411. 'And many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter' signifies the extinction of spiritual life with many as a result of the truths of the Word having been falsified. 'Many men died' signifies the extinction of spiritual life, for a man by reason of spiritual life with him is called living, but by reason of natural life separated from spiritual life he is called dead. 'Of the waters because they were made bitter' signifies as a result of the truths of the Word having been falsified. That 'the waters' are the truths of the Word may be seen just above (n. 409). 'Bitter' signifies what is falsified because the bitterness of wormwood is understood, and by 'wormwood' is signified infernal untruth (n. 410). [2] The spiritual life pertaining to a Christian man is not from anywhere else than the truths of the Word, for in them there is life, but when the truths of the Word have been falsified, and a man understands and views them in accordance with the untruths of his religion, then the spiritual life with him is extinguished. This is because the Word has communication with heaven. Therefore while it is being read by a man the truths there are climbing up into heaven, and the untruths to which the truths have been adjoined or conjoined are tending towards hell. Consequently there is a tearing apart, as a result of which the life of the Word is extinguished. This, however, comes about only with those who confirm untruths by means of the Word, but not with those who do not confirm them. I have seen these tearings apart, and have heard the harsh sound thereof, like wood burst apart by fire in the fire-place. [3] 'Bitter' signifies what is falsified in the following places also:-
Woe unto them saying good of what is evil, and evil of what is good, putting bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter Isa. v 20, 22.
They shall not drink wine with a song, strong drink shall be bitter to those drinking it Isa. xxiv 9.
A similar thing is signified by:-
The little book eaten up, which was sweet in the mouth, and as a result of which the belly was rendered bitter Rev. x 9, 10;
and by these [words]:-
They came to Marah, but they could not drink the waters on account of the bitterness; but Jehovah showed him wood, which he cast into the waters, and they were made sweet Exod. xv 23-25.
'Wood' in the Word signifies good. A similar thing is also signified by:-
The wild gourds put into the pottage, as a result of which the sons of the prophets cried out, There is death in the pot, which Elisha healed by putting in meal 2 Kings iv 38-41.
'Meal' signifies truth derived from good.
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