573# 启9:16.“马兵军队的数目有二万万”表示他们推理所基于和代表，并图谋反对良善之真理的邪恶之虚假是无数的。这从“军队”、“马兵”和“二万万”的含义清楚可知：“军队”是指邪恶之虚假(对此，我们很快就会谈到)。“马兵”是指由此而来的推理，因为“马”表示对真理的理解，在反面意义上表示被扭曲和破坏的理解力(参看AE 355, 364, 372a, 373, 381, 382节)；因此，“马兵”在反面意义上表示基于虚假的推理，因为基于虚假的推理来自被扭曲和破坏的理解力；事实上，真理构成理解力，而虚假破坏它。“二万万”是指图谋反对良善之真理的无数虚假；“万”表示无数事物，并论及真理(参看AE 336节)；经上说“二万万”，是因为这表示结合和联盟的无数事物，数字“二”表示结合、一致和联盟(参看AE 283, 384节)。之所以说反对良善之真理，是因为接下来论述的主题是这些马兵军队对真理的摧毁。由此可见，“马兵军队的数目有二万万”表示他们推理所基于和代表，并图谋反对良善之真理的邪恶之虚假是无数的。
圣言经常提到“军队”(或万象)，主也被称为“万军或万象之耶和华”；在那里，“万军或万象”表示与来自邪恶的虚假争战的来自良善的真理，在反面意义上表示与来自良善的真理争战的来自邪恶的虚假。这就是圣言中“军队”的含义，因为在圣言中，无论历史还是预言中的“战争”，在内义上都表示属灵的战争，属灵的战争是向地狱和那里的恶魔团伙发起的；这些战争涉及真理和良善与虚假和邪恶的争战；这就是为何“军队”表示来自良善的一切真理，在反面意义上表示来自邪恶的一切虚假。“军队”表示来自良善的一切真理，这一点从以下事实明显看出来：日、月、星辰，以及天使被称为“耶和华的军队”，因为它们表示整体上来自良善的一切真理；以色列人也被称为“军队”，因为他们表示教会的真理和良善。由于一切真理和良善都来自主，唯独主为天堂里的所有人和教会里的所有人与来自地狱的虚假和邪恶争战，所以祂被称为“万军之耶和华”(Jehovah Zebaoth)，也就是“万象之耶和华”。
日、月、星辰被称为“万象”，这一点从以下经文明显看出来。摩西五经：
天地与其万象都完成了。(创世记2:1)
诗篇：
诸天藉耶和华的话而造，万象藉祂口中的气而成。(诗篇33:6)
又：
祂的众使者啊，你们都要赞美耶和华；祂的万象啊，你们都要赞美祂；日头、月亮啊，你们都要赞美祂；放光的众星啊，你们都要赞美祂。(诗篇148:2, 3)
以赛亚书：
天上的万象必将解体，诸天被卷起，好像书卷；天上的万象尽都陨坠，如葡萄树的叶子凋落，又如无花果树的叶子凋落一样。(以赛亚书34:4)
同一先知书：
我造地，又造人在地上；我亲手铺张诸天，天上万象也是我所命定的。(以赛亚书45:12)
又：
你们举目向高处观看，谁创造这些事物，按数目领万象而出，祂一一称其名。(以赛亚书40:26)
耶利米书：
正如天上的万象不能数算，海沙不能斗量。(耶利米书33:22)
在这些经文中，日月星辰被称为“万象”，因为“日”表示爱之良善，“月”表示来自良善的真理，“星”表示真理和良善的知识或认知，故它们表示整体上的良善和真理；它们被称为“万象或军队”，是因为它们抵制邪恶和虚假，并不断战胜它们，如同战胜仇敌。
但以理书：
公山羊的一角渐渐强大，直达天象，将些天象抛落在地，并践踏它们。它自高自大，高及天象之君；从他那里除掉常献的燔祭，他神圣的居所被毁坏。因罪过的缘故，有军队被交付在常献的燔祭上，因它将真理抛在地上。有一位圣者说，这异象，就是常献的燔祭和毁坏的罪过，使圣所和天象被交付践踏，要到几时呢？他说，到晚上、早晨。(但以理书8:10–14)
关于此处“公山羊”、他的“角”，以及这角“渐渐强大，直达天象”表示什么，可参看前文(AE 316c, 336b, 535节)。“天象，将些天象抛落在地”表示天堂的真理和良善；因为此处论述的是当天堂的真理和良善被视为毫不重要，并遭弃绝(这由“践踏它们”来表示)时，教会的最后状态；故经上补充说：“它将真理抛在地上。”“天象之君”表示主，主也被称为“耶和华万军之神”。“从他那里除掉常献的燔祭，他神圣的居所被毁坏”表示出于爱之良善和信之真理的一切敬拜都将灭亡。“到晚上、早晨”表示这一切将在教会的末日发生，就是主降世的时候，“晚上”表示旧教会的末期，“早晨”表示新教会的开始。
天使或使者被称为“万象(或军队、万军、众军等)”，这一点从以下经文明显看出来。约珥书：
耶和华在祂军队前发声；因为祂的营甚大。(约珥书2:11)
撒迦利亚书：
因来回经过的人，我必从军队在我家安营，使榨取者不再从他们身上经过。(撒迦利亚书9:8)
诗篇：
你们做祂万象的都要祝福耶和华；你们都是遵行祂旨意的事奉者。(诗篇103:21)
列王纪上：
先知米该雅对王说，我看见耶和华坐在宝座上，天上的万军侍立在祂右左。这个就这样说，那个就那样说。(列王纪上22:19, 20)
启示录：
在天上的众军骑着白马，穿着细麻衣，又白又洁，跟随祂。(启示录19:14)
又：
我看见那兽和地上的列王，并他们的众军都聚集，要与那骑在白马上的和祂的军队争战。(启示录19:19)
聚集起来的天使，或他们的联合被称为“万象或军队”，因为“天使”和“万象或军队”一样，表示神性真理和良善，他们是来自主的这些事物的接受者(对此，参看AE 130, 200, 302节)。
由于同样的原因，以色列人因表示教会的真理和良善而被称为“军队或万象”，如以下经文。摩西五经：
耶和华说，将以色列人按着他们的军队从埃及地领出来。(出埃及记6:26)
出埃及记：
我要用大判罚，将我的军队，我的百姓以色列人从埃及地领出来。(出埃及记7:4; 12:17)
又：
当那日，耶和华的所有军队都从埃及地出来了。(出埃及记12:41)
民数记：
你要数点所有能参军的人。(民数记1:3等)
又：
要对着会幕的四围安营，他们也要按着军队起行。(民数记2:3, 9, 16, 24)
又：
利未人被选去服役，在会幕里工作。(民数记4:3, 23, 30, 39)
以色列人被称为“耶和华的军队”，因为他们代表教会，并表示教会的一切真理和良善(可参看《属天的奥秘》，5414, 5801, 5803, 5806, 5812, 5817, 5819, 5826, 5833, 5879, 5951, 6637, 6862, 6868, 7035, 7062, 7198, 7201, 7215, 7223, 7957, 8234, 8805, 9340节)。他们被称为复数形式的“军队”，是因为每个支派都被称为一个军队，这可见于摩西五经；当吩咐他要照着军队数点他们所有人时(民数记1, 3, 等)；同样当照支派在会幕周围安营时，经上说“照着军队”(民数记2:3, 9等)。众支派被称为“军队”，是因为十二支派合在一起代表教会的一切真理和良善，每个支派都表示教会的某种普遍本质(参看AE 431节)。
由此可见，在圣言中，“军队或万象”表示天堂和教会的真理和良善；这清楚表明为何在圣言中，耶和华被称为“万军之耶和华”、“耶和华万军之神”(如以赛亚书1:9, 24; 2:12; 3:1, 15; 5:7, 9, 16, 24; 6:3, 5; 8:13, 18; 14:22, 23, 24, 27; 17:3; 25:6; 28:5, 22, 29; 29:6; 31:4, 5; 37:16; 耶利米书5:14; 38:17; 44:7; 阿摩司书5:16; 哈该书1:9, 14; 2:4, 8, 23; 撒迦利亚书1:3; 玛拉基书2:12；以及各个地方)。
573b.由此明显可知，“万象”(或军队)表示整体上天堂和教会的真理和良善；圣言中的大多数事物都有反面意义，“万象”也是如此，它们在反面意义上表示整体上的虚假和邪恶，如在以下经文中。耶利米书：
他们在房顶上向天上的万象烧香，向别神浇奠祭。(耶利米书19:13)
西番雅书：
他们在房顶上敬拜天上万象。(西番雅书1:5)
摩西五经：
恐怕你敬拜侍奉日月星辰和天上的万象。(申命记4:19; 17:3)
耶利米书：
人必将从坟墓中取出来的骸骨抛散在日头、月亮和天上的万象面前，就是他们从前所喜爱、所侍奉的。(耶利米书8:2)
此处“天上的万象”是指日月星辰，因为这些表示整体上的一切良善和真理，但在此表示整体上的一切邪恶和虚假；在反面意义上，如此处，“日”表示源于自我之爱的一切邪恶，“月”表示信之虚假，“星”表示总体上的虚假。当被敬拜的，是自然界的“日月星辰”，而不是天使天堂的日月星辰时，自然界的“日月星辰”就表示可怕的邪恶和虚假(可参看《天堂与地狱》，122, 123节; AE 401g, 402, 525节)。由于来自良善的真理与来自邪恶的虚假争战，反过来，来自邪恶的虚假与来自良善的真理争战，所以它们被称为“万象或军队”。因此才有不断的争战，因为邪恶和虚假不断从地狱散发出来，努力摧毁在天堂里并来自天堂的源于良善的真理，这些则不断抵抗。事实上，灵界处处都有天堂与地狱之间的一种平衡；哪里有一种平衡，哪里就有两股力量不断相互作用；一方作用，另一方反作用，不断的作用和反作用，就是不断的争战；但主总是提供一种平衡(对此，参看《天堂与地狱》，589–596, 597–603节)。由于天堂与地狱之间有这种持续不断的争战，所以正如天堂的一切事物都被称为“万象或军队”，地狱的一切事物也被如此称呼。天堂的一切事物都与良善和真理有关，地狱的一切事物都与邪恶和虚假有关。
这就是为何在以下经文中，“万象(或军队、全军等)”表示邪恶之虚假。以赛亚书：
耶和华向所有民族发怒，向他们的全军发烈怒，将他们灭尽，把他们交给杀戮。(以赛亚书34:2)
“民族”表示邪恶，“全军”表示来自邪恶的虚假；“将他们灭尽，把他们交给杀戮”表示彻底毁灭。
同一先知书：
山间有多人的声音，好像是大人民；是列族列国聚集哄嚷的声音；万军之耶和华率领军队。(以赛亚书13:4)
