Apocalypse Explained, volume 1 - Swedenborg Foundation

APOCALYPSE EXPLAINED 199death” is to come into the new heaven, cannot be known unless itis known what the former heaven is, and what the new heaven,which are treated of in chapter 21 of Revelation. (Something ofwhat the “former heaven” is can be seen in Last Judgment, n.65–72; and what the “new heaven” is, in Doctrine of the NewJerusalem, n. 1–7.) But what is meant by the “first death” and bythe “second death,” also by the “first resurrection” and “secondresurrection,” will be told in the explanation of chapters 20 and 21,where it is said:The rest of the dead shall not live again until the thousand years befinished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hathpart in the second 8 resurrection; over these the second death hath nopower; but they shall be priests of God and of Christ (Rev. 20:5–6).Their part shall be in the lake that burneth with fire andbrimstone, which is the second death (Rev. 21:8).From this it is clear that the “second death” is damnation; to behurt by it, therefore, is to be damned, and on the other hand, notto be hurt by it is to be saved; and as all that are saved come intothe new heaven, to come into the new heaven is signified by “notbeing hurt by the second death” (of which heaven, and of whom itconsists, see New Jerusalem and Its Heavenly Doctrine, n. 2–6).129. Verses 12–17. And to the angel of the church in Pergamumwrite: These things saith he that hath the sharp two-edged sword, Iknow thy works and where thou dwellest, where satan’s throne is; andthou holdest my name, and didst not deny my faith, even in the dayswherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you,where satan dwelleth. But I have against thee a few things, that thouhast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak tocast a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat idol sacrifices, andto commit whoredom. So thou also hast them that hold the doctrine ofthe Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. Repent; or else I will come to theequickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. Hethat hath an ear let him hear what the spirit saith unto the churches.To him that overcometh, to him will I give to eat of the hidden manna;and will give him a white stone, and upon the stone a new name