启示录20
1.我又看见一位天使从天降下，手里拿着无底深渊的钥匙和一条大链子。
2.他捉住那龙，就是古蛇，就是魔鬼、撒但，把他捆绑一千年；
3.把他扔进无底深渊，关起来，用印封上，使他不得再迷惑列族。等到那一千年完了，以后必须暂时释放他。
4.我又看见几个宝座，他们坐在上面，并有审判的权柄赐给他们。我又看见那些因为给耶稣作见证，并为神之道被斧头斩首者的灵魂，和那没有拜过兽与兽像，也没有在额上和手上受过他印记的人，他们与基督同生活、同作王一千年。
5.其余的死人还没有复活，直等那一千年完了。这是头一次的复活。
6.在头一次复活有分的有福了、圣洁了！第二次的死在这些人身上没有权柄。他们必作神和基督的祭司，并要与祂一同作王一千年。
7.那一千年完了，撒但必从监牢里被释放，
8.出来要迷惑地上四角的列族，就是歌革和玛各，叫他们聚集争战。他们的人数如海沙。
9.他们上到地的宽阔处，围住圣徒的营与蒙爱的城，就有火由神那里从天降下，烧灭了他们。
10.那迷惑他们的魔鬼被扔在硫磺的火湖里，就是兽和假先知所在的地方。他们必昼夜受痛苦，直到世世代代。
11.我又看见一个白色的大宝座与坐在上面的，从祂面前天地都逃避，再无可见之处了。
12.我又看见死了的人，无论大小，都站在神面前。案卷展开了，并且另有一卷展开，就是生命册。死了的人都凭着这些案卷所记载的，照他们所行的受审判。
13.于是海交出其中的死人，死亡和阴间也交出其中的死人。他们都照各人所行的受审判。
14.死亡和阴间也被扔在火湖里，这是第二次的死。
15.若发现有人没记在生命册上，他就被扔在火湖里。
关于“龙”所指的那些人的移除（1-3节），然后关于那些敬拜主，并避恶如罪之人从低地的上升（4-6节）。对那些敬拜里面丝毫没有宗教信仰之人的审判（7-9节）。那龙被罚入地狱（10节）。对其余人的总体审判（11-15节）。
第1节.“我又看见一位天使从天降下，手里拿着无底深渊的钥匙和一条大链子”表凭主打开和关闭、捆绑和释放的神性权能，其神性运作进入低层事物（840节）。
第2节.“他捉住那龙，就是古蛇，就是魔鬼、撒但”表“龙”所指的那些人被撤出，他们因感官地，而非属灵地思考信的事，故被称为“古蛇”，因在生活上陷入邪恶，故被称为“魔鬼”，又因在教义上陷入虚假，故被称为“撒但”（841节）。“把他捆绑一千年”表那些此处“龙”所指的人被扣留，与灵人界中其余的人分开，以便一段时间或相当长的时间内他们之间不再有联系（842节）。
第3节.“把他扔进无底深渊，关起来，用印封上，使他不得再迷惑列族”表主完全移除那些陷入唯信的人，并剥夺他们与其余的人之间的一切联系，免得他们把自己的异端灌输给那些被接升天堂的人（843节）。“等到那一千年完了，以后必须暂时释放他”表这些事需要一段时间，或相当长的时间，直到那些处于源自良善的真理之人被主接升天堂；此后，“龙”所指的那些人就会被暂时释放，他们与其余的人之间的联系也会被打开（844节）。
第4节.“我又看见几个宝座，他们坐在上面，并有审判的权柄赐给他们”表所有人照之受审判的圣言真理被打开，然后那些被主所隐藏的人从低地被提升上去，免得他们被那“龙”及其“兽”所迷惑（845节）。“我又看见那些因为给耶稣作见证，并为神之道被斧头斩首者的灵魂”表他们被那些陷入源于自我聪明的虚假之人弃绝，因为他们敬拜主，并照其圣言的真理生活（846，847节）。“和那没有拜过兽与兽像，也没有在额上和手上受过他印记的人”表不承认并接受唯信教义者（848节）。“他们与基督同生活、同作王一千年”表早已与主结合并在其国度中一段时间者（849节）。
第5节.“其余的死人还没有复活，直等那一千年完了”表除了现在所提到的这些人外，其余的人无一被接升天堂，直到那“龙”被释放后，那时他们便接受测试和审查，以查明他们的性质（850节）。“这是头一次的复活”表得救和永生首先在于敬拜主，并照其圣言中的诫命生活，因为与主的结合并与天上天使的联系通过这些方法得以实现（851节）。
第6节.“在头一次复活有分的有福了、圣洁了”表那些进入天堂的人拥有永生的幸福，并凭与主的结合而享有启示（852节）。“第二次的死在这些人身上没有权柄”表示他们没有被罚入地狱（853节）。“他们必作神和基督的祭司”表因为他们被主保守在爱之良善中，由此被保守在智慧之真理中（854节）。“并要与祂一同作王一千年”表当还没有复活，也就是尚未接受天上生命的其他人尚在灵人界时，他们就已经在天上了（855节）。
第7节.“那一千年完了，撒但必从监牢里被释放”表那些此前一直在低地被隐藏并看顾的人被主接升天堂，基督新天堂因他们得以增长后，所有那些确认信之虚假的人就会被释放（856节）。
第8节.“出来要迷惑地上四角的列族，就是歌革和玛各，叫他们聚集争战”表此处“龙”所指的那些人会引诱所有来自整个灵人界地区，在那里仅仅活在外在的属世敬拜中，没有活在内在的属灵敬拜中之人加入他们这一边，并煽动他们攻击那些敬拜主，照其圣言中的诫命生活之人（858，859节）。“他们的人数如海沙”表这种人为数众多（860节）。
第9节.“他们上到地的宽阔处，围住圣徒的营与蒙爱的城”表他们在龙们的煽动下藐视教会的一切真理，还努力摧毁新教会的一切，甚至摧毁关于主和生命的教义本身（861，862节）。“就有火由神那里从天降下，烧灭了他们”表他们因地狱之爱的欲望而灭亡（863节）。
第10节.“那迷惑他们的魔鬼被扔在硫磺的火湖里，就是兽和假先知所在的地方。他们必昼夜受痛苦，直到世世代代”表那些在生活上陷入邪恶，在教义上陷入虚假的人被投入地狱（864节）。
第11节.“我又看见一个白色的大宝座与坐在上面的，从祂面前天地都逃避，再无可见之处了”表主对一切先前的天，就是被那些只有文明道德的良善，没有属灵的良善，因而外在装作基督徒，内在却是魔鬼之人占据的众天堂施行普遍审判；这些天堂连同他们的领地完全被驱散，以致它们将丝毫不再出现（865节）。
第12节.“我又看见死了的人，无论大小，都站在神面前”表所有从地上死亡，如今在那些身处灵人界之人当中的人，无论状态和性质如何，都被主聚集起来受审判（866节）。“案卷展开了，并且另有一卷展开，就是生命册”表他们的心智内层全都被敞开，藉着天上来的光与热的流注，他们在属于爱或意愿的情感，因而在属于信或理解的思维方面的性质，都被看到和察觉，无论善人还是恶人（867节）。“死了的人都凭着这些案卷所记载的，照他们所行的受审判”表所有人都照其外在里面的内在生命受审判（868节）。
