Apocalypse Explained, volume 1 - Swedenborg Foundation

APOCALYPSE EXPLAINED 97therefrom then ruled; but the second “silver,” because truth fromthat good, or spiritual good, and intelligence therefrom then ruled;the third age “brazen” or “copper,” because mere natural good,which is justness and sincerity of moral life, then ruled; but the lastage they called “iron,” because mere truth without good then ruled,and when that rules, falsity also rules. All this was from the spiritualsignification of these metals.[2] From this it can be known what is signified by the image seenin a dream by Nebuchadnezzar:The head of which was of gold, the breast and arms of silver, thebelly and sides of brass, the legs of iron, and the feet partly of iron andpartly of clay (Dan. 2:23, 33);namely, the state of the church in respect to good and truth, fromits first time to its last; its last time was when the Lord came intothe world. When it is known that “gold” signifies celestial good,“silver” spiritual good, “brass” natural good, and “iron” naturaltruth, many arcana in the Word, where these metals are mentioned,can be understood. Thus what is signified by these words in Isaiah:For brass I will bring gold, for iron I will bring silver, and for woodbrass, and for stones iron; I will also make thy government peace, andthine exactors justice (Isa. 60:17).[3] But as the signification of “brass,” as meaning natural good, ishere treated of, I will cite only a few passages where “brass” ismentioned, as signifying that good. Thus in Moses:Asher acceptable unto his brethren, and dipping his foot in oil.Thy shoe iron and brass, and as thy days thy fame (Deut. 33:24–25).“Asher,” as one of the tribes, signifies the blessedness of life and thedelight of affections (see Arcana Coelestia, n. 3938–3939, 6408);“to dip the foot in oil” signifies natural delight, “oil” is delight (seen. 9954), “foot” the natural (see just above, n. 69); “the shoe ironand brass” signifies the lowest natural from truth and good, “theshoe” is the lowest natural (see n. 1748, 1860, 6844), “iron” is itstruth, and “brass” its good (as above). In the same: