Apocalypse Explained, volume 1 - Swedenborg Foundation

APOCALYPSE EXPLAINED 118Whosoever toucheth the dead, and purifieth not himself, defileththe tabernacle of Jehovah; and that soul shall be cut off from Israel. Andwhosoever in the open field toucheth one that is slain with a sword, orthe bone of a man, or a grave, shall be unclean seven days. He thattoucheth the waters of separation shall be unclean until even. Andwhatsoever the unclean person toucheth shall become unclean, and thesoul that toucheth it shall be unclean until even (Num. 19:11, 13, 16,21–22).He that toucheth unclean beasts and unclean reptiles shall beunclean. Everything upon which they shall fall shall be unclean, whetherit be a vessel of wood, raiment, water, an earthen vessel, food, drink, anoven (but not a fountain, pit, or receptacle of water) shall be unclean(Lev. 11:31–36, besides other places, as Lev. 5:2, 3; 7:21; 11:37, 38;15:1 to the end; 22:4; Num. 16:26; Isa. 52:11; Lam. 4:14, 15; Hos. 4:2,3; Hag. 2:12, 13, 14).80. Saying unto me, Fear not signifies renewal of life. This isevident from the series of things in the internal sense. For John layas dead, and the Lord, seen as the son of man, laid his right handupon him, and said to him, “Fear not.” His “lying as dead”signified failure of his self-life; the Lord’s “laying his right handupon him” signified life from him; therefore his saying to him“Fear not” signified renewal of life; for all who come suddenly fromself-life into any spiritual life are at first afraid, but their life isrenewed by the Lord. This renewal is effected in this way that theDivine presence, and fear on account of it, are accommodated toreception.The Lord is present, indeed, with all in the universe, but morenearly or remotely according to the reception of good by means oftruths with them from him. For good is that in which the Lord ispresent with angel, spirit, and man; therefore the extent and qualityof good from the Lord with them are what determine the extentand quality of his presence; if the presence goes beyond this, thereis anguish and tremor; but by accommodation to reception there isrenewal of life (as can be seen from what has just been said andshown above, n. 78). This renewal is what is signified by “Fearnot”; also in other places, where it is said by the Lord or by theangel of the Lord when seen: