Explanation of Isaiah 56
Написано Rev. John H. Smithson
THE EXPLANATION of Isaiah Chapter 56
(Note: Rev. Smithson's translation of the Isaiah text is appended below the explanation.)
1. Thus says Jehovah, Keep you judgment, and do justice; for My salvation is near to come, and My justice to be revealed.
VERSE 1. By "judgment" is signified the Truth which is of faith, and by "justice" the Good which is of charity, wherefore it is said, "to do justice." That "justice" is the Good of charity from the Lord, is meant by "My justice is near to be revealed." In other passages also mention is made of "judgment" and "justice"; and by "judgment" is denoted Truth, and by "justice" Good, as in Jeremiah:
"Thus says Jehovah, Do you justice and judgment, and deliver him that is spoiled from the hand of the oppressor. Woe unto him that builds his house in non-justice, and his chambers in non-judgement. Did not your father eat and drink, and did judgment and justice, then he had good?" (Jeremiah 22:3, 13, 15) where "judgment" denotes those things which are of Truth, and "justice" those things which are of Good. A. G. 9263.
2. Blessed is the man that does this, and the son of man that holds it fast; that keeps the Sabbath from profaning it, and that keeps his hand from doing any evil.
Verses 2-7. He who does not know what the "Sabbath" represented, and hence what it signified, must needs be ignorant also why it was accounted the most holy of all things; but the reason why it was accounted most holy was, because, in the supreme sense, it represented the union of the Divine [principle] and of the Divine Human in the Lord; and, in the respective sense, the conjunction of the Divine Human of the Lord with the human race. Hence the "Sabbath" was most holy; and inasmuch as it represented those things, it also represented heaven as to the conjunction of Good and Truth, which conjunction is called the heavenly marriage; and whereas the conjunction of Good and Truth is effected from the Lord alone, and nothing of it from man, and whereas it is effected in a state of peace, therefore it was most severely forbidden that man on this occasion should do any work, insomuch that "the soul which did it was cut off"; on which subject it is thus written in Moses:
"You shall keep the Sabbath, because it is holy unto you; he who profanes it by dying shall die: because every one who does work in it, this soul shall be cut off from the midst of his people." (Exodus 31:14) "Therefore he was stoned who only gathered sticks on that day." (Numbers 15:32-36)
Therefore also the commandment concerning the "Sabbath" is the third commandment in the Decalogue, immediately following the two concernIng the holy worship of Jehovah; (Exodus 20:8; Deuteronomy 5:12) and on this account the "Sabbath" is called "an eternal covenant"; (Exodus 31:10) for by a "covenant" is understood conjunction, n. 665, 666. From these considerations it may now be manifest what is meant, in the internal sense, by those things which are said concerning the "Sabbath" in the following passages, as in Isaiah:
"Blessed is the man that keeps the Sabbath. Thus says Jehovah to the eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths", etc. (Isaiah 56:2-7)
From this passage it is evident that by those who" "sanctify the Sabbath" are meant those who are in conjunction with the Lord. That they shall be in heaven, is signified by "a place and a name, better than of sons and of daughters, being given them in the house of Jehovah; an everlasting name, which shall not be cut off"; and by their being "brought unto the mountain of holiness", Arcana Coelestia 8495. See also Chap, Isaiah 58:13, the Exposition.
3. And let not the son of the stranger, that cleaves unto Jehovah, speak, saying, Jehovah has utterly separated me from His people; neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree.
4. For thus says Jehovah to the eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths, and choose that in which I delight, and take hold of My covenant;
5. To them I will give in My house and within My walls a place and a name, better than of sons and of daughters; an everlasting name will I give them, which shall not be cut off.
Verse 3.The "sons of the stranger" are all the nations who, because they were not in the Jewish church, thought that they could not become heirs [of the Lord's kingdom], as was falsely supposed by many about the time of the first coming of God Messiah; a "eunuch" is one who has no offspring, and on account of impotence thinks he cannot have any. The "eunuch" here is put for the "barren"; (see Chapter Isaiah 54:1) hence it is quite evident that in the internal or spiritual sense a "barren woman and her children" are not treated of, but those things which are in the truly spiritual sense.
