751. [verse 18] 'And the woman whom thou hast seen is the great city having a kingdom over the kings of the land' signifies that as to doctrine the Roman Catholic form of religion reigns in Christendom, and to some extent even still with the Reformed, although they are not under the Papal dominion. The reason that all these things are signified by these words is because they make the conclusion, and consequently they involve not only the things that have been said concerning the Roman Catholics, but also those concerning the French nation and the Protestants, thus that 'the woman' who is 'the great city' has a kingdom over them also. The manner of this will, however, he stated. She does not have a kingdom over the Protestants in the same way as she has over those who are attached to her form of religion, but only so far as they have received her doctrinal tenets to some extent. The doctrinal tenets that they have received are these:-
That they approach God the Father and not the Lord.
That they do not acknowledge the Lord's Human as Divine.
That His suffering of the cross is an expiation, propitiation, and satisfaction with God the Father.
On the imputation of the Lord's merit.
Some things concerning Baptism, original sin, free-will.
And with the Lutherans:-
That they come very nearly to transubstantiation.
These doctrinal tenets, left over from Papal Catholicism and agreeing with it in part, are the things by virtue of which it is said that 'the woman' who is 'the great city' has 'a kingdom over the kings of the land'. By 'the woman' is signified the Roman Catholic form of religion, as above. By 'the city' is signified the doctrine (n. 194, 501, 502, 712). By 'a kingdom' is signified the Church (n. 749); consequently by 'to have a kingdom' is signified the government. By 'the kings of the land' are signified the truths or untruths of the Church (n. 20, 483, 664, 704, 720, 737, 740), consequently also the doctrinal tenets. By 'the land' the Church is signified (n. 285). From these things it is plain that by these words, 'The woman whom thou hast seen is the great city, having a kingdom over the kings of the land', is signified that as to doctrine the Roman Catholic form of religion reigns in Christendom, and to some extent also with the Reformed, although they are not under the Papal dominion.
* * * * * * * * * *
This page is part of 
© 2000-2001 The Academy of the New Church