Apocalypse Explained, volume 1 - Swedenborg Foundation

APOCALYPSE EXPLAINED 298and sees from the Lord. When the internal or spiritual man, inwhich is the inner or higher mind of which we have just spoken, isopened, then the Lord subdues the evils and disperses the falsitieswhich are in the external or natural man. These things, then, arewhat are meant in the spiritual sense by this, that the son of man isto “give them power over the nations, and he shall rule them withan iron rod, and as earthen vessels they shall be shivered.”[5] That “earthen vessels” signify such things as are from selfintelligence,thus the falsities that are in the natural man, is evidentfrom various passages in the Word, of which I will cite thefollowing as confirmation. In David:Thou shalt bruise the nations with an iron scepter; as a potter’svessel thou shall dash them in pieces (Ps. 2:9).In this passage also “to bruise the nations with an iron scepter” is tochastise and subdue the evils that are in the natural man. “Scepter”here has the same signification as “staff” or “rod.” It is added “as apotter’s vessel,” because that signifies falsity from self-intelligence.In the sense of the letter this is a comparison, for it is said “as apotter’s vessel,” and “as earthen vessels”; but in the internal sensecomparisons are not perceived as comparisons, since comparisonsare equally from things significative (see Arcana Coelestia, n. 3579,8989.) “A potter’s vessel,” or “earthen vessel,” signifies what is false,because a potter is one who forms, and a vessel is what is formed;and when man forms the vessel it is a falsity, but when the Lordforms it with man it is a truth; consequently in the Word “apotter’s vessel” signifies either what is false or what is true, and “apotter” signifies one who forms.[6] The Lord himself is called in the Word a “potter,” from hisforming man by means of truths; as in Isaiah:Jehovah our Father; we are the clay, and thou art our potter, andwe all are the work of thy hands (Isa. 64:8).