591. Nor of their thefts, signifies nor from taking away the knowledges of truth and good, and thus the means of acquiring for themselves spiritual life. This is evident from the signification of "theft" and of "stealing," as meaning to take away from anyone the knowledges of good and truth, which are to serve as means for acquiring for himself spiritual life (see above, n. 193). "Theft" and "stealing" have this meaning because "wealth," "raiment," "utensils," and other things that thieves take away, signify the knowledges of truth and good; therefore spiritual theft, or theft in the spiritual sense, is the taking away of these, as natural theft, or theft in the natural sense, is the taking away of the former. That this is the signification of "theft" can be seen from this, that the extinction of spiritual life in others is what is particularly treated of in this verse, and spiritual life is extinguished by the perversions of good and the falsifications of truth, also by the deprivations of the knowledges of truth and good, by means of which spiritual life is acquired; and all of these are signified by "murders, enchantments, whoredoms, and thefts," as has been shown already.
Revelation 10
1. And I saw another strong angel coming down out of heaven encompassed with a cloud, and the rainbow above his head, and his face as the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire. 2. And he had in his hand a little book opened; and he set his right foot upon the sea, and the left upon the earth. 3. And he cried out with a great voice, as a lion roareth; and when he cried out seven thunders spake their voices. 4. And when the seven thunders had spoken their voices I was about to write; and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up the things which the seven thunders spake, and write them not. 5. And the angel whom I saw standing upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven. 6. And he sware by Him that liveth unto the ages of the ages, who created heaven and the things that are therein, and the earth and the things that are therein, and the sea and the things that are therein, that time shall be no more. 7. But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God shall also be finished, as He hath declared the good tidings to His servants the prophets. 8. And the voice which I heard from heaven spake again with me, and said, Go take the little book that is open in the hand of the angel that standeth upon the sea and upon the earth. 9. And I went unto the angel, saying unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take and eat it up; and it shall make bitter thy belly, but in thy mouth it shall be sweet as honey. 10. And I took the little book out of the hand of the angel and ate it up; and it was in my mouth like honey, sweet. And when I had eaten it my belly was made bitter. 11. And he said to me, Thou must again prophesy upon peoples and nations and tongues and many kings.
This page is part of 
© 2000-2001 The Academy of the New Church