321、“骑在马上的，名字叫作死，地狱也随着他”表示属灵生命的灭绝，因而诅咒。“死”在此表示属灵的死亡，属灵的死亡就是属灵生命的灭绝；“地狱”表示诅咒，诅咒随着这死亡而来。诚然，每个人自创造时，因而自出生时，就拥有属灵生命，但当他否认神、圣言的神圣性和永生时，这生命就灭绝了。它在意愿中灭绝，但仍留在理解中，确切地说，留在理解力中。人以此而有别于野兽。由于“死”表示属灵生命的灭绝，“地狱”表示由此产生的诅咒，所以在一些经文中，“死亡和地狱”一起被提到；如以下经文，何西阿书：
我必救赎他们脱离地狱之手，救赎他们脱离死亡。死亡啊，我要作你的灾害；地狱哪，我要作你的毁灭。(何西阿书13:14)
诗篇：
曾有死亡的绳索缠绕我；地狱的绳索缠绕我；死亡的网罗临到我。(诗篇18:4-5; 116:3)
又：
他们如同羊群躺卧地狱；死亡必喂养他们，地狱做他们的居所，只是神必救赎我的灵魂脱离地狱之手。(诗篇49:14-15)
启示录：
我拿着地狱和死亡的钥匙。(启示录1:18)
321. And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hell followed with him. This symbolizes the extinction of spiritual life and thus damnation.
Death here symbolizes spiritual death, which is the extinction of spiritual life. And Hell symbolizes damnation, which results from that death.
Everyone from creation and so from birth has, indeed, spiritual life, but that life is extinguished when the person denies God, the sanctity of the Word, and eternal life. He extinguishes it in his will, but it remains in his intellect, or rather, in his ability to understand. This is what distinguishes the human being from animals.
Since death symbolizes the extinction of spiritual life, and hell the resulting damnation, therefore death and hell are mentioned together in several places, as in the following:
From the hand of hell I will redeem them; I will free them from death. O death, I will be your plague! O hell, I will be your destruction! (Hosea 13:14)
The cords of death surrounded me... The cords of hell surrounded me; the snares of death came to meet me. (Psalms 18:4-5, cf. 116:3)
Like sheep they are set for hell; death shall be their shepherd...; hell shall be their home. But God will redeem my soul from the hand of hell... (Psalms 49:14-15)
I have the keys of hell and death. (Revelation 1:18)
321. 'And the one sitting upon it, his name was death and hell was following with him' signifies the extinction of spiritual life and the resulting damnation. By 'death' here is signified the spiritual death that is the extinction of spiritual life, and by 'hell' is signified the damnation that follows that death. Every man, as a result of creation and consequently of birth, has spiritual life, but that life is extinguished when there is a denial of God, of the holiness of the Word, and of eternal life. It is extinguished in the will, but it remains in the understanding, or rather in the faculty of understanding. By this man is distinguished from beasts. Since 'death' signifies the extinction of spiritual life and 'hell' the resulting damnation therefore in some places 'death' and 'hell' are named together, as in these:
Out of the hand of hell will I redeem them, out of death will I set them free: O death, I will be thy plague, O hell, I will be thy destruction, Hosea 13:14.
The cords of death encompassed me; the cords of hell encompassed me, the snares of death went ahead of me. Psalms 18:4-5 [H.B. 5-6]; Psalms 116:3.
Like sheep (pecus) they are laid in hell, death shall feed on them; hell is for their dwelling, but God will redeem my soul out of the hand of hell. Psalms 49:14-15 [H.B. 15-16].
I have the keys of hell and of death. Revelation 1:18.
321. And his name that sat upon him was Death, and hell followed with him, signifies the extinction of spiritual life, and thence damnation. By "death" is here signified spiritual death, which is the extinction of spiritual life; and by "hell" is signified damnation, which follows that death. Every man, indeed, has from creation, and therefore from birth, spiritual life, but that life is extinguished when he denies God, the holiness of the Word, and eternal life; it is extinguished in the will, but remains in the understanding, or rather in the faculty of understanding. By this man is distinguished from beasts. As "death" signifies the extinction of spiritual life, and "hell" damnation thence, therefore "death and hell" in some passages are named together; as in these:
I will redeem them from the hand of hell, I will liberate them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O hell, I will be thy destruction, (Hosea 13:14).
The cords of death encompassed me; the cords of hell encompassed me; the snares of death prevented me, (Psalms 18:4-5; 116:3).
Like sheep they are laid in hell; death shall feed on them, hell is their habitation, but God will redeem my soul from the hand of hell, (Psalms 49:14-15).
I have the keys of hell and death, (Revelation 1:18).
321. "Et sedens super illo nomen illi Mors, et Infernus sequebatur cum illo" significat exstinctionem vitae spiritualis et inde damnationem. -Per "Mortem" hic significatur mors spiritualis, quae est exstinctio vitae spiritualis: et per "Infernum" significatur damnatio, quae sequitur illam mortem. Est quidem cuivis homini ex creatione, et inde ex nativitate, vita spiritualis; sed vita illa exstinguitur, cum negatur Deus, sanctitas Verbi, et vita aeterna; exstinguitur in voluntate, sed remanet in intellectu, aut potius in facultate intelligendi; per hanc distinguitur homo a bestiis. Quoniam "Mors" significat exstinctionem vitae spiritualis, ac "Infernus" damnationem inde, ideo "Mors" et "Infernus" nominantur simul in aliquibus locis, ut in his:
"E manu Inferni redimam eos, e Morte liberabo eos: ero pestis tua Mors, ero exitium tuum Inferne," (Hoschea 13:14);
"Circumdederunt me funes Mortis; funes Inferni circumdederunt me; praevenerunt me laquei Mortis," (Psalm 18:5-6 (B A. 4, 5); Psalm 116:3); 1
"Sicut pecus in Inferno ponentur, Mors pascet eos; Infernus pro habitaculo illi, verum Deus redimet animam meam e manu Inferni," (Psalm 49:15-16 (B.A. 14-15));
"Habeo claves Inferni et Mortis," (Apocalypsis 1:18).
Footnotes:
1. 3 pro "1"