Apocalypse Explained, volume 1 - Swedenborg Foundation

APOCALYPSE EXPLAINED 220prison, and continually pour in calumnies against the truths offaith, and call forth the evils of his life; but the Lord continuallyprotects man by flowing in from the interior, and thus holds manin constancy in resisting; such are spiritual temptations. That manwho is in temptations is among spirits that are in falsities is meantby these words in this verse, “I know where thou dwellest, wheresatan’s throne is”; and also by these words, “Even in the dayswherein Antipas, my faithful martyr, was slain among you wheresatan dwelleth”; and constancy in resisting is understood by thesewords, “Thou holdest my name, and didst not deny my faith.” Butnone except those who acknowledge the Lord’s Divine in hishuman and who are in the spiritual affection of truth are let intospiritual temptations; the rest are natural men, who cannot betempted. (On temptations, see what is shown in the Doctrine of theNew Jerusalem, n. 187–201.)139. Verse 14. But I have against thee a few things, signifies thatheed should be taken, as is evident from what follows, where it istold of whom heed should be taken.140. That thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam,who taught Balak to cast a stumbling block before the sons of Israel,signifies those who have been illustrated in respect to theunderstanding, and who teach truths, and yet love to destroy bycraft those who are of the church. This is evident from thehistoricals of the Word respecting Balaam and Balak, understood inthe spiritual sense; and these must first be told. Balaam was asoothsayer from Pethor of Mesopotamia, and was therefore calledby Balak, king of Moab, to curse the Israelitish people; but thisJehovah prevented, and granted him to speak prophetically, yet heafterwards counselled with Balak how to destroy that people bycraft, by leading them away from the worship of Jehovah to theworship of Baal-peor. Here, therefore, by “Balaam” those are meantwho have been illuminated in respect to the understanding, andwho teach truths, and yet love to destroy by craft those who are ofthe church. That Balaam was a soothsayer is evident from thesewords in Moses: