Apocalypse Explained, volume 1 - Swedenborg Foundation

APOCALYPSE EXPLAINED 295by means of the truths and goods that are also there and that makeone with the goods and truths in the spiritual or internal man (seeDoctrine of the New Jerusalem on knowledges, what they effect, n.51, and on influx, n. 277–278).[5] From this it can now be seen what is signified by “the ironrod,” with which the Lord is to rule the nations, that is, chastise theevils that are in the natural man. These things are said to the angelof this church, because in what is written to this angel the internaland external man and their conjunction are treated of; for when theinternal and the external or the spiritual and the natural areconjoined, the Lord chastises the evils and falsities that are in thenatural man, and this by means of the knowledges of truth andgood. But with those with whom the internal and external man arenot conjoined, evils and falsities cannot be chastised and scattered,since they receive nothing from heaven through the spiritual man,but all things they receive are from the world; and these theirrational favors, and supplies confirmations. Things similar to thosehere signified by “the iron rod” are also signified in the followingpassages. In David:Thou shalt bruise [the nations] with an iron scepter; as a potter’svessel thou shalt dash them in pieces (Ps. 2:9).In Isaiah:He shall smite the land with the rod of his mouth, and with thebreath of his lips shall he slay the wicked (Isa. 11:4).In Revelation:The woman brought forth a male, a son, who is to rule all nationswith an iron rod (Rev. 12:5).Out of the mouth of the one sitting on the white horse went fortha sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations; for he shall rulethem with an iron rod (Rev. 19:15).In Micah: