Apocalypse Explained, volume 1 - Swedenborg Foundation

APOCALYPSE EXPLAINED 438Jesus said, I have manifested Thy name unto men, and I havemade known unto them Thy name, and will make it known (17:6, 26).225. Verse 13. He that hath an ear let him hear what the Spiritsaith to the churches, signifies that he who understands shouldhearken to what Divine truth proceeding from the Lord teachesand says to those who are of His church, as is evident from whatwas said above (n. 105), where there are like words.226. Verses 14–22. And to the angel of the church of theLaodiceans write, These things saith the Amen, the faithful andtrue Witness, the Beginning of the working of God. I know thyworks, that thou art neither cold nor hot; would that thou wertcold or hot. So because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold norhot, I am about to vomit thee out of My mouth. Because thousayest, I am rich and have gotten riches, and have need of nothing,and knowest not that thou are wretched and miserable and poorand blind and naked; I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried by fire,that thou mayest be enriched, and white garments that thou mayestbe clothed, that the shame of thy nakedness be not manifest, andanoint thine eyes with eye salve that thou mayest see. As many as Ilove I reprove and chasten; be zealous, therefore, and repent.Behold I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hear My voice,and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him,and he with Me. He that overcometh I will give to him to sit withMe in My throne, as I also have overcome and sit with My Fatherin His Throne. He that hath an ear let him hear what the Spiritsaith unto the churches. 14. “And to the angel of the church of theLaodiceans write,” signifies those who are in faith alone, thus thosewho are in faith separate from charity (n. 227); “These things saiththe Amen, the faithful and true Witness,” signifies from whom isevery truth and everything of faith (n. 228); “the beginning of theworking of God,” signifies faith from Him, which in appearance isthe first thing of the church (n. 229). 15. “I know thy works,”signifies the life of faith alone (n. 230); “that thou art neither coldnor hot,” signifies that it is between heaven and hell, because it isapart from charity (n. 231); “would that thou wert cold or hot,”signifies that it were better that there should be no faith or thatthere should be charity alone(n. 232). 16. “So because thou art