Apocalypse Explained, Vol. 6

planation of the particulars in Arcana Cœlestia, n. 1283-1328). It having thus been shown from the Word what is signified in general and in particular by “Babylon,” we are now prepared to pass on to the explanation of those things which are foretold in this and the following chapter about Babylon and its destruction.

1030.

"And there came one of the seven angels that had the seven bowls and spake with me, saying unto me, Come, I will show thee the judgment of the great harlot that sitteth upon many waters; with whom the kings of the earth committed whoredom, and they that dwell on the earth were made drunken with the wine of her whoredom."
1. "And there came one of the seven angels that had the seven bowls and spake with me" signifies a manifestation of the state of the church with the Papists [n. 1031]; "saying unto me, Come, I will show thee the judgment of the great harlot," signifies their religion, in which all the good and truth of the church has been adulterated and profaned [n. 1032]; "that sitteth upon many waters" signifies that rules over all things of the Word, and thus over the holy things of the church [n. 1033].
2. "With whom the kings of the earth committed whoredom" signifies that it has falsified all the truths of the church [n. 1034]; "and they that dwell on the earth were made drunken with the wine of her whoredom" signifies that from falsifications those who are of the church have become insane [n. 1035].

1031.

[Verse 1.] "And there came one of the seven angels that had the seven bowls and spake with me" signifies a manifestation of the state of the church with the Papists.—This is evident from the signification of “the angel that had the bowl,” as meaning a manifestation by the Lord of the state of the church (as above, n. 869, 878, 883). It means manifestation of the state of the church with the Papists, because this chapter and the following treat of “Babylon,” by which the religion of the Papists is meant. One of the seven angels came, because “the seven angels that have the seven bowls” mean in the preceding chapter a manifestation of the state of the church with the Reformed, and now here with the Papists; so when the seventh angel poured out his bowl it is said,

“And great Babylon came into remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fury of His anger” (xvi. 19).