Faith59.对这些话的解释如下：
“天上现出大异象来”表示主关于未来教会和对其教义的接受，以及那些将攻击它之人的启示；“有一个妇人，身披日头，脚踏月亮”表示一个拥有来自主的爱和信的教会；“头戴十二星的冠冕”表示那些属于该教会的人将拥有来自神性真理的智慧和聪明；“她怀了孩子”表示它的新生教义；“在生产的阵痛中疼痛呼叫”表示那些处于与仁分离之信的人的抵制；“天上又现出异象来”表示进一步的启示；“看哪，有一条大红龙”表示与仁分离之信，这龙因纯属世之爱而被称为“红”；“七头”表示对圣言的歪曲理解；“十角”表示它因被许多人接受而具有的能力；“七头上戴着七个冠冕”表示被歪曲的圣言真理；“他的尾巴拖拉着天上星辰的三分之一，把它们摔在地上”表示对真理的一切知识的摧毁。“龙就站在那将要生产的妇人面前，等她生产之后，要吞吃她的孩子”表示他们对该教会教义的仇恨，以及在这教义诞生时摧毁它的意图；“妇人生了一个男孩子”表示教义；“是将来要用铁杖牧放列族的”表示该教义将凭源于属灵真理的属世真理的能力而令人信服；“她的孩子被提到神和祂宝座那里去了”表示主从天堂对该教义的保护。“妇人就逃到旷野”表示在少数人中间的教会；“在那里有神给她预备的地方”表示它的状态具有这种性质：在此期间，它可提供给许多人；“使他们在那里养活她一千二百六十天”表示直到它成长到指定状态。“在天上就有了争战：米迦勒同他的使者与龙争战；龙也同它的使者去争战”表示那些处于与仁分离之信的人同那些处于关于主和仁爱生活的教会教义之人的分歧和争战；“他们并没有得胜”表示他们，即那些处于唯信的人被打败了；“天上再没有他们的地方”表示他们从那里被扔了下去。“龙见自己被摔在地上，就逼迫那生了儿子的妇人”表示该教会因其教义而遭受那些处于与仁分离之信的人攻击。“于是有大鹰的两个翅膀赐给妇人，叫她能飞到旷野，到自己的地方”表示当该教会尚在极少数人中间时的谨言慎行；“她在那里被养活一载二载半载，躲避那蛇的面”表示直到该教会成长到指定状态。“蛇就在妇人后面，从口中吐出水来像河一样，要使这河吞没她”表示他们那基于旨在摧毁教会的虚假的大量推理。“地却帮助妇人，那地开口吞了那龙从口中吐出来的河”表示他们的推理因基于虚假，故自己就崩溃了。“龙向妇人发怒，去与她其余的种争战”表示他们持久的仇恨；“就是那守神诫命，为耶稣基督作见证的”表示反对那些过着仁爱生活，并信主的人。
59. The meaning of these verses is as follows:
A great sign appeared in heaven means a revelation by the Lord concerning a church that is to be, and concerning how its teachings will be received and who will attack it.
A woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet means a church that has love and faith from the Lord.
And on her head a crown of twelve stars means that the people [of that church] will have wisdom and intelligence arising from divine truths.
And being pregnant means the new teachings being born.
She cried out in labor and in pain to give birth means resistance by those people who were devoted to a faith divorced from caring.
And another sign appeared in heaven means a further revelation.
Behold, a great red dragon means a faith divorced from caring, which is called “red” because of its strictly earthly love.
Having seven heads means a distorted understanding of the Word.
And ten horns means the power they have because many people adopt [their point of view].
And seven gems on his heads means distorted truths of the Word.
His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth means the destruction of all recognition of what is true.
And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, to devour her child as soon as it was born means their hatred of and intent to destroy the teachings of the church at its very beginning.
She bore a male child means new teachings.
Who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron means teachings that will carry conviction because of the power of earthly truth derived from spiritual truth.
And her child was caught up to God and his throne means that those teachings will be kept safe by the Lord and heaven.
