AE 811a - a lament

AE 811a
That "captivity" signifies in the Word spiritual captivity,
which is a shutting out from Divine truths,
that is, from the understanding of them in the Word,
also destruction by the falsities of evil and by the evils of falsity,

[3]
Hear, all ye people, and behold my grief;
my virgins and my young men have gone into captivity.
(Lamentations 1:18)

This is a lamentation over the devastation of all truth in the church;
this lamentation is described by
"Hear, all ye people, and behold my grief;"
that all the affection of truth has been destroyed
is signified by "my virgins have gone into captivity,"
a "virgin" signifying the affection of truth;
and that all understanding of truth has been destroyed
is signified by "my young men have gone into captivity,"
"young men" signifying the understanding of truth and intelligence.


Interesting possible cause / effect when thinking about pre-marital sex
(How many virgins are there anymore? How much affection for truth
a life based on truth?) and alternative elements in the Holy Supper
(wine - blood - truth; unleavened bread - body - good).