2446、“硫磺”是指自我之爱的邪恶的地狱，“火”是指源于这些邪恶的虚假的地狱。这从圣言中“硫磺”及其“火”的含义清楚可知，“硫磺”及其“火”是指自我之爱及其恶欲和由此衍生的虚假，因而是指地狱，因为地狱就是由这些东西构成的。“硫磺”和“火”具有这种含义，这一点明显可见于诗篇：
耶和华要向恶人下网罗，烈火和硫磺雨。（诗篇11:6）
显然，烈火和硫磺不是指字面上的烈火和硫磺，而是指别的东西，这一点从经上说耶和华“下网罗雨”也能明显看出来。以西结书：
我要用瘟疫和血与他争辩，我必下暴雨，又像下雨般地将大冰雹、火与硫磺降与他和他的部队，并与他在一起的许多人民。（以西结书38:22）
这论及歌革，他使以色列的地，也就是教会荒废（至于“歌革”的含义，可参看1151节）。“火”表示虚假，“硫磺”表示由此产生的邪恶，同时表示那些荒废之人的地狱。启示录：
那拜兽的人被扔进烧着硫磺的湖里。（启示录19:20）
此处“硫磺”表示地狱。又：
那魔鬼被扔进火与硫磺的湖里，就是兽和假先知所在的地方；他们必昼夜受折磨，直到永永远远。（启示录20:10）
此处它们明显表示地狱。又：
可憎的、杀人的、奸淫的、行邪术的、拜偶像的和一切说谎话的，他们的份就在烧着火与硫磺的湖里。（启示录21:8）
此处“火与硫磺”也明显表示地狱。
这两者表示自我之爱的邪恶和源于这些邪恶的虚假，地狱就来源于它们，这一点可见于以赛亚书：
耶和华的报仇之日，为锡安争辩的报应之年；以东的溪河要变为沥青，她的尘土要变为硫磺，她的地要变成燃烧的沥青。（以赛亚书34:8-9）
此处提到了“燃烧的沥青”以取代“火”，“燃烧的沥青”表示密集而可怕的虚假，“硫磺”表示出于自我之爱的邪恶。又：
其中堆的是火与许多木柴。耶和华的气如它里面一条燃烧的硫磺河。（以赛亚书30:33）
这论及陀斐特，“一条燃烧的硫磺河”表示从自我之爱的邪恶中产生的虚假。路加福音：
到罗得出所多玛的那日，就有火与硫磺从天上如雨般降下来，把他们全都灭了。人子显现的日子也要这样。（路加福音17:29-30）
谁都能看出，那时火与硫磺不会如雨般降下来；相反，这是指那时，由“火与硫磺”来表示，并构成地狱的自我之爱的虚假和欲望会占主导地位。
在圣言中，“火”表示恶欲，同时表示地狱；在这种情况下，火中冒出的“烟”就表示由恶欲产生并弥漫于这些地狱的虚假（参看1861节）。启示录：
我在异象中看见那些马和骑马的，有火与硫磺的胸甲。马的头好像狮子头，有火、有烟、有硫磺，从马的口中出来。火与烟，并硫磺，这三样杀了人的三分之一。（启示录9:17-18）
“火与烟，并硫磺”表示各种邪恶和虚假，地狱就来源于它们，如前所述。
Potts(1905-1910) 2446
2446. That "brimstone" denotes the hell of the evils of the love of self, and "fire" the hell of the falsities thence derived, is evident from the signification in the Word of "brimstone" and the "fire" from it, as being the love of self with its cupidities and the derivative falsities, thus as being hell, for hell consists of such things. That "brimstone" and "fire" have this signification is evident in David:
Jehovah shall rain upon the wicked snares, fire, and brimstone (Ps. 11:6). That fire and brimstone are not here meant, but something else that is signified by "fire and brimstone," is evident also from its being said that Jehovah "rains snares." In Ezekiel:
I will contend against him with pestilence and with blood, and I will make it rain an overflowing rain, and hailstones, fire and brimstone, upon him, and upon his troops, and upon the many peoples that are with him (Ezek. 38:22);
where God is treated of, who lays waste the land of Israel, that is, the church. (The signification of "God" may be seen above, n. 1151.) "Fire" denotes falsities, "brimstone" the evils thence, and at the same time the hells of those who lay waste. In John:
They who adored the beast were cast into a lake of fire burning with brimstone (Rev. 19:20);
meaning hell. Again:
The devil was cast into a lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are; and they shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever (Rev. 20:10);
manifestly meaning hell. Again:
The abominable, and murderers, and adulterers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone (Rev. 21:8);
where also "fire and brimstone" plainly denote hell. [2] That they denote the evils of the love of self and the falsities thence derived, from which come the hells-in Isaiah:
The day of the vengeance of Jehovah, and the year of retribution in the controversy of Zion; and the streams thereof shall be turned into pitch, and the dust thereof into brimstone, and the land thereof shall become burning pitch (Isa. 34:8-9);
where "burning pitch," here mentioned instead of "fire," denotes dense and direful falsities and " brimstone" the evils from the love of self. Again:
The pile thereof is fire and much wood; the breath of Jehovah is like a stream of brimstone kindling in it (Isa. 30:33);
speaking of Topheth; the "stream of kindling brimstone" denoting falsities from the evils of the love of self. In Luke:
In the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all; even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed (Luke 17:29-30). That it will not then rain fire and brimstone is obvious; but what is meant is that the falsities and cupidities of the love of self, which are signified by "fire and brimstone," and which make the hells, will then predominate. [3] That in the Word "fire" signifies cupidities, and at the same time the hells, and that in this case the "smoke" from the fire signifies the falsity thence derived, and which is in those hells, may be seen above (n. 1861); and in John:
I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat upon them, having breastplates of fire and of brimstone; and the heads of the horses were like the heads of lions, and out of their mouth issued fire, smoke, and brimstone: by these three were the third part of men killed, by the fire, and the smoke, and the brimstone (Rev. 9:17-18);
"fire, smoke, and brimstone" denote evils and falsities of every kind, of which as before said the hells consist.
Elliott(1983-1999) 2446
2446. 'Brimstone' means the hell of the evils of self-love, and 'fire' the hell of falsities deriving from these. This is clear from the meaning in the Word of 'brimstone' and of 'fire' produced by it as self-love together with its evil desires and derivative falsities, and so as hell, for hell consists of such. That 'brimstone' and 'fire' have these meanings is clear in David,
Jehovah will rain on the wicked, snares, fire and brimstone. Ps 11: 6.
The fact that it is not fire or brimstone but something else that is meant here by 'fire and brimstone' becomes clear also from its being said that 'Jehovah will rain snares'. In Ezekiel,
I will dispute with him with pestilence and blood; and deluging rain and hailstones, fire and brimstone will I rain on him and on his hordes, and on the many peoples that are with him. Ezek 38: 22.
This refers to Gog who lays waste the land of Israel, that is, the Church. What Gog is, see 1151. 'Fire' stands for falsities, 'brimstone' for derivative evils, and at the same time for the hells of those who lay waste. In John,
Those who worshipped the beast were thrown into the lake burning with brimstone. Rev 19: 20.
Here they stand for hell. In the same book,
The devil was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night for ever and ever. Rev 20: 10.
Here they plainly stand for hell. In the same book,
As for abominable people, and murderers, and adulterers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, their lot will be in the lake burning with fire and brimstone. Rev 21: 8.
Here also 'fire and brimstone' plainly stands for hell.
[2] That these two stand for the evils of self-love and for falsities deriving from these, in which the hells have their origin, is seen in Isaiah,
The day of Jehovah's vengeance - the year of retributions in the controversy of Zion - and her streams will be turned into pitch, and her dust into brimstone, and her land will become burning pitch. Isa 34: 8, 9.
Here 'burning pitch', mentioned instead of fire, stands for dense and dreadful falsities, 'brimstone' for evils which are the product of self-love. In the same prophet,
Its pyre is fire and much wood; the breath of Jehovah is like a stream of burning brimstone in it. Isa 30: 33.
In this reference to Tophet, 'a stream of burning brimstone' stands for falsities which are the product of the evils of self-love. In Luke,
On the day Lot went out of Sodom fire and brimstone rained from heaven and destroyed them all - so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed. Luke 17:-29, 30.
