Apocalypse Explained (Tansley) n. 1046

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1046. (v. 5) And upon her forehead a name written, Mystery, Babylon the great. That this signifies, in heart the love of dominion over the world and heaven, to which the holy things of the Word, of the church, and of worship, serve as means, is evident from the signification of a name written upon the forehead, as denoting her quality as to love. For by name is signified the quality of a thing or state, and by forehead is signified love. That name denotes the quality of a thing or state may be seen (n. 102, 148, 676, 695, 841, 892); and that the forehead corresponds to the good of love (n. 497, 852); and from the signification of mystery, as denoting that which lies hid in the heart, and does not appear before the common people. That this is the love of dominion over the world and over heaven, to which the holy things of the church are subservient as means, and that the cupidity and rule of that love is Babylon, has been shown many times in the premises to this chapter (n. 1029). And because that love devastates the church of all truths and goods, therefore this also is meant by Mystery, Babylon the great.


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