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Jeremias 51

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1 Ganito ang sabi ng Panginoon, Narito, ako'y magbabangon laban sa Babilonia, at laban sa nagsisitahan sa Lebcamai, ng manggigibang hangin.

2 At ako'y magsusugo sa Babilonia ng mga taga ibang lupa na papalisin siya; at kanilang wawalaan ang kaniyang lupain: sapagka't sa kaarawan ng kabagabagan ay magiging laban sila sa kaniya sa palibot.

3 Laban sa kaniya na umaakma ay iakma ng mangbubusog ang kaniyang busog, at sa kaniya na nagmamataas sa kaniyang sapyaw: at huwag ninyong patawarin ang kaniyang mga binata; inyong lipuling lubos ang buo niyang hukbo.

4 At sila'y mangabubuwal na patay sa lupain ng mga Caldeo, at napalagpasan sa kaniyang mga lansangan.

5 Sapagka't ang Israel ay hindi pinababayaan, o ang Juda man, ng kaniyang Dios, ng Panginoon ng mga hukbo; bagaman ang kanilang lupain ay puno ng sala laban sa Banal ng Israel.

6 Tumakas ka na mula sa gitna ng Babilonia, at iligtas ng bawa't tao ang kaniyang buhay; huwag kayong mangahiwalay ng dahil sa kaniyang kasamaan: sapagka't panahon ng panghihiganti ng Panginoon; siya'y maglalapat sa kaniya ng kagantihan.

7 Ang Babilonia ay naging gintong tasa sa kamay ng Panginoon, na lumango sa buong lupa: ang mga bansa ay nagsiinom ng kaniyang alak; kaya't ang mga bansa ay nangaulol.

8 Ang Babilonia ay biglang nabuwal at napahamak: inyong tangisan siya, ikuha ninyo ng balsamo ang kaniyang sakit, baka sakaling siya'y mapagaling.

9 Ibig sana nating mapagaling ang Babilonia, nguni't siya'y hindi napagaling: pabayaan siya, at yumaon bawa't isa sa atin sa kanikaniyang sariling lupain; sapagka't ang kaniyang kahatulan ay umaabot hanggang sa langit, at nataas hanggang sa mga alapaap.

10 Inilabas ng Panginoon ang ating katuwiran: magsiparito kayo, at ating ipahayag sa Sion, ang gawa ng Panginoon nating Dios.

11 Inyong patalasin ang mga pana, inyong hawakang mahigpit ang mga kalasag; pinukaw ng Panginoon ang kalooban ng mga hari ng mga Medo; sapagka't ang kaniyang lalang ay laban sa Babilonia, upang sirain: sapagka't siyang panghihiganti ng Panginoon, panghihiganti ng kaniyang templo.

12 Mangagtaas kayo ng watawat laban sa mga kuta ng Babilonia, inyong patibayin ang bantayan, inyong lagyan ng mga bantay, kayo'y mangaghanda ng mga pangbakay: sapagka't ang Panginoon ay nagpanukala at gumawa rin naman ng kaniyang sinalita tungkol sa mga nananahan sa Babilonia.

13 Oh ikaw na tumatahan sa ibabaw ng maraming tubig, sagana sa mga kayamanan, ang iyong wakas ay dumating, ang sukat ng iyong kasakiman.

14 Ang Panginoon ng mga hukbo ay sumumpa sa pamamagitan ng kaniyang sarili, na sinasabi, Tunay na pupunuin kita ng mga tao, na parang balang; at sila'y mangaglalakas ng hiyaw laban sa iyo.

15 Kaniyang ginawa ang lupa sa pamamagitan ng kaniyang kapangyarihan, kaniyang itinatag ang sanglibutan sa pamamagitan ng kaniyang karunungan, at sa pamamagitan ng kaniyang kaalaman ay iniladlad niya ang langit.

16 Paglalakas niya ng kaniyang tinig, nagkaroon ng kagulo ng tubig sa langit, at kaniyang pinailanglang ang mga singaw mula sa mga wakas ng lupa: kaniyang iginawa ng mga kidlat ang ulan, at inilabas ang hangin mula sa kaniyang mga imbakan.

17 Bawa't tao ay naging tampalasan at walang kaalaman; bawa't panday ginto ay nalagay sa kahihiyan dahil sa kaniyang larawang inanyuan; sapagka't ang kaniyang larawang binubo ay kasinungalingan, at walang hinga sa mga yaon.

