Apocalypse Explained (Whitehead) n. 913

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913. Verses 17-19. And another angel went out from the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. And another angel went out from the altar, having authority over the fire; and he cried with a great cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Send thy sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the vineyard of the earth, for her grapes are fully ripened. And the angel cast his sickle into the earth and gathered the vineyard of the earth, and cast it into the great wine-press of the anger of God. 17. "And another angel went out from the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle," signifies manifestation by the Lord of the devastation of the church as to the Divine truth such as it is in heaven, after exploration (n. 914). 18. "And another angel went out from the altar," signifies manifestation by the Lord of the devastation of the church as to the good of love and charity (n. 915); "having authority over the fire," signifies thus in respect to celestial and spiritual love (n. 916); "and he cried with a great cry," signifies announcement after exploration or visitation (n. 917); "saying, Send thy sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the earth, for her grapes are fully ripened," signifies that the collection and separation of the good from the evil must take place, since there are no longer any truths of faith because there is no spiritual good, which is charity (n. 918). 19. "And the angel cast his sickle into the earth and gathered the vineyard of the earth," signifies that this was done (n. 919); "and cast it into the great wine-press of the anger of God," signifies falsification of the Word as to all spiritual truth, and consequent damnation, because there is no spiritual good, which is charity, (n. 920).


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