672.启15:7.“四活物中有一个把七个金香瓶给了那七位天使”表揭露教会的邪恶与虚假所凭借的那些真理与良善取自圣言的字义。“四活物”，也就是基路伯，表示终端的圣言，以及守卫，免得圣言的纯正真理与良善遭到侵犯（参看239节）；由于圣言的内在真理与良善由字义来守卫，故“四活物中的一个”表示圣言的字义。“七碗”和“七灾”所表相同，因为它们是盛东西的；在圣言中，盛东西的和所盛的东西所表相同；如“杯”和“酒”所表相同，“盘”和“食物”所表相同。“杯”、“酒杯”、“香瓶”（vials）、“盘”与它们所盛之物表示相同的事物，接下来就会看到这一点。前面已经说明“七位天使”表示什么。之所以“把香瓶给他们”，是因为所论述的主题是真理与良善进入教会的流注，好揭露教会的邪恶与虚假；裸露的良善与真理无法流入，因为这些不被接受；但诸如在圣言字义中那样被包裹的真理被接受。此处，主总是从最内层通过终端来作工，或总是作完全的工。这就是为何“七个香瓶给了那七位天使”的原因，以此表示含有诸如属于圣言字义的那类真理与良善，虚假与邪恶凭它们被查明。圣言的字义就是一个容器，这一点可见于《新耶路撒冷教义之圣经篇》（27-36，37-49节）。
“香瓶”、“盘”、“杯”、“酒杯”、“瓶子”表示它们所盛之物，这一点从以下经文明显看出来：
耶和华说，你从我手中接这杯烈怒的酒，使众民族喝；他们若不肯接这杯，你就说，你们一定要喝。（耶利米书25:15，16，28）
巴比伦素来是耶和华手中的金杯，使全地沉醉。（耶利米书51:7）
我必将你姐姐的杯交在你手中；你必酩酊大醉，满有愁苦，喝干你姐姐撒玛利亚的杯，就是凄凉的杯。（以西结书23:31-34）
耶和华的杯必传到你那里，好叫你的荣耀上有呕吐物。（哈巴谷书2:16）
以东的女子哪，这杯也必传到你那里；你必喝醉，以致露体。（耶利米哀歌4:21）
耶和华必使暴风如雨般降与恶人；作他们杯中的份。（诗篇11:6）
耶和华手里有杯，祂混杂了这酒，使杯内满了搀杂的料，就倒出来；地上的一切恶人必喝。（诗篇75:8）
拜兽的必喝神烈怒的酒，此酒斟在神愤怒的杯中纯一不杂。（启示录14:10）
耶路撒冷啊，醒来，兴起，你从耶和华手中喝了祂烈怒的杯；喝了杯中那令人发颤的残渣。（以赛亚书51:17）
那女人手拿金杯，杯中盛满了可憎之物，就是她淫乱的污秽。（启示录17:4）
按她所行的加倍地报应她；用她调酒的杯，加倍地调给她喝。（启示录18:6）
我必使耶路撒冷向众民成为令人发颤的杯。（撒迦利亚书12:2）
你这瞎眼的法利赛人，先洗净杯子的里面，好叫外面也干净了。（马太福音23:25-26；路加福音11:39）
耶稣对西庇太的两个儿子说，我将要喝的这杯，你们能喝吗？（马太福音20:22，23；马可福音10:38，39）
耶稣就对彼得说，我父所给我的那杯，我岂可不喝呢？（约翰福音18:11）
耶稣在客西马尼园说，倘若可行，求你叫这杯离开我。（马太福音26:39，42，44）
耶稣拿起杯来说，你们都喝这个；因为这是我立新约的血。（马太福音26:27-28；马可福音14:23-24；路加福音22:17）
耶和华是我的杯，你持守的份。（诗篇16:5）
你为我摆设筵席，使我的杯满溢。（诗篇23:5）
我拿什么报答耶和华？我要举起救恩的杯。（诗篇116:12，13）
喝一杯安慰的酒。（耶利米书16:7）
“酒杯”、“杯”和“香瓶”、“瓶子”也所表相同（马太福音9:17；路加福音5:37，38；耶利米书13:12；48:12；哈巴谷书2:15）。盛香的“香瓶”、“香炉”、“香盒”与“香”所表相同；总的来说，各种容器和它们里面的事物所表相同。
672. 15:7 Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls. This symbolizes the truths and goods by which evils and falsities in the church are exposed, drawn from the literal sense of the Word.
The four living creatures, being cherubim, symbolize the Word in its outmost expressions, and protections to keep its genuine truths and goods from being violated, as may be seen in no. 239 above. And because the interior truths and goods in the Word are protected by its literal meaning, therefore that meaning of the Word is symbolized by one of the four living creatures.
The seven bowls have the same symbolic meaning as the seven plagues, for the bowls are vessels, and vessels in the Word have the same symbolic meaning as their contents. So for example, a cup has the same symbolic meaning as the wine in it, and a dish the same symbolic meaning as the food. That cups, goblets, bowls, plates and saucers have the same symbolic meaning as their contents may be seen from the passages that follow after this.
We have already said what the seven angels symbolize above.
The angels were given the bowls because the subject is the influx of truth and goodness into the church in order to expose its evils and falsities, and naked goods and truths cannot flow in, as they are not accepted, but truths clothed can, such as are found in the literal sense of the Word. Moreover, the Lord also operates always from inmost elements through outmost ones, or in fullness. This is the reason the angels were given bowls, which symbolize containing truths and goods such as constitute the Word's literal sense, by which falsities and evils are exposed.
That the literal sense of the Word is a containing vessel may be seen in The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem Regarding the Sacred Scripture, 27-36nos. and 37-49.
[2] That bowls, saucers, cups and goblets, and also wineskins, have the same symbolic meaning as the things they contain can be seen from the following passages:
(Jehovah said,) "Take this... cup of wrath from My hand, and cause all the nations... to drink... ...when they refuse to take the cup..., then you shall say to them, '...You shall surely drink!'" (Jeremiah 25:15-16, 28)
Babylon was a golden cup in Jehovah's hand, that made all the earth drunk. (Jeremiah 51:7)
...I will put (your sister's) cup in your hand... You will be filled with drunkenness and sorrow, with the cup of... devastation, the cup of your sister Samaria. (Ezekiel 23:31-34)
The cup of... Jehovah will come around to you, that there may be vomit on your glory. (Habakkuk 2:16)
...O daughter of Edom...; the cup shall also pass over to you; you shall be drunk and laid bare. (Lamentations 4:21)
Upon the wicked (Jehovah) will rain... stormy winds, the portion of their cup. (Psalms 11:6)
...in the hand of Jehovah there is a cup, and He has mixed it with wine; He has filled it with the mixed wine and poured it out; ...all the wicked of the earth shall drink... (Psalms 75:8)
(Those who worship the beast) shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed with pure wine in the cup of His indignation. (Revelation 14:10)
Awake...! Arise, O Jerusalem, who have drunk from the hand of Jehovah the cup of His wrath; You have drunk the dregs of the cup of trembling... (Isaiah 51:17)
The woman... having in her hand a golden chalice full of abominations and the filthiness of her licentiousness. (Revelation 17:4)
...repay her double...; in the cup in which she has mixed, mix double for her. (Revelation 18:6)
...I am making Jerusalem a cup of trembling to all the surrounding peoples... (Zechariah 12:2)
Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup..., that the outside of them may be clean also. (Matthew 23:25-26, cf. Luke 11:39)
Jesus... said (to the sons of Zebedee), ."..Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink....?" (Matthew 20:22-23)
...Jesus said to Peter, ."..Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?" (John 18:11)
(In Gethsemane Jesus said,) ."..if it be possible, let this cup pass from me." (Matthew 26:39, 42, 44)
(Jesus) taking the cup, ...gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. This is My blood, the blood of the new covenant...." (Matthew 26:27-28, Luke 22:17)
O Jehovah, You are... my cup, You uphold my lot. (Psalms 16:5)
You will prepare a table before me...; my cup shall overflow. (Psalms 23:5)
What shall I render to Jehovah...? I will take the cup of salvation... (Psalms 116:12-13)
...the cup of consolation to drink... (Jeremiah 16:7)
A bowl has the same symbolic meaning as a cup or chalice, and so also does a wineskin (Matthew 9:17; Luke 5:37-38; Jeremiah 13:12; 48:12; Habakkuk 2:15).
Bowls, censers and thuribles containing incense have the same symbolic meaning as incense. Vessels of every kind in general have the same symbolic meaning as the things they contain.
672. [verse 7] 'And one of the four animals gave unto the seven angels seven golden phials' signifies those truths and goods by means of which the evils and untruths of the Church are disclosed taken from the sense of the letter of the Word. That 'the four animals,' which are cherubs, signify the Word in ultimates, and guards lest its genuine truths and goods should be violated, may be seen above (239). And since the interior truths and goods of the Word are guarded by the sense of its letter, therefore that sense of the Word is signified by 'one of the four animals.' By the 'seven phials' is signified a similar thing as by the 'seven plagues,' for they are containants, and by the containants in the Word like things are signified as by the contents, as by 'a cup' the same as by 'wine,' and by 'a dish' the same as by food. That by 'cups,' 'goblets,' 'phials' and 'plates' similar things are signified as by their contents will be seen in the things now following. What is signified by 'the seven angels' has been said above. The phials were given to them because it treats of the influx of truth and good into the Church so that evils and untruths may be disclosed: and naked goods and truths cannot inflow, for these are not received; but truths clothed, such as are in the sense of the letter of the Word. Moreover, the Lord always operates out of inmosts by means of ultimates, or in fullness. This is why the angels were given the 'phials,' by which are signified the containing truths and goods such as are of the sense of the letter of the Word. By these, untruths and evils are discovered. That the sense of the letter of the Word is a containant may be seen in THE DOCTRINE OF THE NEW JERUSALEM CONCERNING THE SACRED SCRIPTURE 27-49.
[2] That by 'phials,' 'plates,' 'cups,' and 'goblets,' also by 'bottles' are signified the things that are contained in them can be established from the following passages:
Jehovah said, Take the goblet of wrath out of My hand and make all the nations drink; when they refuse to take the goblet, thou shalt say, Drinking you shall drink. Jeremiah 25:15-16, 28.
Babel is a goblet of gold in the hand of Jehovah, making the entire land drunk. Jeremiah 51:7.
I will give thy sister's goblet into thy hand, thou shalt be filled with drunkenness and sorrow, with the goblet of devastation, with the goblet of thy sister Samaria. Ezekiel 23:31-34.
The goblet of Jehovah shall go around to thee, so that there may be vomit upon thy glory, Habakkuk 2:6.
Even unto thee, O daughter of Edom, shall the goblet pass over, thou shalt be drunken and laid bare, Lamentations 4:21.
Jehovah shall rain upon the wicked winds of storms, the portion of their goblet. Psalms 11:6.
A goblet is in the hand of Jehovah, and He has mixed the wine, He has filled it with the mixture and poured it out, all the wicked of the land shall drink. Psalms 75:8; [H.B. 9].
Those who adore the beast shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God mixed with undiluted wine in the cup of His growing anger. Revelation 14:10.
Awake, rise up, O Jerusalem, who hast drunk from the hand of Jehovah the goblet of His wrath, thou hast drunk the dregs of the goblet of trembling. Isaiah 51:17.
A woman having a golden goblet in her hand full of abominations and the filthiness of whoredom. Revelation 17:4.
Double unto her double, with the cup that she has mixed, mix unto her double. Revelation 18:6.
I make Jerusalem into a goblet of trembling unto all the peoples, Zechariah 12:2.
Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside 1of the cup, that the outside also may become clean. Matthew 23:25-26; Luke 11:39.
Jesus said to the sons of Zebedee, Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink? Matthew 20:22-23; Mark 10:38-39.
Jesus said to Peter, The cup that the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it? John 18:11.
Jesus in Gethsemane said, If possible let this goblet pass from Me. Matthew 26:39, 42, 44.
Jesus taking the cup, saying, All of you drink Out of it, this is My blood, that of the New Testament. Matthew 26:27-28; Mark 14:23-24; Luke 22:17.
Jehovah is my Goblet, Thou maintainest my lot. Psalms 16:5.
Thou preparest a table before me, my cup shall overflow. Psalms 23:5.
What shall I render unto Jehovah? I will take the goblet of salvations (Calicem salutum). Psalms 116:12-13.
To drink with the goblet of consolations. Jeremiah 16:7.
The like as by 'goblet' and 'cup' is also signified by a 'phial,' also by a 'bottle' (Matthew 9:17; Luke 5:37-38; Jeremiah 13:12; 48:12; Habakkuk 2:15). By 'phials,' 'censers' and 'caskets' with incenses in them the like is signified as by 'incense-offerings'; in general, by vessels of every kind the same as by the things that are in them.
