Spiritual Meaning of
Spiritual Meaning of |
|
Back to Words index | Back to Geographical words index |
By the extremities are signified all things and everywhere; as in Jeremiah:--
The sword of Jehovah devoureth from the extremity of the land unto the extremity thereof (Jer. 12:12);
a sword denotes truth fighting against falsity and destroying it, and in the opposite sense falsity fighting against truth and destroying it (AC 2799, 4499, 6353, 7102, 8294); devouring from the extremity of the land unto the extremity thereof denotes all things of the church, because the land denotes the church (AC 9334). In David:--
His going forth is from the extremity of the heavens, and His circuit unto the extremities thereof (Ps. 19:6);
where also from the extremity of the heavens unto the extremities thereof denotes all things and everywhere.
[4] And in Mark:--
He shall send forth His angels, and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from the extremity of the earth even unto the extremity of heaven (Mark 13:27);
where the extremity of the earth and the extremity of heaven denote all the external and internal things of the church. That the earth denotes the external of the church, and heaven its internal, (AC 1733, 1850, 2117, 2118, 3355, 4535), where the signification of the new earth and the new heaven is unfolded. So with extremities in the plural, as in these passages:--
Look unto Me, that ye be saved, all the extremities of the earth (Isa. 45:22).
O God of our salvation, the trust of all the extremities of the earth, and of them that are afar off upon the sea (Ps. 65:5).
And also in the singular number, when it is said even unto the extremity, as in these passages:--
That My salvation may be even unto the extremity of the earth (Isa. 49:6).
Jehovah shall make it to be heard even unto the extremity of the earth, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold thy salvation cometh (Isa. 62:11).
A tumult shall come even unto the extremity of the earth (Jer. 25:31).
In these passages even unto the extremity implies from extremity to extremity.
[5] But when by extremity is meant only what is extreme or ultimate, then by it is signified that which is ultimate of heaven or of the church; as in Isaiah:--
Sing unto Jehovah a new song, His praise, the extremity of the earth, going down to the sea, and the fullness thereof; ye Isles, and the inhabitants thereof (Isa. 42:10);
where the extremity of the earth going down to the sea denotes the ultimate of the church where good and truth are in obscurity. That the sea has this signification, (AC 9653); the isles denote those who are more remote from truths, and consequently from worship (AC 1158).
[6] Again:--
Bring My sons from far, and My daughters from the extremity of the earth (Isa. 43:6);
where sons from far denote those who are in obscurity as to truths; and daughters from the extremity of the earth denote those who are in obscurity as to goods; such as were the Gentiles. That sons denote those who are in truths, and in the abstract sense, truths, (AC 264, 489, 491, 1147, 2623, 2803, 2813, 3373, 3704); also that daughters denote those who are in goods, and in the abstract sense, goods, (AC 489-491, 2362, 3963, 8994). From this it is also evident that extremity is predicated of good, and from far of truth (Ps. 65:5; Isa. 13:5). But be it known that by the extremity of heaven is not meant any extremity of space, but of the state of good and truth; for in heaven there is no space, but only the appearance of it according to the states of good and truth.
from AC 9666
Back to Words index, Back to Geographical words index
| Author: E. Swedenborg (1688-1772). | Design: I.J. Thompson, Feb 2002. | www.BibleMeanings.info |