Spiritual Meaning of REVELATION 13:10
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AR 591. Verse 10. If anyone shall lead into captivity he shall go into captivity, signifies that he who by means of this heretical doctrine leads others away from believing well and living well, will himself be led away into hell by his own falsities and evils. By "leading into captivity" is signified to persuade and draw over to his own party, that they may consent and adhere to that heresy, which is meant by "the dragon" and "the beast," and so to lead away from believing well and from living well. By "going into captivity" is signified to be led away into hell by his own falsities and evils. By "captivity" is here meant spiritual captivity, which is to be seduced, and thus led away from truths and goods, and led into falsities and evils. That by "captivity" in the Word is meant this spiritual captivity, may appear from the following passages:--

Hear all ye people, and see my sorrow, my virgins and my young men have gone into captivity (Lam. 1:18).

God forsook His habitation and tent where He dwelt among men, and gave his strength into captivity (Ps. 78:60, 61).

The wind shall feed all thy pastors, and thy lovers shall go away into captivity; then shalt thou be ashamed for all thy wickedness (Jer. 22:22).

I will make Mine arrows drunk with the blood of the pierced and of the captivity (Deut. 32:42).

They bend down and bow down, and their soul will go into captivity (Isa. 46:1, 2).

Jehovah hath sent Me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, to the bound, to the blind (Isa. 61:1; Luke 4:18, 19).

I have raised him up in justice; and he shall let go my captivity, not for price nor reward (Isa. 45:13).

Thou hast ascended on high, Thou hast led captivity captive (Ps. 68:18).

Shall the just captive be delivered? Even the captivity of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the violent shall be delivered (Isa. 49:24, 25).

Shake thyself from the dust, sit down, O Jerusalem, open the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion (Isa. 52:2; Jer. 48:46, 47; 50:33, 34; Ezek. 6:1-10; 12:1-12; Obad. 1:11; Ps. 14:7; Jer. 50:33, 34; Ps. 53:6).

By the captivities of the sons of Israel by their enemies, spoken of in the book of Judges, and 2 Kings 25, and in the prophets, were represented, and thence signified spiritual captivities, of which elsewhere; similar things are signified by "the bound," as by "captives," in the following passages:--

By the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth the bound out of the pit (Zech. 9:11).

Let the sighing of the bound come to thee (Ps. 79:11).

The bound shall be gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison (Isa. 24:22).

That made the world as a wilderness, he opened not the house to his bound (Isa. 14:17).

The King said, I was in prison, and ye came not unto me (Matt. 25:36, 43).

Jesus said, Ought not this daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day? (Luke 13:16.)

AR 592. If anyone shall kill with the sword, he must be killed with the sword, signifies that he who by falsities destroys the soul of another, is himself destroyed by falsities, and perishes. By "a sword," "a sabre," and "a long sword," is signified truths, and in the opposite sense, falsity, both combating (n. 52, 836); therefore by "killing" and "being killed" is signified to destroy and be destroyed, or to destroy and perish, which is effected by falsities.

AR 593. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints, signifies that the man of the Lord‘s New Church, by temptations from them, is explored as to the quality of his life and faith By "patience" is here signified patience in temptations, and then exploration of man’s quality as to life according to the Lord‘s commandments, and as to faith in the Lord; therefore it is said, "here is the patience and the faith;" by "saints" are signified they who are of the Lord’s New Church, specifically they who are in Divine truths therein (n. 586). Patience is predicated of temptations, whereby man is explored as to what he really is; also elsewhere in (Apocalypse 1:9; 2:3, 19; 3:10). That it is as to life according to the Lord‘s commandments, and as to faith in Him, is evident from these words:--

They have no rest day nor night who adore the beast and his image, here is the patience of the saints; here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus (Apoc. 14:11, 12).

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