Apocalypse Explained, volume 1 - Swedenborg Foundation

APOCALYPSE EXPLAINED 232Babylon hath made all nations to drink of the wine of the wrath ofher whoredom (Rev. 14:8);The angel said, I will show thee the judgment of the great harlotthat sitteth upon many waters; with whom the kings of the earth havecommitted whoredom (Rev. 17:1–2);Babylon hath made all nations to drink of the wine of the wrath ofher whoredom, and the kings of the earth have committed whoredomwith her (Rev. 18:3);He hath judged the great harlot, which did corrupt the earth withher whoredom (Rev. 19:2).It is manifest that in these passages by “whoredoms” are meant thefalsifications of truth.[15] As such things are signified by “whoredoms” and“adulteries,” and as these have the same signification in heaven,therefore in the Israelitish church, which was a representativechurch, in which all things were significative, the followingcommands were given:That there should be no harlot nor whoremonger in Israel (Deut.23:17);That the man that committed adultery with the wife of a man, andthe man that committed adultery with the wife of his companion shouldbe put to death (Lev. 20:10);That the hire of a harlot should not be brought into the house ofJehovah for any vow (Deut. 23:18);That the sons of Aaron should not take a harlot to wife, nor awoman put away by her husband. That the high priest should take avirgin to wife. That the daughter of a priest, if she profaned herself bycommitting whoredom, should be burned with fire (Lev. 21:7, 9,13–14). (Besides many other passages.)[16] That “whoredoms” and “adulteries” involve such things hasbeen testified to me from much experience in the other life. The