Apocalypse Explained, volume 1 - Swedenborg Foundation

APOCALYPSE EXPLAINED 600The church that is in falsities and in no truths is here treated of;“Hazor” signifies the knowledges of truth; the knowledges of falsityare signified by “an abode of dragons;” that there is there no truthand no doctrine of truth is signified by “a man (vir) shall not dwellthere, nor the son of man (hominis) sojourn in her,” “man”meaning truth, and “the son of man” a doctrine of truth.[13] In Revelation:He measured the wall of the holy Jerusalem, a hundred and fortyfourcubits, the measure of a man, which is that of an angel (21:17).That this signifies, that “the wall of the holy Jerusalem was ahundred and forty-four cubits, and that this was the measure of aman, which is that of an angel,” no one can understand unless heknows what is signified by “the holy Jerusalem,” by its “wall,” bythe number “one hundred and forty-four,” likewise by “man,” andby “angel.” “The holy Jerusalem” signifies the church in respect todoctrine; “wall” signifies truth protecting; the number “onehundred and forty-four” signifies all truths from good in thecomplex; “man” signifies the reception of these from affection, and“angel” signifies the same; it is therefore said, “the measure of aman, which is that of an angel;” “measure” signifying quality. Fromthis it is clear how these words are to be spiritually understood.(These things may be seen more clearly explained in the Doctrine ofthe New Jerusalem, n. 1.)280c. [14] Because “man” signifies the spiritual affection of truthand wisdom therefrom, “man” also signifies the church, because thechurch with man is a church from the spiritual affection of truthand wisdom therefrom. This makes clear what is meant by “Juan”in the first chapters of Genesis, namely, the church that was thefirst of this earth and the most ancient; this is what is meant by“Adam,” or “Man.” The establishment of this church is describedin the first chapter by the creation of heaven and earth; itsintelligence and wisdom by paradise; and its fall by the eating of thetree of knowledge.