208#“看哪，我在你面前给你一个敞开的门，没有人能关上它”表示他们将被准许进入天堂，凡具有这种品质的，没有人会被拒绝给予它。这从“给一个敞开的门”和“没有人能关上它”的含义清楚可知：“给一个敞开的门”是指准许进入天堂(对此，我们很快就会谈到)；“没有人能关上它”是指它不会被拒绝给予；因为当一扇门关上时，入口就被拒绝；但当它没有关上时，入口就没有被拒绝。它之所以向那些处于仁爱的人敞开，是因为写给该教会的信论述了他们(参看AE203节)。由此清楚可知，“我在你面前给你一个敞开的门，没有人能关上它”表示所有这样的人都将被准许进入天堂，他们当中没有一个人会被拒绝给予入口。诚然，从日常用语明显看出，“给一个敞开的门”表示准许进入天堂；但这仍是由于对应；因为一座房子和属于它的一切都对应于人心智的内层，它们出于这种对应关系也表示圣言中心智的事物。情况就是这样，这一点从天堂里的代表和表象可以看出来，那里有宫殿，房屋，房间，卧室，门厅，庭院，里面有各种各样有用的东西；天使从对应关系中拥有这些事物；因此，更有智慧的天使所拥有的宫殿就比不那么智慧的天使所拥有的宫殿更壮丽。不过，关于这些事，可参看《天堂与地狱》(183–190节)，那里论述了天堂天使的居所。由于宫殿、房屋，以及属于一座房屋的一切都具有一种对应关系，所以显而易见，外门、内门和大门或城门也具有一种对应关系，它们对应于入口和准许进入；当一个门看上去敞开时，这是一个迹象，表明有机会进入；当它关上时，表明没有机会进入。
此外，当新来的灵人被引入天堂社群时，通往该社群的路就由主向他们打开；当他们来到那里时，就会看见一个大门和旁边的一个门，那里有准许他们进入的看守，后来又有其他人接待和引入他们。由此可见，在圣言中，外门(doorways)、内门(doors)和大门或城门(gates)表示什么，即表示准许进入天堂；由于教会是主在地上的天堂，所以它们还表示准许进入教会；由于天堂或教会在人里面，所以外门(doorways)、内门(doors)和大门或城门(gates)表示人的靠近和入口(对此，我们很快就会谈到)。由于表示天堂和教会的一切事物也表示天堂和教会的事物，在此表示引入的事物，也就是来自主、出于良善的真理，还由于这些真理来自主，因而属于主，事实上就是它们里面的主自己，所以天堂和教会的外门(doorways)、内门(doors)和大门或城门(gates)在至高意义上表示主。由此清楚可知，主在约翰福音中所说的这些话表示什么：
耶稣说，我实实在在地告诉你们，不从门进羊圈，倒从别处爬进去的，那人就是贼，就是强盗。从门进去的，才是羊的牧人；看门的就给他开门。我就是羊的门，凡从我进来的，必然得救，可进出，也可找着草场。(约翰福音10:1–3, 7, 9)
此处“从门进去”明显是指从主进入，因为经上说：“我就是羊的门。”从主进入就是靠近祂，承认祂，信祂，爱祂，如祂在许多经文中所教导的；人就这样被准许进入天堂，别无它法；因此，主说，“凡从我进来的，必然得救”，又说：“从别处爬进去的，那人就是贼，就是强盗。”
因此，靠近主，承认祂，信祂的人，可以说就向主打开门，使得祂可以进入；如启示录：
看哪，我站在门外叩门；若有人听见我的声音而开门，我要进到他那里去，我与他，他与我一同坐席。(启示录3:20)
下文会解释当如何理解这些事，那里论述了所提到的事。我们在此只说一说人里面的门或大门，因为经上说，我站在门外叩门。有两条路通向人的理性，一条来自天堂，一条来自世界。良善经由来自天堂的路被引入，真理经由来自世界的路被引入。来自天堂的路在何等程度上向一个人打开，他就在何等程度上被真理感动并变得理性，也就是说，他在何等程度上凭真理之光看见真理。但如果来自天堂的路关闭，那么人就不会变得理性，因为他看不见真理，然而正是真理从真理之光构成理性。诚然，他能推理真理，还能基于推理或记忆谈论真理；但他不能看见真理是不是真理。良好地思想主和邻舍打开来自天堂的路；但不良好地思想主、邪恶地思想邻舍关闭这条路。由于有两条路通到人里面，所以流注进入的门或大门也有两道：来自主的对真理的属灵情感经由从天堂打开的那道门或大门进入，因为良善经由那门进入，如前所述，而对真理的一切属灵情感都来自良善；但来自圣言和基于圣言的讲道的一切知识都经由从世界打开的那道门或大门进入，因为真理由此进入，也如前所述，来自圣言和基于圣言的讲道的知识就是真理。对真理的属灵情感与这些知识联合起来构成人的理性，并照着与良善结合的真理的品质，以及该结合的品质而光照它。关于属于人的这两道门或大门，目前这几句话就足够了。
208b.由于“外门”、“内门”和“大门或城门”表示准许进入天堂和教会，所以它们也表示来自主、出于良善的真理，因这种准许是通过它们实现的，这从以下经文明显看出来。以赛亚书：
你们打开城门，使守信的义族得以进入。(以赛亚书26:2)
根据字义，这句话的意思是，那些公义和忠信的人应被准许进入这些城市；但根据内义，意思是他们应被准许进入教会；因为“城门”表示准许进入，“义族”表示那些处于良善的人，“守信的”表示那些处于源于良善的真理之人。
同一先知书：
你的城门必时常打开，昼夜不关，使列族的军队被带来归你，他们的君王也被牵来；不服侍你的民族和国家就必灭亡。你必称你的城墙为拯救，称你的城门为赞美。(以赛亚书60:11, 12, 18)
此处论述的主题是主和祂即将建立的教会；这些话描述了不断准许那些处于良善和由此而来的真理之人进入。“城门必时常打开，昼夜不关”表示永远的准许；“列族的军队”表示那些处于良善的人，“君王”表示那些处于真理的人；“不服侍你的民族和国家就必灭亡”表示所有人都要服侍主。“民族”或“列族”表示那些处于良善的人(AE175a节)，“君王”表示那些处于真理的人(AE31节)。
又：
耶和华对祂的受膏者居鲁士如此说，我紧握他的右手，使列族降服在他面前；我也要松开列王的腰带，使门户在他面前敞开，城门不得关闭。我要将暗处的宝物和隐密处隐藏的财富赐给你。(以赛亚书45:1, 3)
此处同样论述主和祂将要建立的教会。“使门户敞开，城门不得关闭”表示永远的准许；“列族和列王”表示那些处于良善和真理的人，在抽象意义上表示良善和真理，如前所述；“暗处的宝物和隐密处隐藏的财富”表示来自天堂的内在聪明和智慧，因为经由从天堂打开的城门进入的事物秘密进来，并影响与人同在的一切事物；对真理的属灵情感由此而来，从而揭示以前未知的事物。
耶利米书：
你们若在安息日不担什么担子进入这城的各门，只以安息日为圣日，就必有坐大卫宝座的君王和首领，或坐车，或骑马，进入这城的各门。而且这城必永远有人居住。(耶利米书17:24, 25)
谁都能看出，这些话在字义上是什么意思；但也可以知道它们包含某种更神圣的东西，因为这是圣言，或说它们形成圣言的一部分；圣言中的每个事物都包含那些属于天堂和教会的事物，唯独这些事物是神圣的；因此，这段经文中的神圣之物只能从内义得知。就内义而言，“安息日”表示主的神性人身与天堂和教会的结合；此处的城，即耶路撒冷，表示教会；“不担什么担子进入这城的各门”表示不准许人自己的东西，或来自人的自我的东西进入，只准许来自主的东西进入。必从这城的各门进入的“君王和首领”表示那时他们要拥有的神性真理；“坐大卫宝座”表示这些真理来自主；“或坐车，或骑马”表示他们要从那里处于真理的教义和聪明；“永远有人居住”表示生命和永恒的救赎。“安息日”表示主的神性人身与天堂和教会的结合(参看《属天的奥秘》，8494, 8495, 8510, 10356, 10360, 10367, 10370, 10374, 10668, 10730节)；“耶路撒冷”表示教会(参看402, 3654, 9166节)；安息日的“担子”或“作为”表示不是被主引导，而是被自我或人自己引导(7893, 8495, 10360, 10362, 10365节)；“君王和首领”表示那些处于神性真理的人，在抽象意义上表示神性真理(参看AE 29, 31节)；“车”表示真理的教义，“马”表示理解力(参看《白马》，1–5节)。
在启示录，经上论到耶路撒冷说：
有高大的墙，有十二个门，门上有十二位天使和写在上面的名字，就是以色列十二支派的名字。十二个门是十二颗珍珠。城门必不关闭。(启示录21:12, 21, 25)
“城门或门(gates)”表示引入新教会的神性真理，因而表示那些处于来自主、出于良善的真理之人，这一点从《新耶路撒冷及其属天教义》(1节等)这本小书对这些话的解释可以看出来，也可从经上说有十二个门，门上有十二位天使，写在上面的十二支派的名字，以及十二个门是十二颗珍珠清楚看出来。因为“十二”表示全部或所有，论及出于良善的真理(参看《属天的奥秘》，577, 2089, 2129, 2130, 3272, 3858, 3913节)；“天使”也是如此(参看AE130b, 200节)；“以色列十二支派”同样如此(参看AE3858, 3926, 4060, 6335节)；“珍珠”又是如此。
耶利米书：
必有灾祸从北方打开，他们要来，各人安宝座在耶路撒冷的城门口，周围攻击所有的城墙，因为他们离弃了我。(耶利米书1:14-16)
此处论述的主题是教会；“北方”表示虚假，在此表示邪恶所来自的虚假；“来，各人安宝座在耶路撒冷的城门口”是指通过虚假摧毁引入教会的真理；“攻击所有的城墙”表示摧毁所有用来保护的真理。
以赛亚书：
城门哪，应当哀号！城啊，应当呼喊！非利士人啊，你们都熔化了，因为有烟从北方出来。(以赛亚书14:31)
同一先知书：
你嘉美的山谷遍满战车和马兵，在城门前列阵；他揭开犹大的遮盖。(以赛亚书22:7, 8)
这些经文也论述了对教会的摧毁；此处“城门”表示引入的真理，它们被摧毁了；这些真理被称为“犹大的遮盖”，因为“犹大”表示属天之爱(参看AE119节)，而这些真理遮盖并保护这爱。
又：
城中剩下的只是荒废，城门拆毁净尽。(以赛亚书24:12)
耶利米书：
犹大悲哀，城门衰败。(耶利米书14:2)
士师记：
以色列的农村不复存在；他选择新神，战争就临到城门。(士师记5:7, 8)
以西结书：
推罗论到耶路撒冷说，阿哈，那作众民之门的，她已经破坏；她被带来归我。(以西结书26:2)
此处论述的也是对教会的摧毁；“推罗”表示真理和良善的知识或认知，也就是引入的真理；“耶路撒冷”表示真理的教义方面的教会。由此明显可知为何耶路撒冷在此被称为“众民之门”；也明显可知“推罗说，阿哈，耶路撒冷，那作众民之门的，已经破坏；她被带来归我，我要充满”表示什么。
由于如前所述，“门”和“大门或城门”表示准许进入，尤表引入的真理，也就是来自主、出于良善的真理，所以显而易见，在以下经文中，“门户”和“门或城门”表示什么。诗篇：
众城门哪，抬起你们的头来；永久的门户，你们要被举起！那荣耀的王将要进来。(诗篇24:7, 9)
又：
我必在锡安女儿的城门述说对耶和华的赞美。(诗篇9:14)
又：
耶和华爱锡安的城门，胜于爱雅各一切的住处。(诗篇87:2)
“锡安”和“锡安的女儿”表示属天教会。以赛亚书：
