Apocalypse Explained (Tansley) n. 492

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492. And there were given unto him many incenses.- That this signifies truths in abundance, is evident from the signification of incenses, as denoting the truths of spiritual good; and from the signification of many, as denoting abundance of truths; for multitude is used in the Word in reference to truths, and magnitude to good. The reason why incenses signify truths is, that offerings of incense represented worship from spiritual good, and frankincense signified that good, as shown in the article above, therefore incenses from frankincense represented the things which thence proceed, and the things which proceed from that good are truths. For it is that good which thinks truths, and speaks them, that is to say, man does so from that good. Spiritual good is also formed in man by means of truths; for truth with man becomes spiritual good when he lives according to it, as may be seen above (n. 458:1); and that thus spiritual good is in its essence truth, see also above (n. 376). But concerning the offerings of incense and their significations see n. 324, where the subject is treated of.


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