揭秘启示录
第二章(69 - 153)
启示录2
1你要写信给以弗所教会的天使，这些事是那右手拿着七星，在七个金灯台中间行走的说的，2我知道你的作为、劳碌、忍耐，你不能容忍恶人，也曾试验那自称为使徒却不是的，发现他们是撒谎的人；3你也能承受、忍耐，曾为我的名劳苦，并不乏倦。4但我反对你，就是你把起初的仁爱离弃了。5所以应当回想你是从哪里坠落的，并要悔改，行起初的作为；不然，我很快就临到你那里；你若不悔改，我就把你的灯台从原处挪去。6但你有这一件，就是你恨恶尼哥拉派的作为，这也是我所恨恶的。7灵向众教会所说的话，凡有耳的，就让他听。得胜的，我必将神乐园中间的生命树赐给他吃。8你要写信给士每拿教会的天使，这些事是那首先的、末后的、死过又活着的说的，9我知道你的作为、苦难和贫穷，你却是富足的；也知道那自称是犹太人、其实不是，乃是撒但会堂的人的毁谤。10你将要受的苦你不用怕。看哪，魔鬼要把你们中间一些人下在监里，叫你们被试炼，你们必受苦难十日；你务要忠信至死，我就赐给你那生命的冠冕。11灵向众教会所说的话，凡有耳的，就让他听。得胜的，必不受第二次死的害。12你要写信给别迦摩教会的天使，这些事是那有两刃利剑的说的，13我知道你的作为，你住在哪里，就是有撒但宝座之处；甚至在我忠信的殉道者安提帕在你们中间，在撒但所住的地方被杀的日子，你还坚守我的名，没有否认对我的信仰。14但我反对你这几件事：你有执守巴兰教义的人在那里；这巴兰曾教导巴勒将绊脚石放在以色列人面前，叫他们吃祭偶像之物，行淫。15同样，你也有执守我所恨恶的东西，就是尼哥拉派教义的人。16所以你当悔改；不然，我很快就临到你那里，用我口中的剑与他们争战。17灵向众教会所说的话，凡有耳的，就让他听。得胜的，我必将那隐藏的吗哪赐给他吃，并赐他一块白石，石上写着新名，除了那领受的以外，没有人认识。18你要写信给推雅推喇教会的天使，这些事是那眼目如火焰、脚像擦亮的铜的神之子说的，19我知道你的作为、仁爱、事工、信仰，你的忍耐和你的作为，末后的比起初的更多。20但我反对你这几件事，就是你容许那自称是先知的妇人耶洗别教导并引诱我的仆人行淫，吃祭偶像之物。21我曾给她悔改淫行的时间，她却不悔改。22看哪，我必将她丢在床上；那些与她行通奸的人，若不悔改他们的作为，我也要把他们与她一同丢在大苦难中。23我必以死亡击杀她的儿子；众教会必知道我是那察看肾心的，并要照各人的作为赐给各人。24我对你们推雅推喇其余的人，就是一切没有这教义、不晓得他们所说撒但之深奥的人说；我不将别的担子放在你们身上。25然而，你们已经有的，总要持守，直等到我来。26那得胜又坚持我工作到底的，我要赐给他权柄制伏列族。27他必用铁棒辖管他们，他们将如同窑户的瓦器被打得粉碎，甚至像我从我父领受的一样。28我又要把晨星赐给他。29.灵向众教会所说的话，凡有耳的，就让他听。
灵义
整章内容
给基督教界的众教会：给那些主要关注教义真理，而非生活良善的人，“以弗所教会”就是指他们(73-90节)。给那些在生活上处于良善，在教义上处于虚假的人，“士每拿教会” 就是指他们(91-106节)。给那些将教会的一切都置于善行，丝毫不置于真理的人，“别迦摩教会” 就是指他们(107-123节)。给那些处于源于仁的信之人，以及那些处于与仁分离之信的人，“推雅推喇教会” 就是指他们(124-152节)。所有这些人都被呼召到新教会，也就是新耶路撒冷。
各节内容
启2:1.“你要写信给以弗所教会的天使说”表示写给并涉及那些主要关注教义真理，而非生活良善的人(73节)。“这些事是那右手拿着七星的说的”表示主，一切真理都通过圣言来自祂(74节)。“在七个金灯台中间行走”表示来自主的一切光照临到那些属于祂教会的人(75节)。
启2:2.“我知道你的作为”表示祂同时看到人的一切内层和外层(76节)。“劳碌、忍耐”表示他们的钻研和耐心(77节)。“你不能容忍恶人”表示他们不能容忍邪恶被称为良善，反之亦然(78节)。“也曾试验那自称为使徒却不是的，发现他们是撒谎的人”表示他们细查那些在教会中虽被称为良善和真理，然而却是邪恶和虚假的东西(79节)。
启2:3.“你也能承受、忍耐”表示对它们的耐心(80节)。“曾为我的名劳苦，并不乏倦”表示他们为获得属于宗教及其教义的事物的钻研和努力(81节)。
启2:4.“但我反对你，就是你把起初的仁爱离弃了”表示有一件事要反对他们，就是他们没有将生活的良善放在首位(82节)。
启2:5.“所以应当回想你是从哪里坠落的”表示想起他们的过错(83节)。“并要悔改，行起初的作为”表示他们应转变自己的生命状态(84节)。“不然，我很快就临到你那里；你若不悔改，我就把你的灯台从原处挪去”表示否则，看见真理的光照将不再赐予他们(85节)。
启2:6.“但你有这一件，就是你恨恶尼哥拉派的作为，这也是我所恨恶的”表示他们出于其真理知道这一点，因而不希望作为是为了邀功或回报(86节)。
启2:7.“灵向众教会所说的话，凡有耳的，就让他听”表示凡理解的人，都应当服从圣言的神性真理对那些将属于新教会，也就是新耶路撒冷之人的教导(87节)。“得胜的”表示与邪恶和虚假争战，并被改造的人(88节)。“我必将生命树赐给他吃”表示对来自主的爱与仁之良善的吸收(89节)。“神乐园中间的”表示从内层处于智慧和信仰的真理(90节)。
启2:8.“你要写信给士每拿教会的天使”表示写给并涉及那些在生活上处于良善，只在教义上处于虚假的人(91节)。“这些事是那首先的、末后的说的”表示主，唯独祂是神(92节)。“死过又活着的”表示祂在教会被漠视，祂的人身没有被承认为神性，然而在这人身方面，也唯独祂是生命，永生唯独来自祂(93节)。
启2:9.“我知道你的作为”表示主同时看到他们的一切内层和外层(94节)。“苦难和贫穷”表示他们处于虚假，因而没有处于良善(95节)。“也知道那自称是犹太人、其实不是的人的毁谤”表示错误断言他们处于爱之良善，而事实上，他们并没有处于爱之良善(96节)。“乃是撒但会堂”表示因为他们在教义上处于虚假(97节)。
启2:10.“你将要受的苦你不用怕”表示当被邪恶侵扰，被虚假攻击时，不要绝望(98节)。“看哪，魔鬼要把你们中间一些人下在监里”表示他们的生活良善会被来自地狱的邪恶侵扰(99节)。“叫你们被试炼”表示通过虚假与他们争战(100节)。“你们必受苦难十日”表示这试探将持续整整一段时间(101节)。“你务要忠信至死”表示对真理的接受，直到虚假被移走(102节)。“我就赐给你那生命的冠冕”表示那时他们将拥有永生，就是胜利的赏赐(103节)。
启2:11.“灵向众教会所说的话，凡有耳的，就让他听”在此处和前面所表相同(104节)。“得胜的”表示与邪恶和虚假争战，并被改造的人(105节)。“必不受第二次死的害”表示他们此后不会屈服于来自地狱的邪恶和虚假(106节)。
启2:12.“你要写信给别迦摩教会的天使”表示写给并涉及那些将教会的一切都置于善行，丝毫不置于教义真理的人(107节)。“这些事是那有两刃利剑的说的”表示在来自圣言的教义真理方面的主，邪恶和虚假通过这些真理被驱散(108节)。
启2:13.“我知道你的作为”在此处和前面所表相同(109节)。“你住在哪里，就是有撒但宝座之处”表示他们在幽暗中的生活(110节)。“你还坚守我的名，没有否认对我的信仰”表示然而，他们还拥有宗教和照之的敬拜(111节)。“甚至在我忠心的殉道者安提帕在你们中间，在撒但所住的地方被杀的日子”表示当一切真理都通过教会中的虚假被灭绝时(112节)。
启2:14.“但我反对你这几件事”表示接下来反对他们的事(113节)。“你有执守巴兰教义的人在你那里；这巴兰曾教导巴勒将绊脚石放在以色列人面前，叫他们吃祭偶像之物，行淫”表示他们当中有些人行伪善的作为，通过这种方式，对神的敬拜在教会中被亵渎和败坏(114节)。
启2:15.“同样，你也有执守我所恨恶的东西，就是尼哥拉派教义的人”表示他们当中也有些人行邀功的作为(115节)。
启2:16.“所以你当悔改”表示他们应当警惕这些作为(116节)。“不然，我很快就临到你那里，用我口中的剑与他们争战”表示不然，主将出于圣言与他们相争(117节)。
启2:17.“灵向众教会所说的话，凡有耳的，就让他听”在此处和前面所表相同(118节)。“得胜的”在此处和前面所表相同(119节)。“我必将那隐藏的吗哪赐给他吃”表示那时对属天之爱的良善的吸收，因而主与那些作工之人的结合(120节)。“并赐他一块白石”表示支持良善并与它结合的真理(121节)。“石上写着新名”表示他们将以这种方式拥有他们之前所没有的一种品质的良善(122节)。“除了那领受的以外，没有人认识”表示它不向任何人显现，或说任何人都看不见它，因为它被铭刻在他们的生命中(123节)。
启2:18.“你要写信给推雅推喇教会的天使”表示写给并涉及那些处于源于仁的信，因而处于善行的人；也写给并涉及那些处与仁分离之信，因而处于恶行的人(124节)。“这些事是那眼目如火焰的神之子说的”表示在其神性之爱的神性智慧方面的主(125节)。“脚像擦亮的铜”表示属世的神性良善(126节)。
启2:19.“我知道你的作为”在此处和前面所表相同(127节)。“仁爱、事工”表示被称为仁爱的属灵情感及其运作(128节)。“信仰，你的忍耐”表示真理，以及对获得并教导它的渴望或努力(129节)。“你的作为，末后的比起初的更多”表示出于对真理的属灵情感的那些事物的增多(130节)。
启2:20.“但我反对你这几件事”表示接下来的事(131节)。“就是你容许那妇人耶洗别”表示在教会，他们当中有些人将信与仁分离(132节)。“自称是先知的”表示将唯信的教义当成教会教义的(133节)。“教导并引诱我的仆人行淫”表示由于唯信，圣言的真理被歪曲(134节)。“吃祭偶像之物”表示对敬拜的玷污，以及亵渎(135节)。
启2:21.“我曾给她悔改淫行的时间，她却不悔改”表示那些已经确认该教义的人不从中退出，尽管他们在圣言中看到反对它的话(136节)。
启2:22.“看哪，我必将她丢在床上，那些与她通奸的人，我也要把他们与她一同丢在大苦难中”表示因此，他们必留在他们的教义与歪曲中，并被虚假严重侵扰(137节)。“若不悔改他们的作为”表示如果他们不愿停止将信与仁分离(138节)。
启2:23.“我必以死亡击杀她的儿子”表示圣言的一切真理都将变成虚假(139节)。“众教会必知道我是那察看肾心的”表示使教会知道，主看每个人所拥有的真理的品质和良善的品质(140节)。“并要照各人的作为赐给各人”表示祂照着作为中的仁及其信给予各人(141节)。
启2:24.“我对你们推雅推喇其余的人，就是一切没有这教义的人说”表示对那些信之教义与仁分离的人，并那些信之教义与仁结合的人(142节)。“不晓得他们所说撒但之深奥的”表示不理解这些事物的内层，也就是纯粹虚假的(143节)。“我不将别的担子放在你们身上”表示只是叫他们要警惕这些人(144节)。
启2:25.“然而，你们已经有的，总要持守，直等到我来”表示他们应持守他们从圣言所知道的关于仁和由此而来的信的少许事物，并照之生活，直等到主来(145节)。
启2:26.“那得胜又坚持我工作到底的”表示那些实际上处于仁，由此处于信，并保持在其中，直到生命结束的人(146节)。“我要赐给他权柄制伏列族”表示他们必战胜自己里面来自地狱的邪恶(147节)。
启2:27.“他必用铁棒辖管他们”表示通过来自圣言字义的真理，同时通过来自属世之光的理性事物(148节)。“他们将如同窑户的瓦器被打得粉碎”表示就像无关紧要的小东西(149节)。“甚至像我从我父领受的一样”表示这是来自主，祂在世时凭祂里面的神性为自己获得掌管地狱的一切能力(150节)。
启2:28.“我又要把晨星赐给他”表示那时的聪明和智慧(151节)。
启2:29.“灵向众教会所说的话，凡有耳的，就让他听”在此处和前面所表相同(152节)。
68. CHAPTER 2
1. "To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, 'These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands:
2. I know your works, your labor, and your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have explored those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars;
3. and you have endured and have patience, and have labored for My name's sake and have not become weary.
4. Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first charity.
5. Remember therefore from where you have fallen and repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place, if you do not repent.
6. But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.'
8. "And to the angel of the church of the people of Smyrna write, 'These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and is alive:
9. I know your works, and tribulation, and poverty, and the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
10. Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
11. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.'
12. "And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write, 'These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword:
13. I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. And you hold fast My name, and did not deny My faith, even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.
14. But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.
15. Thus you have also those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
16. Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.
17. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat of the hidden manna. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written, which no one knows except him who receives it.'
18. "And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write, 'These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass:
19. I know your works, and charity and ministry, and faith, and your patience, and your works, and the last more than the first.
20. Nevertheless I have a few things against you, that you allow the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.
21. And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent.
22. Behold, I am casting her into a bed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless she repents of her deeds.
23. I will kill her sons with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the reins and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to his works.
24. Yet to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, and who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden.
25. Still, hold fast what you have till I come.
26. And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations.
27. He shall rule them with a rod of iron; they shall be dashed to pieces like the potter's vessels, as I also have received from My Father;
28. and I will give him the morning star.
29. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'"
THE SPIRITUAL MEANING
The Contents of the Whole Chapter
To the churches in the Christian world: to people there who regard primarily doctrinal truths and not goods of life, those meant by the church of Ephesus, nos. 73-90.
To those there who are engaged in good endeavors as regards life, and caught up in falsities as regards doctrine, those meant by the church of the people of Smyrna, nos. 91-106.
To those there who place everything of the church in good works and not anything in truths, those meant by the church in Pergamum, nos. 107-123.
And to those there who possess a faith springing from charity, as well as to those who possess a faith divorced from charity, those meant by the church in Thyatira, nos. 124-152.
These are all called to the New Church, which is the New Jerusalem.
