425. 'And to them was given power, as the scorpions of the land have power' signifies the power of persuading that their untruths are truths. By 'a scorpion' is signified deadly persuasiveness, and by 'a scorpion of the land' persuasiveness in the things of the Church, for 'land' signifies the Church (n. 285); for when a scorpion stings a man it produces a numbness of the limbs and, if this is not cured, death. Their persuasiveness produces a like effect upon the understanding. Such persuasiveness is also signified by 'scorpion' in these statements:-
Be not thou frightened by them and their words, they are full of thorns, thou art dwelling among scorpions, they are hard-faced and stiff-hearted Ezek. ii 4, 6.
Jesus said unto the seventy whom He sent forth, Behold, I give unto you the power of treading upon serpents and scorpions, and upon all the power of the enemy, so that nothing shall by any means harm you Luke x 19.
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