And the woman fled into the wilderness means the church among few people.
Where she has a place prepared by God means that its state is such that in the meantime it may be made available to many.
So that they would feed her there for one thousand two hundred and sixty days means until it grows to its appointed size.
And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought means the disagreement and battle of those devoted to a faith divorced from caring against those devoted to the teachings of the church with respect to the Lord and a life of caring.
But they did not prevail means that [those devoted to faith alone] yielded.
And no place was found for them in heaven any longer means their being cast down.
And when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who had given birth to the male child means an attack on the church on account of its teachings by those devoted to a faith divorced from caring.
But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, so that she could fly into the wilderness to her place means caution while it was still among few.
Where she would be nourished for a time and times and half a time, away from the presence of the serpent means until the church would grow to its appointed size.
So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, to cause her to be carried away by the flood means their rationalizations based on abundant distortions aimed at the destruction of the church.
But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood that the dragon had spewed out of his mouth means that because the rationalizations were based on distortions, they collapsed on their own.
And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went away to make war with the rest of her offspring means their abiding hatred.
Who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ means against those who live caring lives and believe in the Lord.
59. Here is the exposition of these verses:
"Now a great sign appeared in heaven" symbolizes a revelation from the Lord concerning His church to come, the reception of its doctrine, and those who will attack it.
"A woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet" symbolizes the church, which will be governed by love and faith from the Lord.
"And on her head a crown of twelve stars" symbolizes its wisdom and intelligence because of the Divine truths it possesses.
"Then being with child" symbolizes its emerging doctrine.
"She cried out in labor and in pain to give birth" symbolizes resistance to it by people whose faith is divorced from charity.
"And another sign appeared in heaven" symbolizes another revelation.
"Behold, a great, fiery red dragon" symbolizes faith divorced from charity, called fiery red because of its merely natural love.
"Having seven heads" symbolizes a false understanding of the Word.
"And ten horns" symbolizes its power from being accepted by so many.
"And seven jewels on its heads" symbolizes the Word’s truths falsified.
"Its tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth" symbolizes the destruction of all concepts of truth.
"And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born" symbolizes a hatred of those concepts and an intention to destroy the church’s doctrine at its inception.
"She bore a male child" symbolizes the doctrine.
"Who would shepherd all nations with a rod of iron" symbolizes doctrine which will convince by the power of natural truth in the light of spiritual truth.
"And her child was caught up to God and His throne" symbolizes its protection by the Lord from heaven.
"Then the woman fled into the wilderness" symbolizes the church being among few.
"Where she has a place prepared by God" symbolizes the state of the church then, that in the meantime provision may be made for it to be among more people.
"That they may feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days" symbolically means, until it grows to its appointed state.
"And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and its angels fought" symbolizes the dissent and combat of people whose faith is divorced from charity against those who accept the doctrine of the church regarding the Lord and a life of charity.
"But they did not prevail" symbolically means that they were overcome.
"Nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer" symbolizes their being cast down.
"When the dragon saw that it had been cast to the earth, it pursued the woman who gave birth to the male child" symbolizes a harassment of the church by people whose faith is divorced from charity, because of the church’s doctrine.
"But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place" symbolizes vigilance while the church is as yet among few.
"Where she might be nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the face of the serpent" symbolically means, until the church grows to its appointed state.
"So the serpent spewed water out of its mouth like a river after the woman, that it might cause her to be swept away by the river" symbolizes those people’s multitude of reasonings flowing from falsities, in order to destroy the church.
"But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the river which the dragon had spewed out of its mouth" symbolically means that the reasonings, being based on falsities, collapsed of themselves.
"And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and it went off to make war with the rest of her offspring" symbolizes those people’s lasting hatred.
"Who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ" symbolically means, against those who live a life of charity and believe in the Lord.
59. The explanation of these words is as follows:
A great sign was seen in heaven signifies a revelation from the Lord concerning the future Church, and concerning the reception of its doctrine, and concerning those by whom it would be attacked. A woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, signifies the Church which, from the Lord, is in love and in faith. And upon her head a crown of twelve stars, signifies wisdom and intelligence in those who belong to the Church from Divine truths.
