533、“有一个妇人，身披日头，脚踏月亮”表示主在天堂里的新教会，也就是新天堂，以及主即将在地上的新教会，也就是新耶路撒冷。这个“妇人”表示主的新教会，这一点从按灵义来理解的本章的细节明显可知；在圣言的其它部分，“妇人”也表示教会(可参看AR 434节)；所表示的，是教会，因为教会被称为主的新妇和妻子。妇人之所以被看到“身披日头”，是因为教会处于对主之爱，教会承认主，并遵行祂的诫命，这就是爱祂(约翰福音14:21-24)。“日头”表示爱(参看AR 53节)。“月亮”之所以被看到在那妇人脚下，是因为所指的，是地上的教会，它还没有与天堂里的教会结合。“月亮”表示属世人里面的聪明，也表示信仰(AR 413节)；被看到在“脚下”表示教会即将在地上；否则，“脚”就表示当被结合时的教会本身。
要知道，天堂里有一个教会，和地上一样，因为那里也有圣言；还有圣殿，殿里有讲道，又有事工和祭司职分。事实上，那里的所有天使都曾是人，他们的离世只是其生命的延续；因此，他们也在爱和智慧上被完善，各人照着各人离世时所带来的对真理和良善的情感的程度而被完善。“身披日头，头戴十二星冠冕的妇人”在此是指他们当中的教会；但由于天堂里的教会无法持续存在，除非地上也有一个教会，该教会处于和谐一致的爱和智慧，并且即将到来，所以“月亮”被看到“在妇人脚下”，这“月亮”在此尤其信仰，通过这信仰，就是诸如像当今这样的信仰，是没有结合的。
天堂里的教会之所以无法持续存在，除非地上的教会与它结合，是因为天使所在的天堂和世人所在的教会就像人的内在和外在一样行如一体；人的内在无法持续存在于自己的状态中，除非外在与它结合。事实上，没有外在的内在就像没有地基的房子，或像在地面上，而不是在地里面的种子，因而像无根之物；总之，就像一个原因没有一个使它可以存在于其中的结果。由此可见，在世界的某个地方有一个教会，那里有圣言，并通过圣言认识主，是多么绝对必要。
533. A woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet. This symbolizes the Lord's New Church in heaven, which is the New Heaven, and the New Church to come on earth, which is the New Jerusalem.
That the woman here symbolizes the Lord's New Church is clear from the particulars in this chapter, understood in their spiritual meaning. To be shown that a woman elsewhere in the Word also symbolizes the church, see no. 434. A woman symbolizes the church because the church is called the Lord's bride and wife.
The woman here appeared clothed with the sun because the church is governed by love toward the Lord; for it acknowledges Him and keeps His commandments, and that is loving Him (John 14:21-24). That the sun symbolizes love may be seen in no. 53.
The moon appeared under the woman's feet because it means the church on earth, which was not yet conjoined with the church in heaven. The moon symbolizes the intelligence in a natural person, and faith (no. 413). And its being seen under the woman's feet means, symbolically, that it was a church to come on earth. Feet otherwise symbolize that same church after it has been conjoined.
[2] It should be known that the church exists in heaven just as on earth. For the Word is found there, and churches, and the preaching of sermons in them. Clerical and priestly orders exist there. For all the angels there were once people, and their departure from the world was for them but a continuation of life. Consequently they are perfected in love and wisdom, each one according to the degree of the affection for truth and goodness that he brought with him from the world.
The church among these is the church meant by the woman clothed with the sun, having on her head a crown of twelve stars. But because the church in heaven does not continue in existence unless there is also a church on earth that possesses an accordant love and wisdom, and this was yet to come, therefore the moon was seen under the woman's feet, which in particular here symbolizes faith, a faith which, as it exists today, is not a means of conjunction.
[3] The church in heaven does not continue in existence unless it is conjoined with a church on earth, because heaven where angels are, and the church where people are, function together, like the internal and external components in a person; and the internal component in a person does not continue in its proper condition unless the external component is joined to it. For the internal component without the external one is like a house without a foundation, or like seed on top of the ground and not in the ground, thus like something without a root - in a word, like a cause without an effect in which to abide.
It can be seen from this that it is an absolute necessity that a church exist somewhere in the world which has the Word and where the Lord is consequently known.
533. 'A woman encompassed with the sun, and the moon under her feet' signifies the Lord's New Church in the heavens, which is the New Heaven, and the Lord's New Church about to exist on earth, which is the New Jerusalem. That the Lord's New Church is signified by this 'woman' is established from the several things (ex singulis) in this chapter understood in the spiritual sense. It may be seen that by 'a woman' the Church is also signified elsewhere in the Word (434); and the Church is signified because the Church is called the Bride and Wife of the Lord. She was seen 'encompassed with the sun' because the Church is in love directed to the Lord, for it acknowledges Him and does His commandments, which is to love Him (John 14:21-24). That 'the sun' signifies love may be seen (53). 'The moon' was seen 'under the woman's feet' because the Church on earth (in terris) that has not yet been conjoined to the Church in the heavens is understood. By 'the moon' is understood intelligence in the natural man and faith (413); and by being seen 'under the feet' is signified that it is about to exist on earths; otherwise by 'the feet' is signified that Church itself, when it has been conjoined.
[2] It should be known that there is a Church in the heavens as well as on earth, for the Word is there, temples are there, and in them preaching, and there are ministries and priesthoods there. For there all the angels have been men, and their departure out of the world was to them only a continuation of life. Therefore also they are being perfected in love and wisdom, each in accordance with the degree of affection of truth and good that they have taken with them out of the world. The Church with them is understood here by the 'woman encompassed with the sun,' upon whose head was 'a crown of twelve stars.' Because, however, the Church in the heavens does not continue in existence unless there is also a Church on earth which is in concordant love and wisdom, and this is about to exist, therefore 'the moon' was seen 'under the woman's feet.' By this is here specifically signified the faith through which, as at present, there is no conjunction.
