12
Pagbubukid mo ng lupa, ay di na ibibigay mula ngayon sa iyo ang kaniyang lakas; ikaw ay magiging palaboy at hampas-lupa sa lupa.
Genesis 4:12
Arcana Coelestia #420
420. In the Word mention is made of various instruments, each having its own signification, as will be shown, of the Lord’s Divine mercy, in its proper place; here however we shall adduce only what is said in David:
I will sacrifice in the tent of Jehovah sacrifices of shouting, I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto Jehovah (Psalms 27:6),
where by “tent” is expressed what is celestial, and by “shouting” “singing” and “singing praises” what is spiritual thence derived. Again:
Sing unto Jehovah, O ye righteous, for His praise is comely for the upright; confess ye to Jehovah on the harp, sing unto Him with the psaltery, an instrument of ten strings. Sing unto Him a new song, play skillfully with a loud noise; for the Word of Jehovah is right, and all His work is in the truth (Psalms 33:1-4),
denoting the truths of faith, concerning which these things are said.
[2] Spiritual things, or the truths and goods of faith, were celebrated with the harp and psaltery, with singing and analogous instruments, but the holy or celestial things of faith were celebrated with wind instruments, such as trumpets and the like; and this was why so many instruments were used about the temple and so often, in order that this or that subject might be celebrated with certain instruments; and in consequence of this the instruments came to be taken and understood for the subjects that were celebrated with them.
[3] Again:
I will confess to Thee with the psaltery, even Thy truth, O my God; unto Thee will I sing praises with the harp, O Thou Holy One of Israel; my lips shall sing when I sing praises unto Thee, and my soul which Thou hast redeemed (Psalms 71:22-23), where also the truths of faith are signified. Again:
Answer to Jehovah in confession, sing praises upon the harp unto our God (Psalms 147:7)
“confession” has respect to the celestial things of faith, and therefore mention is made of “Jehovah;” and to “sing praises upon the harp” has reference to the spiritual things of faith, wherefore “God” is spoken of. Again:
Let them praise the name of Jehovah in the dance, let them sing praises unto Him with the timbrel and harp (Psalms 49:3), where the “timbrel” signifies good, and the “harp” truth, which they praise.
[4] Again:
Praise God with the sound of the trumpet; praise Him with the psaltery and harp; praise Him with the timbrel and dance; praise Him with stringed instruments and the organ; praise Him upon the loud cymbals; praise Him upon the cymbals of shouting (Psalms 150:3-4, 5).
These instruments denote the goods and the truths of faith which were the subjects of praise; for let no one believe that so many different instruments would have been here mentioned unless each had a distinct signification. Again, referring to the knowledges of good and truth:
O send out Thy light and Thy truth, let them lead me, let them bring me unto the mountain of Thy holiness, and to Thy habitations, and I will go in to the altar of God, unto God, the gladness of my exultation; yea, I will confess unto Thee upon the harp, O God, my God (Psalms 43:3-4).
[5] In Isaiah, referring to the things that are of faith, and the knowledges thereof:
Take a harp, go about the city, play well, sing many songs, that thou mayest be called to remembrance (Isaiah 23:16).
The same is expressed still more plainly in John:
The four animals and the four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having everyone of them harps, and golden vials full of incense offerings, which are the prayers of the saints (Revelation 5:8),
where it must be evident to everyone that the animals and elders had not harps, but that by “harps” are signified the truths of faith, and by “golden vials full of incense offerings” the goods of faith.
In David the performances on the instruments are called “praises” and “confessions” (Psalms 42:5; 69:31). And in another place in John:
I heard a voice from heaven as the voice of many waters, and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps, and they sang a new song (Revelation 14:2-3).
And in another place:
I saw them standing by the sea of glass having the harps of God (Revelation 15:2).It is worthy of mention that angels and spirits distinguish sounds according to their differences with respect to good and truth, not only those produced in singing and by instruments, but also those of voices; and they admit none but such as are in accord, so that there may be a concord of the sounds, and consequently of the instruments, with the nature and essence of the good and the true.
Revelation 13
1
Then I stood on the sand of the sea. I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads. On his horns were ten crowns, and on his heads, blasphemous names.
2
The beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority.
3
One of his heads looked like it had been wounded fatally. His fatal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled at the beast.
4
They worshiped the dragon, because he gave his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?"
5
A mouth speaking great things and blasphemy was given to him. Authority to make war for forty-two months was given to him.
6
He opened his mouth for blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his dwelling, those who dwell in heaven.
7
It was given to him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them. Authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation was given to him.
8
All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been killed.
9
If anyone has an ear, let him hear.
10
If anyone is to go into captivity, he will go into captivity. If anyone is to be killed with the sword, he must be killed. Here is the endurance and the faith of the saints.
11
I saw another beast coming up out of the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke like a dragon.
12
He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. He makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed.
13
He performs great signs, even making fire come down out of the sky to the earth in the sight of people.
14
He deceives my own people who dwell on the earth because of the signs he was granted to do in front of the beast; saying to those who dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast who had the sword wound and lived.
15
It was given to him to give breath to it, to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause as many as wouldn't worship the image of the beast to be killed.
16
He causes all, the small and the great, the rich and the poor, and the free and the slave, to be given marks on their right hands, or on their foreheads;
17
and that no one would be able to buy or to sell, unless he has that mark, the name of the beast or the number of his name.
18
Here is wisdom. He who has understanding, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. His number is six hundred sixty-six.