18 Ang mga yaon ay walang kabuluhan, isang gawa ng karayaan: sa panahon ng pagdalaw sa mga yaon ay mangalilipol.

19 Ang bahagi ng Jacob ay hindi gaya ng mga ito; sapagka't siya ang naganyo sa lahat ng bagay; at ang Israel ay lipi ng kaniyang mana: ang Panginoon ng mga hukbo ay kaniyang pangalan.

20 Ikaw ay aking pangbakang palakol at mga almas na pangdigma: at sa pamamagitan mo ay pagwawaraywarayin ko ang mga bansa; at sa pamamagitan mo ay sisira ako ng mga kaharian;

21 At sa pamamagitan mo ay pagwawaraywarayin ko ang kabayo at ang kaniyang sakay;

22 At sa pamamagitan mo ay pagwawaraywarayin ko ang karo at ang nakasakay roon; at sa pamamagitan mo ay pagwawaraywarayin ko ang lalake at ang babae; at sa pamamagitan mo ay pagwawaraywarayin ko ang matanda at ang bata: at sa pamamagitan mo ay pagwawaraywarayin ko ang binata at ang dalaga;

23 At sa pamamagitan mo ay pagwawaraywarayin ko ang pastor at ang kaniyang kawan; at sa pamamagitan mo ay pagwawaraywarayin ko ang mangbubukid at ang kaniyang tuwang na mga baka; at sa pamamagitan mo ay pagwawaraywarayin ko ang mga tagapamahala at ang mga kinatawan.

24 At aking ilalapat sa Babilonia at sa lahat na nananahan sa Caldea ang buo nilang kasamaan na kanilang ginawa sa Sion sa inyong paningin, sabi ng Panginoon.

25 Narito, ako'y laban sa iyo, Oh mapangpahamak na bundok, sabi ng Panginoon, na gumigiba ng buong lupa; at aking iuunat ang aking kamay sa iyo, at pagugulungin kita mula sa malaking bato, at gagawin kitang bundok na sunog.

26 At hindi ka nila kukunan ng bato na panulok, o ng bato man na mga patibayan; kundi ikaw ay magiging sira magpakailan man, sabi ng Panginoon.

27 Mangagtaas kayo ng watawat sa lupain, inyong hipan ang pakakak sa gitna ng mga bansa, magsihanda ang mga bansa laban sa kaniya, pisanin laban sa kaniya ang mga kaharian ng Ararat, ng Minmi, at ng Aschenaz: mangaghalal ng puno laban sa kaniya; pasampahin ang mga kabayo ng parang mga uod.

28 Magsihanda laban sa kaniya ang mga bansa, ang mga hari ng mga Medo, ang mga gobernador niyaon, at ang lahat na kinatawan niyaon, at ang buong lupain na kaniyang sakop.

29 At ang lupain ay manginginig at nasa paghihirap; sapagka't ang mga pasiya ng Panginoon laban sa Babilonia ay nananayo, upang sirain ang lupain ng Babilonia, na nawalan ng mananahan.

30 Ang mga makapangyarihan ng Babilonia ay nagsisiurong sa pakikipaglaban, sila'y nanatili sa kanilang mga katibayan; ang kanilang kapangyarihan ay nanglulupaypay; sila'y naging parang mga babae: ang kaniyang mga tahanang dako ay sinilaban; ang kaniyang mga halang ay nabali.

31 Ang isang utusan ay tatakbo upang sumalubong sa iba, at isang sugo upang sumalubong sa iba, upang ibalita sa hari sa Babilonia, na ang kaniyang bayan ay nasakop sa lahat ng sulok:

32 At ang mga tawiran ay nangasapol, at ang mga tambo ay nangasunog ng apoy, at ang mga lalaking mangdidigma ay nangatakot.

33 Sapagka't ganito ang sabi ng Panginoon ng mga hukbo, ng Dios ng Israel, Ang anak na babae ng Babilonia ay parang giikan ng panahong yaon ng niyayapakan; sangdali na lamang, at ang panahon ng pagaani ay darating sa kaniya.

34 Nilamon ako ni Nabucodonosor na hari sa Babilonia, kaniyang pinisa ako, kaniyang ginawa akong sisidlan na walang laman, ako'y sinakmal niyang parang buwaya, kaniyang binusog ang kaniyang tiyan ng aking mga masarap na pagkain; kaniyang itinakuwil ako.

35 Ang karahasang ginawa sa akin at sa aking laman ay mahulog nawa sa Babilonia, sasabihin ng taga Sion; at, Ang dugo ko ay mahulog nawa sa mga nananahan sa Caldea, sasabihin ng Jerusalem.

