----中文待译----
573. And the number of the armies of the horsemen was two myriads of myriads.- That this signifies innumerable falsities of evil, from which and on behalf of which there are reasonings, which conspire against the truths of good, is evident from the signification of armies, as denoting the falsities of evil, of which in what follows; and from the signification of horsemen, as denoting reasonings thence; for horses, in the Word, signify the understanding of truth, and in the opposite sense, the understanding perverted and destroyed, as may be seen above (n. 355, 364, 372, 373, 381, 382); horsemen, therefore, in this sense, signify reasonings from falsities, because these are of the understanding perverted and destroyed, for truths form the understanding, but falsities destroy it; and from the signification of two myriads of myriads, as denoting that they are innumerable and conspire against the truths of good; that the term myriads signifies what is innumerable and is used in reference to truths, may be seen above (n. 336). And it is said two myriads of myriads because things innumerable that conjoin, and unite, are signified, for the number two signifies conjunction, agreement, and union, as may be seen above (n. 283, 384). The reason why it is said, against the truths of good, is that the subject treated of in what follows is the destruction of truth by the armies of such horsemen. From these considerations it is clear, that the number of the armies of the horsemen being two myriads of myriads, signifies that the falsities of evil from which, and on behalf of which reasonings exist, are innumerable and conspire against the truths of good.
[2] In the Word, the term armies (hosts) is frequently used, and also the Lord is called Jehovah of Hosts or Zebaoth, and by hosts are there signified truths from good fighting against falsities from evil, and in the opposite sense, falsities from evil fighting against truths from good. Hosts signify such things in the Word, because the wars there mentioned, both in the historical and prophetical parts, signify in the internal sense spiritual wars waged against hell and the diabolical crew there, and such wars have relation to truths and goods combating against falsities and evils, and hence it is that armies signify all truths from good, and in the opposite sense, all falsities from evil. That they signify all truths from good, is evident from this fact, that the sun, the moon, the stars, and also the angels, are called the armies of Jehovah, because they signify all truths from good in their whole extent. Also the sons of Israel, because they signify the truths and goods of the church, are called armies; and because all truths and goods are from the Lord, and He alone combats for all in heaven, and for all in the church, against falsities and evils from hell, therefore He is called Jehovah Zebaoth, that is, [Jehovah] of armies [or hosts].
[3] That the sun, the moon, and the stars, are called armies [or hosts], is plain from numerous passages.
Thus in Moses:
"The heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them (Genesis 2:1).
So in David:
"By the word of Jehovah were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth" (Psalm 33:6).
Again:
"Praise ye" Jehovah, "all his angels; praise ye him, all his hosts. Praise ye him, sun and moon; praise him, all ye stars of light" (Psalm 148:2, 3).
And in Isaiah:
"All the host of the heavens shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll; and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling [fig] from the fig-tree" (34:4).
And again, in the same prophet:
"I have made the earth, and created man upon it; my hands have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded" (45:12).
And again:
"Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number; he calleth them all by name" (40:26).
So in Jeremiah:
"As the host of the heavens is not numbered, neither the sand of the sea measured:" (33:22).
In these passages, the sun, the moon, and stars, are called a host [or army], because the sun signifies the good of love, the moon, truth from good, while the stars signify the cognitions of truth and good, consequently they signify goods and truths in their whole extent, and they are called an army, because they resist evils and falsities, and continually conquer them as enemies.
[4] So in Daniel:
One horn of the he-goat "waxed great, even to the host of the heavens; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and trampled upon them. Yea, it magnified itself even to the prince of the host, and from him the continual [burnt-offering] was taken away, and the dwellingplace of his sanctuary was cast down. And the host was delivered up upon the continual [burnt-offering] for transgression, because it cast down the truth to the ground. One holy one said, How long this vision, the continual [burnt-offering], and the desolating transgression, to give both the holy place and the host to be trampled upon? And he said unto the evening morning" (316:16, 336, 535). By the host of the heavens, which he cast down to the earth, are meant the truths and goods of heaven; for the subject here treated of is the last state of the church, when the truths and goods of heaven are thought to be of no importance, and are rejected, which is signified by their being trampled upon; wherefore it also follows, that he cast down the truth to the earth. The prince of the host means the Lord, who is also called Jehovah God Zebaoth, or of armies [or hosts]. That all worship from the good of love and the truths of faith would perish, is signified by the continual [burnt-offering] being taken away from him, and the dwelling-place of his sanctuary being cast down. That this would come to pass at the end of the church, when the Lord would come into the world, is signified by unto the evening morning, the evening denoting the last time of the old church, and the morning, the commencement of the new church.
[5] That the angels are called hosts is evident from the following passages.
Thus in Joel:
"Jehovah uttered his voice before his army; for his camp is very great" (130, 200, 302).
[6] It is for the same reason also, that the sons of Israel are called armies, because they signify the truths and goods of the church.
Thus in Moses:
"Jehovah said, Bring out the sons of Israel from the land of Egypt according to their armies" (431).
[7] From these considerations it is evident, that the truths and goods of heaven and the church are meant by armies in the Word; and from these things the reason why Jehovah is called in the Word, Jehovah Zebaoth, and Jehovah God Zebaoth, that is, of armies, is perfectly clear (as in Isaiah 1:9, 24; 2:12; 3:1, 15; 5:7, 9, 16, 24; 6:3, 5; 8:13, 18; 14:22, 23, 24, 27; 17:3; 25:6; 28:5, 22, 29; 29:6; 31:4, 5; 37:16; Jerem. 5:14; 38:17; 44:7; Amos 5:16; Haggai 1:9, 14; 2:4, 8, 23; Zech. 1:3; Malachi 2:12; and various other places).
[8] From these things it is now evident, that armies signify the truths and goods of heaven and the church in their whole extent; and because most things in the Word have also an opposite sense, so also have armies, in which sense they signify falsities and evils in their whole extent. This will appear from the following passages of the Word.
Thus in Jeremiah:
"Upon the roofs" of the houses "they have burned incense unto all the host of the heavens, and have poured out drink-offerings unto other gods" (Heaven and Hell 122, 123), and also above (n. 401, 402, 525). And since truths from good fight against falsities from evil, and, on the contrary, falsities from evil against truths from good, therefore they are called armies. There is therefore continual combat, because evils and falsities continually exhale from the hells, and endeavour to destroy the truths from good that are in heaven, and from heaven, and which continually offer resistance. For everywhere in the spiritual world there is an equilibrium between heaven and hell; and where an equilibrium exists, there two forces continually act against each other, one acting and the other reacting, and continual action and reaction is continual combat; but an equilibrium is always provided by the Lord, as may be seen in the Heaven and Hell 589-596, and n. 597-603). And because there is such a continual combat between heaven and hell, therefore, as all things of heaven are called armies, so also are all things of hell.
All things of heaven have reference to goods and truths, and all things of hell, to evils and falsities. Hence it is that in the following passages hosts signify the falsities of evil.
[9] Thus in Isaiah:
"The anger of Jehovah is against all nations, and his wrath against all their army; he hath devoted them, he hath delivered them to the slaughter" (34:2).
Here nations signify evils, and army, falsities from evil; the total destruction of these is signified by he hath devoted them, he hath delivered them to the slaughter.
[10] Again:
"The voice of a multitude in the mountains, like as of a great people; the voice of the tumult of the kingdoms of nations gathered together; Jehovah Zebaoth leadeth the army" (13:4).
Here the voice of a multitude in the mountains, signifies falsities from evils, a multitude denoting falsities, and mountains denoting evils. Like as of a great people, signifies the appearance as it were of truth from good, the words, like as, denoting appearance, "people" denoting those who are in truths, and thus truths, while great is used in reference to good. The voice of the tumult of the kingdoms of nations gathered together, signifies dissension in the church springing from evils and falsities thence, the voice of the tumult denoting dissension, kingdoms, the church as to truths and falsities, and nations gathered together, as to evils and the falsities therefrom conspiring against the goods and truths of the church. Jehovah Zebaoth leadeth the army, signifies that it is accomplished by the Lord, for this is ascribed to the Lord, as is plain from the fifth verse immediately following in which it is said: "Jehovah cometh with the weapons of his anger, to destroy the whole land." This is attributed to the Lord just as evil, the punishment of evil, and the destruction of the church are also ascribed to Him in other passages of the Word, because such is the appearance of things, for the sense of the letter of the Word is written according to appearances. But in the spiritual sense, such things mean that the man of the church himself does them.
[11] Again, in Jeremiah:
"Spare ye not her young men; give to the curse all her host" (355:37), and in the Arcana Coelestia 8230, 8275).
[12] So in Daniel:
"The king of the north shall return, and shall set forth a multitude greater than the former, and after the end of the times of the years he shall come with a great army and with much riches. And he shall stir up his powers and his heart against the king of the south with a great army; and the king of the south shall stir himself up to battle with a very great and mighty army; but he shall not stand" (11:13, 25).
The subject treated of in that chapter is the war between the king of the north and the king of the south, and by the king of the north are meant those within the church who are in the falsities of evil, and by the king of the south, those within the church who are in the truths of good; there collision and combat at the end of the church, in the spiritual sense are described by their war; therefore by the army of the king of the north are meant falsities of every kind, and by the army of the king of the south truths of every kind.
[13] So in Luke:
"When ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the devastation thereof is nigh" (21:20).
In that chapter the Lord speaks of the consummation of the age, which signifies the last time of the church. Jerusalem means the church as to doctrine; and its being compassed with armies, means the possession of it by falsities. That then the destruction of it comes, and presently the last judgment, is signified by its desolation being then nigh. It is supposed that these things were said concerning the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans, but from the details of the chapter it is evident that it treats of the destruction of the church at its end; similarly in Matthew xxiv. from the first verse to the last, an explanation of which is given in the Arcana Coelestia. Nevertheless this is not opposed to the literal meaning concerning the destruction of Jerusalem, but that destruction represented and therefore signified the destruction of the church at its end; this is confirmed by every detail in the chapter, considered in the spiritual sense.
