Apocalypse Explained, volume 1 - Swedenborg Foundation

APOCALYPSE EXPLAINED 66The isles shall hope in me, and on my arm shall they trust (Isa.51:5).In Jeremiah:The islands shall trust in me, and the ships of Tarshish (Isa. 60:9).Hear the words of Jehovah, O ye nations, and declare them in theisles afar off (Jer. 31:10).And in Zephaniah:Jehovah will make lean all the gods of the earth, that they mayworship him, everyone in his place, even all the isles of the nations(Zeph. 2:11).(And elsewhere as in Isa. 23:2, 6; 41:1, 5; 42:15; 66:19; Jer. 2:10;25:22; Ezek. 27:3, 7, 15, 35.) From these and other passages it isplain that “isles” signify nations, specifically nations in respect tothe doctrine of truth, in other places in respect to the doctrine offalsity; for most things in the Word have also oppositesignifications.51. For the Word of God signifies that Divine truth may bereceived. This is evident from the signification of “the Word ofGod,” as being Divine truth (see Arcana Coelestia, n. 4692, 5075,9987).52. And for the testimony of Jesus Christ signifies that the Lord’sDivine human may be acknowledged. This is evident from thesignification of “testimony,” as being acknowledgment in heart (seeabove, n. 10, 27); and from the signification of the names “Jesus”and “Christ,” as being the Lord in respect to his Divine human (seealso above, n. 26). These things are said concerning the church ofthe Gentiles, which is about to receive Divine truth andacknowledge the Lord’s Divine human. (That these things are saidof the church of the Gentiles, see just above, n. 50.) The Christianchurch indeed, acknowledges the Lord’s Divine, but not his Divinehuman; when, therefore, they think and speak about the Lord from