The Contents of the Individual Verses
| Verse Contents | Spiritual Meaning |
|---|---|
| 1. "To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, | To people and concerning people who regard doctrinal truths primarily, and not goods of life: |
| 'These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, | The Lord, the source of all truths by means of the Word, |
| who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: | the source of all enlightenment for people who are part of His church. |
| 2. I know your works, | The Lord sees all a person's inner and outer qualities simultaneously, |
| your labor, and your patience, | their effort and perseverance, |
| and that you cannot bear those who are evil. | that they cannot endure to have evils called goods, or the converse. |
| And you have explored those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; | They have examined what in the church are called goods and truths, which nevertheless are evils and falsities. |
| 3. and you have endured and have patience, | Their perseverance with them. |
| and have labored for My name's sake and have not become weary. | Their effort and work in acquiring for themselves the constituents of religion and its accompanying doctrine. |
| 4. Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first charity. | But this is against them, that they do not hold goods of life in first place. |
| 5. Remember therefore from where you have fallen | A calling to mind of their going astray, |
| and repent and do the first works, | in order to turn the state of their life around. |
| or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place, if you do not repent. | Otherwise it is certain that enlightenment will not be granted for them to continue to see truths. |
| 6. But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. | Owing to their truths they know this and therefore do not wish works to be merit-seeking. |
| 7. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. | Anyone who understands these things, let him obey what the Divine truth of the Word teaches those who will be members of the New Church, which is the New Jerusalem. |
| To him who overcomes | To him who fights against evils and falsities and is reformed, |
| I will give to eat from the tree of life, | an assimilation of the goodness of love and charity from the Lord, |
| which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.' | inwardly in the truths of wisdom and faith. |
| 8. "And to the angel of the church of the people of Smyrna write, | To people and concerning people who as to life are engaged in good endeavors, but as to doctrine are caught up in falsities: |
| 'These things says the First and the Last, | The Lord, that He alone is God, |
| who was dead, and is alive: | that He has been disregarded in the church and His humanity not acknowledged to be Divine, even though in respect to it, too, He alone is life and the only source of eternal life. |
| 9. I know your works, | The Lord sees all those people's inner and outer qualities simultaneously, |
| and tribulation, and poverty, | that they are caught up in falsities and so are not engaged in good practices, |
| and the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, | their false speaking in saying that they have among them goods of love, when in fact they do not, |
| but are a synagogue of Satan. | because as to doctrine they are caught up in falsities. |
| 10. Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. | Do not despair when you are infested by evils and attacked by falsities. |
| Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, | Their goodness of life will be infested by evils emanating from hell, |
| that you may be tested, | through falsities assailing them. |
| and you will have tribulation ten days. | This will continue the whole time. |
| Be faithful until death, | Their reception of truths until their falsities are removed. |
| and I will give you the crown of life. | They will then have eternal life, their reward for overcoming. |
| 11. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. | The same here as before [verse 7]. |
| He who overcomes | He who fights against evils and falsities and is reformed |
| shall not be hurt by the second death.' | will not later succumb to evils and falsities from hell. |
| 12. "And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write, | To people and concerning people who place everything having to do with the church in good works, and not anything in doctrinal truths: |
| 'These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword: | The Lord in relation to doctrinal truths from the Word, by which evils and falsities are dispelled. |
| 13. I know your works, | The same here as before [verses 2, 9]. |
| and where you dwell, [where Satan's throne is]. | Their life in darkness, |
| And you hold fast My name, and did not deny My faith, | even though they have religion and worship in accordance with it, |
| even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. | at a time when all truth has been extinguished by falsities in the church. |
| 14. But I have a few things against you, | Against them are the following: |
| because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. | that they have among them people who perform hypocritical works, by which the worship of God in the church is defiled and adulterated; |
| 15. Thus you have also those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. | that they have among them also people who make works deserving of merit. |
| 16. Repent, | They should guard themselves against such works. |
| or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth. | If they do not, the Lord will contend with them from the Word. |
| 17. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. | The same here as before [verses 7, 11]. |
| To him who overcomes | The same here as before [verses 7, 11]. |
| I will give to eat of the hidden manna. | An assimilation of the good of celestial love then, and thus a conjunction of the Lord with those who perform works. |
| And I will give him a white stone, | Truths supportive of and united to good. |
| and on the stone a new name written, | Thus they will have a quality of good that they did not have before, |
| which no one knows except him who receives it.' | which is not apparent to anyone, because it is engraved on their life. |
| 18. "And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write, | To people and concerning people who are governed by a faith arising from charity, and so are engaged in good works; and also to people and concerning people who are governed by a faith divorced from charity, and so are engaged in evil works. |
| 'These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, | The Lord in respect to the Divine wisdom of His Divine love. |
| and His feet like fine brass: | Natural Divine good. |
| 19. I know your works, | The same here as before [verses 2, 9, 13]. |
| and charity and ministry, | The spiritual affection called charity, and the practice of it. |
| and your faith and patience, | Truth and their effort to acquire it and teach it. |
| and your works, and the last more than the first. | The growth of these from an affection for spiritual truth. |
| 20. Nevertheless I have a few things against you, | These are the things that follow: |
| that you allow the woman Jezebel, | that they have among them people in the church who divorce faith from charity, |
| who calls herself a prophetess, | and who make faith the only doctrine of the church, |
| to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality | in consequence of which faith the truths of the church are falsified. |
| and eat things sacrificed to idols. | The defilement of worship and profanations. |
| 21. And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. | Those who confirm themselves in that doctrine do not turn back from it, even if they see things contrary to it in the Word. |
| 22. Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, | Therefore they must be left to their doctrine with its falsifications and be sorely infested by falsities, |
| unless she repents of her deeds. | if they refuse to turn back from divorcing faith from charity. |
| 23. I will kill her sons with death, | Truths from the Word will all be turned into falsities, |
| that all the churches may know that I am He who searches the reins and hearts. | so that the church may know that the Lord sees the quality of truth and the quality of good in everyone, |
| And I will give to each one of you according to his works. | and gives to everyone according to the charity and its accompanying faith present in his works. |
| 24. Yet to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, | To those in whose case the doctrine of faith is divorced from charity, and to those in whose case the doctrine of faith is combined with charity, |
| and who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, | who do not understand the interior constituents of their tenets, which are nothing but falsities: |
| I will put on you no other burden. | Only let them guard themselves against those people, |
| 25. Still, hold fast what you have till I come. | so that they may retain the few things that they know from the Word about charity and its resulting faith, and live according to them, until the Lord's advent. |
| 26. And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, | Those who are in fact governed by charity and its resulting faith, and continue to be governed by them to the end of their life, |
| to him I will give power over the nations. | will overcome the evils in themselves that come from hell |
| 27. He shall rule them with a rod of iron; | by truths drawn from the literal sense of the Word and at the same time by rational considerations from a natural sight, |
| they shall be dashed to pieces like the potter's vessels, | as being of little or no account. |
| as I also have received from My Father; | And this owing to the Lord, who, when He was in the world, acquired for Himself all power over the hells, by virtue of His Divinity that He had in Him. |
| 28. and I will give him the morning star. | Intelligence and wisdom then. |
| 29. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'" | The same here as before [verses 7, 11, 17]. |
68. THE SECOND CHAPTER
1. To THE ANGEL OF THE EPHESIAN CHURCH WRITE: These things says He Who holds the seven stars in His right hand, Who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands.
2. I know thy works, and thy labour, and thine endurance, and that thou canst not bear them who are evil, and hast examined them who say they are Apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars.
3. And thou hast held out, and hast endurance, and for the sake of My Name hast laboured, and not fainted.
4. But I have against thee that thou hast left thy first charity.
5. Be mindful therefore whence thou hast fallen, and repent, and do the first works, or else I will come unto thee quickly, and remove thy lampstand out of its place, except thou repent.
6. But this thou hast that thou hatest the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7. He who has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches: To him who overcomes I will give to eat of the tree of life that is in the midst of the paradise of God.
8. And TO THE ANGEL OF THE CHURCH OF THE SMYRNAEANS write: These things says the First and the Last, Who was dead, and is alive.
9. I know thy works, and affliction, and poverty, and the blasphemy of them who say they are Jews, and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
10. Fear none of the things that thou art going to suffer. Behold the devil is going to cast some of you into custody, that you may be put to the test; and you shall have affliction ten days: Be thou faithful even unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life.
11. He who has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches: He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.
12. And TO THE ANGEL OF THE CHURCH IN PERGAMUM write: These things says He Who has the sharp two-edged sword.
13. I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, where Satan's throne is; and thou holdest fast My Name, and hast not denied My faith, even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was slain among you where Satan dwells.
14. But I have a few things against thee, that thou hast there those holding the doctrine [of] Balaam, who used to teach Balak to cast a stumbling-block before the sons of Israel, to eat idol-sacrifices and to commit whoredom.
15. So thou hast, even thou, those holding the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
16. Repent, or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight with them with the sword of My mouth.
17. He who has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches: To him who overcomes I will give to eat of the hidden manna; and I will give him a little white stone, and in the little stone a new name written, which no one knows except him who accepts it.
18. And TO THE ANGEL OF THE CHURCH IN THYATIRA write: These things says the Son of God, Who has eyes as a flame of fire, and His feet like burnished bronze.
19. I know thy works, and charity, and ministry, and faith, and thine endurance, and thy works, and the last more than the first.
20. But I have a few things against thee, that thou permittest the woman Jezebel, calling herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce My servants to commit whoredom, and to eat idol-sacrifices.
21. And I gave her time to repent of her whoredom, and she repented not.
22. Behold I will cast her into a bed, and those committing adultery with her into great affliction, except they repent of their works.
23. And I will slay her sons with death, and all the Churches shall recognise that I am He Who searches the kidneys and hearts; and I will give to each one of you in accordance with your works.
24. But to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, and who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say; I do not put upon you another burden.
25. Nevertheless, what you have, hold fast till I come.
26. And he who overcomes and keeps My works even to the end, to him will I give authority over the nations.
27. And he shall rule them with an iron rod, as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken in pieces; even as I have accepted from My Father.
28. And I will give him the morning star.
29. He who has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches.
THE SPIRITUAL SENSE
THE CONTENTS OF THE WHOLE CHAPTER
To the Churches in Christendom:
To those there who have the truths of doctrine primarily in view and not the goods of life, who are understood by 'the Ephesian Church' (73-90).
To those there who as to life are in goods, and as to doctrine are in untruths, who are understood by 'the Church of the Smyrnaeans' (91-106).
To those there who place everything of the Church in good works, and not anything in truths, who are understood by 'the Church in Pergamum' (107-123).
And to those there who are in a faith derived from charity, as also to those who are in a faith separated from charity, who are understood by 'the Church in Thyatira' (124-152).
All these are called to the New Church, which is the New Jerusalem.
THE CONTENTS OF EACH OF THE VERSES
1. To the Angel of the Ephesian Church write, signifies to and concerning those who have the truths of doctrine primarily in view, and not the good of life.
These things says He Who holds the seven stars in His right hand, signifies the Lord from Whom by means of the Word are all truths.
Who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands, signifies from Whom all enlightenment [comes] to those who belong to His Church.
2. I know thy works, signifies that He sees all the interiors and exteriors of a man at once.
And thy labour, and thine endurance, signifies their devotion and patience.
And that thou canst not bear them who are evil, signifies that they do not support saying evils are goods, and the reverse.
And hast examined them who say they are Apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars, signifies that they scrutinise the things in the Church that are said to be good and true but yet are evil and untrue.
3. And thou hast held out, and hast endurance, signifies the patience with them.
And for the sake of My Name hast laboured and not fainted, signifies devotion and work to furnish themselves with the things that are of religion and its doctrine.
4. But I have against thee that thou hast left thy first charity, signifies that this is against them, that they do not have the goods of life in the first place.
5. Be mindful therefore whence thou hast fallen, signifies recollection of the wandering.
And repent, and do the first works, signifies so that they may invert the state of their life.
Or else I will come to thee quickly, and remove thy lampstand out of its place, except thou repent, signifies that otherwise they are sure not to be given enlightenment for seeing truths any more.
6. But this thou hast, that thou hatest the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate, signifies that they know this as a result of their truths, and consequently do not wish works to be for the sake of recompense.
7. He who has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches, signifies that he who understands those things, obeys what the Divine Truth of the Word teaches those who will be of the New Church (e nova Ecclesia) that is the New Jerusalem.
To him who overcomes, signifies he who fights against evils and untruths and is reformed.
I will give to eat of the tree of life, signifies the appropriation of the good of love and charity from the Lord.
That is in the midst of the paradise of God, signifies interiorly in the truths of wisdom and faith.
8. And to the Angel of the Church of the Smyrnaeans write, signifies to and concerning those who as to life are in goods, but as to doctrine are in untruths.
These things says the First and the Last, signifies the Lord, that He is the Only God.
Who was dead and is alive, signifies that in the Church He has been disregarded, and His Human has not been acknowledged to be Divine, when yet in respect to that also He Only is Life, and eternal Life is from Him Only.
9. I know thy works, signifies that the Lord sees all their interiors and exteriors at once.
And affliction and poverty, signifies that they are in untruths, and consequently not in goods.
And the blasphemy of them who say they are Jews and are not, signifies the false assertion that the goods of love are with them, when they are not.
But are a synagogue of Satan, signifies because as to doctrine they are in untruths.
10. Fear none of the things that thou art going to suffer, signifies be not without hope when you are infested by evils and assailed by untruths.
Behold the devil is going to cast some of you into custody, signifies that their good of life will be infested by evils that are from hell.
That you may be put to the test, signifies a fighting against them by means of untruths.
And you shall have affliction ten days, signifies that this is going to last for a full period.
Be thou faithful even unto death, signifies a receiving of truths (veritas) constantly until untruths have been removed.
And I will give thee the crown of life, signifies their having eternal life, the reward for victory.
11. He who has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches, signifies here as before.
He who overcomes, signifies he who fights against evils and untruths and is reformed.
Shall not be hurt by the second death, signifies that they shall not thereafter yield to evils and untruths from hell.
12. And to the Angel of the Church in Pergamum write, signifies to and concerning those who place everything of the Church in good works, and not anything in the truths of doctrine.
These things says He Who has the sharp two-edged sword signifies the Lord as to the truths of doctrine out of the Word, by means of which evils and untruths are dispersed.
13. I know thy works, signifies here as before.
And where thou dwellest [where Satan's throne is], signifies their life in dense darkness.
And thou boldest fast My Name, and hast not denied My faith, signifies when yet they have religion and worship in accordance therewith.
Even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was slain among you where Satan dwells, signifies when all the truth (veritas) has been extinguished by means of the untruths in the Church.
14. But I have a few things against thee, signifies that against them are the things that follow.
That thou hast there those holding the doctrine [of] Baalam, who used to teach Balak to cast a stumbling-block before the sons of Israel, to eat idol-sacrifices and to commit whoredom, signifies that there are among them those who do hypocritical works, by which means the worship of God in the Church is defiled and adulterated.
15. So thou hast, even thou, those holding the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate, signifies that among them there are also those who do works for the sake of recompense.
16. Repent, signifies so that they may be on their guard against such works.
Or else I will come to thee quickly, and will fight with them with the sword of My mouth, signifies if not, that the Lord will strive with them out of the Word.