“山间多人的声音”表示来自邪恶的虚假，“多人”表示虚假，“山”表示邪恶；“好像是大人民”表示似乎是来自良善的真理的表象，“好像”表示表象，“人民”表示那些处于真理的人，因而表示真理，“大”论及良善；“列族列国聚集哄嚷的声音”表示源于邪恶和由此而来的虚假的教会里的纷争，“哄嚷的声音”表示纷争，“国”表示真理和虚假方面的教会，“聚集的民族”表示图谋反对教会的真理和良善的邪恶和由此而来的虚假；“万军之耶和华率领军队”表示主做这一切，因为这一切被归于主，这从下一节，就是以赛亚书13:5明显看出来，在那里，经上说：“耶和华带着祂恼恨的兵器而来，要毁灭这全地。”这一切被归于主，正如在别处，邪恶和邪恶的惩罚，以及教会的毁灭被归于祂一样，是因为这是表象，圣言的字义是照着表象来写的；但在灵义上，这一切表示教会之人自己做了这一切。
耶利米书：
不要怜惜她的少年人；要把她的全军都交给诅咒。(耶利米书51:3)
这话论及巴比伦；“不要怜惜她的少年人”表示确认的虚假的毁灭。“要把她的全军都交给诅咒”表示属于她的来自邪恶的虚假的彻底毁灭，因而表示巴比伦的毁灭。来自邪恶的虚假也由“迦勒底的军队和法老的军队”(耶利米书37:7, 10, 11等)来表示，在摩西五经由“水就回流，淹没了战车和马兵，以及法老全军”(出埃及记14:28; 15:4)来表示，前面(可参看AE 355g节)和《属天的奥秘》(8230, 8275节)解释了这些话。
但以理书：
北方王必回来摆列大军，比先前的更多，过了时候年数，他必率领大军，带极多的财富而来。他必奋力、激动内心，率领大军攻击南方王；南方王也必以极大极强的军队参战，却站立不住。(但以理书11:13, 25)
此处论述的主题是北方王和南方王之间的争战，“北方王”表示教会里那些处于邪恶之虚假的人，“南方王”表示那些处于良善之真理的人；他们的战争在灵义上描述了在教会终结时的碰撞和争战；因此，“北方王的军队”表示各种虚假，“南方王的军队”表示各种真理。
路加福音：
当你们看见耶路撒冷被军队围困时，就知道她的毁灭近了。(路加福音21:20)
在这一章，主谈到了时代的完结，时代的完结表示教会的末期；“耶路撒冷”表示教义方面的教会；“它被军队围困”表示教会被虚假占据；“她的毁灭近了”表示那时，它的毁灭就到来了，很快最后的审判也到来。人们以为，这话论及罗马人对耶路撒冷的摧毁，但从这一章的细节清楚看出，它论述的是教会在终结时的毁灭；马太福音24章从头到尾也是如此，《属天的奥秘》解释了这一章。但这并不排除关于耶路撒冷毁灭的字义，相反这种毁灭代表、因而表示教会在终结时的毁灭；就灵义而言，这一章的一切细节都确认了这一点。
诗篇：
神丢弃了我们，使我们受辱，不和我们的军队同去。祂使我们向仇敌转身退后。(诗篇44:9, 10)
此处“神不和我们的军队同去”表示祂不保护他们，因为他们处于邪恶之虚假，“军队”表示邪恶之虚假；因此，经上还说“神丢弃了我们，使我们受辱，使我们向仇敌转身退后”，“仇敌”表示来自地狱的邪恶。
约珥书：
我差遣到你们中间去的，我的大军队，就是蝗虫、蝻子、蚂蚱和剪虫，在那些年所吃的，我必补还你们。(约珥书2:25)
“军队”表示各种虚假和邪恶，这是显而易见的，因为这些破坏性的小生物，即“蝗虫、蝻子、蚂蚱和剪虫”，表示摧毁或吞灭教会真理和良善的虚假和邪恶；对此，可参看前文(AE 543c节)，那里解释了这段经文，并说明，“蝗虫和蚂蚱”表示感官人的(邪恶和)虚假。这清楚表明，在圣言中，“军队”在两种意义上表示什么。圣言历史中的“军队”具有相同的含义，因为这些历史和预言一样，也包含灵义；只是这灵义发光不那么清晰，因为当专注于历史意义时，心智就无法轻易被提升到历史中的世俗事物之上，看到储存在它们里面的属灵事物。
573. And the number of the armies of the horsemen was two myriads of myriads.- That this signifies innumerable falsities of evil, from which and on behalf of which there are reasonings, which conspire against the truths of good, is evident from the signification of armies, as denoting the falsities of evil, of which in what follows; and from the signification of horsemen, as denoting reasonings thence; for horses, in the Word, signify the understanding of truth, and in the opposite sense, the understanding perverted and destroyed, as may be seen above (n. 355, 364, 372, 373, 381, 382); horsemen, therefore, in this sense, signify reasonings from falsities, because these are of the understanding perverted and destroyed, for truths form the understanding, but falsities destroy it; and from the signification of two myriads of myriads, as denoting that they are innumerable and conspire against the truths of good; that the term myriads signifies what is innumerable and is used in reference to truths, may be seen above (n. 336). And it is said two myriads of myriads because things innumerable that conjoin, and unite, are signified, for the number two signifies conjunction, agreement, and union, as may be seen above (n. 283, 384). The reason why it is said, against the truths of good, is that the subject treated of in what follows is the destruction of truth by the armies of such horsemen. From these considerations it is clear, that the number of the armies of the horsemen being two myriads of myriads, signifies that the falsities of evil from which, and on behalf of which reasonings exist, are innumerable and conspire against the truths of good.
[2] In the Word, the term armies (hosts) is frequently used, and also the Lord is called Jehovah of Hosts or Zebaoth, and by hosts are there signified truths from good fighting against falsities from evil, and in the opposite sense, falsities from evil fighting against truths from good. Hosts signify such things in the Word, because the wars there mentioned, both in the historical and prophetical parts, signify in the internal sense spiritual wars waged against hell and the diabolical crew there, and such wars have relation to truths and goods combating against falsities and evils, and hence it is that armies signify all truths from good, and in the opposite sense, all falsities from evil. That they signify all truths from good, is evident from this fact, that the sun, the moon, the stars, and also the angels, are called the armies of Jehovah, because they signify all truths from good in their whole extent. Also the sons of Israel, because they signify the truths and goods of the church, are called armies; and because all truths and goods are from the Lord, and He alone combats for all in heaven, and for all in the church, against falsities and evils from hell, therefore He is called Jehovah Zebaoth, that is, [Jehovah] of armies [or hosts].
