657.“就是七位天使掌管末了的七灾”表教会在末后状态下所处的邪恶与虚假被主从总体上揭露出来。“七位天使”表示整个天堂；由于天堂之所以为天堂，不是凭着适合天使的任何事物，而是凭着主，故“七位天使”表示主，其他任何人都无法揭露教会中的邪恶与虚假。“天使”表示天堂，在至高意义上表示主（参看5，258，344，465，644，647，648节）。“灾”表示邪恶与虚假，就是爱之邪恶和信之虚假。它们就是下一章所描述并以“恶而且毒的疮”、“好像死人的血，一切活的灵魂由此都死了”、“江河与泉源的众水就变成了血”、“用火烤人”、“污秽的灵，好像青蛙，本是鬼魔”、“大雹子”来表示的那些事；所有这些事物所表示的邪恶和虚假就是此处所说的“灾”；“末了的灾”表示教会在末后状态下所处的邪恶和虚假；“七”表示全部（10，390节）；但由于下一章的“灾”所表示的这些邪恶不是细节上的全部，而是总体上的全部，故“七”在此表示总体上的全部，因为总体包含一切细节。由此明显可知，“我看见七位天使掌管末了的七灾”表示教会在末后状态下所处的邪恶与虚假被主从总体上揭露出来。
“灾”（plague，经上又译为伤痕、灾殃、灾害、灾祸）表示属灵的灾，属灵的灾侵袭人的灵魂并将其摧毁，它们就是邪恶与虚假；这一点从以下经文明显看出来：
从脚掌到头顶，没有一处完全的。尽是新打的伤痕，都没有收口，没有缠裹，也没有滋润。（以赛亚书1:6）
耶和华在烈怒中以不能治愈的灾殃攻击众民的。（以赛亚书14:6）
耶和华啊，求你把你的灾殃从我身上免去，因你手的责打，我便消灭。（诗篇39:10）
你的损伤毫无希望，我因你的罪孽甚大，罪恶众多，曾用仇敌的灾殃击打你；但我必医好你的伤痕。（耶利米书 30:12，14，17）
你若不谨守遵行律法的一切话，耶和华就必将奇灾，就是至大至长的灾，加在你你身上，又必将没有写在这律法书上的各样灾殃降在你身上，直到你灭亡。（申命记28:58，61）
祸患必不临到你，灾害也不挨近你的帐棚。（诗篇91:10）
以东必成为荒场，凡经过的人因她一切的灾祸嗤笑。（耶利米书49:17）
它要成为荒场，凡经过巴比伦的要受惊骇，又因她的灾殃嗤笑。（耶利米书50:13）
在一天之内，灾殃一齐来到巴比伦。（启示录18:8）
两个见证人用各样的灾殃击打大地。（启示录11:6）
“埃及的灾”，部分与下一章所描述的灾相似，无非表示邪恶与虚假；可参看前面所列举的这些灾（503节），它们也被称为“灾殃”（出埃及记9:14；11:1）。由此明显可知，“灾”无非表示属灵的灾，它们侵袭人的灵魂并将其摧毁；其它地方的灾也一样（如以赛亚书30:26；撒迦利亚书14:12，15；诗篇38:5，11；启示录. 9:20；16:21；出埃及记12:13；30:12；民数记11:33；路加福音7:21等）。
657. Seven angels having the seven last plagues. This symbolizes the evils and falsities that exist in the church in its last state exposed in their entirety by the Lord.
Seven angels symbolize the whole of heaven. However, because heaven is heaven owing not to the angels' own inherent qualities, but to the Lord, therefore the seven angels symbolize the Lord. Moreover, only the Lord can expose the evils and falsities that are present in the church. That angels symbolize heaven, and in the highest sense the Lord, may be seen in nos. 5, 258, 344, 465, 644, 647, 648 above.
Plagues symbolize evils and falsities - evils that are matters of love, and falsities that are matters of faith. For these are what are described in the following chapter, symbolized by the foul and noxious sore; by the blood as though of someone dead, causing every living creature to die; by the blood into which the waters of the rivers and springs were turned; by the heat of the fire that scorched people; by the unclean spirits looking like frogs, which were demons; and by the great hail.
The evils and falsities symbolized by all of these are the plagues here. Last plagues symbolize evils and falsities in the church's last state. Seven means, symbolically, all (nos. 10, 390). However, because the evils symbolized by the plagues in the following chapter are not all evils in particular, but all evils in general, seven here symbolically means all universally; for a universal entity embraces all of its constituents in particular.
It is apparent from this that John's seeing seven angels having the seven last plagues means symbolically that the evils and falsities that exist in the church and their character in its last state were exposed in their entirety by the Lord.
[2] That plagues symbolize spiritual plagues, which afflict people with respect to their souls and destroy them, and that these plagues or afflictions are evils and falsities, can be seen from the following passages:
From the sole of the foot even to the head, there is no soundness..., but a fresh wound not lanced; neither has it been bound up or softened... (Isaiah 1:6)
(Jehovah) is striking the peoples wrathfully with an incurable plague... (Isaiah 14:6)
(Jehovah,) remove Your plague from me; I am consumed by the blow of Your hand. (Psalms 39:10)
Your fracture is beyond hope...; for I have struck you with the affliction of an enemy... for the multitude of your iniquities; your sins have become many... But I will... heal you of your afflictions... (Jeremiah 30:12, 14, 17)
If you do not carefully keep all the words of (the Law)..., Jehovah will bring upon you... extraordinary plagues - great and prolonged plagues - (and) every plague... which is not written in this book of the Law... until you are destroyed. (Deuteronomy 28:58-59, 61)
No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your tent. (Psalms 91:10)
Edom shall become a desolation. Everyone who goes by... will hiss at all its plagues. (Jeremiah 49:17)
...she shall be a desolation. Everyone who passes by Babylon shall be dumbfounded, and hiss over all her plagues. (Jeremiah 50:13)
...plagues will come (upon Babylon) in one day... (Revelation 18:8)
(The two witnesses will) strike the earth with every plague... (Revelation 11:6)
The plagues in Egypt, which were in part like the plagues described in the following chapter, symbolized nothing else but evils and falsities. You may find the plagues in Egypt enumerated in no. 503 1above. They are also called plagues in Exodus 9:14; 11:1.
It is apparent from this that plagues and afflictions mean, symbolically, nothing other than spiritual plagues and afflictions, which afflict people with respect to their souls and destroy them. So also in Isaiah 30:26; Zechariah 14:12, 15; Psalms 38:5, 11; Revelation 9:20; 16:21; Exodus 12:13; 30:12; Numbers 11:33; Luke 7:21; and elsewhere.
Footnotes:
1. No. 503:4.
657. 'Seven angels having the seven last plagues' signifies the evils and untruths in the Church, such as they are in its last state, completely disclosed by the Lord. By 'seven angels' is signified the entire heaven; but because heaven is not heaven out of the angels' propria, but out of the Lord, therefore by 'seven angels' the Lord is signified. Nor can any other discover the evils and untruths that are in the Church. That by 'angels' is signified heaven, and in the highest sense the Lord, may be seen above (5, 258, 344, 465, 644, 647-648). By 'plagues' are signified evils and untruths, evils of love and untruths of faith; for they are those that are described in the following chapter and are signified by the 'evil and noxious sore,' by the 'blood, as it were of one dead, whereby every living soul died,' and by the 'blood into which the waters of the rivers and fountains were turned,' by the 'scorching of fire which afflicted men,' by the 'unclean spirits like frogs, which were demons,' also by the 'great hail.' The evils and untruths that are signified by all those things are here 'plagues.' By 'the last plagues' are signified those in the last state of the Church. By 'seven' are signified all (10, 390); but because the evils that are signified by the plagues in the following chapter are not all specified (in specie), but are all in general, by 'the seven' here are signified all completely (universaliter), for what is universal embraces all things specifically (universale enim complectitur omnia in specie). It is plain from these considerations that by 'I saw seven angels having the seven last plagues' is signified that the evils and untruths in the Church, such as they are in its last state, have been completely disclosed by the Lord.
[2] That 'plagues' signify the spiritual plagues that affect men as to their souls, and destroy these, and which are evils and untruths, can be established from the following passages:
From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness, a recent plague not pressed out, not bound up, not mollified. Isaiah 1:6.
Jehovah smites the peoples in wrath with an incurable plague. Isaiah 14:6.
O Jehovah, remove Thy plague from upon me, by the blow of Thy hand am I consumed. Psalms 39:10; [H.B. 11].
