Apocalypse Revealed (Whitehead) n. 736

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736. Verse 9. Here is the mind that hath wisdom, signifies that this is the interpretation in the natural sense, but for those who are in the spiritual sense from the Lord. "Here is the mind" signifies that this is the understanding and interpretation of those things that were seen: "that hath wisdom" signifies for those that are interiorly wise. That the interpretation is in the natural sense for those who are in the spiritual sense, is because the interpretation was made by the angel in the natural sense, and not in the spiritual; for he said that the seven heads of the beast were "seven mountains," and likewise that "they were seven kings;" and that "one of them is, and another is not yet come;" also that the beast "is the eighth, and is of the seven;" besides more things which follow even to the end of the chapter; and these things cannot be understood except by those who are in the spiritual sense from the Lord; this is therefore signified by "having wisdom." The reason that the interpretation was made by the angel in the natural sense, and not in the spiritual, is because the natural sense is the basis, the containant and the support of its spiritual and celestial sense; see The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem concerning the Sacred Scripture (n. 27-49). Therefore also elsewhere in the Word interpretations are given in the natural sense; and still they cannot be understood interiorly except by the spiritual sense: as may be seen in the prophets, and also in the evangelists, in many places.


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