The Bible

 

Postanak 13

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1 Tako otide Avram iz Misira gore na jug, on i žena mu i sve što imaše, takođe i Lot s njim.

2 A beše Avram vrlo bogat stokom, srebrom i zlatom.

3 I iđaše svojim putevima od juga sve do Vetilja, do mesta gde mu prvo beše šator, između Vetilja i Gaja,

4 Do mesta, gde pre beše načinio žrtvenik; i onde prizva Avram ime Gospodnje.

5 A i Lot koji iđaše s Avramom imaše ovaca i goveda i šatora.

6 I zemlja ne mogaše ih nositi zajedno, jer blago njihovo beše veliko da ne mogoše živeti zajedno,

7 I beše svađa među pastirima Avramove stoke i pastirima Lotove stoke. A u to vreme živehu Hananeji i Ferezeji u onoj zemlji.

8 Pa Avram reče Lotu: Nemoj da se svađamo ja i ti, ni moji pastiri i tvoji pastiri; jer smo braća.

9 Nije li ti otvorena cela zemlja? Odeli se od mene. Ako ćeš ti na levo, ja ću na desno; ako li ćeš ti na desno ja ću na levo.

10 Tada Lot podiže oči svoje i sagleda svu ravnicu jordansku, kako celu natapaše reka, beše kao vrt Gospodnji, kao zemlja misirska, sve do Zagora, pre nego Gospod zatre Sodom i Gomor.

11 I Lot izabra sebi svu ravnicu jordansku, i otide Lot na istok; i razdeliše se jedan od drugog:

12 Avram življaše u zemlji hananskoj, a Lot življaše po gradovima u onoj ravnici premeštajući svoje šatore do Sodoma.

13 A ljudi u Sodomu behu nevaljali, i grešahu Gospodu veoma.

14 A Gospod reče Avramu, pošto se Lot odeli od njega: Podigni sada oči svoje, pa pogledaj s mesta gde si na sever i na jug i na istok i na zapad.

15 Jer svu zemlju što vidiš tebi ću dati i semenu tvom do veka.

16 I učiniću da semena tvog bude kao praha na zemlji; ako ko uzmože izbrojati prah na zemlji, moći će izbrojati i seme tvoje.

17 Ustani, i prolazi tu zemlju u dužinu i u širinu; jer ću je tebi dati.

18 I Avram diže šatore, i dođe i naseli se u ravnici mamrijskoj, koja je kod Hevrona, i onde načini žrtvenik Gospodu.

   

From Swedenborg's Works

 

True Christian Religion #635

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635. Lastly I will reveal this secret. Seven chapters of Revelation describe the termination of the present church, in terms similar to the devastation of Egypt. In both cases this was by similar plagues, each of which stands in the spiritual sense for some falsity advancing its devastation to the point of destruction. This church, therefore, which is at the present time lost, is also called Egypt as spiritually understood (Revelation 11:8). The plagues in Egypt were as follows.

The waters were turned to blood, so that all the fish died and the river stank (Exodus 7; similar language in Revelation 8:8; 16:3). Blood means Divine truth falsified (see Apocalypse Revealed 379, 404, 681, 687-688). The fish that died mean likewise truths in the natural man (Apocalypse Revealed 290, 405).

Frogs came forth upon the land of Egypt (Exodus 8). There is also a mention of frogs in Revelation 16:13. Frogs mean reasonings as a result of a longing for the falsification of truth (see Apocalypse Revealed 702).

In Egypt foul ulcers appeared upon men and beasts (Exodus 9); similar language in Revelation 16:2. Ulcers mean inward evils and falsities which can destroy the good and truth in the church (see Apocalypse Revealed 678).

In Egypt hail fell mixed with fire (Exodus 9); similar language in Revelation 8:7; 16:21. Hail means hellish falsity (see Apocalypse Revealed 399, 714).

Locusts were sent upon Egypt (Exodus 10); similar language in Revelation 9:1-11. Locusts mean falsities in outermost things (see Apocalypse Revealed 424, 430).

Oppressive darkness was brought upon Egypt (Exodus 10:21); similar language in Revelation 8:12. Darkness means falsities arising from ignorance, or from false ideas of religion, or from evil living (see Apocalypse Revealed 110, 413, 695).

The Egyptians finally perished in the sea of Suph 1 (Exodus 14). In Revelation the dragon and the false prophet perished in the lake of fire and brimstone (Revelation 19:20; 20:10). Both the sea of Suph and that lake have the same meaning, hell.

The reason why similar language is used of Egypt and of the church, the termination and end of which is described in Revelation, is that Egypt stands for the church, which in its beginnings was outstanding. So before its church was devastated, Egypt is equated with the Garden of Eden and the garden of Jehovah (Genesis 13:10; Ezekiel 31:8). It is also called 'the corner-stone of the tribes', and 'the sons of wise men and of the kings of ancient time' (Isaiah 19:11, 13). More about Egypt in its earliest state and in its devastation will be found in Apocalypse Revealed 503.

Footnotes:

1. Generally taken as 'the Red Sea', but the author keeps the Hebrew form.

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

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Apocalypse Revealed #681

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681. And it became blood as though of a dead man, and every living creature in the sea died. This symbolizes the infernal falsity in those people by which every truth in the Word was extinguished, and so also every truth in the church and in faith.

Blood as though of a dead man, or blood oozing and mixed with pus, symbolizes infernal falsity. For blood symbolizes Divine truth, and in an opposite sense, that truth falsified (no. 379). But blood as though of a dead man symbolizes infernal falsity, inasmuch as death symbolizes the extinction of spiritual life, and so a dead man symbolizes something infernal (nos. 321, 525). That every living creature died means symbolically that every truth in the Word, in the church, and in faith was extinguished. For a living creature symbolizes the truth of faith; accordingly a living creature that has died symbolizes the truth of faith extinguished.

A living creature in the Word, or a soul when referring to a human being, symbolizes his spiritual life, which is also the life of his intellect; and because the intellect is formed by truths, and truths have to do with faith, therefore a living creature or soul symbolizes the truth of faith. That this is the symbolic meaning of a living creature or soul can be seen from many passages in the Word, and also from those that mention both soul and heart. The soul and heart plainly mean a person's life, but it is his life in consequence of his will and intellect, or spiritually speaking, in consequence of his love and wisdom, or of his charity and faith; and the life of the will springing from the goodness of love is meant by heart, while the life of the intellect springing from truths of wisdom or of faith is meant by soul. These are meant by soul and heart in Matthew 22:37, Mark 12:30, 33, Luke 10:27; Deuteronomy 6:5; 10:12; 11:13; 26:16; Jeremiah 32:41; and elsewhere. Also in passages which mention heart by itself and soul by itself.

The reason these terms are used comes from the correspondence of the heart with the will and love, and of the soul's action in the lungs with the intellect and wisdom, as may be seem in Angelic Wisdom Regarding Divine Love and Wisdom, Section Five, where this correspondence is discussed.

  
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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.