Thy fracture is hopeless, with the plague of an enemy have I smitten thee for the multitude of thine iniquity, thy sins have become very many: but I will heal thee from thy plagues. Jeremiah 30:12, 14, 17.
If thou art not taking care to do all the words of the law, Jehovah will render thy plagues marvellous, plagues great and lasting, and every plague that is not written in the book of this law, even until thou art destroyed. Deuteronomy 28:58-59, 61.
There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague draw near to thy tent. Psalms 91:10.
Edom shall become a desolation, everyone passing by shall hiss at all the plagues thereof. Jeremiah 49:17.
It shall be a devastation, everyone passing by beyond Babel shall be astonished, and shall hiss at all the plagues thereof, Jeremiah 1:13.
In one day shall come the plagues of Babylon. Revelation 18:8.
The two witnesses shall smite the land with every plague. Revelation 11:6.
By the plagues of Egypt, which were in part similar to the plagues described in the following chapter, nothing else but evils and untruths are signified; which plagues you may see enumerated above (503). They are indeed called 'plagues' (Exodus 9:14; 12). From these considerations it is plain that by 'plagues' nothing else is signified but the spiritual plagues that affect men as to their souls and destroy them, as also. Isaiah 30:26; Zechariah 14:12, 15; Psalms 38:5, 11 [H.B. 6, 12]; Revelation 9:20; 16:21; Exodus 12:13; 30:12; Numbers 11:33; Luke 7:21; and elsewhere.
657. Seven angels having the seven last plagues, signifies the evils and falsities in the church, such as are in its last state, universally disclosed by the Lord. By "seven angels" the entire heaven is signified; but as heaven is not heaven from anything proper to the angels, but from the Lord, therefore by "seven angels" the Lord is signified, nor can any other disclose the evils and falsities which are in the church. That by "angels" is signified heaven, and, in the highest sense, the Lord, may be seen above, (5, 258, 344, 465, 644, 647, 648). By "plagues" are signified evils and falsities, evils of love and falsities of faith. For they are those which are described in the next chapter, and are signified by "evil and noxious sores," by "the blood as it were of one dead, whereby every living soul died," and by "the blood into which the waters of the rivers and fountains were turned," by "the scorching of fire which afflicted men," by "the unclean spirits like frogs, which were demons," and by "great hail;" the evils and falsities which are signified by all these things, are here meant by "plagues;" by "the last plagues" are signified the same in the last state of the church; by "seven" are signified all, (10, 390); but because these evils, which are signified by "the plagues" in the next chapter, are not all in particular, but are all in general, by "seven" are here signified all universally, for the universal embraces all the particulars. From these things it appears, that by "I saw seven angels having the seven last plagues," is signified that the evils and falsities in the church, such as they are in its last state, were disclosed universally by the Lord.
[2] That "plagues" signify spiritual plagues, which affect men as to their souls, and destroy them, which are evils and falsities, may appear from the following passages:
From the sole of the foot even to the head there is no soundness, a fresh plague not pressed out, nor bound up, nor mollified, (Isaiah 1:6).
Jehovah smiteth the people in anger with an incurable plague, (Isaiah 14:6).
O Jehovah, remove Thy plague from me, I am consumed by the blow of Thy hand, (Psalms 39:10).
Thy breaking is without hope, with the plague of an enemy have I smitten thee for the multitude of thine iniquity, thy sins have become very many; but I will heal thee of thy plagues, (Jeremiah 30:12, 14, 17).
If thou wilt not observe to do all the words of the law, Jehovah will make thy plagues wonderful, plagues great and lasting, and every plague which is not written in the book of this law, even until thou art destroyed, (Deuteronomy 28:58-59, 61).
There shall no evil befall thee, and neither shall any plague come nigh thy tent, (Psalms 91:10).
Edom shall be a desolation, everyone that passeth by shall hiss at all her plagues, (Jeremiah 49:17).
It shall be a devastation; everyone that passeth by Babylon shall be astonished, and shall hiss at all her plagues, (Jeremiah 50:13).
In one day shall plagues come upon Babylon, (Revelation 18:8).
The two witnesses shall smite the earth with every plague, (Revelation 11:6).
