322.“有权柄赐给他们，杀害地上四分之一部分的人”表摧毁教会的一切良善。由于“死”表示人的属灵生命的灭绝，“阴府”（或地狱）表示诅咒，故可知“杀害”在此表示摧毁人灵魂的生命；而灵魂的生命就是属灵的生命；“地上四分之一部分”表示教会的一切良善；“地”是指教会（285节）。若不知道圣言中的数字表示什么，谁也不知道“四分之一部分”是指一切良善。在圣言中，数字“二”和“四”论及良善，并表示良善；而数字“三”和“六”论及真理，并表示真理；因此，“四分之一部分”或简单的“四分之一”表示一切良善；而“三分之一部分”或简单的“三分之一”则表示一切真理；故“杀害地上四分之一部分的人”在此表示摧毁教会的一切良善。显然，坐在灰色马上的那位并没有被赐予权柄去杀害地上四分之一部分的居民。
另外，在圣言中，“四”表示良善与真理的结合。“四”具有这些含义，这一点可从圣言得到确证；如“四个活物或基路伯”（以西结书1，3，4章；启示录4章）；“两座铜山之间的四辆马车”（撒迦利亚书6章）；“四个角”（撒迦利亚书1:18）；“祭坛的四个拐角”（出埃及记27:1-8；启示录9:13）；“站在地的四个角落，执掌着地上四风的四位天使”（启示录7:1；马太福音24:31）；“追讨罪恶直到第三、四代”（民数记14:18）；以及其它地方的“第三、四代”。可以说，由圣言中的这些以及其它经文就能证实，“四”论及良善，并表示良善，以及良善与真理的结合；不过，如果不对这些经文作出冗长的解释，这层含义就无法显明，故只是提一下“四”和“四分之一部分”在天堂并非表示别的就足以了。
322. And power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill. This symbolizes the destruction of all good in the church.
Since death means the extinction of a person's spiritual life, and hell his damnation, it follows that to kill here means to destroy the life of a person's soul. The life of the soul is spiritual life.
A fourth of the earth means, symbolically, all good in the church. The earth is the church (no. 285).
That a fourth means all good can be known only by someone who knows what numbers in the Word symbolize. The numbers two and four are said in application to goods, and they symbolize those goods. And the numbers three and six are said in application to truths, and they symbolize those truths. Thus a fourth part, or simply a fourth, symbolizes all good, while a third part, or simply a third, symbolizes all truth. Therefore to kill a fourth of the earth here means, symbolically, to destroy all good in the church.
Clearly he who sat on the pale horse was not given the power to kill a fourth part of the habitable earth.
[2] In addition, the number four in the Word symbolizes the union of goodness and truth.
That the number four has these symbolic meanings can, indeed, be confirmed from the Word, as by the four living creatures or cherubim in Ezekiel 1,3, 10; by the four chariots between two mountains in Zechariah 6:1; by the four horns in Zechariah 1:18ff.; by the four horns of the altar in Exodus 27:1-8, and Revelation 9:13; and by the four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, in Revelation 7:1 (cf. Matthew 24:31). It can be confirmed, too, by the "visiting the iniquity to the third and fourth generation" in Numbers 14:18, and by the third and fourth generation mentioned elsewhere. By these passages in the Word and more, I say, one can confirm that the number four is said in application to goods, and that they symbolize those goods, and also the conjunction of goodness and truth. But because it would take a lengthy explanation of these passages to make this apparent, it is enough to briefly state that this is the meaning that the number four and a fourth part have in heaven.
322. 'And there was given unto them the power of putting to death over a fourth part of the land' signifies the destruction of every good of the Church. Since by 'death' is understood the extinction of a man's spiritual life, and by 'hell' damnation, it follows that by 'to put to death' here is understood to destroy the life of a man's soul; the life of the soul is spiritual life. By 'a fourth part of the land' is signified every good of the Church, the 'land' being the Church (285). That 'a fourth part' is every good cannot be known by anyone unless he knows what the numbers in the Word signify. The numbers 2, 4 in the Word are said of goods and signify them, while the numbers 3, 6 are said of truths and signify them. Consequently 'a fourth part,' or simply 'a fourth,' signifies every good, and 'a third part,' or simply 'a third,' signifies every truth; and therefore by 'to put to death a fourth part of the land' is here signified to destroy every good of the Church. It is plain that the power of putting to death a fourth part of the habitable land was not given to the one sitting upon the pale horse.
[2] Besides, 'four' in the Word signifies the conjunction of good and truth. That all these things (haec et illa) are signified by 'four' can indeed be confirmed out of the Word, as in the case of the four animals or cherubs (Ezekiel 1; 3; 10; Revelation [4,] 5). [It can also be confirmed] by:
The four chariots between the two mountains of bronze (Zechariah 6:1 [H.B. 2]); the four horns (Zechariah 1:18 [H.B. 2]), and the four horns of the altar (Exodus 27:1-8; Revelation 9:13); the four angels standing on the four corners of the land, holding the four winds of the land. (Revelation 7:1; Matthew 24:31); also, to visit the iniquity upon the thirds and fourths (Numbers 14:8); and elsewhere, the third and fourth generation.
