483. Verse 11. And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings, signifies, that because it is so, the quality of those who are in faith alone must be further taught. That this is signified, appears from what follows, down to chapter 17, which treats of those who are in faith alone; and afterwards of the Roman Catholic religion, and then of the expulsion of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet, into hell, and thus concerning the New Church, in which the Lord alone will be worshiped. To prophesy signifies to teach (n. 8, 133), therefore "to prophesy again" signifies to teach further; by "peoples" are signified those who are in the truths or the falsities of doctrine; and by "nations," those who are in the goods or the evils of life, as will be seen presently; by "tongues" are signified those who are exteriorly in them (n. 282); and by "kings" are signified those who are interiorly in them; for by "kings" are signified those who are in truths from good; and, in the opposite sense, those who are in falsities derived from evil, and, abstractly, truths from good or falsities from evil, as may be seen (n. 20, 664, 704, 720, 830, 921); and since they who are in interior falsities are specifically treated of in what follows, it is said, "and many kings," by whom are signified falsities of evil in abundance. "Peoples," "nations," "tongues," and "kings" are mentioned that all who are such in the church may be meant. John being told that "he must prophesy again" signifies that it is necessary to teach further what is the quality of those who are in faith alone, to the end that their falsities may be disclosed and thus abolished; inasmuch as no falsity is abolished before it is disclosed. [2] That "peoples" signify those who are in truths or falsities of doctrine, and "nations" those who are in goods or in evils of life, may appear from many passages in the Word, where "peoples" and "nations" are mentioned; but in confirmation of this, only those passages shall be here adduced, where "peoples" and "nations" are mentioned together, from which this may be concluded, since in the Word in each and every thing there is a marriage of the Lord and the church, and thence a marriage of good and truth; and "peoples" relate to truth, and "nations" to good. That there is such a marriage in each and every thing of the Word, may be seen in Doctrine of the New Jerusalem concerning the Sacred Scripture (n. 80-90). [3] The passages in the Word are as follows:
Woe to the sinful nation, to the people laden with iniquity (Isa. 1:4). I will send him against a hypocritical nation, I will command him against the people of my wrath (Isa. 10:6). Jehovah smiteth the peoples with a plague not curable, He ruled the nations with anger (Isa. 14:6). In that day shall there be brought as a present to Jehovah a people distracted and plundered, and a nation meted out and trodden down (Isa. 18:7). The strong people shall honor thee, the city of the powerful nations shall fear thee (Isa. 25:3). Jehovah shall swallow up the covering over all peoples, and the veil over all the nations (Isa. 25:7). Approach, ye nations, and hearken, ye peoples (Isa. 34:1). I have called thee for a covenant of the peoples, and for a light of the nations (Isa. 42:6). Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the peoples assemble (Isa. 43:9). Behold, I will lift up My hand to the nations, and My ensign to the people (Isa. 49:22). I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and a lawgiver to the nations (Isa. 55:4). Behold a people coming from the land of the north, and a great nation from the sides of the earth (Jer. 6:22). Many peoples shall come, and numerous nations, to seek Jehovah Zebaoth in Jerusalem (Zech. 8:22). Jehovah rendereth void the counsel of the nations, He overturneth the thoughts of the peoples (Ps. 33:10). Jehovah will subdue the peoples under us, and the nations under our feet: Jehovah reigned over the nations; the willing of the peoples are gathered together (Ps. 47:3, 8-9). The peoples shall confess Thee, the nations shall be glad, for Thou shalt judge the peoples righteously, and lead the nations on the earth (Ps. 67:2-4). Remember me, O Jehovah, with the favor that Thou bearest to Thy people, that I may be glad in the joy of Thy nations (Ps. 106:4, 5). All peoples, nations, and tongues shall worship the Son of man (Dan. 7:14. Besides other places, as Ps. 18:43; Isa. 9:2-3; 11:10; Ezek. 36:15; Joel 2:17; Zeph. 2:9; Rev. 5:9; Luke 2:30-32).
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