[3] That the sun, the moon, and the stars, are called armies [or hosts], is plain from numerous passages.
Thus in Moses:
"The heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them (Genesis 2:1).
So in David:
"By the word of Jehovah were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth" (Psalm 33:6).
Again:
"Praise ye" Jehovah, "all his angels; praise ye him, all his hosts. Praise ye him, sun and moon; praise him, all ye stars of light" (Psalm 148:2, 3).
And in Isaiah:
"All the host of the heavens shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll; and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling [fig] from the fig-tree" (34:4).
And again, in the same prophet:
"I have made the earth, and created man upon it; my hands have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded" (45:12).
And again:
"Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number; he calleth them all by name" (40:26).
So in Jeremiah:
"As the host of the heavens is not numbered, neither the sand of the sea measured:" (33:22).
In these passages, the sun, the moon, and stars, are called a host [or army], because the sun signifies the good of love, the moon, truth from good, while the stars signify the cognitions of truth and good, consequently they signify goods and truths in their whole extent, and they are called an army, because they resist evils and falsities, and continually conquer them as enemies.
[4] So in Daniel:
One 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. Yea, it magnified itself even to the prince of the host, and from him the continual [burnt-offering] was taken away, and the dwellingplace of his sanctuary was cast down. And the host was delivered up upon the continual [burnt-offering] for transgression, because it cast down the truth to the ground. One holy one said, How long this vision, the continual [burnt-offering], and the desolating transgression, to give both the holy place and the host to be trampled upon? And he said unto the evening morning" (316:16, 336, 535). By the host of the heavens, which he cast down to the earth, are meant the truths and goods of heaven; for the subject here treated of is the last state of the church, when the truths and goods of heaven are thought to be of no importance, and are rejected, which is signified by their being trampled upon; wherefore it also follows, that he cast down the truth to the earth. The prince of the host means the Lord, who is also called Jehovah God Zebaoth, or of armies [or hosts]. That all worship from the good of love and the truths of faith would perish, is signified by the continual [burnt-offering] being taken away from him, and the dwelling-place of his sanctuary being cast down. That this would come to pass at the end of the church, when the Lord would come into the world, is signified by unto the evening morning, the evening denoting the last time of the old church, and the morning, the commencement of the new church.
[5] That the angels are called hosts is evident from the following passages.
Thus in Joel:
"Jehovah uttered his voice before his army; for his camp is very great" (130, 200, 302).
[6] It is for the same reason also, that the sons of Israel are called armies, because they signify the truths and goods of the church.
Thus in Moses:
"Jehovah said, Bring out the sons of Israel from the land of Egypt according to their armies" (431).
[7] From these considerations it is evident, that the truths and goods of heaven and the church are meant by armies in the Word; and from these things the reason why Jehovah is called in the Word, Jehovah Zebaoth, and Jehovah God Zebaoth, that is, of armies, is perfectly clear (as in Isaiah 1:9, 24; 2:12; 3:1, 15; 5:7, 9, 16, 24; 6:3, 5; 8:13, 18; 14:22, 23, 24, 27; 17:3; 25:6; 28:5, 22, 29; 29:6; 31:4, 5; 37:16; Jerem. 5:14; 38:17; 44:7; Amos 5:16; Haggai 1:9, 14; 2:4, 8, 23; Zech. 1:3; Malachi 2:12; and various other places).