By these and many more [statements] in the Word, I say, it can be confirmed that 'four' is said of goods, and signifies them and also [signifies] the conjunction of good and truth; but because this would not be plain without a lengthy exposition of those passages it is enough to declare that by 'four' and 'a fourth part' nothing else is understood.
322. And power was given them over the fourth part of the earth to kill, signifies the destruction of all the good of the church. Since by "death" is meant the extinction of man's spiritual life, and by "hell" damnation, it follows that "to kill" here means to destroy the life of man's soul; the life of the soul is spiritual life; "a fourth part of the earth" signifies all the good of the church; "the earth" is the church, (285). That "a fourth part" is all good, cannot be known by anyone, unless he knows what numbers in the Word signify. The numbers "two" and "four" in the Word, are predicated of goods, and signify them; and the numbers "three" and "six" are predicated of truths, and signify them; thus "a fourth part," or simply "a fourth," signifies all good, and "a third part," or simply "a third," signifies all truth; therefore "to kill a fourth part of the earth," here signifies to destroy all the good of the church. That "power was not given to him that sat upon the pale horse to kill a fourth part of the habitable earth," is evident.
[2] Besides, "four" in the Word signifies the conjunction of good and truth. That "four" has these significations, may indeed be confirmed from the Word; as by "the four animals or cherubim" (Ezekiel 1:3, 10; Revelation 4); by "the four chariots between the two mountains of brass" (Zechariah 6); by "the four horns" (Zechariah 1:18); and by "the four horns of the altar" (Exodus 27:1-8; Revelation 9:13); by "the four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth" (Revelation 7:1; Matthew 24:31); as also by "visiting the iniquity upon the thirds and fourths" (Numbers 14:18); and in other places by "the third and fourth generation." By these, and by many other passages in the Word, I say, it can be confirmed that "four" is predicated of goods, and signifies them, and also the conjunction of good and truth; but since this would not appear without a prolix explanation of these passages, it is sufficient to mention, that nothing else is meant in heaven by "four" and by "a fourth part."
322. "Et data illis potestas interficiendi super quartam partem terrae," significat destructionem omnis boni Ecclesiae. -Quoniam per "Mortem" intelligitur exstinctio vitae spiritu alis hominis, et per "Infernum" damnatio, sequitur quod per "interficere" hic intelligatur destruere vitam animae hominis; vita animae est vita spiritualis: per "quartam partem terrae" significatur omne bonum Ecclesiae; "terra" est Ecclesia (285). Quod "quarta pars" sit omne bonum, non potest sciri ab aliquo, nisi sciat quid numeri in Verbo significant; numeri "2" et "4" in Verbo dicuntur de bonis, et significant illa, ac numeri "3" et "6" dicuntur de veris, et significant illa; inde "quarta pars," seu simpliciter "quartum," significat omne bonum, et "tertia pars," seu simpliciter "tertium," significat omne verum; quare per "interficere quartam partem terrae" hic significatur destruere omne bonum Ecclesiae: quod non "sedenti super Equo pallido daretur potestas interficiendi quartam partem terrae habitabilis," patet. Praeterea "quatuor" in Verbo significant conjunctionem boni et veri. Quod haec et illa per "quatuor" significentur, quidem ex Verbo confirmari potest, ut ex Quatuor Animalibus seu Cherubis, (Ezechiel 1; 3; 110; Apocalypsis 4); 2
Per Quatuor Currus inter duos montes aeris, (Sacharias 6); 3
Per Quatuor Cornua, (Sacharias 2 (B.A. 1:18));
Perque Quatuor Cornua Altaris, (Exodus 27:1-8; 4Apocalypsis 9:13);
Per "Quatuor Angelos stantes super Quatuor angulis terrae, tenentes Quatuor Ventos terrae," (Apocalypsis 7:1; Matthaeus 24:31); 5
Tum per "visitare iniquitatem super tertianos et quartanos," (Numeri 14:18);
Et alibi per "generationem tertiam et quartam;"
per haec et plura in Verbo, inquam, confirmari potest, quod "quatuor" dicantur de bonis, ac significent illa, et quoque conjunctionem boni et veri; sed quia id absque prolixa explicatione illorum locorum non patet, satis est indicare, quod non aliud per "quatuor" et per "quartam partem" in Caelo intelligatur.
Footnotes:
1. iii. pro "vii."
2. iv. pro "v."
3. vi. pro "vi., 2"
4. 1-8 pro "1 ad 9"
5. xxiv. pro "xxv."