第13节.“于是海交出其中的死人”表教会的外在和属世人被召集起来受审判（869节）。“死亡和阴间也交出其中的死人”表本身已沦为魔鬼和撒但、内心邪恶的教会之人被召集起来受审判（870节）。“他们都照各人所行的受审判”在此和前面所表相同（871节）。
第14节.“死亡和阴间也被扔在火湖里”表本身已沦为魔鬼和撒但，而外在却像教会之人的内心邪恶者被投入地狱那些陷入邪恶之爱，因而陷入与邪恶一致的虚假之爱者当中（872节）。“这是第二次的死”表这些人遭受被罚入地狱本身之苦（873节）。
第15节.“若发现有人没记在生命册上，他就被扔在火湖里”表那些没有照主圣言中的诫命生活，也不信主的人被判罚（874节）。
840.启20:1.“我又看见一位天使从天降下，手里拿着无底深渊的钥匙和一条大链子”表凭主打开和关闭、捆绑和释放的神性权能，其运作进入低层事物。“从天降下的一位天使”表示主（参看5，258，344，465，657，718节），以及主的运作（415，631，633，649节），在此表示祂的运作进入低层事物，因为经上说“降下”。“手里拿着无底深渊的钥匙”表示打开和关闭地狱的神性权能（62，174节）；“手里拿着一条大链子”表示努力，以及由此捆绑和释放的行为。由此可知，主的手中并没有什么钥匙和链子；约翰所看到的这一幕，只是主的神性权能的代表。本章两三次论到地狱的打开和关闭。
840. REVELATION: CHAPTER 20
1. Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
2. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, which is the Devil and Satan, and bound it for a thousand years;
3. and he cast it into the bottomless pit, and shut it up, and set a seal on it, so that it should not lead the nations astray any more till the thousand years were completed. But after that it must be released for a little while.
4. And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was entrusted to them. I also saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the Word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or its image, and had not received its mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
5. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection.
6. Blessed and holy is he who shares in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.
7. Then, when the thousand years have been completed, Satan will be released from his prison,
8. and he will go out to lead astray the nations which are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea.
9. And they went up over the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them.
10. Then the devil who led them astray was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
11. Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and heaven fled away. And there was not found any place for them.
12. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and their books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, in accordance with the things which were written in their books.
13. Then the sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hell delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works.
14. Then Death and Hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
THE SPIRITUAL MEANING
The Contents of the Whole Chapter
The removal of those people meant by the dragon (verses 1-3), and the ascent then of those in the lower earth, 1who worshiped the Lord and refrained from evils as being sins (verses 4-6). The judgment on those having no religion in their worship (verses 7-9). The damnation of the dragon (verse 10). The universal judgment on all the rest (verses 11-15).
