Apocalypse Revealed #52
52. And issuing from His mouth a sharp two-edged sword. This symbolizes a dispersion of falsities by the Lord by means of the Word and doctrine drawn from it.
Swords are often mentioned in the Word, and they symbolize nothing else than truth combating falsities and destroying them. In an opposite sense they also symbolize falsity combating truths. For wars in the Word symbolize spiritual wars, which are those of truth against falsity, and of falsity against truth. Therefore the weapons of war symbolize the means by which the combat is carried on in these wars.
It is apparent that the sword here means a dispersion of falsities by the Lord, because it was seen to issue from His mouth, and to issue from the Lord's mouth is to do so from the Word, for the Lord spoke it with His mouth. Furthermore, because the Word is understood by means of doctrine drawn from it, this too is symbolically meant.
It is called a sharp two-edged sword because it pierces the heart and soul.
[2] To show that the sword here means a dispersion of falsities by the Lord by means of the Word, we will cite some passages which mention a sword, from which the reality of this can be seen. Namely:
A sword against... Babylon, ...her princes and her wise men! A sword against the liars, that they may become fools! A sword against her mighty men, that they may be dismayed! A sword against her horses and her chariots...! A sword against her treasures, that they may be plundered! A drought upon her waters, that they may be dried up! (Jeremiah 50:35-38)
The subject here is Babylon, and by it are meant people who falsify and adulterate the Word. Consequently the liars who are to become fools, the horses and chariots with a sword upon them, and the treasures that will be plundered symbolize their doctrinal falsities. The waters that will have a drought upon them that they may be dried up symbolize truths, as may be seen just above in no. 50.
[3] ...prophesy and say..., "A sword... is sharpened and also polished! Sharpened to make a great slaughter... Let the sword be doubled the third time, the sword of the slain, a sword for a great slaughter, piercing the innermost recesses, that... stumbling blocks may be multiplied." (Ezekiel 21:9-15, 19-20)
A sword here means also the laying waste of truth in the church.
Jehovah will contend... with His sword against all flesh, and the slain by Jehovah shall be multiplied. (Isaiah 66:16)
Here and elsewhere in the Word, the slain by Jehovah are what people are called who perish as a result of falsities.
On all the desolate heights in the wilderness the plunderers have come, ...the sword of Jehovah devouring from one end of the land to the other. (Jeremiah 12:12)
At the peril of our lives we bring in our bread, because of the sword in the wilderness. (Lamentations 5:9)
Woe to the worthless shepherd who deserts the flock! A sword shall be against his arm and against his right eye. (Zechariah 11:17)
The sword against the shepherd's right eye is falsity in his intellect.
...the sons of men are set on fire..., their tongue a sharp sword. (Psalms 57:4)
Behold, they belch with their mouth; a sword is in their lips. (Psalms 59:7)
(The workers of iniquity) sharpen their tongue like a sword... (Psalms 64:3)
A sword has similar symbolic meanings elsewhere, as in Isaiah 13:15; 21:14-15; 37:6-7, 38; 31:7-8, Jeremiah 2:30; 5:12; 11:22; 14:13-18, Ezekiel 7:15; 32:10-12.
[4] It can be seen from this what the Lord meant by a sword in the following places:
(Jesus said that He did not come) to bring peace on the earth... but a sword. (Matthew 10:34)
(Jesus said,) ."..he who does (not) have a purse... and... knapsack..., let him sell his garments and buy (a sword)...." (The disciples) said, "Lord, look, here are two swords." And He said..., "It is enough." (Luke 22:36, 38)
...all who take the sword will perish by the sword. (Matthew 26:51-52)
Regarding the end of the age, Jesus says,
They will fall by the edge of the sword, and be taken captive among all the nations. And (finally) Jerusalem will be trampled... (Luke 21:24)
The end of the age is the final period of the church. The sword is falsity destroying truth. The nations are evils. The Jerusalem which will be trampled is the church.
[5] It is apparent from this, now, that a sharp sword issuing from the mouth of the Son of Man symbolizes a dispersion of falsities by the Lord by means of the Word.
So, too, in the following places in the book of Revelation:
...to the one who sat on (the fiery red horse)...there was given... a great sword. (Revelation 6:4)
From the mouth (of Him who sat on the white horse) came a sharp sword, that with it He might strike the nations... ...the rest were killed with the sword... of Him who sat on the horse. (Revelation 19:15, 21)
He who sat on the white horse means the Lord in relation to the Word, something that is openly stated there in verses 13 and 16.
The like is meant in the book of Psalms:
Gird Your sword upon Your thigh, O Mighty One... ride upon the word of truth... Your arrows are sharp... (Psalms 45:3-5)
The subject is the Lord. Moreover, elsewhere:
Let the saints exult... and let a two-edged sword be in their hand. (Psalms 149:5-6)
And in Isaiah:
(Jehovah) has made My mouth like a sharp sword. (Isaiah 49:2)
Luke 21
1
And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.
2
And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.
3
And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:
4
For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.
5
And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said,
6
As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
7
And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?
8
And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.
9
But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.
10
Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:
11
And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.
12
But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake.
13
And it shall turn to you for a testimony.
14
Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:
15
For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.
16
And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.
17
And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake.
18
But there shall not an hair of your head perish.
19
In your patience possess ye your souls.
20
And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
21
Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.
22
For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.
23
But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.
24
And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
25
And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
26
Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
27
And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
28
And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
29
And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees;
30
When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.
31
So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.
32
Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.
33
Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
34
And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
35
For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
36
Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
37
And in the day time he was teaching in the temple; and at night he went out, and abode in the mount that is called the mount of Olives.
38
And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, for to hear him.
