1047. Mother of the whoredoms and abominations of the earth. That this signifies a religious persuasion from which are the adulterations of good and truth, and profanations of the holy things of the church, is evident from the signification of a mother, as denoting the church, but, in this case, the religious persuasion which, in the general sense, is meant by Babylon; and from the signification of whoredoms, as denoting the adulterations of good and falsifications of truth (concerning which see n. 141, 161, 817, 881); and from the signification of abominations, as denoting profanations (see n. 1044); and from the signification of the earth, as denoting the church; in this case, as to the holy things thereof. That earth in the Word signifies the church may be seen (n. 29, 304, 413, 417, 697, 741, 742, 876).
Concerning Profanations:-
[2] As to profanations, they are of many kinds. The most grievous is, when the truths and goods of the Word, of the church, and of worship, are acknowledged, and the life is in accordance with them, but afterwards are denied, and the life is contrary to them; or even when they are not denied, and yet the life led is contrary to them. This profanation brings about a conjunction and coherence of good with falsity, also of truth with evil; whence it comes to pass that a man is in heaven and in hell at the same time; the consequence of which is, that while heaven wills to have its own, and hell to have its own, and yet they cohere, each is taken away. Hence the man's own life perishes, and he becomes like a brute animal, raving continually, and is carried away by phantasy on every hand, like a dragon in the air; and who also sees in phantasy flakes and chaff as giants and crowds, and looks upon a small vessel as if it were the universe, and so on.
[3] Because such have no longer any human life, therefore they are not called spirits, but somewhat profane, nor are they named "he" or "she," but "it." And when they are seen in the light of heaven they seem to be like calcined skeletons. But this kind of profanation is rare, since provision is made by the Lord to prevent a man from entering into the faith of truth and into the life of good, unless he can be constantly kept therein even to the last of his life. But concerning this and other kinds of profanation more will be said in the following articles.
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