The Contents of the Individual Verses:
| Verse Contents | Spiritual Meaning |
|---|---|
| 1. Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. | The Lord's Divine operation into the lower regions by virtue of His Divine power to close and open and to bind and loose. |
| 2. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, which is the Devil and Satan, | Those meant by the dragon were detained, who because they think about matters of faith sensually and not spiritually, are called that serpent of old, who because they are caught up in evils in the way they live, are called the Devil, and who because they are caught up in falsities as regards their doctrine, are called Satan. |
| and bound it for a thousand years; | Those meant by the dragon here were forcibly drawn away and separated from the rest of the people in the world of spirits to keep them from having any communication with the rest for a while or a period of time. |
| 3. and he cast it into the bottomless pit, and shut it up, and set a seal on it, so that it should not lead the nations astray any more | The Lord removed entirely those who were caught up in faith alone and took away all their communication with the rest, to keep them from inspiring any of their heresy in people who were being raised into heaven. |
| till the thousand years were completed. But after that it must be released for a little while. | This was the case for a while or for a period of time until people with truths springing from goodness were raised by the Lord into heaven, after which those meant by the dragon would for a short time be set loose and have a communication opened with those who were left. |
| 4. And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was entrusted to them. | The Word's truths were laid open, in accordance with which all people are judged, and those in the lower earth were then raised up, who had been hidden away by the Lord to keep the dragon and its beasts from leading them astray; |
| I also saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the Word of God, | who had been rejected by those caught up in falsities hatched out of their own intelligence, because they worshiped the Lord and lived in accordance with the truths in His Word, |
| who had not worshiped the beast or its image, and had not received its mark on their foreheads or on their hands. | and did not acknowledge or accept the doctrine of faith alone; |
| And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. | who possessed a conjunction with the Lord already and had been in His kingdom for some time. |
| 5. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were completed. | Besides these just described, no others were raised into heaven until after the dragon was set loose and they were then tried and examined to discover their character. |
| This is the first resurrection. | Salvation and eternal life consist primarily in worshiping the Lord and living according to His commandments in the Word, because these are the means to conjunction with the Lord and affiliation with angels in heaven. |
| 6. Blessed and holy is he who shares in the first resurrection. | Through conjunction with the Lord those who enter heaven enjoy the felicity of eternal life and enlightenment. |
| Over such the second death has no power, | They do not suffer damnation, |
| but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, | because they are kept by the Lord in the goodness of love and so in truths of wisdom. |
| and shall reign with Him a thousand years. | They were already in heaven when the rest who did not live again, that is, who did not accept the life of heaven, were still in the world of spirits. |
| 7. Then, when the thousand years have been completed, Satan will be released from his prison, | After the Lord raised into heaven those who previously had been hidden away and protected in the lower earth, and the New Christian Heaven was increased by their number, all those who had confirmed themselves in falsities of faith were let loose. |
| 8. and he will go out to lead astray the nations which are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for battle, | Those meant by the dragon here drew to their side from any land throughout the world of spirits all who lived the life of an external, natural worship only and no internal, spiritual worship, and roused them up against those who worshiped the Lord and lived according to His commandments in the Word. |
| whose number is as the sand of the sea. | The multitude of such people. |
| 9. And they went up over the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. | Being roused up by followers of the dragon, they scorned every truth in the church and attempted to destroy everything connected with the New Church and its fundamental doctrine regarding the Lord and life. |
| And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. | They were destroyed by the lusts of their hellish love. |
| 10. Then the devil who led them astray was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. | People who were caught up in evils in the way they lived and in falsities as regards their doctrine were cast into hell. |
| 11. Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and heaven fled away. And there was not found any place for them. | A universal judgment executed by the Lord on all the former heavens that were occupied by people possessing a civil and moral goodness, but no spiritual goodness, thus who gave the appearance of being Christians outwardly, but who inwardly were devils. These heavens with their lands were totally dispersed so that no part of them was seen anymore. |
| 12. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, | All people of every condition and character, who had died from earthly lands and were now among those in the world of spirits, gathered by the Lord for judgment. |
| and their books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. | The interiors of their minds were opened, of both the good and the evil, and by an influx of light and warmth from heaven their characters were seen and perceived in respect to the affections of their love or will, and so in respect to the thoughts of their faith or intellect. |
| And the dead were judged according to their works, in accordance with the things which were written in their books. | All were judged in accordance with the inner life within their outward appearances. |
| 13. Then the sea gave up the dead who were in it, | External and natural people in the church called together for judgment. |
| and Death and Hell delivered up the dead who were in them. | The impious at heart in the church, who in themselves were devils and satanic spirits, called together for judgment. |
| And they were judged, each one according to his works. | The same as before. |
| 14. Then Death and Hell were cast into the lake of fire. | The impious at heart, who in themselves were devils and satanic spirits, and yet in outward appearances seemed to be people of the church, were cast down into hell among spirits who were caught up in a love of evil and so in a love of falsity according with evil. |
| This is the second death. | This is their final damnation. |
| 15. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. | Those who had not lived in accordance with the Lord's commandments in the Word and did not believe in the Lord were condemned. |
THE EXPOSITION
20:1 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. This symbolizes the Lord's operation into the lower regions by virtue of His Divine power to close and open and to bind and loose.
An angel coming down from heaven means the Lord, as may be seen in nos. 5, 258, 344, 465, 657, 718, and also the Lord's operation, nos. 415, 631, 633, 649, here His operation into the lower regions, because the angel is described as coming down. Having the key to the bottomless pit symbolizes the Divine power to open and close hell, as may be seen in nos. 62, 174. And having a great chain in his hand symbolizes the endeavor and so the action of binding and loosing.
It follows, therefore, that there was no key or chain in the Lord's hand, but that its appearing so to John was representative of the Lord's Divine power. This chapter also refers two or three times to the opening and closing of hell.
Footnotes:
1. Cf. references to the lower parts of the earth in Psalms 63:9, Isaiah 44:23, Ezekiel 32:24, and also Ephesians 4:9.
840. THE TWENTIETH CHAPTER
1. And I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key of the deep, and a great chain in (super) his hand.
2. And he arrested the dragon, the serpent of old who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years.
3. And he cast him into the deep, and shut him up and set a seal upon him, lest he should lead the nations astray any more until the thousand years were finished, and after that he must be let loose for a short time.
