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Jeremiah 51

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1 ο- A--NSM λογος-N2--NSM ο- A--NSM γιγνομαι-VB--AMPNSM προς-P *ιερεμιας-N1T-ASM απας-A3P-DPM ο- A--DPM *ιουδαιος-N2--DPM ο- A--DPM καταοικεω-V2--PAPDPM εν-P γη-N1--DSF *αιγυπτος-N2--DSF και-C ο- A--DPM καταημαι-V5--PMPDPM εν-P *μαγδωλος-N2--DS και-C εν-P *ταφνας-N---DS και-C εν-P γη-N1--DSF *παθουρης-N---GSM λεγω-V1--PAPNSM

2 ουτως-D ειπον-VBI-AAI3S κυριος-N2--NSM ο- A--NSM θεος-N2--NSM *ισραηλ-N---GSM υμεις- P--NP οραω-VX--XAI2P πας-A3--APN ο- A--APN κακος-A1--APN ος- --APN επιαγω-VBI-AAI3P επι-P *ιερουσαλημ-N---ASF και-C επι-P ο- A--APF πολις-N3I-APF *ιουδα-N---GSM και-C ιδου-I ειμι-V9--PAI3P ερημος-N2--NPF απο-P ενοικεω-V2--PAPNSM

3 απο-P προσωπον-N2N-GSN πονηρια-N1A-GSF αυτος- D--GPM ος- --GSF ποιεω-VAI-AAI3P παραπικραινω-VA--AAN εγω- P--AS πορευομαι-VC--APPNPM θυμιαω-V3--PAN θεος-N2--DPM ετερος-A1A-DPM ος- --DPM ου-D γιγνωσκω-VZI-AAI2P

4 και-C αποστελλω-VAI-AAI1S προς-P συ- P--AP ο- A--APM παις-N3D-APM εγω- P--GS ο- A--APM προφητης-N1M-APM ορθρος-N2--GSM και-C αποστελλω-VAI-AAI1S λεγω-V1--PAPNSM μη-D ποιεω-VA--AAS2P ο- A--ASN πραγμα-N3M-ASN ο- A--GSF μολυνσις-N3I-GSF ουτος- D--GSF ος- --GSF μισεω-VAI-AAI1S

5 και-C ου-D ακουω-VAI-AAI3P εγω- P--GS και-C ου-D κλινω-VAI-AAI3P ο- A--ASN ους-N3--ASN αυτος- D--GPM αποστρεφω-VA--AAN απο-P ο- A--GPN κακος-A1--GPN αυτος- D--GPM προς-P ο- A--ASN μη-D θυμιαω-V3--PAN θεος-N2--DPM ετερος-A1A-DPM

6 και-C σταζω-VAI-AAI3S ο- A--NSF οργη-N1--NSF εγω- P--GS και-C ο- A--NSM θυμος-N2--NSM εγω- P--GS και-C εκκαιω-VCI-API3S εν-P πολις-N3I-DPF *ιουδα-N---GSM και-C εξωθεν-D *ιερουσαλημ-N---GSF και-C γιγνομαι-VCI-API3P εις-P ερημωσις-N3I-ASF και-C εις-P αβατος-A1B-ASM ως-C ο- A--NSF ημερα-N1A-NSF ουτος- D--NSF

7 και-C νυν-D ουτως-D ειπον-VBI-AAI3S κυριος-N2--NSM παντοκρατωρ-N3 -NSM ινα-C τις- I--ASN συ- P--NP ποιεω-V2--PAI2P κακος-A1--APN μεγας-A1--APN επι-P ψυχη-N1--DPF συ- P--GP εκκοπτω-VA--AAN συ- P--GP ανθρωπος-N2--ASM και-C γυνη-N3K-ASF νηπιος-A1A-ASM και-C θηλαζω-V1--PAPASM εκ-P μεσος-A1--GSM *ιουδα-N---GSM προς-P ο- A--ASN μη-D καταλειπω-VV--APN συ- P--GP μηδεις-A3--ASM

8 παραπικραινω-VA--AMD2S εγω- P--AS εν-P ο- A--DPN εργον-N2N-DPN ο- A--GPF χειρ-N3--GPF συ- P--GP θυμιαω-V3--PAN θεος-N2--DPM ετερος-A1A-DPM εν-P γη-N1--DSF *αιγυπτος-N2--DSF εις-P ος- --ASF ειςερχομαι-VBI-AAI2P ενοικεω-V2--PAN εκει-D ινα-C εκκοποω-VA--AAS2P και-C ινα-C γιγνομαι-VB--AMS2P εις-P καταρα-N1A-ASF και-C εις-P ονειδισμος-N2--ASM εν-P πας-A3--DPN ο- A--DPN εθνος-N3E-DPN ο- A--GSF γη-N1--GSF

