημωσις αιωνια.

63 Και αφου τελειωσης αναγινωσκων το βιβλιον τουτο, θελεις δεσει επ' αυτο λιθον και ριψει αυτο εις το μεσον του Ευφρατου·

64 και θελεις ειπει, Ουτω θελει βυθισθη η Βαβυλων, και δεν θελει σηκωθη εκ των κακων, τα οποια εγω θελω φερει επ' αυτην· και οι Βαβυλωνιοι θελουσιν εξασθενησει. Μεχρι τουτου ειναι οι λογοι του Ιερεμιου.

   

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Apocalypse Revealed #342

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342. CHAPTER 7

1. After these things I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, on the sea, or on any tree.

2. Then I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, having the seal of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea,

3. saying, "Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads."

4. And I heard the number of those who were sealed, one hundred and forty-four thousand, sealed out of every tribe of Israel:

5. of the tribe of Judah twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand were sealed;

6. of the tribe of Asher twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand were sealed;

7. of the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Levi twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand were sealed;

8. of the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand were sealed.

9. After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude, which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands,

10. and crying out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!"

11. And all the angels stood around the throne, with the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,

12. saying, "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving, and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen."

13. Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, "Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?"

14. And I said to him, "Lord, you know." So he said to me, "These are the ones who are coming out of the great tribulation, and have washed their robes and made their robes white in the blood of the Lamb.

15. Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them.

16. They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; neither shall the sun strike them, nor any heat;

17. for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

THE SPIRITUAL MEANING

The Contents of the Whole Chapter

This chapter describes people who are and who will be in the Christian heaven. It describes first their separation from evil people (verses 1-3); after that, those of them who are impelled by love toward the Lord and so by wisdom, of whom the higher heavens consist (verses 4-8); and those who are impelled by charity from the Lord and its accompanying faith because they fought against evils, of whom the lower heavens consist (verses 9-17).

The Contents of the Individual Verses:

Verse ContentsSpiritual Meaning
1. After these things I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth,The whole of heaven now in an effort to execute the Last Judgment.
holding back the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, on the sea, or on any tree.The Lord's holding back and restraining a closer and thus stronger influx into the lower regions where good people were attached to evil ones.
2. Then I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun,The Lord providing and moderating,
having the seal of the living God.who alone knows the character of each and every person, and can distinguish and separate them from each other.
And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, 3. saying, "Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the treesThe Lord's restraining and holding back the closer and stronger influx into the lower regions,
till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads."before those people were separated who were governed by truths springing from goodness from the Lord.
4. And I heard the number of those who were sealed, one hundred and forty-four thousand,All people who acknowledge the Lord as God of heaven and earth and are governed by truths of doctrine springing from the goodness of love, received from Him through the Word.
sealed out of every tribe of Israel:The heaven and the Lord's church formed from them.
5. of the tribe of Judah twelve thousand were sealed;Celestial love, which is love toward the Lord, and this in all those people who will be in the New Heaven and in the New Church.
of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand were sealed;Wisdom springing from celestial love in those people who will be there.
of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand were sealed;Useful life endeavors, which are the exercises of wisdom springing from that love, in those people who will be there.
6. of the tribe of Asher twelve thousand were sealed;Mutual love in those people.
of the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand were sealed;A perception of useful endeavor, and of what is useful, in those people.
of the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand were sealed;A will to serve and to put into practice in those people.
7. of the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand were sealed;Spiritual love, which is love for the neighbor, in those people.
of the tribe of Levi twelve thousand were sealed;An affection for truth springing from goodness, producing intelligence in those people.
of the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand were sealed;Goodness of life in those people.
8. of the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand were sealed;The conjugal love of goodness and truth in those people.
of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand were sealed;A doctrine of goodness and truth in those people.
of the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand were sealed.A life of truth springing from goodness in accord with doctrine in those people.
9. After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude, which no one could number,All other people who are not among those enumerated and yet are in the New Heaven and the Lord's New Church, who form the lowest heaven and the external church, and whose character is known to the Lord alone.
of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues,All in the Christian world who have some religion springing from goodness and are guided by truths from doctrine,
standing before the throne and before the Lamb,listening to the Lord and doing what He commands.
clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands,A communication and conjunction with the higher heavens, and a confession springing from Divine truths.
10. and crying out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!"An acknowledgment from the heart that the Lord is their Savior.
11. And all the angels stood around the throne, with the elders and the four living creatures,All in the whole of heaven listening and doing what the Lord commands.
and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,A humbling of their heart, and in their humility an adoration of the Lord.
12. saying, "Amen!Divine truth and an affirmation in response to it.
Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving,The Lord's spiritual Divine attributes;
and honor and power and might,the Lord's celestial Divine attributes;
be to our God forever and ever.these being in the Lord and emanating from the Lord to eternity.
Amen."The agreement of all.
13. Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, "Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?" 14. And I said to him, "Lord, you know."Their desire to know and wish to inquire, and the reply and instruction given.
So he said to me, "These are ones who are coming out of the great tribulation,They are people who have undergone temptations or trials, and have fought against evils and falsities,
and have washed their robeswho have cleansed their religious beliefs of the evils accompanying falsity,
and made their robes white in the blood of the Lamb.and by truths have purified those religious beliefs from the falsities accompanying evil, and so have been reformed by the Lord.
15. Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them.They are in the Lord's presence, and live constantly and faithfully in His church in accordance with the truths that they receive from Him.
16. They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore;Hereafter they will not lack goods and truths.
neither shall the sun strike them, nor any heat;Hereafter they will not possess lusts for evil, nor for the falsity accompanying evil.
17. for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd themThe Lord alone will teach them
and lead them to living fountains of waters.and lead them by the truths in the Word to conjunction with Him.
And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."They will be caught up no longer in battles against evils and the accompanying falsities, and so will no longer experience times of distress, but will be surrounded by goods and truths and thus by heavenly joys emanating from the Lord.

