The Bible

 

Joel 2:11

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11 και-C κυριος-N2--NSM διδωμι-VF--FAI3S φωνη-N1--ASF αυτος- D--GSM προ-P προσωπον-N2N-GSN δυναμις-N3I-GSF αυτος- D--GSM οτι-C πολυς-A1--NSF ειμι-V9--PAI3S σφοδρα-D ο- A--NSF παρεμβολη-N1--NSF αυτος- D--GSM οτι-C ισχυρος-A1A-NPN εργον-N2N-NPN λογος-N2--GPM αυτος- D--GSM διοτι-C μεγας-A1--NSF ο- A--NSF ημερα-N1A-NSF ο- A--GSM κυριος-N2--GSM μεγας-A1--NSF και-C επιφανης-A3H-NSF σφοδρα-D και-C τις- I--NSM ειμι-V9--FMI3S ικανος-A1--NSM αυτος- D--DSF

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Apocalypse Explained #574

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574. And I heard the number of them.- This signifies their quality perceived, as is evident from the signification of hearing, as denoting to perceive (see above, n. 14, 529); and from the signification of number, as denoting the quality of the thing treated of, concerning which, see above (n. 429); here, the quality of the falsities of evil that conspire against the truths of good, from which and on behalf of which are the reasonings of the sensual man, which are signified by the number of the armies of the horsemen, spoken of just above. But the quality of these is further described in the next verse in these words: "And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breast-plates fiery, and purple, and sulphurous; and the heads of the horses as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths went forth fire, smoke, and brimstone." These words are expressive of the quality that is here signified by number. Some reference to number appears to be meant here by number, but in the spiritual world numbers do not exist, for spaces and times there are not measured and determined by numbers, as in the natural world, therefore all numbers, in the Word, signify things, and the number itself signifies the quality of the thing treated of, see above (n. 203, 336, 429, 430); and in Heaven and Hell 263).

  
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Translation by Isaiah Tansley. Many thanks to the Swedenborg Society for the permission to use this translation.

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Arcana Coelestia #5806

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5806. 'And he alone is left to his mother' means that this is the only truth the Church possesses. This is clear from the representation of Benjamin, to whom 'the only one left' refers here, as new truth, dealt with just above in 5804; and from the meaning of 'mother' as the Church, dealt with in 289, 2691, 2717, 5581. With regard to the fact that this truth - represented here by 'Benjamin', and described above in 5804 - is the only truth the Church possesses, the situation is this: Such truth is truth springing from spiritual good, which is 'Israel'; and it is what 'Benjamin' represents when he is with his father, whereas truth even more interior is represented by him when he is with Joseph. The truth which Benjamin represents when he is with his father and which is called new truth is the only truth that enables a person to be a Church, for this new truth or those truths [spoken of in 5804] hold life received from good within them. That is, the person with whom the truths of faith exist rooted in good is a Church, not so the person with whom the truths of faith but no good of charity exist. With the latter person the truths are dead, even though they may have been the same truths. From all this one may see what the situation is with regard to the fact that this truth is the only truth the Church possesses.

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