36 Kaya't ganito ang sabi ng Panginoon, Narito, aking ipakikipaglaban ang iyong usap, at igaganti kita; at aking tutuyuin ang kaniyang dagat, at gagawin ko siyang bukal na tuyo.

37 At ang Babilonia ay magiging mga bunton, tahanang dako sa mga chakal, katigilan, at kasutsutan, na mawawalan ng mananahan.

38 Sila'y magsisiangal na magkakasama na parang mga batang leon; sila'y magsisiangal na parang mga anak ng leon.

39 Pagka sila'y nag-init, aking gagawin ang kanilang kapistahan, at akin silang lalanguhin, upang sila'y mangagalak, at patutulugin ng walang hanggang pagtulog, at huwag mangagising, sabi ng Panginoon.

40 Aking ibababa sila na parang mga kordero sa patayan, mga lalaking tupa na kasama ng mga kambing na lalake.

41 Ano't nasakop ang Sesach! at ang kapurihan ng buong lupa ay nagitla! ano't ang Babilonia ay naging kagibaan sa gitna ng mga bansa!

42 Ang dagat ay umapaw sa Babilonia; siya'y natakpan ng karamihan ng mga alon niyaon.

43 Ang kaniyang mga bayan ay nasira, tuyong lupain at ilang, lupain na walang taong tumatahan, o dinaraanan man ng sinomang anak ng tao.

44 At ako'y maglalapat ng kahatulan kay Bel sa Babilonia, at aking ilalabas sa kaniyang bibig ang kaniyang nasakmal; at ang mga bansa ay hindi na bubugsong magkakasama pa sa kaniya: oo, ang kuta ng Babilonia ay mababagsak.

45 Bayan ko, magsilabas kayo sa kaniya, at lumigtas bawa't isa sa mabangis na galit ng Panginoon.

46 At huwag manganglupaypay ang inyong puso, o mangatakot man kayo sa balita na maririnig sa lupain; sapagka't ang balita ay darating na isang taon, at pagkatapos niyaon ay darating sa ibang taon ang isang balita, at ang pangdadahas sa lupain, pinuno laban sa pinuno.

47 Kaya't narito, ang mga araw ay dumarating, na ako'y maglalapat ng kahatulan sa mga larawang inanyuan sa Babilonia; at ang kaniyang buong lupain ay mapapahiya; at ang lahat ng mapapatay sa kaniya ay mangabubulagta sa gitna niya.

48 Kung magkagayo'y ang langit at ang lupa, at lahat na nandoon, magsisiawit dahil sa Babilonia sa kagalakan; sapagka't ang mga manglilipol ay darating sa kaniya mula sa hilagaan, sabi ng Panginoon.

49 Kung paanong ibinuwal ng Babilonia ang namatay sa Israel, gayon mabubuwal sa Babilonia ang namatay sa buong lupain.

50 Kayong nangakatanan sa tabak, magsiyaon kayo, huwag kayong magsitigil; inyong alalahanin ang Panginoon sa malayo, at pasukin ang inyong pagiisip ng Jerusalem.

51 Kami ay nangapahiya, sapagka't kami ay nangakarinig ng kakutyaan; kalituhan ay tumakip sa aming mga mukha: sapagka't ang mga taga ibang lupa ay pumasok sa mga santuario ng bahay ng Panginoon.

52 Kaya't narito, ang mga kaarawan ay dumarating, sabi ng Panginoon, na ako'y maglalapat ng kahatulan sa kaniyang mga larawang inanyuan; at sa buong lupain niya ay dadaing ang nasugatan.

53 Bagaman ang Babilonia ay umilanglang hanggang sa langit, at bagaman kaniyang patibayin ang kataasan ng kaniyang kalakasan, gayon ma'y darating sa kaniya ang mga manglilipol na mula sa akin, sabi ng Panginoon.

54 Ang ingay ng hiyaw na mula sa Babilonia, at ng malaking paglipol na mula sa lupain ng mga Caldeo!

55 Sapagka't ang Panginoon ay nananamsam sa Babilonia, at nanglilipol doon ang dakilang tinig; at ang mga alon ng mga yaon ay nagsisihugong na parang maraming tubig; ang hugong ng kanilang kaingay ay lumabas:

56 Sapagka't ang manglilipol ay dumating doon, sa Babilonia, at ang mga makapangyarihang lalake niyaon ay nangahuli, ang kanilang mga busog ay nagkaputolputol: sapagka't ang Panginoon ay Dios ng mga kagantihan, siya'y tunay na magbabayad.