9 μη-D επιλανθανω-VX--XMI2P συ- P--NP ο- A--GPN κακος-A1--GPN ο- A--GPM πατηρ-N3--GPM συ- P--GP και-C ο- A--GPN κακος-A1--GPN ο- A--GPM βασιλευς-N3V-GPM *ιουδα-N---GSM και-C ο- A--GPN κακος-A1--GPN ο- A--GPM αρχων-N3--GPM συ- P--GP και-C ο- A--GPN κακος-A1--GPN ο- A--GPF γυνη-N3K-GPF συ- P--GP ος- --GPM ποιεω-VAI-AAI3P εν-P γη-N1--DSF *ιουδα-N---GSM και-C εξωθεν-D *ιερουσαλημ-N---GSF

10 και-C ου-D παυω-VAI-AMI3P εως-P ο- A--GSF ημερα-N1A-GSF ουτος- D--GSF και-C ου-D αντιεχω-V1I-IMI3P ο- A--GPN προσταγμα-N3M-GPN εγω- P--GS ος- --GPN διδωμι-VAI-AAI1S κατα-P προσωπον-N2N-ASN ο- A--GPM πατηρ-N3--GPM αυτος- D--GPM

11 δια-P ουτος- D--ASN ουτως-D ειπον-VBI-AAI3S κυριος-N2--NSM ιδου-I εγω- P--NS επιιστημι-V6--PAI1S ο- A--ASN προσωπον-N2N-ASN εγω- P--GS

12 ο- A--GSN αποολλυω-VA--AAN πας-A3--APM ο- A--APM καταλοιπος-A1B-APM ο- A--APM εν-P *αιγυπτος-N2--DSF και-C πιπτω-VF2-FMI3P εν-P ρομφαια-N1A-DSF και-C εν-P λιμος-N2--DSM εκλειπω-VF--FAI3P απο-P μικρος-A1A-GSM εως-P μεγας-A1--GSM και-C ειμι-VF--FMI3P εις-P ονειδισμος-N2--ASM και-C εις-P απωλεια-N1A-ASF και-C εις-P καταρα-N1A-ASF

13 και-C επισκεπτω-VF--FMI1S επι-P ο- A--APM καταημαι-V5--PMPAPM εν-P γη-N1--DSF *αιγυπτος-N2--DSF ως-C επισκεπτομαι-VAI-AMI1S επι-P *ιερουσαλημ-N---ASF εν-P ρομφαια-N1A-DSF και-C εν-P λιμος-N2--DSM και-C εν-P θανατος-N2--DSM

14 και-C ου-D ειμι-VF--FMI3S σωζω-VT--XMPNSM ουδεις-A3--NSM ο- A--GPM επιλοιπος-A1B-GPM *ιουδα-N---GSM ο- A--GPM παραοικεω-V2--PAPGPM εν-P γη-N1--DSF *αιγυπτος-N2--DSF ο- A--GSN επιστρεφω-VA--AAN εις-P γη-N1--ASF *ιουδα-N---GSM επι-P ος- --ASF αυτος- D--NPM ελπιζω-V1--PAI3P ο- A--DPF ψυχη-N1--DPF αυτος- D--GPM ο- A--GSN επιστρεφω-VA--AAN εκει-D ου-D μη-D επιστρεφω-VA--AAS3P αλλα-C η-C ανασωζω-VT--XMPNPM

15 και-C αποκρινω-VCI-API3P ο- A--DSM *ιερεμιας-N1T-DSM πας-A3--NPM ο- A--NPM ανηρ-N3--NPM ο- A--NPM γιγνωσκω-VZ--AAPNPM οτι-C θυμιαω-V3--PAI3P ο- A--NPF γυνη-N3K-NPF αυτος- D--GPM θεος-N2--DPM ετερος-A1A-DPM και-C πας-A1S-NPF ο- A--NPF γυνη-N3K-NPF συναγωγη-N1--NSF μεγας-A1--NSF και-C πας-A3--NSM ο- A--NSM λαος-N2--NSM ο- A--NPM καταημαι-V5--PMPNPM εν-P γη-N1--DSF *αιγυπτος-N2--DSF εν-P *παθουρης-N---DSM λεγω-V1--PAPNPM

16 ο- A--NSM λογος-N2--NSM ος- --ASM λαλεω-VAI-AAI2S προς-P εγω- P--AP ο- A--DSN ονομα-N3M-DSN κυριος-N2--GSM ου-D ακουω-VF--FAI1P συ- P--GS

17 οτι-C ποιεω-V2--PAPNPM ποιεω-VF--FAI1P πας-A3--ASM ο- A--ASM λογος-N2--ASM ος- --NSM εκερχομαι-VF--FMI3S εκ-P ο- A--GSN στομα-N3M-GSN εγω- P--GP θυμιαω-V3--PAN ο- A--DSF βασιλισσα-N1S-DSF ο- A--GSM ουρανος-N2--GSM και-C σπενδω-V1--PAN αυτος- D--DSF σπονδη-N1--APF καθα-D ποιεω-VAI-AAI1P εγω- P--NP και-C ο- A--NPM πατηρ-N3--NPM εγω- P--GP και-C ο- A--NPM βασιλευς-N3V-NPM εγω- P--GP και-C ο- A--NPM αρχων-N3--NPM εγω- P--GP εν-P πολις-N3I-DPF *ιουδα-N---GSM και-C εξωθεν-D *ιερουσαλημ-N---GSF και-C πιμπλημι-VSI-API1P αρτος-N2--GPM και-C γιγνομαι-VBI-AMI1P χρηστος-A1--NPM και-C κακος-A1--APN ου-D οραω-VBI-AAI1P

18 και-C ως-C διαλειπω-VBI-AAI1P θυμιαω-V3--PAPNPM ο- A--DSF βασιλισσα-N1S-DSF ο- A--GSM ουρανος-N2--GSM αλασσω-VCI-API1P πας-A3--NPM και-C εν-P ρομφαια-N1A-DSF και-C εν-P λιμος-N2--DSM εκλειπω-VBI-AAI1P

19 και-C οτι-C εγω- P--NP θυμιαω-V3--PAI1P ο- A--DSF βασιλισσα-N1S-DSF ο- A--GSM ουρανος-N2--GSM και-C σπενδω-VAI-AAI1P αυτος- D--DSF σπονδη-N1--APF μη-D ανευ-P ο- A--GPM ανηρ-N3--GPM εγω- P--GP ποιεω-VAI-AAI1P αυτος- D--DSF χαυων-N3W-APM και-C σπενδω-VAI-AAI1P σπονδη-N1--APF αυτος- D--DSF

20 και-C ειπον-VBI-AAI3S *ιερεμιας-N1T-NSM πας-A3--DSM ο- A--DSM λαος-N2--DSM ο- A--DPM δυνατος-A1--DPM και-C ο- A--DPF γυνη-N3K-DPF και-C πας-A3--DSM ο- A--DSM λαος-N2--DSM ο- A--DPM αποκρινω-VC--APPDPM αυτος- D--DSM λογος-N2--APM λεγω-V1--PAPNSM

21 ου-D ο- A--GSN θυμιαμα-N3M-GSN ος- --GSM θυμιαω-VAI-AAI2P εν-P ο- A--DPF πολις-N3I-DPF *ιουδα-N---GSM και-C εξωθεν-D *ιερουσαλημ-N---GSF συ- P--NP και-C ο- A--NPM πατηρ-N3--NPM συ- P--GP και-C ο- A--NPM βασιλευς-N3V-NPM συ- P--GP και-C ο- A--NPM αρχων-N3--NPM συ- P--GP και-C ο- A--NSM λαος-N2--NSM ο- A--GSF γη-N1--GSF μιμνησκω-VSI-API3S κυριος-N2--NSM και-C αναβαινω-VZI-AAI3S επι-P ο- A--ASF καρδια-N1A-ASF αυτος- D--GSM

22 και-C ου-D δυναμαι-V6I-IMI3S κυριος-N2--NSM ετι-D φερω-V1--PAN απο-P προσωπον-N2N-GSN πονηρια-N1A-GSF πραγμα-N3M-GPN συ- P--GP απο-P ο- A--GPN βδελυγμα-N3M-GPN ος- --GPN ποιεω-VAI-AAI2P και-C γιγνομαι-VCI-API3S ο- A--NSF γη-N1--NSF συ- P--GP εις-P ερημωσις-N3I-ASF και-C εις-P αβατος-A1B-ASM και-C εις-P αρα-N1A-ASF ως-C εν-P ο- A--DSF ημερα-N1A-DSF ουτος- D--DSF

23 απο-P προσωπον-N2N-GSN ος- --GPM θυμιαω-V3I-IAI2P και-C ος- --GPM αμαρτανω-VBI-AAI2P ο- A--DSM κυριος-N2--DSM και-C ου-D ακουω-VAI-AAI2P ο- A--GSF φωνη-N1--GSF κυριος-N2--GSM και-C εν-P ο- A--DPN προσταγμα-N3M-DPN αυτος- D--GSM και-C εν-P ο- A--DSM νομος-N2--DSM αυτος- D--GSM και-C εν-P ο- A--DPN μαρτυριον-N2N-DPN αυτος- D--GSM ου-D πορευομαι-VCI-API2P και-C επιλαμβανω-VBI-AMI3S συ- P--GP ο- A--APN κακος-A1--APN ουτος- D--APN

24 και-C ειπον-VBI-AAI3S *ιερεμιας-N1T-NSM ο- A--DSM λαος-N2--DSM και-C ο- A--DPF γυνη-N3K-DPF ακουω-VA--AAD2P ο- A--ASM λογος-N2--ASM κυριος-N2--GSM

