Apocalypse Explained, volume 1 - Swedenborg Foundation

APOCALYPSE EXPLAINED 284then “nations” signified evils. (See further on this subject in Earthsin the Universe, n. 49, 90, 173, 174.)[3] That “nations” in the Word signify either goods or evils, and“people” either truths or falsities, can be seen from the followingpassages. In Isaiah:Nations shall walk to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thyrising. Then shalt thou see and flow together, and thine heart shall beenlarged, because the multitude of the sea is converted unto thee, thearmy of the nations come unto thee; thy gates shall be openedcontinually, they shall not be shut by day and by night, that men maybring unto thee the army of the nations, and their kings shall bebrought; for the nation or kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish;and the nations by wasting shall be wasted. Thou shalt suck the milk ofnations, even the breasts of kings shalt thou suck. The little one shallbecome a thousand, and the few a numerous nation (Isa. 60:3, 5,11–12, 16, 22).here the Lord is treated of; and by “nations” all who are in the goodof love to him are meant, and by “kings” all who are in the truthsof faith in him. From this it is manifest who are meant by the“nations” that “shall walk to thy light”; and by “the army of thenations that shall be brought”; also, who are meant by “the kings”that “shall walk to the brightness of thy rising”; and by “the kingsof the nations” that “shall be brought”; also, what is meant by“Thou shalt suck the milk of nations and the breasts of kings”(“milk” is the delight of the good of love, likewise “breasts,” formilk is from them). The multiplication of truth and thefructification of good are described by the “little one shall become athousand, and the few a numerous nation.” But by “the nationsthat shall be wasted” are meant all that are in evils, and also theevils themselves.[4] In the same:Behold I will lift up my hand toward the nations, and set up mineensign toward the peoples, that they may bring thy sons in the bosom,and carry thy daughters upon the shoulder; and kings shall be thynourishers and the chief women thy sucklers; with the face to the earthshall they bow down to thee (Isa. 49:22, 23).