[8] From these things it is now evident, that armies signify the truths and goods of heaven and the church in their whole extent; and because most things in the Word have also an opposite sense, so also have armies, in which sense they signify falsities and evils in their whole extent. This will appear from the following passages of the Word.
Thus in Jeremiah:
"Upon the roofs" of the houses "they have burned incense unto all the host of the heavens, and have poured out drink-offerings unto other gods" (Heaven and Hell 122, 123), and also above (n. 401, 402, 525). And since truths from good fight against falsities from evil, and, on the contrary, falsities from evil against truths from good, therefore they are called armies. There is therefore continual combat, because evils and falsities continually exhale from the hells, and endeavour to destroy the truths from good that are in heaven, and from heaven, and which continually offer resistance. For everywhere in the spiritual world there is an equilibrium between heaven and hell; and where an equilibrium exists, there two forces continually act against each other, one acting and the other reacting, and continual action and reaction is continual combat; but an equilibrium is always provided by the Lord, as may be seen in the Heaven and Hell 589-596, and n. 597-603). And because there is such a continual combat between heaven and hell, therefore, as all things of heaven are called armies, so also are all things of hell.
All things of heaven have reference to goods and truths, and all things of hell, to evils and falsities. Hence it is that in the following passages hosts signify the falsities of evil.
[9] Thus in Isaiah:
"The anger of Jehovah is against all nations, and his wrath against all their army; he hath devoted them, he hath delivered them to the slaughter" (34:2).
Here nations signify evils, and army, falsities from evil; the total destruction of these is signified by he hath devoted them, he hath delivered them to the slaughter.
[10] Again:
"The voice of a multitude in the mountains, like as of a great people; the voice of the tumult of the kingdoms of nations gathered together; Jehovah Zebaoth leadeth the army" (13:4).
Here the voice of a multitude in the mountains, signifies falsities from evils, a multitude denoting falsities, and mountains denoting evils. Like as of a great people, signifies the appearance as it were of truth from good, the words, like as, denoting appearance, "people" denoting those who are in truths, and thus truths, while great is used in reference to good. The voice of the tumult of the kingdoms of nations gathered together, signifies dissension in the church springing from evils and falsities thence, the voice of the tumult denoting dissension, kingdoms, the church as to truths and falsities, and nations gathered together, as to evils and the falsities therefrom conspiring against the goods and truths of the church. Jehovah Zebaoth leadeth the army, signifies that it is accomplished by the Lord, for this is ascribed to the Lord, as is plain from the fifth verse immediately following in which it is said: "Jehovah cometh with the weapons of his anger, to destroy the whole land." This is attributed to the Lord just as evil, the punishment of evil, and the destruction of the church are also ascribed to Him in other passages of the Word, because such is the appearance of things, for the sense of the letter of the Word is written according to appearances. But in the spiritual sense, such things mean that the man of the church himself does them.
[11] Again, in Jeremiah:
"Spare ye not her young men; give to the curse all her host" (355:37), and in the Arcana Coelestia 8230, 8275).
[12] So in Daniel:
"The king of the north shall return, and shall set forth a multitude greater than the former, and after the end of the times of the years he shall come with a great army and with much riches. And he shall stir up his powers and his heart against the king of the south with a great army; and the king of the south shall stir himself up to battle with a very great and mighty army; but he shall not stand" (11:13, 25).
The subject treated of in that chapter is the war between the king of the north and the king of the south, and by the king of the north are meant those within the church who are in the falsities of evil, and by the king of the south, those within the church who are in the truths of good; there collision and combat at the end of the church, in the spiritual sense are described by their war; therefore by the army of the king of the north are meant falsities of every kind, and by the army of the king of the south truths of every kind.
[13] So in Luke:
"When ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the devastation thereof is nigh" (21:20).
In that chapter the Lord speaks of the consummation of the age, which signifies the last time of the church. Jerusalem means the church as to doctrine; and its being compassed with armies, means the possession of it by falsities. That then the destruction of it comes, and presently the last judgment, is signified by its desolation being then nigh. It is supposed that these things were said concerning the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans, but from the details of the chapter it is evident that it treats of the destruction of the church at its end; similarly in Matthew xxiv. from the first verse to the last, an explanation of which is given in the Arcana Coelestia. Nevertheless this is not opposed to the literal meaning concerning the destruction of Jerusalem, but that destruction represented and therefore signified the destruction of the church at its end; this is confirmed by every detail in the chapter, considered in the spiritual sense.
[14] Again, in David:
"God hath cast off, and put us to shame; and he hath not gone forth with our armies. Thou makest us to turn back from the enemy" (Psalm 44:9, 10).
Here by God not going forth with their armies, signifies that he did not defend them, because they were in falsities of evil, for armies denote falsities of evil; therefore it is said that they were cast off, and put to shame, and made to turn back from the enemy, the enemy denoting evil from hell.
[15] Again, in Joel:
"I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the canker-worm, and the grasshopper, and the palmer-worm, my great army which I sent among you" (543:9), where this passage is explained, and where it is shown that the locust and grasshopper signify the falsities [and evils] of the sensual man. The signification of armies in the Word in both senses is now evident from these things. Similar things are signified by hosts (or armies) in the historical parts of the Word, for they, as well as the prophetical parts, contain a spiritual sense; but it shines forth less clearly because the mind, being detained in the historical circumstances, can be scarcely elevated above the worldly things therein so as to see the spiritual things which are stored up in them.
573. Verse 16. And the number of the armies of the horsemen was two myriads of myriads, signifies that the falsities of evil from which and in favor of which they reason and which conspire against the truths of good, are innumerable. This is evident from the signification of "armies," as meaning the falsities of evil (of which presently); and from the signification of "horsemen," as being the reasonings therefrom, for "horses" signify the understanding of truth, and in the contrary sense the understanding perverted and destroyed (See above, n. 355, 364, 372, 373, 381, 382); so "horsemen" in this sense signify the reasonings from falsities, since reasonings from falsities are from the understanding perverted and destroyed, for truths constitute the understanding, but falsities destroy it. The above is evident also from the signification of "two myriads of myriads," as being innumerable falsities conspiring against truths of good (that "myriads" signify things innumerable, and are predicated of truths, see above, n. 336, and it is said "two myriads of myriads" because this signifies things innumerable that are conjoined and conspire; for the number "two" signifies conjunction, concord, and conspiracy (See above, n. 283, 384). It means against the truths of good, because what follows treats of the destruction of truths by the armies of such horsemen. From this it can be seen that "the number of the armies of the horsemen was two myriads of myriads" signifies that the falsities of evil from which and in favor of which they reason, and which conspire against the truths of good, are innumerable.