17. He who has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches, signifies here as aforesaid.
To him who overcomes signifies here as aforesaid.
I will give to eat of the hidden manna, signifies the appropriation then of the good of celestial love, and in this manner the conjunction of the Lord with those who are doing works.
And I will give him a little white stone, signifies truths favouring and united to good.
And in the little stone a new name written, signifies that in this manner they will have good of a quality they did not have before.
Which no one knows except him who receives, signifies that it is not visible to anyone because it is inscribed on their life.
18. And to the Angel of the Church in Thyatira write, signifies to and concerning those who are in a faith derived from charity, and thence in good works; and also to and concerning those who are in a faith separated from charity, and thence in evil works.
These things says the Son of God Who has eyes as a flame of fire, signifies the Lord as to the Divine Wisdom of the Divine Love.
And His feet like burnished bronze, signifies natural Divine Good.
19. I know thy works, signifies here as aforesaid.
And charity, and ministry, signifies the spiritual affection that is called charity, and the working thereof.
And faith, and thy endurance, signifies the truth (veritas), and the endeavour to procure and teach it.
[And thy works,] and the last more than the first, signifies the increases of those things out of the spiritual affection of truth.
20. But I have a few things against thee signifies the things that follow.
That thou permittest the woman Jezebel, signifies that in the Church with them there are those who separate faith from charity.
Calling herself a prophetess, signifies and who make faith the only doctrine of the Church.
To teach and to seduce My servants to commit whoredom, signifies as a result of which the truths of the Word are falsified.
And to eat idol-sacrifices, signifies the defilement of worship, and profanations.
21. And I gave her time to repent of her whoredom, and she repented not, signifies that those who have confirmed themselves in that doctrine do not withdraw, although they see things against it in the Word.
22. And I will cast her into a bed, and those committing adultery with her into great affliction, signifies that therefore they have to be left in their doctrine with falsifications, and are to be grievously infested by untruths.
Except they repent [of their works], signifies if they do not wish to desist from separating faith from charity.
23. And I will slay her sons with death, signifies that all the truths out of the Word will be turned into untruths.
So that the Churches may recognise that I am He Who searches the kidneys and hearts, signifies so that the Church may know that the Lord sees what truth and what good anyone has.
And I will give to each one in accordance with his works, signifies that he gives to every one in accordance with the charity and the faith thereof that is in the works.
24. But I say unto you, and to the rest in Thyatira as many as do not have this doctrine, signifies to those with whom the doctrine of faith is separated from charity, and [to those] with whom the doctrine of faith is conjoined with charity.
And who have not known the depths of Satan [as they say], signifies who do not understand the interiors of those things, which are totally untrue.
I do not put upon you another burden, signifies only so that they may be on their guard against them.
25. Nevertheless, what you have, hold fast till I come, signifies so that they may retain the few things that they know about charity and the faith therefrom out of the Word, and live in accordance with them even to the Lord's coming.
26. And he who overcomes and keeps My works even to the end, signifies those who are actually in charity and the faith therefrom, and continue in them even to the end of life.
To him will I give authority over the nations, signifies that they shall overcome within themselves the evils that are from hell.
27. And he shall rule them with an iron rod, signifies by means of truths out of the sense of the letter of the Word, and at the same time by means of rational things out of natural light.
As the vessels of a potter shall they be broken in pieces, signifies like little things of no account.
Even as I have accepted from My Father, signifies this from the Lord, Who, when He was in the world, furnished Himself with all power over the hells out of His Own Divine that was in Himself.
28. And I will give him the morning star, signifies intelligence and wisdom then.
29. He who has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches, signifies here as aforesaid.
68. Revelation 2
1. Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith He that holdeth the seven stars in His right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden lampstands.
2. I know thy works, and thy labor, and thy endurance, and that thou canst not bear the evil, and hast tried them that say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars;
3. And hast borne, and hast endurance, and for My name's sake hast labored, and hast not fainted.
4. But I have against thee, that thou hast left thy first charity.
5. Remember therefore from whence thou hast fallen; and repent, and do the first works; but if not I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy lampstand out of its place, except thou repent.
6. But this thou hast, that thou hatest the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. To him that overcometh I will give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
8. And unto the angel of the church of Smyrna write; These things saith the First and the Last, who was dead, and is alive.
9. I know thy works, and affliction, and poverty, and the blasphemy of them that say they are Jews and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.
10. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer. Behold, the devil will cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried: and ye shall have affliction ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
11. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
12. And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, These things saith He that hath the sharp two-edged sword.
13. I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's throne is; and thou holdest fast My name, and hast not denied My faith, even in those days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was slain among you where Satan dwelleth.
14. But I have a few things against thee, that thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumblingblock before the sons of Israel, to eat idol-sacrifices, and to commit whoredom.
15. So thou hast, even thou, them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which I hate.
16. Repent, or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight with them with the sword of My mouth.
17. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. To him that overcometh I will give to eat of the hidden manna; and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no one knoweth but he that receiveth it.
18. And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath His eyes like unto a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass.
19. I know thy works, and charity, and ministry, and faith, and thy endurance, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.
20. But I have a few things against thee, that thou permittest that women Jezebel, who calleth herself a prophetess, to teach, and to seduce My servants to commit whoredom, and to eat idol-sacrifices.
21. And I gave her time to repent of her whoredom, and she repented not.
22. Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great affliction, except they repent of their works.
23. And I will kill her sons with death. And all the churches shall know that I am He that searcheth the reins and hearts; and I will give unto each one of you according to your works.
24. But unto you, I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and who have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden. 1
25. Nevertheless, that which ye have, hold fast till I come.
26. And he that overcometh and keepeth My works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations;
27. And he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken in pieces; even as I have received from My Father.
28. And I will give him the morning star.
29. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
THE SPIRITUAL SENSE
THE CONTENTS OF THE WHOLE CHAPTER. To the churches in the Christian world: To those there who primarily regard truths of doctrine and not goods of life, who are meant by the church of Ephesus, (73-90). To those there who are in goods as to life and in falsities as to doctrine, who are meant by the church of Smyrna, (91-106). To those there who place the all of the church in good works, and not anything in truths, who are meant by the church in Pergamos, (107-123). And to those there who are in faith from charity, as also to those who are in faith separated from charity, who are meant by the church in Thyatira, (124-152). All these are called to the New Church, which is the New Jerusalem.
The conte, (Revelation 2:1) nts of each verse
Verse 1. "Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write," signifies to those and concerning those who primarily regard truths of doctrine, and not goods of life, (73). "These things saith He that holdeth the seven stars in His right hand," signifies the Lord, from whom through the Word, are all truths, (74). "Who walketh in the midst of the seven golden lampstands," signifies from whom enlightenment is to those who are of His church, (75).
Verse 2. "I know thy works," signifies that He sees all the interiors and exteriors of man at once, (76). "And thy labor and thy endurance," signifies their study and patience, (77). "And that thou canst not bear the evil," signifies that they cannot bear that evil should be called goods and the reverse, (78). "And hast tried them that say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars," signifies that they scrutinize those things which are called goods and truths in the church, which nevertheless are evils and falsities, (79).
Verse 3. "And hast borne and hast endurance," signifies patience with them, (80). "And for My name's sake hast labored, and hast not fainted," signifies their study and endeavor to procure the things which belong to religion and its doctrine, (81[1-4]) verse 4. "But I have against thee, that thou hast left thy first charity," signifies that this is against them, that they do not hold the goods of life in the first place, (82).
