1056. And they that dwell on the earth shall wonder. That this signifies those of that religious persuasion who reject the Word, is evident from the signification of them that dwell on the earth, as denoting those who are of that religious persuasion. For by the earth is signified the church; but, in this case, that religious persuasion, because the church is not there. For the church is only where the Lord is worshipped and the Word is read.

That those who reject the Word are meant is evident from what follows; that is, that they are those whose names are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world; and that they are those who saw the beast, which was, and is not, but yet is. For by the beast is signified the Word, as was said above. Therefore their wonder is, that the Word still is, although it was, and is not.

Concerning the second kind of Profanation:-

[2] The love of ruling by the holy things of the church as a means, entirely closes the interiors of the human mind from inmost to outmost, according to the quality and quantity of that love. But in order that it may be known how they are closed, something shall first be said concerning the interiors of the human mind.

Man has a spiritual mind, a rational mind, a natural mind, and a sensual mind. By the spiritual mind he is in heaven, and is a heaven in its least form. By the natural mind he is in the world, and is a world in its least form. Heaven with man communicates with the world in him through the rational mind; and with the body through the sensual mind. After man's birth the sensual mind is first opened; afterwards the natural mind; and, as he studies to become intelligent, the rational mind; and, as he studies to become wise, the spiritual mind. But afterwards, as he becomes wise, the spiritual mind becomes with him as the head, and the natural mind as the body, to which the rational mind serves for conjunction, as the neck to the head, and then the sensual mind is like the sole of the foot.

[3] All these minds with infants are so disposed by the Lord, through an influx of innocence from heaven, that they may be opened. But with those who, from their youth, begin to be inflamed with the lust of ruling by the holy things of the church, as means, the spiritual mind is entirely closed, and also the rational mind; lastly, the natural mind, down to the sensual mind, as it is said in heaven, even to the nose. And thus they become merely sensual men; these are the most stupid of all in spiritual things, and thence in rational things; and the most cunning of all in worldly matters and those of a civil kind. That they are so stupid in spiritual things, they themselves do not know, because in heart they do not believe those things, and because they believe cunning to be prudence, and malice to be wisdom.

All of this kind, however, differ according to the quality and quantity of the lust of ruling and of its exercise also, according to the quality and quantity of persuasion that they are holy; and according to the quality of the good and truth from the Word, which they profane.

959. (Verse 1) And I heard a voice out of the temple saying unto the seven angels. That this signifies manifestation by means of Divine truth from the Word of the evils and falsities that have devastated the church, is evident from the signification of a voice out of the temple, as denoting Divine truth from the Word; for a voice signifies Divine truth, as may be seen above (n. 261, 668); and the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony, out of which the voice came, signifies the Word, in which is Divine truth both natural and spiritual (n. 948); and from the signification of the seven angels, as denoting manifestations, as frequently shown above. And because by the seven vials or plagues, which they had, are signified the evils and falsities that have devastated the church, therefore the manifestations of all evils and falsities that have devastated the church are here signified by the seven angels. The subject treated of in the following verses is also concerning their manifestation.

Continuation:-

[2] In the preceding chapter, at the end of each article, we have treated concerning the first precept of the Decalogue. In the articles now following in this chapter we shall treat concerning the rest of the precepts of the Decalogue. And here, concerning the Second Precept.

Thou shalt not profane the name of God. It shall here first be stated what is meant by the name of God, and afterwards, what is meant by profaning it. By the name of God is meant all the quality by which God is worshipped. For God is in His own quality, and is His own quality; His essence is Divine love, and His quality is Divine truth thence united with Divine good; thus with us on earth it is the Word. Therefore also it is said in John:

"The Word was with God, and God was the Word" (1:1).

And consequently, also, it is the doctrine of genuine truth and good from the Word; for worship is according to doctrine.

[3] Now because His quality is manifold - for it contains all things that are from Him - therefore many names are given to Him, and every name involves and expresses His quality in general and in particular. For, besides other names, He is called Jehovah, Jehovah Zebaoth, Lord, Lord Jehovih, God, Messiah or Christ, Jesus, Saviour, Redeemer, Creator, Former, Maker, King, and the Holy One of Israel, the Rock and the Stone of Israel, Shiloh, Schaddai, David, Prophet, Son of God, and Son of Man. All these names are those of the One God, who is the Lord; but still where they are mentioned in the Word, they signify some universal attribute or Divine quality distinct from the other Divine attributes or qualities.

Similarly, where He is called Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, three are not understood, but one God; or they are not three Divines, but one. And this Trine, which is one, is the Lord.

[4] Because every name signifies some distinct attribute or quality, therefore, by profaning the name of God, is not meant to profane the name itself, but His quality. The reason why quality is signified by name is also, because in heaven every one is named according to his quality. And the quality of God or the Lord is everything that is from Him by means of which He is worshipped. This is why in hell, since no Divine quality of the Lord is there acknowledged, the Lord cannot be named; and why His names can be pronounced by no one in the spiritual world unless His Divine is acknowledged; for all there speak from the heart, thus from the love and acknowledgment therefrom.