The "eunuch", therefore, stands-for those who believe that they have no fruit of faith from themselves, because they have no faith; thus for those who acknowledge their impotence, that they can by no means have faith from themselves, thus who think themselves unworthy. This also is what is meant by a "dry tree", namely, barrenness. Such "eunuchs" are here meant as continually keep the kingdom of God represented in themselves, that is, "who keep the Sabbaths, and who choose that in which the Lord delights, and keep His covenant", etc. (Swedenborg's Notes on Isaiah, p. 140.)
To "cleave unto Jehovah", is to keep His precepts, which is the duty of spiritual love; for no one can keep the precepts of God from the heart, but he who is in the Good of charity to the neighbour. Arcana Coelestia 3875.
Verses 3, 4. Neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree; for thus says Jehovah to the eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths, etc. - In Matthew 19:12, the Lord, in His answer to the disciples respecting what He had said to the Pharisees concerning divorcement, speaks of "eunuchs", saying, "There are eunuchs who were so born from the mother's womb; and there are eunuchs of men; and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to comprehend it, let him comprehend it."
The reason why the Lord afterwards spake concerning "eunuchs" was, because the disciples said, "If the case be so of a man with a wife, it is not expedient to marry"; and because marriages with the Jewish nation, which was "hard of heart", in consequence of being in falsities derived from evil, were not marriages, but adulteries, as understood in the spiritual sense; wherefore, also, that nation was called by the Lord "an adulterous nation"; on which account the Lord spake concerning "eunuchs", by whom are meant those who are not willing to enter into marriage [such as it was understood by the Jews], that is, to be conjoined with the affection of evil, because thus the understanding of Truth and of Good would be perverted and dissipated; thus by "eunuchs" are meant [in the spiritual sense] both the married and unmarried with whom the understanding of Truth and of Good is conjoined with the affection of Truth and Good.
The reason why they are called" eunuchs" is, because they have no lasciviousness, such as appertains to those who, from "hardness of heart", in which the Jews were, married several wives, and divorced each of them upon every occasion. It is first to be noted, that the marriage of the understanding of Truth and of Good with the affection of Truth and of Good, is, in general, from a three-fold origin, and hence in a three-fold degree. In the supreme degree is the marriage of those who are called celestial; in an inferior degree, of those who are called spiritual; and in the lowest degree, of those who are natural; for there are so many degrees of the interiors of man.
Hence there are three heavens, and they who are in the supreme heaven are called celestial; they who are in the inferior heaven are called spiritual; and they who are in the lowest are called natural. The marriage of the understanding of Truth and of Good with the affection of Truth and of Good, amongst the celestial, is meant by "eunuchs who have been born eunuchs from the mother's womb", by reason that they, during regeneration, receive Truths immediately into the life by the love of them; hence it is that they know Truths from the Truths themselves; their regeneration by the Lord, through love to Him, is signified by being made "eunuchs from the womb", thus without the lasciviousness of adultery.
But the marriage of the understanding of Truth and of Good with the affection of Truth and of Good, amongst the spiritual, is meant by "eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men", for these are not regenerated in the womb, that is, by love, but by Truths first received in the memory, and next intellectually in the thought, and thus, lastly, in the life by a certain spiritual affection; these are said to be made "eunuchs of men", because they are reformed by the understanding grounded in the memory; and "man" signifies that understanding, as also above, where mention is made of "man and wife."
But the marriage of the understanding of Truth and of Good with the affection of Truth and of Good, amongst the natural, is meant by "eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs"; for the natural, by knowledges and sciences, procure to themselves natural light, and by Good of life, according to those sciences, they procure affection, and thence conscience; and because they know no other than that they themselves do this (for the natural man does not enjoy intelligence like the spiritual man, nor perception like the celestial man), hence it is that they are those "who make themselves eunuchs"; but it is so said from the appearance, and from the obscure faith appertaining to them. These, therefore, are the things that are meant by being made "eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of God"; and whereas few comprehend these things, it is said by the Lord "He who is able to comprehend, let him comprehend it." Apocalypse Explained 710.
