THE EXPLANATION of Isaiah Chapter 29

(Note: Rev. Smithson's translation of the Isaiah text is appended below the explanation)

1. WOE to Ariel, to Ariel, the city where David dwelt! add year to year; let the festivals go round.

VERSES 1-4. [The term "Ariel", in Hebrew, signifies the lion of God, and is an appellation given to the city Jerusalem to signify the Lord in His Divine Human, and also the doctrine of celestial Truth, The "city" itself signifies the doctrine of spiritual Truth, but when called "Ariel" it denotes as above. The doctrine of celestial Truth is the doctrine of love to God and of charity to the neighbour, whereas the doctrine of spiritual Truth is the doctrine of Faith. The subject, therefore, treated of in these verses, is specifically the destruction of the celestial doctrine of the church, and the judgment upon those who have perverted it. This perversion consists chiefly in removing love and goodness, embodied in good works, from the church as the essential means of salvation, as is done by the doctrine of Justification by Faith only, or of Faith separate from Charity. It is also perverted by reducing the good of the church to what is merely moral, and thus depriving it of a spiritual principle, derived from love and charity, as the means of salvation. The doctrine of celestial Truth is also perverted by these who assume what is good in the external, as a means of promoting the merely selfish interests of the natural man, and not for the sake of securing the eternal interests of the soul. A "woe" is consequently pronounced upon all such as pervert and destroy this most holy doctrine, which is called the "Lion of God" because of its great power, signified by a "Lion", in removing, when properly applied, everything evil and false from the church, and from the human mind. The Lord, as "the Lion of the tribe of Juda, opens the seals of the book", [Revelation 5:5) and executes Judgment, which is effected by this celestial doctrine of His Divine Truth. See above, Chapter 21:8, the Exposition.]

Verse 1. Add year to year, let the festivals go round. - [This celestial doctrine will perish successively, not all at once, and it will perish although external worship (the festivals) continues to be observed at the appointed times. It is entirely destroyed when external worship is separated from internal, as was the case with the Pharisees, described in Matthew 23, and with those of the church at this day who are in external good, without internal or spiritual good, See Chapter 1:11-19, the Exposition.]

2. Yet will I distress Ariel; and there shall be mourning and sorrow: and it shall be unto Me as Ariel.

3. And I will encamp against you round about; and I will lay siege against you with a mound; and I will erect forts against you.

Verses 2, 3. [It does not appear that Swedenborg has quoted these verses and explained them; but from correspondences their meaning may be easily seen. "Ariel" thus perverted, or rather those who have perverted this celestial doctrine, will be besieged and destroyed, at the period of Judgment, by every species of falsity from evil, denoted by "encamping", by "laying siege with a mound", and by "erecting forts against her." See the Exposition of Isaiah Chapter 1:8.]

4. And you shalt be brought low; you shalt speak out of the earth: and out of the dust shall your speech feebly sound; and your voice shall come out of the ground, like as of one that has a familiar spirit: and out of the dust shall your speech mutter.

Verse 4. [That to "speak out of the dust, and the voice coming out of the ground, like as of one that has a familiar spirit", signifies communication with the hells, and influx thence, may be seen above, Isaiah 8:19, 20, the Exposition.]

5. But the multitude of your strangers shall be like the small dust; and the multitude of the terrible ones like the chaff that passes away: yea, it shall be suddenly, in a moment.

Verse 5. [The dispersion of false principles of doctrine, denoted by "strangers", and of the falsities of evil, signified by the "terrible ones", is here described. See the Exposition of Isaiah Chapter 1:7.]

6. From Jehovah of Hosts you shalt be visited with thunder, and with earthquake, and with a great voice; with storm, and with tempest, and with the flame of devouring fire.

Verso 6. "Devouring fire" is the fire of cupidities which arises from the love of self and of the world, because it is this fire which consumes man and devastates the church. This also was represented by "the fire from before Jehovah" which consumed the sons of Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, because they had "put strange fire into their censers." (Leviticus 10:1, 2)

To "put strange fire into their censers", is to perform worship from some other love than from that which is heavenly. That such "strange fire" is the love of self and of the world, and the cupidities hence arising, may be seen in Arcana Coelestia 1297, 1861, 5071. Arcana Coelestia 9434.

As to the meaning of "storms" and "tempests", by which the wicked, at the time of Judgment, are taken away, see above, Chapter 17:13, the Exposition.

7. And as a dream, a vision of the night shall be the multitude of all the nations that fight against Ariel; even all that fight against her and her ramparts, and they that distress her.

