Spiritual Meaning of REVELATION 8:1
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AR 387. There are two kingdoms into which the entire heaven is divided, the celestial kingdom and the spiritual kingdom. The celestial kingdom consists of those who are in love to the Lord and thence in wisdom; and the spiritual kingdom consists of those who are in love towards the neighbor, and thence in intelligence; and as love towards the neighbor is at this day called "charity" and intelligence, "faith," the latter kingdom consists of those who are in charity, and thence in faith. Now, because heaven is distinguished into two kingdoms, hell also is distinguished into two kingdoms that are opposite to them; into the diabolical kingdom and into the satanic kingdom. The diabolical kingdom consists of those who are in the love of dominion from love of self and thence in foolishness; for this love is opposite to celestial love, and its foolishness is opposite to celestial wisdom; but the satanic kingdom consists of those who are in the love of dominion from the pride of their own intelligence, and thence in insanity; for this love is opposite to spiritual love, and its insanity is opposite to spiritual intelligence. By foolishness and insanity are meant foolishness and insanity in things celestial and spiritual. Similar things are to be understood of the church on earth as are said of heaven for they make one. Concerning these two kingdoms, see (HH n. 20-28). Now, as the Apocalypse treats only of the state of the church at its end, as was observed in the preface, and at (n. 2), therefore what now follows treats of those who are in the two kingdoms of heaven, and of those who are in the two kingdoms of hell, and of their quality. In chapters 8 to 16 it treats of those who are in the spiritual kingdom, and in the satanic kingdom opposite to it; in chapters 17 and 18, it treat of those who are in the celestial kingdom, and in the diabolical kingdom opposite to it; and afterwards of the Last Judgment; and at length of the New Church which is the New Jerusalem; this bringing all that goes before to a conclusion, because it is the end on account of which they are. In many parts of the Word "the Devil" and "Satan" are mentioned, and by both is meant hell; it is so named, because all in one hell are called devils, and all in the other are called satans.

AR 388. Verse 1. And when He had opened the seventh seal, signifies exploration by the Lord of the state of the church, and thence of the state of life of those who are in His spiritual kingdom, being those who are in charity and its faith; in this case, who are in faith alone. That this is the signification of these words, may appear from all the particulars of this chapter when understood in the spiritual sense. For this chapter and the following to chapter 16 treat of those who are in the spiritual kingdom, or those who are in love towards the neighbor and thence in intelligence, as was said in (n. 387). But since, at this day, they say "charity" instead of love towards the neighbor, and "faith" instead of intelligence; and here there is not any exploration of those who are in charity and thence in faith, because these belong to such as are in heaven; therefore exploration is here made of those who are in faith alone. Faith alone is also faith separated from charity, there being no conjunction (n. 417). That "to open the seal" signifies to explore states of life, or, what is the same thing, the states of the church and thence of life, see in (n. 295, 302, 309, 317, 324).

AR 389. There was silence in heaven as of half an hour, signifies that the angels of the Lord‘s spiritual kingdom were greatly amazed, when they saw those who said they were in faith, in such a state. By "silence in heaven," nothing else is meant but amazement there in regard to those who say they are in faith, and yet are in such a state; for their state is described in what follows, the quality of which can be seen from the explanation. By "half an hour" is signified greatly, because by "an hour" is signified a full state. That" time" signifies state, will be seen below.

Author:  E. Swedenborg (1688-1772).

Design:  I.J. Thompson, Feb 2002.

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