AR 386 - arguments

AR 386

When I once looked about in the spiritual world,

I heard what sounded like the gnashing of teeth,

and like a thumping, too,

intermixed with a harsh noise.

So I asked what I was hearing,

and the angels who were with me said,

"There are clubs, which we call taverns,

where people argue with each other.

This is the way their debates sound at a distance,

but close by they sound only like arguments.

I went over and saw cottages constructed

of interwoven rushes, with clay for mortar.

I wanted to look through a window,

but there wasn't one.

I looked for a window

because I was not permitted to enter through a door,

as light from heaven would then flow in

and befuddle people.

[5]  . . . The particular arguing that sounded like

the gnashing of teeth came from those

who were espousing faith alone;

the arguing that sounded like a thumping

came from those who were espousing charity alone;

and the intermixed harsh noise came from the syncretist.

I heard their voices at a distance thus

because they had all argued in the world,

but did not refrain from any evil

and so did not do any moral good that was spiritual.

Moreover, they also did not know at all

that the totality of faith is truth,

and that the totality of charity is goodness,

and that truth without goodness

is not truth in spirit,

and that goodness without out truth

is not goodness in spirit;

thus that one must form the other.

(From the footnote in the translation by N. Bruce Rogers:

A syncretist is someone who has a system of belief

that attempts to reconcile differing

religious and philosophic positions.

The term was applied especially to the view

of George Callixtus, a Lutheran theologian

in the 17th century, and his followers.)

How Good And Pleasant It Is

How good and pleasant it is

when brothers live together in unity!

It is as if the dew of Hermon

were falling on Mount Zion.

For there the Lord bestows His blessing,

even life forevermore.

(Psalm 133:1,3)

AR 380 - serving; AR 385 - God will

AR 380

. . . serving Him day and night (Revelation 7:15)

means, symbolically, that they constantly and faithfully live

in accordance with the truths they receive from Him,

which is to say, His commandments.

Serving the Lord has no other symbolic meaning.

AR 385

"And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

(Revelation 7:17)

This symbolically means that they will no longer be caught up

in battles against evils and the accompanying falsities,

and so will no longer experience times of distress,

but will be surrounded by goods and truths

and thus by heavenly joys emanating from the Lord.

Sadness and Hope

Streams of tears flow from my eyes,

for Your law is not obeyed.

(Psalm 119:136)

Too long have I lived

among those who hate peace.

I am a man of peace;

but when I speak,

they are for war.

(Psalm 120:6-7)

I lift up my eyes to the hills -

where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord,

the Maker of heaven and earth.

(Psalm 121:1-2)

AR 367 - with palm branches in their hands

AR 367

Clothes with white robes,

with palm branches in their hands.(Revelation 7:9)

To be clothed with white robes means, symbolically,

to have a communication and conjunction with the heavens.

Holding palm branches in the hands

symbolizes confessions springing from Divine truths

because palm branches symbolize Divine truths.

For every tree symbolizes some element of the church,

and palm branches symbolize

Divine truth in outmost expressions,

which is the Divine truth in the literal sense of the Word.

Teach Me, O Lord

Teach me, O Lord, to follow Your decrees;

then I will keep them to the end.

Give me understanding,

and I will keep Your law

and obey it with all my heart.

Direct me in the path of Your commands,

for there I find delight.

Turn my heart toward Your statutes

and not toward selfish gain.

Turn my eyes away for worthless things;

preserve my life according to Your Word.

Fulfill Your promise to Your servant,

so that You may be feared.

Take away the disgrace I dread,

for Your laws are good.

How I long for Your precepts!

Preserve my life in Your righteousness.

(Psalm 119:33-40)

AR 349-362 (portions) - The Twelve Tribes

AR 349

Sealed out of every tribe of Israel.

(Revelation 7:4)

A tribe symbolizes religion as regards goodness of life,

and every tribe symbolizes (signifies)

the church in respect to every good of love

and every truth springing from that good,

which produces goodness of life.

For there are two elements which form the church:

the goodness of love and doctrinal truth.

The marriage of these two constitutes the church.

AR 350

Of the tribe of Judah twelve thousand were sealed.

(Revelation 7:5)

This symbolizes celestial love,

which is love toward the Lord,

and this in all those people who will be

in the Lord's New Heaven and New Church.

In the highest sense Judah symbolizes the Lord

in relation to celestial love;

in the spiritual sense,

the Lord's celestial kingdom and the Word;

and in the natural sense,

the doctrine of the celestial church drawn from the Word.

Here, however, Judah symbolizes celestial love,

which is love toward the Lord;

. . . the tribe named first is everything in the rest,

being to them as though their head

and serving as a universal property

entering into all those that follow,

tying them together,

qualifying them and affecting them.

This property is love toward the Lord.

AR 351

Of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand were sealed.

(Revelation 7:5)

This symbolizes wisdom springing from celestial love

in those people who will be

in the New Heaven and in the Lord's New Church.

In the highest sense Reuben symbolizes omniscience;

in the spiritual sense,

wisdom, intelligence and knowledge, also faith;

and in the natural sense, sight.

Here, however, Reuben symbolizes wisdom,

because he comes after Judah,

who symbolizes celestial love,

and celestial love produces wisdom.

For there is no love without its partner,

which is knowledge, intelligence, or wisdom.

The partner of natural love is knowledge;

that of spiritual love is intelligence;

and that of celestial love is wisdom.

AR 353

Of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand were sealed.

(Revelation 7:5)

This symbolizes useful life endeavors,

which are the exercises of wisdom

springing from the aforesaid love,

also in those people will be

in the New heaven and in the Lord's New Church.

In the highest sense Gad symbolizes omnipotence;

in the spiritual sense, goodness of life,

which also is useful endeavor;

and in the natural sense, work.

Here he symbolizes useful life endeavors,

because he comes after Reuben and Judah,

and celestial love by means of wisdom

produces useful endeavors.

There are three things that hang together

and cannot be separated:

love, wisdom and useful life endeavor.

If one is taken away,

the other two collapse.

AR 353

Of the tribe of Asher twelve thousand were sealed.

(Revelation 7:6)

This symbolizes mutual love,

which is a love of performing useful services

to community or society,

in those people who will be part of

the New Heaven and of the Lord's New Church.

In the highest sense Asher symbolizes eternity;

in the spiritual sense, eternal bliss;

and in the natural sense,

an affection for goodness and truth.

Here, however, Asher symbolizes

a love of performing useful services . . ..

This love descends directly from love toward the Lord,

since the Lord's love is to perform useful services

to the community and to each society in the community,

and He does these through the agency of people

who possess a love for Him.

AR 354

Of the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand were sealed.

(Revelation 7:6)

This symbolizes a perception of useful endeavor,

and of what is useful,

in those people who will be

in the New Heaven and in the Lord's New Church.

In the highest sense Naphtali symbolizes

the intrinsic power of the Lord's Divine humanity;

in the spiritual sense, temptation or trial, and victory;

and in the natural sense,

resistance on the part of the natural self.

. . . those people who

have overcome in temptations or trials

have an interior perception of useful ends;

for temptations or trials open

the interior constituents of the mind.

AR 355

​Of the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand were sealed.

(Revelation 7:6)

This symbolizes a will to serve and to put into practice,

also in those people who will be part of

the New Heaven and of the Lord's New Church.

Manasseh has this symbolism because Joseph,

who was the father of Manasseh and Ephraim,

symbolizes the spiritual component of the church,

and the spiritual component of the church

is goodness of will

and at the same time truth in the intellect.

Manasseh consequently symbolizes

the volitional component of the church,

and Ephraim its intellectual component.

AR 356

Of the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand were sealed.

(Revelation 7:7)

This symbolizes spiritual love,

which is love for the neighbor or charity,

in those people who will be part of

the New Heaven and of the Lord's New Church.

In the first two series

the subject was people

who are in the Lord's celestial kingdom.

In this series, now, the subject is people

who are in the Lord's spiritual kingdom.

Their love is termed a spiritual love,

which is love for the neighbor and charity.

[2]  We will say something here

about love for the neighbor or charity.

Love for the neighbor is a love of obeying

the Lord's commandments,

especially those in the second table

of the Ten Commandments, namely,

you shall not kill,

you shall not commit whoredom,

you shall not steal,

you shall not bear witness falsely,

and you shall not covet

anything that is your neighbor's.

A person who wills not to do these things

because they are sins,

loves his neighbor.

For someone who hates his neighbor,

and who out of hatred wished to kill him,

does not love his neighbor.

Someone who wishes to commit whoredom

with his neighbor's wife,

does not love his neighbor.

Neither does someone who wishes to steal

and plunder his neighbor's goods

love his neighbor, and so on.

AR 357

Of the tribe of Levi twelve thousand were sealed.

(Revelation 7:7)

This symbolizes an affection for truth

springing from goodness,

producing intelligence in those people who will be part

of the New Heaven and of the Lord's New Church.

In the highest sense Levi symbolizes love and mercy;

in the spiritual sense, charity in practice,

which constitutes goodness of life;

and in the natural sense,

association and conjunction.

AR 358

​Of the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand were sealed.

(Revelation 7:7)

This symbolizes goodness of life

in those people who will be part of

the New Heaven and of the Lord's New Church.

In the highest sense Issachar symbolizes

the Divine good of truth and the truth of good;

in the spiritual sense,

the conjugial love of heaven,

which is one of goodness and truth;

and in the natural sense, recompense.

AR 359

Of the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand were sealed.

(Revelation 7:8)

This symbolizes the conjugial love of goodness and truth

in those people who will be part of

the New Heaven and the Lord's New Church.

In the highest sense Zebulun symbolizes the union

of the Divine itself and the Divine humanity in the Lord;

in the spiritual sense,

the marriage of goodness and truth

in those people who are in heaven and in the church;

and in the natural sense, married love itself.

AR 360

Of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand were sealed.

(Revelation 7:8)

This symbolizes a doctrine of goodness and truth

in those people who will be part of

the New Heaven and the Lord's New Church.

In the highest sense Joseph symbolizes the Lord

in respect to His Divinity on the spiritual plane;

in the spiritual sense, the spiritual kingdom;

and in the natural sense,

reproduction and multiplication.

Here, however, Joseph symbolizes

the doctrine of goodness and truth

that is found in people

who are in the Lord's spiritual kingdom.

The spiritual kingdom is the Lord's royal one,

while the celestial kingdom is His priestly one.

AR 361

Of the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand were sealed.

(Revelation 7:8)

This symbolizes a life of truth springing from goodness

in accord with doctrine in those people who will be in

the New Heaven and in the Lord's New Church.

Since Zebulun symbolizes the conjugial love

of goodness and truth,

and Joseph symbolizes a doctrine of goodness and truth,

Benjamin, being third in the series,

symbolizes a life of truth springing from goodness.

AR 362

In this list of the tribes of Israel,

no mention is made of Dan or Ephraim.

The reason is that Dan was the last of the tribes

(to be allotted an inheritance in the land of Israel),

and its tribe dwelled in the most remote part

of the land of Canaan.

Thus it could not symbolize anything in the New Heaven

or in the Lord's New Church,

where there would be only celestial and spiritual people.

Therefore Manasseh is substituted for Dan.

That Joseph is substituted for Ephraim

may be seen in AR 360

(in the book where the detail is given in full).

For He Stands

With my mouth I will greatly extol the Lord;

in the great throng I will praise Him.

For He stands at the right hand of the needy one,

to save his life from those who condemn him.

(Psalm 109:30-31)

AR 344 - "angel" or "one sent"

AR 344

I send and Angel before you

to keep you in the way . . ..

Beware of his presence . . .;

for My name is in the midst of him. 
(Exodus 23:20-23)

"Angel" and "one sent" are, in Hebrew, the same word.

That is why the Lord so often calls Himself

one sent by the Father,

meaning by it His divine humanity.

In a relative sense, on the other hand,

an angel is anyone who accepts the Lord,

whether in heaven or in the world.

And Observe His Laws

He brought out Israel,

laden with silver and gold,

and from among their tribes

no one faltered.

Egypt was glad when they left,

because dread of Israel had fallen on them.

He spread out a cloud as a covering,

and a fire to give light at night.

They asked,

and He brought them quail

and satisfied them with the bread of heaven.

He opened the rock,

and water gushed out;

like a river it flowed in the desert.

For He remembered His holy promise

given to His servant Abraham.

He brought out His people with rejoicing,

His chosen ones with shouts of joy;

He gave them the lands of the nations,

and they fell heir to what others had toiled for -

that they might keep His precepts

and observe His laws.

Praise the Lord.

(Psalm 105:37-45)

AR 348 - 144,000

AR 348

And I heard the number of those who were sealed,

one hundred and forty-four thousand.(Revelation 7:4)

This symbolizes all people 

who acknowledge the Lord as God of heaven and earth

and are governed by truths of doctrine

springing from the goodness of love,

received from Him though the Word.

These are symbolized by the number 144,000

from the twelve tribes of Israel

because the twelve tribes of Israel symbolize a church

that consists of people who possess

the goodness and truth from the Lord

and acknowledge Him as God of heaven and earth.

The number 144,000 means all such.

For that number has the same symbolism

as the number twelve,

since it is the product of twelve times twelve,

which is the multiplied by 1000;

and any number multiplied by itself

and then by 10, 100, or 1000,

has the same symbolism as the original number.

. . . Symbolically, the number twelve means all,

and is predicated of truths springing from goodness,

because twelve is the product of three times four,

and the number three

symbolizes everything connected with truth,

and the number four,

everything connected with good.

Thus the number twelve here symbolizes

everything connected with truth

that springs from the goodness of love.

Shout for Joy!

Shout for joy to the Lord,all the earth,

burst into jubilant song with music;

make music to the Lord with the harp,

with the harp and the sound of singing,

with trumpets and the blast of the ram's horn -

shout for joy before the Lord, the King.

(Psalm 98:4-6)

AR 342 - four angels

AR 342

After these things

I saw four angels standing

at the four corners of the earth.(Revelation 7:1)

The four angels here symbolize the whole of heaven.

the four corners of the earth

symbolize the entire world of spirits,

which is midway between heaven and hell.

For the Last Judgment was executed

on people who were in the world of spirits,

and not on anyone in heaven,

nor on anyone in hell.

Who Is Like the Lord?

The heavens praise Your wonders, O Lord,

Your faithfulness too, in the assembly of the holy ones.

For who in the skies above

can compare with the Lord?

Who is like the Lord

among the heavenly beings?

In the council of the holy ones

God is greatly feared:

he is more awesome than all who surround Him.

O Lord God Almighty,

who is like You?

You are mighty, O Lord,

and your faithfulness surrounds you.

Righteousness and justice

are the foundation of Your throne;

love and faithfulness

go before You.

Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim You,

who walk in the light of Your presence, O Lord.

They rejoice in Your name all day long;

they exult in Your righteousness.

For You are their glory and strength . . ..

(Psalm 89:5-8,14-17)

AR 330-338, portions - The Sixth Seal: A Great Earthquake

AR 330

Then I looked when He opened the sixth seal.

(Revelation 6:12)

This symbolizes (signifies) an examination by the Lord

of the states of life of people

who were inwardly evil,

on whom the Last Judgment would fall.

. . . the Last Judgment was not executed on any

but people who in outward appearance

seemed to be Christians,

professing with their mouth

matters having to do with the church,

but who in their inner makeup or heart

were in opposition to them.

AR 331

And behold, there was a great earthquake.

(Revelation 6:12)

This symbolizes the state of the church

among those people completely changed,

and their terror.

Earthquakes symbolize changes in the state of the church

because the earth symbolizes the church,

and because in the spiritual world,

when the state of the church is corrupted somewhere

and a change is made,

an earthquake occurs.

AR 332

And the sun became as black as a sackcloth of hair,

and the moon became like blood.(Revelation 6:12)

This symbolically means that all goodness of love

was adulterated in those people,

and every truth of faith falsified.

AR 333

And the stars of heaven fell to the earth.

(Revelation 6:13)

This symbolically means that all concepts

of goodness and truth were dispelled.

AR 334

As a fig tree drops its late figs

when it is shaken by a mighty wind.

(Revelation 6:13)

This symbolically means,

by reasonings of the natural self

divorced from the spiritual self.

. . . a fig tree by correspondence symbolizes

a person's natural goodness conjoined

with his spiritual goodness,

and here, in an opposite sense,

a person's natural goodness divorced

from his spiritual goodness,

which is not good.

Moreover, because the natural self

divorced from the spiritual self 

corrupts by its reasonings

any concepts of goodness and truth,

symbolized by the stars,

it follows that this is what is symbolized by a fig tree

shaken by a mighty wind.

. . . a wind or storm symbolizes reasoning . . ..

AR 335

Then the sky departed like a book rolled up.

(Revelation 6:14)

This symbolizes the people's separation from heaven

and conjunction with hell.

. . . A book rolled up means a parchment rolled up,

since their books were scrolls of parchment,

and the comparison is made with a book,

since a book also means the Word.

Consequently, when it is rolled up like a scroll,

whatever it contains is not visible,

and it is as though gone.

AR 336

And every mountain and island

was moved out of its place.

(Revelation 6:14)

This symbolically means that all goodness of love

and truth of faith vanished.

AR 337

And the kings of the earth and the great men,

the rich men and the commanders,

and the powerful,

and every slave and freeman.

(Revelation 6:15)

This symbolizes those people

who before the separation

had possessed an understanding of truth and good,

a knowledge of their concepts,

and learning, acquired from others or on their own,

and yet who lacked a life in accordance with them.

. . . evil people, even the worst of them,

can have a knowledge and understanding

of concepts of truth and goodness,

and a great deal of learning as well.

But because they lack a life in accordance with them,

they do not really possess them.

For whatever resides in the intellect alone,

and is not present at the same in a person's life,

does not exist in the person . . ..

AR 338

Hid themselves in the caves

and in the rocks of the mountains.

(Revelation 6:15)

This symbolically means that they were now

caught up in evils and

in the falsities accompanying evil.

Remember

I will remember the deeds of the Lord;

yes, I will remember Your miracles of long ago.

I will meditate on Your works

and consider all Your mighty deeds.

(Psalm 77:11-12)

AR 324,325 - The Sixth Seal: Souls Under the Altar

AR 324

When he opened the fifth seal

(Revelation 6:9)

That this symbolizes (signifies) an examination by the Lord

of the state of life of people who would be saved

on the day of the Last Judgment,

and who in the meantime were sequestered.

AR 325

I saw under the alter

the souls of those who had been slain

for the word of God

and for the testimony which they held.

(Revelation 6:9)

This symbolizes people who were hated by the evil,

treated with scorn

and expelled because of their life

in accordance with the Word's truths

and their acknowledgment of the Lord's Divine humanity,

and who were protected by the Lord

to keep them from being led astray.

Since the souls were under the altar,

it is apparent that they were being protected by the Lord.

For the Lord protects all people

who have lived some life of charity,

to keep them from being harmed by the evil . . ..

Psalm 75

We give thanks to You, O God,

we give thanks,

for Your Name is near;

men tell of Your wonderful deeds.

You say, "I choose the appointed time;

it is I who judge uprightly.

When the earth and all its people quake,

it is I who hold its pillars firm.

Selah.

To the arrogant I say,

'Boast no more,'

and to the wicked,

'Do not life up your horns.

Do not lift your horns against heaven;

do not speak with outstretched neck.'"

No one from the east or the west

or from the desert can exalt a man.

But it is God who judges:

He brings one down,

He exalts another.

In the hand of the Lord is a cup

full of foaming wine mixed with spices;

He pours it out,

and all the wicked of the earth

drink it down to its very dregs.

As for me, I will declare this forever;

I will sing praise to the God of Jacob.

I will cut off the horns of all the wicked,

but the horns of the righteous will be lifted up.

(Psalm 75)