99. '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. This is signified by being cast into custody or prison by the devil, because by 'the devil' is understood the hell where are those who are in evils, and thus abstractly the evil that is therein and therefrom (n. 97). To be sent 'into custody' or prison is to be infested, because those who are infested by evils out of hell are as if bound in prison, for they are able to think only evil, when yet they will good. A combat and interior anxiety arises therefrom, and they are unable to be released from this, being almost exactly like those who are in bonds. This is because their good, so far as it coheres with untruths, is not good; and so far as it coheres with untruths, it has evil in it. [2] This, therefore, is what is infested. The infestation takes place, not in the natural world but in the spiritual world, thus after death. To see their infestations has been frequently granted me. They lament, saying that they have done good and wish to do good, and yet now they are unable on account of the surrounding evils. However, they are not all infested in the same manner; but more severely as they have confirmed themselves in untruths, and it is therefore said, 'the devil will cast some of you into custody'. That the confirmation of untruth is harmful may be seen its THE DOCTRINE OF THE NEW JERUSALEM CONCERNING THE SACRED SCRIPTURE (n. 91-97). [3] In the Word the same thing is signified by 'the bound' as here by those 'cast into custody', as in these passages:-
I will give thee for a covenant of the people to bring out the bound from custody, and those who sit in darkness out of the prison house Isa. xlii 6, 7; xlix 8, 9.
Jehovah has sent me to preach liberty to the captives, and to the bound Isa. lxi 1.
By the blood of thy covenant I will send forth the bound out of the pit Zech. ix 11.
God leads forth those bound with fetters Ps. lxxiii 6 [H.B. 7].
Let the groaning of the bound come before Thee Ps. lxxix 11.
To hear the groaning of the bound, to open to the sons of death Ps. cii 20 [H.B. 21].
Jehovah Who looses the bound Ps. cxlvi 7.
It is plain that in these passages by 'the bound' are not understood those bound in the world, but those bound by hell, thus by evils and untruths. The like is signified by these words of the Lord:-
I was in custody, and you came not unto Me Matt. xxv 43.
Since the Lord brings out of custody, or delivers from infestation those who as to life have been in good though as to doctrine in untruths, He says, 'Fear none of the things that thou art going to suffer'; also, 'Be thou faithful, and I will give thee a crown of life'.
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