57 At aking lalanguhin ang kaniyang mga prinsipe at ang kaniyang mga pantas, ang kaniyang mga gobernador at ang kaniyang mga kinatawan, at ang kaniyang mga makapangyarihan; at siya'y matutulog ng walang hanggang pagtulog, at hindi magigising, sabi ng Hari, na ang pangalan ay ang Panginoon ng mga hukbo.

58 Ganito ang sabi ng Panginoon ng mga hukbo, Ang makapal na kuta ng Babilonia ay lubos na magigiba, at ang kaniyang mga mataas na pintuang-bayan ay masusunog ng apoy; at ang mga tao ay magpapagal sa walang kabuluhan, at ang mga bansa sa apoy; at sila'y mangapapagod.

59 Ang salita na iniutos ni Jeremias na propeta kay Seraias na anak ni Nerias, na anak ni Maasias, ng siya'y pumaroon sa Babilonia na kasama ni Sedechias na hari sa Juda, nang ikaapat na taon ng kaniyang paghahari. Si Seraias nga ay punong bating.

60 At sinulat ni Jeremias sa isang aklat ang lahat na kasamaan na darating sa Babilonia, ang lahat na salitang ito na nasusulat tungkol sa Babilonia.

61 At sinabi ni Jeremias kay Seraias, Pagdating mo sa Babilonia, iyo ngang tingnan na iyong basahin ang lahat na mga salitang ito,

62 At iyong sabihin, Oh Panginoon, ikaw ay nagsalita tungkol sa dakong ito, upang iyong ihiwalay, upang walang tumahan doon, maging tao o hayop man, kundi masisira magpakailan man.

63 At mangyayari, pagkatapos mong bumasa ng aklat na ito, na iyong tatalian ng bato, at ihahagis mo sa gitna ng Eufrates:

64 At iyong sasabihin, Ganito lulubog ang Babilonia, at hindi lilitaw uli dahil sa kasamaan na aking dadalhin sa kaniya; at sila'y mapapagod. Hanggang dito ang mga salita ni Jeremias.

   

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Apocalypse Explained #741

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741. That seduceth the whole world, signifies that pervert all things of the church. This is evident from the signification of "the whole world," as being all things of the church (of which presently); and as all things of the church are signified by "the whole world," so "to seduce it" signifies to pervert those things; for all things of the church are perverted when the good of charity, which is the good of life, is separated and removed from faith as not contributing and effecting anything to salvation. Thereby all things of the Word and thence all things of the church are falsified, for the Lord says that the law and the prophets 1 hang on these two commandments, "To love God above all things, and the neighbor as thyself." These two commandments signify to live and act according to the commandments of the Word; for to love is to will and to do, since what a man interiorly loves, that he wills, and what he wills that he does. "The law and the prophets" signify all things of the Word.

[2] There are two principles of evil and falsity into which the church successively falls. One is dominion over all things of the church and of heaven, which dominion is meant in the Word by "Babel" or "Babylonia;" into this the church falls by reason of evil; the other is the separation of faith from charity, in consequence of which separation all the good of life perishes; this is meant in the Word by "Philistia," and is signified by "the he-goat" in Daniel, and by "the dragon" in Revelation; into this the church falls by reason of falsity. But since this chapter treats of "the dragon," which especially signifies the religion of faith separate from charity, I will mention in passing some things whereby the defenders of faith separate seduce the world. They especially seduce by teaching that as from oneself no one can do good that is in itself good, or can do good without placing merit in it, so good works can contribute nothing to salvation; nevertheless, goods should be done on account of use for the public good; and these are the goods that are meant in the Word and thence in preachings, and in some of the prayers of the church. How great an error this is shall now be told. When a man does good from the Word, that is, because it is commanded by the Lord in the Word, he does it not from himself but from the Lord, for the Lord is the Word (John 1:1, 14), and the Lord is in those things that man has from the Word, as He teaches in these words in John:

He that keepeth My word, I will come unto him and will make My abode with him (John 14:23).

This is why the Lord so often commands that His words and commandments must be done; and that those who do them shall have eternal life; so also that everyone will be judged according to his works. From this it then follows that those who do good from the Word do good from the Lord, and good from the Lord is truly good, and so far as it is from the Lord there is no merit in it.

