Apocalypse Revealed (Whitehead) n. 355

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355. Of the tribe of Manasseh were sealed twelve thousand, signifies the will of serving and of action, with those also who will be of the Lord's New Heaven and New Church. There are three things which follow in order: love to the Lord, wisdom, and use, as was said above (n. 352); so also here, mutual love, understanding or perception, and will or action; these likewise make one, so that if one of them is wanting, the other two are not anything; the will of serving with the action, is the effect, thus the ultimate, in which the two former are and co-exist. The reason why "Manasseh" has this signification, is, because Joseph, who was the father of Manasseh and Ephraim, signifies the spiritual of the church; and the spiritual of the church is the good of the will, and at the same time the truth of the understanding; hence it is that "Manasseh" signifies the voluntary of the church, and "Ephraim" its intellectual. "Manasseh" signifies the voluntary of the church, because "Ephraim" signifies its intellectual, as appears manifestly in Hosea, where Ephraim is so frequently mentioned; and as "Manasseh" signifies the voluntary of the church, he also signifies act, for the will is the endeavor of every act, and where there is endeavor, there is action, when it is possible. Mention is made of "Manasseh" in several places, as when he was born (Gen. 41:50-52); when he was accepted of Jacob as if instead of Simeon (Gen. 48:3-5) and blessed by him (Gen. 48:15, 16); and by Moses, (Deut. 33:17) and moreover in Isaiah 9:18-20; Psalms 60:7; 80:2; 108:8. From which it may in some measure be seen, that by "Manasseh" is signified the voluntary of the church.


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