1183. Saying, Thus with violence shall Babylon be cast down, that great city, and shall be found no more.- That this signifies the total destruction of that doctrine [and religion], so that it shall not rise again, is evident from the signification of being cast down with violence, as denoting total destruction; and from the signification of Babylon the great city, which denotes that religion and its doctrine, of which we have frequently spoken above; and from the signification of not being found any more, as denoting not to rise again.
Continuation.- The case is otherwise with those whom the Lord leads, and He leads those who love and will truths from Himself. These are enlightened when they read the Word, for the Lord is present in it, and speaks with every one according to his capacity. If these hear the speech of spirits, as is sometimes the case, they are not taught by it, but are led, so providently, that the man is still left to himself. For, as was before observed, every man is led by the Lord through his affections, and he thinks from them in freedom, as if from himself. If this were not the case, man would be incapable of reformation, and could not possibly be enlightened. Men are, however, enlightened in various ways according to the nature of their affection and their intelligence derived from it. Those who are in the spiritual affection for truth are raised up into the light of heaven, to such a degree, that they perceive the enlightenment. I have been permitted to see this enlightenment, and from it to perceive distinctly what comes from the Lord, and what from angels; what is from the Lord has been written, and what from the angels has not been written (quod a Domino, hoc scriptum est, et quod ab angelis non scriptum). Moreover, I have been permitted to speak with angels as man with man, and also to see the things which are in the heavens, and those which are in the hells. The reason of this is that the end of the present church is approaching, and the beginning of a new one is at hand, which will be the New Jerusalem. It is necessary to be revealed to this church that the Lord governs the universe, both heaven and the world; that there are a heaven and a hell, and what is the nature of each; that men live also as men after death, in heaven those who have been led by the Lord, in hell those who have been guided by themselves; that the Word is the very Divine of the Lord on earth; and further, that the Last Judgment is accomplished, lest man should be for ever expecting it to take place in this world; besides many other things relating to the light now arising after darkness.