[14] Again, in David:
"God hath cast off, and put us to shame; and he hath not gone forth with our armies. Thou makest us to turn back from the enemy" (Psalm 44:9, 10).
Here by God not going forth with their armies, signifies that he did not defend them, because they were in falsities of evil, for armies denote falsities of evil; therefore it is said that they were cast off, and put to shame, and made to turn back from the enemy, the enemy denoting evil from hell.
[15] Again, in Joel:
"I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the canker-worm, and the grasshopper, and the palmer-worm, my great army which I sent among you" (543:9), where this passage is explained, and where it is shown that the locust and grasshopper signify the falsities [and evils] of the sensual man. The signification of armies in the Word in both senses is now evident from these things. Similar things are signified by hosts (or armies) in the historical parts of the Word, for they, as well as the prophetical parts, contain a spiritual sense; but it shines forth less clearly because the mind, being detained in the historical circumstances, can be scarcely elevated above the worldly things therein so as to see the spiritual things which are stored up in them.
573. Verse 16. And the number of the armies of the horsemen was two myriads of myriads, signifies that the falsities of evil from which and in favor of which they reason and which conspire against the truths of good, are innumerable. This is evident from the signification of "armies," as meaning the falsities of evil (of which presently); and from the signification of "horsemen," as being the reasonings therefrom, for "horses" signify the understanding of truth, and in the contrary sense the understanding perverted and destroyed (See above, n. 355, 364, 372, 373, 381, 382); so "horsemen" in this sense signify the reasonings from falsities, since reasonings from falsities are from the understanding perverted and destroyed, for truths constitute the understanding, but falsities destroy it. The above is evident also from the signification of "two myriads of myriads," as being innumerable falsities conspiring against truths of good (that "myriads" signify things innumerable, and are predicated of truths, see above, n. 336, and it is said "two myriads of myriads" because this signifies things innumerable that are conjoined and conspire; for the number "two" signifies conjunction, concord, and conspiracy (See above, n. 283, 384). It means against the truths of good, because what follows treats of the destruction of truths by the armies of such horsemen. From this it can be seen that "the number of the armies of the horsemen was two myriads of myriads" signifies that the falsities of evil from which and in favor of which they reason, and which conspire against the truths of good, are innumerable.
[2] "Armies" (or hosts) are frequently mentioned in the Word, and the Lord is called "Jehovah of Hosts or Zebaoth," and "armies" there signify truths from good fighting against the falsities from evil, and in the contrary sense falsities from evil fighting against truths from good. Such is the signification of "armies" in the Word, because "wars" in the Word, both in the histories and prophecies, signify, in the internal sense spiritual wars, which are waged against hell and against the diabolical crew there, and such wars have relation to truths and goods opposing falsities and evils; this is why "armies" signify all truths from good, and in the contrary sense all falsities from evil. That "armies" signify all truths from good is evident from the sun, moon, stars, and also the angels, being called "the armies of Jehovah," because they signify all truths from good in the complex; also from the sons of Israel being called "armies," because they signified the truths and goods of the church. And as all truths and goods are from the Lord, and the Lord alone fights for all in heaven and for all in the church against the falsities and evils which are from hell, so He is called "Jehovah Zebaoth," that is, "Jehovah of Hosts."
[3] That the sun, the moon, and the stars, are called "hosts" is evident from the following passages. In Moses:
Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them (Genesis 2:1).
In David:
By the word of Jehovah were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth (Psalms 33:6).
In the same:
Praise ye Jehovah, all His angels; praise ye Him, all His hosts; praise ye Him, sun and moon; praise Him, all ye stars of light (Psalms 148:2, 3).
In Isaiah:
And all the host of the heavens shall waste away, and the heavens shall be rolled up as a scroll; and all their hosts shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as that which falleth from the fig-tree (Isaiah 34:4).
I have made the earth, and created man upon it; My hands have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded (Isaiah 45:12).
In the same:
Lift up your eyes on high, and see who hath created these, who leadeth out their host in number, who calleth them all by name (Isaiah 40:26).
In Jeremiah:
As the host of the heavens is not numbered, and the sand of the sea is not measured (Jeremiah 33:22).
In these passages, the sun, moon, and stars, are called a "host" because the "sun" signifies the good of love, the "moon," truth from good, and the "stars" the knowledges of truth and good, consequently they signify goods and truths in the whole complex, and these are called a "host" because they resist evils and falsities, and perpetually conquer them as enemies.
[4] In Daniel:
One horn of the he-goat waxed great even to the host of the heavens; and some of the host and of the stars it cast down to the earth, and trampled upon them. Yea, it magnified itself even to the Prince of the Host; and the continual offering was taken away from him, and the dwelling place of his sanctuary was cast down. And the host was given to the continual offering for transgression, because it cast down the truth to the earth. Then one holy one said, How long shall be the vision, the continual offering, and the wasting transgression, that the holy place and the host be given to be trodden down? And he said, Even to the evening, the morning (316, 336, 535). "The host of the heavens, some of which it cast down to the earth," means the truths and goods of heaven; for the last state of the church, when the truths and goods of heaven are esteemed as of no account, and rejected, is here treated of, and this is signified by "treading them down;" therefore it is added, "it cast down truth to the earth." "The Prince of the Host" means the Lord, who is also called "Jehovah God Zebaoth" (or of Hosts). That all worship from the good of love and from the truths of faith would perish is signified by "the continual offering was taken away from him, and the dwelling place of his sanctuary was cast down." That this would come to pass in the end of the church, when the Lord would come into the world, is signified by "even to the evening, the morning," "evening" signifying the last time of the old church, and "morning" the first time of the new church.
[5] That the angels are called "hosts" is evident from the following passages. In Joel:
Jehovah uttered His voice before His host; for His camp was very great (130, 200, 302).
[6] For the same reason the sons of Israel, because they signify the truths and goods of the church, are called "hosts," as in the following passages. In Moses:
Jehovah said, Bring out the sons of Israel from the land of Egypt according to their hosts (431).
[7] From this it can be seen that the truths and goods of heaven and the church are meant in the Word by "hosts;" which makes clear why it is that Jehovah is called in the Word "Jehovah Zebaoth," and "Jehovah God Zebaoth," that is, "of hosts" (as in Isaiah 1:9, 24; 2:12; 3:1, 15; 5:7, 9, 16, 24; 6:3, 5; 8:13, 18; 14:22, 23, 24, 27; 17:3; 25:6; 28:5, 22, 29; 29:6; 31:4, 5; 37:16; Jeremiah 5:14; 38:17; 44:7; Amos 5:16; Haggai 1:9, 14; 2:4, 8, 23; Zechariah 1:3; Malachi 2:12, and various other places).
[8] From this it is now evident that "hosts" signify the truths and goods of heaven and the church in the whole complex; and as most things in the Word have also a contrary sense, so do "hosts," and in that sense they signify falsities and evils in their whole complex, as in the following passages in Jeremiah:
Upon the roofs of the houses they have burned incense unto all the host of the heavens, and have poured out drink-offerings unto other gods (Heaven and Hell 122, 123; as also above, n. 401, 402, 525); and because truths from good fight against the falsities from evil, and reversely the falsities from evil fight against the truths from good, they are called "hosts;" for there is continual combat; evils and falsities continually exhale from the hells, and endeavor to destroy the truths from good that are in heaven and from heaven, and these continually resist. For everywhere in the spiritual world there is an equilibrium between heaven and hell; and where there is an equilibrium, there two forces continually act against each other; one acts and the other reacts, and continual action and reaction is continual combat; but equilibrium is provided by the Lord (on this see the work on Heaven and Hell 589-596, 597-603). And as there is such continual combat between Heaven and Hell, therefore as all things of heaven are called "hosts," so are all things of hell; all things of heaven have reference to goods and truths, and all things of hell to evils and falsities.
[9] This then is why "hosts" in the following passages signify the falsities of evil. In Isaiah:
The anger of Jehovah is against all nations, and His wrath against all their host; He hath devoted them, He hath given them to the slaughter (Isaiah 34:2).
"Nations" signify evils, and "host" the falsities from evil; their total destruction is signified by "He hath devoted and hath given to the slaughter."
[10] In the same:
The voice of the multitude in the mountains like as of a great people; the voice of a tumult of the kingdoms of the nations gathered together; Jehovah of Hosts leadeth the host (Isaiah 13:4).
"The voice of a multitude in the mountains" signifies falsities from evils, "the multitude" meaning falsities, and "the mountains" evils; "like as of a great people" signifies appearing to be truth from good, "like as" meaning appearance, "people" those who are in truths, thus truths, and "great" is predicated of good; "the voice of a tumult of the kingdoms of the nations gathered together" signifies discord in the church arising from evils and falsities therefrom, "the voice of a tumult" signifying discord, "kingdoms" the churches in respect to truths and as to falsities, and "nations gathered together" in respect to evils and falsities therefrom conspiring against the truths and goods of the church; "Jehovah of Hosts leadeth the host" signifies that the Lord does this, for this is attributed to the Lord, as is evident from the next verse, the fifth, where it is said, "Jehovah cometh with the weapons of His anger to destroy the whole land." This is attributed to the Lord just as evil, the punishment of evil, and the destruction of the church are attributed to Him elsewhere, because such is the appearance, and the sense of the letter of the Word is in accordance with appearances; but in the spiritual sense this means that the man of the church himself does this.
[11] In Jeremiah:
Spare ye not her young men; give to the curse all her host (355; and in Arcana Coelestia 8230, 8275.)
[12] In Daniel:
The king of the north shall return and shall set forth a multitude greater than the former, and at the end of the times of the years he shall come with a great army and with great riches. And he shall stir up his powers and his heart against the king of the south with a great army; and the king of the south shall engage in battle with an exceeding great and mighty army, but he shall not stand (Daniel 11:13, 25).
This chapter treats of the war between the king of the north and the king of the south, and "the king of the north" means those within the church who are in the falsities of evil, and "the king of the south" those who are in the truths of good; collision and combat at the end of the church are described in the spiritual sense by their war; therefore "the army of the king of the north" means falsities of every kind, and "the army of the king of the south" truths of every kind.