救赎你的，是以色列的圣者，祂必称为全地之神。又用红宝石作你的窗户，以红玉造你的城门。(以赛亚书54:5, 12)
马太福音：
五个谨慎的童女去赴婚筵，门就关了；五个愚拙的童女来敲门，门却没有给她们开。(马太福音25:10–12)
路加福音：
耶稣说，你们要努力进窄门；将来有许多人寻求进入，却是不能。及至家主起来关了门，你们开始站在外面叩门，说，主啊，主啊，给我们开门；他就回答说，我不认识你们，不晓得你们是哪里来的。(路加福音13:24, 25)
这两段经文论述了人死后的状态，说明那时，那些处于信，不处于爱的人不能被准许进入天堂，尽管他们渴望进入，这是由于他们的信之性质。这就是门关上，他们叩门却遭到拒绝所表示的。
由于“门或城门”表示引入的真理，所以律例之中有这样一条：
长老要坐在城门口审判。(申命记21:19; 22:15, 21; 阿摩司书5:12, 15; 撒迦利亚书8:16)
故经上还吩咐：
他们要把这些诫命写在门框和城门上。(申命记6:8, 9)
律例当中还有这样一条：
在第七年，不愿自由出去的仆人的耳朵要在门那里穿上。(出埃及记21:6; 申命记15:17)
来自以色列人的仆人表示那些处于真理，未处于良善的人；“自由人”表示那些处于良善和由此而来的真理之人。“耳朵要在门那里穿上”表示永远的服从和奴役，因为他不愿通过真理被引入良善；事实上，那些处于真理，未处于良善的人永远处于一种奴役的状态，因为他们没有处于对真理的属灵情感；然而，正是爱之情感使人得自由(参看《新耶路撒冷及其属天教义》，141–149节)。此外，引入的真理就其品质而言，以罩棚的盖和帐幕的门帘来描述(出埃及记26:14, 36, 37; 38:18, 19)；还以神家和殿的门口和门的数字尺寸来描述(以西结书40:6, 8–11, 13–15, 18–20, 24, 27, 28, 32, 35, 37; 41:1–3, 11, 17–20, 23–25; 42:2, 12, 15; 43:1–4; 44:1–3, 17; 46:1–3, 8, 12, 19; 47:1, 2; 48:31–34)。知道这些具体数字表示什么的人就能知道关于这些真理的许多奥秘。以西结书(8:3, 4; 10:19)还提到耶和华家朝北和东的门。
208. Behold I have set before thee an open door, and no one is able to shut it. That this signifies that they will be admitted into heaven, and that it will be denied to no one who is of such a quality is evident from the signification of setting before them an open door, as being to admit into heaven, of which we shall treat in what follows; and from the signification of no one is able to shut it, as being that entrance will not be denied; for when a door is shut, entrance is denied, and when it is not shut it is not denied. The reason why it is open to those who are in charity is, that these are treated of in what is written to this church (see above, n. 203). Hence it is evident that by I have set before thee an open door, and no one is able to shut it is signified, that all such will be admitted into heaven, and that it will be denied to none of them. That to set before them an open door signifies to admit them into heaven is evident indeed from common speech, but nevertheless it is from correspondence; for a house and all things belonging to a house correspond to the interiors of man's mind, and from that correspondence they also signify such things in the Word. That this is the case is evident from representatives and appearances in heaven, where there are palaces, houses, rooms, bed-chambers, vestibules, courts, and within them various things for use. These things the angels have from correspondence; whence it is that the wiser angels have palaces more magnificent than those enjoyed by those who are less wise. (But concerning these things, see the work, Heaven and Hell 183-190, where the habitations of the angels of heaven are treated of.) And because palaces, houses, and all the things belonging to a house correspond, it is also evident that outer doors, inner doors, and gates correspond also, and that they correspond to entrance and admission; also when a door is seen open, it is a sign that there is permission to enter, and when it is shut, that there is not.
[2] Moreover, when novitiate spirits are introduced into a heavenly society, a way is opened to them by the Lord which leads to it; and when they come thither a gate is seen with a door at the side, where there are keepers who admit them, and afterwards there are others who receive and introduce them.
From these considerations, it is evident that outer doors (januoe), and inner doors (ostia), and gates in the Word signify introduction into heaven; and because the church is the Lord's heaven on earth, they also signify introduction into the church; and because heaven or the church is in man, therefore they also signify approach and entrance with man concerning which something shall be said presently. And because all the things that signify heaven and the church also signify the things pertaining to heaven and the church, and here introductory things which are truths from good, these being from the Lord; and because those things are from the Lord, and hence are His, indeed are Himself in them, therefore by outer door (janua), inner door (ostium), and gate to heaven and the church, in the highest sense, is meant the Lord. Hence it is evident what the words of the Lord signify in John:
Jesus said: "Verily I say unto you, he that entereth not by the door (janua) into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep; to him the porter openeth. I am the door (ostium) of the sheep, by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out and find pasture" (10:1, 2, 3, 7, 9).
That to enter in by the door (ostium) here denotes to enter in by the Lord, is evident, for it is said, "I am the door of the sheep." To enter in by the Lord is to approach Him, to acknowledge Him, to believe in Him, and to love Him, as He Himself teaches in many passages. Thus is a man admitted into heaven, and in no other way; therefore the Lord says, "By me if any man enter in, he shall be saved"; and also "he who climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber."
[3] He therefore who approaches the Lord, acknowledges Him and believes in Him, is said to open the door (ostium) to the Lord, that He may enter in; as in the Apocalypse:
"Behold I stand at the door (ostium) and knock; if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (3:20).
How these things are to be understood, will be explained in the following pages, where the things mentioned are treated of. Here we shall only say something concerning the doors (ostia) or gates in man, because it is said, I stand at the door and knock.
There are two ways which lead to man's Rational, one from heaven and the other from the world; by the way from heaven good is introduced, by the way from the world truth is introduced. In proportion as the way from heaven is opened to a man, in the same proportion he is affected with truth, and becomes rational, that is, in the same proportion he sees truth by the light of truth; but if the way from heaven is shut, he does not become rational, because he does not see truth, and yet truth from the light of truth constitutes the Rational. A man may indeed reason concerning truth, and from reasoning or from memory he may speak of it; but he is not able to see whether it is truth or not. To think well concerning the Lord and the neighbour, opens the way from heaven; but to think otherwise shuts that way. Because there are two ways which lead into man, there are also two doors (januoe) or gates by which influx enters: by the door or gate which is open from heaven, the spiritual affection of truth from the Lord enters, because good enters by that door, as said above, and all spiritual affection of truth is from good; but by the door or gate which is open from the world, enter all knowledge from the Word, and from preaching thence, because thereby truth enters, as also said above, for knowledges from the Word and from preaching thence are truths. The spiritual affection of truth adjoined to those knowledges constitutes man's Rational, and enlightens it according to the quality of the truth conjoined with good, and according to the quality of the conjunction.
[4] These few observations may be sufficient for the present concerning the gates or doors pertaining to man. Because outer doors (januoe), inner doors (ostia), and gates signify admission into heaven and into the church, therefore they also signify truths from good which are from the Lord, because by means of them this admission is effected, as is evident from the following passages. Thus in Isaiah:
"Open ye the gates that the just nation that keepeth faithfulnesses may enter in" (26:2).
According to the sense of the letter it is here meant that those who are just and faithful should be admitted into those cities, but according to the internal sense, that such should be admitted into the church: for gates signify admission; a just nation signifies those who are in good; keeping faithfulnesses signifies those who are thence in truths.
[5] Again:
"Thy gates shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day nor night; to bring unto thee the hosts of the nations, and their kings shall be brought down. And the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish. Thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise" (175, and that kings signify those who are in truths, n. 31.)
[6] Again:
"Thus said Jehovah to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; that I may loose the loins of kings, to open before him the doors (januoe) that the gates may not be shut; I will give him the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places" (45:1, 3).
Here also the Lord is treated of, and the church to be established by Him. By opening the doors (januoe), and by the gates not being shut, is signified perpetual admission; by nations and kings are signified those who are in goods and truths, and, in the abstract, goods and truths, as said above; by treasures of darkness and hidden riches of secret places, is signified interior intelligence and wisdom from heaven; for the things that enter by the gate which is open from heaven, and of which we have spoken above, come in secretly, and influence all the things that are with man, whence arises the spiritual affection of truth, whereby things before unknown are revealed.
