Apocalypse Revealed # 502
502. Which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt. This symbolizes the two hellish loves, namely, a love of ruling springing from a love of self, and a love of holding sway from a conceit in one's own intelligence, loves which are present in the church where there is not one God and where the Lord is not worshiped, and where people do not live in accordance with the Ten Commandments.
Sodom symbolizes, in the spiritual sense, a love of ruling springing from a love of self, as we shall presently see; and Egypt symbolizes, in the spiritual sense, a love of holding sway from a conceit in one's own intelligence, as we shall also presently see. So, because these two loves are symbolized, therefore the city is called, spiritually speaking, Sodom and Egypt.
These two loves are present in the church where there is not one God and where the Lord is not worshiped, and where people do not live in accordance with the Ten Commandments, because people are born with these two loves, and they come into them as they grow up. Nor can these loves be removed except by God the Savior and by a life in accordance with His commandments, and God cannot remove them unless people turn to Him, and neither is a life in accordance with His commandments possible unless a person is led by Him. Actually it is possible, but not a life that contains anything of heaven and so of the church.
A life like that is possible only from Him who is life. That the Lord is that life may be seen in John 1:1, 4; 5:26; 6:33-35ff., 11:25-26; 14:6, 19, and in many other places.
[2] A love of ruling springing from a love of self, and a love of holding sway from a conceit in one's own intelligence, are the principal loves of all the loves in hell, and so are the origin of all the evils and thus of all the falsities in the church. This is something unknown at the present day. The delights of these loves, which surpass the delights of all the heart's pleasures, cause it to be unknown, even though they are, spiritually, Sodom and Egypt.
That Sodom is a love of ruling springing from a love of self can be seen from the description of Sodom in Genesis, where we are told that when angels arrived there, the inhabitants tried to forcibly assault them at the house of Lot, and that fire and brimstone rained down on them from heaven (Genesis 19:1ff.). Fire and brimstone symbolize that love, together with its appetites.
I saw similar sights when cities and societies of people like that were overthrown at the time of the Last Judgment and their inhabitants cast into hell.
These loves and their accompanying evils are symbolized by Sodom and Gomorrah in the following passages: Isaiah 1:10; 3:8-9; 13:19.
[3] That this love is symbolically meant by Sodom is unknown in the world, but remember it and recall it when you come after death into the world of spirits and you will be completely convinced.
It should be known, however, that a love of ruling springing from a love of self and a love of ruling springing from a love of performing useful services are two different things. The latter love is a heavenly love, while the first is a hellish one. Consequently, when one is in first place, the other is in last place; which is to say, when a love of ruling springing from a love of self forms the head, then a love of ruling springing from a love of performing useful services - which is a love of serving the neighbor originating from the Lord - forms first the feet, then the soles of the feet, and finally is trampled underfoot.
On the other hand, when a love of ruling springing from a love of performing useful services - which, as we said, is a heavenly love - forms the head, then a love of ruling springing from a love of self - which, as we said, is a hellish love - forms first the feet, then the soles of the feet, and finally is trampled underfoot.
Still, these two loves can hardly be distinguished by a person in the world. That is because in outward appearance they are similar. But they can be told apart by this, that a heavenly love is present in people who turn to the Lord and live in accordance with the Ten Commandments, while a hellish love is present in people who do not turn to the Lord, and who do not live in accordance with the Ten Commandments.
John 7
1
After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him.
2
Now the Jews' feast of tabernacles was at hand.
3
His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest.
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For there is no man that doeth any thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these things, shew thyself to the world.
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For neither did his brethren believe in him.
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Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready.
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The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.
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Go ye up unto this feast: I Go not up yet unto this feast; for my time is not yet full come.
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When he had said these words unto them, he abode still in Galilee.
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But when his brethren were gone up, then went he also up unto the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret.
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Then the Jews sought him at the feast, and said, Where is he?
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And there was much murmuring among the people concerning him: for some said, He is a good man: others said, Nay; but he deceiveth the people.
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Howbeit no man spake openly of him for fear of the Jews.
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Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught.
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And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?
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Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.
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If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.
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He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.
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Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me?
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The people answered and said, Thou hast a devil: who goeth about to kill thee?
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Jesus answered and said unto them, I have done one work, and ye all marvel.
22
Moses therefore gave unto you circumcision; (not because it is of Moses, but of the fathers;) and ye on the sabbath day circumcise a man.
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If a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision, that the law of Moses should not be broken; are ye angry at me, because I have made a man every whit whole on the sabbath day?
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Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.
25
Then said some of them of Jerusalem, Is not this he, whom they seek to kill?
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But, lo, he speaketh boldly, and they say nothing unto him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is the very Christ?
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Howbeit we know this man whence he is: but when Christ cometh, no man knoweth whence he is.
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Then cried Jesus in the temple as he taught, saying, Ye both know me, and ye know whence I am: and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not.
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But I know him: for I am from him, and he hath sent me.
30
Then they sought to take him: but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come.
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And many of the people believed on him, and said, When Christ cometh, will he do more miracles than these which this man hath done?
32
The Pharisees heard that the people murmured such things concerning him; and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take him.
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Then said Jesus unto them, Yet a little while am I with you, and then I go unto him that sent me.
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Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, thither ye cannot come.
35
Then said the Jews among themselves, Whither will he go, that we shall not find him? will he go unto the dispersed among the Gentiles, and teach the Gentiles?
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What manner of saying is this that he said, Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, thither ye cannot come?
37
In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
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He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
39
(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
40
Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet.
41
Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee?
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Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?
43
So there was a division among the people because of him.
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And some of them would have taken him; but no man laid hands on him.
45
Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said unto them, Why have ye not brought him?
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The officers answered, Never man spake like this man.
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Then answered them the Pharisees, Are ye also deceived?
48
Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him?
49
But this people who knoweth not the law are cursed.
50
Nicodemus saith unto them, (he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them,)
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Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth?
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They answered and said unto him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and look: for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet.