8. It shall be as when a hungry man dreameth, and lo! he eats: but he awaketh, and his soul is empty: and as when a thirsty man dreameth, and lo! he drinketh; but he awaketh, and lo! he is faint, and his soul craveth: thus shall it be with the multitude of all the nations which fight against Mount Zion. "

Verses 7, 8. [These words imply that, in this perverted state of the church, at the period of its judgment, what is false will appear as true, and that there will be no spiritual nourishment for the soul.]

Verse 8. These things are said concerning those who are in falsities from evil, and yet suppose them to be truths from good. The false from evil combating against the goods of the church, are signified by "The multitude of all the nations which fight against Mount Zion; "multitude" being predicated of truths; "nations" signifying evils; and "Mount Zion", the church as to the good of love. The belief that evils are good, when notwithstanding they are evils of the false, is signified by "It shall be as when a hungry man dreameth, and lo! he eats; but he awaketh, and his soul is fasting"; the "hungry dreaming as if he were eating", signifies the opinion and erroneous faith conerning good; to "dream" denoting such opinion and erroneous faith, and to be "hungry, and as if he were eating", denoting, as it were, desire for good, and to be nourished thereby; but when "he awaketh", signifies when it is discovered what good is; "his soul is fasting", signifies that there is no understanding of good. Similar things are said concerning truth, which are signified by "When the thirsty man dreameth, and lo! he drinketh; but he awaketh, and lo! he is faint, and his soul craveth"; to be "thirsty, and as If he were drinking whilst he dreameth", signifying the opinion and faith, as it were, of Truth; but when "he awaketh, and lo! he is faint, and his soul craveth", signifies that still it is not Truth but the false; the "soul" there signifying the faith of the false, by reason of Truth not being understood, for both evil and the false, as well as Good and Truth, are predicated of faith and understanding, when they are of the thought alone; for man can think so as it were to understand, and thence believe that evil is good, as well as that the false is true. Such are all those who are in falsities of doctrine, and have faith only in their teachers and books, and never think whether what they are taught may not be falsities and evils, but believe them to be truths and goods, because they can be confirmed; not knowing that the false and evil may be equally confirmed as Truth and Good. Apocalypse Explained 750.

9. Stand you amazed, and wonder; be you astonished, and cry out! they are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink.

10. For Jehovah has poured out upon you a spirit of deep sleep: and He has closed up your eyes, the prophets; and your heads, the seers has He covered,

Verses 9, 10. Speaking of those who see nothing at all of the Truth when they hear and read it from the Word. Such persons are said to be "drunken, but not with wine; and to stagger, but not with strong drink"; "wine" signifying specifically the Truth of the spiritual and hence of the rational man; and "strong drink", the Truth of the natural man thence derived. Because such are understood, it is therefore said, "Jehovah has poured out" upon you the spirit of deep sleep; and He has closed up your eyes; the "spirit of deep sleep" denoting no perception, and the "eyes closed" denoting no understanding of Truth. "The prophets, and your heads, the seers has He covered", signifies those who were in the doctrine of Truth, and thence wise and intelligent; "prophets" signifying those who are in the doctrine of Truth, and, abstractedly, doctrine itself; the "heads", the wise, and, abstractedly, wisdom; and the "seer", the intelligent, and, abstractedly, intelligence. Wonder at the greatness of their stupidity is described by "Stand you amazed, and wonder; be you astonished"; and lamentation on all account thereof, by a "cry out!" Such are they who are in a life of evil, and at the same tirne in principles of the false, howsoever learned they are supposed to be; for a life of evil shuts out the perception of Good, from which the life and light of thought is derived, and principles of the false shut out the understanding of Truth, whence they see only from the sensual man, and nothing from the spiritual. Apocalypse Explained 376.

Prophets are here called "eyes", and seers are called "heads", because by eyes is signified the understanding of Truth as to doctrine, and by "seers" intelligence, the same as by "heads." Apocalypse Explained 577.

Verses 10, 11. By "prophets" are meant those who teach Truth and by them that see, or the "seers", are meant those who see Truth who are said to be "covered" when they know nothing of Truth, and see nothing of Truth. Inasmuch as in old times they were called prophets who taught, therefore also they were called "seeing" [or seers], because to "see" signifies to understand, see Arcana Coelestia 2150, 2325.

That they were called "seeing" [or seers], may be seen, 1 Samuel 9:9; 2 Samuel 24:11; they were also called "men of God", from the signification of man [vir], see Arcana Coelestia 158, 265; that they were called "men of God", may be seen, 2 Kings 1:9-16.

That by "prophets", in an Internal sense, are signified those who teach, appears from Jeremiah 23, throughout, and from Ezekiel 13 throughout, where the subject particularly treated of is concerning "prophets".