[3] The reason why the Church in the heavens does not continue in existence unless the Church on earth has been conjoined to it is because heaven where angels are and the Church where men are act as one, just as the internal and external with a man; and the internal with a man does not continue to exist in its own state unless the external is conjoined to it. For the internal without the external is like a house without a foundation, or like a seed on top of the ground and not in the ground, thus like something without a root, in a word, like a cause without an effect in which it may exist. From these considerations it can be seen that there is an absolute necessity that somewhere in the world there should be a Church, where the Word is, through which the Lord is known.
533. A woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, signifies the Lord's New Church in the heavens, which is the New Heaven, and the Lord's New Church about to be upon earth, which is the New Jerusalem. That the Lord's New Church is signified by this "woman," is evident from the particulars in this chapter understood in the spiritual sense; that by "a woman," in other parts of the Word also, the church is signified, may be seen, (434); and the church is signified, because the church is called the Bride and Wife of the Lord. The reason why she was seen "clothed with the sun," is because the church is in love to the Lord, for it acknowledges Him and does His commandments, and this is to love Him, (John 14:21-24). That "the sun" signifies love (see 53). The reason why "the moon" was seen under the woman's feet is because the church on earth, which is not yet conjoined with the church in the heavens, is meant. By "the moon" is signified intelligence in the natural man, and faith, (423); and by being seen "under the feet," is signified that it is about to be upon earth; otherwise by "feet" is signified the church itself when it is conjoined.
[2] It is to be known, that there is a church in the heavens as well as on earth, for there also is the Word; there are temples also, and preachings in them, and there are ministerial and priestly offices. For all angels there were men, and their departure out of the world was only a continuation of their life; therefore they are also perfected in love and wisdom, everyone according to the degree of the affection of truth and good which he took with him out of the world. The church among them is here meant by "the woman clothed with the sun," who had upon her head a crown of twelve stars;" but because the church in the heavens cannot subsist, except there be also a church on earth, which is in concordant love and wisdom, and as this was about to be, therefore "the moon was seen under the feet of the woman," which here specifically signifies faith, by which, such as it is at this day, there is no conjunction.
[3] The reason why the church cannot subsist in the heavens unless there is a church on earth in conjunction with it, is because heaven where angels are, and the church where men are, act as one, like the internal and the external with man; and the internal with man cannot subsist with its state, unless an external be conjoined with it; for an internal without an external is like a house without a foundation, or like seed upon the ground and not in the ground, thus like anything without a root; in a word, like a cause without an effect in which it may exist. From these things, it may be seen how absolutely necessary it is that there should be a church somewhere in the world, where the Word is, and where by it the Lord is known.
533. "Mulier circumdata Sole et Luna sub pedibus ejus," significat Nam Ecclesiam Domini in Caelis, quae est Novum Caelum, et Novam Ecclesiam Domini futuram in Terris, quae est Nova Hierosolyma. - Quod Nova Ecclesia Domini per "Mulierem" hanc significetur, constat ex singulis in hoc capite in Sensu spirituali intellectis; quod per "Mulierem" etiam alibi in Verbo significetur Ecclesia, videatur (434); et significatur Ecclesia, quia Ecclesia vocatur Sponsa et Uxor Domini per quod visa sit "circumdata Sole," est quia in amore in Dominum est; agnoscit enim Ipsum, et facit praecepta Ipsius, et hoc est amare Ipsum, (Johannes 14:21-24); quod "Sol" significet amorem, videatur (53); quod "Luna" visa sit sub pedibus Mulieris, est quia Ecclesia in terris, quae nondum conjuncta est Ecclesiae in Caelis, intelligitur; per "Lunam" significatur intelligentia in naturali homine et fides (413); 1et per videri "sub pedibus" significatur quod futura in terris; alioquin, per "pedes" significatur ipsa illa Ecclesia, dum conjuncta est.
Sciendum est, quod in Caelis aeque sit Ecclesia ac in terris, est enim ibi Verbum, sunt ibi templa, et in illis praedicationes, sunt ibi ministeria et sarcerdotia; omnes enim angeli ibi fuerunt homines, et ibi obitus illorum e mundo fuit illis modo continuatio vitae; quare etiam perficiuntur amore et sapientia, quisque secundum gradum affectionis veri et boni quem secum e mundo tulerunt. Ecclesia apud illos intelligitur hic per "Mulierem circumdatam Sole," et cui "super capite erat corona stellarum duodecim;" at quia Ecclesia in Caelis non subsistit, nisi etiam Ecclesia in terris sit, quae in concorde amore et sapientia sit, et haec futura est, ideo "visa est sub pedibus Mulieris luna," per quam hic in specie significatur fides, per quam, qualis est hodie, non datur conjunctio. Quod non subsistat Ecclesia in Caelis, nisi ei conjuncta sit Ecclesia in terris, est quia Caelum ubi angeli, et Ecclesia ubi homines, unum agunt, sicut internum et externum apud hominem, ac internum apud hominem in suo statu non subsistit nisi externum ei conjungatur; internum enim absque externo est sicut domus absque fundamento, aut sicut semen supra humum et non in humo, ita sicut aliquid absque radice, verbo, sicut causa absque effectu in quo sit: ex his videri potest, quod absoluta necessitas sit, ut in mundo alicubi sit Ecclesia, ubi Verbum est, et per id Dominus notus est.
Footnotes:
1. 413 pro "423"