[13] In Luke:
When ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that her devastation is nigh (Luke 21:20).
In this chapter the Lord speaks of the consummation of the age, which means the last time of the church; "Jerusalem" means the church in respect to doctrine; and "compassed with armies" means the church taken possession of by falsities; that then comes its destruction, and presently the Last Judgment, is signified by "then her devastation is nigh." It is believed that this was said of the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans, but from the particulars of the chapter it is clear that it treats of the destruction of the church at its end; as also does Matthew, chap. 24 from the first verse to the last (all things of which are explained in the Arcana Coelestia). But this does not preclude the application of the sense of the letter of these words to the destruction of Jerusalem, that destruction representing and thence signifying the destruction of the church at its end; this is confirmed by all the particulars in the chapter regarded in the spiritual sense.
[14] In David:
God hath cast us off and confounded us; He hath not gone forth in our armies. He hath made us to turn back from the adversary (Psalms 44:9, 10).
"God hath not gone forth in our armies" signifies that He did not defend them, because they were in the falsities of evil, for "armies" mean the falsities of evil; therefore it is also said "He hath cast us off and confounded us, and hath made us to turn back from the adversary," "the adversary" meaning evil which is from hell.
[15] In Joel:
I will recompense to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the canker-worm and the caterpillar and the palmer-worm, My great army which I sent among you (2 543), where this passage is explained, and it is shown that the "locust and caterpillar" signify the falsities [and evils] of the sensual man. ) This makes clear what "army" signifies in the Word in both senses. "Army" has the same signification in the histories of the Word, for these contain a spiritual sense as well as the prophecies, but it shines forth from them less clearly, because the mind, when intent on the historical meaning, cannot easily be raised above the worldly things in the history and see the spiritual things that are stored up in them.
573. [Vers. 16.] "Et numerus exercituum equitatus, duae myriades myriadum." - Quod significet falsa mali, ex quibus et pro quibus ratiocinationes, innumerabilia conspirantia contra vera boni, constat ex significatione "exercituum", quod sint falsa mali (de qua sequitur); ex significatione "equitatus", quod sint ratiocinia inde; (per "equos" enim significatur intellectus veri, et in opposito sensu intellectus perversus et deperditus (videatur supra, n. 355, 364, 372 [a] , 373, 381, 382); inde per "equitatum" in hoc sensu significantur ratiocinationes ex falsis, nam ratiocinationes ex falsis sunt intellectus perversi ac deperditi; vera enim faciunt intellectum, falsa autem destruunt illum): et ex significatione "duarum myriadum myriadum", quod sint innumerabilia conspirantia contra vera boni; (quod "myriades" significent innumerabilia et dicantur de veris, videatur supra, n. 336) et quia dicuntur" duae myriades myriadum" significantur innumerabilia conjuncta et conspirantia, nam "duo" significant conjunctionem, consensum et conspirationem (videatur supra, n. 283, 384): quod sit contra vera bona, est quia in sequentibus agitur de destructione veri per exercitus illius equitatus. Ex his constare potest quod per "numerum exercituum equitatus duae myriades myriadum", significentur falsa mali, ex quibus et pro quibus ratiocinationes, innumerabilia conspirantia contra vera boni.
[2] In Verbo pluries dicitur "exercitus", et quoque Dominus vocatur "Jehovah Exercituum" seu "Zebaoth"; et per "exercitus" ibi significantur vera ex bono pugnantia contra falsa ex malo, ac in opposito sensu falsa ex malo pugnantia contra vera ex bono. Quod per "exercitus" talia in Verbo significentur, est quia per "bella" in Verbo tam Historico quam Prophetico in Sensu interno significantur bella spiritualia, quae existunt contra infernum et contra diabolicam turbam ibi; et haec bella se referunt ad vera et bona contra falsa et mala; inde est quod "exercitus" significent omnia vera ex bono, et in opposito sensu omnia falsa ex malo: quod significent omnia vera ex bono constare potest ex eo, quod sol, luna, stellae, et quoque angeli dicantur "exercitus Jehovae", ex causa quia illa significant omnia vera ex bono in complexu; et quod filii Israelis, quia per illos significantur ecclesiae vera et bona, dicantur "exercitus": et quia omnia vera et bona a Domino sunt, et Ipse solus pugnat pro omnibus in caelo et pro omnibus in ecclesia contra falsa et mala quae ab inferno, ideo Ipse vocatur "Jehovah Zebaoth", hoc est, "Exercituum."
[3] Quod sol, luna, stellae dicantur "exercitus", constat a sequentibus his locis:
- Apud Mosen,
"Absoluti.. sunt caeli et terra, et omnis exercitus illorum" (Genesis 2:1);
Apud Davidem,
"Per Verbum Jehovae caeli facti sunt, et per spiritum oris Ipsius omnis exercitus eorum" (Psalms 33:6);
apud eundem,
"Laudate" Jehovam "omnes angeli Ipsius, laudate Ipsum omnes exercitus Ipsius, laudate Ipsum sol et luna, laudate Ipsum omnes stellae lucis" (Psalms 148:2, 3);
apud Esaiam,
"Contabescet omnis exercitus caelorum, et convolventur sicut volumen caeli, et omnis exercitus eorum decidet, sicut decidit folium de vite, et sicut decidens de ficu" (34:4);
apud eundem,
"Ego feci terram, et hominem super illa creavi;.... manus meae expanderunt caelos, et omni exercitui eorum praecepi" (45:12);
apud eundem,
"Tollite in altum oculos vestros, et videte quis creavit haec, qui educit in numero exercitum eorum, omnes nomine vocat" (40:26);
apud Jeremiam,
"Sicut non numeratur exercitus caelorum, et [non] mensuratur arena maris" (33:22):
in his locis sol, luna et stellae dicuntur "exercitus", quia per "solem" significatur bonum amoris, per "lunam" verum ex bono, et per "stellas" significantur cognitiones veri et boni; proinde per illa significantur bona et vera in omni complexu, quae "exercitus" vocantur quia resistunt malis et falsis, ac perpetuo vincunt ea sicut hostes.
[4] Apud Danielem,
Cornu unum hirci "crevit usque ad exercitum caelorum, et dejecit in terram de exercitu, et de stellis, et conculcavit ea: immo usque ad Principem exercitus extulit se, et Ipsi sublatum est juge, et projectum habitaculum sanctuarii Ipsius. Et exercitus traditus est super juge in praevaricationem, quia projecit veritatem in terram. .... Unus sanctus dixit, .... Quousque visio haec, juge et praevaricatio vastans, ut detur et sanctum et exercitus conculcationi? Et dixit.... , Usque ad vesperam mane" (8:10-14):
quid per "hircum" ibi, "ejus cornua", et hoc "cornu" quod crevit usque ad exercitum caelorum, significatur, videatur supra (n. 316 [c] 336 [b] , 535 1
); quod per "exercitum caelorum", de quo dejecit in terram, intelligantur vera et bona caeli, nam agitur de statu ultimo ecclesiae, quando vera et bona caeli nihili penduntur ac rejiciuntur, quod significatur per quod "conculcaverit illa"; quare etiam sequitur quod "projecerit veritatem in terram": per "Principem exercitus" intelligitur Dominus, qui etiam "Jehovah Deus Zebaoth" seu "Exercituum" vocatur: quod omnis cultus ex bono amoris et veris fidei periturus, significatur per quod "Ipsi sublatum sit juge, et projectum habitaculum sanctuarii Ipsius": quod hoc futurum sit in fine ecclesiae, quando Dominus in mundum venturus, significatur per "usque ad vesperam mane"; per "vesperam" significatur ultimum tempus ecclesiae veteris, et per "mane" primum tempus ecclesiae novae.
[5] Quod angeli dicantur "exercitus", constat ex his locis:
- Apud Joelem,
"Jehovah edidit vocem suam coram exercitu suo, nam magna valde castra Ipsius" (2:11);
apud Sachariam,
"Castra ponam domui meae de exercitu, propter abeuntem et redeuntem, ut non transeat amplius super eos exactor" (9:8);
apud Davidem,
"Benedicite Jehovae omnes exercitus Ipsius, ministri Ipsius facientes Voluntatem Ipsius" (Psalms 103:21);
in Libro Primo Regum,
Michah propheta dixit ad regem, "Vidi Jehovam sedentem super throno suo, et universum exercitum caelorum stantem juxta Ipsum, a dextra Ipsius et a sinistra Ipsius, .... et dixit hic aliter et ille aliter" (22:19, 20);
in Apocalypsi,
"Exercitus Ipsius in caelo sequebantur Ipsum super equis albis, induti byssinum album et mundum" (19:14);
et alibi,
"Vidi bestiam et reges terrae, et exercitus eorum congregatos ad faciendum bellum cum Sedente super equo albo, et cum exercitu Ipsius" (19:19).
Quod angeli congregati seu consociatio illorum dicantur "exercitus", est quia per "angelos", similiter ac per "exercitus", significantur Divina vera et bona, quoniam sunt recipientes illorum a Domino (de qua re videatur supra, n. 130, 200, 302).
[6] Ex eo etiam est quod filii Israelis, quia per illos significantur ecclesiae vera et bona, dicantur "exercitus", ut in sequentibus locis:
- Apud Mosen,
"Jehovah dixit, Educite filios Israelis e tetra Aegypti juxta exercitus eorum" (Exodus 6:26);
Apud eundem,
"Educam exercitum meum, populum meum, filios Israelis, e terra Aegypti per judicia magna" (Exodus 7:4; 12:17);
apud eundem,
"Factum est in ipso die hoc exiverunt omnes exercitus Jehovae e terra Aegypti" (Exodus 12:41);
apud eundem,
Recensebis "omnem exeuntem in exercitum" (Numeri 1:3, seq.).
Quod castra metarentur circa Tentorium conventus, et quoque proficiscerentur juxta exercitus eorum (Numeri 2:3, 9, 2:16,] 24);
apud eundem,
Quod sumerentur Levitae ad exercendum militiam, ad faciendum opus in Tentorio conventus (Numeri 4:3, 23, 30, 39).
