127. Internal Meaning of Ezekiel, Chapter 4

Representation of the perverted church in the church. (2)

1-2 He should represent the falsities of the church, and the church besieged by them. (2)

3 He should represent the hardness of their heart, from which it is that they have no fear; (2)

4-8 he should also represent the church besieged by falsities of evil and evils of falsity. (2)

9-16 He should represent the falsification and adulteration of the sense of the letter of the Word, (2)

17 by which everything of the church has perished. (2, 3)

2282. This all shows that outward or superficial people are driven by a prophetic spirit, as was Saul [1 Sam. 10:10-13, 19:23-4] and many others who prophesied, spoken of here and there in the Word. And they were so possessed by spirits that they then did not at all know who they were.

But inward people on the other hand, who have faith, cannot be like that, and if they are possessed by such a spirit in a similar way, they still remain themselves, both in regard to their thoughts and their actions. Therefore also it was foretold that prophecies would cease [Mic. 3:5-7, Zech. 13:2-3], that is, through the Lord, Who would renew the inward person.