----中文待译----
257. Because in this prophetical book numbers are often mentioned; and as no one can know the spiritual sense of what is contained in those numbers unless he knows what the particular numbers signify; for all numbers in the Word, as well as all names, signify spiritual things; and because the number seven is often mentioned amongst others, I am desirous here of showing that seven signifies all, and all things, also what is full and complete for that which signifies all, and all things, signifies also what is full and complete. For what is full and complete is said of the magnitude of a thing, and all and all things of multitude.
That the number seven has such a signification is evident from the following passages. In Ezekiel:
"The inhabitants of the cities of Israel shall set fire to and burn the arms, the shield also and the buckler, with the bow and the arrows, and with the hand-staff, and with the spear; and they shall kindle a fire with them seven years; and they shall bury Gog and all his multitude, and they shall cleanse the land seven months" (39:9, 11, 12).
The subject here treated of is the desolation of all things in the church. The inhabitants of the cities of Israel signify all the goods of truth, to set on fire and burn signifies to consume by evils. The arms, the shield, the buckler, the bows, the arrows, the hand-staff, the spear, denote everything pertaining to doctrine; to kindle fire with them seven years denotes to consume them all and fully by evils. Gog signifies those who are in external worship, and in no internal worship; to bury them and cleanse the land denotes to destroy them all, and completely to purge the church of them.
[2] In Jeremiah:
"Their widows shall be multiplied more than the sand of the seas, and I will bring to them upon the mother of the youths the waster at noon-day. She who hath borne seven shall languish, she shall breathe out her soul" (15:8, 9).
By the widows which will be multiplied are signified those who are in good and desire truths, and, in the opposite sense, as in the present case, those who are in evil and desire falsities. By the mother of the youths is signified the church; by the waster at noon-day is signified the vastation of that church, however much they may be in truths from the Word. By she that hath borne seven shall languish, she shall breathe out her soul, is signified that the church, to which all truths were given because the Word was given them, should perish; for she that hath borne seven signifies those to whom all truths were given. This is specifically said concerning the Jews.
[3] Similarly, in the first book of Samuel:
"They that were hungry ceased, so that the barren hath borne seven, and she that hath many children hath failed" (2:5).
The hungry who ceased denote those who desire the goods and truths of the church; the barren who hath borne seven signifies those who are outside the church and are ignorant of truths because they have not the Word, as the Gentiles, to whom all things will be given; she that hath many children failing signifies those who have truths, from whom they will be taken away. Again, in David:
"Render unto our neighbours sevenfold into their bosom" (79:12).
And in Moses,
That the Jews should be punished seven times for their sins (Leviticus 26:18, 21, 24, 28);
seven times here signifying fully.
[4] In Luke:
"And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent, thou shalt forgive him" (17:4).
Here, to forgive seven times, if he shall return seven times, denotes to forgive as often as the offender should return, and thus at all times. But lest Peter should understand seven times to be meant by these words, the Lord explains His meaning to him, as recorded in Matthew:
"Peter said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times, but until seventy times seven " (18:21, 22).
Seventy times seven is always, without counting. In David:
"Seven times a day do I praise thee for the judgments of justice" (Psalms 119:164).
Seven times a day denotes always, or at all times.
[5] Again:
"The sayings of Jehovah are pure sayings, as silver refined in a furnace of earth, purified seven times" (Psalms 12:6).
Here silver signifies truth from the Divine: purified seven times denotes that it is altogether and fully pure.
[6] In Isaiah:
"The light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days" (30:26).
The light of the sun signifies Divine truth from Divine good: and that this light should be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, signifies that the Divine truth in heaven should be without any falsity, thus that it should be altogether and fully pure.
[7] In Matthew,
The unclean spirit "shall take with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and he shall dwell there" (12:45; Luke 11:26).
Here profanation is treated of, and by the seven other spirits with which the unclean spirit is said to return are signified all falsities of evil, thus a plenary destruction of good and truth.
[8] Similar is the signification of the seven times which were to pass over the king of Babylon, in Daniel,
"His heart shall be changed from man, and the heart of a beast shall be given unto him; while seven times shall pass over him" (4:16, 25, 32).
By the king of Babylon are signified those who profane the goods and truths of the Word. By his heart being changed from that of a man to that of a beast is meant that nothing spiritual, that is, truly human, should remain with him, but that instead there should be everything diabolical. By the seven times which were to pass over him is meant profanation, which is a complete destruction of truth and good.
[9] Because the terms seven, and seven times, signified all things, and also what is full, the following commands were given to the children of Israel:
Seven days their hands should be filled (Exodus 29:35).
Seven days they should be sanctified (Exodus 29:37).
Seven days Aaron should put on the garments when he was being initiated (Exodus 29:30).
Seven days they should not go out of the tabernacle when they were being initiated into the priesthood (Leviticus 8:33, 34).
Seven times expiation should be made upon the horns of the altar (Leviticus 16:18, 19).
Seven times should the altar be sanctified with oil (Leviticus 8:11).
Seven times should the blood be sprinkled before the veil (Leviticus 4:16, 17).
Seven times should the blood be sprinkled with the finger towards the east, when Aaron went in to the mercy seat (Leviticus 16:12-15).
Seven times should the water of separation be sprinkled towards the tabernacle (Num. 19:4).
Seven times should blood be sprinkled for the cleansing of leprosy (Leviticus 14:7, 8, 27, 38, 51).
The lampstand had seven lamps (Exodus 25:32, 37; 37:18-25).
Feasts should be celebrated for seven days (Exodus 34:18; Leviticus 23:4-9, 39-44; Deuteronomy 16:3, 4, 8).
Seven days of the feast there should be a burnt offering of seven bullocks and seven rams daily (Ezekiel 45:23).
Baalam built seven altars, and sacrificed seven oxen and seven rams (Num. 23:1-7, 15-18, 29, 30).
They numbered seven weeks of years, seven times seven years, and then should cause the trumpet of the jubilee to be sounded in the seventh month (Leviticus 25:8, 9).
From the signification of the number seven, it is evident what is signified
By the seven days of creation (Gen. i.).
Also by four thousand men being filled from seven loaves, and that seven basketsful of fragments remained over (Matthew 15:34-37; Mark 8:5-9).
Hence now it is clear what is signified in the Apocalypse,
By the seven churches (1:4, 11).
By the seven golden lampstands, in the midst of which was the Son of man (1:13).
By the seven stars in His right hand (1:16, 20).
By the seven spirits of God (3:1).
By the seven lamps of fire burning before the throne (4:5).
By the book sealed with seven seals (5:1).
By the seven angels to whom were given seven trumpets (8:2).
By the seven thunders which uttered their voices (10:3, 4).
By the seven angels having the seven last plagues, (15:1, 6).
By seven vials full of the seven last plagues (16:1; 21:9)
and elsewhere in the Word, where seven is mentioned.
257. Since in this prophetical book numbers are often mentioned, and no one can know the spiritual sense of the things contained therein unless it is known what the particular numbers signify (for all numbers in the Word, like all names, signify spiritual things), and since the number "seven" is often mentioned among others, I will here show that "seven" signifies all persons and all things, likewise fullness and totality; for that which signifies all persons and all things signifies also fullness and totality, for fullness and totality are predicated of the magnitude of a thing, and all persons and all things are predicated of multitude. That "seven" has such a signification can be seen from the following passages. In Ezekiel:
They that dwell in the cities of Israel shall set fire to and burn the arms, and the shield, and the buckler, with the bow and with the arrows, and the hand-staff, and the spear; and they shall make a fire with them seven years. And they shall bury Gog and all his multitude, and they shall cleanse the earth seven months (Ezekiel 39:9, 11-12).
Here the desolation of all things in the church is treated of: "those that dwell in the cities of Israel" signify all goods of truth; "to set fire" signifies to consume by evils. "The arms, the shield, the buckler, the bow, the arrows, the hand-staff, the spear," are all things pertaining to doctrine; "to make a fire with them seven years" means to consume them all and fully by evils. "Gog" signifies those who are in external worship and in no internal worship; "to bury them and cleanse the earth" means to destroy all such, and completely purge the church of them.
[2] In Jeremiah:
The widows shall be multiplied more than the sand of the seas, and I will bring to them upon the mother of the youths the waster at noonday. She that hath borne seven shall languish, she shall breathe out her soul (Jeremiah 15:8-9).
"The widows," that shall be multiplied, signify those who are in good and who long for truths, and in a contrary sense, as here, those who are in evil and desire falsities; "the mother of the youths" signifies the church; "the waster at noonday" signifies the vastation of that church, however much it may be in truths from the Word; "she that hath borne seven shall languish, she shall breathe out her soul," signifies that the church, to which all truths were given because the Word was given to it, is to perish; for "she that hath borne seven" signifies to whom all truths were given. This was particularly said of the Jews.
[3] Likewise in the first book of Samuel:
They that were hungry have ceased; the barren hath borne seven, and she that hath many children hath failed (1 Samuel 2:5).
