1076. (v. 15) And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth. That this signifies the doctrinals from the Papal Consistory in general, thus all other [doctrinals], is evident from the signification of waters, as denoting the truths of the Word, and thence of the church, consequently, doctrinals, (concerning which see n. 71, 483, 518, 854); in this case, truths falsified and profaned, because they are those upon which the whore sitteth, by whom is signified Babylon, where all the holy things of the church are profaned; and from the signification of where the whore sitteth, as denoting where the dominion of Babylon is. For by the whore is signified the church which became Babylon by the profanation of all things of good and truth (concerning which see above, n. 1032; and by sitting is signified to rule; see also above, n. 1033, 1038, 1062). And because by the waters are signified the doctrinals that are in Babylon, and these go forth from the Papal Consistory, therefore, by the waters where the whore sitteth, are signified the doctrinals, that are from the Papal Consistory; in this case, all other [doctrinals], except the two which were treated of above; for this is the series of things from verses 12-17. In verses 12-14 the subject treated of is the two truths profaned, which are the primary [truths] of the church - concerning the Lord's Divine power over heaven and the church, and the Divine sanctity of the Word; and that within the kingdom of Babylon there are many who have not profaned, because they have not accepted them. But in verse 15 the subject treated of is goods and truths profaned, in general, thus concerning all other [truths]. But in verses 16 and 17, those are treated of who are outside Babylon, who have acknowledged the Lord's Divine power over the holy things of the church, and also the Divine sanctity of the Word. They are those who are called the Reformed. This is the series of things contained in the internal sense from verses 12 to 17.
Continuation concerning the Word:-
[2] It was said that Divine truth proceeds from the Lord, and that the Word is thence; and through the Word wisdom to angels and men. But so long as it is unknown how Divine truth proceeds from the Lord, such may be said, but cannot be understood. Divine truth, which is the same as Divine wisdom, proceeds from the Lord like light and heat from the sun. The Lord is Divine love itself; and love in the heavens, from correspondence, appears like fire; and the Divine love of the Lord as a Sun, ruddy and shining like the sun of the world. From that Sun, which is high above the heavens where the angels are, and which is Divine love, proceeds heat and light; and the heat therefrom is Divine Good, and the light therefrom Divine truth. The reason why the heat is Divine Good is, that all the heat of life proceeding from love is felt as good, for it is spiritual heat. And the reason why the light is Divine truth is, that all light proceeding from love is felt as truth, for it is spiritual light. Therefore the understanding from that light sees truths, and the will from that heat feels goods. Hence it is that, in the Word, by heavenly fire is meant love, and by heavenly light wisdom.
[3] The case is similar with men and with angels. Every angel and every man is his own love, and the sphere flowing out from his love encompasses every man and every angel. That sphere consists of the good of his love and of the truth of his love; for the love produces both, as fire does heat and light. From the will of men and angels it produces good, and from their understanding it produces truth. This sphere has an extension into the heavens in every direction according to the quality and quantity of the love if the man or angel is good; but into the hells in every direction if the man or angel is evil.
But the sphere of the love of men and angels has a finite, extension only into a few societies of heaven or hell; whereas the sphere of the Lord's love, because it is Divine, has an infinite extension, and creates the heavens themselves.
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