Spiritual Meaning of
Spiritual Meaning of |
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The signification of emptiness, is falsity, and indeed the falsity of doctrine and of religion, as can be seen from the following passages. In Ezekiel:--
There shall be no more any vision of emptiness and flattering divination, in the midst of the house of Israel (Ezek. 12:24);
vision of emptiness denotes false revelation. In the same:--
They have seen emptiness and the divination of a lie. Because ye speak emptiness, and see a lie, therefore behold I am against you, that Mine hand may be against the prophets that see emptiness, and that divine a lie (Ezek. 13:6-9);
the prophets, of whom it is here said that they see emptiness and divine a lie, signify those who teach, and in the abstract sense the teaching or doctrine (AC 2534, 7269); and seeing is predicated of the prophets, who therefore were in ancient times called seers (1 Sam. 9:9); and divining also is predicated of them.
[2] By seeing, or by vision, when predicated of the prophets, is signified in the internal sense the revelation which has regard to doctrine; and by divining, or by divination, is signified the revelation which has regard to life; and as emptiness signifies the falsity of doctrine, and a lie the falsity of life, it is said they have seen emptiness and the divination of a lie. Again:--
In seeing thou hast emptiness, in divining thou hast a lie (Ezek. 21:29).
The teraphim speak iniquity, and the diviners see a lie, and they speak dreams of emptiness (Zech. 10:2).
The prophets have seen vanity (Lam. 2:14).
That emptiness denotes the falsity of doctrine and of religion, is also plain in these passages:--
They are become emptiness; in Gilgal they sacrifice bullocks (Hos. 12:11).
My people have forgotten Me, they have burned incense to emptiness (Jer. 18:15).
In like manner in (Isa. 5:18; 30:28; 59:4; Ps. 12:2; 119:37; 144:8, 11.
from AC 9248
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| Author: E. Swedenborg (1688-1772). | Design: I.J. Thompson, Feb 2002. | www.BibleMeanings.info |