Apocalypse Explained, volume 1 - Swedenborg Foundation

APOCALYPSE EXPLAINED 213the king of Asshur, because he blasphemed Jehovah, was smittenwith the sword by his sons, in the house of Nisroch his god.“Asshur” signifies the rational in either sense (Arcana Coelestia, n.119, 1186); the “sons” of that king signify falsities, and the “sword”signifies destruction by falsities.[15] In Moses:[It was commanded that] the city that worshiped other godsshould be smitten with the sword, and burned up with fire (Deut.13:12–16).This was decreed because at that time all things were representative;“to worship other gods” is to worship from falsities; “to be smittenwith the sword” is to perish by falsity; and “to be burned up withfire” is to perish by the evil of falsity.[16] In the same:Whosoever in the field toucheth one that is slain with the swordshall be unclean (Num. 19:16, 18, 19).“One in the field slain with the sword” represented those within thechurch who destroyed truths with themselves; “the field” here is thechurch.[17] That “sword” signifies falsity destroying truth is manifest inDavid:The sons of man are set on fire; their teeth are spears and arrows,and their tongue a sharp sword (Ps. 57:4).Behold, they belch out with their mouth, swords are in their lips(Ps. 59:7).Workers of iniquity sharpen their tongues like a sword; they hurltheir arrow with a bitter word (Ps. 64:3).From this it is clear what is signified by the Lord’s words to Peter: