309、“剑的火焰自行转动”表示对自己的爱及其疯狂的欲望和信念，它们是这样：人们的确想要进入，但实际上却被带到了肉体和世俗事物中。能证明这一点的圣言经文如此之多，以至于可以填满好几页，仅从以西结书引用下列经文：
你要预言说，耶和华如此说，你要说，一把剑，一把剑，已经磨利擦亮，磨利为要大行杀戮，擦亮为要像闪电。要再次第三次地使这剑，就是杀死他们的剑，进入他们的内屋，使他们的心融化的，就是这大行杀戮的剑。在他们的各城里加增罪行；我已在那里设下骇人的剑。阿哈！这剑造得像闪电！（以西结书21:9-10，14-15）
此处“一把剑”表示人的荒凉状态，以致他看不见任何良善与真理，只看见“加增罪行”所表示的虚假和相对立的事物。在那鸿书，论到那些想要进入信的秘密之人，经上还说：
马兵冲锋，又有剑的火焰，枪矛的闪电，众多被杀的。（那鸿书3:3）
New Century Edition
Cooper(2008,2013)
[NCE]309. The flame of a sword turning itself symbolizes self-love with its mad desires and delusions, which are such that although we want to enter there, we are carried in the opposite direction, toward bodily and earthly preoccupations. So many quotations from the Word are available to prove this symbolism that they would fill pages. Let me offer only these words from Ezekiel:
Prophesy, and you are to say, "This is what Jehovah has said: ‘Say, "A sword! A sword sharpened and even polished for committing slaughter, sharpened to have a flash of lightning to it!" Let the sword be used again a third time, the sword of its victims, the sword of much stabbing, penetrating to them in their private rooms, so that their heart will dissolve; and it will multiply the stumbling blocks in all their gates. I have put a terror of a sword there; oh, it has turned into lightning!'" (Ezekiel 21:9-10, 14-15)
The sword stands for our desolation — desolation to the point where we see not a bit of goodness or truth but only the false things that stand in the way; this is the multiplying of stumbling blocks. Let me add these words in Nahum:
A horse rider rushing up, and the flame of a sword, and the lightning flash of a spear, and a throng of those stabbed. (Nahum 3:3)
This describes people who wish to pry into the secrets of faith.
Potts(1905-1910) 309
309. That by the "flame of a sword turning itself" is signified self-love [amor proprius] with its insane cupidities and persuasions, which are such that they desire to enter [into the mysteries of faith], but are carried away to corporeal and earthly things, might be confirmed by so many passages from the Word as would fill pages; but we will cite only these from Ezekiel:
Prophesy and say, Thus saith Jehovah, Say a sword, a sword, it is sharpened, and also burnished to make a sore slaughter; it is sharpened that it may be as lightning. Let the sword be doubled the third time, the sword of his slain; the sword of a great slaughter, which entereth into their bed-chambers, that their heart may melt, and their offenses be multiplied, I have set the terror of the sword in all their gates. Alas! it is made as lightning (Ezek. 21:9, 10, 14, 15). A "sword" here signifies the desolation of man such that he sees nothing that is good and true, but mere falsities and things contrary, denoted by "multiplying offenses." It is also said in Nahum, of those who desire to enter into the mysteries of faith, "The horseman mounting, and the flame of the sword, and the flash of the spear, and a multitude of the slain" (Nah. 3:3).
Elliott(1983-1999) 309
309. 'The flame of a sword turning itself this way and that' means self-love together with its insane desires and persuasions, which are such that people do indeed wish to enter in but are in fact led away from there towards bodily and earthly interests. This may be confirmed by so many examples from the Word as to fill up page after page. Take simply the following verses in Ezekiel,
Prophesy and say, Thus said Jehovah, Say: A sword, a sword has been sharpened and also polished for a great slaughter, sharpened to flash like lightning. Let the sword be repeated a third time, the sword of their slain,a the sword of the great slaughter, penetrating the inmost parts of their dwellings that their heart may melt. And it will multiply offences in all their gates; I have given the terror of the sword. Ah! It has become as lightning. Ezek 21:9, 10, 14, 15.
'The sword' here stands for the desolate condition of a person so that he sees no good or truth at all, but sheer falsities and things that are contrary, meant by 'multiplying offences'. And the phrases in Nahum about the horseman mounting, and the flame of a sword, and the lightning-flash of a spear and a multitude of slain,a Nahum 3:3, refer to people who wish to enter into the arcana of faith.
Latin(1748-1756) 309
309. Quod per 'flammam gladii vertentis se' significetur amor proprius cum ejus vesanis cupiditatibus et persuasionibus, quae sunt tales ut quidem intrare velint, sed ferantur inde ad corporea et terrestria, tam multis confirmari potest ex Verbo ut paginas impleret; solum haec quae apud Ezechielem;Propheta et dicas, Sic dixit Jehovah, Dic, gladius, gladius exacutus, et etiam tersus ad mactandum mactationem, acutus ut sit ei fulgur;...iteretur gladius tertio, gladius confossorum suorum, gladius confossionis magnae, penetrans in cubicula ad eos, ut liquefiat cor, et multiplicabit offendicula, in omnibus portis eorum, dedi terrorem gladii, heu factus in fulgur, xxi {1} 14, 15, 19, 20;
'gladius' hic pro desolatione hominis, ut nihil boni et veri videat, sed mera falsa et contraria, quod est 'multiplicare offendicula:' et quae apud Nahum, Eques ascendere faciens, et flamma gladii, et fulgur hastae, et multitudo confossi, iii 3;
de iis qui in arcana fidei intrare volunt. @ 1 A.V. 9, 10, 14, 15. I has 9, 10 only.$