531# “祸哉！祸哉！祸哉！那些住在地上的人，因为还有三位天使要吹那其余的号声”表示对在教会的末期，因厌恶良善与真理而导致的教会状态的变化，和随之而来的诅咒感到极其哀恸。这从“祸”、“那些住在地上的人”、“还有三位天使要吹的那其余的号声”的含义清楚可知：“祸”是指对厌恶良善和真理，以及随之而来的诅咒的哀恸；由于“祸”说了三次，所以它表示极其哀恸(对此，我们很快就会谈到)；“那些住在地上的人”是指那些属于教会的人，“地”表示教会(可参看AE 29, 304, 417节)。“还有三位天使要吹的那其余的号声”是指教会状态的变化，因为“吹号的天使”表示来自从天堂而降的流注的变化(参看AE 502节)。“三”表示完整，直到结束之物，这一点可见于下文。由此可见，“祸哉！祸哉！祸哉！那些住在地上的人，因为还有三位天使要吹那其余的号声”表示对在教会的末期，因厌恶良善与真理而导致的教会状态的变化，和随之而来的诅咒感到极其哀恸。
“祸或灾祸”表示对灾难、危险、困难、毁灭的哀恸，这一点可从圣言中提到它的经文清楚看出来；但它在此表示对厌恶良善和真理，以及随之而来的诅咒的哀恸，因为这就是下文论述的主题。由于对良善和真理的厌恶在教会，直到教会的末期，逐渐变得更严重，所以经上说了三次祸，每一次都表示邪恶的严重性逐渐增长。这一点可从以下经文明显看出来，在那里，经上说：
第一样灾祸过去了；看哪，以后还有两样灾祸要来。(启示录9:12)
后面：
第二样灾祸过去了；看哪，第三样灾祸快到了。(启示录11:14)
在圣言中，“祸或灾祸”表示对各种事件，尤其对摧毁教会的邪恶的哀恸，这一点可从圣言中的许多经文清楚看出来。如在马太福音：
你们这假冒为善的文士和法利赛人有祸了！(马太福音23:13–14, 16, 23, 25, 27, 29)
路加福音：:
出卖人子的，那人有祸了！(路加福音22:22)
绊跌的事由他而来的，那人有祸了！(路加福音17:1)
以赛亚书：
那些使房屋连接房屋的人有祸了！(以赛亚书5:8)
那些清晨早起，追寻烈酒的人有祸了！(以赛亚书5:11)
那些牵引罪孽的人有祸了！(以赛亚书5:18)
那些称恶为善的人有祸了！(以赛亚书5:20)
那些在自己眼中有智慧的人有祸了！(以赛亚书5:21)
饮酒的勇士有祸了！(以赛亚书5:22)
也可参看其它许多经文(如以赛亚书3:11; 10:1; 17:12; 18:1; 29:1, 15; 30:1; 31:1; 33:1; 45:9–10等; 耶利米书22:13; 以西结书13:3; 启示录18:16, 19)。
531. Woe, woe, woe, to them that dwell on the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels which are about to sound.- That this signifies grievous lamentation over the changes of the state of the church at its end, on account of aversion from good and truth, and thence damnation, is evident from the signification of woe, which denotes lamentation over aversion from good and truth, and consequent damnation; and from its being said three times, which denotes grievous lamentation, concerning which we shall speak presently; from the signification of them that dwell on the earth, as denoting those who are of the church, the earth denoting the church, as may be seen above (n. 29, 304, 417); and from the signification of the voices of the trumpet of the three angels which are about to sound, as denoting the changes of the state of the church; for by the angels sounding the trumpets, are signified changes from influx out of heaven; see above (n. 502). That three signifies what is complete even to the end, will be seen in the following article. It is therefore evident that these words, "Woe, woe, woe, to those that dwell on the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels which are about to sound," signify grievous lamentation over the changes of the state of the church at its end, on account of aversion from good and truth, and consequent damnation.
[2] That woe signifies lamentation over calamity, danger, misery, destruction, and so forth, is clear from the passages in the Word where it occurs; but here it signifies lamentation over aversion from good and truth, and consequent damnation, because this is the subject treated of in that which follows. And because aversion from good and truth becomes successively more grievous in the church, even unto its end, therefore it is three times named, to denote every successive increase of the grievousness of evil. This is evident from the following passages, where it is said,
"One woe is past; and behold, there come two woes more hereafter" (9:12).
And afterwards:
"The second woe is past; and behold, the third woe cometh quickly" (11:14).
That woe in the Word signifies lamentation over various accidents, especially over the evils which devastate the church, is evident from various passages therein; as in Matthew:
"Woe unto you, scribes and pharisees, hypocrites!" (23:13, 14, 15, 16, 23, 25, 27, 29).
And in Luke:
"Woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed!" (22:22).
Again, in the same:
"Woe unto him, through whom offences come!" (17:1).
And in Isaiah:
"Woe unto them that join house to house" (5:8).
"Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink" (5:11).
"Woe unto them that draw iniquity" (5:18).
"Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil" (5:20).
"Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes" (5:21).
"Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine (vinum)" (5:22).
See also Isaiah, chap. 3:11; 10:1; 17:12; 18:1; 29:1, 15; 30:1; 31:1; 33:1; 45:9, 10, etc.; Jeremiah 22:13; Ezekiel 13:3; Apoc. 18:16, 19.
