635. Finally, this following arcanum shall be disclosed. In seven chapters of the Apocalypse the consummation of the present church is described in much the same way as the devastation of Egypt is described; for the two are pictured by like plagues, each one of which spiritually signifies some falsity, which extends the devastation of it even to destruction; and for this reason the present church, which is at this day destroyed, is called "Egypt," spiritually understood, (Apoc. 11:8). The plagues of Egypt were as follows:
The waters were turned into blood, so that every fish died, and the river stank (Ex. 7).
A like statement is made in the Apocalypse (8:8; 16:3); "blood" signifying Divine truth falsified, (see Apocalypse Revealed, n. 379, 404, 681, 687, 688); and the "fishes" which then died signifying the truths in the natural man, in like manner dead (n. 290, 405).
Frogs were brought upon the land of Egypt (Ex. 8).
Something is also said of frogs in the Apocalypse 16:13); "frogs" signifying reasonings from a lust for falsifying truths (see Apocalypse Revealed, n. 702).
In Egypt noisome sores were brought upon both man and beast (Ex. 9).
(The same in the Apocalypse 16:2); "sores" signifying interior evils and falsities destructive of good and truth in the church (see Apocalypse Revealed, n. 678).
In Egypt there was hail mingled with fire (Ex. 9).
(The same in the Apocalypse, 8:7; 16:21); "hail" signifying infernal falsity (see Apocalypse Revealed, n. 399, 714):
Locusts were sent upon East (Ex. 10).
(The same in the Apocalypse, 9:1-11); "locusts" signifying falsities in outermosts, (see Apocalypse Revealed n. 424, 430).
Great darkness was brought upon Egypt (Ex. 10).
(The same in the Apocalypse, 8:12); "darkness" signifying falsities arising either from ignorance, or from falsities of religion, or from evils of life; (see Apocalypse Revealed, n. 110, 413, 695).
Finally, the Egyptians perished in the Red Sea (Ex. 14).
(But in the Apocalypse the dragon and the false prophet were cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, 19:20; 20:10); both "the Red Sea" and that "lake" signifying hell. Respecting Egypt and respecting the church, whose consummation and end are described in the Apocalypse, like statements are made, because "Egypt" means a church that was in its beginning pre-eminent; and for this reason, before this church had been devastated, Egypt is compared to the garden of Eden, and the garden of Jehovah, (Gen. 13:10; Ezek. 31:8); and is also called "the corner-stone of the tribes," "the son of the wise, and of the kings of old," (Isa. 19:11, 13). More respecting Egypt in its primeval state and in its devastated state may be seen in the Apocalypse Revealed (n. 503).