Verse 5. "Remember therefore from whence thou hast fallen," signifies remembrance of their error, (83). "And repent, and do the first works," signifies that they ought to invert the state of their life, (84). "But if not I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy lampstand out of its place, except thou repent," signifies that otherwise, of a certainty, enlightenment will not be given them to see truths any longer, (85).
Verse 6. "But this thou hast, that thou hatest the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate," signifies that they know this from their truths, and thence are not willing that works should be meritorious, (86).
Verse 7. "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches," signifies that he that understands, ought to obey what the Divine truth of the Word teaches those who will be of the New Church, which is the New Jerusalem, (87). "To him that overcometh," signifies he who fights against evils and falsities, and is reformed, (88). "Will I give to eat of the tree of life," signifies appropriation of the good of love and charity from the Lord, (89). "Which is in the midst of the paradise of God," signifies interiorly in the truths of wisdom and faith, (90).
Verse 8. "And unto the angel of the church of Smyrna write," signifies to those and concerning those who are in goods as to life, but in falsities as to doctrine alone, (91). "These things saith the First and the Last," signifies the Lord, that He alone is God, (92). "Who was dead and is alive," signifies that He is neglected in the church, and His Human not acknowledged to be Divine, when yet as to that also He alone is life, and from Him alone is eternal life, (93).
Verse 9. "I know thy works," signifies that the Lord sees all their interiors and exteriors at once, (94). "And affliction and poverty," signifies that they are in falsities, and thence not in goods, (95). "And the blasphemy of them that say they are Jews, and are not," signifies the false assertion that they are in the goods of love, when yet they are not, (96). "But are the synagogue of Satan," signifies, because they are in falsities as to doctrine, (97).
Verse 10. "Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer," signifies, despair not when infested by evils and assaulted by falsities, (98). "Behold the devil will cast some of you into prison," signifies that their good of life will be infested by evils from hell, (99). "That ye may be tried," signifies by falsities fighting against them, (100). "And ye shall have affliction ten days," signifies that it will endure its full time, (101[1-3]). "Be thou faithful unto death," signifies reception of truths until falsities are removed, (102). "And I will give thee a crown of life," signifies that they will then have eternal life, the reward of victory, (103).
Verse 11. "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches," signifies here, as before, (104). "He that overcometh," signifies he that fights against evils and falsities, and is reformed, (105). "Shall not be hurt of the second death," signifies that afterwards they will not succumb to evils and falsities from hell, (106).
Verse 12. "And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write," signifies to those and concerning those who place the all of the church in good works, and not anything in truths of doctrine, (107). "These things saith He that hath the sharp two-edged sword," signifies the Lord as to the truths of doctrine from the Word, by which evils and falsities are dispersed, (108).
Verse 13. "I know thy works," signifies here, as before, (109). "And where thou dwellest," signifies their life in darkness, (110). "And thou holdest fast My name, and hast not denied My faith," signifies when yet they have religion and worship according to it, (111). "Even in those days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was slain among you where Satan dwelleth," signifies when all truth was extinguished by falsities in the church, (112).
Verse 14. "But I have a few things against thee," signifies that the things which follow are against them, (113). "That thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumbling-block before the sons of Israel, to eat idol-sacrifices, and to commit whoredom," signifies that there are some among them who do hypocritical works, by which the worship of God in the church is defiled and adulterated, (114).
Verse 15. "So thou hast, even thou, them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which I hate," signifies that there are some among them also who make works meritorious, (115).
Verse 16. "Repent" signifies that they should take heed of such works, (116). "Or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight with them with the sword of My mouth," signifies, if not, that the Lord will contend with them from the Word, (117).
Verse 17. "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches," signifies here, as before, (118). "To him that overcometh," signifies here, the same as before, (119). "I will give to eat of the hidden manna," signifies the appropriation then of the good of celestial love, and thus conjunction of the Lord with those who work, (120) "And I will give him a white stone," signifies truths favoring and united to good, (121). "And in the stone a new name written," signifies that thus they will have good of a quality such as they had not before, (122). "Which no one knoweth but he that receiveth it," signifies that it does not appear to anyone, because it is inscribed on their life.
Verse 18. "And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write," signifies to those and concerning those who are in faith from charity, and thence in good works; and also to those and concerning those, who are in faith separated from charity, and thence in evil works, (124). "These things saith the Son of God who hath His eyes like unto a flame of fire," signifies the Lord as to the Divine wisdom of His Divine love, (125). "And His feet like fine brass," signifies Divine good natural, (126).
Verse 19. "I know thy works," signifies here, as before, (127). "And charity and ministry," signifies the spiritual affection which is called charity, and its operation, (128). "And faith, and thy endurance," signifies truth and the desire of acquiring and teaching it, (129). "And 1the last to be more than the first," signifies the increase thereof from the spiritual affection of truth, (130).
Verse 20. "But I have a few things against thee," signifies what follows, (131). "That thou permittest that woman Jezebel," signifies that among them there are some in the church who separate faith from charity, (132). "Who calleth herself a prophetess," signifies, and who make the doctrine of faith alone the doctrine of the church, (133). "To teach and to seduce My servants to commit whoredom," signifies, from which it comes to pass that the truths of the Word are falsified, (134). "And to eat idol-sacrifices," signifies the defilement of worship, and profanations, (135).
Verse 21. "And I gave her time to repent of her whoredom, and she repented not," signifies that they who have confirmed themselves in that doctrine do not recede, although they see things contrary to it in the Word, (136).
Verse 22. "Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great affliction," signifies that therefore they will be left in their doctrine with falsifications, and that they will be grievously infested by falsities. "Except they repent," 2signifies if they will not desist from separating faith from charity, (138).
Verse 23. "And I will kill her sons with death," signifies that all the truths of the Word will be turned into falsities, (139). "And all the churches shall know that I am He that searcheth the reins and hearts," signifies that the church may know that the Lord sees the quality of everyone's truth, and the quality of his good, (140). "And I will give unto each one according to his works," signifies that He gives unto everyone according to the charity and its faith which is in the works, (141).
Verse 24. "But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine," signifies to those with whom the doctrine of faith is separated from charity, and to those with whom the doctrine of faith is joined with charity, (142). "And who have not known the depths of Satan," 3signifies they who do not understand their interiors, which are mere falsities, (143). "I will put upon you none other burden," signifies only that they should beware of them, (144).
Verse 25. "Nevertheless, that which ye have, hold fast till I come," signifies that they should retain the few things which they know concerning charity, and thence concerning faith from the Word, and live according to them until the Lord's coming, (145).
Verse 26. "And he that overcometh and keepeth My works unto the end," signifies those who are in charity and thence actually in faith, and remain in them to the end of their lives, (146). "To him will I give power over the nations," signifies that they shall overcome the evils in themselves which are from hell, (147).
Verse 27. "And he shall rule them with a rod of iron," signifies by truths from the literal sense of the Word, and at the same time by rational things from natural light, (148). "As the vessels of a potter shall they be broken in pieces," signifies as of little or no account, (149). "Even as I have received from My Father," signifies this from the Lord, who, when He was in the world, procured to Himself all power over the hells, from His Divine which was in Him, (150).
Verse 28. "And I will give him the morning star," signifies intelligence and wisdom then, (151[1-3]).
Verse 29. "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches," signifies here, as before, (152).
Footnotes:
1. The original Latin has "opus" for "onus," evidently a misprint; in 144 we read "onus."
1. The original Latin omits "and thy works."
2. The original Latin omits, "of their works."
3. The original Latin omits, "as they speak."
68. CAPUT II.
ANGELO Ephesinae Ecclesiae scribe: Haec dicit tenens septem Stellas in dextra Sua, ambulans in medio septem Candelabrorum aureorum.