"They that were hungry," who have ceased, are those who long for the truths and goods of the church; "the barren bearing seven" signifies those who are outside of the church, and are ignorant of truths, because they have not the Word, thus the Gentiles, to whom all things will be given; "she that hath many children failing" signifies those who have, from whom will be taken away. In David:
Render unto our neighbors sevenfold into their bosom (Psalms 79:12).
And in Moses:
That the Jews should be punished seven times for their sins (Leviticus 26:18, 21, 24, 28);
"seven times" here signifying fully.
[4] In Luke:
If thy brother sin against thee seven times in the day, and seven times in the day turn again to thee, saying, I repent, thou shalt forgive him (Luke 17:4).
"To forgive seven times, if he should turn again seven times," means to forgive as often as he turns, thus every time. But lest it should be understood to mean seven times, the Lord explained his meaning to Peter, who supposed seven times to be meant, in Matthew:
Peter said, Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Until seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, until seven times, but until seventy times seven (Matthew 18:21-22).
"Seventy times seven" means always, without counting.
In David:
Seven times a day do I praise thee for the judgments of righteousness (Psalms 119:164).
"Seven times a day" means always, or at all times.
[5] In the same:
The sayings of Jehovah are pure sayings, as silver refined in a crucible purified seven times (Psalms 12:6).
"Silver" signifies truth from the Divine; "purified seven times" means wholly and fully pure.
[6] in Isaiah:
The light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days (Isaiah 30:26).
"The light of the sun" signifies Divine truth from Divine good; that "this light shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days," signifies that Divine truth in heaven shall be without any falsity, thus altogether and fully pure.
[7] In Matthew:
The unclean spirit shall take seven other spirits more evil than himself, and shall dwell there (Matthew 12:45; Luke 11:26).
Here profanation is treated of, and "the seven unclean spirits" with which the unclean spirit would return, signify all the falsities of evil, thus a complete destruction of good and truth.
[8] The "seven times" that were to pass over the king of Babylon have a like meaning, in Daniel:
His heart shall be changed from man, and a beast's heart shall be given unto him, while seven times shall pass over him (Daniel 4:16, 25, 32).
"The king of Babylon" signifies those who profane the goods and truths of the Word; that "his heart should be changed from man, and a beast's heart be given him," means that nothing spiritual, which is the truly human, should remain, but instead there should be the diabolical; "the seven times which were to pass over him" signify profanation, which is the complete destruction of truth and good.
[9] Because "seven" and "seven times" signified all things and fullness, the following commands were given:
Seven days the hands [of Aaron and his sons] should be filled (Exodus 29:35).
Seven days [the altar] should be sanctified (Exodus 29:37).
Seven days Aaron should be clothed with the garments when he was to be initiated (Exodus 29:30).
For seven days Aaron and his sons were not to go out of the tabernacle when they were to initiated into the priesthood (Leviticus 8:33, 34).
Seven times was the altar to be sprinkled for expiation upon its horns (Leviticus 16:18, 19).
Seven times was the altar to be sanctified with oil (Leviticus 8:11).
Seven times was the blood to be sprinkled towards the veil (Leviticus 4:16, 17).
Seven times was the blood to be sprinkled with the fingers eastward, when Aaron went towards the mercy-seat (Leviticus 16:12-15).
Seven times was the water of separation to be sprinkled towards the tent (Numbers 19:4).
Seven times the blood was to be sprinkled in the cleansing of leprosy (Leviticus 14:7, 8, 27, 38, 51).
The lampstand was to have seven lamps (Exodus 25:32, 37; 37:18-25).
For seven days were the feasts to be kept (Exodus 34:18, Leviticus 23:23:4-9, 39-44; Deuteronomy 16:3, 4, 8).
For the seven days of the feast there was to be a burnt-offering of seven bullocks, and seven rams daily (Ezekiel 45:23).
Balaam built seven altars, and sacrificed seven oxen and seven rams (Numbers 23:1-7, 15-18, 29, 30).
They numbered seven weeks of years, seven times seven years, and then they were to cause the trumpet of the jubilee to be sounded in the seventh month (Leviticus 25:8, 9).
From the signification of the number "seven" it can be seen what is signified:
By the seven days of creation (Genesis 1);
Also by the fact that four thousand men were satisfied by seven loaves and that seven basketful remained (Matthew 15:34-38; Mark 8:5-9).
From this then it is evident what is signified in Revelation:
By the seven churches (Revelation 1:4, 11);
By the seven golden lampstands, in the midst of which was the Son of man (Revelation 1:13);
By the seven stars in His right hand (Revelation 1:16, 20);
By the seven spirits of God (Revelation 3:1);
By the seven lamps of fire before the throne (Re. Revelation 4:5);
By the book sealed with seven seals (Revelation 5:1);
By the seven angels to whom were given seven trumpets (Revelation 8:2);
By the seven thunders which uttered their voices (Re. Revelation 10:3, 4);
By the seven angels having the seven last plagues (Re. Revelation 16:1, 6);
And by the seven vials full of the seven last plagues (Revelation 16:1; 21:9);
and elsewhere in the Word, where "seven" is mentioned.
257. Quoniam in hoc Libro Prophetico saepius memorantur numeri, et nemo potest scire sensum spiritualem rerum inibi nisi sciatur quid singuli numeri significant (omnes enim numeri in Verbo, sicut omnia nomina, significant res spirituales), et quia numerus "septem" inter reliquos saepe memoratur, ideo velim hic ostendere quod "septem" significent omnes et omnia, tum plenum et totum; quicquid enim significat omnes et omnia, id etiam significat plenum et totum, nam plenum et totum praedicatur de magnitudine rei, ac omnes et omnia de multitudine.
Quod "septem" illa significent, constare potest a sequentibus locis :
Apud Ezechielem,
"Habitatores urbium Israelis incendent comburentque arma, et scutum et clipeum, cum arcu et cum telis, et cum baculo manus et cum hasta; et accendent illis ignem septem annis:.... et sepelient Gogum, et omnem multitudinem ejus et mundabunt terram septem mensibus" (39:9, [11,] 12);
agitur ibi de desolatione omnium in ecclesia; "habitatores urbium Israelis" significant omnia bona veri; "incendere" significat consumere per mala; "arma", "scutum", "clipeus", "arcus", "tela", "baculus manus", "hasta", sunt omnia quae doctrinae; "accendere illis ignem septem annis", est omnia et plene consumere per mala; "Gogus" significat illos qui in cultu externo sunt et in nullo interno; "sepelire illos et mundare terram", est omnes illos destruere, et ab illis plene repurgare ecclesiam.
[2] Apud Jeremiam,
"Multiplicabuntur viduae prae arena marium, et adducam illis supra matrem juvenum vastatorem in meridie;.... elanguescet quae pepererat septem, exspirabit animam suam" (15:8, 9);
per "viduas" quae multiplicabuntur, significantur qui in bono sunt et desiderant vera, et in opposito sensu, ut hic, qui in malo sunt et volunt falsa; per "matrem juvenum" significatur ecclesia; per "vastatorem in meridie" significatur vastatio illius ecclesiae quantumvis in veris potest esse ex Verbo; per "elanguescet et exspirabit animam quae pepererat septem", significatur quod peritura ecclesia cui omnia vera data sunt, quia Verbum; nam "quae pepererat septem" significat cui data sunt omnia vera; hoc in specie dictum est de Judaeis.
[3] Similiter in Libro Primo Samuelis,
"Famelici cessarunt, usque dum sterilis peperit septem, multiprolis autem defecit" (2:5);
"famelici" qui cessarunt, sunt qui desiderant vera et bona ecclesiae; "sterilis pariens septem", significat illos qui extra ecclesiam sunt et non sciunt vera quia non habent Verbum, ita Gentes, quibus dabuntur omnia; "multiprolis deficiens" significat illos qui habent, quibus auferrentur.
Apud Davidem,
"Retribue vicinis septuplum in sinum eorum" (Psalm. 79:12 1
);
et apud Mosen,
Quod Judaei punirentur septuplum propter peccata eorum (Leviticus 26:18, 21, 24, 28);
"septulum" significat plene.
[4] Apud Lucam,
"Si septies in die peccaverit contra te frater tuus, et septies in die reversus fuerit ad te, dicens, Resipui, remittes ei" (17:4);
"septies remittere si septies reversus fuerit", est toties remittere quoties revertitur, ita omnibus vicibus: ne intelligatur septies, explicat Dominus coram Petro qui credidit quod septies intelligeretur, apud Matthaeum,
"Dixit Petrus, Domine, quoties peccabit in me frater et remittam ei? an usque septies? Dixit ei Jesus, Non dico tibi usque septies, sed usque septuagies septies" (18:21, 22);
"septuagies septies" est semper, absque numerando.
Apud Davidem,
"Septies in die laudo Te super judiciis justitiae" (Psalms 119:164);
"septies in die" est semper seu omni tempore.