25 ουτως-D ειπον-VBI-AAI3S κυριος-N2--NSM ο- A--NSM θεος-N2--NSM *ισραηλ-N---GSM υμεις- P--NP γυνη-N3K-NPF ο- A--DSN στομα-N3M-DSN συ- P--GP λαλεω-VAI-AAI2P και-C ο- A--DPF χειρ-N3--DPF συ- P--GP πληροω-VAI-AAI2P λεγω-V1--PAPNPF ποιεω-V2--PAPNPF ποιεω-VF--FAI1P ο- A--APF ομολογια-N1A-APF εγω- P--GP ος- --APF ομολογεω-VAI-AAI1P θυμιαω-V3--PAN ο- A--DSF βασιλισσα-N1S-DSF ο- A--GSM ουρανος-N2--GSM και-C σπενδω-V1--PAN αυτος- D--DSF σπονδη-N1--APF ενμενω-VA--AAPNPF ενμενω-VAI-AAI2P ο- A--DPF ομολογια-N1A-DPF συ- P--GP και-C ποιεω-V2--PAPNPF ποιεω-VAI-AAI2P

26 δια-P ουτος- D--ASN ακουω-VA--AAD2P λογος-N2--ASM κυριος-N2--GSM πας-A3--NSM *ιουδα-N---NSM ο- A--NPM καταημαι-V5--PMPNPM εν-P γη-N1--DSF *αιγυπτος-N2--DSF ιδου-I ομνυμι-VAI-AAI1S ο- A--DSN ονομα-N3M-DSN εγω- P--GS ο- A--DSM μεγας-A1--DSM ειπον-VBI-AAI3S κυριος-N2--NSM εαν-C γιγνομαι-VB--AMS3S ετι-D ονομα-N3M-ASN εγω- P--GS εν-P ο- A--DSN στομα-N3M-DSN πας-A3--GSM *ιουδα-N---GSM ειπον-VB--AAN ζαω-V3--PAI3S κυριος-N2--NSM κυριος-N2--NSM επι-P πας-A1S-DSF γη-N1--DSF *αιγυπτος-N2--DSF

27 οτι-C ιδου-I εγω- P--NS εγειρω-VX--XAI1S επι-P αυτος- D--APM ο- A--GSN κακοω-VA--AAN αυτος- D--APM και-C ου-D αγαθοω-VA--AAN και-C εκλειπω-VF--FAI3P πας-A3--NSM *ιουδα-N---NSM ο- A--NPM καταοικεω-V2--PAPNPM εν-P γη-N1--DSF *αιγυπτος-N2--DSF εν-P ρομφαια-N1A-DSF και-C εν-P λιμος-N2--DSM εως-P αν-X εκλειπω-VB--AAS3P

28 και-C ο- A--NPM σωζω-VT--XMPNPM απο-P ρομφαια-N1A-GSF επιστρεφω-VF--FAI3P εις-P γη-N1--ASF *ιουδα-N---GSM ολιγος-A1--NPM αριθμος-N2--DSM και-C γιγνωσκω-VF--FMI3P ο- A--NPM καταλοιπος-A1B-NPM *ιουδα-N---GSM ο- A--NPM καταιστημι-VH--AAPNPM εν-P γη-N1--DSF *αιγυπτος-N2--DSF καταοικεω-VA--AAN εκει-D λογος-N2--NSM τις- I--GSN ενμενω-VF2-FAI3S

29 και-C ουτος- D--NSN συ- P--DP ο- A--NSN σημειον-N2--NSN οτι-C επισκεπτω-VF--FMI1S εγω- P--NS επι-P συ- P--AP εις-P πονηρος-A1A-APN

30 ουτως-D ειπον-VBI-AAI3S κυριος-N2--NSM ιδου-I εγω- P--NS διδωμι-V8--PAI1S ο- A--ASM *ουαφρη-N---ASM βασιλευς-N3V-ASM *αιγυπτος-N2--GSF εις-P χειρ-N3--APF εχθρος-N2--GSM αυτος- D--GSM και-C εις-P χειρ-N3--APF ζητεω-V2--PAPGPM ο- A--ASF ψυχη-N1--ASF αυτος- D--GSM καθα-D διδωμι-VAI-AAI1S ο- A--ASM *σεδεκιας-N1T-ASM βασιλευς-N3V-ASM *ιουδα-N---GSM εις-P χειρ-N3--APF *ναβουχοδονοσορ-N---GSM βασιλευς-N3V-GSM *βαβυλων-N3W-GSF εχθρος-N2--GSM αυτος- D--GSM και-C ζητεω-V2--PAPGSM ο- A--ASF ψυχη-N1--ASF αυτος- D--GSM

31 ο- A--NSM λογος-N2--NSM ος- --ASM λαλεω-VAI-AAI3S *ιερεμιας-N1T-NSM ο- A--NSM προφητης-N1M-NSM προς-P *βαρουχ-N---ASM υιος-N2--ASM *νηριος-N2--GSM οτε-D γραφω-V1I-IAI3S ο- A--APM λογος-N2--APM ουτος- D--APM εν-P ο- A--DSN βιβλιον-N2N-DSN απο-P στομα-N3M-GSN *ιερεμιας-N1T-GSM εν-P ο- A--DSM ενιαυτος-N2--DSM ο- A--DSM τεταρτος-A1--DSM ο- A--DSM *ιωακιμ-N---DSM υιος-N2--DSM *ιωσια-N---GSM βασιλευς-N3V-GSM *ιουδα-N---GSM

32 ουτως-D ειπον-VBI-AAI3S κυριος-N2--NSM επι-P συ- P--DS *βαρουχ-N---NSM

33 οτι-C ειπον-VAI-AAI2S οιμμοι-I οιμμοι-I οτι-C προςτιθημι-VAI-AAI3S κυριος-N2--NSM κοπος-N2--ASM επι-P πονος-N2--ASM εγω- P--DS κοιμαω-VCI-API1S εν-P στεναγμος-N2--DPM αναπαυσις-N3I-ASF ου-D ευρισκω-VB--AAI3P

34 ειπον-VBI-AAI3P αυτος- D--DSM ουτως-D ειπον-VBI-AAI3S κυριος-N2--NSM ιδου-I ος- --APM εγω- P--NS οικοδομεω-VAI-AAI1S εγω- P--NS κατααιρεω-V2--PAI1S και-C ος- --APM εγω- P--NS φυτευω-VAI-AAI1S εγω- P--NS εκτιλλω-V1--PAI1S

35 και-C συ- P--NS ζητεω-V2--PAI2S σεαυτου- D--DSM μεγας-A1--APN μη-D ζητεω-VA--AAS2S οτι-C ιδου-I εγω- P--NS επιαγω-V1--PAI1S κακος-A1--APN επι-P πας-A1S-ASF σαρξ-N3K-ASF λεγω-V1--PAI3S κυριος-N2--NSM και-C διδωμι-VF--FAI1S ο- A--ASF ψυχη-N1--ASF συ- P--GS εις-P ευρεμα-N3M-ASN εν-P πας-A3--DSM τοπος-N2--DSM ος- --GSM εαν-C βαδιζω-VA--AAS2S εκει-D

   

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Apocalypse Revealed #323

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323. With sword, with famine, with death, and by the beasts of the earth. This symbolically means, by doctrinal falsities, by evil practices, by self-love, and by lusts.

To be shown that a sword symbolizes truths fighting against evils and falsities and destroying them, and in an opposite sense, falsity fighting against goods and truths and destroying them, see nos. 52, 108, 117 above. Accordingly, because the subject is the destruction of all good in the church, a sword here symbolizes doctrinal falsities.

That a famine symbolizes evil practices - this we will confirm below.

Death symbolizes a person's self-love because death symbolizes the extinction of spiritual life, and thus natural life divorced from any spiritual life, as shown in no. 321 above, and this life is the life of a person's self-love; for this life causes a person to love nothing but himself and the world, and so to love also evils of every kind, evils which, because of that life's love, are delightful to him.

That beasts of the earth symbolize lusts arising from the love will be seen in no. 567 below.

Here we will say something about the symbolic meaning of famine. A famine symbolizes the privation and rejection of concepts of truth and goodness, springing from evil practices. It symbolizes as well an ignorance of concepts of truth and goodness, owing to an absence of these in the church. And it symbolizes also a desire to know and understand them.

[2] I. That a famine symbolizes the privation and rejection of concepts of truth and goodness, springing from evil practices, and thus symbolizes evil practices, can be seen from the following passages:

They shall be consumed by the sword and by famine, so that their corpses become food for the birds of heaven and for the beasts of the earth. (Jeremiah 16:4)

These two things shall befall you...: devastation and ruin, and famine and sword... (Isaiah 51:19)

Behold, I am visiting punishment upon them. The young men shall die by the sword; their sons and their daughters shall die by famine. (Jeremiah 11:22)

...deliver up her children to famine, and cause them to flow down upon the hands of the sword..., that their men may be put to death... (Jeremiah 18:21)

...I will send on them the sword, famine, and pestilence, and will make them like rough figs that cannot be eaten, they are so bad. And I will pursue them with the sword, with famine, and with pestilence. (Jeremiah 29:17-18)

I will send upon them the sword, famine, and pestilence, till they are consumed from the land... (Jeremiah 24:10)

...I proclaim liberty to you..., to the sword, to pestilence, and famine! And I will deliver you for turmoil to all nations. (Jeremiah 34:17)

...because you have defiled My sanctuary..., a third of you shall die of pestilence and be consumed with famine...; and a third shall fall by the sword... When I send against them the evil arrows of famine, which shall be for destruction... (Ezekiel 5:11-12, 16-17)

The sword is outside, and the pestilence and famine within. (Ezekiel 7:15)

...for all the evil abominations... they shall fall by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence. (Ezekiel 6:11-12)

...I will send My four evil judgments on Jerusalem - the sword, famine and wild beast, and pestilence - to cut off man and beast from it. (Ezekiel 14:13, 15, 21)

And so, too, elsewhere, as in Jeremiah 14:12-13, 15-16; 42:13-14, 16-18, 22; 44:12-13, 27, Mark 13:8, Luke 21:11. Sword, famine, pestilence and beasts in these places have similar symbolic meanings to those of the sword, famine, death, and beasts of the earth in the present verse. For the Word has a spiritual meaning in it in every single constituent, in which a sword means the destruction of spiritual life by falsities, in which famine means the destruction of spiritual life by evils, in which a beast of the earth means the destruction of spiritual life by the lusts accompanying falsity and evil, and in which pestilence and death means a complete destruction and thus damnation.