Footnotes:
1. The Original Edition has 'exterius . . . interius' (outside. . . inside).
672. Verse 7. And one of the four animals gave to the seven angels seven golden vials, signifies those truths and goods by which the evils and falsities of the church are disclosed, taken from the sense of the letter of the Word. That "the four animals," which are cherubim, signify the Word in ultimates, and guards lest its genuine truths and goods should be violated, may be seen above, (239); and because the interior truths and goods of the Word are guarded by the sense of its letter, that sense of the Word is therefore signified by "one of the four animals." The same is signified by "the seven vials" as by "the seven plagues," for they are that which contains; and that which contains in the Word signifies the same as the things which are contained; as by "a cup" the same as by "wine," and by "a platter" the same as by "food." That by "cups," "goblets," "vials," and "plates," similar things are signified as by their contents, will be seen in what now follows. What is signified by "the seven angels" has been said above. That "vials were given to them," is because the subject treated of is the influx of truth and good into the church, that evils and falsities may be disclosed; and naked goods and truths cannot flow in, for these are not received; but truths clothed, such as are in the sense of the letter of the Word. And besides, the Lord always operates from inmosts through ultimates, or in fullness. This is the reason that "vials were given to the angels," by which is signified, containing truths and goods such as those are of the sense of the letter of the Word, by which falsities and evils are detected. That the sense of the letter of the Word is a container may be seen in Doctrine of the Sacred Scripture 27-36, 37-49.
[2] That by "vials," "plates," "cups," and "goblets," and by "bottles" those things are signified which are contained in them; may be evident from the following passages:
Jehovah said, Take the cup of anger from My hand, and make all the nations to drink; when they refuse to take the cup, thou shalt say, Ye shall certainly drink, (Jeremiah 25:15-16, 28).
Babylon is a golden cup in the hand of Jehovah, that maketh the whole earth drunken, (Jeremiah 51:7).
I will give the cup of thy sister into thy hand; thou shalt be filled with drunkenness and sadness, with the cup of devastation, with the cup of thy sister Samaria, (Ezekiel 23:31-34).
The cup of Jehovah shall go around to thee, that there may be vomit upon thy glory, (Habakkuk 2:16).
Even unto thee, O daughter of Edom, shall the cup pass over; thou shalt be made drunken and shalt make thyself bare, (Lamentations 4:21).
Jehovah shall rain upon the wicked winds of storms; the portion of their cup, (Psalms 11:6).
In the hand of Jehovah there is a cup, and He hath mixed the wine, He hath filled it with the mixture and hath poured out; all the wicked of the earth shall drink, (Psalms 75:8).
They who adore the beast shall drink of the wine of the anger of God, mixed with unmixed wine in the cup of His wrath, (Revelation 14:10).
Awake, rise up, O Jerusalem, who hast drunk from the hand of Jehovah the cup of His anger; thou hast drunk the dregs of the cup of trembling, (Isaiah 51:17).
The woman having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and the uncleanness of whoredom, (Revelation 17:4).
Double unto her double; in the cup which she hath mingled, mingle to her double, (Revelation 18:6).
I make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all people, (Zechariah 12:2).
Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup, that the outside 1may be clean also, (Matthew 23:25-26; Luke 11:39).
Jesus said to the sons of Zebedee, Can ye drink of the cup that I shall drink of? (Matthew 20:22-23; Mark 10:38-39)
Jesus said to Peter, The cup which My Father hath given Me, shall I not drink it? (John 18:11).
Jesus said in Gethsemane, If possible, let this cup pass from Me, (Matthew 26:39, 42, 44).
Jesus taking the cup said, Drink all ye of it; this is My blood, of the New Testament, (Matthew 26:27-28; Mark 14:23-24; Luke 22:17).
Jehovah is my cup, thou maintainest my lot, (Psalms 16:5).
Thou preparest a table before me, my cup shall abound, (Psalms 23:5).
What shall I render unto Jehovah? I will take the cup of salvation, (Psalms 116:12-13).
To drink of the cup of consolation, (Jeremiah 16:7).
The same as by "a goblet" and "a cup" is also signified by a "vial," likewise by "a bottle" (Matthew 9:17; Luke 5:37-38; Jeremiah 13:12; 48:12; Habakkuk 2:15). By "vials," "censers," and "incense-boxes," containing incense, the same is signified as by "incense": in general, by vessels of every kind the same is signified as by the things in them.
