NOTE

The marginal figures in this edition indicate the subdivisions of the paragraphs arranged for the "Concordance to the Theological Writings of Emanuel Swedenborg by the Rev. John Faulkner Potts."

GENESIS.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHTH.

3650. In the preface to the preceding chapter was explained what the Lord taught and foretold concerning the final judgment, or concerning the last days of the church (Matt. xxiv. 8-14, see n. 3486-3489). It now follows in order, by way of introduction to this chapter, to explain the contents of the subsequent verses (15-18): When therefore ye shall see the abomination of desolation which was foretold by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place, let him that readeth understand, then let them that are in Judea flee unto the mountains: let him that is upon the house not go down to take anything out of his house: and let him that is in the field not return back to take his garments.

3651. Every one may see that these words contain arcana, and that without a discovery of the arcana, it cannot in any way be known what is meant by them that are in Judea fleeing to the mountains; and by him that is upon the house not going down to take anything out of his house; and by him that is in the field not returning back to take his garments. Unless the internal sense taught what is signified and implied by these particulars, they who search into and interpret the Word might be led away and fall into opinions altogether foreign to the truth; yea, they who in

heart deny the sanctity of the Word, might conclude from them that such expressions only described flight and escape on the approach of an enemy, consequently that there is nothing more sacred contained therein; when yet by these words of the Lord is fully described a state of vastation of the church as to the goods of love and the truths of faith - as may be evident from the following explication of the words.

3652. According to the internal sense the signification is this: "When therefore ye shall see the abomination of desolation" signifies the vastation of the church, which occurs when the Lord is no longer acknowledged, consequently when there is no love and no faith in Him; also when there is no longer any charity toward the neighbor; and consequently when there is not any faith of good and truth. When this is the case in the church, or rather in the land where the Word is possessed and read that is, when men are such in the thoughts of the heart, even if not such in the teaching of the lips then there is desolation, and the particulars just now mentioned are its abomination; hence, when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, means when any one observes such things; what is to be done in 2 such case, is told afterward (verses 16-18). "Which was foretold by Daniel the prophet" signifies, in the internal sense, by the prophets; for where any prophet is mentioned by name in the Word, it is not the prophet that is meant, but the prophetic Word itself, because names never penetrate into heaven (see n. 1876, 1888); and yet the same is not signified by one prophet as by another. What is signified by Moses, Elias, and Elisha, may be seen in the preface to chapter XVIII. and in n. 2762; but by Daniel is signified everything prophetical concerning the Lord's coming, and concerning the state of the church; in the present case concerning its last state. Vastation is largely treated of in the prophets, and by it in the sense of the letter is signified the vastation of the Jewish and Israelitish

Church, but in the internal sense is signified the vastation of the church in general, thus also the vastation which is now at hand. "Standing in the holy place" signifies vasta- 3 tion as to all things which are of good and truth; the holy place is a state of love and faith; that place in the internal sense is state, see above (n. 2625, 2837, 3356, 3387); the holy of that state is the good which is of love, and thence the truth which is of faith; and nothing else is meant by holy in the Word, because those things are from the Lord, Who is the Holy Itself, or the Sanctuary. "Let him that readeth understand" signifies that these things are to be well observed by those who are in the church, especially by those who are in love and faith, who come now to be treated of. "Then let them that are in Judea flee unto the 4 mountains" signifies that they who are of the church will not look elsewhere than to the Lord, thus to love to Him, and to charity toward their neighbor; that by Judea is signified the church, will be shown below; that by mountain is signified the Lord Himself, but by mountains love to Him, and charity toward the neighbor, may be seen above (n. 795, 796, 1430, 2722). According to the sense of the letter the meaning would be, that when Jerusalem was besieged, as it came to be by the Romans, then they should not betake themselves thither, but to the mountains — according to what is written in Luke: When ye see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that her desolation is at hand. Then let them that are in Judea flee unto the mountains; and let them that are in the midst of her depart out; and let not them that are in the country enter therein (xxi. 20, 21). But it is the same there with Jerusalem, namely, 5 that in the sense of the letter it is Jerusalem which is understood, while in the internal sense it is the church of the Lord (see n. 402, 2117); for each and all of the things which are recorded in the Word concerning the Jewish and Israelitish people, are representative of the kingdom of the Lord in the heavens, and of His kingdom on earth, that is,

of the church, as has been often shown. Hence it is, that by Jerusalem in the internal sense is nowhere meant Jerusalem, nor by Judea, Judea. But these things were such as to be capable of representing the celestial and spiritual things of the Lord's kingdom, and the events took place for the sake of the representation. In this way the Word could be so written as to be adapted to the apprehension of man who reads it, and also to the understanding of the angels who are with man. This likewise was the reason that the Lord spoke in like manner; for had He spoken otherwise, His Word would not have been adapted to the understanding of those who read it, especially at that time, nor to the understanding of angels; thus it would neither have been received by man, nor understood by angels. 6 "Let him that is upon the house not go down to take anything out of his house" signifies that such as are in the good of charity should not betake themselves to those things which are of the doctrinals of faith. In the Word the house top signifies the superior state of man, thus his state as to good; but those things which are below signify the inferior State of man, thus his state as to truth (n. 710, 1708, 2233, 2234, 3142, 3538). With respect to the state of a man of the church, the case is this: while he is being regenerated he learns truths for the sake of good, for he has affection for truth on this account; but after he is regenerated, he then acts from truth and good. When he is arrived at this state, he ought not to betake himself to his former state, for if he should do this, he would reason from truth concerning the good in which he is, and would thereby pervert his state, for all reasoning ceases, and ought to cease, when man is in a state to will what is true and good; for then he thinks and acts from the will, consequently from conscience, and not from the understanding, as before; and if he should think and act from this again, he would fall into temptations and sink therein. This then is what is signified by "Let him that is upon the house not go