[3] II. That famine, or hunger, symbolizes an ignorance of concepts of truth and goodness, owing to an absence of these in the church, is clear as well from various passages in the Word, as in Isaiah 5:13; 8:19-22, Lamentations 2:19; 5:8-10, Amos 8:11-14, Job 5:17, 20, and elsewhere.

III. That famine or hunger symbolizes a desire to know and understand the church's truths and goods is apparent from the following: Isaiah 8:21; 32:6; 49:10; 58:6-7; Matthew 5:6; 25:35, 37, 44; Luke 1:53; John 6:35; and elsewhere.

  
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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.

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Apocalypse Revealed #567

Study this Passage

  
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567. REVELATION: CHAPTER 13

1. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on its horns ten jewels, 1 and on its heads a blasphemous name.

2. Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, whose feet were like those of a bear, and its mouth like the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave it its power, its throne, and great authority.

3. And I saw one of its heads appearing as though fatally wounded, and its mortal injury was healed. And all the earth went marveling after the beast.

4. Then they worshiped the dragon which gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast? Who can fight against it?"

5. And it was given a mouth speaking great and blasphemous things, and it was given authority to do so for forty-two months.

6. Then it opened its mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, and against His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven.

7. It was granted it to make war with the saints and overcome them. And it was given authority over every tribe, tongue, and nation.

8. All who dwell on the earth will worship it, all whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

9. If anyone has an ear, let him hear.

10. Anyone who leads into captivity shall go into captivity; anyone who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

11. Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and it had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon.

12. And it exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose mortal injury was healed.

13. It also performs great signs, so as to even make fire come down from heaven to earth in the sight of men,

14. and to lead astray those who dwell on the earth, because of the signs which it was granted to do in the presence of the beast, telling those dwelling upon the earth to make an image of the beast that was injured by the sword and lived.

15. It was also granted it to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast might speak and cause whoever does not worship the image of the beast to be killed.

16. And it causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive from it a mark on their right hand and on their foreheads,

17. so that no one can buy or sell if he does not have the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of its name.

18. Here is wisdom: let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and its number is 666.

THE SPIRITUAL MEANING

The Contents of the Whole Chapter

The dragon continues to be the subject in this chapter, which describes the doctrine and faith meant by the dragon. The character of that doctrine and faith among the laity, and then its character among the clergy. The beast rising up out of the sea describes the doctrine and faith among the laity (verses 1-10), and the beast coming up out of the earth the doctrine and faith among the clergy (verses 11-17).

Lastly it describes the clergy's falsification of the Word's truth (verse 18).

The Contents of the Individual Verses:

Verse ContentsSpiritual Meaning
1. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea,The laity in the Protestant Reformed churches who are caught up in the doctrine and faith of the dragon regarding God and salvation.
having seven headsThe irrationality resulting from their absolute falsities.
and ten horns,Their great power.
and on its horns ten jewels, 2 Their power to falsify many of the Word's truths.
and on its heads a blasphemous name.Their denial of the Lord's Divine humanity and affirmation of their church's doctrine, drawn not from the Word but from their own intelligence.
2. Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard,Their heresy destructive of the church, being founded on the Word's truths falsified,
whose feet were like those of a bear,full of misconceptions taken from the literal sense of the Word, read but not understood.
and its mouth like the mouth of a lion.Their reasonings based on falsities as though on truths.
And the dragon gave it its power, its throne, and great authority.This heresy prevails and reigns as a result of its acceptance by the laity.
3. And I saw one of its heads appearing as though fatally wounded,Their doctrine of faith alone does not accord with the Word, in which works are so often commanded.
and its mortal injury was healed.A remedy for this explained.
And all the earth went marveling after the beast.That doctrine and faith then accepted with joy.
4. Then they worshiped the dragon which gave authority to the beast;Their acknowledgment that the doctrine is such as declared by the leaders of the church and its teachers, who have caused the doctrine to prevail as a result of its acceptance by the general populace.
and they worshiped the beast,An acknowledgment by the general populace that the doctrine is a sacred truth.
saying, "Who is like the beast? Who can fight against it?"The preeminence of that doctrine because no one can dispute it.
5. And it was given a mouth speaking great and blasphemous things,It teaches evils and falsities.
and it was given authority to do so for forty-two months.The scope to teach and practice the evils and falsities accompanying that doctrine even to the end of that church, until the beginning of a new one.
6. Then it opened its mouth in blasphemies against God and His name,Their assertions, which are scandalous, against the Divine itself and the Lord's Divine humanity, and at the same time against everything that the church has from the Word by which the Lord is worshiped.
and against His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven.Scandalous assertions against the Lord's celestial church and against heaven.
7. It was granted it to make war with the saints and overcome them.They attacked the Word's Divine truths and overturned them.
And it was given authority over every tribe, tongue, and nation.Their consequent dominion over everything connected with the church, over everything pertaining to its doctrine and over everything pertaining to its life.
8. All who dwell on the earth will worship it, all whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the LambThey all acknowledged that heresy as a sacred tenet of the church, all but those who believed in the Lord.
slain from the foundation of the world.The Lord's Divine humanity unacknowledged from the inception of the church.
9. If anyone has an ear, let him hear.Let people who wish to be wise pay attention to this.
10. Anyone who leads into captivity shall go into captivity;Someone who uses that heresy to draw others away from believing rightly and living rightly is drawn by his own falsities and evils into hell.
anyone who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword.Someone who uses falsities to destroy another's soul is destroyed by falsities and perishes.
Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.Through the temptations or trials occasioned by these falsities a person of the Lord's New Church is examined to discover his character in respect to his life and faith.
11. Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth,The clergy who are caught up in the dragon's doctrine and faith regarding God and salvation.
and it had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon.They quote the Word in speaking, teaching and writing as though it were the Lord's Divine truth, and yet it is truth falsified.
12. And it exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence,They have defended the dogmas, and the dogmas prevail in consequence of it.
and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose mortal injury was healed.By supporting arguments they have established that what the general populace has accepted be acknowledged as a sacred tenet of the church.
13. It also performs great signs,Testifications that their teachings are true, even though they are false.
so as to even make fire come down from heaven to earth in the sight of men,Assertions that their falsities are true.
14. and to lead astray those who dwell on the earth, because of the signs which it was granted to do in the presence of the beast,Through their testifications and assertions they lead people in the church into errors.
telling those dwelling upon the earth to make an image of the beast that was injured by the sword and lived.They induce people in the church to accept as doctrine that faith is the only means of salvation, for the reason stated.
15. It was also granted it to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast might speakThey were permitted to use the Word to defend the doctrine, so as to cause the doctrine to be seemingly animated by it.
and cause whoever does not worship the image of the beast to be killed.They pronounce damnation on people who do not acknowledge their doctrine of faith as a sacred doctrine of the church.
16. And it causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave,All the people in Protestant Reformed church, of whatever condition, degree of education, or degree of intelligence.
to receive from it a mark on their right hand and on their foreheads,No one is acknowledged as a Protestant Reformed Christian but one who accepts that doctrine in faith and love.
17. so that no one can buy or sell if he does not have the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of its name.No one allowed to teach from the Word but one who acknowledges that doctrine and swears to a belief in it and love for it, and to such as is in conformity with it.
18. Here is wisdom:From what we have said and explained in this chapter, it is the part of a wise person to see and understand the nature of the doctrine and faith among the clergy regarding God and salvation.
let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast,One who is enlightened by the Lord can discern the character of the arguments the clergy use from the Word in defense of that doctrine and faith.
for it is the number of a man,The character of the Word and so of the church.
and its number is 666.Their character being this, that by them all the Word's truth has been falsified.

THE EXPOSITION

13:1

And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea. This symbolizes the laity in the Protestant Reformed churches who are caught up in the doctrine and faith of the dragon regarding God and salvation.

The nature and character of the faith of the dragon may be seen in no. 537. The same faith continues to be the subject in this chapter, and the beast here that John saw rising up out of the sea means that faith among the laity, whereas the beast from the earth, described in verse 11, means that faith among the clergy.

That the dragon continues to be the subject here is apparent from the following statements in this chapter: that the dragon gave to the beast rising up out of the sea its power, its throne, and great authority (verse 2); that they worshiped the dragon which gave authority to the beast (verse 4); and, concerning the beast coming up out of the earth, that it spoke like a dragon (verse 11); and that it exercised all the authority of the first beast in the presence of the dragon (verse 12).

The laity are the people meant by the beast from the sea, and the clergy those meant by the beast from the earth, because the sea symbolizes the outer aspect of the church, and the land its inner aspect (no. 398 and elsewhere); and the laity are concerned with the external elements of the church's doctrine, while the clergy are concerned with its internal elements. That is why the beast from the earth is later called a false prophet. 3

That they are people in the Protestant Reformed churches is because the Protestant Reformed are the subject to the end of chapter 16, while Roman Catholics are the subject in chapters 17, 18. Then the subject after that is the Last Judgment and finally the New Church.