[5] Apud eundem,
"Sermones Jehovae sermones puri, argentum conflatum in catino purificatum septies" (Psalms 12:7 [B.A. 6]);
"argentum" significat verum a Divino; "purificatum septies" significat prorsus et plene purum.
[6] Apud Esaiam,
"Erit lux lunae sicut lux solis, et lux solis erit septupla sicut lux septem dierum" (30:26);
"lux solis" significat Divinum Verum ex Divino Bono: quod lux illa erit "septupla sicut lux septem dierum", significat quod Divinum Verum in caelo erit absque omni falso, ita prorsus et plene purum.
[7] Apud Matthaeum,
Immundus spiritus "accipiet septem spiritus alios pejores se ipso, et.... habitabit ibi" (12:45; Luca 11:26);
agitur ibi de profanatione, et per "septem spiritus immundos", cum quibus rediturus, significantur omnia falsa mali, ita plenaria destructio boni et veri.
[8] Simile significatur per "septem tempora", quae transitura super regem Babelis, apud Danielem,
"Cor ejus ab homine mutabitur, et cor bestiae dabitur ei, dum septem tempora transibunt super illum" (Dan. 4:13, 22, 29 [B.A. 16, 25, 32]):
per "regem Babelis" significantur illi qui profanant bona et vera Verbi; quod "cor ejus ab homine mutaretur, et cor bestiae daretur", intelligitur quod nihil spirituale, quod vere humanum, remansurum sit, sed loco ejus diabolicum; per "septem tempora" quae transitura super illum, significatur profanatio, quae est plenaria destructio veri et boni.
[9] Quia "septem" et "septies" significabant omnia et plenum, ideo sequentia mandata sunt:
Quod septem diebus implerentur manus (Exodus 29:35);
Quod septem diebus sanctificarentur (Exodus 29:37);
Quod septem diebus indutus esset Aharon vestibus cum initiabatur (Exodus 29:30);
Quod septem diebus non recederent a Tentorio, cum initiabantur in sacerdotium (Leviticus 8:33, 34).
Quod septies expiaretur altare super cornua (Leviticus 16:18, 19);
Quod septem vicibus per oleum sanctificaretur altare (Leviticus 8:11);
Quod septem vicibus spargeretur sanguis versus velum (Leviticus 4:16, 17);
Quod septem vicibus digito spargeretur sanguis versus orientem, cum Aharon ad propitiatorium iret (Leviticus 16:12-15);
Quod septem vicibus spargeretur aqua separationis versus Tentorium (Numeri 19:4);
Quod septies spargeretur sanguis circa mundationem leprae (Leviticus 14:7, 8, 27, 38, 51);
Quod candelabrum esset ex septem lucernis (Exodus 25:32, 37; 37:18-25);
Quod festa septem diebus celebrarentur (Exodus 34:18; Leviticus 23:4-9, 39-44; Deuteronomius 16:3, 4, 8);
Quod septem diebus festi fieret holocaustum, ex septem juvencis et ex septem arietibus in diem (Ezechiel 45:23);
Quod Bileamus aedificaverit septem altaria, et sacrificaverit septem boves et septem arietes (Numeri 23:1-7, 15-18, 29, 30);
Quod numeraverint septem septimanas annorum, septem annos septem vicibus, et tunc mense septimo clangeretur ad jubilaeum (Leviticus 25:8, 9).
Ex significatione numeri "septem" constare potest quid significatur
Per septem dies creationis (Genes., cap. 1);
Tum per quod saturati fuerint quatuor millia hominum ex septem panibus, et quod superessent septem sportae plenae (Matthaeus 15:34-38; Marcus 8:5-9).
Inde nunc patet quid significatur in Apocalypsi,
Per septem Ecclesias (1:4, 11);
Per septem candelabra aurea, in quorum medio Filius hominis (cap. 1:13);
Per septem stellas in dextra Ipsius (cap. 1:16, 20);
Per septem spiritus Dei (3:1);
Per septem lampades igneos ante thronum (cap. 4:5);
Per librum obsignatum septem sigillis (5:1);
Per septem angelos, quibus datae septem tubae (8:2);
Per quod septem tonitrua locuta sint voces (10:3, 4);
Per septem angelos habentes septem plagas ultimas (15:1, 6);
Et per septem phialas plenas septem plagis ultimis (16:1; 21:9):
et porro alibi in Verbo, ubi "septem" nominantur.
Footnotes:
1. The editors made a correction or note here.