Footnotes:
1. The original Latin has "outside" for "inside."
672. (Vers. 7.) "Et unum de quatuor Animalibus dedit septem Angelis septem phialas aureas," significat vera et bona illa, per quae mala et falsa Ecclesiae deteguntur, ex Sensu literae Verbi desumpta. -Quod "quatuor Animalia," quae sunt Cherubi, significent Verbum in ultimis, et custodias ne genuina vera et bona ejus violentur, videatur supra (239); et quia vera et bona Verbi interiora per Sensum literae ejus custodiuntur, ideo ille Sensus Verbi per "unum ex quatuor Animalibus" significatur: per "septem phialas" significatur simile quod per "septem plagas;" sunt enim continentia, et per continentia in Verbo significantur similia quae per contenta, ut per "poculum" simile quod per "vinum," ac per "patinam" simile quod per "cibum;" quod per "pocula," "calices," "phialas," "paropsides," similia significentur quae per contenta, videbitur in nunc sequentibus: quid per "septem Angelos" significatur, supra dictum est: quod "datae sint illis phialae," est quia agitur de influxu veri et boni in Ecclesiam, ut detegantur mala et falsa, ac nuda bona et vera non possunt influere, haec enim non recipiuntur, sed investita vera, qualia sunt in Sensu literae Verbi; et praeterea Dominus operatur semper ex intimis per ultima, seu in pleno: haec causa est, quod "datae sint Angelis phialae," per quas significantur vera et bona continentia, qualia sunt Sensus literae Verbi, per quae falsa et mala deteguntur. Quod Sensus literae Verbi sit continens, videatur in Doctrina Novae Hierosolymae de Scriptura Sacra 27-49. Quod per "phialas," "paropsides," "pocula" et "calices," perque "utres," significentur illa quae in illis continentur, constare potest ex sequentibus locis:
"Dixit Jehovah, Sume Calicem irae e manu Mea, et fac bibere omnes gentes: quando renuerint accipere Calicem, dices, Bibendo bibetis," (Jeremias 25:15-16, 28);
"Calix auri Babel in manu Jehovae, inebrians universam terram," (Jeremias 51:7);
"Dabo Calicem sororis in manum tuam, ebrietate et tristitia impleberis, Calice devastationis, Calice sororis tuae Samariae," (Ezechiel 23:31-34);
"Circumibit ad te Calix Jehovae, ut sit vomitus super gloria tua," (Habakuk 2:16);
"Etiam ad te, filia Edomi, transibit Calix; inebriaberis et revelaberis," (Threni 4:21);
"Jehovah pluet super impios, ventos procellarum; portio Calicis eorum," (Psalm 11:6);
"Calix in manu Jehovae, et vino miscuit, implevit mixto et effudit, bibent omnes impii terrae," (Psalm 75:9 (B.A. 8)); 1
Qui adorant Bestiam "bibent ex vino irae Dei mixto mero in Poculo excandescentiae Ipsius," (Apocalypsis 14:10);
"Excitare, surge Hierosolyma, quae bibisti e manu Jehovae Calicem Irae Ipsius; feces Calicis trepidationis bibisti," (Esaias 51:17);
"Mulier habens aureum Calicem in manu plenum abominationibus, et immunditie scortationis," (Apocalypsis 17:4);
"Duplicate ei dupla; Poculo quo miscuit, miscete ei duplum," (Apocalypsis 18:6);
"Ego pono Hierosolymam in Calicem trepidationis omnibus populis," (Sacharias 12:2);
"Pharisaee caece, purga prius interius 2Poculi, ut fiat etiam exterius 3mundum," (Matthaeus 23:25-26; Luca 11:39); Jesus dixit filiis Zebedaei, "An potestis bibere Poculum quod bibiturus sum," (Matthaeus 20:22-23; Marcus 10:38-39);
"Jesus dixit Petro, Poculumne, quod dederit Mihi Pater, nonne bibero illud," (Johannes 18:11);
Jesus in Gethsemane dixit, "Si possibile, transeat a Me Calix hic," (Matthaeus 26:39, 42, 44);
"Jesus accipiens Poculum (dedit illis), dicens, Bibite ex eo omnes; hoc est sanguis Meus, ille Novi Testamenti," (Matthaeus 26:27-28; Marcus 14:23-24; Luca 22:17);
"Jehovah Calix meus, Tu sustentas sortem meam," (Psalm 16:5);
"Dispones ante me mensam, Poculum meum abundabit," (Psalm 23:5);
"Quid reddam Jehovae; Calicem salutum accipiam," (Psalm 116:12-13);
"Potare Calice consolationum," (Jeremias 16 (Jeremias 16:7)).
Simile quod per "calicem" et "poculum" etiam significatur per "phialam," etiam per "utrem"
(Matthaeus 9:17; Luca 5:37-38; Jeremias 13:12; 48:12; Habakuk 2:15).
Simile per "phialas," "thuribula"et "acerras," in quibus suffimenta, significatur quod per "suffitus;" in genere per omnis generis vasa, simile quod per illa quae in illis.
Footnotes:
1. lxxv. pro "lxv."
2. interius pro "exterius"
3. exterius pro "interius"