[2] These people were seen as beasts because the dragon is a beast, and because a beast in the Word symbolizes a person in respect to his affections - harmless and useful beasts a person in respect to good affections, and harmful and useless ones a person in respect to evil affections. People of the church are in general called sheep, therefore, and a company of them a flock, and one who teaches is called a shepherd.

That is also why the Word in respect to its power, affection, understanding and wisdom is described above in chapter four by four living creatures - a lion, a calf, an eagle and a human being - and an understanding of the Word by horses in chapter six.

The reason is that in the spiritual world a person's affections look at a distance like animals, as we have often said before; and regarded in themselves, animals are no more than embodiments of natural affections, while people are embodiments not only of natural affections, but also at the same time of spiritual affections.

[3] That animals mean people in respect to their affections can be seen from the following passages:

You... will cause to fall a kindly rain. You will confirm Your inheritance... The beast, Your congregation, 4 shall dwell in it. (Psalms 68:9-10)

...every wild beast of the forest is Mine, the beasts on a thousand mountains. I know every bird of the mountains; the beast of My fields is with Me. (Psalms 50:10-11)

...Assyria was a cedar in Lebanon... ...its height was exalted... All the birds of the heavens made their nests in its boughs, and under its branches all the beasts of the field brought forth their young, and in its shade all great nations made their home. (Ezekiel 31:3-6, cf. 31:10, 31:13, Daniel 4:10-16)

In that day I will make a covenant for them with the beast of the field, and with the bird of the heavens... And I will betroth you to Me forever. (Hosea 2:18-19)

Rejoice and be glad! ...Do not be afraid, you beasts of My fields, for the habitations of the wilderness have become grassy meadows. (Joel 2:21-23)

In that day there shall be a great tumult... Judah... will fight against Jerusalem... And such also shall be the plague on the horse, the mule, the camel, and the donkey, and every beast... And it shall come to pass that the remnant... shall go up (to Jerusalem). (Zechariah 14:13-16)

Birds shall abominate him, and every beast of the earth shall disdain him. (Isaiah 18:6)

...you, son of man..., "Say to every winged bird and to every beast of the field, '...Gather together... to My sacrifice... on the mountains of Israel... (Thus) I will set My glory among the nations.'" (Ezekiel 39:17-21)

(Jehovah) gathers the outcasts of Israel... Every beast of My fields, come... (Isaiah 56:8-9)

(Jehovah) will destroy Assyria... There shall lie down in her midst every wild beast of the nation, both the desert owl and the screech owl in her pomegranates... (Zephaniah 2:13-14)

(The sheep) were scattered without a shepherd, and they became food for every wild beast of the field... (Ezekiel 34:5, cf. 34:8)

I will cast you out on the face of the field, and cause to dwell on you every bird of the heavens. And with you I will satiate the wild beasts of the whole earth. (Ezekiel 32:4; see also 5:17; 29:5; 33:27; 39:4, Jeremiah 15:3; 16:4; 19:7; 27:5-6)

An enemy reproaches Jehovah... Do not deliver the life of (the) turtledove to the beast! (Psalms 74:18-19)

"I saw in... vision... four... beasts coming up from the sea... The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings... ...a second, like a bear... ...(a third) like a leopard... ...and a fourth..., dreadful... (Daniel 7:2-7)

...the Spirit drove (Jesus) out into the wilderness. And He was... with the beasts; and the angels ministered to Him. (Mark 1:12-13)

[4] He was not with beasts, but with devils, who are here meant by beasts.

So also in other places where beasts and wild beasts are mentioned, such as Isaiah 35:9; 43:20; Jeremiah 12:4, 8-10; Ezekiel 8:10; 34:23, 25, 28; 38:18-20; Hosea 4:2-3; 13:8; Exodus 23:28-30; Leviticus 26:6; Deuteronomy 7:22; 32:24. Beasts in these places symbolize people in respect to their affections.

[5] Man and beast mentioned together in the following passages symbolize a person in respect to his spiritual affection and in respect to his natural affection: Jeremiah 7:20; 21:6; 27:5; 31:27; 32:43; 33:10-12; 36:29; 50:3; Psalms 36:6; Numbers 18:15.

All the animals that were sacrificed symbolized good affections. So, too, animals that were eaten. And the converse animals that were not to be eaten (Leviticus 20:25-26).

Footnotes:

1.,. and 2. The word translated as "jewels" here means diadems or crowns in the original Greek and Latin, but the writer's definitions of the term elsewhere make plain that he regularly and consistently interpreted it to mean jewels or gems.

3. Revelation 16:13; 19:20; 20:10

4. The beast, Your congregation, reflects the Latin translation of the Bible by Sebastian Schmidt, which includes the phrase translated as Your congregation in parentheses as an alternate reading. This is actually the preferred reading, but "the beast" accords with Roman Catholic tradition.

  
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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.

©2024 New Christian Bible Study Corporation. All rights reserved. Printed from newchristianbiblestudy.org