2. Novi opera tua, et laborem tuum, et tolerantiam tuam, et quod non possis ferre malos, et exploraveris dicentes se esse Apostolos, et non sunt, et inveneris eos mendaces.
3. Et sustinuisti, et tolerantiam habes, et propter Nomen Meum laborasti, et non defecisti.
4. Sed habeo adversus te, quod charitatem tuam primam reliqueris.
5. Memor esto itaque unde excideris, et resipisce, et prima Opera fac; sin minus, veniam tibi cito, et movebo candelabrum tuum e loco suo si non resipueris.
6. Sed hoc habes, quod odisti opera Nicolaitarum, quae et Ego odi.
7. Habens aurem audiat quid Spiritus dicit Ecclesiis: vincenti dabo illi edere de arbore vitae, quae in medio paradisi Dei.
8. Et Angelo Ecclesiae Smyrnaeorum scribe: Haec dicit Primus et Ultimus, Qui fuit mortuus et vivit.
9. Novi tua Opera, et afflictionem, et egestatem, et blasphemiam dicentium Judaeos esse se, et non sunt, sed synagoga satanae.
10. Nihil timeas quae futurus es pati; ecce futurum ut conjiciat ex vobis diabolus in custodiam, ut tentemini, et habebitis afflictionem diebus decem: esto fidelis usque ad mortem, et dabo tibi coronam Vitae.
11. Habens aurem audiat quid Spiritus dicit Ecclesiis; vincens non laedetur a morte secunda.
12. Et Angelo in Pergamo Ecclesiae scribe: Haec dicit habens romphaeam ancipitem acutam.
13. Novi Opera tua, et ubi habitas, ubi thronus satanae; et tenes Nomen Meum, et non negasti fidem Meam, et in diebus in quibus Antipas martyr Meus fidelis, qui Occisus apud vos ubi habitat satanas.
14. Sed habeo adversus te pauca, quod habeas ibi tenentes doctrinam Balaam, qui docebat Balacum objicere scandalum coram filiis Israelis edere idolothyta et scortari.
15. Ita habes et tu tenentes doctrinam Nicolaitarum, quod odi.
16. Resipisce; sin minus, veniam tibi cito, et pugnabo cum illis romphaea oris Mei.
17. Habens aurem audiat, quid Spiritus dicit Ecclesiis: vincenti dabo illi edere de manne abscondito; et dabo illi calculum album, et in calculo nomen novum scriptum, quod nemo novit nisi qui accipit.
18. Et Angelo in Thyatiris Ecclesiae scribe: Haec dicit Filius Dei, habens oculos Suos tanquam flammam ignis, et pedes Suos similes chalcolibano.
19. Novi tua Opera, et charitatem, et ministerium, et fidem, et tolerantiam tuam, et opera tua, et ultima plura prioribus.
20. Sed habeo adversus te pauca quod permittas mulierem Jezabel, dicentem se prophetissam, docere et seducere Meos servos scortari, et idolothyta edere.
21. Et dedi illi tempus ut resipisceret a scortatione sua, et non resipuit.
22. Ecce Ego conjicio illam in lectum, et moechantes cum illa in afflictionem magnam, si non resipuerit ab operibus suis.
23. Et filios ejus occidam morte, et cognoscent omnes Ecclesiae, quod Ego sim scrutans renes et corda; et dabo unicuique vestrum secundum opera sua.
24. Vobis autem dico, et reliquis in Thyatiris. quicunque non habent doctrinam hanc, et qui non cognoverunt profunda satanae, sicut dicunt; non impono super vos aliud onus. 1
25. Attamen quod habetis, retinete donec Venio.
26. Et Vincens et custodiens usque ad finem opera Mea, dabo illi potestatem super gentes.
27. Et reget eas Virga ferrea, tanquam Vasa figulina confringentur; sicut et Ego accepi a Patre Meo.
28. Et dabo illi Stellam matutinam.
29. Habens aurem audiat quid Spiritus dicit Ecclesiis.
SENSUS SPIRITUALIS.
CONTENTUM TOTIUS CAPITIS.
AD ECCLESIAS IN CHRISTIANO ORBE:
AD ILLOS IBI, QUI PRIMARIO SPECTANT VERA ET NON BONA VITAE, QUI INTELLIGUNTUR PER ECCLESIAM EPHESINAM (73-90); 2
AD ILLOS IBI, QUI IN BONIS QUOAD VITAM SUNT, ET IN FALSIS QUOAD DOCTRINAM, QUI INTELLIGUNTUR PER ECCLESIAM SMYRNAEORUM (91-106);
AD ILLOS IBI, QUI OMNE ECCLESIAE PONUNT IN OPERIBUS, ET NON ALIQUID IN VERIS, QUI INTELLIGUNTUR PER ECCLESIAM IN PERGAMO (107-123); ET AD ILLOS IBI, QUI IN FIDE EX CHARITATE SUNT, ET AD ILLOS QUI IN FIDE SEPARATA A CHARITATE SUNT, QUI INTELLIGUNTUR PER ECCLESIAM IN THYATIRIS (124-152).
OMNES ILLI VOCANTUR AD ECCLESIAM NOVAM, QUAE EST NOVA HIEROSOLYMA.
CONTENTA SINGULORUM VERSUUM.
1. "Angelo Ephesinae Ecclesiae scribe," significat ad illos et de illis, qui primario spectant vera doctrinae, et non bona vitae (73); "Haec dicit tenens septem Stellas in dextra Sua," significat Dominum a Quo per Verbum omnia vera (74); "ambulans in medio septem Candelabrorum aureorum," significat a quo omnis illustratio illis qui ab Ecclesia ipsius sunt (75).
2. "Novi opera tua," significat quod Ipse videat omnia interiora et exteriora hominis simul (76); "et laborem tuum et tolerantiam tuam," significat studium et patientiam illorum (77); "et quod non possis ferre malos," significat quod non sustineant mala dici bona, et vicissim (78); "et exploraveris dicentes se esse Apostolos, et non sunt, et inveneris eos mendaces," significat quod scrutentur illa quae in Ecclesia dicuntur esse bona et vera, quae tamen sunt mala et falsa (79).
3. "Et sustinuisti et tolerantiam habes," significat patientiam cum illis (80); "et propter Nomen Meum laborasti et non defecisti," significat studium et operam comparandi sibi illa quae reliquis et ejus dominae sunt (81).
4. "Sed habeo adversus te, quod charitatem tuam primam reliqueris," significat quod hoc sit contra illos, quod primo loco non habeant bona vitae (82).
5. "Memor esto itaque unde excideris," significat recordationem aberrationis (83); "et resipisce, et prima opera fac," significat ut invertant statum vitae suae (84); "sin minus, veniam tibi cito; et movebo candelabrum tuum e loco suo, si non resipueris," significat quod alioquin certum sit non dari illustrationem ut videant vera amplius (85).
6. "Sed hoc habes quod odisti opera Nicolaitarum, quae et Ego odi," significat quod hoc et veris suis sciant, et inde non velint ut opera sint meritoria (86).
7. "Habens aurem audiat quid Spiritus dicit Ecclesiis," significat quod qui illa intelligit, obediat, quae Divinum Verum Verbi docet illos qui e Nova Ecclesia, quae est Nova Hierosolyma, erunt (87); "vincenti," significat qui pugnat contra mala et falsa et reformatur (88); "dabo edere de arbore vitae," significat appropriationem boni amoris et charitatis a Domino (89); "quae in medio paradisi Dei," significat interius in veris sapientiae et fidei (90).
8. "Et Angelo Ecclesiae Smyrnaeorum scribe," significat ad illos et de illis, qui in bonis quoad vitam sunt, sed in falsis quoad doctrinam (91); "Haec dicit Primus et Ultimus," significat Dominum, quod sit Solus Deus (92); "Qui fuit mortuus et vivit," significat quod in Ecclesia neglectus sit, et Humanum Ipsius non agnitum Divinum, cum tamen quoad illud etiam Solus est Vita, et ab Ipso Solo vita aeterna (93).
9. "Novi opera tua," significat quod Dominus videat omnia interiora et exteriora illorum simul (94); "et afflictionem et egestatem," significat quod in falsis sint, et inde non in bonis (95); "et blasphemiam dicentium Judaeos esse se, et non sunt," significat falsiloquium quod apud illos sint bona amoris, cum tamen non sunt (96); "sed synagoga satanae," significat quia sunt in falsis quoad doctrinam (97).
10. "Nihil timeas quae futurus es pati," significat ne desperetis cum infestamini a malis et impugnamini a falsis (98); "ecce futurum ut conjiciat ex vobis diabolus in custodiam," significat quod bonum vitae eorum, a malis, quae ab inferno, infestabitur (99); "ut 3tentemini," significat per falsa pugnantia contra illos (100); "at habebitis afflictionem diebus decem," significat quod duraturum sit tempore pleno (101); "esto fidelis usque ad mortem," significat receptionem veritatum usque dum falsa remota sunt (102); "et dabo tibi coronam vitae," significat quod illis tunc vita aeterna victoriae praemium (103).
11. "Habens aurem audiat quid Spiritus dicit Ecclesiis," significat hic ut prius (104.); "vincens," significat qui pugnat contra mala et falsa et reformatur (105.); "non laedetur a morte secunda," significat quod postea non succumbent a malis et falsis ab inferno (106).
12. "Et Angelo in Pergamo Ecclesiae scribe," significat ad illos et de illis, qui omne Ecclesiae ponunt in bonis operibus, et non aliquid in veris doctrinae (107); "haec dicit habens romphaeam ancipitem acutam," significat Dominum quoad vera doctrinae ex Verbo, per quae disperguntur mala et falsa (108).
13. "Novi opera tua," significat hic ut prius (109);" et ubi habitas," significat vitam eorum in caligine (110); et tenes Nomen Meum, et non negasti fidem Meam," significat cum tamen illis est Religio et secundum illam Cultus (111); "et in diebus in quibus, Antipas martyr Meus fidelis, qui occisus apud vos ubi habitat satanas, Significat quando omnis veritas per falsa in Ecclesia exstincta est (112).
14. "Sed habeo adversus te pauca," significat quod contra illos haec quae sequuntur (113); "quod habeas ibi tenentes doctrinam Balaam, qui docebat Balacum objicere scandalum coram filiis Israelis edere idolothyta et scortari," significat quod inter illos sint qui faciunt opera hypocritica, per quae cultus Dei in Ecclesia conspurcatur et adulteratur (114).
15. "Ita habes et tu tenentes doctrinam Nicolaitarum, quod odi," significat quod inter illos etiam sint qui faciunt opera meritoria (115).
16. "Resipisce," significat ut caveant sibi ab illis operibus (116); "sin minus, veniam tibi cito, et pugnabo cum illis romphaea oris Mei," significat si non, quod Dominus contendet cum illis ex Verbo (117).
17. "Habens aurem audiat quid Spiritus dicit ecclesiis," significat hic quod prius (128); "Vincenti," significat hic quod prius (119); "dabo illi edere de manne abscondito," significat tunc appropriationem boni amoris coelestis, et sic conjunctionem Domini cum illis qui operantur (120); "et dabo illi calculum album," significat vera suffragantia et unita bono (121); "et in calculo nomen novum scriptum," significat quod sic illis quale boni quod non prius (122); "quod nemo novit nisi qui recipit," significat quod non apparet alicui, quia vitae eorum inscriptum (123).
18. "Et Angelo in Thyatiris Ecclesiae scribe," significat ad illos et de illis, qui in fide ex charitate sunt, et inde in bonis operibus, et quoque ad illos et de illis, qui in fide separata a charitate sunt, et inde in malis operibus (124); "Haec dicit Filius Dei habens oculos sicut flammam ignis," significat Dominum quoad Divinam Sapientiam Divini Amoris (125); "et pedes Suos similes chalcolibano," significat Divinum Bonum naturale (126).
19. "Novi tua opera," significat hic quod prius (127); "et charitatem et ministerium," significat affectionem spiritualem, quae vocatur charitas et ejus operationem (128); "et fidem et tolerantiam tuam," significat veritatem et studium comparandi et docendi illam (129); "et (opera tua, et) ultima plura prioribus," significat incrementa illarum ex affectione veri spirituali (130).
20. "Sed habeo adversus te pauca," significat haec quae sequuntur (132); "quod permittas mulierem Jezabel," significat quod in Ecclesia apud illos sint qui fidem separant a charitate (132); dicentem se prophetissam," significat et qui fidem faciunt solam doctrinam Ecclesiae (133); "docere et seducere Meos servos scortari," significat ex qua fit quod vera Verbi falsificentur (134); ac edere idolothyta," significat conspurcationem cultus, et prophanationes (135).
21. "Et dedi illi tempus ut resipisceret a scortatione sua, et non resipuit," significat quod qui confirmaverunt se in illa doctrina, non recedant, tametsi vident contraria in Verbo, (11, 136).
22. "Et Ego conjiciam illam in lectum, et moechantes cum illa in affectionem magnam," significat quod sic relinquendi sint in sua doctrina cum falsificationibus et quod graviter infestandi sint a falsis (137); "si non resipuerit (ab operibus suis)," significat si non volunt recedere a separando fidem a charitate (138).
23. "Et filios ejus occidam morte," significat quod omnia vera ex Verbo vertentur in falsa (139); "ut cognoscant Ecclesiae quod Ego sim scrutans renes et corda," significat ut Ecclesia sciat quod Dominus videat quale verum et quale bonum est cuivis (140); et dabo unicuique secundum opera ejus, significat quod det cuivis secundum charitatem et ejus fidem, quae in operibus (141).
24. "Vobis autem dico, et reliquis in Thyatiris, quicunque non habent doctrinam hanc," significat ad illos apud quos doctrina fidei separatae a charitate, et apud quos doctrina fidei conjunctae charitati est (142); "et qui non cognoverunt profunda satanae," significat illi non interiora illorum, quae mere falsa sunt, intelligunt, (11, 143); "non impono vobis aliud onus," significat solum ut sibi caveant ab illis (144).
25. "Attamen quod habetis, retinete donec venio," significat ut pauca illa quae sciunt de charitate et inde fide ex Verbo, retineant et secundum illa vivant, usque Adventum Domini, (11, 145).
26. "Et vincens et custodiens usque ad finem opera Mea," significat qui in charitate et inde fide actualiter sunt, et in illis permanent usque ad finem vitae, (2:16); "dabo illi potestatem super gentes," significat quod apud se vincent mala quae ab inferno (147).
27. "Et reget eas virga ferrea," significat per vera ex Sensu literae Verbi, et simul per rationalia ex Naturali lumine, (11, 148); "tanquam vasa figulina confringentur," significat sicut parvi et nihili (149); "sicut et Ego accepi a Patre Meo," significat hoc a Domino, qui Sibi omnem potentiam super inferna, dum fuit (in) mundo, ex Divino Suo quod in Ipso, comparavit (150).
28. "Et dabo illi stellam matutinam," significat intelligentiam et sapientiam tunc (151).
29. "Habens aurem audiat quid Spiritus dicit Ecclesiis," significat hic quod prius (152).
Footnotes:
1. onus pro "opus"
2. 73 pro "72"
3. ut pro "et"