And she being with child, signifies the birth of doctrine. Cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered, signifies resistance from those who are in faith separated from charity.
And there appeared another sign in heaven, signifies further revelation. And behold, a great red dragon, signifies faith separated from charity, the dragon being called red from merely natural love. Having seven heads, signifies a false understanding of the Word. And ten horns, signifies power in consequence of its reception by many. And seven crowns upon his heads, signifies falsified truths of the Word.
And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth, signifies the destruction of all cognitions of truth. And the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born, signifies their hatred of, and their desire to destroy, the doctrine of the Church at its birth.
And she brought forth a man-child, signifies doctrine. Who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron, signifies that this doctrine will convince by the power of natural truth derived from spiritual truth. And her child was caught up unto God, and to His throne, signifies the protection of the child by the Lord from heaven.
And the woman fled into the wilderness, signifies the Church among a few. Where she hath a place prepared of God, signifies its state while provision is meanwhile being made for it among many. That they should feed her there a thousand, two hundred and threescore days, signifies until it grows to its appointed stature.
And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, signifies the dissension and combat of those who are in faith separated from charity against those who are in the doctrine of the Church concerning the Lord and concerning the life of charity.
And prevailed not, signifies that they succumbed. Neither was their place found any more in heaven, signifies that they were cast down. Apocalypse 12:1-8.
And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man-child, signifies the infestation of the Church by those who are in faith separated from charity, on account of its doctrine.
And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, signifies circumspection while the Church as yet is among few. Where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent, signifies until the Church grows to its appointed stature.
And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood, signifies their reasonings from falsities in abundance to destroy the Church.
And the earth helped the woman; and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth, signifies that their reasonings, because they were from falsities, fell to the ground of themselves.
And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, signifies their persistent hatred. Which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ, signifies against those who live a life of charity and believe on the Lord. Apocalypse 12:13-17.
59. The exposition of these words is as follows: "A great sign was seen in heaven," signifies a revelation by the Lord concerning the church to come, and concerning the reception of its doctrine, and those by whom it will be assailed. The "woman encompassed with the sun, and the moon under her feet," signifies a church that is in love and in faith from the Lord; "and upon her head a crown of twelve stars," signifies wisdom and intelligence from Divine truths in the men of that church; "and she being with child," signifies its nascent doctrine; "cried, travailing in birth, and in pain to be delivered," signifies resistance by those who are in faith separated from charity. "And another sign was seen in heaven," signifies further revelation; "and behold, a great red dragon," signifies faith separated from charity; he is said to be "red" from love that is merely natural; "having seven heads," signifies a false understanding of the Word; "and ten horns," signifies power in consequence of its reception by many; "and upon his heads seven diadems," signifies falsified truths of the Word; "and his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them into the earth," signifies the destruction of all knowledges of truth. "And the dragon stood before the woman that was ready to be delivered, that when she was delivered, he might devour her child," signifies their hatred, and their intention to destroy the doctrine of the church at its birth. "And she brought forth a man child," signifies the doctrine; "who was to pasture all the nations with a rod of iron," signifies that this doctrine will convince by the power of truth natural from spiritual; "and her child was caught up unto God and unto His throne," signifies the protection of the doctrine by the Lord, from heaven. "And the woman fled into the wilderness," signifies the church among a few; "where she hath a place prepared of God," signifies the state of it such that provision may meanwhile be made for its existing with many; "that they may nourish her there a thousand two hundred and sixty days," signifies until it grows to its appointed state. "And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels," signifies dissent and battling by those who are in faith separated from charity against those who are in the doctrine of the church respecting the Lord and the life of charity "and they prevailed not," signifies that they were overcome "neither was their place found any more in heaven," signifies that they were cast down thence. "And when the dragon saw that he was cast into the earth, he persecuted the woman who brought forth the man child," signifies the infestation of the church by those in faith separated from charity, on account of its doctrine. "And unto the woman were given two wings of the great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness into her place," signifies cautious care and foresight while the church is as yet among few; "where she would be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent," signifies while the church is growing to its appointed state. "And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood," signifies their abundant reasonings from falsities whereby to destroy the church. "And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood that the dragon cast out of his mouth," signifies that their reasonings, being from falsities, fell of themselves to the ground. "And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went away to make war with the remnant of her seed," signifies their persistent hatred; "who keep the commandments of God, and hold the testimony of Jesus Christ," signifies against those who live the life of charity, and believe in the Lord.