[3] That good from the Word, thus from the Lord, is truly good, is evident also from these words in Revelation:

I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hear My voice and open the door, I will come in to him and will sup with him and he with Me (Revelation 3:20).

This shows that the Lord is always and continually present and bestows the effort to do good, but that man must open the door, that is, must receive the Lord; and he receives Him when he does good from His Word. Although this appears to man to be done as of himself, yet it is not of man but of the Lord in him. It so appears to man because he has no other feeling than that he thinks from himself and acts from himself; and yet when he thinks and acts from the Word he does it as if of himself, therefore he then also believes that he does it of the Lord.

[4] From this it can be seen that the good that a man does from the Word is spiritual good, and that this conjoins man to the Lord and to heaven. But the good that a man does for the world's sake and for the sake of the communities in the world, which is called civil and moral good, conjoins him to the world and not to heaven. Moreover, the conjunction of the truth of faith is with spiritual good, which is the good of charity towards the neighbor, because faith in itself is spiritual, and what is spiritual cannot be conjoined with any other good than what is equally spiritual. But civil and moral good, separate from spiritual good, is not good in itself, because it is from man; yea, so far as self and the world lie concealed in it, it is evil; this good, therefore, cannot be conjoined with faith, yea, if it were to be conjoined faith would be dissipated.

[5] "To seduce the whole world" signifies to pervert all things of the church, because "the world" signifies in general the church as to all things of it, both goods and truths; but in particular it signifies the church in respect to good; this is the signification of "world" when "the earth" also is mentioned. That "the earth" in the Word signifies the church has been shown above (n. 304, 697); but when "the world" is also mentioned "the earth" signifies the church in respect to truth. For there are two things that constitute the church, namely, truth and good, and these two are signified by "earth" and "world" in the following passages.

[6] In Isaiah:

With my soul have I desired Thee in the night; yea, with my spirit in the midst of me have I early waited for Thee; for when Thou teachest the earth Thy judgments, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness (Isaiah 26:9).

"Night" signifies a state in which there is no light of truth, and "morning" a state in which there is the light of truth; the latter state is from love, but the former is when there is as yet no love. So "the soul that desired Jehovah in the night" signifies a life that is not yet in the light of truth; and "the spirit in the midst of him with which he waited for Jehovah in the morning" signifies a life that is in the light of truth; so it is added, "for when Thou teachest the earth Thy judgments, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness," which signifies that the church is in truths from the Lord, and by means of truths is in good; "earth" signifying the church in respect to truths, and "world," the church in respect to good; for "judgment" in the Word is predicated of truth, and "righteousness" of good, and "inhabitants" signifying the men of the church who are in the goods of doctrine and thence of life. (That "judgment" in the Word is predicated of truth, and "righteousness" of good, may be seen in the Arcana Coelestia 2235, 9857; and that "to inhabit" signifies to live, and thence "inhabitants" those who are in the good of doctrine and thus of life, may be seen above, n. 133, 479, 662)

[7] In Lamentations:

The kings of the earth believed not, and all the inhabitants of the world, that the enemy and the adversary would come into the gates of Jerusalem (Lamentations 4:12).

"The kings of the earth" signify the men of the church who are in truths, and "the inhabitants of the world" the men of the church who are in good; that "kings" signify those who are in truths may be seen above (n. 31, 553, 625); and that "the inhabitants" signify those who are in good has been shown just above. Thence it is clear that the "earth" signifies the church in respect to truths, and the "world" the church in respect to good. And as all things of the doctrine of the church were destroyed by falsities and evils, it is said that "they believed not that the enemy and the adversary would come into the gates of Jerusalem;" "enemy" signifying the falsities that destroyed the truths of the church, which are meant by "the kings of the earth," and "adversary" signifying the evils that destroyed the goods of the church, which are meant by "the inhabitants of the world;" "Jerusalem" meaning the church in respect to doctrine.

[8] In David:

Let all the earth fear Jehovah, let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him (Psalms 33:8).

Here, too, the "earth" signifies those who are in the truths of the church, and "the inhabitants of the world" those who are in the goods of the church. In the same:

The earth is Jehovah's and the fullness thereof, the world and they that dwell therein; He hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the rivers (Psalms 24:1, 2).

Here, also, the "earth" signifies the church in respect to truth, and "the fullness thereof" signifies all truths in the complex; and the "world" signifies the church in respect to good, and "they that dwell" signify goods in the complex. What is signified by "founding it upon the seas and establishing it upon the rivers" may be seen above (n. 275, 518).

[9] In Isaiah:

We have conceived, we have travailed, we have as it were brought forth wind; we have not wrought salvation in the earth, and the inhabitants of the world 2 have fallen 3 (Isaiah 26:18).

Here, again, the "earth" stands for the church in respect to truths, and the "world" for the church in respect to goods. (The rest may be seen explained above, n. 721.) In the same:

Come near, ye nations, to hear, and attend ye people; let the earth hear and the fullness thereof, the world and all its offspring (Isaiah 34:1).

That "nations" mean those who are in goods, and "peoples" those who are in truths, may be seen above (n. 175, 331, 625); therefore it is added, "let the earth hear and the fullness thereof, the world and all its offspring," "the earth and the fullness thereof" signifying the church in respect to all truths, and "the world and all its offspring" the church in respect to all goods.

[10] In the same:

All ye inhabitants of the world and ye dwellers on the earth, when the ensign of the mountains shall be lifted up, see ye, and when the trumpet shall be sounded, hear ye (Isaiah 18:3).

"The inhabitants of the world and the dwellers on the earth" signify all in the church who are in goods and truths, as above; the Lord's coming is signified by "when the ensign of the mountains shall be lifted up, see ye, and when the trumpet shall be sounded, hear ye;" "the ensign upon the mountains," as well as "the sounding of the trumpet," signify a calling together to the church.

[11] In David:

Before Jehovah, for He cometh, for He cometh to judge the earth; He shall judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in truth (Psalms 96:13; 98:9).

This treats of the Lord's coming, and the last judgment at that time. Because the "world" signifies those of the church who are in good, and "peoples" those who are in truths, it is said that "He shall judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in truth;" "righteousness" as well as the "world" refers to good. In the same:

Before the mountains were brought forth, and before the earth and the world were formed, from everlasting and even to everlasting Thou art God (Psalms 90:2).

"Mountains" signify those who dwell upon mountains in the heavens, who are those that are in celestial good, while "the earth and the world" signify the church consisting of those who are in truths and in goods.

[12] In the same:

Jehovah reigneth, He is clothed with majesty, Jehovah is clothed with strength, He girdeth Himself; the world also shall be established, nor shall it be moved; Thy throne is established from then, Thou art from eternity (Psalms 93:1, 2).

This is said of the Lord when about to come into the world; and as He has glory and power from the Human that He united to His Divine, it is said that "He is clothed with majesty and strength," and that "He girdeth Himself;" for the Lord assumed the Human that He might have power to subjugate the hells. The church that He was about to establish and protect forever is signified by "the world that shall be established and shall not be moved," and "the throne that shall be established;" for the "world" signifies heaven and the church as to the reception of Divine good, and "throne" heaven and the church as to the reception of Divine truth.

[13] In the same:

Say among the nations, Jehovah reigneth; the world also shall be established, neither shall it be moved; He shall judge the peoples in uprightness; the heavens shall be glad and the earth shall rejoice (Psalms 96:10, 11).

This, too, is said of the Lord about to come, and of the church to be established by Him and protected to eternity, which is signified by "the world that shall be established and not moved," as above; and as the "world" signifies the church in respect to good it is added that "He shall judge the peoples in uprightness;" the "peoples," like "earth," signify those who are in the truths of the church, therefore it is said "the peoples of the earth," but "the inhabitants of the world;" "uprightness" also means truths. The joy of those who are in the church in the heavens and in the church on earth is signified by "the heavens shall be glad and the earth shall rejoice."

[14] In the same:

Jehovah shall judge the world in righteousness, He shall judge the peoples in uprightness (Psalms 9:8).

Because the "world" means the church in respect to good, and "righteousness" is predicated of good, it is said "Jehovah shall judge the world in righteousness;" and as those are called "peoples" who are in truths, and "uprightness" means truths, as above, it is said, "He shall judge the peoples in uprightness." In Jeremiah:

Jehovah maketh the earth by His power, and prepareth the world by His wisdom, and by His intelligence He stretcheth out the heavens (Jeremiah 10:12; 51:15).

"Jehovah maketh the earth by His power" signifies that the Lord establishes the church by the power of Divine truth; "He prepareth the world by His wisdom" signifies that He forms the church that is in good from Divine good by means of Divine truth; "by His intelligence He stretcheth out the heavens" signifies that thus He enlarges the heavens.

[15] In David:

The heavens are Thine and the earth is Thine, the world and the fullness thereof Thou hast founded (Psalms 89:11).

