Apocalypse Explained, volume 1 - Swedenborg Foundation

APOCALYPSE EXPLAINED 598it is said, “I saw and lo there was no man;” the “fowl of heavenwhich were fled away” signify the rational and the intellectual.[7] In the same:Behold the days come, that I will sow the house of Israel and thehouse of Judah with the seed of man and with the seed of beast (31:27).“The house of Israel and the house of Judah” signify the church inrespect to truth and in respect to good; “the seed of man and theseed of beast” signify the spiritual affection of truth and the naturalaffection of truth; for where “man and beast” are mentioned in theWord the spiritual and the natural or the internal and the external,are signified (see Arcana Coelestia, n. 7424, 7523, 7872).[8] In Zephaniah:I will take away man and beast; I will take away the fowl of theheavens and the fishes of the sea; I will cut off man from the surfaces ofthe earth (1:3).“To take away man and beast” means to take away the spiritualaffection of truth and the natural affection of truth; “to take awaythe fowl of the heavens and the fishes of the sea” means to takeaway spiritual truths and natural truths; and “to cut off man fromthe surfaces of the earth” means to cut off the affection of truth andwisdom.[9] In Ezekiel:Ye My flock, the flock of My pasture, ye are man; I am your God(34:31).The “flock of the pasture” signifies spiritual good and truth; the“pasture” is the reception of these from the Lord; it is thereforesaid, “ye are man, I am your God,” “man” standing for the spiritualaffection of truth and wisdom.