[7] In Jeremiah:
"If ye bring in no burden through the gates of this city on the Sabbath day, but hallow the Sabbath day, then shall there enter through the gates of this city kings and princes sitting upon the throne of David, riding upon the chariot and on horses, and the city shall be inhabited to eternity" (Arcana Coelestia 8494, 8495, 8510, 10356, 10360, 10367, 10370, 10374, 10668, 10730. That by Jerusalem is signified the church, 402, 3654, 9166. That by burden or work on the Sabbath day is signified not to be led by the Lord but by the proprium, n. 7893, 8495, 10360, 10362, 10365. That by kings and princes are signified those who are in Divine truths, and, in the abstract, Divine truths, see above, n. 29, 31. That by chariot is signified the doctrine of truth, and by horses the Intellectual, see the small work, The White Horse 1-5.)
[8] Again, in the Apocalypse, it is said of the New Jerusalem,
"Having a wall great and high, twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon which are the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel; the twelve gates were twelve pearls; the gates of it shall not be shut" (New Jerusalem 1, etc.); which is also evident from this consideration, that it is said there were twelve gates, twelve angels upon the gates, and the names of the twelve tribes written thereon, and that the twelve gates were twelve pearls. By twelve are signified all, and is said of truths from good, see Arcana Coelestia 577, 2089, 2129, 2130, 3272, 3858, 3913, similarly by angels, see above, n. 130, 200; also by the twelve tribes of Israel, Arcana Coelestia 3858, 3926, 4060, 6335; and also by pearls.)
[9] In Jeremiah:
"Out of the north evil shall be opened that they may come, and every one set his throne at the door (ostiun) of the gates of Jerusalem, and at all its walls round about, because they have forsaken me" (1:14, 15, 16).
The subject here treated of is the destruction of the church: the north signifies falsity, in this case the falsity from which evil is derived; to come and set every one his throne at the door of the gates of Jerusalem, is to destroy the introductory truths of the church by falsities; and at all the walls round about, denotes all the truths that are for a defence.
[10] In Isaiah:
"Howl, O gate; cry, O city; thou, whole Philistia, art dissolved because, from the north cometh smoke" (14:31).
Again:
"The choicest of thy valleys shall be filled with the chariot; and the horsemen shall set themselves in array even to the gate, he hath made bare the covering of Judah" (22:7, 8).
In these passages also the destruction of the Church is treated of; and by the gates there mentioned introductory truths are signified, which are destroyed; those truths are called the covering of Judah, because by Judah is signified celestial love, as may be seen above (n. 24:12).
[11] In Jeremiah:
"Judah mourned, and the gates thereof languished" (14:2).
In the book of Judges:
"The villages ceased in Israel: he hath chosen new gods; then to assault the gates" (5:7, 8).
In Ezekiel:
"Tyrus hath said over Jerusalem, Aha, she is broken, the doors (januoe) of the peoples, she is brought over to me" (26:2).
Here also the subject treated of is the destruction of the church. By Tyrus are signified the knowledges (cognitiones) of truth and good, which are introductory truths; and by Jerusalem is signified the church as to the doctrine of truth. It is therefore evident why Jerusalem is here called the doors (januoe) of the peoples; also what is signified by Tyrus saying, "Aha, she is broken, the doors of the peoples; she is brought over to me, I shall be filled."
[12] Since, as said above, by doors (januoe) and by gates is signified admission, and, specifically, introductory truths are signified, which are truths from good from the Lord, it is evident what is signified by these in the following places. In David
"Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye doors (ostia) of the world, that the king of glory may come in" (Psalms 24:7, 9).
Again:
Recount the praises of Jehovah "in the gates of the daughter of Zion" (Psalms 9:14).
Again:
"Jehovah loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob" (Psalms 87:2).
By Zion and by the daughter of Zion is meant the celestial church. Again, in Isaiah:
"Thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; the God of the whole earth he is called. I will make thy windows of agates, and thy gates of carbuncles" (54:5, 12).
In Matthew:
The five prudent virgins entered into the marriage, "and the door (ostium) was shut," and the five foolish virgins came and knocked, but the door was not opened to them (25:10, 11, 12).
In Luke:
Jesus said "Strive to enter in at the strait gate (portam) for many will seek to enter in, and will not be able. When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door (januam), then shall ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door (januam), saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; but he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are" (13:24, 25).
In these two passages the state of man after death is treated of, that those who are in faith alone, and not in love, cannot be admitted into heaven, even although they should then desire it, and this in consequence of the nature of their faith. And this is what is signified by the door being shut, and their being refused admission when they knocked.
[13] Because gates signify introductory truths, therefore it was ordained among the statutes,
That the elders should sit at the gates and judge (Deuteronomy 21:19; 22:15-21; Amos. 5:12, 15; Zech. 8:16).
It was also therefore commanded, that "They should write the precepts upon the posts and gates" (Deuteronomy 6:8, 9).
And it was also among the statutes,
That the ear of the servant who was not willing to go out free in the seventh year, should be bored through at the door (januam) (Exodus 21:6; Deuteronomy 15:17).
By servants of the sons of Israel were signified those who were in truths and not in good; and by freemen, those who were in good and thence in truths. By the ear being bored through at the door was signified perpetual obedience and servitude, because they were not desirous to be introduced into good by means of truths; for those who are in truth and not in good, are perpetually in a servile state, not being in the spiritual affection of truth; for it is the affection of love that makes man free (as may be seen in Exodus 26:14, 36, 37; 38:18); also by the numerical measurements of the doors and gates of the house of God and of the temple in Ezekiel (40:6, 8-11, 13-15, 18, 19, 20, 24, 27, 28, 32, 35, 37; 41:1-3, 11, 17-20, 23-25; 42:2, 12, 15; 43:1-4; 44:1-3, 17; 46:1-3, 8, 12, 19; 47:1, 2; 48:31-34). He who knows what the particular numbers there mentioned signify, may know many arcana concerning those truths. Mention is also made of the gates of the house of Jehovah towards the north and towards the east, in the same prophet (8:3, 5; 10:19).
208. Behold I have given before thee an opened door, and no one is able to shut it, signifies that they will be admitted into heaven, and that to no one of such a quality will it be refused. This is evident from the signification of "giving an opened door," as being to admit into heaven (of which presently) and from the signification of "no one is able to shut," as being that it will not be refused; for when a door is shut entrance is refused, but when it is not shut it is not refused. This refers to those who are in charity, because they are treated of in what is written to this church (See above, n. 203). From this it is clear that "I have given before thee an opened door, and no one is able to shut it," signifies that all such will be admitted into heaven, and that to none of these will entrance be refused. It is indeed plain from the common use of language, that "to give an opened door" signifies to admit into heaven; and still this is from correspondence; for a house and all things pertaining to a house correspond to the interiors of man which are of his mind, and from that correspondence they also signify in the Word the things of the mind. That this is so can be seen from representatives and appearances in heaven, where there are palaces, houses, rooms, bed-chambers, hallways, courts, and within them a variety of things for uses; these things the angels have from correspondence; and for this reason the wiser angels have palaces more magnificent than the less wise have (but respecting these, see in The work on Heaven and Hell 183-190, where The Habitations of the angels of Heaven are treated of); and as palaces, houses, and all things pertaining to a house have a correspondence, so evidently do doorways, doors, and gates, which correspond to entrance and admission; and when the doorway appears open, it is a sign that there is opportunity to enter, and when it is closed, that there is no opportunity.