Quod filii Israelis dicti fuerint "exercitus Jehovae", erat quia repraesentabant ecclesiam, et significabant omnia vera et bona ejus (videatur in Arcanis Caelestibus, n. 5414, 5801, 5803, 5806, 5812, 5817, 5819, 5826, 5833, 5879, 5951, 6637, 6868, 7035, 7062, 7198, 7201, 7215, 7223, 2
7957, 8234, 8805, 9340). Quod dicantur "exercitus" in plurali, est quia unaquaevis tribus dicebatur "exercitus", ut constare potest apud Mosen, cum ei mandatum est ut recenseret omnes juxta exercitus eorum, quod recensiti sint juxta tribus (Numeri 1:3, seq.): similiter cum castra metabantur circum Tentorium conventus juxta tribus, dicitur "juxta exercitus eorum" (Numeri 2:3, 9. seq.). Quod tribus dictae fuerint "exercitus", est quia duodecim tribus simul sumptae repraesentaverunt omnia vera et bona ecclesiae, ac unaquaevis tribus aliquod universale essentiale ejus (de qua re videatur supra, n. 431).
[7] Ex his constare potest quod vera et bona caeli et ecclesiae intelligantur per "exercitus" in Verbo; ex quibus manifeste patet unde est
quod Jehovah in Verbo dicatur "Jehovah Zebaoth", et "Jehovah Deus Zebaoth", hoc est, "Exercituum" (Ut Esaias 1:9, 24; 2:12; 3:1, 15: cap. 5:7, 9, 16, 24; 6:3, 5; cap. 3
8:13-18, cap. 14:22, 23, 24, 27; 17:3; 25:6; 28:5, 22, 29; 29:6; 31:4, 5; 37:16; Jeremias 5:14; 38:17; 44:7; Amos 5:16 4
; Haggaeus 1:9, 14; 2:4, 8, 23; Sacharia 1:3; Malachias 2:12: et pluries alibi).
[8] Ex his nunc patet quod per "exercitus" significata sint vera et bona caeli et ecclesiae in omni complexu: et quia pleraque in Verbo etiam oppositum sensum habent, ita quoque "exercitus", in quo sensu significant falsa et mala in omni complexu, ut in sequentibus locis:
- Apud Jeremiam,
"super tectis" domuum "suffiverunt omni exercitui caelorum, et libaverunt libamina diis aliis" (19:13);
apud Zephaniam,
"Adorant super tectis exercitum caelorum" (1:5);
apud Mosen,
"Ne incurves te et servias soli, lunae, stellis, et omni exercitui caelorum" (Deuteronomius 4:19; 17:3);
apud Jeremiam,
"Expandent" ossa extracta e sepulchris, "soli, lunae et omni exercitui caelorum, quae amaverant et quibus serviverant" (8:2):
per "exercitum caelorum" hic intelliguntur sol, luna et stellae, quia per illa significantur omnia bona et vera in complexu; hic autem omnia mala et falsa in complexu; nam per "solem" in opposito sensu, ut hic, significatur omne malum scaturiens ex amore sui, per "lunam" falsum fidei, et per "stellas" falsa in genere: (quod talia per "solem, lunam et stellas" in mundo naturali, cum illa adorantur loco Solis et Lunae caeli angelici, 5
significentur dira mala et falsa, videatur in opere De Caelo et Inferno 122, 123; ut et supra, n. 401 [g] , 402, 525 6
): et quia vera ex bono pugnant contra falsa ex malo, ac vice versa falsa ex malo pugnant contra vera ex bono, ideo dicuntur "exercitus"; est enim pugna continua, nam mala et falsa exspirant continue ex infernis, conantia destruere vera ex bono quae in caelo et e caelo, ac continue resistunt: est enim ubivis in mundo spirituali aequilibrium inter caelum et inter infernum, et ubi aequilibrium ibi continue agunt binae vires contra se; una agit et altera reagit, ac continua actio et reactio est continua pugna, sed a Domino providetur aequilibrium (de quo videatur in opere De Caelo et Inferno 589-596 et n. 597-603): et quia continua talis pugna est inter caelum et infernum, ideo sicut omnia caeli vocantur "exercitus", ita quoque omnia inferni; omnia caeli se referunt ad bona et vera, et omnia inferni ad mala et falsa.
[9] Inde nunc est quod "exercitus" significent falsa mali in sequentibus locis:
- Apud Esaiam
"Ira Jehovae contra omnes gentes; et excandescentia contra omnem exercitum 7
eorum devovit 8
eos, tradidit 9
eos in mactationem" (34:2):
per "gentes" significantur mala, et per "exercitum" falsa ex malo; destructio eorum totalis significatur per quod " 10
eos devoverit et tradiderit mactationi."