4. And I saw thrones and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them; and the souls of those beheaded with the axe for the testimony of Jesus and for the Word of God, and who did not adore the beast or his image, and did not accept the mark upon their forehead and upon their hand; and they lived and reigned with Christ for the thousand years.
5. And the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
6. Blessed and holy is he having part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no authority, but they shall be priests of God and Christ, and shall reign with Him for the thousand years.
7. And when the thousand years are finished Satan shall be let loose out of his prison.
8. And he shall go forth to lead astray the nations that are at the four corners of the land, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for war, the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
9. And they went up upon the breadth of the land and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, and fire from God came down from heaven and consumed them.
10. And the devil leading them astray was cast into the lake of fire and sulphur, where the beast and the false prophet are, and they shall be tormented days and nights for ages of ages.
11. And I saw a great white throne, and One sitting upon it, from Whose face the land and the heaven fled away; and no place was found for them.
12. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and the books were opened, and another book was opened, which is of life; and the dead were judged out of the things written in the books according to their works.
13. And the sea gave up those who were dead in it, and death and hell gave up those dead in them, and they were judged, each one, according to their works.
14. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire: this is the second death.
15. And if anyone was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire.
THE SPIRITUAL SENSE
THE CONTENTS OF THE WHOLE CHAPTER
Concerning the removal of those who are understood by the dragon' (verses 1-3), and then concerning the ascent out of the lower land of those who have worshipped the Lord and fled from evils as sins (verses 4-6).
The judgment upon those who had nothing of religion in worship (verses 7-9).
The damnation of 'the dragon' (verse 10).
The general judgment upon the rest (verses 11-15).
THE CONTENTS OF EACH OF THE VERSES
1. And I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key of the deep, and a great chain in (super) his hand, signifies the Lord's Divine operation into lower things by virtue of the Divine authority of shutting and opening, also of binding and letting loose.
2. And he arrested the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, signifies that those were held back who are understood by 'the dragon,' who, because they think sensually and not spiritually about matters of faith are termed 'the serpent of old,' and because they are in evils as to life are termed 'the Devil,' and because they are in untruths as to doctrine are termed 'Satan.'
And bound him for a thousand years, signifies that those who are here understood by 'the dragon' were withdrawn and torn away from the rest in the world of spirits, so that for a while or for a considerable time there should not be communication with them.
3. And cast him into the deep, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him lest he should lead the nations astray any more, signifies that the Lord entirely removed those who were in faith alone and took away all communication between them and the rest, lest they should inspire anything of their heresy into those who were being taken up into heaven.
Until the thousand years were finished, and after that he must be let loose for a short time, signifies these things for a while or for a considerable time, until those who were in truths derived from good were taken up by the Lord into heaven; after which those who are understood by 'the dragon' are to be let loose for a short time and communication between them and the rest opened.
4. And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgement was given unto them, signifies that the truths of the Word in accordance with which all are judged were opened, and that then those who had been hidden by the Lord were taken up out of the lower land lest they should be led astray by 'the dragon' and his 'beasts.'
And the souls of those beheaded with the axe for the testimony of Jesus and for the Word of God, signifies [that they were] rejected by those who are in untruths derived from self-intelligence, because they worshipped the Lord and lived in accordance with the truths of His Word.
And who did not adore the beast or his image, and did not accept the mark upon their forehead and upon their hand, signifies who did not acknowledge and receive the doctrine concerning faith alone.
And they lived and reigned with Christ for the thousand years, signifies who had already been in conjunction with the Lord and in His kingdom for some time.
5. And the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished, signifies that besides those mentioned no others were taken up into heaven until after 'the dragon' was let loose, and those were then tested and examined [to discover] what they were like.
This is the first resurrection, signifies that salvation and eternal life is first of all to worship the Lord and to live in accordance with His precepts in the Word, because by their means there is conjunction with the Lord and association with the angels of heaven.
6. Blessed and holy is he having part in the first resurrection, signifies that those who come into heaven have the happiness of eternal life and enlightenment through conjunction with the Lord.
Over these the second death has no authority, signifies that they do not suffer damnation.
But they shall be priests of God and Christ, signifies because they are kept by the Lord in the good of love and consequently in the truths of wisdom.
And they shall reign with Him for the thousand years, signifies that they were already in heaven when the rest who did not live again, that is, accept heavenly life, were in the world of spirits.
7. And when the thousand years are finished, Satan shall be let loose out of his prison, signifies that, after those who had till then been hidden and guarded in the lower land were taken up by the Lord into heaven and by means of them the Christian New Heaven was increased, all those who confirmed untruths of faith with themselves should be let out.
8. And shall go forth to lead astray the nations that are at the four corners of the land, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for war, signifies that those who are here understood by 'the dragon' would draw to their side all who were of the territories in the entire world of spirits and lived there in a worship only external natural and in no internal spiritual worship, and would rouse them up against those who worshipped the Lord and lived in accordance with His precepts in the Word.
The number of whom is as the sand of the sea, signifies the multitude of such.
9. And they went up upon the breadth of the land and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, signifies that being roused up by the dragonists they would despise every truth of the Church and endeavour to destroy all the things of the New Church, and the doctrine itself concerning the Lord and concerning Life.
And fire from God came down out of heaven and consumed them, signifies that they perished from the lusts of infernal love.
10. And the devil leading them astray was cast into the lake of fire and sulphur, where the beast and the false prophet are, and they shall be tormented days and nights for ages of ages, signifies those cast into hell, who were in evils as to life and in untruths as to doctrine.
11. And I saw a great white throne, and One sitting upon it, from Whose face the heaven and the land 1fled away [, and no place was found for them], signifies the universal judgment executed by the Lord upon all the former heavens that were occupied by (super quibus fuerunt) those who were in civil and moral good but in no spiritual good, thus who in external things were pretending to be Christians but in internal things were devils; which heavens with their territory were entirely done away with so that nothing of them would appear any more.
12. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, signifies all those of whatever condition and quality from on earth who, having died, were now among those who were in the world of spirits, gathered together by the Lord for judgment.
And the books were opened, and another book was opened which is of life, signifies that the interior things of the mind of all of them were laid open, and by means of the influx of light and heat out of heaven it was seen and perceived what they were like as to the affections that are of love or of the will, and consequently as to the thoughts that are of faith or of the understanding, the evil as well as the good.
And the dead were judged out of the things written in the books according to their works, signifies that they were all judged in accordance with their internal life in external things.
13. And the sea gave up those who were dead in it, signifies the external and natural men of the Church called to judgment.
And death and hell gave up those who were dead in them, signifies the wicked-hearted men of the Church, who in themselves were devils and satans, called together to judgment.
And they were judged, each one, according to their works signifies here as before.
14. And deaths and hell were cast into the lake of fire, signifies that the wicked-hearted who in themselves were devils and satans, and yet in external things like men of the Church, were cast down into hell among those who were in the love of evil and consequently in the love of untruths agreeing with evil.
This is the second death, signifies that these suffer damnation itself
15. And if anyone was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire, signifies that those who did not live in accordance with the Lord's precepts in His Word, and did not believe us the Lord, were condemned.
Footnotes:
1. Here and in the 'Contents of each of the Verses' the words 'land' and heaven' are transposed. Cf. the text of the chapter and the exposition in subsection 2 of this paragraph.
THE EXPOSITION
[verse 1] 'And I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key of the deep, and a great chain in (super) his hand' signifies the Lord's operation into lower things by virtue of the Divine authority of shutting and opening, also of binding and letting loose. By 'an angel coming down from heaven' is understood the Lord, as may be seen (5, 170, 344, 465, 657, 718), also the Lord's operation (415, 631, 633, 649), here into lower things because it is said coming down.' By 'to have the key of the deep' is signified the Divine authority of opening and shutting hell, as may be seen (62, 174); and by 'to have a great chain in the hand' is signified the endeavour and from it the act of binding and letting loose. It follows from this that there was not any key or chain in the Lord's hand, but that its having been so seen by John was a representative of the Lord's Divine Authority. In this chapter it treats a second and a third time of the opening of hell and the closing thereof.
840. Revelation 20
1. And I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key of the abyss, and a great chain in his hand.
2. And he laid hold on the dragon, the old serpent, which is the Devil and Satan, and bound him a thousand years;
3. And cast him into the abyss, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should not seduce the nations any more, until the thousand years were finished; and after this he must be loosed a little time.
4. And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them, and the souls of them that were beheaded for the testimony of Jesus, and for the Word of God, and who had not adored the beast, nor his image, nor had received his mark upon their forehead, and upon their hand; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
5. And the rest of the dead lived not again, until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
6. Happy and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection; upon these the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.
7. And when the thousand years are finished, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
8. And shall go forth to seduce the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to war; the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
9. And they went up upon the breadth of the earth, and encompassed the camp of the saints and the beloved city; and fire came down from God out of heaven and consumed them.
10. And the Devil that seduced them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are; and shall be tormented day and night for ages of ages.
11. And I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat upon it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and no place was found for them.
12. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God; and the books were opened, and another book was opened, which is the book of life, and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
13. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and hell gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged everyone according to their works.
14. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15. And if anyone was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire.
The Spiritual Sense
The Contents of the Whole Chapter
Concerning the removal of those who are meant by "the dragon,"' (verses 1-3), and then concerning the ascent of those from the lower earth, who worshiped the Lord and shunned evils as sins (verses 4-6). The judgment upon those in whose worship there was nothing of religion (verses 7-9). The damnation of the dragon (verse 10). The universal judgment upon the rest (verses 11-15).
The Contents of Each Verse
Verse 1. "And I saw an angel coming down from heaven having the key of the abyss, and a great chain in his hand," signifies the Lord's Divine operation into lower things, from His Divine power of shutting and opening, and of binding and loosing, (840).
Verse 2. (Revelation 20:2) "And he laid hold on the dragon, the old serpent, which is the Devil and Satan," signifies that they were withheld who are meant by the dragon, who, because they think sensually and not spiritually of matters of faith, are called "the old serpent," and because they are in evils as to life, are called the Devil, and because they are in falsities as to doctrine, are called Satan, (841). "And bound him a thousand years," signifies that they who are here meant by the dragon, were withdrawn and torn away from the rest in the world of spirits, that for a short time there might be no communication with them, (842).
Verse 3. "And cast him into the abyss, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should not seduce the nations any more," signifies that the Lord entirely removed those who were in faith alone, and took away all communication between them and the rest, lest they should inspire into those who were to be taken up into heaven anything of their heresy, (843). "Until the thousand years were finished; and after this he must be loosed a little time," signifies, this only a little while, or for a short time, until they are taken up by the Lord into heaven who were in truths from good; after which they who are meant by "the dragon," were to be loosed for a short time, and a communication opened between them and the rest, (844).
