762. 18:6 "Render to her as she rendered to you, repay her double according to her works; in the cup which she has mixed, mix double for her." This symbolizes a just retribution and punishment after death, that the evils and falsities with which Roman Catholics led astray and destroyed others will, in accordance with the magnitude and character of them, come back upon themselves, which is called the lex talionis (law of retaliation).

"Render to her as she rendered to you" symbolizes their just retribution and punishment after death. "Repay her double according to her works" means symbolically that the evils with which they led astray and destroyed others will, in accordance with the magnitude and character of them, come back upon themselves. "In the cup which she has mixed, mix double for her," means symbolically that their falsities will likewise come back upon themselves; for a cup or wine symbolizes falsities (nos. 316, 635, 649, 672).

Almost the same statement is made of Babylon in the Prophets:

Repay (Babylon) according to her work; according to all she has done, do to her; for she has behaved insolently against Jehovah, against the Holy One of Israel. (Jeremiah 50:29)

...the vengeance of Jehovah (is this): Take vengeance on (Babylon). As she has done, so do to her. (Jeremiah 50:15)

The daughter of Babylon has been destroyed. Blessed is the one who repays you your retribution as you have repaid us! (Psalms 137:8)

[2] According to the literal meaning, people whom Roman Catholics have led astray and destroyed are to visit retribution on them. But according to the spiritual meaning, it is not they who are to visit retribution on those Roman Catholics, but those Roman Catholics themselves, because every evil carries with it its own punishment. The case is similar to when the Word says here and there that God will visit retribution and avenge injustices and injuries done to Him, and will be moved by anger and wrath to destroy people, when in fact it is the evils done against God themselves that do this, thus the people themselves who do it to themselves.

This is, indeed, the lex talionis or law of retaliation, which takes its origin from the following Divine law:

Everything whatever you wish people to do to you, do you also to them. This is the Law and the Prophets. (Matthew 7:12, cf. Luke 6:31)

In heaven this law is one of mutual love or charity, from which arises its opposite in hell, namely, that everyone has done to him as he has done to another - not that it is done to them by anyone in heaven, but that they do it to themselves. For the retribution of the lex talionis arises from its opposition to the aforesaid law of life in heaven, as a law engraved on their evils.

[3] Double symbolizes much in accordance with the magnitude and character of a thing also in the following place:

Let my persecutors be shamed! ...Bring on them the day of evil, and shatter them with double shattering! (Jeremiah 17:18)

And much in accordance with the magnitude and character of people's turning away from evils in the following:

Comfort... My people! ...that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is atoned for; for she has received from Jehovah's hand double... (Isaiah 40:1-2)

Return to the stronghold, you prisoners of hope. This day I declare the double that I will repay to you. (Zechariah 9:12)

Instead of your shame you shall have double, and... in their land they shall possess double; everlasting joy shall be theirs. (Isaiah 61:7)

671. Clothed in clean bright linen, and having their chests girded with golden sashes. This symbolically means, this [a preparation by the Lord for influx into the church] ¹ in accordance with the pure and genuine truths and goods in the Word.

Clean bright linen symbolizes pure, genuine truth, as we will show below. A golden sash about the breast symbolizes the emanating Divinity that at the same time conjoins, namely Divine good (no. 46 above). To be clothed and girded means, symbolically, to appear and be seen in this truth and goodness, for garments symbolize truths that clothe goodness (no. 166). Sashes or girdles then symbolize truths and goods that hold everything in their order and connection (no. 46).

It is apparent from this that angels clothed in clean bright linen and girded about their breasts with golden sashes symbolize pure and genuine truths and goods, and because these come only from the Word, they symbolize truths and goods in the Word.

[2] That linen symbolizes Divine truth can be seen from the following, as that Aaron wore linen breeches when he entered the Tabernacle or approached the altar (Exodus 28:42-43). That the priests wore linen ephods (1 Samuel 22:18). That when Samuel as a child ministered before Jehovah, he wore a linen ephod (1 Samuel 2:18). That when David was transporting the Ark into his city he was girded with a linen ephod (2 Samuel 6:14).

It can be seen from this why, when the Lord washed the disciples' feet, He girded Himself in linen and wiped their feet with linen ² (John 13:4-5).

Moreover, the angels seen in the Lord's sepulcher appeared in dazzling bright white clothing (Matthew 28:3 [cf. Luke 24]).

[4]. The angel who measured the new temple had in his hand a line of linen (Ezekiel 40:3). In order that he might represent the state of the church with respect to truth, Jeremiah was told to buy a linen sash and hide it in a hole in the rock by the Euphrates, and later he found it ruined (Jeremiah 13:1-7). We read, too, in Isaiah:

A bruised reed He will not break, and smoking linen He will not quench; He will bring forth justice in truth. (Isaiah 42:3)

By linen in these places nothing else is meant but truth.

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