704. Doing signs to go away unto the kings of the earth, and of the whole world, to gather them together to the battle of that great day of God Almighty, signifies attestations that their falsities are truths, and the stirring up of all in the whole of that church who are in the same falsities, to impugn the truths of the New Church. That "to do signs" is to testify and also to make attestation that a thing is true, see above (n. 598, 599), here that their falsities are truths. By "the kings of the earth and of the whole world," are signified they who are principally in falsities from evil, here all who are in the same falsities in the whole church; for by "kings" are signified they who are in truths from good, and, in the opposite sense, they who are in falsities from evil (n. 483). By "the earth" is signified the church (n. 285); in like manner, by "the world" (n. 551). By "going away to gather them together to battle," is signified to incite them to combat or to attack; for by "war" is signified spiritual war, which is of falsity against truth, and of truth against falsity (n. 500, 586). The reason why it means to attack the truths of the New Church is because it is called "the great day of God Almighty," and by that day the coming of the Lord is signified, and then the New Church; that this is the signification of "the great day" will be seen presently. It is said that "the spirits of demons" would do this, because they signify the cupidities of falsifying truths, and of reasonings from falsities, as above (n. 703). From these things it is evident, that by "spirits of demons doing signs to go away unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them together to the battle of that great day of God Almighty," are signified attestations by those who are meant by "the dragon," "the beast," and "the false prophet," as above (n 701, 702), that their falsities are truths, and the stirring up of all those in the whole church, who are in the same falsities, to attack the truths of the New Church.[2] That "the great day of God Almighty" signifies the coming of the Lord, and then the New Church, is evident from many passages in the Word, as from these:
In that day Jehovah alone shall be exalted (Isa. 2:11). In that day Israel shall stay upon Jehovah, the Holy One of Israel, in truth (Isa. 10:20). In that day shall the nations seek the Root of Jesse, and His rest shall be glory (Isa. 11:10). In that day shall the eyes have respect unto the Holy One of Israel (Isa. 17:7, 9). In that day shall they say, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him; that He should save us (Isa. 25:9). My people shall know My name, and in that day they shall know that I am He that doth speak, behold, it is I (Isa. 52:6). Alas, the great day of Jehovah, and there shall not be like it (Jer. 30:7). Behold, the days come in which I will make a new covenant, and in which the city of Jehovah shall be built (Jer. 31:27, 31, 38). In those days I will make a just Branch to grow up unto David (Jer. 33:15). They shall not stand in the battle of the day of Jehovah (Ezek. 13:5). In that day shall Michael the great prince rise up, who standeth for the sons of his people. In that day shall everyone who is found written in the book be delivered (Dan. 12:1). In that day thou shalt call me, My husband. In that day I will make a covenant with them. In that day I will hear (Hos. 2:16, 18, 21). Behold, I send Elijah before the great day of Jehovah cometh (Mal. 4:5). In that day Jehovah shall save his people as a flock (Zech. 9:16). In that day shall Jehovah protect the inhabitants of Jerusalem (Zech. 12:8). Behold, the day of Jehovah cometh. One day which shall be known to Jehovah. In that day there shall be one Jehovah, and His name one. In that day shall there be a great tumult. In that day there shall be upon the bells of the horses, Holiness to Jehovah (Zech. 14:1, 4, 6-9, 13, 20-21). Besides these places there are many more, in which the Lord's coming and the New Church from Him at that time are meant by "the day of Jehovah"; as in these: Isa. 4:2; 19:16, 18, 21, 24; 20:6; 22:20; 25:9; 28:5; 29:18; 30:25-26; 31:7; Jer. 3:16-18; 23:5-7, 12, 20; 50:4, 20, 27; Ezek. 24:26, 27; 29:21; 34:11-12; 36:33; Hos. 3:5; 6:1, 2; Joel 2:29; 3:1, 14, 18; Obad. 15; Amos 9:11, 13; Micah. 4:6; Hab. 3:2; Zeph. 3:11, 16, 19, 20; Zech. 2:11; Ps. 72:7, 8. And that day is called "the day of Jehovah" (Joel 1:15; 2:1-2, 11; Amos 5:13, 18, 20; Zeph. 1:7, 14; 2:2-3; Zech. 14:1 and elsewhere). Since the consummation of the age, that is, the end of the old church, takes place when the coming of the Lord, and the commencement of the New Church exists, therefore by "the day of Jehovah," in many passages, is also signified the end of the former church, and it is said that then there will be rumors, tumults, and wars, which passages are adduced in the Doctrine of the New Jerusalem concerning the Lord (n. 4, 5).
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