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52. From what, has been related, the Truth of the Lord's Prediction concerning the Laft Judgment manifeftly appears, that " then they shall

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come from the Eaft and from the Weft, and from "the North and from the South, and shall fit down "in the Kingdom of God," Luke xiii. 29.

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Of Babylon, and it's Deftruction.

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in the Revelation, are at this Day fulfilled, may be seen above, n. 40 to 44; and that the Laft Judgment is already accomplished, fee the Chapter preceding, where it is alfo fhewn in what Manner the Judgment was executed on the Mahometans and Gentiles: It follows now to declare, how it was accomplished on the Papifts, who are understood by Babylon, which is much treated of in the Revelation, particularly it's Deftruction in Chap. xviii. which is thus described, "An Angel cried vehemently with a great Voice, Babylon bath fallen, hath fallen, and is become the "Habitation of Devils, and the Hold of every foul

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Spirit, and the Cage of every unclean and hateful "Bird," Verse 2. But before we relate in what Manner that Deftruction was accomplished, we fhall premfe, I. What is understood by Babylon, and the Nature and Quality thereof. II. The Quality of those in another Life who are from Babylon. III. Where their Dwellings have hitherto been. IV. The Reafon why they were there tolerated till the Day of the Laft Judgment. V. In what Manner they were destroyed, and their Habitations made a Defert. VI. That fuch among them as were in the Affection of Truth

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Truth from Good, were preserved. VII. Concerning the State of those hereafter, who come thence from the Earths [into the Spiritual World].

54. What is underflood by Babylon, and the Nas ture and Quality thereof. By Babylon are underftood all they, who by Means of Religion defire to bear Rule; to rule by Religion, is to rule over, the Souls of Men, confequently over their very fpiritual Life, and to use the Divine Things which appertain to Religion as Means to promote that End. All they who make Dominion their End, and Religion as a Means conducive thereto, constitute Babylon in general. The Reason why they are called Babylon is, because in ancient Times fuch Dominion began to take Place, but was deftroyed at it's Commencement: It's firft Rife is deferibed by a City and a Tower, whofe Head might reach to Heaven; and it's Deftruction is defcribed by the Confufion of Tongues, whence it obtained the Name BABEL, Gen. xi. I to 9; what is understood by every Particular there, in the internal or fpiritual Senfe of the Word, may be feen explained in the ARCANA CŒLESTIA, n. 1283 to 1328. That fuch Dominion was allo begun and established in Babylon, is evident in Daniel, where it is faid of Nebuchadnezzar, that he fet up an Image, which all should wor

fhip, Chap. iii. I to the End: It is alfo underftood by Belshazzar and his Lords drinking out of the Veffels of Gold and Silver, which Nebuchadnezzar carried from the Temple of Jerufalem, and at the fame Time worshipping Gods of Gold, Silver, Copper, and Iron; wherefore it was written on the Wall, "He hath numbered, he "bath weighed, he hath divided;" and the King himself was flain the fame Night, Chap. v. I to the End: By the Veffels of Gold and Silver from the Temple of Jerufalem, are fignified the Goods and Truths of the Church; by drinking out of them, and at the fame Time worshipping Gods of Gold, Silver, Copper, and Iron, is fignified Profanation and by the Writing on the Wall, and by the Death of the King, is fignified Vifitation and Destruction, denounced against those who used Divine Goods and Truths as Means whereby to obtain Dominion over the Souls of Men. The Nature and Quality of thofe who are called Babylon, is also described in the Prophets throughout; as in Ifaiah, "Thou mayeft "take up this Parable concerning the King of Baby"lon; Jehovah hath broken the Staff of the Wicked, "the Sceptre of the Rulers: Thou haft fallen from "Heaven, O Lucifer; thou art cut down even to the "Earth; thou haft faid in thy Mind, I will afcend " into the Heavens, I will exalt my Throne above the "Stars of God, and I will fit on the Mountain of

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"the Congregation, in the Sides of the North, I will "become like the Moft High. Yet thou shalt be caft "down into Hell, to the Sides of the Pit; I will "cut off from Babylon the Name and the Refidues "and I will appoint her that he may be an beredi"tary Poffeffion for the Bittern;" xiv. 4, 12, 13, 14, 15, 22. Again, in the fame Prophet, "The "Lion faid, Babylon hath fallen, bath fallen, and "all the graven Images of her Gods are caft down," xxi. 9. Again, in Chap. xlvii, 1 to the End. Chap. xlviii. 14 to 20. And in Jeremiah, Chap. 1. 1, 2, 3. Hence now it appears, what is the Nature and Quality of Babylon. It is to be obferved, that the Church becomes Babylon, when Charity and Faith ceafe, and the Love of Self begins to reign in their Place; for in Proportion as this Love is left unreftrained, it bursts forth, fo as to afpire at Dominion not only over all on Earth, whom it can fubject to itself, but also over Heaven; neither does it reft there, but climbs up even to the Throne of God, and transfers to itself his Divine Power. That this was also the Cafe before the Coming of the Lord, appears from the Paffages above cited. But that Babylon was destroyed by the Lord, when he was in the World, as well by his fuffering them to be come mere Idolaters, as by the Laft Judgment at that Time executed upon them in the Spiri tual World: This is understood by the above Prophecy,

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