The Bible

 

Ezekiel 43:1

Study

       

1 και-C αγω-VBI-AAI3S εγω- P--AS επι-P ο- A--ASF πυλη-N1--ASF ο- A--ASF βλεπω-V1--PAPASF κατα-P ανατολη-N1--APF και-C εκαγω-VBI-AAI3S εγω- P--AS

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Apocalypse Revealed #35

Study this Passage

  
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35. For the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. This symbolically means, so as to receive Divine truth from the Word with the heart and so in a state of light, and to acknowledge the Lord's humanity to be Divine.

This we explained in no. 6 above.

  
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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.

Commentary

 

Write

  

Generally, in the Word, writing signifies making something permanent or serious.

If knowing what’s right were the same as doing what’s right, we would all be thin, healthy, hard-working, law-abiding, faithful to our spouses and free of addiction, and the idea of a New Year’s resolution would not exist. Unfortunately, it’s all too easy to know what’s right, say what’s right, even believe what’s right and still do what’s wrong. If we don’t internalize it, make it a part of us, commit to it it doesn’t mean anything. That is essentially what “writing” means in the Bible – when something was written down, that meant it was permanent, taken to heart, impressed or inscribed on someone’s life – much more meaningful than what was simply said. Such a meaning is still reflected in modern language. If we’re serious about what we’re saying, we might tell someone to “write it down.” Things that are sure might be “written in stone,” harking back to ancient times. Police still want written confessions, and those in love still treasure hand-written notes. All that, of course, is in an age where everyone’s literate and writing is mostly electronic. Writing had far more significance in Biblical times, when few could write and writing materials were clumsy and expensive. For something to be written was significant.