The same appears also from many other places where mention is made of "prophets." Hence also by "false prophets" are signified those who teach what is false as in Matthew;

"In the consummation of the age, many false prophets shall arise, and shall seduce many; false Christs shall arise, and false prophets shall glve great signs, and shall deceive, if possible, even the elect; (Matthew 24:11, 24)

where, by "false prophets", are meant those who teach what is false. The same is understood by the "false prophet" in the Revelation. (Revelation 16:13; 19:20; 20:10)

Hence also it may appear how much the internal sense of the Word is obscured by the ideas which are conceived from the representatives of the Jewish church; for wheresoever "prophet" is mentioned in the Word there instantly occurs the idea of prophets such as existed at that time, which idea is a great hindrance to the perception of what is signified by them. But in proportion to man's increase in wisdom, the Idea conceived from those representatives is more easily removed as for example, where mention is made of "temple", they who think from a deeper ground of wisdom do not perceive the temple which was at Jerusalem, but the temple of the Lord; so in the case of the "mountain of Zion", or of "Zion" itself, they have no perception of that which was at Jerusalem, but of the Lord's kingdom, and where "Jerusalem" occurs, they do not think of that city which was in the tribe of Benjamin and Judah, but of the holy and heavenly Jerusalem. Arcana Coelestia 2534.

11. So that all the vision is to you as the words of a sealed book; which, if it is given to one that knows letters, saying, Read this, I pray you: he says, I cannot; for it is sealed.

12. Or should the book be given to one that knows not letters, saying, Read this, I pray you: he says, I know not letters.

Verses 11, 12. [The "Book" or the Word is sealed, when its genuine doctrines and its interior truths are not understood by the church. To "know letters", or to be learned, is to know the science of correspondences, according to which the Word is inspired and written, which science constituted. the learning of ancient times. Unless this science is understood, the Word is, for the most part, as a "sealed book"; but it is opened by this science, as by the "key of knowledge". The intelligence of the church as to everything spiritual and heavenly can thus be immensely increased, and genuine truths can be seen in clear light by the rational mind. The blessings to the Church of the New Jerusalem, arising from the discovery of the spritual sense of the Word, will be great indeed!]

13. Wherefore Jehovah says, Forasmuch as this people draw near [to Me] with their mouth, and honour Me with their lips but have removed their heart far from Me; and their fear of Me is taught by the precept of men:

14. Therefore, behold, I will again deal with this people", in a manner so wonderful astonishing, that the wisdom of their wise shall perish, and the understanding of their intelligent shall be hid.

15. Woe unto them that deeply conceal their counsel from Jehovah; whose works are in the dark, and who say, Who seeth us? and who knows us?

Verse 13. In respect to external worship when sopnrato from internal, see above, Chapter 1:11-19, the Exposition.

Their fear of me, etc. - As to what understood in the Word by "fearing God", see above, Chapter 11:3, Exposition.

16. Your perverseness is as if the potter should be esteemed as the clay. Shall the work say of the maker of it, He has not made me? and shall the thing formed say of the former of it, He has no understanding?

Verse 16. That a "potter's vessel" signifies, in a good sense, what is true and in a bad sense, what is false, may be proved from the Word. When a man himself forms the "vessel", it signifies what is false; but when the Lord forms it in man, it signifies Truth. Hence it is that in the Word a "potter's vessel" signifies either what is false or what is true, and the "potter" is the former. The Lord Himself, from the formation of man by truths, is called in the Word a "Potter", as in Isaiah:

"O Jehovah, Our Father! we are the clay, and You our Potter; and all we are the work of Thine hands." (Isaiah 64:8; and Isaiah 29:16)

In a bad sense, as in Psalm 2:9:

"As a potter's vessel shalt You break them in pieces."

By the "potter's vessel is signified what is false from man's own or self-intelligence, and not from the Word. (See also Isaiah 30:10-14; 45:9) Apocalypse Explained 177.

17. Shall it not be but a very little while, and Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest?

Verse 17. "Lebanon" [as a forest] signifies the truths of the church in the natural man, consequently the church as to the rational understanding of Good and Truth. (Apocalypse Explained 654, 730.)

As a "fruitful field", it signifies the Good and Truth of faith. (Apocalypse Explained 328)

The "cedars" and "firs of Lebanon" signify the internal and the external truths of the spiritual church. Apocalypse Explained 405.

18. And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book; and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity; and out of darkness.

Verse 18. The restoration of the church is here treated of. By "the deaf who will hear the words of the book", are understood those who will obey truths and hence lead a good life; and by "the blind whose eyes will see out of obscurity and darkness", are understood those who are not in the understanding of Truth, because in ignorance, who will then understand. That the deaf and the blind [in a literal sense] are not understood, is evident. Apocalypse Explained 239.

To "open the eyes of the blind", is to instruct those who as yet are ignorant of truths, and nevertheless desire them, who are signified by the Gentiles. Apocalypse Explained 152.