Verse 5. To them I will give in My house and within My walls a place and a name, etc. - That the literal sense of the Word is signified by a "wall", see Arcana Coelestia 811, 1307, 1311; and what it is to be "called by a name", see Chapter 4:1; also Chapter 26:8, the Exposition.
6. And the sons of the stranger, who cleave unto Jehovah, to minister unto Him, and to love the name of Jehovah, and to become His servants: everyone that keeps the Sabbath from profaning it, and that takes hold of My covenant;
7. Them will I bring unto the mountain of My holiness, and I will make them rejoice in the house of My prayer: their burnt-offerings and their sacrifices shall be well-pleasing on Mine altar; for My house shall be called the house of prayer for all peoples.
Verse 6. Because to "minister" is predicated of the Good of love, it is therefore said, "to minister unto Jehovah, and to love His name"; and, therefore, concerning the Lord Himself, that He was about to "minister." From these considerations it may now appear that by "ministering" is meant all which is done from the Good of love itself. Apocalypse Explained 155.
Verses 6, 7. Every one that keeps the Sabbath from profaning it, and that takes hold of My covenant; them will I bring unto the mountain. of My holiness, and I will make them rejoice in the house of My prayer, etc. - By the "Sabbath" is signified the conjunction of the Lord with heaven and the church, thus with those who are therein; wherefore by "keeping the Sabbath" is understood to be in conjunction with the Lord; and by "observing His covenant" is meant conjunction by a life according to the precepts of the Lord, for a "covenant" denotes conjunction, and conjunction is effected by a life according to the precepts, whence the precepts of the Decalogue were called a covenant." "Them will I bring unto the mountain of My holiness, signifies that they shall be gifted with the Good of love; the "mountain of holiness" denoting the heaven where the Good of love to the Lord prevails, and consequently also the Good of love accordIng to its quality in that heaven. "I will make them rejoice in the house of My prayer", signifies that they shall be gifted with spiritual Truths; the "house of prayer", or the temple, denoting the heaven where spiritual Truths are, and thus also such spiritual Truths as there prevail. "Their burnt-offerings and their sacrifices shall be well-pleasing on Mine altar", signifies acceptable worship from the Good of love by spiritual Truths; "burnt-offerings" denoting worship from the Good of love, and "sacrifices" worship from Truths derived from that Good; Truths from Good are what are called spiritual Truths; "upon the altar" signifies in heaven and in the church. Apocalypse Explained 391.
8. Thus says the Lord Jehovih, who gathers together the outcasts. of Israel: Yet will I gather others unto him, beside those that are gathered.
9. All you beasts of My fields, come to devour; all you, beasts in the forest!
Verses 8, 9. By "the outcasts of Israel, whom the Lord gathers together", are signified all in the church who are in Truths from Good, and separated from those therein who are in falsities from evil. The same are also understood by "the wild beasts of the fields of the Lord Jehovih"; for by "field" is signified the church as to the implantation of the Truth of doctrine. But the Gentiles who are without the church are understood by "the wild beasts in the forest"; the "forest" denoting the natural and sensual man and the "wild beast" his science and obscure intelligence thence derived. That such things are signified by "the wild beast of the field" and by "the wild beast in the forest", is evident, for it is said, "All you beasts of My fields, come to devour; all you beasts in the forest!" - to "eat" '[or to devour] denoting instruction and appropriation. Inasmuch as most things in the Word have also an opposite sense, so likewise have "beasts" and "Wild beasts", in which sense the former signify evil affections, which are cupidities of adulterating and destroying the Goods of the church; and the latter the cupidities of falsifying and thus of destroying the Truths of the church. Apocalypse Explained 650.
