Apocalypse Explained, volume 1 - Swedenborg Foundation

APOCALYPSE EXPLAINED 122After sixty and two weeks shall the messiah be cut off, but not forhimself; then the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy thecity and the sanctuary, so that its end shall be with a flood. At last uponthe bird of abominations shall be desolation, and even to theconsummation and decision it shall drop upon the devastation (Dan.9:26–27).“Desolation” and “vastation” signify repudiation and rejection ofDivine truth with those that are of the church (see Arcana Coelestia,n. 5360, 5376). That Divine truth, which is the Word, was sorepudiated by the Jews is also meant by these words in Matthew:I say unto you that Elias is come already, and they have notacknowledged him, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed.Even so shall the son of man suffer of them (Matt. 17:12).By “Elias” the Word is signified (see Arcana Coelestia, preface tochapter 18 of Genesis, and in n. 2762, 5247), and also by “Johnthe Baptist”; therefore he was called “Elias” (n. 7643, 9372). Fromthis it can be seen what is signified by “Elias has come,” and that“they have done to him whatsoever they listed,” and that “the sonof man is to suffer of them.” How the Jews explained and thusrejected the Word is clear from many passages in the Gospels,where the Lord makes this manifest. From this it can now be seenthat “I became dead” signifies that he was rejected. Moreover, thatthe Lord, by the passion of the cross, also glorified his human, thatis, made it Divine, see New Jerusalem and Its Heavenly Doctrine, n.294, 295, 302, 305.84. And behold I am alive unto the ages of the ages signifies thateternal life is from him. This is evident from the signification of “Iam alive,” which means to be from eternity, and that in him aloneis life from himself (on which see above, n. 82); but here as beinglife in others, and his life in others is eternal life. For it is said justbefore that he “became dead,” which signifies that he was rejected,because not received in faith and love; here, therefore, “I am alive”signifies that he is received by those who are in his life, which life isin faith and love with man, and that life is eternal life. That “untothe ages of the ages” signifies to eternity is clear withoutexplanation. That the life of the Lord is a life of faith in him and