1. To THE ANGEL OF THE EPHESIAN CHURCH WRITE: These things says He Who holds the seven stars in His right hand, Who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands. 2. I know thy works, and thy labour, and thine endurance, and that thou canst not bear them who are evil, and hast examined them who say they are Apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars. 3. And thou hast held out, and hast endurance, and for the sake of My Name hast laboured, and not fainted. 4. But I have against thee that thou hast left thy first charity. 5. Be mindful therefore whence thou hast fallen, and repent, and do the first works, or else I will come unto thee quickly, and remove thy lampstand out of its place, except thou repent. 6. But this thou hast that thou hatest the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7. He who has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches: To him who overcomes I will give to eat of the tree of life that is in the midst of the paradise of God. 8. And TO THE ANGEL OF THE CHURCH OF THE SMYRNAEANS write: These things says the First and the Last, Who was dead, and is alive. 9. I know thy works, and affliction, and poverty, and the blasphemy of them who say they are Jews, and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10. Fear none of the things that thou art going to suffer. Behold the devil is going to cast some of you into custody, that you may be put to the test; and you shall have affliction ten days: Be thou faithful even unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life. 11. He who has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches: He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death. 12. And TO THE ANGEL OF THE CHURCH IN PERGAMUM write: These things says He Who has the sharp two-edged sword. 13. I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, where Satan's throne is; and thou holdest fast My Name, and hast not denied My faith, even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was slain among you where Satan dwells. 14. But I have a few things against thee, that thou hast there those holding the doctrine [of] Balaam, who used to teach Balak to cast a stumbling-block before the sons of Israel, to eat idol-sacrifices and to commit whoredom. 15. So thou hast, even thou, those holding the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. 16. Repent, or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight with them with the sword of My mouth. 17. He who has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches: To him who overcomes I will give to eat of the hidden manna; and I will give him a little white stone, and in the little stone a new name written, which no one knows except him who accepts it. 18. And TO THE ANGEL OF THE CHURCH IN THYATIRA write: These things says the Son of God, Who has eyes as a flame of fire, and His feet like burnished bronze. 19. I know thy works, and charity, and ministry, and faith, and thine endurance, and thy works, and the last more than the first. 20. But I have a few things against thee, that thou permittest the woman Jezebel, calling herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce My servants to commit whoredom, and to eat idol-sacrifices. 21. And I gave her time to repent of her whoredom, and she repented not. 22. Behold I will cast her into a bed, and those committing adultery with her into great affliction, except they repent of their works. 23. And I will slay her sons with death, and all the Churches shall recognise that I am He Who searches the kidneys and hearts; and I will give to each one of you in accordance with your works. 24. But to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, and who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say; I do not put upon you another burden. 25. Nevertheless, what you have, hold fast till I come. 26. And he who overcomes and keeps My works even to the end, to him will I give authority over the nations. 27. And he shall rule them with an iron rod, as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken in pieces; even as I have accepted from My Father. 28. And I will give him the morning star. 29. He who has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches.

THE SPIRITUAL SENSE

THE CONTENT OF THE WHOLE CHAPTER

To the Churches in Christendom:

To those there who have the truths of doctrine primarily in view and not the goods of life, who are understood by 'the Ephesian Church' (n. 73-90). To those there who as to life are in goods, and as to doctrine are in untruths, who are understood by 'the Church of the Smyrnaeans' (n. 91-106). To those there who place everything of the Church in good works, and not anything in truths, who are understood by 'the Church in Pergamum' (n. 107-123). And to those there who are in a faith derived from charity, as also to those who are in a faith separated from charity, who are understood by 'the Church in Thyatira' (n. 124-152). All these are called to the New Church, which is the New Jerusalem.

THE CONTENTS OF EACH OF THE VERSES

1. To the Angel of the Ephesian Church write signifies to and concerning those who have the truths of doctrine primarily in view, and not the good of life. These things says He Who holds the seven stars in His right hand signifies the Lord from Whom by means of the Word are all truths. Who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands signifies from Whom all enlightenment [comes] to those who belong to His Church. 2. I know thy works signifies that He sees all the interiors and exteriors of a man at once. And thy labour, and thine endurance signifies their devotion and patience. And that thou canst not bear them who are evil signifies that they do not support saying evils are goods, and the reverse. And hast examined them who say they are Apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars signifies that they scrutinise the things in the Church that are said to be good and true but yet are evil and untrue. 3. And thou hast held out, and hast endurance signifies the patience with them. And for the sake of My Name hast laboured and not fainted signifies devotion and work to furnish themselves with the things that are of religion and its doctrine. 4. But I have against thee that thou hast left thy first charity signifies that this is against them, that they do not have the goods of life in the first place. 5. Be mindful therefore whence thou hast fallen signifies recollection of the wandering. And repent, and do the first works signifies so that they may invert the state of their life. Or else I will come to thee quickly, and remove thy lampstand out of its place, except thou repent signifies that otherwise they are sure not to be given enlightenment for seeing truths any more. 6. But this thou hast, that thou hatest the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate signifies that they know this as a result of their truths, and consequently do not wish works to be for the sake of recompense. 7. He who has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches signifies that he who understands those things, obeys what the Divine Truth of the Word teaches those who will be of the New Church (e nova Ecclesia) that is the New Jerusalem. To him who overcomes signifies he who fights against evils and untruths and is reformed. I will give to eat of the tree of life signifies the appropriation of the good of love and charity from the Lord. That is in the midst of the paradise of God signifies interiorly in the truths of wisdom and faith.

8. And to the Angel of the Church of the Smyrnaeans write signifies to and concerning those who as to life are in goods, but as to doctrine are in untruths. These things says the First and the Last signifies the Lord, that He is the Only God. Who was dead and is alive signifies that in the Church He has been disregarded, and His Human has not been acknowledged to be Divine, when yet in respect to that also He Only is Life, and eternal Life is from Him Only. 9. I know thy works signifies that the Lord sees all their interiors and exteriors at once. And affliction and poverty signifies that they are in untruths, and consequently not in goods. And the blasphemy of them who say they are Jews and are not signifies the false assertion that the goods of love are with them, when they are not. But are a synagogue of Satan signifies because as to doctrine they are in untruths. 10. Fear none of the things that thou art going to suffer signifies be not without hope when you are infested by evils and assailed by untruths. Behold the devil is going to cast some of you into custody signifies that their good of life will be infested by evils that are from hell. That you may be put to the test signifies a fighting against them by means of untruths. And you shall have affliction ten days signifies that this is going to last for a full period. Be thou faithful even unto death signifies a receiving of truths (veritas) constantly until untruths have been removed. And I will give thee the crown of life signifies their having eternal life, the reward for victory. 11. He who has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches signifies here as before. He who overcomes signifies he who fights against evils and untruths and is reformed. Shall not be hurt by the second death signifies that they shall not thereafter yield to evils and untruths from hell.

