AE 131 - The Sword Meaning Truth Fighting Falsity

AE 131 [1, 2, 5]

"These things says He that has 
the sharp two-edged sword,"
(Revelation 2:13)
signifies the Lord, who alone combats in temptation.

. . . by "wars" in the Word are signified spiritual wars, 
and spiritual wars are wars of truths against falsities 
and of falsities against truths; 
and as "wars" in the Word have such a signification, 
all weapons of war, as "sword," "spear," 
"bow," "arrows," "shield," and many others, 
signify each some special thing 
pertaining to spiritual combat; 
especially the "sword," 
because in wars they fight with swords.

"Jesus said that He came 
not to send peace on earth, 
but a sword."
(Matthew 10:34)

Here by "sword" is meant the combat of temptation. 
It was so said, because people at that time 
were in falsities, 
and the Lord uncovered interior truths, 
and only by combats from such truths 
can falsities be cast out.

In Revelation:

"There was given unto him 
that sat on the red horse a great sword."
(Revelation 6:4)

In another place:

"Out of the mouth of him that sat on the white horse 
went forth a sharp sword, 
that with it he should smite the nations. 
The rest were killed with the sword of him 
that sat upon the horse."
(Revelation 19:15,21)

By "sword" in these passages 
is signified truth combating and destroying; 
this destruction is especially apparent 
in the spiritual world; 
there those that are in falsities 
cannot sustain the truth; 
when they come into the sphere of light, 
that is, where Divine truth is, 
they are in anguish, 
like those who are struggling with death; 
and so they are also deprived of truths 
and are vastated.

 

AE 130 - "Angels" and Divine Truths

AE 130 [4, 10]

. . . angels have no power of themselves, 
but all power is the Lord's through His Divine Truth.

It is said that by "angels" in the Word, 
in its spiritual sense, 
are meant Divine truths proceeding from the Lord, 
because these constitute the angels; 
when angels utter these truths, 
they speak not from themselves, 
but from the Lord. 
The angels not only know that this is so, 
but they also perceive it. 
The person who believes 
that nothing of faith is from himself, 
but that all faith is from God, 
also knows this, indeed, 
but he does not perceive it. 
That nothing of faith is from a person, 
but all faith is from God, 
is the same as saying 
that nothing of truth that has life is from a person, 
but all truth is from God, 
for truth is of faith and faith is of truth.

 

AE 128 - To Overcome

AE 128

. . . "to overcome" is to resist evils and falsities, 
and to tame and subdue them as one's enemies. 
But no one overcomes unless he is steadfast 
in the spiritual affection of truth, 
even to the end of his life in the world; 
then the work is finished; 
for a person remains to eternity such as he then is, 
namely, such as his life has been up to that point; 
death is what completes it. 
But no one is able to overcome 
except the Lord only. 
The person who supposes 
that he overcomes of himself, 
and not that it is the Lord with him that overcomes, 
does not overcome but succumbs; 
for it is spiritual faith that overcomes, 
and there is nothing of spiritual faith from a person, 
but the whole of it is from the Lord.

 

AE 125 - Be Faithful Until Death

AE 125

Be thou faithful even till death, 
(Revelation 2:10)

signifies steadfastness in truths to the end. 
This is evident without explanation. 
It is said "even till death," 
because such as a person is when he dies, 
such he remains to eternity; 
the life previously lived 
is only the life for the formation of his spirit.

AE 122 - Dominant Love and Devotional Reading

AE 122 [6]

. . . the love that is dominant 
turns the mind of him who reads 
to those things only that favor the love; 
for love is like a fire, 
which lights up the things that favor it, 
while the rest are either passed by as if not seen, 
or drawn over to one's side 
by perverse explanation and thus falsified.

 

AE 121 - "Fear Not"

AE 121

Fear not the things which you are to suffer, 
signifies that they should not grieve 
because such men persecute them. 
(Revelation 2:10)

This is evident from the signification of "fear not," 
as being, in reference to those 
about to suffer persecutions, 
that they should not grieve in mind; 
for fear with these is also grief; 
and from the signification of 
"the things which thou art to suffer," 
namely, from those 
who are in the doctrine of all falsities, 
as being that such are about to persecute. 

AE 118 - "Judah"

AE 118 [1, 2]

. . . for "Judah," in the highest sense of the Word, 
signifies the Lord in respect to celestial love, 
in the internal sense 
the Lord's celestial kingdom and the Word, 
and in the external sense doctrine from the Word, 
which is of the celestial church.

And as with them a church was instituted
in which all things were representative
and significative of things heavenly,
so by their names was signified
that which essentially makes the church,
namely, in the highest sense, the Lord Himself;
in the internal sense His Word;
and in the external sense doctrine from the Word.
From this it is clear
how greatly those are mistaken who believe,
according to the letter,
that the Jews are to be brought back
into the land of Canaan,
and that they have been chosen
and destined for heaven in preference to others;
. . . but that nation
has altogether rejected Him from its faith.