AE 556 - "Gnashing of Teeth"

  AE 556 [16-17,18]

One who is ignorant of the spiritual sense of the Word
might suppose that they are said "to gnash the teeth"
merely because they were angry and intent on evil,
since men then press the teeth together;
but they are said "to gnash the teeth"
because the endeavor to destroy
and the act of destroying truths by means of falsities
are meant by it;
this is said in the Word
because "teeth" signify falsities in things most external,
and "gnashing" signifies vehemence in fighting for them;
this effort and act are also from correspondence.

Moreover, such was the deaf and dumb spirit
that the Lord cast out;
for all spirits are from the human race;
this spirit was from that kind of men
who had vehemently fought for falsities against truths;
consequently the one obsessed by him
"foamed and gnashed his teeth."
He is called by the Lord "deaf and dumb"
because he was unwilling
to perceive and understand the truth,
for such are signified by "the deaf and the dumb."
And because this spirit
was determined and obstinate against truths,
and had confirmed himself in falsities,
the disciples were not able to cast him out,
for the falsities for which he had fought
they were not yet able to dispel
because they had not yet reached the proper state,
and it was for this also
that the disciples were rebuked by the Lord.

"Gnashing of teeth" in the hells means
continual disputation and combat of falsities
with each other and against truths,
 and thus of those who are in falsities,
joined with contempt of others, enmity, jeering,
derision, blaspheming,
and these also burst forth into attempts
to tear each other in pieces,
for everyone fights for his own falsity
from love of self, of learning, and of fame.
These disputations and contests
are heard outside of these hells as gnashings of teeth,
and are also turned into gnashings of teeth
when truths flow in from there out of heaven.