535# “我就看见一个星从天上落到地上”表示被歪曲，因而变成虚假的真理的知识或认知。这从“星”、“落”和“从天上落”的含义清楚可知：“星”是指良善和真理的知识或认知(对此，参看AE 72, 402节)；“落”和“从天上落”是指灭亡，真理的知识或认知当被否认、歪曲时，就灭亡了。因为这本书不是论述那些否认真理的人，而是论述那些歪曲它们的人。事实上，那些否认真理的人不在那些在“先前的天”里面，当最后审判之日从那里被扔进地狱的人当中，因为这些人死后随即被扔进地狱。本书论述的是那些因种种原因歪曲真理的人，因为这些人为自己造了后来被摧毁的天堂。来自圣言的良善和真理的知识或认知是被那些承认圣言，但却用它来支持自己的爱，支持来自自我聪明的原则之人歪曲的，因为他们就这样把圣言的真理变成虚假，与他们同在的良善和真理的知识或认知由此灭亡。由此可见，“一个星从天上落到地上”表示真理的知识或认知被歪曲了，从而变成虚假(参看AE 517节)。
“落”或“从天上落到地上”表示灭亡，也就是在天堂不再有一席之地，而是从那里被扔下去，并与地狱结合，这一点从下文明显看出来；在那里，经上说“有无底坑的钥匙赐给他，他开了无底坑”，“无底坑”表示地狱，邪恶之虚假就在地狱并来自地狱。在启示录，“从天上落到地上”具有相同的含义：
天上的星辰坠落于地。(启示录6:13)
启示录：
龙用他的尾巴拖拉着天上星辰的第三部分，把它们摔在地上。(启示录12:4)
但以理书：
公山羊的角渐渐强大，直达天象，将些天象和星宿抛落在地，并践踏它们。(但以理书8:10)
马太福音：
那些日子的灾难一过去，日头就变黑了，众星要从天上坠落。(马太福音24:29)
主在路加福音中的话所表相同：
耶稣说，我看见撒但像闪电一样从天上坠落。(路加福音10:18)
“撒但”表示摧毁真理的一切虚假，因为这些虚假所在并来自的地狱被称为“撒但”，而摧毁良善的邪恶所在并来自的地狱被称为“魔鬼”，因此“撒但像闪电一样从天上坠落”表示摧毁圣言真理的一切虚假都从天堂被扔下去。所以在启示录：
大龙被摔在地上，他的使者也同他被摔下去，在天上再也找不到他们的地方了。(启示录12:8, 9)
由此可见，“落或摔下去”、“落”、“从天上被摔在地上”表示在天堂不再有地方，而是在地狱有地方，因而表示灭亡，“地”在此也表示被诅咒之物，如前所示(AE 304g节)。
由于天堂通过圣言与人结合，所以那些为了确认生活的邪恶而通过解释来歪曲圣言真理的人就把自己从天堂转移，并转向地狱。因为天堂就在圣言的属灵意义中，而人在圣言的属世意义中；因此，天堂通过圣言与世界结合。也正因如此，圣言被称为“约”，“约”就是结合。这就是为何那些将圣言应用于生活的邪恶和来自自我聪明的虚假原则的人不能与天堂结合；那些不与天堂结合的人就与地狱结合；因为人必须要么在天堂，要么在地狱；他不允许悬在这两者之间。但对那些将圣言应用于诸如与生活的良善一致的那些虚假，就是没有圣言的正直的外邦人，以及教会中相信主，并过着良善生活的简单人所拥有的那种虚假的人来说，主也将他们的虚假应用于良善，并它们转向天堂，因为他们从他们的虚假仰望良善。事实上，天堂里的本质事物是生活的良善，生活的良善就等于对主之爱的良善和对邻之仁的良善；因为在天堂，根据这良善，每个人都是真理、聪明和智慧的接受者。这清楚表明，此处由“一个星从天上落到地上”所表示的歪曲来自圣言的真理是什么意思。
535. And I saw a star from heaven fallen unto the earth.- That this signifies the cognitions of truth falsified, and thus turned into falsities, is evident from the signification of stars, which denote the cognitions of good and truth (see above, n. 72, 402); and from the signification of falling and falling from heaven, which denotes to perish, and this is the case with the cognitions of truth when they are denied, and falsified; in this case, when they are falsified. For this book does not treat of those who deny truths, but of those who falsify them, since those who deny truths are not amongst those who are in the former heaven, and are cast down thence into hell at the day of a last judgment, for these are cast thither immediately after death; but those who falsify truths from various causes are treated of in this book, because they made themselves a heaven which was afterwards destroyed. The cognitions of good and truth from the Word are falsified by those, who acknowledge the Word, but apply it in favour of their own loves, and of the principles which are from their own intelligence, for thus they turn the truths of the Word into falsities, and thus the cognitions of good and truth with them perish. From these considerations it is evident that the star from heaven fallen unto the earth, signifies that the cognitions of truth were falsified, and thus turned into falsities (similarly above, n. 517).
