1003. To go away to the kings of the earth, and of the whole world, to gather them together to the battle. That this signifies to excite dissensions and combats against truths with all those who belong to the church, is evident from the signification of kings, as denoting those who are in truths from good, and, abstractly, truths from good (see n. 29, 31, 553, 625); and from the signification of the earth and of the world, as denoting the church as to truth and good, thus the whole church (see n. 741); and from the signification of battle, as denoting dissension concerning truths and goods, also spiritual combats (see n. 573, 734). From these things it is evident that, by going away to the kings of the earth, and of the whole world, to gather them together to the battle, is signified to excite dissensions and combats against truths with all those who belong to the church.
[2] That the church has come into disputes about truths and goods, and into contentions against them, and at length into dissensions by faith alone, is perfectly evident from this: That when that faith was received, the understanding was no longer allowed to examine them; for that faith implies that a thing must be believed, however it may appear to the understanding. And when the understanding is debarred from faith, enlightenment is impossible; and this being the case, blindness and stupidity enter into everything of the church. In this state there exists mere disputation about the meaning of the Word, which may be used to confirm anything whatever. This is why the church has been divided into so many ecclesiasticisms, and why there are so many heresies in these. That these dissensions and disputations about truths and goods are from hell, is signified by the spirits of demons working signs to go away to the kings of the earth, and of the whole world, to gather them together to the battle.
Continuation concerning the Sixth Precept:-
[3] From the goods enumerated and described that follow chaste marriages, a conclusion may be formed as to the evils that follow adulteries, for these evils are the opposites of those goods. That is to say, instead of the spiritual and celestial loves which those have who live in chaste marriages, there are infernal and diabolical loves with those who are in adulteries. Instead of the intelligence and wisdom which those have who live chastely in marriage, there are insanities and follies with those who are in adulteries. Instead of the innocence and peace which those have who live in chaste marriages, there are deceit and absence of peace with those who are in adulteries. Instead of the power and protection against the hells which those have who live chastely in marriage, there are the very demons, and the hells with those who live in adulteries. Instead of the beauty which those have who live chastely in marriage, there is ugliness, horrible according to the quality of those who live in adulteries. Their final lot is, that from the extreme impotence, into which they at length come, they become void of all the fire and light of life, and dwell solitary in wildernesses, as if sluggish and weary of life.
This page is part of 
© 2000-2001 The Academy of the New Church