2995# 上古教会的人们，如1114-1125节所述，能在自然界的每一个事物中看到属灵和属天的元素。对他们而言，自然事物仅仅是用来思考属灵和属天事物的媒介。因此，他们能够与天使交流，同时存在于主的天堂和地上的王国（即教会）中。在他们那里，自然事物与灵性事物紧密结合，完全对应。
然而，在那个时代之后，情况发生了变化。当邪恶和伪谬开始统治，或者说当黄金时代过后铁器时代来临时，因为对应关系不复存在，天堂就对人类关闭了。这种情况发展到了人们几乎不愿意了解什么是灵性的地步，最终甚至不知道天堂、地狱和死后生命的存在。
2995、上古教会成员（关于他们，参看1114-1125节）在自然界的每个事物中都看到某种属天和属灵事物，以至于属世事物仅仅作为用来思想属灵和属天事物的对象而服务于他们。因此，他们能与天使交谈，并与天使同在主在天上的国度中，同时又在主在地上的国度，也就是教会中。对他们来说，属世事物与属灵事物结合在一起，并完全对应。然而，这些时代过后，即邪恶和虚假开始掌权之时，也就是说，黄金时代之后，黑铁时代开始之时，情况就不同了。由于那时对应不复存在，所以天堂关闭了。它关闭得如此之紧，以至于世人几乎不想知道是否有任何属灵之物，最后甚至不想知道是否有一个天堂和一个地狱，或死后的生命。
Potts(1905-1910) 2995
2995. As the men of the Most Ancient Church (concerning whom see n. 1114-1125) in every thing of nature saw something spiritual and celestial, insomuch that natural things served them merely as objects for thought about spiritual and celestial things, they were for this reason able to speak with angels, and to be with them in the Lord's kingdom in the heavens at the same time that they were in His kingdom on earth, that is, in the church. Thus with them natural things were conjoined with spiritual things, and wholly corresponded. But it was otherwise after those times, when evil and falsity began to reign; that is, when after the golden age there commenced the iron age; for then as there was no longer any correspondence, heaven was closed; insomuch that men were scarcely willing to know that there was anything spiritual; and at last even that there is a heaven and a hell, and a life after death.
Elliott(1983-1999) 2995
2995. Because members of the Most Ancient Church, who were spoken of in 1114-1125, saw in every thing belonging to the natural order something spiritual and celestial, so much so that natural things served them simply as objects for thinking about spiritual and celestial things, they were for that reason able to talk to angels and so be present with them in the Lord's kingdom in the heavens at the same time as they were in His kingdom on earth, which is the Church. Thus with them natural things were joined to spiritual and wholly corresponded. It was different however after those times, when evil and falsity began to reign, that is, after the golden age, when the iron age began. Because at that time correspondence did not exist any longer, heaven was closed. It ceased to exist so completely that men scarcely wished to know whether there was anything spiritual; indeed they did not wish at length to know that there was a heaven or a hell, or a life after death.
Latin(1748-1756) 2995
2995. Homines Antiquissimae Ecclesiae, de quibus n. 1114-1125, quia in singulis naturae aliquid spirituale et caeleste videbant, adeo ut naturalia illis servirent modo pro objectis cogitandi de spiritualibus et caelestibus, idcirco potuerunt cum angelis loqui, et cum illis esse in regno Domini quod in caelis simul cum in regno Ipsius in terra, seu in Ecclesia: apud illos sic conjuncta erant naturalia spiritualibus, et prorsus correspondebant. Aliter vero post illa tempora, cum malum et falsum incepit regnare, seu cum post aureum saeculum, ferreum incepit; tunc quia non amplius correspondentia, claudebatur caelum, usque adeo ut vix scire vellent quod spirituale esset, immo tandem nec quod caelum et infernum, et quod vita post mortem.