436.启9:9.“它们有胸甲，好像铁甲”表他们藉以作战并得胜的出于谬论的论据，在他们看来如此强大，以至于不可能被驳倒。“胸甲”表示防卫，因为它们护胸；在此表示对虚假的防卫，这种防卫通过出于谬论的论据来实现，虚假原则因这种防卫而得到捍卫。因为从虚假原则所流出的，无非是虚假。即使真理是先进的，它们也只是从表面或肤浅的角度、因而从感官的角度被看待，结果就被歪曲了，并且在这类人身上变成了谬论。“胸甲”之所以具有这种含义，是因为在圣言中，“战争”表示属灵的战争，因此战争武器表示与此类战争有关的各种事物；如耶利米书：
你们马兵套好马鞍，骑上马，顶盔站立，磨枪贯甲。（耶利米书46:4）
以赛亚书：
祂以公义为铠甲，以拯救为头盔。（以赛亚书59:17）
诗篇：
你要投靠在祂的翅膀底下，祂的真理必是你大小的盾牌。（诗篇91:4等；以西结书23:24；38:4；39:9；那鸿书2:3；诗篇5:12；35:2-3）。
“它们的胸甲好像铁甲”表示他们的论据在他们看来如此强大，以至于不可能被驳倒；“铁”因其刚硬而表示强大。
436. And they had breastplates like breastplates of iron. (9:9) This symbolically means that their arguments based on fallacies, with which they battled and prevailed, appeared to them too strong to be refuted.
Breastplates symbolize protections, because they protect the breast. Here they symbolize protections of falsities, which are concocted by arguments based on fallacies, which people use to defend a false proposition. For from a false proposition nothing but falsities can flow. If truths are advanced, they are regarded only externally or superficially, thus also sensually, and so are falsified, becoming then fallacies in the people who entertain them.
Breastplates have this symbolism because battles in the Word symbolize spiritual battles, and weapons of war therefore symbolize various defenses connected with such a battle - as in Jeremiah,
Harness the horses, and mount up, you horsemen! And station yourselves in your helmets, polish the spears, put on the cuirass. (Jeremiah 46:4)
In Isaiah,
He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on His head. (Isaiah 59:17)
In the book of Psalms,
...under His wings you shall be confident; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. (Psalms 91:4)
And so also elsewhere, as Ezekiel 23:24; 38:4; 39:9, Nahum 2:3, Psalm. 5:12; 35:2-3.
Their breastplates being breastplates of iron means, symbolically, that their arguments seemed to them too strong to be refuted; for owing to its hardness iron symbolizes strength.
436. [verse 9] 'And they had breastplates as iron breastplates' signifies the arguments derived from fallacies, by means of which they fight and have strength, which appeared to them so strong that they could not be disproved. By 'breastplates' are signified defences because they defend the breast, here the defences of untruths, which are produced by means of the arguments derived from fallacies by which a false principle is defended; for out of a false principle only untruths can flow forth. If truths are advanced, they are regarded only from the outside or superficially, thus also sensually, and in this manner they are falsified and become fallacies with them. 'Breastplates' signify such things because the 'wars' in the Word signify spiritual wars, and consequently the arms of a war signify the various things relating to that war as in Jeremiah:
Harness the horses, and mount, O horsemen, and stand forth in helmets, polish the lances, put on the cuirass. Jeremiah 46:4.
In Isaiah:
He put on justice as a cuirass, and a helmet of safety upon his head. Isaiah 59:17.
In David:
Under His wings shalt thou trust, His truth (veritas) shall be a shield and buckler. Psalms 91:4; besides elsewhere, as Ezekiel 23:24; 38:4; 39:9; Nahum 2:3; [H.B. 4]; Psalms 5:12; [H.B. 13]; Psalms 35:2-3. 'That the breastplates were as iron' signifies that the arguments appeared to them so strong that they could not be disproved, for 'iron' by virtue of its hardness signifies what is strong.
436. Verse 9. And they had breastplates, as breastplates of iron, signifies arguments from fallacies, by which they fight and prevail, which appeared to them so powerful that they could not be refuted. By "breastplates" are signified defenses, because they protect the breast; here, defenses of falsities, which are effected by arguments from fallacies, by which a false principle is defended. For from a false principle nothing but falsities can flow. If truths are advanced, they are only viewed outwardly or superficially, thus also sensually, and are consequently falsified, and, with such persons, become fallacies. The reason why "breastplates" have this signification, is because "wars," in the Word, signify spiritual wars, and thence the "arms of war" signify the various things relating to such wars; as in Jeremiah:
Harness the horses and mount, ye horsemen, and stand ye in helmets; polish the lances, and put on the cuirass, (Jeremiah 46:4).
In Isaiah:
For he put on justice as a cuirass, and an helmet of salvation upon His head, (Isaiah 59:17).
In David:
Under His wings shalt thou trust, His truth shall be thy shield and buckler, (Psalms 91:4; besides other places; as in Ezekiel 23:24; 38:4; 39:9; Nahum 2:3; Psalms 5:12; 35:2-3).
"Their breastplates were as of iron," signifies that their arguments seemed to them so strong that they could not be refuted; for "iron" from its hardness, signifies what is strong.
436. (Vers. 9.) "Et habebant thoraces sicut thoraces ferreos," significat argumentationes ex fallaciis, per quas pugnant et valent, quae apparerent illis tam validae ut refelli non possent. - Per "thoraces" significantur tutationes, quia tutantur pectus; hic tutationes falsorum, quae fiunt per argumentationes ex fallaciis, per quas falsum principium defenditur; ex falso enim principio non possunt nisi quam falsa profluere; si vera afferuntur, illa non spectantur nisi extrorsum seu superficietenus, ita quoque sensualiter, et sic falsificantur, et fiunt apud illos fallaciae. Quod "thoraces" significent talia, est quia "bella" in Verbo significant bella spiritualia, et inde "arma belli" significant varia quae illius belli sunt; ut apud Jeremiam:
"Alligate equos, et ascendite equites, et sistite vos in Galeis, expolite Lanceas, induite Loricam," (46:4);
apud Esajam:
"Induit justitiam sicut Loricam, et Galeam salutis super caput Suum," (59:17);
apud Davidem:
"Sub alis Ipsius confides, Clypeus et Parma veritas Ipsius," (Psalm 91:4);
praeter alibi (Ut Ezechiel 23:24; 38:4; 39:9; Nahum 2:4 (B.A. 3); Psalm 5:13 (B.A. 3); Psalm 35:2-3).
Quod "thoraces essent sicut ferrei" significat quod argumentationes apparerent illis tam validae, ut non refelli possent, "ferrum" enim ex duritie significat validum.