59. Haec illorum explicatio est:- "Signum magnum visum est in caelo," significat revelationem a Domino de futura ecclesia, et de receptione doctrinae ejus, et a quibus impugnabitur: "mulier circumdata sole, et luna sub pedibus significat ecclesiam, quae a Domino in amore, et in fide est: "et super capite ejus corona stellarum duodecim," significat sapientiam ac intelligentiam ex Divinis veris apud illos: "et in utero habens," significat nascentem doctrinam: "clamavit parturiens, et cruciata parere," significat resistentiam ab illis qui in fide separata a charitate sunt: "et visum est aliud signum in caelo," significat iterum revelationem: "et ecce draco magnus rufus," significat fidem separatam a charitate, qui "rufus" dicitur ab amore mere naturali: "habens capita septem," significat falsum intellectum Verbi: "et cornua decem," significat potentiam ex receptione a multis: "et super capitibus suis diademata septem," significat falsificata vera Verbi: "et cauda sua traxit tertiam partem stellarum caeli, et projecit illas in terram," significat destructionem omnium cognitionum veri: "et draco stetit coram muliere paritura, ut postquam pepererat, fetum ejus devoraret," significat odium illorum et animum destruendi doctrinam ecclesiae in suo ortu: "et peperit filium masculum," significat doctrinam: "qui pasturus omnes gentes virga ferrea," significat quae ex potentia veri naturalis ex spirituali convincet: "et raptus est filius ejus ad Deum et thronum Ipsius," significat tutationem ejus a Domino e caelo: "et (mulier) fugit in desertum," significat ecclesiam inter paucos: "ubi habet locum praeparatum a Deo," significat statum ejus ut interea provideatur inter plures: "ut ibi alant illam diebus mille ducentis sexaginta," significat usque dum crescit ad suum statutum: "et factum est bellum in caelo, Michael et angeli ejus pugnarunt cum dracone, et draco pugnavit et angeli ejus," significat dissensionem et pugnam illorum qui in fide separata a charitate sunt contra illos qui in doctrina ecclesiae de Domino et de vita charitatis sunt: "et non praevaluerunt," significat quod succubuerint: "et non locus inventus eorum amplius in caelo," significat dejectionem illorum: "cum vidit draco quod projectus sit in terram, persecutus est mulierem quae peperit masculum," significat infestationem ecclesiae ab illis qui in fide separata a charitate, propter doctrinam ejus: "et datae mulieri duae alae aquilae magnae, ut volaret in desertum in locum suum," significat circumspectionem dum adhuc inter paucos est: "ubi aleretur tempus et tempora et dimidium temporis a facie serpentis," significat usque dum ecclesia crescit ad suum statutum: "et ejecit serpens post mulierem ex ore suo aquam tanquam flumen, ut illam a flumine absorptam faceret," significat ratiocinationes illorum ex falsis in copia ad destruendum ecclesiam: "et adjuvit terra mulierem, et aperuit terra os suum, et deglutivit flumen quod ejecit draco ex ore suo," significat quod ratiocinationes, quia ex falsis, a se ipsis deciderint: "et iratus est draco contra mulierem, et abivit facere bellum cum reliquis seminis ejus," significat perstans odium illorum: "observantibus mandata Dei, et habentibus testimonium Jesu Christi," significat contra illos qui vivunt vitam charitatis, et credunt in Dominum.