By "the plagues of Egypt," which were in part similar to the plagues described in the following chapter, nothing else was signified but evils and falsities; which plagues you may see enumerated above, (503) they are also called "plagues" (Exodus 9:14; 11:1). From this it is manifest, that by "plagues" nothing else is signified but spiritual plagues, which affect men as to their souls, and destroy them; as also Isaiah 30:26; Zechariah 14:12, 15; Psalms 38:5, 11; Revelation 9:20; 16:21; Exodus 12:13; 30:12; Numbers 11:33; Luke 7:21.
657. "Angelos septem habentes plagas septem ultimas," significat mala et falsa in Ecclesia, qualia in ultimo ejus statu sunt, a Domino universaliter detecta. - Per "septem Angelos" significatur universum Caelum; at quia Caelum non est Caelum ex propriis Angelorum, sed ex Domino, ideo per "septem Angelos" significatur Dominus; nec alius potest detegere mala et falsa quae in Ecclesia sunt. Quod per "Angelos" significetur Caelum, et in supremo Sensu Dominus, videatur supra (5, 258, 344, 465, 644, 647, 648). Per "plagas" significantur mala et falsa, mala amoris et falsa fidei; sunt enim illa quae in sequente capite describuntur, et significantur per "ulcus malum et noxium," per "sanguinem tanquam mortui, ex quo omnis anima vivens mortua est," perque "sanguinem in quem aquae fluviorum et fontium versae sunt," per "aestum ignis qui afflixit homines," per "spiritus immundos similes ranis et erant daemones," tum per "grandinem magnam;" mala et falsa quae per illa omnia significantur, sunt hic "plagae;" per "plagas ultimas" significantur illa in ultimo statu Ecclesiae; per "septem" significantur omnia (10, 390); 1sed quia illa mala, quae significantur per "plagas" in sequente capite, non sunt omnia in specie, sed sunt omnia in genere, per "septem" hic significantur omnia universaliter, universale enim complectitur omnia in specie. Ex his patet, quod per "vidi septem Angelos habentes septem plagas ultimas" significetur quod mala et falsa in Ecclesia, qualia in ultimo ejus statu sunt, a Domino universaliter detecta sint. Quod "plagae" significent plagas spirituales, quae homines quoad animas eorum afficiunt et illas perdunt, quae sunt mala et falsa, constare potest a sequentibus locis:
"A vola pedis usque ad caput non integritas, Plaga recens non expressa; non obligata, non emollita," (Esaias 1:6);
Jehovah "percutit populos cum ira Plagam non curabili," (Esajas 14:6);
Jehovah, "remove desuper me Plagam Tuam; a conflictu manus Tuae ego consumor," (Psalm 29:11 (B.A. 10));
"Desperatum est confractioni tuae, Plaga hostis percussi te propter multitudinem iniquitatis tuae, plurima facta sunt peccata tua: sed a Plagis tuis sanabo te," (Jeremias 30:12, 14, 17);
"Si non custodiens facere omnia verba Legis, mirabiles reddet Jehovah Plagas tuas, Plagas magnas et constantes, et omnem Plagam quae non scripta in libro Legis hujus, usque dum perdaris," (Deuteronomius 28:(58,) 59, 61);
"Non incurret in te malum, et Plaga non appropinquabit ad tentorium tuum," (Psalm 91:10);
"Erit Edomus in desolationem, omnis transiens sibilabit super omnibus Plagis ejus," (Jeremias 49:17);
"Erit devastatio; omnis transiens praeter Babelem obstupescet, et sibilabit super omnibus Plagis ejus," (Jeremias 1:13);
"In una die venient Plagae" Babyloni, (Apocalypsis 18:8);
Duo Testes "percutient terram omni Plaga," (Apocalypsis 11:6).
Per plagas Aegypti, quae quoad partem similes fuerunt plagis descriptis in sequente capite, nec aliud quam mala et falsa significatur; 2quas plagas enumeratas videas supra (503); vocantur etiam illae "Plagae," (Exodus 40:14; 11:1).
Ex his patet, quod per "plagas" non aliud quam plagae spirituales, quae afficiunt homines quoad animas eorum et perdunt illos, significetur; ut quoque Esaias 30:26; Sacharias 14:12, 15; Psalm 38:6, 12 (B.A. 5, 11); Apocalypsis 9:20); 316:21; Exodus 12:13; 30:12; Numeri 11:33; 4Luca 7:21; et alibi.
Footnotes:
1. 390 pro "394"
2. significatur pro "significantur"
3. 20 pro "26"
4. 33 pro "19"