Apocalypse Revealed (Coulsons) n. 355

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355. 'Out of the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand sealed' signifies the will of being serviceable and of action, also with those who will belong to the New Heaven and the Lord's New Church. There are three things that follow in order: love directed to the Lord, wisdom, and use, as stated above (n. 352). So also here, mutual love, understanding or perception, and will or action. These also make one, even to the extent that if one is wanting the remaining two are not anything. The will of being serviceable with action is the effect, thus the ultimate, in which the two prior things are and co-exist. 'Manasseh' has this signification because Joseph, who was the father of Manasseh and Ephraim, signifies the spiritual of the Church, and the spiritual of the Church is the good of the will and at the same time the truth of the understanding. This is why 'Manasseh' signifies the voluntary of the Church, while 'Ephraim' signifies the intellectual thereof. 'Manasseh' signifies the voluntary of the Church because 'Ephraim' signifies the intellectual, as is manifestly plain in Hosea, where Ephraim is named so many times; and because 'Manasseh' signifies the voluntary of the Church, it also signifies action, for the will is the endeavour of every action, and where there is endeavour there is action so long as it is possible. 'Manasseh' is named in some places, as when he was born (Gen. xli 50-52); when he was accepted by Jacob instead of Simeon as it were (Gen. xlviii 3-5); and was blessed by him (Gen. xlviii 15, 16); and by Moses (Deut. xxxiii 17); and moreover (Isa. ix 19-21 [H.B. 18-20]; Ps. lx 7 [H.B. 9]; Ps. lxxx 2 [H.B. 3]; Ps. cviii 8 [H.B. 9]; from which it can be seen in some measure that by 'Manasseh' the voluntary of the Church is understood.


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