19. The miserable shall increase their joy in Jehovah, and the needy amongst men shall exult in the Holy One of Israel.

Verse 19. By the "miserable" and "needy" are here also signified those with whom there is a defect of Truth and Good, and who nevertheless are in the desire of those principles. Concerning these it is said that "they shall increase their joy in Jehovah, and shall exult in the Holy One of Israel", and not concerning those who are miserable and needy as to worldly wealth. Apocalypse Explained 238.

The needy amongst men shall exult in the Holy One of Israel. In this and in other passages where "the Holy One of Israel" is mentioned, the Lord with respect to His Divine Humanity is signified. True Christian Religion 93.

20. For the terrible one ceases, the scoffer is consumed, and all that watch for iniquity are cut off:

21. Who cause a man to offend in a word, and lay snares for him that reproveth in the gate, and with emptiness turns aside the just.

Verses 20, 21. That "the terrible [or violent] one" is he who offers violence to charity, is signified by "causing a man to offend [or to sin] in a word", and by "laying snares for him that pleads in the gate", etc. Arcana Coelestia 6353.

22. Therefore thus says Jehovah to the house of Jacob, who redeemed Abraham: Jacob shall not now be ashamed; his face shall not now turn pale.

Verse 22. Jacob shall not now be ashamed; his face shall not now turn pale. - By "Jacob" are understood those who are of the church: and by "his face not turning pale" is signified that they shall not be in evils and falsities, but in Goods and Truths. That "paleness" signifies the absence and deprivation of spiritual life, which is when there is no Good and Truth, but evil and the false, is grounded in this circumstance, that when a man is deprived of vital heat, he then becomes pale and an image of death, as is the case in extreme terror, and in like manner when he dies; but when a man is spiritually dead, then his face either becomes red like a coal fire, or pale like a corpse. In such a manner do the infernals appear, when viewed in the light of heaven. Apocalypse Explained 381.

23. But when he seeth his children, the work of Mine hands, in the midst of him, they shall sanctify My name, and they shall sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and shall fear the God of Israel.

Verse 23. "The Holy One of Jacob and the God of Israel" is the Lord. "His children" signify the regenerate, who will have the intelligence of Good and of Truth, as is explained in verse 24. Arcana Coelestia 489.

24. They also that erred in spirit shall know intelligence, and they that murmured shall learn doctrine.

Verse 24. By "spirit" is signified the understanding, and by " heart" the will. "Spirit" is literally the breath, for spirit, breath, and wind are expressed by one term in Hebrew, Hence by "loving God with all the heart and with all the soul", is meant with all the love and with all the understanding. That the term "spirit" signifies the understanding or Intelligence, may be seen from many passages, as from this, "They that erred in spirit shall know intelligence." Divine Love and Wisdom 383.

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Isaiah Chapter 29

1. WOE to Ariel, to Ariel, the city where David dwelt! add year to year; let the festivals go round.

2. Yet will I distress Ariel; and there shall be mourning and sorrow: and it shall be unto Me as Ariel.

3. And I will encamp against you round about; and I will lay siege against you with a mound; and I will erect forts against you.

4. And you shalt be brought low; you shalt speak out of the earth: and out of the dust shall your speech feebly sound; and your voice shall come out of the ground, like as of one that has a familiar spirit: and out of the dust shall your speech mutter.

5. But the multitude of your strangers shall be like the small dust; and the multitude of the terrible ones like the chaff that passes away: yea, it shall be suddenly, in a moment.

6. From Jehovah of Hosts you shalt be visited with thunder, and with earthquake, and with a great voice; with storm, and with tempest, and with the flame of devouring fire.

7. And as a dream, a vision of the night shall be the multitude of all the nations that fight against Ariel; even all that fight against her and her ramparts, and they that distress her.

8. It shall be as when a hungry man dreameth, and lo! he eats: but he awaketh, and his soul is empty: and as when a thirsty man dreameth, and lo! he drinketh; but he awaketh, and lo! he is faint, and his soul craveth: thus shall it be with the multitude of all the nations which fight against Mount Zion. "

9. Stand you amazed, and wonder; be you astonished, and cry out! they are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink.

10. For Jehovah has poured out upon you a spirit of deep sleep: and He has closed up your eyes, the prophets; and your heads, the seers has He covered,

11. So that all the vision is to you as the words of a sealed book; which, if it is given to one that knows letters, saying, Read this, I pray you: he says, I cannot; for it is sealed.

12. Or should the book be given to one that knows not letters, saying, Read this, I pray you: he says, I know not letters.

13. Wherefore Jehovah says, Forasmuch as this people draw near [to Me] with their mouth, and honour Me with their lips but have removed their heart far from Me; and their fear of Me is taught by the precept of men:

14. Therefore, behold, I will again deal with this people", in a manner so wonderful astonishing, that the wisdom of their wise shall perish, and the understanding of their intelligent shall be hid.