[2] That to fall down, or to fall from heaven to the earth, signifies to perish, that is, no longer to have a place in heaven, but to be cast down thence and conjoined with hell, is evident from what follows, where it is said, "And to him was given the key of the well of the abyss," and that "he opened it," the well of the abyss denoting the hell where and whence are the falsities of evil. The signification of falling from heaven unto the earth, above in the Apocalypse, is similar:
"And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth" (6:13).
And again:
The dragon "with his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth" (12:4).
And in Daniel:
And the horn of the he-goat "waxed great, even to the host of the heavens; and it cast down some of the host, and of the stars to the ground, and trampled upon them" (8:10).
And in Matthew:
"Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the stars shall fall from heaven" (24:29).
The same is also signified by the words of the Lord in Luke:
Jesus said, "I beheld Satan as lightning falling from heaven" (10:18).
Satan means all the falsity that destroys truth, for the hells where such falsities are, and whence they arise, are called Satan, and the hells where and whence the evils are which destroy goods, are called the Devil, wherefore by Satan as lightning falling from heaven, is meant, that all the falsity which destroyed the truth of the Word, was cast down out of heaven. The same is meant by the great dragon being cast upon the earth and his angels with him, whose place was no more found in heaven (Apoc. 12:8, 9). From these considerations it is evident, that by falling, and being cast down out of heaven to the earth, is signified, no longer to have a place in heaven, but in hell, consequently to perish. The earth, here also, signifies that which is cursed, as was shown above (n. 304 at the end).
[3] The reason why those who falsify the truths of the Word by interpretations for the purpose of confirming evils of the life, avert themselves from heaven, and turn themselves to hell, is, that the conjunction of heaven with man is by means of the Word, for heaven is in the spiritual sense of the Word, and man is in its natural sense, wherefore the conjunction of heaven with the world is by means of the Word; on this account, also, the Word is called a covenant, and a covenant denotes conjunction. This is the reason why those cannot be conjoined with heaven who apply the Word to evils of the life, and to false principles from [their] own intelligence, and those who are not conjoined with heaven are conjoined with hell; for man must be either in heaven or in hell, as he is not allowed to hang between both. But with those who apply the Word to falsities which do not disagree with good of life, such as the upright Gentiles possess who have not the Word, and the simple-minded in the church who believe in the Lord, and lead a good life, the Lord also applies their falsities to good, and turns them to heaven, since from their falsities they look to good. For the essential thing in heaven is the good of life, which is the same as the good of love to the Lord, and the good of charity towards the neighbour; for according to that good, every one there has intelligence, wisdom, and perception of truth. This therefore is what is meant by the falsification of truth from the Word, here signified by the star from heaven fallen unto the earth.
535. And I saw a star from heaven fallen unto the earth, signifies the knowledges of truth falsified, and thus turned into falsities. This is evident from the signification of "stars," as being the knowledges of good and truth (of which above, n. 72, 402); and from the signification of "gliding" and "falling from heaven," as being to perish; and the knowledges of truth perish when denied and when falsified, here when falsified; for this book does not treat of those who deny truths, but of those who falsify them. For those who deny truths are not among those who are in "the former heaven," and who are cast down therefrom into hell at the day of the Last Judgment, for such are cast down thither immediately after death. But in this book those who, for various reasons, falsify truths are treated of, for such made for themselves a heaven that was afterwards destroyed. Those falsify the knowledges of truth and good from the Word who acknowledge the Word but apply it to favor their loves and to favor principles that are from self-intelligence, thus they turn the truths of the Word into falsities, and thus the knowledges of good and truth with them perish. From this it can be seen that "a star from heaven fallen unto the earth" signifies that the knowledges of truth are falsified, and thus turned into falsities (See above, n. 517).
[2] "To fall down" or "to fall from heaven unto the earth" signifies to perish, that is, to have no longer any place in heaven but to be cast down therefrom and conjoined with hell, as is evident from what follows, where it is said "there was given unto him the key of the pit of the abyss, and he opened it," "the pit of the abyss" signifying the hell where and from which are the falsities of evil. "To fall from heaven unto the earth" has a similar signification above in Revelation:
And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth (304.
[3] Because heaven is conjoined with man by means of the Word, those who falsify the truths of the Word by interpretations to confirm evils of life avert themselves from heaven and turn themselves to hell. For heaven is in the spiritual sense of the Word, and man is in its natural sense; consequently heaven is conjoined with the world by means of the Word. For this reason the Word is also called a "covenant" and a covenant is a conjunction. This is why those who apply the Word to evils of life and to the false principles that are from self-intelligence cannot be conjoined with heaven; and those who are not conjoined with heaven are conjoined with hell; for man must be either in heaven or in hell; it is not permitted him to hang between the two. But those who apply the Word to such falsities as do not disagree with the good of life, such as exist with the upright Gentiles that do not have the Word and with the simple in the church who believe in the Lord and lead a good life, because from their falsities they look to good, have such falsities applied by the Lord to good, and are turned towards heaven; for the essential thing in heaven is the good of life, which is the same as the good of love to the Lord and the good of charity towards the neighbor; for in heaven everyone has perception of truth, intelligence, and wisdom, in accordance with that good. This makes clear what is meant by falsifying the truth from the Word, which is here signified by "a star from heaven fallen unto the earth."
