Spiritual Meaning of REVELATION 18:7
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AR 763. Verse 7. As much as she hath glorified herself, and lived luxuriously, so much torment and mourning give her, signifies that in the degree of their elation of heart from dominion, and according to their exultation of mind and body from riches, they have after death internal grief from being cast down and derived, and from want and misery. By "as much as she hath glorified herself," is signified in the degree according to their elation of heart from dominion; for they glorify themselves from this. By "as much as she hath lived luxuriously," is signified in the degree of their exultation of mind and body on account of riches, and the delights and pleasures therefrom, as above (n. 759). By "giving her torment," is signified internal grief at being cast down from dominion, and then derision; their torment after death is from no other source; and by "giving her mourning" is signified internal grief from want and misery; their mourning after death is from these. The delight of the love of having dominion from the love of self over all that belongs to the Lord, which are all the things of heaven and the church, is turned after death into such torment; and the pleasantness of the love of filling the mind and body with delights derived from opulence, with those who are in the aforesaid love of having dominion, is turned into such mourning. For the delights and pleasantnesses proceeding from the loves make the life of everyone; wherefore when these are turned into the opposites, there arise torment and mourning. These are the retribution and punishments which are meant in the Word by the torments in hell; and thence hatred against the Lord and against all things of heaven and the church, is meant by "the fire" there. Similar things are said of Babel in the prophets, as:--

I will render unto Babel all the evil which they have done in Zion before your eyes (Jer. 51:24).

The waster shall come upon Babel, for the God of retribution, Jehovah, recompensing will recompense (Jer. 51:55, 56).

Thy magnificence is brought down into hell; the worm is spread under thee (torment which is internal grief); thou hast said in thy heart, I will ascend the heavens, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God, I will become like the Most High; nevertheless thou shalt be brought down to hell; they that see thee shall say, Is this the man that shook the earth? that made the kingdoms tremble? etc. (Isa. 14:11, 13-16).

This is said of Lucifer, who there is Babel (Isa. 14:4, 22).

AR 764. For she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am not a widow, and shall not see mourning, signifies that they have these things, because from elation of heart on account of heart on account of dominion and exultation of mind on account of riches, they are in the trust and confidence, that they will have dominion perpetually, and will protect themselves; and that they can never be deprived of these things. "To say in their heart" signifies to be in assurance from elation of heart over dominion, also to be in confidence from exultation of mind over riches. "I sit a queen" signifies that they will have dominion, here perpetually, because "I shall not see mourning" follows. "I am not a widow," signifies that they will protect themselves. By "a widow" is signified one who is without protection, because without a man. It is said, "a queen" and "a widow," and not "king" and "man," because Babylon as a church is meant. "And I shall not see mourning" signifies that they can never be deprived of those two things. That they have mourning therefrom after death, may be seen just above (n. 763). Very similar things are said of Babel in Isaiah:--

Thou shalt no more call thyself the mistress of kingdoms; thou hast said in thy heart, I shall be mistress forever, saying in thy heart, I am, and there is none else like me; I shall not sit a widow, nor shall I know bereavement; but these two things shall come unto thee in one day, bereavement and widowhood. They shall come upon thee for the multitude of thy sorceries, and the greatness of thy many enchantments. Thou hast trusted in wickedness; thou hast said, None seeth me: thy wisdom hath seduced thee, when thou hast said in thine heart, I am, and there is none else like me; therefore devastation shall come upon thee suddenly (Isa. 47:5, 7, 8-11).

By "a widow" in the Word is meant one who is without protection, for by "a widow" in the spiritual sense is signified one who is in good and not in truth. For by "a man" is signified truth, and by "his wife," good; hence by "a widow," good without truth is signified, and good without truth is without protection; for truth protects good. This is signified by widow when mentioned in the Word (Isa. 9:14, 15, 17; 10:1, 2; Jer. 22:3; 49:10, 11; Lam. 5:2, 3; Ezek. 22:6, 7; Mal. 3:5; Ps. 68:5; 146:7-9; Exod. 22:21-24; Deut. 10:18; 27:19; Matt. 23:14; Luke 4:24; 20:47).

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