[2] Moreover, when newly arrived spirits are introduced into a heavenly society, the way that leads to it is opened to them by the Lord; and when they come thither there appears a gate with a door at the side, where there are guards who admit them, and afterwards there are others who receive and introduce them. From this it can now be seen what "doorways," "doors," and "gates," signify in the Word, namely, admission into heaven: and as the church is the Lord's heaven on earth, they also signify admission into the church; and as heaven or the church is within man, "doorways," "doors," and "gates" signify approach and entrance, with man (of which presently). And because all things that signify heaven and the church signify also the things of heaven and the church, and here the things that introduce, which are truths out of good from the Lord, and because these truths are from the Lord, and are therefore His, yea, are Himself in them, therefore "doorway," "door," and "gate" to heaven and the church, mean in the highest sense the Lord. From this is clear the signification of what the Lord says in John:
Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, he that entereth not through the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up another way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in through the door is the shepherd of the sheep; to him the porter openeth. I am the door of the sheep, through Me if anyone enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and go out, and find pasture (John 10:1-3, 7, 9).
Here "to enter in through the door" is evidently to enter in through the Lord, for it is said, "I am the door of the sheep." To enter in through the Lord is to approach Him, acknowledge Him, believe in Him, and love Him, as He teaches in many passages; thus is man admitted into heaven, and in no other way; consequently the Lord says, "Through Me if anyone enter in, he shall be saved;" also "he that climbeth up another way, the same is a thief and a robber."
[3] Therefore he that approaches the Lord, acknowledges Him, and believes in Him, is said to open the door to the Lord, that he may enter in. In Revelation:
Behold I stand at the door and knock; if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me (Revelation 3:20).
What this means will be told in what follows where this part of the chapter will be explained. Here something shall merely be said about doors or gates, in respect to man, since it is said, "I stand at the door and knock." To man's rational two ways lead, one from heaven, the other from the world. By the way from heaven good is introduced, by the way from the world truth is introduced. So far as the way from heaven is opened with man, so far he is affected by truth and becomes rational, that is, sees truth from the light of truth. But if the way from heaven is shut, man does not become rational; for he does not see truth, and yet it is truth from the light of truth that makes the rational; he can, indeed, reason about truth, and from reasoning or from memory can talk about it; but he is not able to see whether truth is truth.
To think well about the Lord and about the neighbor opens the way from heaven; while to think not well about the Lord and to think evil about the neighbor shuts that way. As there are two ways that lead into man, so there are two doorways or gates through which entrance is effected. Through the gate or doorway that is opened from heaven the spiritual affection of truth from the Lord enters, because through that door (as was said above), good enters, and all spiritual affection of truth is from good; but by the gate or doorway that is open from the world all knowledge from the Word and from preaching from the Word enters, since by this way truth enters (as was also said above), for the knowledges from the Word and from preaching therefrom are truths. The spiritual affection of truth joined with such knowledges constitutes man's rational, and enlightens it according to the quality of the truth conjoined to good, and according to the quality of the conjunction. Let these few words suffice respecting the two doorways or gates pertaining to man.
[4] As "doorways," "doors," and "gates," signify admission into heaven and into the church, they therefore also signify truths from good which are from the Lord, because by them admission is effected; as in the following passages.
In Isaiah:
Open ye the gates, that the righteous nations keeping faithfulness may enter in (Isaiah 26:2).
This means, in the sense of the letter, that they will admit those who are righteous and faithful into the cities; but in the internal sense, that they will admit them into the church; for "gates" signify admission; "a righteous nation" signifies those who are in good; "keeping faithfulness" signifies those who are in truths from good.
[5] In the same:
Thy gates shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day nor night, that the army of the nations may be brought unto Thee, and their kings shall be led; for the nation and kingdom that will not serve Thee shall perish. Thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise (175, and that "kings" signify those who are in truths n. 31.
[6] In the same:
Thus saith Jehovah to His anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; that I may loose the loins of kings, to open before him the doors that the gates may not be shut. And I will give thee the treasures of dark places, and hidden riches of secret places (Isaiah 45:1, 3).
This likewise treats of the Lord and of the church to be established by Him. "To open the doors that the gates may not be shut" signifies perpetual admission; "nations and kings" signify those who are in goods and truths, and in the abstract, goods and truths (as above); "treasures of dark places and hidden riches of secret places" signifies interior intelligence and wisdom from heaven, for the things that enter by the gate that is open from heaven (of which above) come in secretly and affect all things that are with man; from this comes the spiritual affection of truth, through which things before unknown are revealed.
[7] In Jeremiah:
If ye bring in no burden through the gates of this city on the Sabbath day, but hallow the Sabbath day, then shall there enter in by the gates of this city kings and princes, sitting upon the throne of David, riding upon the chariot and on horses, and the city shall be inhabited to eternity (Arcana Coelestia 8494, 8495, 8510, 10356, 10360, 10367, 10370, 10374, 10668, 10730. That "Jerusalem" signifies the church, see n. 402, 3654, 9166. That "burden" or "work" on the Sabbath day signifies not to be led by the Lord but by one's own [proprium], n. 7893, 8495, 10360, 10362, 10365. That "kings and princes" signify those who are in Divine truths, and in the abstract, Divine truths, see above 29, 31. That "chariot" signifies the doctrine of truth, and "horses" the intellectual, see in the small work concerning The White Horse 1-5.)
[8] In Revelation:
The New Jerusalem, having a wall great and high, and twelve gates, and upon the gates twelve angels, and names inscribed, which are the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. The twelve gates were twelve pearls. The gates shall not be shut (Arcana Coelestia 577, 2089, 2129, 2130, 3272, 3858, 3913; in like manner "angels," see above, n. 130, 200; likewise the "twelve tribes of Israel," n. 3858, 3926, 4060, 6335; and likewise "pearls.")
[9] In Jeremiah:
Out of the north an evil shall be opened, that they may come and set every man his throne at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem, and against all its walls round about, because they have forsaken Me (Jeremiah 1:14-16).
This treats of the destruction of the church; the "north," signifies falsity from which is evil; "to come and set every man his throne at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem" is to destroy truths introductory to the church by means of falsities; "and against all the walls" means to destroy all protecting truths.
[10] In Isaiah:
Howl, O gate; cry, O city; thou whole Philistia art dissolved, for from the north cometh smoke (119), and these truths cover and protect that love.
[11] In the same:
The remnant in the city is a waste, and the gate is beaten 1even to devastation (Isaiah 24:12).
In Jeremiah:
Judah hath mourned, and the gates thereof have been made to languish (Jeremiah 14:2).
In the book of Judges:
The villages have ceased in Israel; he hath chosen new gods; there was fighting at the gates (Judges 5:7-8).
In Ezekiel:
Tyre hath said about Jerusalem, Aha, she is broken, the doors of the peoples; she is brought around unto me (Ezekiel 26:2).
Here also the destruction of the church is treated of; "Tyre" signifies the knowledges of truth and good, which are introductory truths; and "Jerusalem" the church in respect to the doctrine of truth; this shows why Jerusalem is here called the "doors of the people;" also what this signifies, "Tyre says, Aha, Jerusalem is broken, the doors of the people; she is brought around unto me, I shall be filled."
[12] Since, as was said above, "doors" and "gates" signify admission, and in particular, introductory truths, which are truths from good from the Lord, it is clear what "doors" and "gates" signify in the following passage. In David:
Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lifted up, ye everlasting portals, that the King of glory may come in (Psalms 24:7, 9).
In the same:
Recount the praises of Jehovah in the gates of the daughter of Zion (Psalms 9:14).
In the same:
Jehovah loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob (Psalms 87:2).
By "Zion" and "the daughter of Zion" the celestial church is meant.
In Isaiah:
Thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; the God of the whole earth he is called. I will make thy windows 2of rubies, and thy gates of carbuncles (Isaiah 54:5, 12).
In Matthew:
The five prudent virgins went into the marriage feast, and the door was shut; and the five foolish virgins came and knocked, but the door was not opened to them (Matthew 25:10-12).
In Luke:
Jesus said, strive to enter in through the narrow gate; for many shall seek to enter in, and shall not be able. When once the Master of the house is risen up and hath shut to the door, then shall ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and He shall answer and say, I know you not whence you are (Luke 13:24-25).
These two passages treat of the state of man after death, showing that those who are in faith and not in love cannot then be admitted into heaven, although they may wish to be admitted because they have so believed; this is meant by the "door's being shut," and they knocked but were rejected.
[13] Because "gates" signify introductory truths, therefore it was among the statutes:
That the elders should sit at the gates and judge (Deuteronomy 21:19; 22:15, 21; Amos 5:12, 15; Zechariah 8:16);
therefore it was also commanded:
That they should write the commandments upon the posts and gates (Deuteronomy 6:8-9);
and therefore it was likewise among the statutes:
That the ear of the servant who was not willing to go out free in the seventh year should be bored through at the door (Exodus 21:6; Deuteronomy 15:17).
"Servants" from the sons of Israel signified those who were in truths and not in good; and "freemen" those who are in good and in truths therefrom. That "the ear should be bored through at the door" signified perpetual obedience and servitude, since he was not willing to be introduced by means of truths into good; for those who are in truths and this not from good, are perpetually in a servile state, because they are not in the spiritual affection of truth; and yet it is the affection which is of the love that makes man free (See in Exodus 26:14, 36, 37; 38:18, 19); also by the measurements in numbers of the entrances and gates of the house of God and of the temple (in Ezekiel 40:6, 8-11, 40:13-15, 18-20, 24, 27, 28, 32, 35, 37; 41:1-3, 11, 17-20, 23-25; 42:2, 12, 15; 43:1-4; 44:1-3, 17; 46:1-3, 8, 12, 19; 47:1, 2; 48:31-34). He who knows what these particular numbers signify, may know many arcana respecting these truths. The gates of the house of Jehovah towards the north and towards the east are also spoken of in the same prophet (Ezekiel 8:3-4, 10:19).
Footnotes:
1. Latin has "is beaten"; the Hebrew "shall be beaten," as found in Apocalypse Explained 223, 919.
2. The Latin has "windows"; the Hebrew "suns," as found in Arcana Coelestia 655; Apocalypse Explained 401.
208. "Ecce dedi coram te ostium apertum, et nemo potest claudere illud" - Quod significet quod intromittentur in caelum, et quod nemini qui talis negabitur, constat ex significatione "dare ostium apertum", quod sit intromittere in caelum (de qua sequitur); et ex significatione "nemo potest claudere", quod sit quod non negabitur, nam cum ostium clauditur, negatur introitus, et cum non clauditur, non negatur; quod sit illis qui in charitate sunt, est quia de illis in scriptis ad hanc Ecclesiam agitur (videatur supra, n. 203): inde patet quod per "Dedi coram te ostium apertum, et nemo potest claudere illud", significetur quod omnes tales intromittentur in caelum, et quod nemini eorum negabitur.
Quod "dare ostium apertum" significet intromittere in caelum, quidem constat ex communi sermone; sed tamen usque est ex correspondentia, nam domus et omnia domus correspondent interioribus hominis quae sunt mentis ejus, et ex correspondentia illa etiam significant talia in Verbo. Quod ita sit, constare potest a repraesentativis et apparentiis in caelo: ibi sunt palatia, domus, conclavia, cubicula, vestibula, atria, et intus in illis varia ad usus; haec sunt angelis ex correspondentia; inde est quod angelis sapientioribus sint palatia magnificentiora quam angelis minus sapientibus; (sed de his videatur in opere De Caelo et Inferno 183-190, ubi actum est De Habitationibus Angelorum Caeli;) et quia palatia, domus et omnia domus correspondent, patet quod etiam januae, ostia et portae, et quod hae correspondeant introitui et intromissioni; etiam cum janua patet aperta, indicium est quod copia ingrediendi sit, et quando clausa quod non copia.
[2] Praeterea cum novitii spiritus introducuntur in societatem caelestem, aperitur illis a Domino via quae ad illam ducit; et cum illuc veniunt, apparet porta cum ostio ad latus ubi custodes, qui illum intromittunt, et alii dein qui recipiunt et introducunt. Ex his nunc constare potest quid in Verbo significant "ostia" et "portae", quod nempe intromissionem in caelum; et quia ecclesia est caelum Domini in terris, etiam significant intromissionem in ecclesiam; et quia caelum aut ecclesia est in homine, ideo etiam "januae", "ostia", "portae" significant aditum et introitum apud hominem (de quo mox aliquid dicetur); et quia omnia quae significant caelum et ecclesiam etiam significant illa quae caeli et ecclesiae sunt, hic illa quae introducunt, quae sunt vera ex bono quae a Domino, et quia illa sunt a Domino et inde sunt Ipsius, immo Ipse in illis, ideo per "januam", "ostium" et "portam" ad caelum et ad ecclesiam, in supremo sensu intelligitur Dominus. Inde patet quid significat quod Dominus dicit apud Johannem:
Jesus dixit, "Amen dico vobis, qui non ingreditur per januam in caulam ovium, sed ascendit aliunde, is est fur et latro; qui Vero ingreditur per januam, is est pastor ovium; huic ostiarius aperit... Ego sum ostium ovium;... per Me si quis introiverit, salvabitur, et ingredietur et egredietur, et pascuum inveniet" (10:1-3, 7, 9);
quod "ingredi per ostium" hic sit ingredi per Dominum, patet, nam dicitur, "Ego sum ostium ovium"; ingredi per Dominum est Ipsum adire, Ipsum agnoscere, in Ipsum credere, et Ipsum amare, sicut Ipse pluribus in locis docet: sic homo intromittitur in caelum, et non aliter; quare dicit, "Per Me si quis introiverit, salvabitur", et "Qui ascendit aliunde, is est fur et latro."
