934、“冷”表示无爱，或无仁和信，“热”或“火”表示爱，或仁和信。这一点从以下圣言经文明显看出来。在启示录，经上在给老底嘉教会的信中说到：
我知道你的行为，你也不冷也不热；我巴不得你或冷或热。你既如温水，也不冷也不热，所以我必从我口中把你吐出去。（启示录3:15-16）
此处“冷”表示没有仁爱，“热”表示大量仁爱。以赛亚书：
耶和华对我这样说，我要安静，在我的居所观看；如同光中的清热，又如收割的热气中露水的云雾。（以赛亚书18:4）
此处论述的主题是即将建立的新教会；“光中的热”和“收割的热”表示爱和仁。又：
这是那有火在锡安、有炉在耶路撒冷的耶和华说的。（以赛亚书31:9）
此处“火”表示爱。论到以西结看到的基路伯，经上说：
至于活物的形像，它们的形状就像燃烧的火炭，又像火把的形状；火在活物之间上去下来；这火很明亮，从火中发出闪电。（以西结书1:13）
在以西结书，论到主，经上又说：
在他们头以上的穹苍之上有宝座的形像，仿佛蓝宝石的样子，在宝座形像以上有一个形像，仿佛人的样子在它上头。我从祂腰以上的样子看见仿佛火炭的形状，其中周围有火的形状；又从祂腰以下的样子看见仿佛火的样子，周围也有光辉。（以西结书1:26-27；8:2）
此处“火”同样表示爱。但以理书：
亘古常在者就坐上去；祂的宝座乃火焰，其轮乃烈火。一道火河涌出，从祂面前流出来，侍奉祂的有千千，在祂面前侍立的有万万。（但以理书7:9-10）
此处“火”表示主的爱。撒迦利亚书：
耶和华说，我要作她四围的火墙。（撒迦利亚书2:5）
这论及新耶路撒冷。诗篇：
耶和华以风为使者，以火焰为仆役。（诗篇104:4）
“火焰”表示属天-属灵之物。
“火”因表示爱，故也成为主的一个代表。这一点从燔祭坛上的火明显看出来，这火永不熄灭（利未记6:9，12-13），以代表主的怜悯。、这就是为何亚伦在进入赎罪之地，或近到施恩座之前，要用取自燔祭坛上的火烧香（利未记16:12-14）。出于同样的原因，为了表示敬拜蒙主悦纳，有火从天上降下来，烧尽燔祭（如利未记9:24等）。在圣言中，“火”还表示自我之爱及其欲望；天堂之爱永远也无法与这爱和谐一致；所以经上也说，亚伦的两个儿子就被火烧灭，因为他们用凡火烧香（利未记10:1-2）。“凡火”表示所有对自我和世界的爱，以及伴随这些爱的一切欲望。此外，在恶人看来，天堂之爱就像一团熊熊燃烧的吞灭之火；这就是为何在圣言中，吞灭之火被归于主；如西乃上的火代表主的爱或怜悯，百姓却视它为烈火，因此求告摩西不再叫他们听见耶和华神的声音，也不再看见那大火，免得他们死亡（申命记18:16）。对那些被爱自己和爱世界的火吞没的人来说，主的爱或怜悯就具有这种表象。
New Century Edition
Cooper(2008,2013)
[NCE]934. The symbolism of cold as no love (that is, no charity) or faith, and of heat or fire as love (or charity) and faith, is attested by the following passages in the Word. In John, when he addressed the church of Laodicea:
I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. If only you were cold or hot! But since you are lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I am about to spit you out of my mouth. (Revelation 3:15-16)
Being cold stands for having no charity, and being hot, for having a wealth of it. In Isaiah:
This is what Jehovah has said: "I will rest and watch in my established position, like a sheen of heat on the light, like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest." (Isaiah 18:4)
This passage is about planting a new church. The heat on the light and the heat of harvest stand for love and charity. In the same author:
Jehovah's fire is on Zion and his furnace is in Jerusalem. (Isaiah 31:9)
Fire stands for love. In respect to the guardian beings that Ezekiel saw:
What the living creatures looked like: Their appearance was like burning embers of fire, like the appearance of lamps. The fire was moving along among the living creatures, and it had brilliance, and from the fire went out lightning. (Ezekiel 1:13)
[2] And in the same author, describing the Lord:
Above the expanse that was over the head of the guardian beings was a seeming appearance of sapphire stone, like a throne. And on the likeness of a throne was what looked like the appearance of a person on it, high above. And I saw the seeming form of a fiery ember, like the form of fire, within him all around, from the appearance of his hips and up; and from the appearance of his hips and down I saw the seeming appearance of fire, which had a brilliance all around. (Ezekiel 1:26-27; 8:2)
The fire stands for love. In Daniel:
The Ancient One sat; his throne was fiery flames, its wheels a burning fire. A river of fire was pouring forth and going out from before him. Thousands upon thousands were waiting on him, and myriads upon myriads were standing before him. (Daniel 7:9-10)
The fire stands for the Lord's love. In Zechariah:
"I will be to them," says Jehovah, "a wall of fire all around." (Zechariah 2:5)
This is about a new Jerusalem. In David:
Jehovah makes the spirits{*1} his angels, the flaming fire his attendants. (Psalms 104:4)
The flaming fire stands for something heavenly and at the same time spiritual.
