Apocalypse Explained, volume 1 - Swedenborg Foundation

APOCALYPSE EXPLAINED 556mean heaven and the church; “the elders” mean truths from good;it is therefore said, “before them shall be glory,” for “glory” signifiesDivine truth in heaven (see above n. 33).[4] In Lamentations:My virgins and my young men have gone into captivity. I havecried to my lovers, they have deceived me; and mine elders expired inthe city (1:18, 19).Here the vastation of the church is treated of, over which there islamentation; there is such vastation when there is no longer anyspiritual affection of truth, and thence no intelligence in suchthings as pertain to the church, and when there is then no truth.The “virgins,” that are gone into captivity, mean the spiritualaffection of truth, “the young men” intelligence; “captivity” isremoval from this affection and intelligence; the “elders,” whoexpired, mean the truths of the church.[5] in Ezekiel:Slay to destruction the old man, the young man, and the virgin,and the infant and the women; begin from My sanctuary; therefore theybegan from the elders who were before the house (9:6).Here too, the vastation of the church is treated of; an “old man”and “young man” mean wisdom and intelligence; “virgin” meansthe affection of truth and good; “infant” innocence; “women” thegoods of the church; “to slay to destruction” signifies devastation;the “sanctuary,” from which they should begin, is the church inrespect to the good of love and the truth of faith, which are “theelders who are before the house.”[6] in Lamentations:The faces of the old men were not honored. The elders have ceasedfrom the gate, the young men from their music (5:12, 14).