Arcana Coelestia (Potts) n. 9330

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9330. And I will give to thee the neck of all thine enemies. That this signifies the flight and damnation of falsities, is evident from the signification of "enemies," as being falsities from evil (see n. 9313, 9314); and from the signification of "giving the neck," as being flight. That it signifies damnation also, is because when those who are in falsities from evil flee from truths from good, they cast themselves into hell, that is, into damnation. [2] The case herein is this. In the other life those who are in falsities from evil fight first against those who are in truths from good. The reason why they are permitted to fight is in order that good may come out of it. The good that comes out of it is that those who are in truths from good are thereby confirmed in truths against falsities, and that those who are in falsities from evil are confirmed in falsities, and devastate themselves; for in the other life falsities are removed from those who are in truths from good, and truths are removed from those who are in falsities from evil. In this way those who are in truths from good are raised into heaven, and those who are in falsities from evil sink down into hell; and when they are in hell, they are in terror and dismay because of truths from good, in which are the angels from the Lord. [3] That such a state awaits those who are in falsities from evil, and those who are in truths from good, the Lord teaches in these passages:

Whosoever hath, to him shall be given, that he may have more abundantly; but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away (Matt. 13:12). Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath the ten pounds. They said, Lord, he hath ten pounds. I say unto you, that unto everyone that hath shall be given; but from him that hath not, even that which he hath shall be taken away from him (Luke 19:24-26).


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