[2] "Armies" (or hosts) are frequently mentioned in the Word, and the Lord is called "Jehovah of Hosts or Zebaoth," and "armies" there signify truths from good fighting against the falsities from evil, and in the contrary sense falsities from evil fighting against truths from good. Such is the signification of "armies" in the Word, because "wars" in the Word, both in the histories and prophecies, signify, in the internal sense spiritual wars, which are waged against hell and against the diabolical crew there, and such wars have relation to truths and goods opposing falsities and evils; this is why "armies" signify all truths from good, and in the contrary sense all falsities from evil. That "armies" signify all truths from good is evident from the sun, moon, stars, and also the angels, being called "the armies of Jehovah," because they signify all truths from good in the complex; also from the sons of Israel being called "armies," because they signified the truths and goods of the church. And as all truths and goods are from the Lord, and the Lord alone fights for all in heaven and for all in the church against the falsities and evils which are from hell, so He is called "Jehovah Zebaoth," that is, "Jehovah of Hosts."
[3] That the sun, the moon, and the stars, are called "hosts" is evident from the following passages. In Moses:
Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them (Genesis 2:1).
In David:
By the word of Jehovah were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth (Psalms 33:6).
In the same:
Praise ye Jehovah, all His angels; praise ye Him, all His hosts; praise ye Him, sun and moon; praise Him, all ye stars of light (Psalms 148:2, 3).
In Isaiah:
And all the host of the heavens shall waste away, and the heavens shall be rolled up as a scroll; and all their hosts shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as that which falleth from the fig-tree (Isaiah 34:4).
I have made the earth, and created man upon it; My hands have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded (Isaiah 45:12).
In the same:
Lift up your eyes on high, and see who hath created these, who leadeth out their host in number, who calleth them all by name (Isaiah 40:26).
In Jeremiah:
As the host of the heavens is not numbered, and the sand of the sea is not measured (Jeremiah 33:22).
In these passages, the sun, moon, and stars, are called a "host" because the "sun" signifies the good of love, the "moon," truth from good, and the "stars" the knowledges of truth and good, consequently they signify goods and truths in the whole complex, and these are called a "host" because they resist evils and falsities, and perpetually conquer them as enemies.
[4] In Daniel:
One horn of the he-goat waxed great even to the host of the heavens; and some of the host and of the stars it cast down to the earth, and trampled upon them. Yea, it magnified itself even to the Prince of the Host; and the continual offering was taken away from him, and the dwelling place of his sanctuary was cast down. And the host was given to the continual offering for transgression, because it cast down the truth to the earth. Then one holy one said, How long shall be the vision, the continual offering, and the wasting transgression, that the holy place and the host be given to be trodden down? And he said, Even to the evening, the morning (316, 336, 535). "The host of the heavens, some of which it cast down to the earth," means the truths and goods of heaven; for the last state of the church, when the truths and goods of heaven are esteemed as of no account, and rejected, is here treated of, and this is signified by "treading them down;" therefore it is added, "it cast down truth to the earth." "The Prince of the Host" means the Lord, who is also called "Jehovah God Zebaoth" (or of Hosts). That all worship from the good of love and from the truths of faith would perish is signified by "the continual offering was taken away from him, and the dwelling place of his sanctuary was cast down." That this would come to pass in the end of the church, when the Lord would come into the world, is signified by "even to the evening, the morning," "evening" signifying the last time of the old church, and "morning" the first time of the new church.
[5] That the angels are called "hosts" is evident from the following passages. In Joel:
Jehovah uttered His voice before His host; for His camp was very great (130, 200, 302).
[6] For the same reason the sons of Israel, because they signify the truths and goods of the church, are called "hosts," as in the following passages. In Moses:
Jehovah said, Bring out the sons of Israel from the land of Egypt according to their hosts (431).
[7] From this it can be seen that the truths and goods of heaven and the church are meant in the Word by "hosts;" which makes clear why it is that Jehovah is called in the Word "Jehovah Zebaoth," and "Jehovah God Zebaoth," that is, "of hosts" (as in Isaiah 1:9, 24; 2:12; 3:1, 15; 5:7, 9, 16, 24; 6:3, 5; 8:13, 18; 14:22, 23, 24, 27; 17:3; 25:6; 28:5, 22, 29; 29:6; 31:4, 5; 37:16; Jeremiah 5:14; 38:17; 44:7; Amos 5:16; Haggai 1:9, 14; 2:4, 8, 23; Zechariah 1:3; Malachi 2:12, and various other places).
[8] From this it is now evident that "hosts" signify the truths and goods of heaven and the church in the whole complex; and as most things in the Word have also a contrary sense, so do "hosts," and in that sense they signify falsities and evils in their whole complex, as in the following passages in Jeremiah:
Upon the roofs of the houses they have burned incense unto all the host of the heavens, and have poured out drink-offerings unto other gods (Heaven and Hell 122, 123; as also above, n. 401, 402, 525); and because truths from good fight against the falsities from evil, and reversely the falsities from evil fight against the truths from good, they are called "hosts;" for there is continual combat; evils and falsities continually exhale from the hells, and endeavor to destroy the truths from good that are in heaven and from heaven, and these continually resist. For everywhere in the spiritual world there is an equilibrium between heaven and hell; and where there is an equilibrium, there two forces continually act against each other; one acts and the other reacts, and continual action and reaction is continual combat; but equilibrium is provided by the Lord (on this see the work on Heaven and Hell 589-596, 597-603). And as there is such continual combat between Heaven and Hell, therefore as all things of heaven are called "hosts," so are all things of hell; all things of heaven have reference to goods and truths, and all things of hell to evils and falsities.
[9] This then is why "hosts" in the following passages signify the falsities of evil. In Isaiah:
The anger of Jehovah is against all nations, and His wrath against all their host; He hath devoted them, He hath given them to the slaughter (Isaiah 34:2).
"Nations" signify evils, and "host" the falsities from evil; their total destruction is signified by "He hath devoted and hath given to the slaughter."
[10] In the same:
The voice of the multitude in the mountains like as of a great people; the voice of a tumult of the kingdoms of the nations gathered together; Jehovah of Hosts leadeth the host (Isaiah 13:4).
"The voice of a multitude in the mountains" signifies falsities from evils, "the multitude" meaning falsities, and "the mountains" evils; "like as of a great people" signifies appearing to be truth from good, "like as" meaning appearance, "people" those who are in truths, thus truths, and "great" is predicated of good; "the voice of a tumult of the kingdoms of the nations gathered together" signifies discord in the church arising from evils and falsities therefrom, "the voice of a tumult" signifying discord, "kingdoms" the churches in respect to truths and as to falsities, and "nations gathered together" in respect to evils and falsities therefrom conspiring against the truths and goods of the church; "Jehovah of Hosts leadeth the host" signifies that the Lord does this, for this is attributed to the Lord, as is evident from the next verse, the fifth, where it is said, "Jehovah cometh with the weapons of His anger to destroy the whole land." This is attributed to the Lord just as evil, the punishment of evil, and the destruction of the church are attributed to Him elsewhere, because such is the appearance, and the sense of the letter of the Word is in accordance with appearances; but in the spiritual sense this means that the man of the church himself does this.
[11] In Jeremiah:
Spare ye not her young men; give to the curse all her host (355; and in Arcana Coelestia 8230, 8275.)
