Apocalypse Explained vol 2 - Swedenborg Foundation

662 Pages·2009·1.97 MB·English

by  Emanuel Swedenborg

Apocalypse
Explained
According to the spiritual sense
in which the arcana there predicted
but heretofore concealed
are revealed
A posthumous work of
EMANUEL SWEDENBORG
Volume 2
(numbers 296–414)
Translated from the Original Latin by
John C. Ager
Revised by
John Whitehead
STANDARD EDITION
SWEDENBORG FOUNDATION
West Chester, Pennsylvania
© 2009 Swedenborg Foundation
This version was compiled from electronic files of the
Standard Edition of the Works of Emanuel Swedenborg as
further edited by William Ross Woofenden. Pagination of
this PDF document does not match that of the
corresponding printed volumes, and any page references
within this text may not be accurate. However, most if not
all of the numerical references herein are not to page
numbers but to Swedenborg’s section numbers, which are
not affected by changes in pagination. If this work appears
both separately and as part of a larger volume file, its
pagination follows that of the larger volume in both cases.
This version has not been proofed against the original, and
occasional errors in conversion may remain. To purchase the
full set of the Redesigned Standard Edition of Emanuel
Swedenborg’s works, or the available volumes of the latest
translation (the New Century Edition of the Works of
Emanuel Swedenborg), contact the Swedenborg Foundation
at 1-800-355-3222, www.swedenborg.com, or 320 North
Church Street, West Chester, Pennsylvania 19380.
Contents
Editor’s Preface
Revelation 5
Revelation 6
Critical Notes
APOCALYPSE EXPLAINED 651
Editor’s Preface
This edition of Apocalypse Explained was translated by John C.
Ager and revised by John Whitehead. The text for this edition was
electronically scanned from the Foundation’s Standard Edition.
This process has allowed the book to be completely redesigned and
set in a new and more readable typeface. Certain stylistic changes
have also been introduced. These include modernized spelling and
punctuation as well as substituting new words for terms whose
meanings have become obscure or have changed since the
nineteenth century. Arabic numerals have replaced roman numerals
in Bible passages, and certain capitalized words including pronouns
referring to God have been lowercased to reflect contemporary
usage.
All these changes have been carefully made in order to make the
book easier to read and use while preserving the dignity and power
of the original Latin. On the whole, however, the Ager/Whitehead
translation has not been materially altered.
Volume 2 of Apocalypse Explained continues Swedenborg’s verse-
by-verse exposition, or commentary, of the biblical text of the
Apocalypse, commonly known as Revelation or the Revelation of
John. This volume covers chapters 5 and 6. As was the custom in
his day, Swedenborg referred to the Psalms as the book of David,
and to the Pentateuch (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and
Deuteronomy) as the books of Moses.
As with previous printings, the bold numerals in brackets, [2],
[3], etc., indicate divisions of Swedenborg’s longer numbered
sections that were added for the convenience of the reader by J. F.
Potts in his six-volume Swedenborg Concordance (London:
Swedenborg Society, 1888–1902). The numbers in parentheses (6),
(7), etc., are divisions of the exposition by the author. Italicized
letters following a number (518a, 518b) are subdivisions added by
the Latin editor, S. H. Worcester.
The critical notes were originally compiled by Worcester when he
edited the Latin text for a Latin-English edition of Apocalypse
APOCALYPSE EXPLAINED 652
Explained published by the Swedenborg Foundation between 1889
and 1897. These notes were used sparingly by Whitehead in this
English edition, principally in cases where some difference in
meaning is involved. All the notes, referenced by superscripts in the
text, will be found at the end of the volume.
William Ross Woofenden
Sharon, Massachusetts
APOCALYPSE EXPLAINED 653
Revelation 5
1. And I saw in the right hand of him that sat upon the throne a
book written within and on the back, sealed up with seven seals.
2. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a great voice, Who is
worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?
3. And no one was able, in heaven nor upon the earth nor under the
earth, to open the book, neither to look thereon.
4. And I wept much, that no one was found worthy to open and to
read the book, neither to look thereon.
