Spiritual Meaning of REVELATION 2:23
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AR 139. Verse 23. And I will kill her sons with death, signifies that all the truths of the Word with them will be turned into falsities. By "sons" in the Word, are signified truths, and in the opposite sense, falsities; therefore "to kill sons," signifies to turn truths into falsities, for thus they perish; neither is anything else meant by "the slain and pierced of Jehovah," by "killing her sons with death," is also signified to condemn their falsities. That "sons" signify truths, and in the opposite sense falsities, is, because in the spiritual sense of the Word by generations, are meant spiritual generations, and in like manner by consanguinities and affinities; thus by their names, as by father, mother, sons, daughters, brethren, sisters, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, and the rest; neither does spiritual generation give birth to any other sons and daughters, than truths and goods. See (n. 542, 543) below.

AR 140. And all the churches shall know that I am He which searcheth the reins and hearts, signifies that the church shall know that the Lord sees the quality of everyone’s truth and the quality of everyone‘s good. By "the seven churches" is signified the whole church, as before; and by "searching the reins and hearts," is signified to see all the things which a man believes and loves, thus the quality of his truth and of his good. That this is the signification of "searching the reins and hearts," is from correspondence, for the Word in its literal sense consists of mere correspondences. The correspondence is from this, that as the reins purify the blood from the impurities which are called urinous, and the heart purifies the blood from the unclean things which are called foul, so the truth of faith purifies man from falsities, and the good of love from evils. Thence it is that the ancients placed love and its affections in the heart, and intelligence and its perceptions in the reins; as may appear from these passages in the Word:--

Behold, thou desirest truth in the reins, and in the hidden part thou makest wisdom known to me (Ps. 51:6).

Thou possessest my reins, my bone was not hid from thee when I was made in secret (Ps. 139:13, 15).

My heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins, but I am stupid, I do not know (Ps. 73:21, 22).

I Jehovah search the heart, and try the reins, even to give everyone according to his ways (Jer. 17:10).

Thou art near in their mouth, and far from their reins; Thou, O Jehovah, wilt see me, and try my heart (Jer. 12:2, 3).

Jehovah is a judge of justice, trying the reins and the heart (Jer. 11:20; 20:12).

Confirm the just, for it is the just God who trieth the hearts and reins (Ps. 7:9).

Prove me, O Jehovah, and try me, explore my reins and my heart (Ps 26:2).

By "reins" in these places are signified truths of intelligence and faith, and by "heart," the good of love and charity. That "heart" signifies the love and its affections, may be seen in The Angelic Wisdom concerning the Divine Love and the Divine Wisdom (DLW n. 371-393).

AR 141. And I will give unto everyone according to his works, signifies that He gives unto everyone according to the charity and its faith which are in his works. That "works" are the containers of charity and faith, and that charity and faith without works are only like airy images, which vanish as soon as they have appeared, may be seen in (n. 76).

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