[3] Since fire symbolized love, it also came to be used for representing the Lord, as is evident from the fire on the altar of burnt offering, which was never to be put out (Leviticus 6:9, 12-13), representing the Lord's mercy. That is why Aaron had to burn incense with fire taken from the altar of burnt offering before he could go in to approach the appeasement cover (Leviticus 16:12-13, 14). Furthermore, in order to symbolize the Lord's acceptance of the worship, fire was sent down from heaven and consumed the burnt offerings (Leviticus 9:24, for instance, and elsewhere).
In the Word, fire also symbolizes self-love and its craving, with which heavenly love cannot harmonize. That is why two of Aaron's sons were devoured by fire for using foreign fire in their sacrificial burning (Leviticus 10:1-2). Foreign fire is the totality of self-love and love of worldly gain, as well as all the cravings that accompany those loves.
Besides, ungodly individuals experience heavenly love in no other way than as a burning, consuming fire. For this reason, the Word describes the Lord as a consuming fire. The fire on Mount Sinai that represented the Lord's love or mercy, for instance, was perceived by the people as a devouring fire, which is why they told Moses not to make them listen to Jehovah God's voice or look at the huge fire or they would die (Deuteronomy 18:16). This is what the Lord's love or mercy looks like to people inflamed with self-love and materialism.
Footnotes:
{*1} The Latin word here translated "spirits" is spiritus, the word Swedenborg usually uses to refer to spirits living in the spiritual world. However, the underlying Hebrew word, רוּחַ (rûaḥ), can mean breath, wind, or spirit, and here interpreters see the word as referring to the four winds; see Brown, Driver, and Briggs 1996, under רוּחַ, definition 2.a. Compare note 1 in 221. [LHC]
Potts(1905-1910) 934
934. That "cold" signifies no love, or no charity and faith, and that "heat" or "fire" signifies love, or charity and faith, is evident from the following passages in the Word. In John it is said to the church in Laodicea:
I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot; I would thou wert cold or hot; so because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of My mouth (Rev. 3:15-16);
where "cold" denotes no charity, and "hot" much charity. In Isaiah:
Thus hath Jehovah said unto me, I will be still, and I will behold in My place; like the clear heat upon the light, like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest (Isa. 18:4), where the subject is the new church to be planted; "heat upon the light" and "heat of harvest" denote love and charity. Again:
Saith Jehovah, whose fire is in Zion, and His furnace in Jerusalem (Isa. 31:9), where "fire" denotes love. Of the cherubim seen by Ezekiel it is said:
As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches; it went up and down among the living creatures; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning (Ezek. 1:13). [2] And again it is said of the Lord, in the same chapter:
And above the expanse that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone; and upon the likeness of a throne was a likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it; and I saw as the appearance of burning coal, as the appearance of fire within it round about, from the appearance of His loins and upward; and from the appearance of His loins and downward I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and there was brightness round about Him (Ezek. 1:26-27; 8:2). Here again "fire" denotes love. In Daniel:
The Ancient of days did sit; His throne was flames of fire, and the wheels thereof burning fire; a fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him, a thousand thousands ministered unto Him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him (Dan. 7:9-10).Here "fire" denotes the Lord's love. In Zechariah:
For I, saith Jehovah, will be unto her a wall of fire round about (Zech. 2:5), where the new Jerusalem is treated of. In David:
Jehovah maketh His angels spirits, His ministers a flaming fire (Ps. 104:4), "a flaming fire" denoting the celestial spiritual. [3] Because "fire" signified love, fire was also made a representative of the Lord, as is evident from the fire on the altar of burnt-offering which was never to be extinguished (Lev. 6:12-13), representing the mercy of the Lord. On this account, before Aaron went in to the mercy-seat, he was to burn incense with fire taken from the altar of burnt-offering (Lev. 16:12-14). And for the same reason, that it might be signified that worship was accepted by the Lord, fire was sent down from heaven and consumed the burnt-offering (as in Lev. 9:24, and elsewhere). By "fire" is also signified in the Word self-love and its cupidity, with which heavenly love cannot agree; and therefore the two sons of Aaron were consumed by fire, because they burned incense with strange fire (Lev. 10:1-2). "Strange fire" is all the love of self and of the world, and all the cupidity of these loves. Moreover, heavenly love appears to the wicked no otherwise than as a burning and consuming fire, and therefore in the Word a consuming fire is predicated of the Lord, as the fire on Mount Sinai, which represented the love, or mercy, of the Lord, and that was seen by the people as a consuming fire, and therefore they desired Moses not to let them hear the voice of Jehovah God, and see that great fire, lest they should die (Deut. 18:16). The love or mercy of the Lord has this appearance to those who are in the fire of the loves of self and of the world.
Elliott(1983-1999) 934
934. 'Cold' means the absence of love, that is, of charity and faith, 'heat' or 'fire' the presence of love or of charity and faith. This becomes clear from the following places in the Word: In John, in the letter to the Church at Laodicea,
I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were cold or hot! But because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot I will spew you out of My mouth. Rev 7:15, 16.
Here 'cold' stands for no charity, 'hot' for much. In Isaiah,
Thus said Jehovah, I will be still and I will behold in My place; like clear heat on the light, like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest. Isa 18:4.
The subject here is a new Church that is to be founded. 'Heat on the light' and 'the heat of harvest' stand for love and charity. In the same prophet,
Jehovah's fire is in Zion, and His furnace in Jerusalem. Isa 3:9.
'Fire' stands for love. Concerning the cherubim seen by Ezekiel,
As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches, moving between the living creatures. And the five was bright and out of the fire went forth lightning. Ezek 1:13.
[2] And concerning the Lord in the same prophet,
Above the firmament that was above the heads of the cherubim, in appearance like a sapphire stone, there was the likeness of a throne, and above the likeness of a throne, there was a likeness as the appearance of a man upon it above. And I saw as it were the shape of fiery coals, as the shape of fire, within it round about, from the appearance of His loins upwards. And from the appearance of His loins and downwards I saw as it were the appearance of fire, whose brightness was round about it. Ezek 1:26, 27; 8:2.
Here 'fire' stands for love. In Daniel,
The Ancient of Days was seated. His throne was flames of fire, its wheels were burning fire. A stream of fire issued and came forth from before Him, a thousand thousands served Him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. Dan 7:9, 10.
'Fire' stands for the Lord's love. In Zechariah,
I will be to her, said Jehovah, a wall of fire round about. Zech 2:5.
This refers to the New Jerusalem. In David,
Jehovah makes winds His messengers, and flaming fire His ministers. Ps 104:4.
'Flaming fire' stands for that which is celestial-spiritual.
[3] Because 'fire' meant love, fire also became a representative of the Lord. This is clear from 'the five on the altar of burnt offering that was to be kept burning all the time', Lev 6:9, 12, 13, representing the Lord's mercy. For this reason 'before Aaron entered the place of atonement he had to burn incense with fire taken from the altar of burnt offering', Lev 16:12-14. And also, to signify that worship was acceptable to the Lord, 'fire was sent down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering', as in Lev 9:24, and elsewhere. In the Word 'fire' also means self-love and its attendant desire. With that love heavenly love can never agree; consequently it is also said that Aaron's two sons were devoured by fire because they employed strange fire, Lev 10:1, 2. 'Strange fire' means all self-love and love of the world, and every desire accompanying those loves. In addition heavenly love seems to wicked people like nothing else than a burning and devouring fire; and this is why in the Word devouring fire is attributed to the Lord. The fire on Mount Sinai, for example, which represented the Lord's love or mercy, was perceived by the people as a consuming fire, as a consequence of which they told Moses not to make them hear the voice of Jehovah God, or see the great Fire lest they died, Deut 18:16. This is how the Lord's love or mercy appears to people engulfed in the fire of self-love and love of the world.