"The heavens and the earth" signify the church in the heavens and in the earths, both in respect to truths, and "the world and the fullness thereof" signifies the church in the heavens and in the earths, both in respect to goods, "fullness" meaning goods and truths in the whole complex. In the same:

If I were hungry I would not tell thee, for the world is Mine and the fullness thereof (Psalms 50:12).

This is said of sacrifices, that the Lord does not delight in them, but in confession and works, for it is added:

Should I eat the flesh of the stout ones, or drink the blood of he-goats? Sacrifice unto God confession, and pay thy vows to the Most High (Psalms 50:13-14).

So "if I should be hungry" signifies if I should desire sacrifices; but as the Lord desires worship from goods and truths it is said "for the world is Mine and the fullness thereof;" "fullness" signifying goods and truths in the whole complex, as above. This is said of the beasts that were sacrificed, but these signify in the spiritual sense various kinds of good and truth.

[16] In Matthew:

These good tidings of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world, for a witness unto all, and then shall the end come (Matthew 24:14).

Because the "world" signifies the church in respect to good it is said that "these good tidings shall be preached unto all nations," for the "nations" who are to hear and receive signify all who are in good. Moreover, "nations" signify all who are in evils, who also will hear; but then the "world" signifies the whole church when it is already in evils; therefore it is said that "then shall the end come."

[17] In the first book of Samuel:

Jehovah raiseth up the depressed out of the dust, He exalteth the needy from the dunghill, to make them sit with princes, and He shall make them to inherit the throne of glory; for the bases of the earth are Jehovah's, and He hath set the world upon them (1 Samuel 2:8).

This is the prophecy of Hannah the mother of Samuel. "To raise up the depressed out of the dust and the needy from the dunghill" signifies the instruction of the Gentiles, and the enlightenment in interior truths which would be revealed by the Lord, and thus the removal from evils and falsities. "The bases of the earth" signify exterior truths, such as those of the sense of the letter of the Word, for on those truths interior truths have their foundation; therefore the "world" which He hath set upon them signifies the church in respect to all its goods and truths. (But as to this see above, n. 253, 304)

[18] In Isaiah:

Jacob shall cause them that are to come to take root, Israel shall blossom and bud, so that the faces of the world shall be filled with the increase (Isaiah 27:6).

"Jacob" means the external church, and "Israel" the internal church; and as the internal of the church is founded upon its externals, and internals are thereby multiplied and made fruitful, it is said that "Jacob shall cause them that are to come to take root, and Israel shall blossom and bud;" the consequent fructification of the church is signified by "the faces of the world shall be filled with the increase."

[19] In the same:

Is this the man that maketh the earth to tremble, that maketh the kingdoms to quake, that hath made the world a wilderness, and thrown down the cities thereof? Prepare slaughter for his sons for the iniquity of their fathers, that they rise not up and possess the earth and the faces of the world be filled with cities (Isaiah 14:16, 17, 21).

This is said of Lucifer, by whom "Babylon" is meant, that is, the love of ruling over heaven and over the earth; therefore "to make the earth to tremble, to make the kingdoms to quake, to make the world a wilderness and throw down the cities thereof," signifies to destroy all things of the church; the "earth" meaning the church in respect to truth; "kingdoms," churches distinguished according to truths; the "world" the church in respect to good, and "cities" doctrinals. "To prepare slaughter for the sons for the iniquity of their fathers" signifies the destruction of the falsities that arise from their evils; "that they possess not the earth and fill the faces of the world with cities" signifies lest falsities and evils, and doctrinals from them, take possession of the whole church.

[20] In the same:

The earth shall mourn and be confounded, the world shall languish and be confounded, the exaltation of the people of the earth shall languish, and the earth itself shall be profaned under its inhabitants (Isaiah 24:4, 5).

This describes the desolation of the church in respect to its truths and goods by reason of the pride of self-intelligence, and the profanation of truths that are from good. The desolation is described by "mourning, being confounded, and languishing;" the church in respect to truths and goods is signified by "the earth and the world;" the pride of self-intelligence by "the exaltation of the people of the earth," and the profanation of truths that are from good by "the earth shall be profaned under its inhabitants."

[21] In Nahum:

The mountains shall quake before Him, and the hills shall melt; the earth shall be burnt up before Him, and the world and all that dwell therein (Nahum 1:5).

What is signified by the "mountains" that shall quake, and the "hills" that shall melt, may be seen above (n. 400, 405). But "the earth and the world and they that dwell therein shall be burnt up" signifies that the church in respect to all its truths and goods will be destroyed by infernal love.

