741、“但他们一时之间要和兽同得权柄,与王一样”象征圣言在他们那里有影响力,他们仿佛通过圣言处于其神性真理之中。“与兽同得权柄”象征与圣言一同有影响力,即圣言在他们那里有影响力,他们也通过圣言有影响力;“得权柄”象征有影响力;“兽”象征圣言(参723节);“与王一样”象征仿佛处于从圣言而来的神性真理中;“王”象征那些从圣言处于神性真理中的人,抽象地象征那里的神性真理(参20,664,704,740节);“一时”象征一段时间,也象征一定程度。由此可知,“但他们一时之间要和兽同得权柄,与王一样”象征圣言在他们那里有影响力,他们仿佛通过圣言处于其神性真理之中。
之所以这样说,是因为他们承认圣言是神圣默示的,因此教会是从圣言而成为教会的。但他们尚未从中汲取神性真理,只汲取了这些普遍真理:唯独神当受敬拜,没有一个人可以当作神敬拜;赐给彼得的权能本身不是神性的,然而开启和关闭天堂的权能是神性的,这不在于人自己的权能。他们从圣言证实这些;但在别人面前(那些人听不到圣言),则通过理性——每个愿意处于真理中的人都因从天堂持续流入而拥有理性。他们之所以不更进一步,不从圣言汲取信仰和生活的教义,是出于主的神圣安排,因为他们在外表(即形式)上仍与罗马天主教宗教相连,免得真理与伪谬混合,从而产生内在的挣扎(如同发酵引起混乱)。
741、“但他们一时之间,要和兽同得权柄,与王一样”表示圣言在他们中间有能力或力量,他们通过圣言而有能力或力量,就好像他们处于它的神性真理。“和兽同得权柄”表示与圣言一起有能力,因而圣言在他们中间有能力或力量,他们通过圣言而有能力或力量。“得权柄”表示强有力,“兽”表示圣言(AR 723节);“与王一样”表示就好像他们处于来自圣言的神性真理。“王”表示那些处于来自圣言的神性真理的人,抽象地说,表示圣言的神性真理(AR 20, 664, 704, 740节);“一时之间”表示一段时间,以及在某种程度上。由此明显可知,“他们一时之间,要和兽同得权柄,与王一样”表示圣言在他们中间有能力或力量,他们通过圣言而有能力或力量,就好像他们处于它的神性真理。说这些话是因为他们承认,圣言是神所默示的,因此,教会因圣言而为一个教会。但他们仍然没有从圣言中汲取神性真理,只得出这些总体真理,即:要唯独敬拜神,不可拜任何人像神一样;赐给彼得的权柄本身不是神性,而打开和关闭天堂的,是神性,这神性不在任何人自己的权力范围内。他们从圣言来证实这些真理;但在其他不听从圣言的人面前,他们从理性来证实,从天堂出来的持续不断的流注将这理性赋予凡想要处于真理的人。他们不再进一步发展,也不再从圣言中汲取信仰和生活的教义,这属于主的圣治,因为他们在外在,或形式上仍依附于天主教或它的宗教说服;免得真理与虚假混在一起,由此产生一种内在冲突或斗争,就像造成骚动的发酵一样。
741. "But receive authority as kings for one hour with the beast." This symbolically means that the Word has force with Roman Catholics in France, and through the Word they prevail, as though they possessed its Divine truths.
To receive authority with the beast means, symbolically, to prevail with the Word, thus that the Word has force with them, and through the Word they prevail. To receive authority means, symbolically, to prevail, and the beast symbolizes the Word (no. 723). "As kings" means, symbolically, as though they possessed Divine truths from the Word. Kings symbolize people who possess Divine truths from the Word, and abstractly, the Divine truths themselves in it (nos. 20, 664, 704, 740). One hour means, symbolically, for a time, and also in some measure.
It is apparent from this that the ten kings receiving authority as kings for one hour with the beast means symbolically that the Word has force with Roman Catholics in France, and through the Word they prevail, as though they possessed its Divine truths.
We say this because Roman Catholics in France acknowledge that the Word is Divinely inspired, and thus that the church is a church because of the Word. But still they do not as yet draw Divine truths from it beyond these general ones, that the God alone is to be worshiped, and no man as God, that the authority granted to Peter is not in itself Divine, and yet that to open and close heaven is a Divine work, which does not lie within the power of any man. They confirm these truths in themselves by appeal to the Word, but in the presence of others who do not listen to the Word, by appeal to the rationality that by a continual influx from heaven exists in everyone who wishes to possess truths.
It is of the Lord's Divine providence that Roman Catholics in France do not go further and draw doctrines of faith and life from the Word, because in outward aspects and forms they still adhere to the Roman Catholic religion. It is to keep them from commingling truth and falsity, and so from an inner struggle arising, like a kind of ferment that produces a state of agitation.
741. 'But they receive authority as kings one hour with the beast' signifies that the Word has influence with them, and they have influence by means of the Word, as if they were in its Divine Truths. By 'to receive authority with the beast' is signified to have influence together with the Word, thus that the Word has influence with them, and they have influence by means of the Word. By 'to receive authority' is signified to have influence, and by 'the beast' is signified the Word (723). By 'as kings' is signified as if they were in Divine truths out of the Word. That by 'kings' are signified those who are in Divine truths out of the Word, and abstractly the Divine Truths there [may be seen] (20, 664, 704, 740). By 'one hour' is signified for some time and also in some measure. It is plain from these things that by 'they receive authority as kings one hour with the beast' is signified that the Word has influence with them, and they have influence by means of the Word, as if they were in its Divine Truths. These things have been said because they acknowledge that the Word is Divinely inspired, and consequently that the Church is a Church out of the Word. Nevertheless up till now they do not draw Divine Truths out of it, save only these general ones: that the Only God is to be worshipped, and not any man as God; and that the authority given to Peter is not in itself Divine, and that yet it is Divine to open and shut heaven, which is not in a man's own power. They confirm these things with themselves out of the Word; but before others, who do not hear the Word, they confirm them out of the rationality that, as a result of a continual influx given out of heaven, is with everyone who wishes to be in truths. Because in external or formal things they still cohere with the Roman Catholic form of religion it is of the Lord's Divine Providence that they make no further progress and do not draw doctrinal tenets of faith and life out of the Word, lest they should mix truth and untruth together, and in consequence an interior struggle should arise, which is like a fermentation that causes disturbance.
741. But they receive authority as kings one hour with the beast, signifies that the Word has power with them, and they by the Word, as if they were in its Divine truths. By "receiving authority with the beast" is signified to have power together with the Word, and thus that the Word has power with them, and they by means of the Word. By "receiving authority" is signified to be strong, and by "the beast," the Word is signified, (723); by "as kings" is signified as if they were in Divine truths from the Word. That by "kings" are signified those who are in Divine truths from the Word, and abstractly the Divine truths therein, (20, 664, 704, 740); by "one hour" is signified for some time, and also in some degree. From these things it is manifest that by "their receiving power as kings one hour with the beast," is signified that the Word has power with them, and they through the Word, as if they were in its Divine truths. These things are said, because they acknowledge that the Word is divinely inspired, and hence that the church is a church from the Word. But still they do not as yet draw Divine truths from it, except these general ones: that God alone is to be worshiped, and not any man like God; and that the authority given to Peter is not in itself Divine, and yet that it is Divine to open and shut heaven, which is not in any man's own power. These things they confirm in themselves from the Word; but before others, who do not hear the Word, they do it from rationality, which is given by continual influx out of heaven to everyone who wishes to be in truths. That they do not progress further, and draw the doctrinals of faith and life from the Word, is of the Lord's Divine Providence, because they still adhere in externals, or in formalities, to the Roman Catholic religious persuasion; lest truth and falsity should be mixed together, and thence an interior strife should arise, which is like fermentation that produces disturbance.
741. "Sed potestatem tanquam Reges unam horam accipiunt cum Bestia," significat quod Verbum apud illos valeat, et illi per Verbum, sicut in Divinis veris ejus essent. -Per "accipere potestatem cum Bestia" significatur una valere cum Verbo, ita quod Verbum apud illos valeat, ac illi per Verbum valeant; per "potestatem accipere" significatur valere, et per "Bestiam" significatur Verbum (723); per "tanquam reges," significatur sicut in Divinis veris ex Verbo essent; quod per "reges" significentur qui in Divinis veris ex Verbo sunt, et abstracte Divina Vera ibi (20, 664, 704, 740); per "unam horam" significatur aliquamdiu, et quoque aliquantum. Ex his patet, quod per "potestatem tanquam reges unam horam accipiunt cum Bestia," significetur quod Verbum apud illos valeat, et illi per Verbum, sicut in Divinis veris ejus essent. Haec dicta sunt, quia agnoscunt quod Verbum sit Divinitus inspiratum, et inde quod Ecclesia sit Ecclesia ex Verbo: sed usque Divina Vera ex illo non adhuc hauriunt, modo haec communia: quod Solus Deus colendus sit, et quod non aliquis homo sicut Deus; et quod potestas Petro data non in se sit Divina, et quod tamen Divinum sit aperire et claudere Caelum, quod non in hominis propria potestate est. Haec confirmant apud se ex Verbo; sed coram aliis, qui non audiunt Verbum, ex rationalitate, quae apud unumquemvis, qui in veris vult esse, ex continuo influxu e Caelo datur. Quod non ulterius progrediantur, et ex Verbo hauriant doctrinalia fidei et vitae, est ex Divina Domini Providentia, quia in externis seu formalibus adhuc cohaerent cum Religioso Catholico Romano; ne verum et falsum commisceantur, et inde luctatio interior, quae est sicut fermentatio quae turbat, exoriatur.