409. And it fell upon a third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters, signifies that thence all the truths of the Word were altogether falsified. By "rivers" are signified truths in abundance, because truths are signified by "waters" (n. 50); and by "fountains of waters" the Word is signified (n. 384). The truths of the Word were altogether falsified; because it follows that "the third part of the waters became wormwood," and by "wormwood" infernal falsity is signified (n. 410).
[2] That "rivers" signify truths in abundance may be evident from the following passages:
Behold, I do a new thing: I will give waters in the wilderness and rivers in the solitude to give drink to My people, My chosen (Isa. 43:19-20).
I will pour water upon the thirsty, and rivers upon the dry ground; I will pour My spirit upon thy seed, and My blessing upon thy children (Isa. 44:3).
Then the tongue of the dumb shall sing; for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and rivers in the plain of the wilderness (Isa. 35:6).
I will open rivers upon the hillsides, and I will put fountains in the midst of the valleys, I will make the wilderness a pool of waters, and the dry land springs of water (Isa. 41:18).
Jehovah hath founded the world upon the seas, He hath established it upon the rivers (Ps. 24:2).
I will put His hand in the sea, and His right hand in the rivers (Ps. 89:25).
Was Jehovah incensed at the rivers? Was thy anger against the rivers? Was thy wrath against the sea, because thou dost ride upon thy horses? (Hab. 3:8.)
A river whose streams shall make glad the city of God (Ps. 46:4).
He showed me a pure river of water of life, going forth from the throne of God and of the Lamb (Rev. 22:1).
He clave the rock in the wilderness, and gave them drink from the great deeps; He smote the rock and the rivers flowed forth (Ps. 78:15-16, 20; 105:41).
Then the waters shall fail in the sea, and the river shall be dried up (Isa. 19:5-7; 42:15; 50:2; Nahum 1:4; Ps. 107:33; Job 14:11).
Jesus said, if anyone come unto Me, as the Scripture hath said, Out of his belly shall flow living water (John 7:37, 38. Besides other places, as Isa. 33:21; Jer. 17:7-8; Ezek. 31:3, 4; 47:1-12; Joel 3:18; Zech. 9:10; Ps. 80:11; 93:3-4; 98:7-8; 110:7; Num. 24:6-7; Deut. 8:7).
[3] But that "rivers" in the opposite sense signify falsities in abundance may be evident from these:
He shall send ambassadors on the sea to a nation trodden down, whose land the rivers have despoiled (Isa. 18:2).
Except Jehovah were for us, the waters would have submerged us, and the river would have gone over our soul (Ps. 124:2-5).
When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee, and through the rivers, they shall not submerge thee (Isa. 43:2).
The cords of death encompassed me, and the floods of Belial terrified me (Ps. 18:5).
The dragon cast forth water as a river out of his mouth after the woman, that he might cause her to be swallowed up by the flood (Rev. 12:15).
Behold, Jehovah bringeth up upon you the waters of a river strong and many, and it shall inundate and go over, and shall reach even to the neck (Isa. 8:7-8).
The floods came, and beat upon that house, and it fell not, for it was founded upon a rock (Matt. 7:25, 27; Luke 6:48-49).
Here "floods or rivers" also stand for falsities in abundance, because the Lord as to the Divine Truth is signified by "the rock." By "floods" also temptations are signified, because temptations are inundations of falsities.