As by ", wild beast" [fera] is signified, in a bad sense, the false, and as the false is from a two-fold origin, namely, from what is evil, and from probity, therefore by "wild beast" in the Word are also signified the well-disposed nations which, although they are in the false, are yet in probity of life. In this sense the term is used in David:
"Every wild beast of the forest is Mine, and the beasts upon a thousand hills. I know every bird of the mountains; and the wild beast of My fields is with Me." (Psalm 50:10, 11) Arcana Coelestia 9335.
"Animals", when mentioned in the Word, signify man as to his affections; harmless and useful "beasts" signify man as to his good affections, and noxious and useless "beasts" signify him as to his evil affections; wherefore the men of the church, in general, are called "sheep", a congregation of them is called a "flock" and he who teaches is called a "shepherd." AR 567.
10. His watchmen are blind, all of them; they have no knowledge: they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; going about, lying down, loving to slumber.
Verse 10. "Dogs" signify those who, in the church, are vile [or unregenerate], likewise those who are out of the church, also those who babble much about the things of the church, and understand little; and, in the opposite sense, those who are altogether, out of the Faith of the church, and speak disrespectfully of those things which are of Faith. That "dogs" signify those who are out of the church, is manifest from Matthew:
"Jesus said to the woman, who was a Greek, a Syro-Phoenician, It is not good to take the bread of the sons, and cast it to the dogs. But she said, Certainly, Lord; yet the little dogs also eat of the crumbs which fall from their master's tables. Then Jesus answering, said unto her, O woman, great is your faith; be it unto you even as you will. And her daughter was healed from that very hour"; (Matthew 15:26-28; and Mark 7:27, 28) where by "sons" are meant those who are within the church, and by "dogs" those who are without.
The same is signified by "the dogs who licked the sores of Lazarus"; (Luke 16:21) for by the "rich man", in the internal sense, is there meant one who is within the church, and hence abounds with spiritual riches, which are the knowledges of Truth and of Good.
"Dogs" denote also those who, within the church, are in the lowest place, who babble much about the things of the church, and understand little; and, in the opposite sense, who speak disrespectfully of the things of Faith, as in Isaiah:
"His watchmen are blind, all of them; they have no knowledge: they are all of them dumb dogs, they cannot bark; going about, lying down, loving to slumber." (Isaiah 56:10)
And in David:
"They make a noise like a dog; they go about in the city. Behold, they belch with their mouth; swords are in their lips", etc. (Psalm 59:6, 7, 14)
And in Matthew:
"Give not that which is holy to the dogs, neither cast your pearls before swine; lest peradventure they trample them with their feet, and turn again and rend you." (Matthew 7:6)
Hence the vilest of all things which was to be cast away, was a "dead dog." (1 Samuel 17:43; 2 Samuel 9:8; 16:9) Arcana Coelestia 7784.
Verses 10, 11. The "blind watchmen" are those who from ratiocination are in falsity. (Arcana Coelestia 2383)
Here the "blind" denote those who do not understand Truths, although they have the Word. That such are signified by the "blind", is evident, for it is said, "They know not, and cannot understand", Apocalypse Explained 239.
11. They are dogs obstinate in soul, they know not to be satisfied; and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, each to his own lucre; from the lowest of them [to the highest].
12. [Saying] Come, I will fetch wine, and we will be drunk with strong drink; and to-morrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant.
Verse 11. They all look to their own way, each to his own lucre. - "Lucre" signifies everything false from evil which perverts the judgment of the mind" and withdraws it from Truth and Good, as may be evident to everyone who reflects; in which sense "lucre" [or gain] is mentioned many times in the Word, as in Isaiah 33:15; 56:11; 57:17; (Jeremiah 6:13; 8:10. Arcana Coelestia 8711.
Verses 11, 12. They are dogs obstinate in soul, they know not to be satisfied, etc. - These things are said of those who care about nothing but worldly and earthly things, whereby the internal spiritual man is shut up. As they have no perception of Good and no understanding of Truth, they are called "dogs obstinate in soul, which know not to be satisfied, or satiety", that is, who cannot receive Good; to "know" having respect to ability, and "satiety" [or to be satisfied], which is predicated of "food", whereby spiritual nourishment is signified, having respect to Good.