[3] Qui itaque Dominum adit, Ipsum agnoscit, et in Ipsum credit, is dicitur aperire ostium Domino, ut ingrediatur, in Apocalypsi:
"Ecce sto ad ostium et pulso; si quis audi" erit vocem meam, et aperuerit ostium, ingrediar ad illum, cenabo cum illo, et ille Mecum" (3:20);
quomodo haec se habent, dicetur in sequentibus, ubi de illis in hoc capite agitur; hic modo aliquid dicetur de ostiis seu portis ad hominem, quia dicitur "Sto ad ostium et pulso." Ad rationale hominis binae viae ducunt, una e caelo et altera e mundo. Per viam e caelo introducitur bonum, per viam e mundo introducitur verum. Quantum via e caelo aperta est apud hominem tantum homo afficitur vero et fit rationalis, hoc est, tantum videt verum a luce veri: si autem via e caelo clausa est, homo non rationalis fit; nam non videt verum, et tamen verum ex luce veri facit rationale: ratiocinari quidem potest de vero, et ex ratiocinatione aut ex memoria loqui de illo; sed videre num verum sit, non potest. Cogitare bene de Domino et de proximo aperit viam e caelo, at cogitare non bene de Domino ac male de proximo claudit illam. Quia binae viae in hominem ducunt, etiam binae januae seu portae sunt per quas fit intromissio: per portam seu januam quae patet e caelo, intrat affectio veri spiritualis a Domino, quia per illam intrat bonum, ut supra dictum est, et omnis affectio veri spiritualis est a bono; per portam autem seu januam quae patet e mundo, intrat omnis cognitio e Verbo et ex praedicatione inde, quia per illam intrat verum, ut etiam supra dictum est; nam cognitiones e Verbo et ex praedicatione inde sunt vera. Affectio veri spiritualis adjuncta cognitionibus illis facit rationale hominis, ac illustrat illud secundum quale veri conjuncti bono, et secundum quale conjunctionis. Haec pauca de binis januis seu portis ad hominem dicta sunto.
[4] Quoniam "januae", "ostia" et "portae" significant intromissionem in caelum et in ecclesiam, ideo etiam significant vera ex bono quae a Domino, quia per illa fit intromissio, ut in sequentibus his locis:
- Apud Esaiam,
"Aperite portas ut ingrediatur gens justa custodiens fidelitates (26:2);
secundum sensum litterae est quod admissuri in urbes illos qui justi et fideles sunt, at secundum sensum internum ut in ecclesiam, "portae" enim significant admissionem; "gens justa" significat illos qui in bono, "custodiens fidelitates" significat qui inde in veris.
[5] Apud eundem,
"Aperient portas tuas jugiter, interdiu et noctu non claudentur, ad adducendum ad Te exercitum gentium, et reges earum deducentur; ac gens aut regnum quae non servirent Tibi peribunt:... vocabis salutem muros tuos, et portas tuas laudem" (60:11, 12, 18);
agitur ibi de Domino, et de ecclesia ab Ipso instauranda; et per illa describitur admissio perpetua illorum qui in bono et inde veris sunt: per quod "portae aperientur jugiter et non claudentur interdiu et noctu" significatur admissio perpetua, per "exercitum gentium" significantur illi qui in bono sunt, et per "reges" illi qui in veris; et quod omnes servituri Domino intelligitur per quod "gens et regnum quae non servirent Tibi perituri sint"; quod "gens" seu "gentes" significent illos qui in bono sunt, videatur supra (n. 175(a)) ; et quod "reges" illos qui in veris (n. 31).
[6] Apud eundem,
"Sic dixit Jehovah Uncto suo, Korescho, cujus apprehendi dextram, ad subjiciendum coram Eo gentes, ut lumbos regum solvam; ad aperiendum coram Illo januas, ut portae non claudantur:... et dabo thesauros latebrarum et occultas opes latibulorum" (45:1, 3);
similiter hic agitur de Domino et de ecclesia ab Ipso instauranda; per "aperire januas ut portae non claudantur", significatur perpetua admissio; per "gentes" et "reges" significantur illi qui in bonis et in veris sunt, et abstracte bona et vera (ut supra); per "thesauros tenebrarum et occultas opes latibulorum" significatur intelligentia et sapientia interior e caelo, nam quae intrant per portam quae patet e caelo (de qua supra) illa occulto veniunt et afficiunt omnia quae apud hominem sunt; unde affectio veri spiritualis, per quam incognita prius revelantur.
[7] Apud Jeremiam,
"Si non introducitis onus per portas urbis hujus in die Sabbati, et ut sanctificetis diem Sabbati, ... tunc intrabunt per portas urbis hujus reges et principes, sedentes super throno Davidis, equitantes super curru et super equis, ... et habitabitur urbs in aeternum" (17:24, 25);
quid in sensu litterae per illa intelligitur quisque videt; attamen sciri potest quod sanctius insit quia est Verbum, et omne quod in Verbo est continet talia quae caeli et ecclesiae sunt, et haec sola sunt sancta; sanctum quod intelligitur, ex sensu interno noscitur: per "diem Sabbati" in eo sensu intelligitur conjunctio Divini Humani Domini cum caelo et ecclesia; per "urbem", quae ibi est Hierosolyma, intelligitur ecclesia; per "non introducere onus per portas urbis illius", intelligitur non admittere id quod ex proprio hominis est, sed quod a Domino; per "reges et principes, qui tunc intrabunt per portas urbis", intelliguntur Divina vera quae tunc illis; per "sedentes super throno Davidis", intelliguntur illa ex Domino; per "equitantes super curru et super equis", intelligitur quod inde in doctrina veri et in intelligentia; per "habitari in aeternum", intelligitur vita et salus aeterna. (Quod per "Sabbatum" significetur conjunctio Divini Humani Domini cum caelo et ecclesia, videatur n. 8494, 8495, 8510, 10356, 10360, 10367, 10370, 10374, 10668, 10730. Quod per "Hierosolymam" ecclesia, n. 402, 3654, 9166. Quod per "onus" aut "opus" die Sabbati significetur non duci a Domino sed a proprio, n. 1
7893, 8495, 10360, 10362, 10365. Quod per "reges et principes" significantur illi qui in Divinis veris, et abstracte Divina vera, supra, n. 29, 31. Quod per "currum" doctrina veri, et per "equos" intellectuale, in opusculo De Equo Albo 1-5.)