5. And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not; behold, the lion
that is from the tribe of Judah, the root of David, hath overcome to
open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
6. And I saw, and behold, in the midst of the throne, and of the four
animals, and in the midst of the elders, a lamb standing as if slain,
having seven horns, and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God
sent forth into all the earth.
7. And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that
sat upon the throne.
8. And when he had taken the book, the four animals and the four
and twenty elders fell down before the lamb, having every one harps,
and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
9. And they were singing a new song, saying, Worthy art thou to take
the book, and to open the seals thereof; for thou wast slain, and didst
redeem us to God in thy blood, out of every tribe and tongue, and
people and nation;
10. And hast made us unto our God kings and priests; and we shall
reign upon the earth.
11. And I saw, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the
throne and the animals and the elders; and the number of them was
myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands;
12. Saying with a great voice, Worthy is the lamb that was slain to
receive the power, and riches, and wisdom, and honor, and glory, and
blessing.
13. And every created thing that is in heaven, and on the earth, and
under the earth, and those that are in the sea, and all that are in them,
APOCALYPSE EXPLAINED 654
heard I saying, Unto him that sitteth upon the throne and unto the
lamb be the blessing and the honor and the glory and the might, unto
the ages of the ages.
14. And the four animals said, amen; and the four and twenty elders
fell down and worshiped him that liveth unto the ages of the ages.
EXPOSITION
296. Verse 1. And I saw in the right hand of him that sat upon the
throne a book written within and on the back, sealed up with seven
seals. 1. “And I saw in the right hand of him that sat upon the
throne” signifies the Lord in respect to omnipotence and
omniscience (n. 297, 298); “a book written within and on the
back” signifies the state of life of all in heaven and on the earth, in
general and in particular (n. 299); “sealed up with seven seals”
signifies altogether hidden (n. 300).
297. Verse 1. And I saw in the right hand of him that sat upon the
throne, signifies the Lord in respect to omnipotence and
omniscience. This is evident from the signification of “right hand,”
as being, in reference to the Lord, omnipotence and also
omniscience (of which presently); also from the signification of
“him that sat upon the throne,” as being the Lord in respect to
Divine good in heaven; for in general “throne” signifies heaven, in
particular the spiritual heaven, and abstractly Divine truth
proceeding, from which heaven is, and by which judgment is
effected (see above, n. 253). By “him that sat upon the throne,”
and also by “the lamb,” that took the book from him that sat upon
the throne, the Lord is meant, because by “him that sat upon the
throne” the Lord in respect to Divine good is meant, and by “the
lamb” the Lord in respect to Divine truth. There are two things
that proceed from the Lord as the sun of heaven, namely, Divine
good and Divine truth. Divine good from the Lord is called “the
Father in the heavens,” and is here meant by “him that sat upon
the throne”; and Divine truth from the Lord is called “the son of
man,” but here “the lamb.” And because Divine good judges no
one, but Divine truth judges, therefore it is here said that “the lamb
APOCALYPSE EXPLAINED 655
took the book from him that sat upon the throne.” That Divine
good judges no one, but Divine truth judges, is meant by the
Lord’s words in John:
The Father doth not judge anyone, but hath given all judgment
unto the son; because he is the son of man (John 5:22, 27).
“Father” means the Lord in respect to Divine good; “the son of
man,” the Lord in respect to Divine truth. Divine good “doth not
judge anyone,” because it explores no one; but Divine truth judges,
for it explores everyone. Yet it should be known, that neither does
the Lord himself judge anyone from the Divine truth that proceeds
from him, for this is so united to Divine good that they are one;
but the man-spirit judges himself; for it is the Divine truth received
by himself that judges him; but because the appearance is that the
Lord judges, therefore it is said in the Word that all are judged by
the Lord. This the Lord also teaches in John:
Jesus said, If any man hear my words and yet believe not, I judge
him not; for I have not come to judge the world but to save the world.
He that rejecteth me and receiveth not my words hath one that judgeth
him; the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last
day (John 12:47–48).
[2] For in respect to judgment, the case is this: the Lord is present
with all, and from Divine love he wills to save all, and he turns and
leads all towards himself. Those who are in good and in truths
therefrom follow, for they apply themselves, but those who are in
evil and in falsities therefrom do not follow, but turn backwards
from the Lord, and to turn themselves backwards from the Lord is
to turn from heaven to hell; for every man-spirit is either his own
good and the truth therefrom, or his own evil and the falsity
therefrom. He who is a good and the truth therefrom permits
himself to be led by the Lord; but he who is an evil and the falsity
therefrom does not permit himself to be led; he resists with all his
strength and endeavor, for his will is toward his own love; for this
love is his breath and life; therefore his desire is toward those who
are in a like love of evil. From this it can be seen that the Lord does
not judge anyone, but that Divine truth received judges to heaven
APOCALYPSE EXPLAINED 656
those who have received Divine truth in the heart, that is, in love;
and it judges to hell those who have not received Divine truth in
the heart, and who have denied it. Thence it is clear what is meant
by the Lord’s saying that “all judgment is given to the son, because
he is the son of man,” and elsewhere, that “he came not to judge
the world but to save the world,” and that the Word which he has
spoken is to judge man.”
[3] These, however, are truths that do not fall into man’s self-
intelligence, for they are among the arcana of the wisdom of angels.
(But the matter is somewhat elucidated in Heaven and Hell, n.
545–551, under the heading, The Lord casts no one into hell, but
the spirit casts himself thither.) That it is the Lord who is meant by
“him that sat upon the throne,” and not another whom some
distinguish from the Lord and call “God the Father,” can be seen
by anyone from this, that the Divine that the Lord called “Father”
was no other than his own Divine; for this took on the human;
consequently it was the Father of the human; and that this Divine
is infinite, eternal, uncreate, omnipotent, God, Lord, and in no
way differing from the Divine itself that some distinguish from him
and call the Father, can be seen from the received faith called
Athanasian, where it is also said:
That no one of them is greatest or least, and no one of them first
or last, but they are altogether equal; and that as is one, so is the other,
infinite, eternal, uncreate, omnipotent, God, Lord; and yet there are not
three infinites, but one; not three eternals, but one; not three uncreates,
but one; not three omnipotents, but one; not three Gods and Lords, but
one.
These things have been said that it may be known that by “him
that sat upon the throne” and “the lamb,” also in what follows by
“God” and “the lamb,” not two, distinct from each other, are
meant; but that by the one, Divine good is meant, and by the
other, Divine truth in heaven, both proceeding from the Lord.
That the Lord is meant by “him that sat upon the throne,” is clear
also from the particulars of chapter 4 preceding, where the throne
and one sitting thereon are treated of (which may be seen
explained, n. 258–295); and still further in Matthew:
APOCALYPSE EXPLAINED 657
When the son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy
angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory (Matt.
25:31; 19:28–29).
Also in Ezekiel:
Above the expanse that was over the head of the cherubim was as it
were the appearance of a sapphire stone, the likeness of a throne; and
upon the likeness of the throne a likeness as the appearance of a man
sitting upon it (Ezek. 1:26; 10:1).
And in Isaiah:
I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his
train filling the temple (Isa. 6:1).
[4] Since by “throne” heaven is signified, and by “him that sat
upon the throne” the Lord in respect to his Divine in heaven, it is
said above, in chapter 3:
He that overcometh, I will give to him to sit with me on my
throne (Rev. 3:21);
signifying that he shall be in heaven where the Lord is (see above,
n. 253b); and therefore in what follows in this chapter it is said:
I saw, and behold in the midst of the throne a lamb standing (Rev.
5:6);
and in chapter 22:
He showed me a river of water of life, going forth out of the throne
of God and of the lamb (Rev. 22:1).
“The throne of God and of the lamb” means heaven and the Lord
there in respect to Divine good and as to Divine truth; “God”
meaning the Lord in respect to Divine good; and “the lamb,” the
Lord in respect to Divine truth. A distinction is here made between
the two, because there are those that receive the one more than the