Spiritual Meaning of REVELATION 17:12
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AR 740. Verse 12. And the ten horns are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, signifies the Word as to power from the Divine truths with those who are in the kingdom of France, and are not so much under the yoke of the Papal dominion, with whom however there has not yet been formed a church thus separated from the Roman Catholic religious persuasion. That these things are said of those who are in the kingdom of France may be evident from the series of things in the spiritual sense; for it now treats of the reception of the Word by those who are in the Christian world: the reception of the Word, and the state of the church thence, with the Roman Catholics (verses 9-11); the reception of the Word, and the state of the church thence, with those who are attached to that religious persuasion only as to externals, who are especially in the kingdom of France (verses 12-14). The rest, who indeed profess that religion, but still dissent in various things, are treated of in (ver. 15), and the Protestants, or Reformed, who have openly receded from that religion (verses 16, 17). But it can by no means be known that all these are here treated of, unless it is known that the Word is meant by "the scarlet beast," and that the church is according to the reception of the Word That by the "scarlet beast" is meant the Word, may be seen above (n. 723); and that the church is a church from the Word and according to its understanding, see The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem concerning the Sacred Scripture (Sacred n. 76-79). By "horns," here the horns of the beast, the power of the Word is signified; and by "ten horns" much power, here Divine power, because it is that of the Lord through the Word. That "horns" signify power, and "ten horns" much power, may be seen above (n. 270, 539, 724). That by "kings" are signified those who are in Divine truths from the Word, and abstractly the Divine truths therein (n. 90, 664, 704); and that by "ten" is not meant ten but many and many things (n. 101). By "a kingdom" is signified the church from the Word, because by "kings" are signified those who are in Divine truths from the Word, and abstractly the Divine truths therein. Hence by "they had not yet received a kingdom" is signified with whom there is not yet formed a church, thus separated from the Roman Catholic religious persuasion. It may be seen from this, that by "the ten horns are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom," is signified the Word as to power from Divine truths with those who are in the kingdom of France, and in some other places; also those who are called Jansenists, and are not much under the yoke of the Papal dominion; with whom, however, there is not yet formed a church thus separated from the Roman Catholic religious persuasion. The church with those in the kingdom of France is said not yet to be separated from the Roman Catholic religious persuasion, because it coheres with it in externals, but not so much in internals. The externals are formalities and the internals are essentials. That they still adhere to it, is because there are so many monasteries there, and because the priesthood there is under the authority of the Pontiff; and these in all formalities are governed according to the Papal edicts and statutes; and hence are still very much in the essentials of that religious persuasion. On which account the church there is not yet separated. This is what is signified by "they have not yet received a kingdom."

AR 741. But they receive authority as kings one hour with the beast, signifies that the Word has power with them, and they by the Word, as if they were in its Divine truths. By "receiving authority with the beast" is signified to have power together with the Word, and thus that the Word has power with them, and they by means of the Word. By "receiving authority" is signified to be strong, and by "the beast," the Word is signified (n. 723); by "as kings" is signified as if they were in Divine truths from the Word. That by "kings" are signified those who are in Divine truths from the Word, and abstractly the Divine truths therein (n. 20, 664, 704, 740); by "one hour" is signified for some time, and also in some degree. From these things it is manifest that by "their receiving power as kings one hour with the beast," is signified that the Word has power with them, and they through the Word, as if they were in its Divine truths. These things are said, because they acknowledge that the Word is divinely inspired, and hence that the church is a church from the Word. But still they do not as yet draw Divine truths from it, except these general ones: that God alone is to be worshiped, and not any man like God; and that the authority given to Peter is not in itself Divine, and yet that it is Divine to open and shut heaven, which is not in any man’s own power. These things they confirm in themselves from the Word; but before others, who do not hear the Word, they do it from rationality, which is given by continual influx out of heaven to everyone who wishes to be in truths. That they do not progress further, and draw the doctrinals of faith and life from the Word, is of the Lord‘s Divine Providence, because they still adhere in externals, or in formalities, to the Roman Catholic religious persuasion; lest truth and falsity should be mixed together, and thence an interior strife should arise, which is like fermentation that produces disturbance.

Author:  E. Swedenborg (1688-1772).

Design:  I.J. Thompson, Feb 2002.

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