[12] In Daniel:
The king of the north shall return and shall set forth a multitude greater than the former, and at the end of the times of the years he shall come with a great army and with great riches. And he shall stir up his powers and his heart against the king of the south with a great army; and the king of the south shall engage in battle with an exceeding great and mighty army, but he shall not stand (Daniel 11:13, 25).
This chapter treats of the war between the king of the north and the king of the south, and "the king of the north" means those within the church who are in the falsities of evil, and "the king of the south" those who are in the truths of good; collision and combat at the end of the church are described in the spiritual sense by their war; therefore "the army of the king of the north" means falsities of every kind, and "the army of the king of the south" truths of every kind.
[13] In Luke:
When ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that her devastation is nigh (Luke 21:20).
In this chapter the Lord speaks of the consummation of the age, which means the last time of the church; "Jerusalem" means the church in respect to doctrine; and "compassed with armies" means the church taken possession of by falsities; that then comes its destruction, and presently the Last Judgment, is signified by "then her devastation is nigh." It is believed that this was said of the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans, but from the particulars of the chapter it is clear that it treats of the destruction of the church at its end; as also does Matthew, chap. 24 from the first verse to the last (all things of which are explained in the Arcana Coelestia). But this does not preclude the application of the sense of the letter of these words to the destruction of Jerusalem, that destruction representing and thence signifying the destruction of the church at its end; this is confirmed by all the particulars in the chapter regarded in the spiritual sense.
[14] In David:
God hath cast us off and confounded us; He hath not gone forth in our armies. He hath made us to turn back from the adversary (Psalms 44:9, 10).
"God hath not gone forth in our armies" signifies that He did not defend them, because they were in the falsities of evil, for "armies" mean the falsities of evil; therefore it is also said "He hath cast us off and confounded us, and hath made us to turn back from the adversary," "the adversary" meaning evil which is from hell.
[15] In Joel:
I will recompense to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the canker-worm and the caterpillar and the palmer-worm, My great army which I sent among you (2 543), where this passage is explained, and it is shown that the "locust and caterpillar" signify the falsities [and evils] of the sensual man. ) This makes clear what "army" signifies in the Word in both senses. "Army" has the same signification in the histories of the Word, for these contain a spiritual sense as well as the prophecies, but it shines forth from them less clearly, because the mind, when intent on the historical meaning, cannot easily be raised above the worldly things in the history and see the spiritual things that are stored up in them.
573. [Vers. 16.] "Et numerus exercituum equitatus, duae myriades myriadum." - Quod significet falsa mali, ex quibus et pro quibus ratiocinationes, innumerabilia conspirantia contra vera boni, constat ex significatione "exercituum", quod sint falsa mali (de qua sequitur); ex significatione "equitatus", quod sint ratiocinia inde; (per "equos" enim significatur intellectus veri, et in opposito sensu intellectus perversus et deperditus (videatur supra, n. 355, 364, 372 [a] , 373, 381, 382); inde per "equitatum" in hoc sensu significantur ratiocinationes ex falsis, nam ratiocinationes ex falsis sunt intellectus perversi ac deperditi; vera enim faciunt intellectum, falsa autem destruunt illum): et ex significatione "duarum myriadum myriadum", quod sint innumerabilia conspirantia contra vera boni; (quod "myriades" significent innumerabilia et dicantur de veris, videatur supra, n. 336) et quia dicuntur" duae myriades myriadum" significantur innumerabilia conjuncta et conspirantia, nam "duo" significant conjunctionem, consensum et conspirationem (videatur supra, n. 283, 384): quod sit contra vera bona, est quia in sequentibus agitur de destructione veri per exercitus illius equitatus. Ex his constare potest quod per "numerum exercituum equitatus duae myriades myriadum", significentur falsa mali, ex quibus et pro quibus ratiocinationes, innumerabilia conspirantia contra vera boni.
[2] In Verbo pluries dicitur "exercitus", et quoque Dominus vocatur "Jehovah Exercituum" seu "Zebaoth"; et per "exercitus" ibi significantur vera ex bono pugnantia contra falsa ex malo, ac in opposito sensu falsa ex malo pugnantia contra vera ex bono. Quod per "exercitus" talia in Verbo significentur, est quia per "bella" in Verbo tam Historico quam Prophetico in Sensu interno significantur bella spiritualia, quae existunt contra infernum et contra diabolicam turbam ibi; et haec bella se referunt ad vera et bona contra falsa et mala; inde est quod "exercitus" significent omnia vera ex bono, et in opposito sensu omnia falsa ex malo: quod significent omnia vera ex bono constare potest ex eo, quod sol, luna, stellae, et quoque angeli dicantur "exercitus Jehovae", ex causa quia illa significant omnia vera ex bono in complexu; et quod filii Israelis, quia per illos significantur ecclesiae vera et bona, dicantur "exercitus": et quia omnia vera et bona a Domino sunt, et Ipse solus pugnat pro omnibus in caelo et pro omnibus in ecclesia contra falsa et mala quae ab inferno, ideo Ipse vocatur "Jehovah Zebaoth", hoc est, "Exercituum."
[3] Quod sol, luna, stellae dicantur "exercitus", constat a sequentibus his locis:
- Apud Mosen,
"Absoluti.. sunt caeli et terra, et omnis exercitus illorum" (Genesis 2:1);
Apud Davidem,
"Per Verbum Jehovae caeli facti sunt, et per spiritum oris Ipsius omnis exercitus eorum" (Psalms 33:6);
apud eundem,
"Laudate" Jehovam "omnes angeli Ipsius, laudate Ipsum omnes exercitus Ipsius, laudate Ipsum sol et luna, laudate Ipsum omnes stellae lucis" (Psalms 148:2, 3);
apud Esaiam,
"Contabescet omnis exercitus caelorum, et convolventur sicut volumen caeli, et omnis exercitus eorum decidet, sicut decidit folium de vite, et sicut decidens de ficu" (34:4);
apud eundem,
"Ego feci terram, et hominem super illa creavi;.... manus meae expanderunt caelos, et omni exercitui eorum praecepi" (45:12);
apud eundem,
"Tollite in altum oculos vestros, et videte quis creavit haec, qui educit in numero exercitum eorum, omnes nomine vocat" (40:26);
apud Jeremiam,
"Sicut non numeratur exercitus caelorum, et [non] mensuratur arena maris" (33:22):
in his locis sol, luna et stellae dicuntur "exercitus", quia per "solem" significatur bonum amoris, per "lunam" verum ex bono, et per "stellas" significantur cognitiones veri et boni; proinde per illa significantur bona et vera in omni complexu, quae "exercitus" vocantur quia resistunt malis et falsis, ac perpetuo vincunt ea sicut hostes.
[4] Apud Danielem,
Cornu unum hirci "crevit usque ad exercitum caelorum, et dejecit in terram de exercitu, et de stellis, et conculcavit ea: immo usque ad Principem exercitus extulit se, et Ipsi sublatum est juge, et projectum habitaculum sanctuarii Ipsius. Et exercitus traditus est super juge in praevaricationem, quia projecit veritatem in terram. .... Unus sanctus dixit, .... Quousque visio haec, juge et praevaricatio vastans, ut detur et sanctum et exercitus conculcationi? Et dixit.... , Usque ad vesperam mane" (8:10-14):
quid per "hircum" ibi, "ejus cornua", et hoc "cornu" quod crevit usque ad exercitum caelorum, significatur, videatur supra (n. 316 [c] 336 [b] , 535 1
); quod per "exercitum caelorum", de quo dejecit in terram, intelligantur vera et bona caeli, nam agitur de statu ultimo ecclesiae, quando vera et bona caeli nihili penduntur ac rejiciuntur, quod significatur per quod "conculcaverit illa"; quare etiam sequitur quod "projecerit veritatem in terram": per "Principem exercitus" intelligitur Dominus, qui etiam "Jehovah Deus Zebaoth" seu "Exercituum" vocatur: quod omnis cultus ex bono amoris et veris fidei periturus, significatur per quod "Ipsi sublatum sit juge, et projectum habitaculum sanctuarii Ipsius": quod hoc futurum sit in fine ecclesiae, quando Dominus in mundum venturus, significatur per "usque ad vesperam mane"; per "vesperam" significatur ultimum tempus ecclesiae veteris, et per "mane" primum tempus ecclesiae novae.
[5] Quod angeli dicantur "exercitus", constat ex his locis:
- Apud Joelem,
"Jehovah edidit vocem suam coram exercitu suo, nam magna valde castra Ipsius" (2:11);
apud Sachariam,
"Castra ponam domui meae de exercitu, propter abeuntem et redeuntem, ut non transeat amplius super eos exactor" (9:8);
apud Davidem,
"Benedicite Jehovae omnes exercitus Ipsius, ministri Ipsius facientes Voluntatem Ipsius" (Psalms 103:21);
in Libro Primo Regum,
Michah propheta dixit ad regem, "Vidi Jehovam sedentem super throno suo, et universum exercitum caelorum stantem juxta Ipsum, a dextra Ipsius et a sinistra Ipsius, .... et dixit hic aliter et ille aliter" (22:19, 20);
in Apocalypsi,
"Exercitus Ipsius in caelo sequebantur Ipsum super equis albis, induti byssinum album et mundum" (19:14);
et alibi,
"Vidi bestiam et reges terrae, et exercitus eorum congregatos ad faciendum bellum cum Sedente super equo albo, et cum exercitu Ipsius" (19:19).
Quod angeli congregati seu consociatio illorum dicantur "exercitus", est quia per "angelos", similiter ac per "exercitus", significantur Divina vera et bona, quoniam sunt recipientes illorum a Domino (de qua re videatur supra, n. 130, 200, 302).
[6] Ex eo etiam est quod filii Israelis, quia per illos significantur ecclesiae vera et bona, dicantur "exercitus", ut in sequentibus locis:
- Apud Mosen,
"Jehovah dixit, Educite filios Israelis e tetra Aegypti juxta exercitus eorum" (Exodus 6:26);
Apud eundem,
"Educam exercitum meum, populum meum, filios Israelis, e terra Aegypti per judicia magna" (Exodus 7:4; 12:17);
apud eundem,
"Factum est in ipso die hoc exiverunt omnes exercitus Jehovae e terra Aegypti" (Exodus 12:41);
apud eundem,
Recensebis "omnem exeuntem in exercitum" (Numeri 1:3, seq.).
Quod castra metarentur circa Tentorium conventus, et quoque proficiscerentur juxta exercitus eorum (Numeri 2:3, 9, 2:16,] 24);
apud eundem,
Quod sumerentur Levitae ad exercendum militiam, ad faciendum opus in Tentorio conventus (Numeri 4:3, 23, 30, 39).
Quod filii Israelis dicti fuerint "exercitus Jehovae", erat quia repraesentabant ecclesiam, et significabant omnia vera et bona ejus (videatur in Arcanis Caelestibus, n. 5414, 5801, 5803, 5806, 5812, 5817, 5819, 5826, 5833, 5879, 5951, 6637, 6868, 7035, 7062, 7198, 7201, 7215, 7223, 2
7957, 8234, 8805, 9340). Quod dicantur "exercitus" in plurali, est quia unaquaevis tribus dicebatur "exercitus", ut constare potest apud Mosen, cum ei mandatum est ut recenseret omnes juxta exercitus eorum, quod recensiti sint juxta tribus (Numeri 1:3, seq.): similiter cum castra metabantur circum Tentorium conventus juxta tribus, dicitur "juxta exercitus eorum" (Numeri 2:3, 9. seq.). Quod tribus dictae fuerint "exercitus", est quia duodecim tribus simul sumptae repraesentaverunt omnia vera et bona ecclesiae, ac unaquaevis tribus aliquod universale essentiale ejus (de qua re videatur supra, n. 431).
[7] Ex his constare potest quod vera et bona caeli et ecclesiae intelligantur per "exercitus" in Verbo; ex quibus manifeste patet unde est
quod Jehovah in Verbo dicatur "Jehovah Zebaoth", et "Jehovah Deus Zebaoth", hoc est, "Exercituum" (Ut Esaias 1:9, 24; 2:12; 3:1, 15: cap. 5:7, 9, 16, 24; 6:3, 5; cap. 3
8:13-18, cap. 14:22, 23, 24, 27; 17:3; 25:6; 28:5, 22, 29; 29:6; 31:4, 5; 37:16; Jeremias 5:14; 38:17; 44:7; Amos 5:16 4
; Haggaeus 1:9, 14; 2:4, 8, 23; Sacharia 1:3; Malachias 2:12: et pluries alibi).
[8] Ex his nunc patet quod per "exercitus" significata sint vera et bona caeli et ecclesiae in omni complexu: et quia pleraque in Verbo etiam oppositum sensum habent, ita quoque "exercitus", in quo sensu significant falsa et mala in omni complexu, ut in sequentibus locis:
- Apud Jeremiam,
"super tectis" domuum "suffiverunt omni exercitui caelorum, et libaverunt libamina diis aliis" (19:13);
apud Zephaniam,
"Adorant super tectis exercitum caelorum" (1:5);
apud Mosen,
"Ne incurves te et servias soli, lunae, stellis, et omni exercitui caelorum" (Deuteronomius 4:19; 17:3);
apud Jeremiam,
"Expandent" ossa extracta e sepulchris, "soli, lunae et omni exercitui caelorum, quae amaverant et quibus serviverant" (8:2):
per "exercitum caelorum" hic intelliguntur sol, luna et stellae, quia per illa significantur omnia bona et vera in complexu; hic autem omnia mala et falsa in complexu; nam per "solem" in opposito sensu, ut hic, significatur omne malum scaturiens ex amore sui, per "lunam" falsum fidei, et per "stellas" falsa in genere: (quod talia per "solem, lunam et stellas" in mundo naturali, cum illa adorantur loco Solis et Lunae caeli angelici, 5
significentur dira mala et falsa, videatur in opere De Caelo et Inferno 122, 123; ut et supra, n. 401 [g] , 402, 525 6
): et quia vera ex bono pugnant contra falsa ex malo, ac vice versa falsa ex malo pugnant contra vera ex bono, ideo dicuntur "exercitus"; est enim pugna continua, nam mala et falsa exspirant continue ex infernis, conantia destruere vera ex bono quae in caelo et e caelo, ac continue resistunt: est enim ubivis in mundo spirituali aequilibrium inter caelum et inter infernum, et ubi aequilibrium ibi continue agunt binae vires contra se; una agit et altera reagit, ac continua actio et reactio est continua pugna, sed a Domino providetur aequilibrium (de quo videatur in opere De Caelo et Inferno 589-596 et n. 597-603): et quia continua talis pugna est inter caelum et infernum, ideo sicut omnia caeli vocantur "exercitus", ita quoque omnia inferni; omnia caeli se referunt ad bona et vera, et omnia inferni ad mala et falsa.
[9] Inde nunc est quod "exercitus" significent falsa mali in sequentibus locis:
- Apud Esaiam
"Ira Jehovae contra omnes gentes; et excandescentia contra omnem exercitum 7
eorum devovit 8
eos, tradidit 9
eos in mactationem" (34:2):
per "gentes" significantur mala, et per "exercitum" falsa ex malo; destructio eorum totalis significatur per quod " 10
eos devoverit et tradiderit mactationi."
[10] Apud eundem,
"Vox multitudinis in montibus, species populi magni, Vox tumultus regnorum gentium congregatarum, Jehovah Zebaoth ducit exercitum" (13:4):
"vox multitudinis in montibus " significat falsa ex malis; "multitudo" falsa, et "montes" mala: "species populi magni" significat apparentiam sicut veri ex bono; "species" apparentiam, "populus" illos qui in veris sunt, ita vera, et "magnum" praedicatur de bono: "vox tumultus regnorum gentium congregatarum" significat dissensum ecclesiae oriundum ex malis et inde falsis; "vox tumultus" significat dissensum, "regna" significant ecclesias quoad vera et quoad falsa, et "gentes congregatae" quoad mala et inde falsa conspirantia contra ecclesiae vera et bona: "Jehovah Zebaoth ducit exercitum" significat quod Dominus illud faciat; tribuitur hoc Domino, ut patet a versu sequenti quinto ibi, ubi dicitur, "Jehovah venit cum vasis irae suae ad perdendum omnem terram"; id tribuitur Domino, sicut malum, poena mali, et destructio ecclesiae, alibi, ex causa quia ita apparet; sensus enim litterae Verbi est secundum apparentias; sed per id in sensu spirituali intelligitur quod ipse homo ecclesiae hoc faciat.
[11] Apud Jeremiam,
"Ne parcite juvenibus, devotioni date universum exercitum ejus" (51:3):
haec de Babele; et per "Ne parcite juvenibus" significatur destructio falsorum confirmatorum; per "Devotioni date universum exercitum ejus" significatur totalis destructio falsorum ex malis quae illi, ita destructio Babelis. Falsa ex malo etiam significantur
Per exercitum Chaldaeorum, et per exercitum Pharaonis (Jeremias 37:7, 10, 11, seq.);
et apud Mosen,
"Reversae sunt aquae et operuerunt currus et equites cum universo exercitu Pharaonis" (Exodus 14:28; 15:4);
(quae explicata videantur supra, n. 355 [g] ; et in Arcanis Caelestibus, n. 8230, 8275).
[12] Apud Danielem,
"Revertetur rex septentrionis, et sistet multitudinem magnam prae priori, et sub fine temporum annorum veniet cum exercitu magno et cum opibus magnis.... excitabit vires suas et cor suum contra regem meridiei cum exercitu magno, et rex meridiei commiscebit se bello cum exercitu magno et valido admodum, sed non consistet" (11:13, 25):
agitur in illo capite de bello inter regem septentrionis et regem meridiei; et per "regem intelliguntur illi intra ecclesiam qui in falsis mali sunt, et per "regem meridiei" illi qui in veris boni; collisio et pugna in fine ecclesiae per bellum eorum in sensu spirituali describitur; quare per "exercitum regis septentrionis" intelliguntur falsa omnis generis, et per "exercitum regis meridiei" vera omnis generis.
[13] Apud Lucam,
"Quando videritis Hierosolymam exercitibus circumdatam, scite quod prope sit devastatio ejus" (21:20):
in eo capite loquitur Dominus de consummatione saeculi, per quam significatur ultimum tempus ecclesiae; per "Hierosolymam" intelligitur ecclesia quoad doctrinam, et per illam "exercitibus circumdatam" intelligitur illa a falsis occupata; quod tunc destructio ejus, et mox ultimum judicium, significatur per quod "tunc prope sit devastatio ejus." Creditur quod haec dicta sint de Hierosolymae destructione a Romanis; sed a singulis in illo capite patet quod de destructione ecclesiae in fine ejus agatur, ut quoque apud Matthaeum, cap. Matthaeum ccc24 a primo versu ad ultimum (quae omni in Arcanis Caelestibus explicata sunt): sed usque non obstat quin per illa verba in sensu litterae intelligatur destructio Hierosolymae, at illa destructio repraesentabat et inde significabat destructionem ecclesiae in fine ejus; singula in illo capite in sensu spirituali spectata id confirmant.
[14] Apud Davidem,
Deus deseruit et ignominiae tradidit nos, nec exivit in exercitibus nostris; reverti fecit nos retrorsum ab hoste (Psalms 44:10, 11 [B.A. 9, 10]):
quod "Deus non exiverit in exercitibus nostris" significat quod non tutatus sit illos, quia in falsis mali fuerunt; "exercitus" enim sunt falsa mali: quare etiam dicitur quod "eos deseruerit et ignominiae tradiderit", et quod "reverti fecerit eos ab hoste"; "hostis" est malum quod ab inferno.
[15] Apud Joelem,
"compensabo vobis annos quos consumpsit locusta, melolontha, et bruchus, et eruca, exercitus meus magnus quem misi inter vos" (2:25):
quod falsa et mala omnis generis significentur per "exercitum", manifeste patet, quoniam per noxia illa animalcula, "locustam", "melolontham", "bruchum" et "erucam", significantur falsa et mala vastantia seu consumentia vera et bona ecclesiae. (videatur supra, n. 543 [c] , ubi hic locus explicatus est, et ostensum quod locusta et bruchus" significent falsa [et mala] sensualis hominis.) Ex his nunc patet quid per "exercitus" in Verbo in utroque sensu significatur. Similia per "exercitus" significantur in historicis Verbi; nam in illis est sensus spiritualis aeque ac in propheticis, sed is minus elucet, quia mens in historicis detenta aegre potest elevari a mundanis ibi et videre spiritualia quae inibi recondita sunt.
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