914. (v. 17) And another angel went out from the temple, which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. That this signifies manifestation from the Lord concerning the devastation of the church as to Divine truth, such as exists in heaven, after exploration, is evident from the signification of an angel going out and saying, as denoting manifestation from the Lord, as above (n. 869, 878, 883); and from the signification of the temple, as denoting heaven and the church as to Divine truth (concerning which also see above, n. 220); and from the signification of a sharp sickle, as denoting Divine truth minutely exploring and separating (concerning which see above, n. 908); in this case also devastating after exploration. For by those things said concerning the former angel (vers. 15, 16) is also signified visitation and exploration, also annunciation that the church was completely devastated. But by the things said concerning these two angels (vers. 17-19) is signified the devastation of the church; namely, by the one who went out from the temple which is in heaven, the devastation of the church as to truth; and by the other who went out from the altar, the devastation of the church as to good. For temple, in the highest sense, signified Divine truth; and altar, Divine good; both proceeding from the Lord. From this it is evident, that by the first angel, in verse 15, is meant manifestation from the Lord, also exploration as to what was the quality of the church, and that it was found to be desolated. It follows, therefore, that by another angel going out from the temple which is in heaven, having also a sharp sickle, is signified manifestation from the Lord concerning the devastation of the church as to Divine truth, such as it exists in heaven, after exploration.
[2] It is said, Divine truth such as it exists in heaven, because this is falsified, and not so the Divine truth such as exists on earth or in the church there. Divine truth in heaven is such as the Word is in the spiritual sense; but Divine truth on earth is such as the Word is in the natural sense, or in the sense of the letter. The latter Divine truth is for men, and constitutes the church with them; whereas the former Divine truth is for angels, and constitutes heaven with them. They also differ from each other, just as what is spiritual differs from what is natural; and this difference is like that between the wisdom of angels and the wisdom of men. The wisdom of men compared to the wisdom of angels is like knowledge to intelligence; this difference is so great that it cannot be described.
[3] As to the devastation of the church as to Divine truth, it results from the falsification of the Word; for when the Word is explained to favour earthly loves, and to confirm falsities of doctrine, then the church is vastated. But it is not vastated, when the Word is understood in simplicity according to the sense of the letter; but when it is explained even to the destruction of the Divine truth in heaven, then it is vastated. For by this means heaven is closed, and when this takes place there is no longer any church with man.
Within the church there are those who explain the sense of the letter of the Word even to the destruction of the Divine truth in heaven; and there are those who do not explain it to that degree; the latter do not devastate the church in themselves, but the former do. The understanding of the sense of the letter in simplicity does no injury to any spiritual truth in heaven; but the explanation of the sense of the letter according to falsities of doctrine, and to favour evil loves, does injury; for the sense of the letter of the Word is natural Divine truth. This Divine truth indeed differs from the former, as what is natural from what is spiritual, yet they make one by correspondences. But when natural Divine truth is explained even to the destruction of spiritual Divine truth, then it can no longer make one with it by correspondence; but the falsity, according to which natural Divine truth is explained, destroys the spiritual Divine truth; and herein consists the falsification of the Word, and the devastation of the church by falsifications.
But this subject is further explained, where the dragon and his two beasts are treated of; and more remains to be said upon it when we come to treat of the whore sitting on the scarlet beast, and concerning Babylon, in the following pages.
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