The Bible

 

Daniel 5:28

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28 PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.

Commentary

 

Daniel Series, Part 7 of 8 - Falling off the Wagon

By Todd Beiswenger


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To truly be born again we have to work on changing our thinking and our actions. Up to this point the story has been focused on changing our thinking, but there is still that physical impulse to engage in our old ways. In this chapter of Daniel the king sees the writing on the wall that his ways must come to an end.

(References: Arcana Coelestia 1072 [1-6]; Daniel 5:1-31)

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Arcana Coelestia #7873

Study this Passage

  
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7873. 'And on all the gods of Egypt I will make judgements' means their falsities which are to be damned. This is clear from the meaning of 'gods' as falsities, dealt with below; and from the meaning of 'making judgements' as being damned, for to judge or to make judgements is to point either to life or to death; a judgement that points to life means salvation, one that points to death means damnation. The term 'gods' is used many times in the Word. When angels are called such, truths are meant, see 4295, 4402, 7268, and therefore in the contrary sense 'the gods of the nations' means falsities, 4402, 4544. The reason why truths are referred to as 'gods' is that truth emanates from God Himself and is in itself of God. Consequently those who receive that truth are called 'gods'. Not that they are gods; rather, the truth with them is of God. This explains why in the original language God is referred to by the plural noun Elohim. God Himself is Divine Goodness, but what emanates from Him is Divine Truth which fills the whole of heaven. So then, because 'god' means truth, falsity is meant by that word in the contrary sense.

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