It treats of those who are in the sense of the letter of the Word only, and consequently in a worship that is external without an internal, who are 'Gog' (vers. 1, 2).

That all things of that worship, collectively and separately, are going to perish (vers. 3-7).

That that worship will take possession of the Church, will vastate it, and thus it will be in external things without internal (vers. 8-16).

That the state of the Church is consequently changed (vers. 17-19).

That consequently the truths and goods of religion are going to perish, and untruths are going to succeed (vers. 20-23).

[2] In chap. xxxix in Ezekiel, they are these:-

Concerning those who are in the sense of the letter of the Word only, and in external worship; that they, who are 'Gog', are going to come into the Church, but that they are going to perish (vers. 1-6).

That this will take place when the Lord comes and sets up the Church (vers. 7, 8).

That this Church will then disperse their evils and untruths (vers. 9, 10).

That it will destroy them altogether (vers. 11-16).

That the New Church about to be set up by the Lord will be trained (informare) in truths and goods of every kind, and imbued with goods of every kind (vers. 17-21).

Also that the former Church on account of evils and untruths will be destroyed (vers. 23, 24).

That then a Church will be gathered together by the Lord from all nations (vers. 25-29).

[3] But something shall be said about those who are in external worship without internal spiritual worship. They are those who, going habitually to churches on sabbaths and festivals, then sing psalms and pray, listen to sermons and then pay attention to the eloquence but little if at all to the subject, and are somewhat moved by prayers uttered with affection to the effect that they are sinners, but do not reflect at all upon themselves and their life. They also attend the sacrament of the [Holy] Supper every year. They utter prayers morning and evening and also pray at mid-day and evening meals, and sometimes also have discussions about God, heaven, and eternal life, and then also they know how to quote some passages Out of the Word and to pretend to be Christians, although they are not; for after they have done all these things (haec et illa), they make nothing of adulteries and obscenities, revenge and hatred, clandestine thefts and despoilings, lies and blasphemies, and lusts and intentions of evils of every kind. Those who are such do not believe in any God, let alone in the Lord. If they are asked what is the good and the truth of religion, they know nothing and think that it is of no importance to know. In a word, they live for themselves and the world, thus for their inclination (genius) and body and not for God and the neighbour, thus not for the spirit and soul. From these considerations it is plain that their worship is an external worship without an internal. These also are inclined to receive the heresy of faith alone, especially when they hear that a man cannot do good from himself and that they are not under the yoke of the law. This is why it is said that the dragon 'shall go forth to lead astray the nations, Gog and Magog'. By 'Gog and Magog' also in the Hebrew language is signified roof and floor, which is the external.