531. Woe, woe, woe, to those that dwell on the earth, from the remaining voices of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound, signifies grievous lamentation over the changes of state of the church at its end, on account of the aversion from good and truth, and consequent damnation. This is evident from the signification of "woe," as being lamentation over the aversion from good and truth, and consequent damnation; and as "woe" is said three times, grievous lamentation is meant (of which presently); also from the signification of "those that dwell on the earth," as being those who are of the church (the "earth" means the church, as may be seen above, n. 29, 304, 417); also from the signification of "the voices of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound," as being the changes of state of the church; for "the angels sounding the trumpets" signify changes from influx out of heaven (See above, n. 502). That "three" signifies what is complete even to the end will be seen in the following article. From this it can be seen that "Woe, woe, woe, to those that dwell on the earth, from the voices of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound," signifies grievous lamentation over the changes of state of the church at its end, on account of the aversion from good and truth, and consequent damnation.
[2] That "woe" signifies lamentation over calamity, danger, hardship, destruction can be seen from passages in the Word where it occurs; but here it means lamentation over the aversion from good and truth, and consequent damnation, because this is what is treated of in what follows; and as the aversion from good and truth becomes successively more grievous in the church even to its end, it is said three times, each one standing for the successively increasing grievousness of the evil. This can be seen from the following, where it is said:
The first woe is past; behold there come yet two woes hereafter (Revelation 9:12).
And afterwards:
The second woe is past, behold the third woe cometh quickly (Revelation 11:14).
[3] That "woe" signifies in the Word lamentation over various occurrences, especially over the evils that devastate the church, can be seen from many passages therein. As in Matthew:
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! (Matthew 23:13, 14, 16, 23, 25, 27, 29).
In Luke:
Woe unto that man through whom the Son of man is betrayed! (Luke 22:22).
In the same:
Woe unto him through whom occasions for stumbling come! (Luke 17:1).
In Isaiah:
Woe unto them that join house to house! (Isaiah 5:8).
Woe unto them that rise early in the morning that they may follow strong drink! (Isaiah 5:11).
Woe unto them that draw iniquity! (Isaiah 5:18).
Woe unto them that call evil good! (Isaiah 5:20).
Woe unto the wise in their own eyes! (Isaiah 5:21).
Woe unto the mighty in drinking wine! (Isaiah 5:22).
(See in many other passages, as in Isaiah 3:11; 10:1; 17:12; 18:1; 29:1, 29:16; 30:1; 31:1; 33:1; 45:9, 10, etc.; Jeremiah 22:13; Ezekiel 13:3; Revelation 18:16, 19).
531. "Vae, vae, vae habitantibus super terra et reliquis vocibus tubae trium angelorum futurorum clangere." - Quod significet gravem lamentationem super mutationes status ecclesiae in fine ejus propter aversionem a bono et vero et inde damnationem, constat ex significatione "vae", quod sit lamentatio super aversione a bono et vero et inde damnatione; et quia ter dicitur "vae", quod sit gravis lamentatio (de qua sequitur); ex significatione "habitantium super terra", quod sint qui ab ecclesia ("terra" est ecclesia, videatur supra, n. 29, 304, 417); et ex significatione "vocum tubae trium angelorum futurorum clangere", quod sint mutationes status ecclesiae, nam per quod "angeli tubis clanxerint", significantur mutationes ex influxu e caelo (videatur supra, n. 502); quod per "tres" significetur completum usque ad finem, videbitur in sequente articulo. Ex his constare potest quod per "Vae, vae, vae habitantibus super terra ex vocibus tubae trium angelorum futurorum clangere", significetur gravis lamentatio super mutationes status ecclesiae in fine ejus propter aversionem a bono et vero ac inde damnationem.
[2] Quod "vae" significet lamentationem super calamitate, periculo, aerumna, pernicie, constare potest a locis in Verbo ubi effertur; hic autem super aversione a bono et vero et inde damnatione, nam de his in sequentibus agitur; et quia aversiones a bono et vero ingravescunt successive in ecclesia usque ad finem ejus, ideo ter dicitur, quodvis pro qualibet successiva illgravescentia mali; ut constare potest a sequentibus, ubi dicitur,
"Vae primum praeteriit, ecce venient adhuc duo vae post haec" (Apocalypsis 9:12);
ac postea,
"Vae secundum praeteriit, ecce vae tertium venit cito" (Apocalypsis 11:14).
[3] Quod "vae" in Verbo significet lamentationem super variis accidentibus, imprimis super malis quae devastant ecclesiam, constare potest a pluribus locis ibi: Ut apud Matthaeum,
"Vae vobis, Scribae et Pharisaei, hypocritae" (23:13, 14, 15, 16, 23, 25, 27, 29);
apud Lucam,
"Vae homini illi per quem filius hominis proditur" (22:22);
apud eundem,
"Vae ei per quem" scandala "veniunt" (17:1);
apud Esaiam,
"Vae adjungentibus domum domui, ...." (5:8);
"Vae surgentibus mane sub auroram siceram persequuntur" (Vers. 11);
"Vae attrahentibus iniquitatem...." (vers. 18);
"Vae dicentibus de malo bonum" (vers. 20);
"Vae sapientibus in oculis suis" (vers. 21);
"Vae heroibus ad potandum vinum" (vers. 22);
et alibi pluries (Ut apud Esai. cap. 3:11; 10:1; 17:12; 18:1; 29:1, 15: cap. 30:1; 31:1; 33:1; 45:9, 10; etc.: Jerem. 22:13 1
: Ezech. 2
13:3; Apocalypsis 18:16, 19).
Footnotes:
1. The editors made a correction or note here.
2. The editors made a correction or note here.