THE EXPOSITION

After these things I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth. (7:1) This symbolizes the whole of heaven now in an effort to execute the Last Judgment on the people who were in the world of spirits.

There follows now much concerning the state of the spiritual world just before the Last Judgment, which no one could know without its being revealed by the Lord. And because I have been given to see how the Last Judgment was executed, including the transformations which preceded it and the dispositions following it, I can relate therefore the symbolic meaning of everything in this chapter and in the chapters that follow.

[2] The four angels here symbolize the whole of heaven. The four corners of the earth symbolize the entire world of spirits, which is midway between heaven and hell. For the Last Judgment was executed on people who were in the world of spirits, and not on anyone in heaven, nor on anyone in hell.

Angels symbolize heaven because an angel in the highest sense means the Lord in respect to His Divine humanity (no. 344), and as heaven is heaven owing to the Lord, angels symbolize heaven as well.

[3] The four angels here symbolize the whole of heaven because they were seen standing at the four corners of the earth, and the four corners symbolize the four quarters of the compass.

They symbolize that the whole of heaven was now in an effort to execute the Last Judgment for the reason that when the Last Judgment was at hand, the Lord caused the heavens to draw closer over the world of spirits, and the closeness of the heavens produced such a change in the state of the inner constituents of the people's minds below that they saw nothing but terrors before their eyes.

[4] That corners symbolize quarters of the compass, and thus the four quarters all points, can be seen from the following passages:

You shall measure, outside the city, the corner toward the east..., the corner toward the south..., the corner toward the west..., and the corner toward the north... (Numbers 35:5)

You shall make the boards for the Tabernacle, ...for the south corner..., and for... the north corner... (Exodus 26:18, 20, 23)

And... the court..., for the south corner..., for the north corner..., for the west corner..., and... for the east corner... (Exodus 27:9, 11-13)

[5] The four quarters are also called four corners often in Ezekiel, as in Ezekiel 47:18-20, and 48.

Since corners symbolize the quarters of the compass, they also therefore symbolize everything, such as everything in heaven or in hell, or everything pertaining to goodness or to truth, as is apparent from the following:

(Satan) will go out to lead astray the nations which are at the four corners of the earth... (Revelation 20:8)

I will cut off nations, (and) their corners will be devastated. (Zephaniah 3:6)

...(Israel) gathered together as one man... And the corners of all the people stationed themselves... (Judges 20:1-2)

A scepter shall rise out of Israel, and crush the corners of Moab... (Numbers 24:17)

A day of trumpet and alarm... upon the high corners. (Zephaniah 1:16)

I will cast them into the ends of the corners. (Deuteronomy 32:26)

[6] That a corner symbolizes the lowest component supporting higher ones, as a foundation does a house, and so symbolizes also everything, is apparent from the following:

(He) will lay in Zion a corner stone..., the price of the laying of a foundation. (Isaiah 28:16)

They shall not take from it a stone for a corner... (Jeremiah 51:26)

From (Judah) shall come the corner stone... (Zechariah 10:4)

The stone which (they) rejected has become the corner stone. (Psalms 118:22, Matthew 21:42, Mark 12:10, Luke 20:17-18)

  
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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.

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