Apocalypse Explained, volume 1 - Swedenborg Foundation

APOCALYPSE EXPLAINED 104represented purification from evils and falsities by means of thetruths of faith and a life according to them (see Arcana Coelestia, n.3147, 5954, 10237, 10240). From this it is now clear that by “thevoice,” which was “as the voice of many waters,” is meant Divinetruth; as likewise in Ezekiel:Behold the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of theeast, and his voice was like the voice of many waters; and the earth wasenlightened by his glory (Ezek. 43:2).And in David:The voice of Jehovah is upon the waters, Jehovah upon manywaters (Ps. 29:3).And in the following words in Revelation:I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters (Rev.14:2).[4] I know that some will wonder why “waters” are mentioned inthe Word, and not the truths of faith, since the Word is to teachman about his spiritual life; and since, if the expression the truthsof faith had been used, instead of “waters,” man would have knownthat the waters of baptism and of washings contribute nothing tothe purifying of man from evils and falsities. But it is to be known,that the Word in order to be Divine, and at the same time useful toheaven and the church, must be wholly natural in the letter, for if itwere not natural in the letter there could be no conjunction ofheaven with the church by means of it; for it would be like a housewithout a foundation, and like a soul without a body, for ultimatesenclose all interiors, and are a foundation for them (see above, n.41). Man also is in ultimates, and upon the church in him heavenhas its foundations. For this reason the style of the Word is such asit is; and as a consequence, when man from the natural things thatare in the sense of the letter of the Word thinks spiritually, he isconjoined with heaven, and in no other way could he be conjoinedwith it.