Latin(1748-1756) 934
934. Quod 'frigus' significet nullum amorem seu nullam charitatem et fidem, et quod 'aestus seu ignis' amorem aut charitatem et fidem, constare potest ab his locis in Verbo; apud Johannem a Ecclesiam Laodicensem, Novi opera tua, quod neque frigidus neque fervidus,' utinam frigidus esses aut fervidus' sed quia tepidus, et neque frigidus, neque fervidus, exsputurus te ore Meo, Apoc. iii 15, 16;ubi 'frigidus' pro nulla charitate, et 'fervidus' pro multa: apud Esaiam, Sic dixit Jehovah, Quiescam et spectabo in loco Meo, sicut aestus serenus super luce, sicut nubes roris in aestu messis, xviii 4;
ubi de nova Ecclesia plantanda, 'aestus super luce et aestus messis pro amore et charitate: apud eundum, Jehovae ignis in Zione, et furnus in Hierosolyma, xxxi 9; 'ignis' pro amore. De cherubis visis Ezechieli, Similitudo animalium, aspectus illorum sicut prunae ignis ardentes juxta aspectum lampadum, is incedens inter animalia;
et splendor ignis, et de igne exiens fulgur, Ezech. i 13; [2] et apud eundem de Domino, Super expansum, quod super capite cheruborum, quasi aspectus lapidis sapphiri, similitudo throni; et super similitudine throni, similitudo quasi aspectus hominis super illo superius; et vidi quasi speciem prunae{1} ignitae, juxta speciem ignis, (x)intra illam circumcirca ab aspectu lumborum Ipsius et sursum; et ab aspectu lumborum Ipsius et deorsum, vidi quasi aspectum ignis, cui splendor circumcirca, i 26, 27; viii 2; ibi 'ignis' pro amore: apud Danielem, Antiquus dierum sedit,... thronus Ipsius flammae ignis, rotae illius ignis ardens, fluvius ignis emanans et exiens a coram Ipso; mille millia ministrabant Ipsi, et myrias myriadum coram Ipso stabant, vii 9, 10;
'ignis' pro amore Domini: apud Zachariam, Ero ei, dictum Jehovae, murus ignis circumcirca, ii 9, [A.V.5]; ubi de nova Hierosolyma: apud Davidem, Jehovah facit angelos suos spiritus, ministros suos ignem flammantem, Ps. civ 4; 'ignis flammans' pro caelesti spirituali. [3] Quia 'ignis' significabat amorem, ignis quoque repraesentativum Domini factus, quod constat ex 'Igne super altari holocausti qui nusquam exstingueretur,' Lev. vi 2, 5, 6 [A.V. 9, 12, 13], repraesentans misericordiam Domini: ideo 'antequam Aharon intraret ad propitiatorium, suffire debebat igne sumpto ex altari holocausti,' Lev. xvi 12-14; ideo quoque, ut significaretur quod cultus esset acceptus Domino, 'ignis de caelo demittebatur et consumpsit holocausta,' ut Lev. ix 24, et alibi. Per 'ignem' quoque in Verbo significatur amor proprius et ejus cupiditas, cum quo amor caelestis concordare nequit, quare etiam 'bini filii Aharonis consumpti sunt igne, quod adolerent igne alieno,' Leo. x 1, 2; 'ignis alienus' est omnis amor sui et mundi et omnis amorum istorum cupiditas. Praeterea etiam amor caelestis impiis non aliter apparet ac ignis ardens et consumens, ac ideo in Verbo praedicatur de Domino ignis consumens, sicut ignis super Monte Sinai, qui repraesentabat amorem seu misericordiam Domini, coram populo perceptus sicut ignis consumens; Quare dixerunt ad Mosen, ne faceret eos audire vocem Jehovae Dei, et videre Ignem magnum, ne morerentur, Deut. xviii 16. Amor seu misericordia Domini talis apparet iis qui in igne amorum sui et mundi sunt. @1 Heb. is [ ] (hashmal,) a word occurring only in Ezekiel. In his Sch. S notes non est pruna, sed intimum ignis, vide textum [ ] sic amor caelestis.$