[22] In David:

The channels of waters appeared and the foundations of the world were revealed at Thy rebuke, O Jehovah, at the breath of the spirit of Thy nostrils (Psalms 18:15; 2 Samuel 22:16).

That all things of the church in respect to its truths and goods were overturned from the foundation is signified by "the channels of waters appeared and the foundations of the world were revealed;" "the channels of waters" meaning the truths, and "the foundations of the world" its goods, and "to appear" and "to be revealed" meaning to be overturned from the foundation. That this destruction is from the hatred and fury of the evil against Divine things is signified by "at Thy rebuke, O Jehovah, at the breath of the spirit of Thy nostrils;" the "rebuke" and "the spirit of Jehovah's nostrils" have a similar signification as "His anger and wrath" mentioned elsewhere in the Word. But since the Lord has no anger or wrath against the evil, while the evil have against the Lord, and as anger and wrath appear to the evil when they perish to be from the Lord, therefore this is so said according to that appearance. "The breath of the spirit of Jehovah's nostrils" means also the east wind, which destroys by drought, and overturns by its penetrating power.

[23] In the same:

The voice of Thy thunder is in the world, the lightnings enlightened the world, the earth trembled and quaked (Psalms 77:18).

His lightnings shall enlighten the world; the earth shall see and fear, the mountains shall melt like wax before Jehovah, before the Lord of the whole earth (Psalms 97:4, 5).

This describes the state of the wicked because of the Lord's presence in His Divine truth, which state is like that of the sons of Israel when the Lord appeared to them upon Mount Sinai. That they then heard thunders, saw lightnings, and that the mountain appeared to be in a consuming fire as of a furnace, and they feared exceedingly, is known from the Word. This was because they were evil in heart; for the Lord appears to everyone according to what is his quality, to the good as a recreating fire, and to the evil as a consuming fire. From this it is clear what is signified by "the voice of Thy thunder is in the world, the lightnings enlightened the world, the earth trembled and quaked;" and "the mountains shall melt before Jehovah, the Lord of the whole earth;" "the world" meaning all that are of the church who are in goods, but here who are in evils, and the "earth" all that are of the church who are in truths, but here who are in falsities.

[24] In Isaiah:

I will visit malice upon the world, and upon the wicked their iniquity (Isaiah 13:11).

Here, too, the "world" means those that are of the church who are in evils, and the "wicked" those who are in falsities, therefore it is said "I will visit malice upon the world, and upon the wicked their iniquity;" "malice" means evil, and "iniquity" is predicated of falsities.

[25] In Job:

They shall thrust him away from light unto darkness, and chase him out of the world (Job 18:18).

Because "light" signifies the truth, and the "world" the good of the church, and when the wicked man casts himself from truth into falsity he also casts himself from good into evil, it is said "they shall thrust him away from light into darkness, and chase him out of the world," "darkness" meaning falsities, and "to chase out of the world" meaning to cast out from the good of the church.

[26] In Luke:

Men will faint for fear and for expectation of the things coming upon the whole world; for the powers of the heavens shall be shaken; and then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud of the heavens with power and much glory (Luke 21:26, 27).

This is said of the consummation of the age, which is the last time of the church, when there is no longer any truth because there is no good; the state of heaven at that time is described by these words, that "men will faint for fear and for expectation of the things coming upon the whole world;" this describes the fear of those who are in the heavens, that everything of the church in respect to its good and therefore in respect to its truths would perish, and the expectation of help from the Lord. That the power of Divine truth is weakened is signified by "the shaking of the powers of the heavens;" "the powers of the heavens" meaning Divine truths in respect to power; that the Lord will then make evident Divine truth, which has power and from which is intelligence, is signified by "then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud of the heavens, with power and much glory."

[27] "The earth and the world" have a like signification in the following passage in Revelation:

They are the spirits of demons doing signs to go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them together unto the war (Revelation 16:14).

It is said "unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world," because one thing of the church is signified by "earth," and another by "world." As the "world" signifies the church in respect to good it also signifies all things of the church, for good is the essential of the church; therefore where there is good there is also truth, for every good desires truth and wishes to be conjoined to truth and to be spiritually nourished by it, thus also reciprocally.

Footnotes:

1. The Latin has here has "prophet."

2. The Hebrew has "not," as is also found in 721.

3. The Latin here has "earth," but in the explanation "world," as in the Hebrew.

  
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Thanks to the Swedenborg Foundation for their permission to use this translation.