Apocalypse Explained, volume 1 - Swedenborg Foundation

APOCALYPSE EXPLAINED 241The city of bloods, polluted by name (Ezek. 22:2, 5).“The city of bloods” is the doctrine that offers violence to the goodof charity; this is said to be “polluted by name” when it aboundswith falsities and evils therefrom, which constitute its quality.[4] In Moses:Moses said unto Jehovah, Thou hast said, I know thee by thyname. And Jehovah said unto Moses, This word also that thou hastspoken I will do, for I know thee by name (Exod. 33:12, 17).“His knowing Moses by name” is knowing his quality. InRevelation:Thou hast a few names in Sardis which have not defiled theirgarments. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in whitegarments, and I will confess his name before my Father. He thatovercometh, I will write upon him the name of my God, and the nameof the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, and my new name (Rev. 3:4,5, 12).It can be seen that “name” here signifies the quality of state inrespect to the good of love and the truth of faith. In another place:Whose names have not been written in the book of life (Rev. 13:8;17:8).“Names written in the book of life” are the quality of all things ofman’s love and faith, the all things of his spiritual life. In anotherplace:They shall see the face of God and the lamb, and his name shall bein their forehead (Rev. 22:4).“His name in their forehead” is a state of love, for “forehead”corresponds to love, and therefore signifies love.[5] “Name” in the Word signifies the quality of man’s state,because in the spiritual world each one is named according to the