By "they are shepherds that cannot understand", is meant that they have no understanding of Truth; those being called "shepherds" who believe themselves able to instruct others, for to "feed" signifies to instruct; and inasmuch as such love things false and falsified, it is therefore added "Come, I will fetch wine, and we will be drunk with strong drink." Apocalypse Explained 376 Apocalypse Explained 376[1-40].
As to "drunkenness", see above, Chapter 28:1, the Exposition.
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Isaiah Chapter 56.
1. Thus says Jehovah, Keep you judgment, and do justice; for My salvation is near to come, and My justice to be revealed.
2. Blessed is the man that does this, and the son of man that holds it fast; that keeps the Sabbath from profaning it, and that keeps his hand from doing any evil.
3. And let not the son of the stranger, that cleaves unto Jehovah, speak, saying, Jehovah has utterly separated me from His people; neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree.
4. For thus says Jehovah to the eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths, and choose that in which I delight, and take hold of My covenant;
5. To them I will give in My house and within My walls a place and a name, better than of sons and of daughters; an everlasting name will I give them, which shall not be cut off.
6. And the sons of the stranger, who cleave unto Jehovah, to minister unto Him, and to love the name of Jehovah, and to become His servants: everyone that keeps the Sabbath from profaning it, and that takes hold of My covenant;
7. Them will I bring unto the mountain of My holiness, and I will make them rejoice in the house of My prayer: their burnt-offerings and their sacrifices shall be well-pleasing on Mine altar; for My house shall be called the house of prayer for all peoples.
8. Thus says the Lord Jehovih, who gathers together the outcasts. of Israel: Yet will I gather others unto him, beside those that are gathered.
9. All you beasts of My fields, come to devour; all you, beasts in the forest!
10. His watchmen are blind, all of them; they have no knowledge: they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; going about, lying down, loving to slumber.
11. They are dogs obstinate in soul, they know not to be satisfied; and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, each to his own lucre; from the lowest of them [to the highest].
12. [Saying] Come, I will fetch wine, and we will be drunk with strong drink; and to-morrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant.
Apocalypse Revealed # 567
567. REVELATION: CHAPTER 13
1. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on its horns ten jewels, 1 and on its heads a blasphemous name.
2. Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, whose feet were like those of a bear, and its mouth like the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave it its power, its throne, and great authority.
3. And I saw one of its heads appearing as though fatally wounded, and its mortal injury was healed. And all the earth went marveling after the beast.
4. Then they worshiped the dragon which gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast? Who can fight against it?"
5. And it was given a mouth speaking great and blasphemous things, and it was given authority to do so for forty-two months.
6. Then it opened its mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, and against His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven.
7. It was granted it to make war with the saints and overcome them. And it was given authority over every tribe, tongue, and nation.
8. All who dwell on the earth will worship it, all whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
9. If anyone has an ear, let him hear.
10. Anyone who leads into captivity shall go into captivity; anyone who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
11. Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and it had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon.
12. And it exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose mortal injury was healed.
13. It also performs great signs, so as to even make fire come down from heaven to earth in the sight of men,
14. and to lead astray those who dwell on the earth, because of the signs which it was granted to do in the presence of the beast, telling those dwelling upon the earth to make an image of the beast that was injured by the sword and lived.
15. It was also granted it to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast might speak and cause whoever does not worship the image of the beast to be killed.
16. And it causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive from it a mark on their right hand and on their foreheads,
17. so that no one can buy or sell if he does not have the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of its name.
18. Here is wisdom: let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and its number is 666.
THE SPIRITUAL MEANING
The Contents of the Whole Chapter
The dragon continues to be the subject in this chapter, which describes the doctrine and faith meant by the dragon. The character of that doctrine and faith among the laity, and then its character among the clergy. The beast rising up out of the sea describes the doctrine and faith among the laity (verses 1-10), and the beast coming up out of the earth the doctrine and faith among the clergy (verses 11-17).
Lastly it describes the clergy's falsification of the Word's truth (verse 18).
The Contents of the Individual Verses:
| Verse Contents | Spiritual Meaning |
|---|---|
| 1. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, | The laity in the Protestant Reformed churches who are caught up in the doctrine and faith of the dragon regarding God and salvation. |
| having seven heads | The irrationality resulting from their absolute falsities. |
| and ten horns, | Their great power. |
| and on its horns ten jewels, 2 | Their power to falsify many of the Word's truths. |
| and on its heads a blasphemous name. | Their denial of the Lord's Divine humanity and affirmation of their church's doctrine, drawn not from the Word but from their own intelligence. |
| 2. Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, | Their heresy destructive of the church, being founded on the Word's truths falsified, |
| whose feet were like those of a bear, | full of misconceptions taken from the literal sense of the Word, read but not understood. |
| and its mouth like the mouth of a lion. | Their reasonings based on falsities as though on truths. |
| And the dragon gave it its power, its throne, and great authority. | This heresy prevails and reigns as a result of its acceptance by the laity. |
| 3. And I saw one of its heads appearing as though fatally wounded, | Their doctrine of faith alone does not accord with the Word, in which works are so often commanded. |
| and its mortal injury was healed. | A remedy for this explained. |
| And all the earth went marveling after the beast. | That doctrine and faith then accepted with joy. |
| 4. Then they worshiped the dragon which gave authority to the beast; | Their acknowledgment that the doctrine is such as declared by the leaders of the church and its teachers, who have caused the doctrine to prevail as a result of its acceptance by the general populace. |
| and they worshiped the beast, | An acknowledgment by the general populace that the doctrine is a sacred truth. |
| saying, "Who is like the beast? Who can fight against it?" | The preeminence of that doctrine because no one can dispute it. |
| 5. And it was given a mouth speaking great and blasphemous things, | It teaches evils and falsities. |
| and it was given authority to do so for forty-two months. | The scope to teach and practice the evils and falsities accompanying that doctrine even to the end of that church, until the beginning of a new one. |
| 6. Then it opened its mouth in blasphemies against God and His name, | Their assertions, which are scandalous, against the Divine itself and the Lord's Divine humanity, and at the same time against everything that the church has from the Word by which the Lord is worshiped. |
| and against His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. | Scandalous assertions against the Lord's celestial church and against heaven. |
| 7. It was granted it to make war with the saints and overcome them. | They attacked the Word's Divine truths and overturned them. |
| And it was given authority over every tribe, tongue, and nation. | Their consequent dominion over everything connected with the church, over everything pertaining to its doctrine and over everything pertaining to its life. |
| 8. All who dwell on the earth will worship it, all whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb | They all acknowledged that heresy as a sacred tenet of the church, all but those who believed in the Lord. |
| slain from the foundation of the world. | The Lord's Divine humanity unacknowledged from the inception of the church. |
| 9. If anyone has an ear, let him hear. | Let people who wish to be wise pay attention to this. |
| 10. Anyone who leads into captivity shall go into captivity; | Someone who uses that heresy to draw others away from believing rightly and living rightly is drawn by his own falsities and evils into hell. |
| anyone who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. | Someone who uses falsities to destroy another's soul is destroyed by falsities and perishes. |
| Here is the patience and the faith of the saints. | Through the temptations or trials occasioned by these falsities a person of the Lord's New Church is examined to discover his character in respect to his life and faith. |
| 11. Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, | The clergy who are caught up in the dragon's doctrine and faith regarding God and salvation. |
| and it had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. | They quote the Word in speaking, teaching and writing as though it were the Lord's Divine truth, and yet it is truth falsified. |
| 12. And it exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence, | They have defended the dogmas, and the dogmas prevail in consequence of it. |
| and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose mortal injury was healed. | By supporting arguments they have established that what the general populace has accepted be acknowledged as a sacred tenet of the church. |