Verse 4. "And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them," signifies that the truths of the Word, according to which all are judged, were opened, and that then they were taken up from the lower earth, who had been concealed by the Lord, that they might not be seduced by the dragon and his beasts, (845). "And the souls of them that were beheaded for the testimony of Jesus, and for the Word of God," signifies that they were rejected by those who were in falsities from their own intelligence, because they worshiped the Lord, and lived according to the truths of His Word, (846, 847). "And who had not adored the beast, nor his image, nor had received his mark upon their forehead, and upon their hand," signifies who did not acknowledge and receive the doctrine of faith alone, (848). "And they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years," signifies who have been already for some time in conjunction with the Lord and in His kingdom, (849).
Verse 5. "And the rest of the dead lived not again, until the thousand years were finished," signifies that besides these, now spoken of, none were taken up into heaven, till after the dragon was loosed, and that they were then proved and explored as to their quality, (850). "This is the first resurrection," signifies that salvation and life eternal primarily consist in worshiping the Lord and living according to His commandments in the Word, because by them conjunction is effected with the Lord and consociation with the angels of heaven, (851).
Verse 6. (Revelation 20:6) "Happy and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection," signifies that they who come into heaven have the felicity of life eternal, and enlightenment, by conjunction with the Lord, (852). "Upon these the second death hath no power," signifies that they have not damnation, (853): "But they shall be priests of God and of Christ," signifies, because they are kept by the Lord in the good of love and thence in the truths of wisdom, (854). "And shall reign with Him a thousand years," signifies that they were already in heaven, when the rest who had not revived, that is, as yet received heavenly life, were in the world of spirits, (855).
Verse 7. "And when the thousand years are finished, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison," signifies that after they who had before been concealed and guarded in the lower earth, were taken up by the Lord into heaven, and the New Heaven increased by them, all those who had confirmed themselves in falsities of faith, were to be let loose, (856). Ver. 8. "And shall go forth to seduce the nations, which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to war," signifies that they who are here meant by the dragon, would draw to their party all those who were from the earths in the whole world of spirits, and lived there only in external natural worship and in no internal spiritual worship, and would stir them up against those who worshiped the Lord, and lived according to His commandments in the Word, (858, 859). "The number of whom is as the sand of the sea," signifies the multitude of such, (860).
Verse 9. "And they went up upon the breadth of the earth, and encompassed the camp of the saints, and the beloved city," signifies that being stirred up by the dragonists, they spurned every truth of the church, and endeavored to destroy all things of the New Church, and even its doctrine concerning the Lord and concerning life, (861, 862). "And fire came down from God out of heaven and consumed them," signifies that they were destroyed by the lusts of infernal love, (863).
Verse 10. "And the Devil that seduced them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ages of ages," signifies that they who were in evils as to life, and in falsities as to doctrine, were cast into hell, (864).
Verse 11. "And I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat upon it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away," 1signifies the universal judgment executed by the Lord upon all the former heavens that were occupied by such as were in civil and moral good, but in no spiritual good, thus who simulated Christians in externals, but in internals were devils, which heavens, with their earth, were totally dissipated, so that nothing of them appeared any more, (865).
Verse 12. "And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, signifies all who had died from the earth, and were now among those who were in the world of spirits, of whatever condition and quality, gathered together by the Lord for judgment, (866). "And the books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life," signifies that the interiors of the minds of them all were laid open, and by the influx of light and heat from heaven, their quality was seen and perceived as to the affections which are of the love or the will, and thence as to the thoughts which are of faith or the understanding, as well the evil as the good, (867). "And the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works," signifies that all were judged according to their internal life in externals, (868).
Verse 13. "And the sea gave up the dead which were in it," signifies the external and natural men of the church called to judgment, (869). "And death and hell gave up the dead which were in them," signifies the men of the church who were wicked in heart, who in themselves were devils and satans, called to judgment, (870). "And they were judged everyone according to their works," signifies here as before, (871).
Verse 14. "And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire," signifies that the wicked in heart, who in themselves were devils and satans, and yet in externals like men of the church, were cast into hell among those who were in the love of evil and thence in the love of falsity agreeing with evil, (872). "This is the second death," signifies that with these there is damnation itself, (873).
Verse 15. "And if anyone was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire," signifies that they who had not lived according to the Lord's commandments in the Word, and had not believed in the Lord, were condemned, (874).
Footnotes:
1. The original Latin omits "and, (Revelation 20:1) no place was found for them."
THE EXPLANATION.
Verse 1. And I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key of the abyss, and a great chain in his hand, signifies the Lord's operation into lower things, from His Divine power of shutting and opening, and of binding and loosing. By "an angel coming down from heaven," is meant the Lord (see 5, 170, 344, 465, 657, 718); also the Lord's operation, (415, 631, 633, 649); here into lower things, because it is said "coming down;" by having "the key of the abyss" is signified the Divine power of opening and shutting hell (see 62, 174); and "by having a great chain in his hand," is signified the endeavor and thence the act of binding and loosing. Hence it follows that there was not any key nor a chain in the Lord's hand; but it was so seen by John that it might be a representative of the Lord's Divine power; the opening and shutting of hell is also treated of two or three times in this chapter.
840. CAPUT XX.1. Et vidi Angelum descendentem de Caelo habentem clavem abyssi, et catenam magnam super manu sua.
2. Et comprehendit Draconem Serpentem antiquum, qui est Diabolus et Satanas, et ligavit eum mille annos;
3. Et conjecit eum in abyssum, et conclusit eum, et obsignavit super eo, ut non seduceret gentes amplius, donec consummarentur mille anni; et post haec oportet eum solvi exiguum tempus.
