Spiritual Meaning of

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 Strange fire

As Nadab and Abihu, sons of Aaron, represented doctrine from the Word, they were slain when they instituted worship from some other doctrine than that which is from the Word. This was represented by what is written of them in Moses:--

Nadab and Abihu, sons of Aaron, took each of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and thus offered strange fire unto Jehovah, which He had not commanded them. Therefore there went forth fire from before Jehovah, and devoured them, that they died before Jehovah. And Moses said unto Aaron, This is that which Jehovah spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that are nigh Me (Lev. 10:1-3);

by strange fire in the censer is signified doctrine from some other source than the Word; for fire denotes the good of love, and incense the truth of faith thence derived; and the good of love and the truth of faith are what enter into the doctrine which is from the Word, and make it. From this it is evident why they were devoured by fire from before Jehovah. To be sanctified in them that are nigh, denotes with those who have been conjoined with the Lord through the good of love and the truth of faith from the Word. That fire denotes the good of heavenly love, (AC 934, 4906, 5071, 5215, 6314, 6832, 6834, 6849, 7324, 7852, 9055); and that incense denotes faith from the good of love

from AC 9375

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Author:  E. Swedenborg (1688-1772). Design:  I.J. Thompson, Feb 2002. www.BibleMeanings.info