The Bible

 

Ecclesiastes 3:18

Study

       

18 I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.

Commentary

 

Cast

  
Moses changing Aaron's rod into a serpent, by Nicolas Poussin

For something to be cast down or cast out generally refers to a rather dramatic move from a higher spiritual state to a lower one. In most cases it's used in reference to evil desires or false thinking – or people spreading desires and false thinking – being removed and banished, even condemned to hell. Some uses are more moderate, though, and sometimes – when Moses casts down his rod in performing a miracle, for example – it signifies the sudden inflowing of the divine into the natural world.

(References: Apocalypse Explained 497, 1175; Apocalypse Revealed 252, 552, 835, 872; Arcana Coelestia 2657, 6693, 6948; The Apocalypse Explained 1181)