4. Et vidi thronos, et consederunt super iis, et judicium datum est illis; et animas securi percussorum propter testimonium Jesu, et propter Verbum Dei, et qui non adoraverunt Bestiam, neque imaginem ejus, neque acceperunt characterem super fronte sua et super manu sua; et vixerunt et regnaverunt cum Christo mille annos. 1
5. Et reliqui mortuorum non revixerunt, donec consummarentur mille anni: haec illa est Resurrectio prima.
6. Beatus et sanctus habens partem in Resurrectione prima; super hos mors altera non habet potestatem, sed erunt sacerdotes Dei et Christi, et regnabunt cum Ipso mille annos.
7. Et quando consummati sunt mille anni, solvetur Satanas e carcere suo.
8. Et exibit seducere gentes quae in quatuor angulis terrae, Gogum et Magogum, congregare illos in bellum, quorum numerus sicut arena maris.
9. Et ascenderunt super latitudinem terrae, et circumdederunt castra sanctorum et urbem dilectam; et descendit ignis a Deo de Caelo et consumpsit eos.
10. Et Diabolus seducens eos conjectus est in stagnum ignis et sulphuris, ubi Bestia et Pseudopropheta, et cruciabuntur dies et noctes in saecula saeculorum.
11. Et vidi Thronum album magnum, et Sedentem super eo, a Cujus facie fugit Terra et Caelum; et locus non inventus est illis.
12. Et vidi mortuos, parvos et magnos, stantes coram Deo; et libri aperti sunt, et Liber alius apertus est, qui est vitae, et judicati sunt mortui ex scriptis in libris secundum opera illorum.
13. Et dedit Mare eos qui in illo mortuos, et Mors et Infernus dederunt eos in illis mortuos, et judicati sunt quisque secundum Opera illorum.
14. Et Mors et Infernus conjecti sunt in stagnum ignis: haec est altera mors.
15. Et si quis non inventus est in Libro vitae scriptus, conjectus est in stagnum ignis.
SENSUS SPIRITUALIS.
CONTENTUM TOTIUS CAPITIS.
DE REMOTIONE ILLORUM QUI PER "DRACONEM" INTELLIGUNTUR (vers. 1-3);
ET TUNC DE ASCENSU ILLORUM EX INFERIORE TERRA, QUI DOMINUM COLUERUNT, AC MALA UT PECCATA FUGERUNT (vers. 4-6).
JUDICIUM SUPER ILLOS QUIBUS NIHIL RELIGIONIS IN CULTU ERAT (vers. 7-9).
DAMNATIO DRACONIS (vers. 10).
UNIVERSALE JUDICIUM SUPER RELIQUOS (vers. 11-15)
CONTENTA SINGULORUM VERSUUM 1. "Et vidi Angelum descendentem de Caelo, habentem clavem abyssi, et catenam magnam super manu sua," significat Divinam operationem Domini in inferiora, ex Divina Potestate claudendi et aperiendi, tum ligandi et solvendi (840).
2. "Et comprehendit Draconem Serpentem antiquum, qui est Diabolus et Satanas," significat quod detenti sint qui per "Draconem" intelliguntur, qui quia sensualiter et non spiritualiter de rebus fidei cogitant, dicuntur "Serpens antiquus," et quia in malis quoad vitam sunt, dicuntur "Diabolus," et quia in falsis quoad doctrinam sunt, dicuntur "Satanas (841); "et ligavit eum mille annos," significat quod illi qui hic per "Draconem" intelliguntur, retracti et avulsi sint a reliquis in Mundo spirituum, ne communicatio esset cum illis aliquamdiu seu aliquanto tempore (842).
3. "Et conjecit eum in abyssum, et conclusit eum, et obsignavit super eo, ut non seduceret gentes amplius," significat quod Dominus prorsus removerit illos qui in sola Fide erant, ac ademerit omnem communicationem eorum cum reliquis, ne ex haeresi sua inspirarent aliquid illis qui in Caelum elevarentur (843); "donec consummarentur mille anni, et post haec oportet eum solvi exiguum tempus," significat quod haec aliquamdiu seu aliquanto tempore, usque dum a Domino sublati sunt in Caelum qui in veris ex bono erant; post quod illi qui per "Draconem" intelliguntur, brevi tempore solvendi sint, et illis aperienda communicatio cum reliquis (844).
4. "Et vidi thronos, et consederunt super iis, et judicium datum est illis," significat quod vera Verbi secundum quae omnes judicantur, aperta sint, et quod tunc sublati sint ex inferiore terra, qui a Domino reconditi fuerunt, ne a Dracone et ejus Bestiis seducerentur (845); "et animas securi percussorum propter testimonium Jesu, et propter Verbum Dei," significat rejectos ab illis qui in falsis ex propria intelligentia sunt, quia coluerunt Dominum, et vixerunt secundum vera Verbi Ipsius (846, 847); "et qui non adoraverunt Bestiam, neque imaginem ejus, neque acceperunt characterem super fronte sua et super manu sua," significat qui non agnoverunt et receperunt doctrinam de sola Fide (848); "et vixerunt et regnaverunt cum Christo mille annos," significat qui jamdum in conjunctione cum Domino et in Regno Ipsius fuerunt aliquamdiu (849).
5. "Et reliqui mortuorum non revixerunt, donec consummarentur mille anni," significat quod praeter illos, de quibus dictum est, non aliqui sublati sint in Caelum, quam postquam Draco solutus est, et illi tunc probati et explorati quales essent (850); "haec illa est Resurrectio prima," significat quod salvatio et vitae, aeterna primario sit colere Dominum et vivere secundum praecepta Ipsius in Verbo, quia per illa fit conjunctio cum Domino et consociatio cum Angelis Caeli (851).
