Swedenborg says that to revile something – or “reproach,” as it is often translated – represents making a direct and deliberate attack on what is spiritually true, in an effort to destroy it. Swedenborg uses the word “blasphemy” for this, and identifies it is a dangerously evil thing.
Passages from Swedenborg
Arcana Coelestia (Elliott) n. 9221
9221. ‘You shall not revile God’ means that God’s truths are not to be blasphemed. This is clear from the meaning of ‘reviling’ as blaspheming; for blasphemers are those who revile.
Arcana Coelestia (Elliott) n. 9222
9222. ‘And you shall not curse a governor of your people’ means that teachings presenting the truth are not to be, either – not to be blasphemed. This is clear from the meaning of ‘a governor (or prince)’ as the Church’s primary truths, dealt with in 5044; from the meaning of ‘people’ as those governed by truths taught by doctrine, dealt with in 1259, 1260, 2928, 3295, 3581, 7207; and from the meaning of ‘cursing’ as blaspheming. What connection these prohibitions have with each other is evident from the internal sense; for ‘not reviling God’ means not blaspheming God’s truth, and ‘not cursing a governor’ means not blaspheming teachings that present the truth, God’s truth being the Word, and the Church’s teachings being truth drawn from the Word.
Let the nature of blasphemy against God’s truth be stated briefly here. God’s truth is the Word and teachings drawn from the Word. Those who repudiate it in their heart blaspheme it even though they praise and declare it with their lips. Hidden within repudiation lies blasphemy, which also bursts out into the open when they are left to think by themselves, especially in the next life. For there when external [restraints] have been removed people’s hearts speak.
AE 695
[19] In the Evangelists:
“Blessed are ye when men shall reproach you, and persecute you, and say every evil word against you falsely,” for Christ’s sake; “rejoice and be exceeding glad, for your reward is great in the heavens; for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you” (Matt. v. 11, 12; Luke vi. 22, 23).
This is said of those who fight and conquer in temptations induced by evils, thus by hell; temptations are signified by reproaching, persecuting, and saying an evil word falsely for Christ’s sake, for temptations are assaults upon and infestations of truth and good by falsities and evils.