Apocalypse Explained, volume 1 - Swedenborg Foundation

242e. Like things are signified by:APOCALYPSE EXPLAINED 501The wise men who came from the East to the place where Christwas born, offering gifts, gold, frankincense, and myrrh (Matt. 2:11).They offered these because these signified goods and truths, interiorand exterior, which are gifts pleasing to God.[18] In David:All kings shall bow themselves before Him; and all nations shallserve Him. He shall save the souls of the needy. And they shall live, andHe shall give them of the gold of Sheba (Ps. 72:11, 13, 15).Here also the coming of the Lord is treated of; by “kings that shallbow themselves before Him,” and “nations that shall serve Him,”all who are in truths from good are meant (that “kings” signifythose who are in truths, see above, n. 31; and that “nations” signifythose who are in good, see also above, n. 175a); “the needy whomHe shall save” mean those who are not in the knowledges of goodand truth but yet long for them (see also above, n. 238); “the goldof Sheba, of which He shall give them,” means the good of loveinto which the Lord shall lead them by means of knowledges (what“Sheba” signifies see just above).[19] In Haggai:I will stir up all nations, that they may come, the choice of allnations, and I will fill this house with glory. The silver is Mine, and thegold. The glory of this latter house shall be greater than that of theformer (2:7–9).This also treats of the coming of the Lord; by “nations” those whoare in good and in truths therefrom are meant; by “house” thechurch (Arcana Coelestia, n. 3720); “the glory with which it shall befilled” means Divine truth (n. 4809, 5922, 8267, 8427, 9429).“The silver is Mine, and the gold,” means that truth and good arefrom the Lord alone.