Apocalypse Revealed (Coulsons) n. 403

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403. 'And as it were a great mountain burning with fire was hurled into the sea' signifies the appearance of infernal love with those who are in the external things of the Church and in faith alone. By 'the sea' is signified the Church with those who are in external things and in faith alone, and those who are in external things are called in common parlance 'the laity' because those who are in internal things are called 'the clergy' (n. 397, 402). By 'a mountain' is signified love (n. 336), and by 'a mountain burning with fire' is signified infernal love (n. 494, 599). There is the appearance of this love with those of whom it treats here, for with the angels that love appears to be derived from them. This is because faith alone is a faith separated from charity (n. 388); and where there is no charity, that is, the love towards the neighbour that is spiritual love, there is infernal love, for an intermediate love is not granted except in the case of the lukewarm, concerning whom [see] Rev. iii 15, 16.


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