Apocalypse Revealed (Coulsons) n. 870

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870. 'And death and hell gave up those who were dead in them' signifies the wicked-hearted men of the Church who in themselves were devils and satans, called together to judgment. By 'death and hell' no others are understood than those who interiorly in themselves were devils and satans, by 'death' those who interiorly in themselves were devils and by 'hell' those who interiorly in themselves were satans, therefore all the wicked-hearted who yet in external things appeared as men of the Church. For no others were called together to this universal judgment; for those, whether they are of the laity or the clergy, who in external things are like men of the Church and in internal things are devils and satans are judged, because with them the external things must be separated from the internal. And also they can be judged because they have known and professed the things that are of the Church. That by 'death' are understood the wicked-hearted who in themselves were devils and by 'hell' those who in themselves were satans is plain from the fact that it is said that 'death and hell were cast into the lake of fire' (the following verse, 14), and neither death nor hell can be cast into hell, but those can be who as to their interior things are 'death and hell', that is, in themselves devils and satans. Who are understood by 'the Devil' and 'Satan' may be seen above (n. 97, 841, 857); also that those are 'death' who in themselves are devils, just above (n. 866). Elsewhere also 'deaths and hell' is said, as:-

The Son of Man said, I have the keys of deaths and hell Rev. i 8.

The name of him sitting on the pale horse was death and hell was following him Rev. vi 13; in like manner Hosea xiii 14; Ps. xviii 4, 5 [H.B. 5, 6]; xlix 14, 15 [H.B. 15, 16]; cxvi 3.


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