[3] Anyone may see that it is not fire and brimstone that will rain down at that time but that the falsities and desires of self-love, which are meant by 'fire and brimstone' and which make up hell, will be predominant. 'Fire' in the Word means evil desires and at the same time the hells, in which case the smoke from the fire means falsity which arises from and exists in those hells, see 1861. And in John,
I saw horses in the vision, and those seated on them had breastplates of fire and of brimstone. And the heads of the horses were like lions' heads, and out of their mouths there went forth fire, smoke, and brimstone. By these three a third part of mankind was killed - by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone. Rev 9: 17, 18.
'Fire, smoke, and brimstone' stands for evils and falsities of every kind, in which, as stated, the hells have their origin.
Latin(1748-1756) 2446
2446. Quod `sulphur' sit infernum malorum amoris sui, et `ignis' sit infernum falsorum inde, constat a significatione `singulis' et inde `ignis' in Verbo quod sit amor sui cum ejus cupiditatibus (c)et inde falsitatibus, ita quod sit internum, hoc enim a talibus constitit: quod `sulphur et ignis' illa significent, constat apud Davidem, Jehovah pluet super impios, laqueos, ignem et sulphur, Ps. xi 6;quod hic non sit ignis et sulphur, sed quod aliud quid, quod per `ignem et sulphur' significatur, constare potest etiam ex eo quod dicatur quod `Jehovah pluet laqueos': apud Ezechielem, Disceptabo cum eo peste et sanguine, et pluviam inundantem, et lapides grandinis, ignem et sulphur pluere faciam super eum, et super alas ejus, et super populos multos, qui cum eo, xxxviii 22;
ubi de Gogo qui vastat terram Israelis, hoc est, Ecclesiam; quid Gogus, videatur n. 1151; `ignis' pro falsis, `sulphur' pro malis inde, et simul pro infernis eorum qui vastant: apud Johannem, Qui adorabant bestiam, conjecti sunt in stagnum ardens sulphure, [Apoc.] xix 20, pro inferno: apud eundem, Diabolus conjectus est in stagnum ignis et sulphuris, ubi bestia et pseudopropheta, et cruciabuntur dies et noctes in saecula saeculorum, Apoc. xx 10;
manifeste pro interno: apud eundem, Abominabilibus et homicidis, et adulteris,... et incantatoribus, et idololatris, et omnibus mendacibus, pars eorum in stagno ardente igne et sulphure, Apoc. xxi 8;
[2] etiam `ignis et sulphur' manifeste pro inferno. Quod pro malis amori sui et falsis inde, ex quibus inferna, apud Esaiam, Dies ultionis Jehovae, annus retributionum ad litem Zionis et convertentur flumina ejus in picem, et pulvis ejus in sulphur, et erit terra ejus in picem ardentem, xxxiv 8, 9;
ubi `pix ardens' pro densis et diris falsis, loco ignis, `sulphur' pro malis quae ex amore sui: apud eundem, Rogus ejus, ignis et ligna multa, flatus Jehovae sicut flumen sulphuris ardentis in ea, xxx 33;
ubi de Tophet, `flumen sulphuris ardentis' pro falsis ex malis amor sui: apud Lucam, Qua die egressus est Lotus (c)a Sodoma, pluit igne et sulphure caelo, perdiditque omnes: juxta haec fiet, qua die Filius hominis revelabitur, xvii 29, 30;
[3] quod tunc non ignis et sulphur pluent, quisque videre potest, sed quod regnaturae falsitates et cupiditates amoris sui {1}, quae per `igne et sulphur' significantur, et faciunt inferna. Quod `ignis' in Verbo significet cupiditates, et simul inferna, sed tunc fumus qui ab igne significat falsum quod inde, et quod est in illis infernis, videatur n. 1861; et apud Johannem, Vidi equos in visione, et sedentes super iis, habentes thoraces igneos... et sulphureos; et capita equorum sicut capita leonum, et ex ore eorum exibat ignis, fumus, et sulphur: a tribus his occisi sunt tertia pars hominum, ab igne, et a fumo et a sulphure, Apoc. ix 17, 18;
`ignis, fumus et sulphur' pro malis et falsis omnis generis, ex quibus, ut dictum, inferna. @1 cupiditates amoris sui et inde falsitates.$