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“And so I saw the horses in the vision, and those sitting on them, having breastplates of fire, even dusky red and brimstone. And the heads of the horses were like the heads of lions. And out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone” (Revelation 9:17)
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Abstract: The purpose of this post is to illustrate from Revelation 9:17-18 the spiritual meaning of this Scripture by using text from the Bible commentary “Revelation Revealed” by Emanuel Swedenborg. We will attempt to show through the spiritual meaning of Scripture why “Faith Alone” or Sola Fide is an error of doctrine in the Christian religion. I have added my emphasis in italic parentheses to include a simple English text for the beginner of the spiritual meaning of the Bible for people such as myself.
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THE SPIRITUAL SENSE (Revelation Chapter 9)
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THE CONTENTS OF THE WHOLE CHAPTER (Chapter 9) (from “Revelation Revealed” by Emanuel Swedenborg),
A) Concerning an examination (by the Lord) and making manifest [to show] the state of life (what is seen inside the hearts) of those in the Church of the Reformed (Protestant), who are called learned and wise (Pastors and teachers) on account of the confirmation of faith (what the Holy Bible commands and those following it) separated from charity (love to neighbor). And of justification (only by Jesus Christ taking away the sins of the world by dying on the cross as a sacrifice to satisfy the anger and wrath of the Father can the sinner be saved) and salvation (delivering from sin or saving from evil) by it alone (it is the only way to heaven); it treats of these from Chapter 9, verse 1 to verse 12.
B) Concerning an examination and making manifest [to show the state of life] (what is seen inside the hearts) of those (in the church) there who are not learned and wise (not experts in the Bible by members of the congregation) in that manner, and are in faith alone (once saved always saved), and live as they please (they think they are already saved from hell); it treats of these from Chapter 9, verse 13 to verse 19.
C) Lastly, concerning those (in the church) there who know nothing (they think they do not need to read the Bible) but that faith (once saved always saved) is the all-sufficient means of a man’s salvation (they think they are already saved from hell), and not anything besides (is the way to heaven after dying) Chapter 9, verses 20-21.
Contents of the verse (spiritual meaning)
9:17. “And thus I saw the horses in a vision, and those sitting upon them,” signifies the discovery (what the Lord has seen in their hearts) then that the reasonings (the idea of what is right and what is wrong) of the interiors of their mind (what their thinking is, is the same as what is found in the heart) about faith alone (once saved always saved) were imaginary (they were deceived and saw only what they wanted to see) and visionary (a person who happily accepts what is told them with little caring if it is true or not), and that they themselves were insane (the thinking in their minds were not right) because of them.
“Having breastplates fiery, blue (hyacinthus (purple-blue) and sulphurous,” signifies their imaginary (they were deceived and saw only what they wanted to see) and visionary (a person who happily accepts what is told them with little caring if it is true or not) arguments (willing to fight with others who do not agree with them) derived (this comes from) infernal love (insane love of self) and self-intelligence (they think they are right and the others are wrong) and from the resultant lusts (that corrupts the person’s soul more and more).
“And the heads of the horses as the heads of lions,” signifies the phantasies (the thinking in their own minds) about faith alone (by untrue confession their sins have been taken away forever by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross) as though it were powerful (this Christian doctrine somehow had magical energy)
“And out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and sulphur”, signifies (means) that in their thoughts and discussions interiorly regarded (how their minds work) there is nothing (of good there), and there proceeds out of them nothing but the love of self and the world, the pride of self-intelligence (thinking others are just ignorant not seeing the truth), and the lust of evil and untruth derived from those two (by allowing self-love and pride to rule their thinking)
As a result of this thinking, when they are confronted with their error of doctrine, they stiffen up and become as hard as anvils. They refuse to listen and they become angry and are willing to fight for what they believe is the truth. For it says in the following verse (9:18),
“By these three the third part of men was killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone which issued out of their mouths” (Revelation 9:18)
Verse 18. “As a result of these three things (fire, smoke, and brimstone) a third part of the men was slain (“killed” spiritually), by reason of the fire and the smoke and the sulphur issuing out of their mouths,” signifies (means) that it is as a result of those things that the men (people) of the Church perish (these Christians have refused to listen to the Lord. As a result, the Lord will not allow them to enter heaven. This is the meaning of which will “kill” them spiritually).
This is one of the main reasons Jesus Christ will reorganize and start a new (emerging) church at His second appearing.
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Twitter: @kalamop27
lclioncross - The New Emerging Church Coming Down From Heaven 