| 13. It also performs great signs, | Testifications that their teachings are true, even though they are false. |
| so as to even make fire come down from heaven to earth in the sight of men, | Assertions that their falsities are true. |
| 14. and to lead astray those who dwell on the earth, because of the signs which it was granted to do in the presence of the beast, | Through their testifications and assertions they lead people in the church into errors. |
| telling those dwelling upon the earth to make an image of the beast that was injured by the sword and lived. | They induce people in the church to accept as doctrine that faith is the only means of salvation, for the reason stated. |
| 15. It was also granted it to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast might speak | They were permitted to use the Word to defend the doctrine, so as to cause the doctrine to be seemingly animated by it. |
| and cause whoever does not worship the image of the beast to be killed. | They pronounce damnation on people who do not acknowledge their doctrine of faith as a sacred doctrine of the church. |
| 16. And it causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, | All the people in Protestant Reformed church, of whatever condition, degree of education, or degree of intelligence. |
| to receive from it a mark on their right hand and on their foreheads, | No one is acknowledged as a Protestant Reformed Christian but one who accepts that doctrine in faith and love. |
| 17. so that no one can buy or sell if he does not have the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of its name. | No one allowed to teach from the Word but one who acknowledges that doctrine and swears to a belief in it and love for it, and to such as is in conformity with it. |
| 18. Here is wisdom: | From what we have said and explained in this chapter, it is the part of a wise person to see and understand the nature of the doctrine and faith among the clergy regarding God and salvation. |
| let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, | One who is enlightened by the Lord can discern the character of the arguments the clergy use from the Word in defense of that doctrine and faith. |
| for it is the number of a man, | The character of the Word and so of the church. |
| and its number is 666. | Their character being this, that by them all the Word's truth has been falsified. |
THE EXPOSITION
And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea. This symbolizes the laity in the Protestant Reformed churches who are caught up in the doctrine and faith of the dragon regarding God and salvation.
The nature and character of the faith of the dragon may be seen in no. 537. The same faith continues to be the subject in this chapter, and the beast here that John saw rising up out of the sea means that faith among the laity, whereas the beast from the earth, described in verse 11, means that faith among the clergy.
That the dragon continues to be the subject here is apparent from the following statements in this chapter: that the dragon gave to the beast rising up out of the sea its power, its throne, and great authority (verse 2); that they worshiped the dragon which gave authority to the beast (verse 4); and, concerning the beast coming up out of the earth, that it spoke like a dragon (verse 11); and that it exercised all the authority of the first beast in the presence of the dragon (verse 12).
The laity are the people meant by the beast from the sea, and the clergy those meant by the beast from the earth, because the sea symbolizes the outer aspect of the church, and the land its inner aspect (no. 398 and elsewhere); and the laity are concerned with the external elements of the church's doctrine, while the clergy are concerned with its internal elements. That is why the beast from the earth is later called a false prophet. 3
That they are people in the Protestant Reformed churches is because the Protestant Reformed are the subject to the end of chapter 16, while Roman Catholics are the subject in chapters 17, 18. Then the subject after that is the Last Judgment and finally the New Church.
[2] These people were seen as beasts because the dragon is a beast, and because a beast in the Word symbolizes a person in respect to his affections - harmless and useful beasts a person in respect to good affections, and harmful and useless ones a person in respect to evil affections. People of the church are in general called sheep, therefore, and a company of them a flock, and one who teaches is called a shepherd.
That is also why the Word in respect to its power, affection, understanding and wisdom is described above in chapter four by four living creatures - a lion, a calf, an eagle and a human being - and an understanding of the Word by horses in chapter six.
The reason is that in the spiritual world a person's affections look at a distance like animals, as we have often said before; and regarded in themselves, animals are no more than embodiments of natural affections, while people are embodiments not only of natural affections, but also at the same time of spiritual affections.
