Arcana Coelestia (Elliott) n. 6365

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6365. 'Your hand will be on the neck of your enemies' means that the hellish and devilish crew will flee from its presence. This is clear from the meaning of 'enemies' as the hellish and devilish crew, for they are the enemies that are meant in the spiritual sense; and from the meaning of 'hand on their neck' as the pursuit of those who have taken to flight; for when an enemy flees the victor's hand is on his neck. The phrase 'will flee from its presence' is used because whenever a member of the hellish crew approaches an angel from the Lord's celestial kingdom he flees from his presence. He cannot stand it, because he cannot stand the sphere of celestial love, which is one of love to the Lord. To him that sphere is like a scorching and torturing fire. Furthermore no celestial angel ever engages in battle; still less does he have his hand on the neck of his enemies, indeed for his part he has no enemy. Nevertheless it says his hand will be on their neck because that is the way things go on in the world; but the meaning is that those from hell, who for their part are enemies, flee from his presence.


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