535. "Et vidi stellam e caelo delapsam in terram." - Quod significet cognitiones veri falsificatas et sic versas in falsa, constat ex significatione "stellarum", quod sint cognitiones boni et veri (de qui supra, n. 72, 402); et ex significatione "labi" et "cadere e caelo", quod sit perire; et cognitiones veri pereunt cum negantur et cum falsificantur; hic cum falsificantur, nam in hoc Libro non agitur de illis qui negant vera, sed de illis qui falsificant illa: qui enim negant vera, non sunt inter illos qui in priori caelo sunt, et inde die ultimi judicii dejiciuntur in infernum; hi enim statim post mortem illuc conjiciuntur: at illi qui falsificant vera ex variis causis, sunt de quibus in hoc Libro agitur, quoniam illi fecerunt sibi caelum quod postea destructum est. Illi cognitiones veri et boni, quae ex Verbo, falsificant, qui agnoscunt Verbum sed illud applicant ad favorem suorum amorum, et ad favorem principiorum quae ex propria intelligentia, ita vertunt vera Verbi in falsa; sic cognitiones boni et veri apud illos pereunt. Ex his constare potest quod per "stellam e caelo delapsam in terram" significetur quod cognitiones veri falsificatae sint, et sic versae in falsa (similiter ac supra, n. 517).
[2] Quod "delabi" seu "cadere e caelo in terram" significet perire, hoc est, non locum amplius habere in caelo, sed inde dejici et conjungi inferno, patet a sequentibus, ubi dicitur quod "data ei sit clavis putei abyssi", et quod "aperuerit illum"; per "puteum abyssi" significatur infernum ubi et unde falsa mali. Simile significatur per "cadere e caelo in terram" supra in Apocalypsi,
"Et stellae caeli ceciderunt in terram" (6:13);
et alibi,
Draco cauda sua "traxit tertiam partem stellarum caeli, et projecit eas in terram" (12:4);
apud Danielem,
Cornu hirci caprarum "crevit usque ad exercitum caelorum, et dejecit in terram de exercitu, et de stellis, et conculcavit illa" (8:10);
apud Matthaeum,
"Statim post afflictionem dierum istorum sol obscurabitur et stellae cadent de caelo" (24:29).
Simile significatur per Domini verba apud Lucam,
Dixit Jesus, "Vidi satanam sicut fulmen e caelo cadentem" (10:18 1
):
per "satanam" intelligitur omne falsum quod destruit verum; inferna enim ubi talia falsa, et unde illa, vocantur "satanas; at inferna ubi et unde sunt mala quae destruunt bona, vocantur "diabolus": quare per quod "satanas sicut fulmen e caelo ceciderit", intelligitur quod omne falsum, quod destruxit verum Verbi, e caelo dejectum sit: similiter,
Quod dejectus sit draco magnus in terram, et angeli illius cum illo, et quod locus eorum non inventus sit amplius in caelo ([Apoc.] 12:8, 9).
Ex his constare potest, quod "labi", "cadere" et "dejici e caelo in terram", significet non amplius habere locum in caelo, sed in inferno, ita perire: per "terram" etiam ibi significatur damnatum (ut supra, n. 304 [g] ad finem, ostensum est).
[3] Quod illi qui falsificant vera Verbi per interpretationes ad confirmandum mala vitae, se avertant a caelo et convertant ad infernum, est quia per Verbum est conjunctio caeli cum homine: caelum enim est in sensu Verbi spirituali, et homo est in sensu ejus naturali; quare caeli cum mundo est conjunctio per Verbum: ideo etiam Verbum vocatur "foedus", ac foedus est conjunctio. Ex eo est, quod qui Verbum applicant ad mala vitae et ad principia falsa quae ex propria intelligentia, non possint conjungi caelo: et qui non conjuncti sunt caelo, illi conjunguntur inferno; nam homo vel erit in caelo vel erit in inferno; non licet ei inter utrumque pendere. At qui applicant Verbum ad talia falsa quae non discordant cum bono vitae, qualia sunt apud gentes probas quae non habent Verbum, et apud simplices in ecclesia qui credunt in Dominum et bene vivunt, illorum falsa, quia ex illis spectant bonum, etiam a Domino applicantur ad bonum, et vertuntur ad caelum: essentiale enim in caelo est bonum vitae, quod idem est cum bono amoris in Dominum, et cum bono charitatis erga proximum; nam secundum id bonum est cuivis ibi perceptio veri, intelligentia et sapientia. Ex his constare potest quid intelligitur per falsificationem veri ex Verbo, quae hic significatur per "stellam e caelo delapsam in terram."
Footnotes:
1. The editors made a correction or note here.