[10] Apud eundem,
"Vox multitudinis in montibus, species populi magni, Vox tumultus regnorum gentium congregatarum, Jehovah Zebaoth ducit exercitum" (13:4):
"vox multitudinis in montibus " significat falsa ex malis; "multitudo" falsa, et "montes" mala: "species populi magni" significat apparentiam sicut veri ex bono; "species" apparentiam, "populus" illos qui in veris sunt, ita vera, et "magnum" praedicatur de bono: "vox tumultus regnorum gentium congregatarum" significat dissensum ecclesiae oriundum ex malis et inde falsis; "vox tumultus" significat dissensum, "regna" significant ecclesias quoad vera et quoad falsa, et "gentes congregatae" quoad mala et inde falsa conspirantia contra ecclesiae vera et bona: "Jehovah Zebaoth ducit exercitum" significat quod Dominus illud faciat; tribuitur hoc Domino, ut patet a versu sequenti quinto ibi, ubi dicitur, "Jehovah venit cum vasis irae suae ad perdendum omnem terram"; id tribuitur Domino, sicut malum, poena mali, et destructio ecclesiae, alibi, ex causa quia ita apparet; sensus enim litterae Verbi est secundum apparentias; sed per id in sensu spirituali intelligitur quod ipse homo ecclesiae hoc faciat.
[11] Apud Jeremiam,
"Ne parcite juvenibus, devotioni date universum exercitum ejus" (51:3):
haec de Babele; et per "Ne parcite juvenibus" significatur destructio falsorum confirmatorum; per "Devotioni date universum exercitum ejus" significatur totalis destructio falsorum ex malis quae illi, ita destructio Babelis. Falsa ex malo etiam significantur
Per exercitum Chaldaeorum, et per exercitum Pharaonis (Jeremias 37:7, 10, 11, seq.);
et apud Mosen,
"Reversae sunt aquae et operuerunt currus et equites cum universo exercitu Pharaonis" (Exodus 14:28; 15:4);
(quae explicata videantur supra, n. 355 [g] ; et in Arcanis Caelestibus, n. 8230, 8275).
[12] Apud Danielem,
"Revertetur rex septentrionis, et sistet multitudinem magnam prae priori, et sub fine temporum annorum veniet cum exercitu magno et cum opibus magnis.... excitabit vires suas et cor suum contra regem meridiei cum exercitu magno, et rex meridiei commiscebit se bello cum exercitu magno et valido admodum, sed non consistet" (11:13, 25):
agitur in illo capite de bello inter regem septentrionis et regem meridiei; et per "regem intelliguntur illi intra ecclesiam qui in falsis mali sunt, et per "regem meridiei" illi qui in veris boni; collisio et pugna in fine ecclesiae per bellum eorum in sensu spirituali describitur; quare per "exercitum regis septentrionis" intelliguntur falsa omnis generis, et per "exercitum regis meridiei" vera omnis generis.
[13] Apud Lucam,
"Quando videritis Hierosolymam exercitibus circumdatam, scite quod prope sit devastatio ejus" (21:20):
in eo capite loquitur Dominus de consummatione saeculi, per quam significatur ultimum tempus ecclesiae; per "Hierosolymam" intelligitur ecclesia quoad doctrinam, et per illam "exercitibus circumdatam" intelligitur illa a falsis occupata; quod tunc destructio ejus, et mox ultimum judicium, significatur per quod "tunc prope sit devastatio ejus." Creditur quod haec dicta sint de Hierosolymae destructione a Romanis; sed a singulis in illo capite patet quod de destructione ecclesiae in fine ejus agatur, ut quoque apud Matthaeum, cap. Matthaeum ccc24 a primo versu ad ultimum (quae omni in Arcanis Caelestibus explicata sunt): sed usque non obstat quin per illa verba in sensu litterae intelligatur destructio Hierosolymae, at illa destructio repraesentabat et inde significabat destructionem ecclesiae in fine ejus; singula in illo capite in sensu spirituali spectata id confirmant.
[14] Apud Davidem,
Deus deseruit et ignominiae tradidit nos, nec exivit in exercitibus nostris; reverti fecit nos retrorsum ab hoste (Psalms 44:10, 11 [B.A. 9, 10]):
quod "Deus non exiverit in exercitibus nostris" significat quod non tutatus sit illos, quia in falsis mali fuerunt; "exercitus" enim sunt falsa mali: quare etiam dicitur quod "eos deseruerit et ignominiae tradiderit", et quod "reverti fecerit eos ab hoste"; "hostis" est malum quod ab inferno.
[15] Apud Joelem,
"compensabo vobis annos quos consumpsit locusta, melolontha, et bruchus, et eruca, exercitus meus magnus quem misi inter vos" (2:25):
quod falsa et mala omnis generis significentur per "exercitum", manifeste patet, quoniam per noxia illa animalcula, "locustam", "melolontham", "bruchum" et "erucam", significantur falsa et mala vastantia seu consumentia vera et bona ecclesiae. (videatur supra, n. 543 [c] , ubi hic locus explicatus est, et ostensum quod locusta et bruchus" significent falsa [et mala] sensualis hominis.) Ex his nunc patet quid per "exercitus" in Verbo in utroque sensu significatur. Similia per "exercitus" significantur in historicis Verbi; nam in illis est sensus spiritualis aeque ac in propheticis, sed is minus elucet, quia mens in historicis detenta aegre potest elevari a mundanis ibi et videre spiritualia quae inibi recondita sunt.
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