6. "Beatus et sanctus habens partem in Resurrectione prima," significat quod felicitas vitae aeternae ac illustratio per conjunctionem cum Domino sint illis qui in Caelum veniunt (852); "super hos mors altera non habet potestatem," significat quod illis non damnatio (853); "sed erunt sacerdotes Dei et Christi," significat quia a Domino tenentur in bono amoris et inde in veris sapientiae (854); "et regnabunt cum Ipso mille annos," significat quod illi jamdum in Caelo essent, cum reliqui qui nondum revixerunt, hoc est, vitam caelestem acceperunt, in Mundo spirituum essent (855).
7. "Et quando consummati sunt mille anni, solvetur Satanas e carcere suo," significat quod postquam a Domino in Caelum sublati sunt, qui in inferiore terra hactenus reconditi et custoditi fuerunt, et per illos Novum Caelum Christianum adauctum est, omnes illi qui falsa fidei apud se confirmaverunt, emitterentur (856).
8. "Et exibit seducere gentes, quae in quatuor angulis terrae, Gogum et Magogum, congregare illos in bellum," significat quod illi qui per "Draconem" hic intelliguntur, omnes qui e terris in universo Mundo spirituum erant, et ibi in solo cultu externo naturali et in nullo cultu interno spirituali vixerunt, in suas partes traherent, et excitarent contra illos qui coluerunt Dominum, et vixerunt secundum praecepta Ipsius in Verbo (858, 859); "quorum numerus sicut arena maris," significat multitudinem talium (860).
9. "Et ascenderunt super latitudinem terrae, et circumdederunt castra sanctorum et urbem dilectam," significat quod excitati a Draconicis spernerent omne verum Ecclesiae, et conarentur destruere omnia Ecclesiae Novae, et ipsam ejus doctrinam de Domino et de Vita (861, 862); "et descendit ignis a Deo e Caelo, et consumpsit eos," significat quod perierint a concupiscentiis amoris infernalis (863).
10. "Et Diabolus seducens illos conjectus est in stagnum ignis et sulphuris, ubi Bestia et Pseudopropheta, et cruciabuntur dies et noctes in saecula saeculorum," significat illos, qui in malis quoad vitam et in falsis quoad doctrinam erant, conjectos in Infernum (864).
11. "Et vidi Thronum album magnum, et Sedentem super eo, a Cujus facie fugit Caelum et terra (et locus non inventus est)," significat Judicium universale a Domino factum super omnes priores Caelos, super quibus fuerunt qui in bono civili et morali et nullo spirituali erant, ita qui in externis simulabant Christianos, sed in internis erant diaboli; qui Caeli cum terra eorum prorsus dissipati sunt, adeo ut nihil eorum amplius appareret (865).
12. "Et vidi mortuos, parvos et magnos stantes, coram Deo," significat omnes qui e terris mortui sunt, et nunc inter illos qui in Mundo spirituum, ex quacunque conditione et qualitate, a Domino congregatos ad judicium (866); "et libri aperti sunt, et Liber alius apertus est qui est vitae," significat quod interiora mentis omnium illorum reclusa sint, et per influxum lucis et caloris e Caelo visi et percepti quales essent quoad affectiones quae amoris seu voluntatis, et inde quoad cogitationes quae fidei seu intellectus, tam mali quam boni (867); "et judicati sunt mortui ex scriptis in libris secundum opera illorum," significat quod omnes judicati sint secundum vitam suam internam in externis (868).
13. "Et dedit Mare eos qui in illo mortuos," significat homines Ecclesiae externos et naturales convocatos ad judicium (869); "et Mors et Infernus dederunt eos qui in illis mortuos," significat homines Ecclesiae impios corde, qui in se diaboli et satanae erant, convocatos ad judicium (870); "et judicati sunt quisque secundum opera illorum," significat hic ut prius (871).
14. "Et Mors et Infernus conjecti sunt in stagnum ignis;" significat quod impii corde, qui in se diaboli et satanae erant, et tamen in externis sicut homines Ecclesiae, dejecti sint in Infernum inter illos qui in amore mali et inde amore falsi concordantis cum malo erant (872); "haec est altera mors," significat quod his sit ipsa damnatio (873).
15. "Et si quis non inventus est in Libro vitae scriptus, conjectus est in stagnum ignis," significat quod qui non vixerunt secundum praecepta Domini in Verbo, et non crediderunt in Dominum, condemnati sint (874).
EXPLICATIO.
(Vers. 1) Et vidi Angelum descendentem de Caelo, habentem clavem abyssi, et catenam magnam super manu super sua," significat operationem Domini in inferiora, ex Divina Potestate claudendi et aperiendi, tum ligandi et solvendi. -Per "Angelum descendentem de Caelo" intelligitur Dominus (videatur 5, 170, 344, 465, 657, 718); tum operatio Domini (415, 631, 633, 649), hic in inferiora, quia dicitur "descendens;" per "habere clavem abyssi" significatur Divina potestas aperiendi et claudendi Infernum (videatur 62, 174); et per "habere catenam magnam super manu" significatur conatus et inde actus ligandi et solvendi: inde sequitur, quod non aliqua clavis nec catena in manu Domini fuerit; sed quod ita visum sit Johanni, esset repraesentativum Divinae Potestatis Domini; agitur etiam in hoc capite bis et ter de aperitione Inferni et de occlusione ejus.
Footnotes:
1. annos pro "annis"