15. Woe unto them that deeply conceal their counsel from Jehovah; whose works are in the dark, and who say, Who seeth us? and who knows us?

16. Your perverseness is as if the potter should be esteemed as the clay. Shall the work say of the maker of it, He has not made me? and shall the thing formed say of the former of it, He has no understanding?

17. Shall it not be but a very little while, and Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest?

18. And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book; and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity; and out of darkness.

19. The miserable shall increase their joy in Jehovah, and the needy amongst men shall exult in the Holy One of Israel.

20. For the terrible one ceases, the scoffer is consumed, and all that watch for iniquity are cut off:

21. Who cause a man to offend in a word, and lay snares for him that reproveth in the gate, and with emptiness turns aside the just.

22. Therefore thus says Jehovah to the house of Jacob, who redeemed Abraham: Jacob shall not now be ashamed; his face shall not now turn pale.

23. But when he seeth his children, the work of Mine hands, in the midst of him, they shall sanctify My name, and they shall sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and shall fear the God of Israel.

24. They also that erred in spirit shall know intelligence, and they that murmured shall learn doctrine.

177. As earthen vessels shall they be shivered, signifies the total dispersion of falsities. This is evident from the signification of "earthen vessels," as being such things in the natural man as are from self-intelligence; and all things in the natural man that have respect to the things of heaven and the church and which are from self-intelligence are falsities (of which presently). It is evident also from the signification of being "shivered," as being to be dispersed; "to disperse" is said of falsities, as "to shiver" is said of earthen vessels. That "earthen vessels" signify the things in the natural man that are from self-intelligence in matters of heaven and the church, and that these things are falsities, will be shown in what follows; something must first be said to show that the things that have respect to heaven and the church that gain entrance by self-intelligence are falsities.

Those who think from self-intelligence think from the world; for man, from his proprium [what is his own] loves only the things of the world and of self, and what he loves he also sees and perceives; the things he loves he calls goods, and the things he sees and perceives therefrom he calls truths; but these goods, which from love he so calls, are evils, and the truths which he sees from that love are falsities, since they spring forth from the loves of self and of the world, which loves are contrary to the loves of heaven, which are love to the Lord and love to the neighbor; and the things that pour forth from contraries are contraries.

[2] Those, therefore, who read the Word solely for repute of erudition, or to acquire fame that they may be exalted to honors or may gain wealth, never see and perceive truths, but falsities instead; and the truths that stand out before the eyes in the Word they either pass by as if not seen or they falsify them. The reason is, that to read the Word solely for the repute of erudition or for fame, that they may be exalted to honors and gain wealth, is to read it for the sake of self and the world as ends, thus from the loves of self and the world. And as these loves are of man's proprium [man's self] so the things that man sees and perceives from them are from self-intelligence.

[3] But those who read the Word from the spiritual affection of truth, which affection is a love of knowing truth because it is truth, see truths in the Word, and rejoice in heart when they see them; and this because they are in illustration from the Lord. Illustration descends from the Lord through heaven from the light there, which light is Divine truth. It is therefore given to them to see truths from the light of truth, and this in the Word, because the Word is Divine truth, and in it are stored up all the truths of heaven. But those only are in this illustration who are in the two loves of heaven, which are love to the Lord and love towards the neighbor; for these loves open the inner or higher mind, which is formed to receive the light of heaven, and through that mind in them the light of heaven flows in and illustrates. But so long as they live in the world they do not perceive truths in that mind, but they see them in the lower mind, the mind of the external or natural man. Such as these do not think from self-intelligence when they read the Word. The especial reason why these do not think from their self-intelligence when they read the Word is, that their interior or spiritual mind looks to the Lord, and the Lord then elevates it up to Himself, and with it the lower or natural mind, thus withdrawing it from man's proprium [man's self] which cannot be done with those who have regard first and foremost to themselves and the world.

[4] From this it can be seen that man from self-intelligence perceives nothing but evils and sees nothing but falsities; but that goods and truths that are of heaven and the church he perceives and sees from the Lord. When the internal or spiritual man, in which is the inner or higher mind of which we have just spoken, is opened, then the Lord subdues the evils and disperses the falsities which are in the external or natural man. These things, then, are what are meant in the spiritual sense by this, that the Son of man is to "give them power over the nations, and He shall rule them with an iron rod, and as earthen vessels they shall be shivered."

[5] That "earthen vessels" signify such things as are from self-intelligence, thus the falsities that are in the natural man, is evident from various passages in the Word, of which I will cite the following as confirmation. In David:

Thou shalt bruise the nations with an iron scepter; as a potter's vessel Thou shall dash them in pieces (Psalms 2:9).