[8] In Apocalypsi,
Nova Hierosolyma "habens murum magnum et altum, portas duodecim, super portis angelos duodecim, nomina scripta quae sunt duodecim tribuum [filiorum] Israelis;... duodecim portae duodecim margaritae;... portae non claudentur" ( 2
quod "portae" significent Divina vera intromittentia in novam ecclesiam, ita illos qui in veris a bono sunt ex Domino, constare potest ab explicatione horum in opusculo De Nova Hierosolyma (n. 1, seq.); quod etiam patet ex eo, quod dicatur quod "duodecim portae 3
essent", quod "duodecim angeli super portis, et nomina duodecim tribuum ibi scripta", et quod "duodecim portae essent duodecim margaritae." (Per "duodecim" enim significantur omnia, et praedicantur de veris ex bono, n. 577, 2089, 2129, 2130, 3272, 3858, 3913; similiter per "angelos", videatur supra, n. 130 [b] , 200; similiter per "duodecim tribus Israelis", n. 3858, 3926, 4060, 6335; et similiter per "margaritas.")
[9] Apud Jeremiam,
"A septentrione aperietur malum, ... ut veniant dentque (vir) thronum suum ad ostium portarum Hierosolymae, et ad omnes muros ejus circumquaque, ... quia deseruerunt Me" ( 4
1:14-16);
agitur ibi de destructione ecclesiae; "septentrio" significat falsum, hic falsum ex quo malum; "Venire et dare thronos ad ostium portarum Hierosolymae", est destruere vera introducentia in ecclesiam per falsa; "et ad omnes muros ejus", est quoque omnia vera tutantia.
[10] Apud 5
Esaiam,
"Ejula porta, clama urbs, liquefacta est Philisthaea tu tota, quia a Septentrione fumus venit" (15:4 [B.A. 14:31]);
apud 6
eundem,
"Selectio vallium tuarum impletae sunt curru, et equites ponendo posuerunt usque ad portam, denudavit tegumentum Jehudae" (22:7, 8);
in his locis etiam agitur de destructione ecclesiae, et per "portas" ibi significantur vera intromittentia, quae destructa; illa vera vocantur "tegumenta Jehudae", quia per "Jehudam" significatur amor caelestis (videatur supra, n. 119), ac vera illa tegunt et protegunt illum.
[11] Apud eundem,
"Reliquum in urbe vastitas, et usque ad devastationem 7
contundetur porta" (24:12);
apud Jeremiam,
"Luxit Jehudah, et portae ejus languescentes factae sunt" (14:2);
in Libro Judicum,
"Cessarunt Vici in Israel, ... elegit deos novos, tum oppugnare portas" (5:7, 8);
apud Ezechielem,
"Dixit Tyrus super Hierosolymam, Euge fracta est, januae populorum, traducta est ad me" (26:2):
in his etiam agitur de destructione ecclesiae; per "Tyrum" significantur cognitiones veri et boni, quae sunt vera introducentia, et per "Hierosolymam" ecclesia quoad doctrinam veri; inde patet cur Hierosolyma hic dicatur "januae populorum", et quid significat quod Tyrus dicat, "Euge fracta est" Hierosolyma, "januae populorum, traducta est ad me, implebor."
[12] Quoniam, ut supra dictum est, per "januas" et "portas" significatur intromissio, et in specie significantur vera intromittentia, quae sunt vera ex bono a Domino, inde patet quid per "januas" et "portas" in sequentibus his locis significatur:
- Apud Davidem,
"Attollite portae capita vestra, et attollite ostia mundi, ut ingrediatur Rex gloriae" (Psalms 24:7, 9);
apud eundem,
Enumerate laudes Jehovae "in portis filiae Zionis" (Psalms 9:15 [B.A. 14]);
apud eundem,
"Amat Jehovah portas Zionis prae omnibus habitaculis Jacobi" (Psalms 87:2);
per "Zionem" et per "filiam Zionis" intelligitur ecclesia caelestis:
apud Esaiam,
"Redemptor tuus, Sanctus Israelis, Deus totius terrae vocatur;... ponam pyropum 8
fenestras tuas, et portas tuas in lapides carbunculi" (54:5, 12);
apud Matthaeum,
Ingressae sunt quinque Virgines prudentes ad nuptias, "et ostium clausum est"; et venerunt quinque virgines stultae et pulsarunt, sed non aperiebatur illis (25:10-11);
apud Lucam,
Jesus dixit, "Certate intrare per angustam portam, quia multi quaerent intrare, et non poterunt; ex quo surrexerit Paterfamilias et occluserit januam, tunc incipietis foris stare, et pulsare januam, dicentes, Domine, Domine, aperi nobis; sed respondens dicet, Non novi vos unde sitis" (13:24, 25);
in binis his locis agitur de statu hominis post mortem, quod tunc qui in fide sunt et non in amore non possint in caelum intromitti, tametsi volunt quia ita crediderunt; hoc significatur per quod "occlusa sit janua", et quod pulsaverint at rejecti.
[13] Quia "portae" significabant vera intromittentia, ideo in statutis fuit
Quod seniores sederent ad portas et judicarent (Deuteronomius 21:19; 22:15, 21; Amos 5:12, 15; Sacharia 8:16);
et ideo mandatum est
Ut scriberentur praecepta super postes et portas (Deuteronomius 6:8, 9);
ac ideo quoque inter statuta erat
Quod auris servi, qui non volebat exire liber septimo anno, perforaretur ad januam (Exod. 21:6 9
per "servos" ex filiis Israelis significabantur qui in veris erant et non in bono, et per "liberos" qui in bono et inde in veris; quod "auris perforaretur ad januam" significabat perpetuam obedientiam et servitutem, quoniam per vera non intromitti in bonum vellet; nam qui in veris sunt et non a bono, illi perpetuo in statu servo sunt, non enim in affectione veri spirituali sunt, et tamen affectio quae amoris facit hominem liberum (videatur in Doctrina Novae Hierosolymae, n. 141-149). Praeterea vera introducentia quoad quale eorum describuntur per tegumentum ostii Tentorii, et per tegumentum ostii Tabernaculi ( 10
Exod 26:14, 36, 37; 38:18, 19); et per mensuras in numeris ostiorum et portarum Domus Dei et Templi apud Ezechielem (Cap. 40:6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 18, 19, 20, 24, 27, 28, 32, 35, 37; 41:1, 2, 3, 11, 17, 18, 19, 20, 23, 24, 25; 42:2, 12, 15; cap. 43:1, 2, 3, 4; 44:1, 2, 3, 17; 46:1, 2, 3, 8, 12, 19; 47:1, 2; 48:31, 32, 33, 34); qui scit quid singuli numeri ibi significant, scire potest plura arcana de illis veris. Memorantur etiam portae Domus Jehovae versus septentrionem et versus orientem apud eundem Prophetam (cap. 8:3, 4; 10:19).
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