Apocalypse Revealed (Whitehead) n. 691

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691. And it was given unto him to scorch men with fire, signifies that love to the Lord tormented them, because they were in the lusts of evils from the delight of the loves of them. Since by "pouring out his vial" is signified influx from the Lord from goods and truths, therefore by "pouring his vial upon the sun" is signified influx from the Lord from the Divine love, in order to disclose the quality of the love with the men of that church. Hence, by "it was given to the angel to scorch men with fire," is signified that the Divine love of the Lord tormented them, and because the Divine love of the Lord does not torment any but those who are in the lusts of evils from the delight of self-love, it thence follows, that by "it was given unto him to scorch men with fire," is signified that love to the Lord tormented them, because they were in the lusts of evils from the delight of self-love. That "heat" signifies lusts for evils and thence for falsities may be seen above (n. 382); and that "fire" signifies the Divine love, and, in the opposite sense, infernal love (n. 494). That self-love is infernal love, and that its delight is infernal delight, and that the delight of that love exists from and consists of innumerable lusts of evils, is shown in many places in The Angelic Wisdom concerning the Divine Providence, and also in The Angelic Wisdom concerning the Divine Love and Wisdom. That this is the case is not known in the Christian world, because it is not known what love to the Lord is, and this love will teach the nature of self-love.


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