Apocalypse Explained, volume 1 - Swedenborg Foundation

APOCALYPSE EXPLAINED 233spheres from spirits who have been of such character have madethese things evident; from the presence of spirits who haveconfirmed falsities in themselves, and have applied truths from thesense of the letter of the Word to confirm them, there exhales anabominable sphere of whoredom. Such spheres correspond to allthe prohibited degrees (of which, see Lev. 20:11–21) with adifference according to the application of truths to falsities and theconjunction of falsities with evils, especially with evils that gush outof the love of self (of which more may be seen in Heaven and Hell,n. 384–386).142. Verse 15. So thou hast them that hold the doctrine of theNicolaitans, which thing I hate, signifies those who separate goodfrom truth, or charity from faith, which is against Divine order.This is evident from what was said and shown above (n. 107),where similar words occur. To which this is to be added: that thosewho separate truth from good, or faith from charity, turn awayfrom themselves all influx of heaven into the goods they do, inconsequence of which their goods are not good; for heaven flowsin, that is, the Lord through heaven, into the good of man’s love;he, therefore, that rejects the good of charity from the doctrine ofthe church, and receives instead only those things that are calledmatters of faith, is shut out of heaven; truths with such have no life;and it is the life of truth, which is good, that conjoins, but nottruth without life, or faith without charity. (But more on thesesubjects in Doctrine of the New Jerusalem where it treats of charity,n. 84–107, and of faith, n. 108–122.)143. Verse 16. Repent, signifies dissociation from these. This isevident from the signification of “repent,” as being in reference tothe things signified by “the doctrine of Balaam,” and by “thedoctrine of the Nicolaitans,” to be dissociated from them. Nor isrepentance anything else; for no one repents unless he actuallyseparates himself from the things of which he has repented; and heseparates himself from them only when he shuns them and turnsaway from them. (That this is repentance or penitence, see theDoctrine of the New Jerusalem, n. 159–172.)