Apocalypse Explained, volume 1 - Swedenborg Foundation

APOCALYPSE EXPLAINED 183not the Word, and yet long for truths, know no other than that bythe “rich man” in Luke (16:19 seq.) “who was clothed in purpleand fine linen,” are meant the rich in the world, and that by the“poor man” who “was laid at his gate, and desired to be fed withthe crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table,” are meant the poorin this world. But by the “rich man” there the Jewish nation ismeant, which had the Word, and might from it have been in theknowledges of truth and good; and by the “poor man” are theremeant the Gentiles that had not the Word and yet longed for theknowledges of truth and good. The rich man is described as“clothed with purple and fine linen,” because “purple” signifiesgenuine good (Arcana Coelestia, n. 9467), and the “fine linen”genuine truth (Arcana Coelestia, n. 5319, 9469, 9596, 9744), bothfrom the Word. The poor man is described as “laid at the richman’s gate, and desiring to be fed with the crumbs that fell fromthe rich man’s table,” because by “to be laid at the gate” is meant tobe rejected, and to be deprived of the opportunity to read andunderstand the Word; and “wishing to be fed with the crumbs thatfell from the rich man’s table” means to long for some truths fromthe Word, for “food” signifies the things of knowledge, intelligence,and wisdom and in general, good and truth (Arcana Coelestia, n.3114, 4459, 4792, 5147, 5293, 5340, 5342, 5410, 5426, 5576,5582, 5588, 5655, 8562, 9003); and “table” signifies a receptaclefor these (Arcana Coelestia, n. 9527). As the poor man was in thatlonging, which is the same as the spiritual affection of truth, it issaid of him that “he was carried by the angels into Abraham’sbosom,” by which is signified to be raised into an angelic state inrespect to intelligence and wisdom; “Abraham’s bosom” is theDivine truth that is in heaven, for those who are in that are withthe Lord. (That “Abraham” in the Word signifies the Lord, seeArcana Coelestia, n. 2010, 2833, 2836, 3245, 3251, 3305, 3439,3703, 6098, 6185, 6276, 6804, 6847.)[5] The like that is signified here by the “rich man” and the “poorman who hungered” is signified by the “rich” and the “hungry” inLuke:The hungry he hath filled with good, and the rich he hath sentempty away (Luke 1:53).