In this passage also "to bruise the nations with an iron scepter" is to chastise and subdue the evils that are in the natural man. "Scepter" here has the same signification as "staff" or "rod." It is added "as a potter's vessel," because that signifies falsity from self-intelligence. In the sense of the letter this is a comparison, for it is said "as a potter's vessel," and "as earthen vessels;" but in the internal sense comparisons are not perceived as comparisons, since comparisons are equally from things significative (See Arcana Coelestia 3579, 8989.)

"A potter's vessel," or "earthen vessel," signifies what is false, because a potter is one who forms, and a vessel is what is formed; and when man forms the vessel it is a falsity, but when the Lord forms it with man it is a truth; consequently in the Word "a potter's vessel" signifies either what is false or what is true, and "a potter" signifies one who forms.

[6] The Lord Himself is called in the Word a "Potter," from His forming man by means of truths; as in Isaiah:

Jehovah our Father; we are the clay, and Thou art our Potter, and we all are the work of Thy hands (Isaiah 64:8).

In the same:

Woe unto him that striveth with the Former! a potsherd with the potsherds of the earth! Shall the clay say to its potter, What makest thou? (Isaiah 45:9).

In the same :

Shall the potter be counted as clay? Shall the work say to its Former, He made me not, and shall the thing formed say of its potter, He understandeth not? (Isaiah 29:16).

[7] As the Jews and Israelites falsified all the truths of the Word by applying them to themselves and to their own exaltation above all nations and peoples in the universal world, so their falsities are called "marred vessels" of a potter, as in Isaiah:

Who have said to the seers, See not; and to those that have vision, See not for us right things, speak unto us smooth things, see illusions; depart from the way; therefore iniquity shall break them as the breaking of the potter's bottle; in beating it shall not spare, so that there shall not be found in the fragment thereof a sherd to take fire from the hearth or to draw waters from the cistern (Isaiah 30:10-11, 13-14).

That they wholly deprived themselves of truths, and immersed themselves in falsities, is described by this, "They said to the seers, See not; and to those that have vision, See not for us right things, speak unto us smooth things, see illusions; depart from the way." That they had so immersed themselves in falsities that no more truth remained, is described by "the breaking of the potter's bottle, so that there should not be found in the fragment a sherd to take fire from the hearth or to draw waters out of the cistern." By this is signified that not enough of truth should be left to enable them to perceive any good and truth from the Word; for "fire" signifies good, and "water" truth; "hearth" the Word in respect to good; "cistern" and "fountain" the Word in respect to truth.

[8] In Jeremiah:

The word came to Jeremiah, Arise, and go down to the potter's house. Then I went down to the potter's house, and behold he wrought a work on the table. But the vessel that he was making was marred; and he turned back and made it another vessel as was right in the potter's eyes to make (Jeremiah 18:1-4).

This also means that with the Jewish nation there was nothing but falsity; and "the vessel that was marred in the potter's house" is that falsity; "the potter's house" is the state in which they were. That the truth of the church should be taken away from them and given to others, is meant by this, that "the potter turned back and made it another vessel, as was right in his eyes."

[9] In the same:

Jehovah said, Go buy a potter's earthen bottle of the elders of the people and of the elders of the priests; and go forth into the valley of the son of Hinnom. Then shalt thou break the bottle before the eyes of the men that go with thee; and shalt say, I will break this people, and this city as one breaketh a potter's vessel, that cannot be made whole again; and they shall bury in Tophet, because there is no more a place to bury in (Jeremiah 19:1-2, 19:10-11).

"The potter's earthen bottle, or vessel, from the elders of the people and of the priests" is here also the falsity in which all of that nation were. That this falsity was such that it could not be dispersed by means of truths is described by this, that "he should break the vessel before the eyes of the men that went with him, that it could not be made whole again;" that they should "bury in Tophet, because there was no more a place," signifies where all truths and goods have been destroyed.

[10] In Nahum:

Draw thee waters for the siege; strengthen thy fortresses; go into the mire and tread the clay, repair the brick-kiln. There shall the fire devour thee; the sword shall cut thee off (Nahum 3:14-15).

"To draw waters for the siege and to strengthen the fortresses" is to fortify falsities by various means against truths; "to go into the mire and tread the clay" is to confirm falsities by fictions and fallacies; doctrine thence derived is called "a brick kiln," because infernal love is strengthened by falsifications; it is therefore said that "the fire shall devour, and the sword cut off;" "fire" is infernal love, and a "sword" is falsity combating and destroying truth. "A potter's vessel" or "earthen vessel" signifies falsity, because it corresponds to something fabricated, and what is fabricated is a product of man's self-intelligence; it was from this correspondence that the prophets were commanded to do such things as are mentioned above.

1861. 'And behold, a smoking furnace' means grossest falsity, and 'a flaming torch' the heat of evil desires. This is clear from the meaning of 'a smoking furnace' as gross falsity, and from the meaning of 'a flaming torch' as the heat of evil desires. The expression 'a smoking furnace' is used because anyone, especially a member of the Church, who has some knowledge of the truth, and yet does not acknowledge it but at heart denies it, and leads a life pursuing things that are contrary to the truth, is seen as nothing other than a smoking furnace, he himself as 'the furnace', and the falsity arising from his hatred as 'the smoke'. Evil desires out of which falsities arise are seen as nothing other than torches of fire from such a furnace, as is also clear from the representatives in the next life which have been described from experience in 814, 1528. It is desires belonging to hatred, revenge, cruelty, and adultery - especially when mingled with deceit - that are seen as such and become such things.

[2] That in the Word such are meant by a furnace, smoke, and fire, becomes clear from the following places: In Isaiah,

Everyone is a hypocrite and wicked, and every mouth speaks folly. For wickedness burns like a fire, it consumes brier and thorn, and kindles the entangled boughs of the wood, and they surge up in an uprising of smoke. Through the wrath of Jehovah Zebaoth the earth has been darkened, and the people has become as fuel for the fire; a man will not spare his brother. Isaiah 9:17-19.

Here 'fire' stands for hatred, 'the rising up of smoke from it' for falsities of that kind. Hatred is described by the statement that 'a man will not spare his brother'. Such people, when looked at by angels, appear exactly like the things described here.

[3] In Joel,

I will give portents in the heavens and on earth, blood and fire, and columns of smote. The sun will be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of Jehovah comes. Joel 2:30-31.

Here 'fire' stands for hatred, 'columns of smoke 'for falsities, 'sun' for charity, and 'moon' for faith.

[4] In Isaiah,

The land will become burning pitch. Night and day it will not be quenched; its smoke will go up eternally. Isaiah 34:9-10.

'Burning pitch' stands for dreadful evil desires, 'smoke' for falsities.

[5] In Malachi,

Behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace, and all the arrogant and every evil-doer will be stubble; and the day that is coming will burn them up; it will leave them neither root nor branch. Malachi 4:1.

'A burning furnace' stands for the same things as before. 'A root' stands for charity, 'a branch' for truth, which will not be left.

[6] In Hosea,

Ephraim has become guilty through Baal. It will be like chaff that is driven by the whirlwind from the threshing-floor, and like smoke from a chimney. Hosea 13:1, 3.

'Ephraim' stands for one with understanding who has become such.

[7] In Isaiah,

The strong will be as tow, and his work as a spark, and both of them will burn together, with none to quench them. Isaiah 1:31.

This stands for the fact that people governed by self-love - or what amounts to the same, by hatred against the neighbour - will be burnt up by their own evil desires. In John,

Babylon has become the dwelling-place of demons. Those cried out who saw the smoke of her burning. The smoke goes up for ever and ever. Revelation 18:2, 18; 19:3.

[8] In the same book,

He opened the pit of the abyss, from which there went up smoke out of the pit, like the smoke of a great furnace. And the sun was darkened, and the air, with the smoke of the pit. Revelation 9:2.

In the same book,

Out of the mouths of the horses there went forth fire, and smoke, and brimstone. By these a third part of mankind was killed - by the fire and by the smoke and by the brimstone which went forth out of their mouths. Revelation 9:17-18.

In the same book,

He who worships the beast will drink ¹ from the wine of God's anger, poured unmixed as it is in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone. Revelation 14:9-10.

In the same book,

The fourth angel poured out his bowl into the sun, and it was allowed to scorch men with fire; therefore men were burned by the fierce heat, and they blasphemed the name of God. Revelation 16:8-9.

And it is in like manner said that

They were thrown into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. Revelation 19:20; 20:14-15; 21:8.

[9] In all of these places 'fire' stands for the evil desires, 'smoke' for the falsities, which will reign in the last times. These thing as they actually exist in the next life were seen by John following the opening of his interior sight. Similar things are also seen by spirits, and by souls after death. These references show what hell-fire is, that it is nothing other than hatred, revenge, and cruelty, or what amounts to the same, self-love, which passes into such a visible form. As long as a person is in his bodily life, no matter how different his outward appearance might seem to be, he cannot be seen by the angels, when they look at him closely, in any other way than this; that is, his hatred is not seen by them except as 'flaming torches' nor the falsities coming from it except as 'smoking furnaces'.

[10] Of this fire the Lord speaks in Matthew as follows,

Every tree not bearing good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire. Matthew 3:10; Luke 3:9.

'Good fruit' is used to mean charity, and anyone who deprives himself of this 'cuts himself down and casts himself into such a fire'. In the same gospel,

The Son of Man will send His angels, who will gather out of His kingdom all offences, and those who work iniquity, and will send them into the furnace of fire. Matthew 13:41-42, 50.

Here the meaning is similar. In the same gospel,

The king will say ² to those on his left hand, Depart from me, O cursed ones, into eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. Matthew 25:41.

Here the meaning is similar.

[11] Where it is said that they were to be sent into eternal fire, the Gehenna of fire, and that their worm does not die, and their fire is not quenched in Matthew 18:8-9; Mark 9:43-49, the meaning is similar. In Luke,

Send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am tormented in this flame. Luke 16:24.

Here the meaning is similar.

[12] People who have no knowledge of the arcana of the Lord's kingdom imagine that the Lord sends the wicked down into hell, that is, into the kind of fire which, as has been stated, is the manifestation of hatred. But the truth of the matter is altogether different, for it is the person himself, or the devil-spirit himself, who casts himself down. Yet because it appears as though the Lord casts down, it has been spoken of in the Word in that way - according to the appearance, indeed according to the illusions of the senses. This was especially necessary with the Jews, who were totally unwilling to accept anything if it did not coincide with their own sensory perceptions, no matter what illusions these might entail. This is why the sense of the letter, especially the prophetical sections, is full of such ideas, as in Jeremiah,

[13] Thus said Jehovah, Execute judgement in the morning, and deliver him who has been robbed from the hand of the oppressor, lest My wrath go forth like fire and burn with none to quench it because of the wickedness of their works. Jeremiah 21:12.

'Executing judgement' is declaring the truth. 'Delivering him who has been robbed from the hand of the oppressor' is doing a good work of charity. 'Fire' stands for the hellish punishment of those who do not do these things, that is, who pass their time clinging to falsity that is the product of hatred. In the sense of the letter such fire and anger are attributed to Jehovah, but in the internal sense it is quite the reverse.

[14] Similarly in Joel,

The day of Jehovah, fire devours before him, and behind him a flame burns. Joel 2:1, 3.

In David,

Smoke went up out of His nose, and fire out of His mouth devoured; glowing coals flamed forth from Him; and there was thick darkness under His feet. Psalms 18:8-9.

In Moses,

A fire has flared up in My anger, and will burn right down to the lowest hell, and will devour the land and its increase, and will set on fire the foundations of the mountains. Deuteronomy 32:22.

Here 'a fire' stands for the hatred, 'smoke' for the falsities, that reside with a person, which are attributed to Jehovah or the Lord for the reasons that have been stated. To the hells also it seems that Jehovah or the Lord does the things described, but quite the reverse is the case. It is they who do them because they dwell in the fires of hatred. From this it is evident how easily a person can sink into delusions if the internal sense of the Word is not known.

[15] It was similar with the smoke and fire which the people saw coming from Mount Sinai when the Law was given; for Jehovah or the Lord is seen by everyone according to his character and disposition. By celestial angels He is seen as the sun, by spiritual angels as the moon, by all who are good as light of varying delightfulness and loveliness; but by the evil as smoke and as devouring fire. And because the Jews had no charity at all when the Law was given, but self-love and love of the world reigned among them, and so nothing but evils and falsities, He was therefore seen by them as smoke and fire, while in the same instant He was seen by angels as the sun and heavenly light.

[16] The fact that He was seen thus by the Jews, because their character was such, is clear in Moses,

The glory of Jehovah dwelt over Mount Sinai. And the appearance of the glory of Jehovah was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain, before the eyes of the children of Israel. Exodus 24:16-17.

In the same book,

Mount Sinai was smoking, the whole of it, because Jehovah came down upon it in fire and its smoke went up like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly. Exodus 19:18.

And elsewhere in the same author,

You came near and stood at the foot of the mountain while the mountain was burning with fire even to the heart of heaven, with darkness and cloud and thick darkness. And Jehovah spoke to you out of the midst of the fire. Deuteronomy 4:11-12; 5:22.

Also in the same,

When you heard the voice out of the midst of the darkness, and the mountain was burning with fire, you came near to Me and you said, Why should we die? For this great fire will devour us; if we hear the voice of Jehovah our God any more we shall die. Deuteronomy 5:23-25.

[17] The same would be the case if anyone else who spends his time hating and performing filthy deeds that are the product of hatred were to see the Lord. He would inevitably see Him from his own hatred and the filthy deeds that are the product of it. These things being the recipients of the rays of good and truth from Him, they would convert those rays into that type of fire, smoke, and thick darkness. The same places that have been quoted also show what' a smoking furnace' is, and what 'a burning torch' is, namely the grossest falsity and the filthiest evil which took possession of the Church in its last times.

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