12. And to the Angel of the Church in Pergamum write signifies to and concerning those who place everything of the Church in good works, and not anything in the truths of doctrine. These things says He Who has the sharp two-edged sword sign flies the Lord as to the truths of doctrine out of the Word, by means of which evils and untruths are dispersed . 13. I know thy works signifies here as before. And where thou dwellest [where Satan's throne is] signifies their life in dense darkness. And thou boldest fast My Name, and hast not denied My faith signifies when yet they have religion and worship in accordance therewith. Even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was slain among you where Satan dwells signifies when all the truth (veritas) has been extinguished by means of the untruths in the Church. 14. But I have a few things against thee signifies that against them are the things that follow. That thou hast there those holding the doctrine [of] Baalam, who used to teach Balak to cast a stumbling-block before the sons of Israel, to eat idol-sacrifices and to commit whoredom signifies that there are among them those who do hypocritical works, by which means the worship of God in the Church is defiled and adulterated. 15. So thou hast, even thou, those holding the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate signifies that among them there are also those who do works for the sake of recompense. 16. Repent signifies so that they may be on their guard against such works. Or else I will come to thee quickly, and will fight with them with the sword of My mouth signifies if not, that the Lord will strive with them out of the Word. 17. He who has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches signifies here as aforesaid. To him who overcomes sign flies here as aforesaid. I will give to eat of the hidden manna signifies the appropriation then of the good of celestial love, and in this manner the conjunction of the Lord with those who are doing works. And I will give him a little white stone signifies truths favouring and united to good. And in the little stone a new name written signifies that in this manner they will have good of a quality they did not have before. Which no one knows except him who receives signifies that it is not visible to anyone because it is inscribed on their life.

18. And to the Angel of the Church in Thyatira write signifies to and concerning those who are in a faith derived from charity, and thence in good works; and also to and concerning those who are in a faith separated from charity, and thence in evil works. These things says the Son of God Who has eyes as a flame of fire signifies the Lord as to the Divine Wisdom of the Divine Love. And His feet like burnished bronze signifies natural Divine Good. 19. I know thy works signifies here as aforesaid. And charity, and ministry signifies the spiritual affection that is called charity, and the working thereof. And faith, and thy endurance signifies the truth (veritas), and the endeavour to procure and teach it. [And thy works,] and the last more than the first signifies the increases of those things out of the spiritual affection of truth. 20. But I have a few things against thee sign flies the things that follow. That thou permittest the woman Jezebel signifies that in the Church with them there are those who separate faith from charity. Calling herself a prophetess signifies and who make faith the only doctrine of the Church. To teach and to seduce My servants to commit whoredom signifies as a result of which the truths of the Word are falsified. And to eat idol-sacrifices signifies the defilement of worship, and profanations. 21. And I gave her time to repent of her whoredom, and she repented not signifies that those who have confirmed themselves in that doctrine do not withdraw, although they see things against it in the Word. 22. And I will cast her into a bed, and those committing adultery with her into great affliction signifies that therefore they have to be left in their doctrine with falsifications, and are to be grievously infested by untruths. Except they repent [of their works] signifies if they do not wish to desist from separating faith from charity. 23. And I will slay her sons with death signifies that all the truths out of the Word will be turned into untruths. So that the Churches may recognise that I am He Who searches the kidneys and hearts signifies so that the Church may know that the Lord sees what truth and what good anyone has. And I will give to each one in accordance with his works signifies that he gives to every one in accordance with the charity and the faith thereof that is in the works. 24. But I say unto you, and to the rest in Thyatira as many as do not have this doctrine signifies to those with whom the doctrine of faith is separated from charity, and [to those] with whom the doctrine of faith is conjoined with charity. And who have not known the depths of Satan [as they say] signifies who do not understand the interiors of those things, which are totally untrue. I do not put upon you another burden signifies only so that they may be on their guard against them. 25. Nevertheless, what you have, hold fast till I come signifies so that they may retain the few things that they know about charity and the faith therefrom out of the Word, and live in accordance with them even to the Lord's coming. 26. And he who overcomes and keeps My works even to the end signifies those who are actually in charity and the faith therefrom, and continue in them even to the end of life. To him will I give authority over the nations signifies that they shall overcome within themselves the evils that are from hell. 27. And he shall rule them with an iron rod signifies by means of truths out of the sense of the letter of the Word, and at the same time by means of rational things out of natural light. As the vessels of a potter shall they be broken in pieces signifies like little things of no account. Even as I have accepted from My Father signifies this from the Lord, Who, when He was in the world, furnished Himself with all power over the hells out of His Own Divine that was in Himself. 28. And I will give him the morning star signifies intelligence and wisdom then. 29. He who has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches signifies here as aforesaid.