[3] That animals mean people in respect to their affections can be seen from the following passages:
You... will cause to fall a kindly rain. You will confirm Your inheritance... The beast, Your congregation, 4 shall dwell in it. (Psalms 68:9-10)
...every wild beast of the forest is Mine, the beasts on a thousand mountains. I know every bird of the mountains; the beast of My fields is with Me. (Psalms 50:10-11)
...Assyria was a cedar in Lebanon... ...its height was exalted... All the birds of the heavens made their nests in its boughs, and under its branches all the beasts of the field brought forth their young, and in its shade all great nations made their home. (Ezekiel 31:3-6, cf. 31:10, 31:13, Daniel 4:10-16)
In that day I will make a covenant for them with the beast of the field, and with the bird of the heavens... And I will betroth you to Me forever. (Hosea 2:18-19)
Rejoice and be glad! ...Do not be afraid, you beasts of My fields, for the habitations of the wilderness have become grassy meadows. (Joel 2:21-23)
In that day there shall be a great tumult... Judah... will fight against Jerusalem... And such also shall be the plague on the horse, the mule, the camel, and the donkey, and every beast... And it shall come to pass that the remnant... shall go up (to Jerusalem). (Zechariah 14:13-16)
Birds shall abominate him, and every beast of the earth shall disdain him. (Isaiah 18:6)
...you, son of man..., "Say to every winged bird and to every beast of the field, '...Gather together... to My sacrifice... on the mountains of Israel... (Thus) I will set My glory among the nations.'" (Ezekiel 39:17-21)
(Jehovah) gathers the outcasts of Israel... Every beast of My fields, come... (Isaiah 56:8-9)
(Jehovah) will destroy Assyria... There shall lie down in her midst every wild beast of the nation, both the desert owl and the screech owl in her pomegranates... (Zephaniah 2:13-14)
(The sheep) were scattered without a shepherd, and they became food for every wild beast of the field... (Ezekiel 34:5, cf. 34:8)
I will cast you out on the face of the field, and cause to dwell on you every bird of the heavens. And with you I will satiate the wild beasts of the whole earth. (Ezekiel 32:4; see also 5:17; 29:5; 33:27; 39:4, Jeremiah 15:3; 16:4; 19:7; 27:5-6)
An enemy reproaches Jehovah... Do not deliver the life of (the) turtledove to the beast! (Psalms 74:18-19)
"I saw in... vision... four... beasts coming up from the sea... The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings... ...a second, like a bear... ...(a third) like a leopard... ...and a fourth..., dreadful... (Daniel 7:2-7)
...the Spirit drove (Jesus) out into the wilderness. And He was... with the beasts; and the angels ministered to Him. (Mark 1:12-13)
[4] He was not with beasts, but with devils, who are here meant by beasts.
So also in other places where beasts and wild beasts are mentioned, such as Isaiah 35:9; 43:20; Jeremiah 12:4, 8-10; Ezekiel 8:10; 34:23, 25, 28; 38:18-20; Hosea 4:2-3; 13:8; Exodus 23:28-30; Leviticus 26:6; Deuteronomy 7:22; 32:24. Beasts in these places symbolize people in respect to their affections.
[5] Man and beast mentioned together in the following passages symbolize a person in respect to his spiritual affection and in respect to his natural affection: Jeremiah 7:20; 21:6; 27:5; 31:27; 32:43; 33:10-12; 36:29; 50:3; Psalms 36:6; Numbers 18:15.
All the animals that were sacrificed symbolized good affections. So, too, animals that were eaten. And the converse animals that were not to be eaten (Leviticus 20:25-26).
Сноски:
1.,. and 2. The word translated as "jewels" here means diadems or crowns in the original Greek and Latin, but the writer's definitions of the term elsewhere make plain that he regularly and consistently interpreted it to mean jewels or gems.
3. Revelation 16:13; 19:20; 20:10
4. The beast, Your congregation, reflects the Latin translation of the Bible by Sebastian Schmidt, which includes the phrase translated as Your congregation in parentheses as an alternate reading. This is actually the preferred reading, but "the beast" accords with Roman Catholic tradition.
