217# 一、启示录中构成新耶路撒冷根基的宝石，意指圣言字义中的真理（启21:17—21）。
上文（第209节）已述，在灵性世界中亦有宝石，正如自然世界中有宝石一样；并且这些宝石的属灵本源，乃出于圣言字义中的真理。此事虽似难信，然而确为真理。因此，凡圣言中提及宝石之处，在灵义中皆被理解为真理。至于那环绕新耶路撒冷城之城墙的根基，据称由宝石所建，借此所表义的是新教会教义的真理；其理由在于，“新耶路撒冷”被理解为就其出自圣言之教义而言的新教会。因此，由其“城墙”及“城墙的根基”所能理解的，不能是别的，只能是圣言的外在，即其字义；因为教义由此而来，教会又由教义而成；而这字义如同有根基的城墙，围护并保卫城邑。论新耶路撒冷及其根基，启示录中有如下记载：
“又量了城墙，按着人的尺寸，就是天使的尺寸，共有一百四十四肘。”……“城墙有十二根基”，“城墙的根基是用各样宝石修饰的：第一根基是碧玉，第二是蓝宝石，第三是绿玛瑙，第四是绿宝石，第五是红玛瑙，第六是红宝石，第七是黄璧玺，第八是水苍玉，第九是红璧玺，第十是翡翠，第十一是紫玛瑙，第十二是紫晶。”（启21:14，17—20）
城墙的十二根基由同数目的宝石构成，其原因在于，“十二”这个数字表义由良善而来的一切真理；故在此表示教义的一切真理。但这些事，以及该章中前后各项，已在我们所著启示录阐释中逐一解释，并由先知圣言中的相应经文加以证实，可参见该书。
217# （1）构成新耶路撒冷根基的宝石（启示录21:17-21）是指圣言字义的真理。前面提到（TCR 209节），宝石存在于灵界中，就像存在于自然界中一样，它们的属灵起源是圣言字义的真理。这一点看似难以置信，但却是真的。这就是为何圣言经常提到宝石，又为何它们在灵义上是指真理。由此可推知，经上所说建造新耶路撒冷城墙根基的“宝石”表示新教会的教义真理，因为“新耶路撒冷”是指在来自圣言的教义方面的新教会；因此，它的“城墙”和城墙的“根基”只能是指圣言的外在，即字义；因为字义是教义的源头，并通过教义而是教会的源头，或说教义从字义中存在，教会通过教义从字义中存在；而圣言的外在就像围绕并保护一座城的城墙及其根基。关于新耶路撒冷及其根基，我们在启示录中读到：
天使量了新耶路撒冷的城墙，按着人的尺寸，就是天使的尺寸，共有一百四十四肘。城墙有十二根基，是用各样宝石修饰的。第一根基是碧玉，第二是蓝宝石，第三是绿玛瑙，第四是绿宝石，第五是红玛瑙，第六是红宝石，第七是橄榄石，第八是水苍玉，第九是黄玉，第十是绿玉髓，第十一是风信子石，第十二是紫晶。（启示录21:14，17-20）
这城墙有十二根基，并且这十二根基由同样多种宝石形成，是因为数字“十二”表示来自良善的真理的一切，因而在此表示教义的一切。不过，我们的《揭秘启示录》一书详细解释，并通过圣言先知书的相应经文证实了这段经文，以及本章中的前后经文，可参看这本书。
217. 1. The precious stones that constituted the foundations of the New Jerusalem () mean the truths in the Word's literal meaning. In 209 above I mentioned that precious stones exist in the spiritual world just as they do in the physical world; their spiritual origin is the truths in the Word's literal meaning. This seems unbelievable, but it is nevertheless the truth. As a result, whenever precious stones are named in the Word, in the spiritual meaning they stand for truths. We are told that the foundations of the wall around the city, the New Jerusalem, were constructed of precious stones. These stones mean the true teachings in the new church, since the New Jerusalem means the new church in relation to its teachings from the Word. Its wall and the foundations of its wall, then, can have no other meaning than the outside of the Word, its literal meaning. The literal meaning is the source of what is taught; and through its teachings the literal meaning is the source of the church. It is like a wall with foundations that surrounds and protects a city.
We read the following statements in the Book of Revelation about the New Jerusalem and its foundations:
The angel measured the wall of the city of Jerusalem at 144 cubits, which was the measure of a human being, that is, of an angel. The wall had twelve foundations adorned with every precious stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sard, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. (Revelation 21:17-20)
The twelve foundations of the wall were made of the same number of precious stones because the number twelve means everything true that comes from something good; therefore it also means all the church's teachings. For a detailed explanation of these verses (along with verses before and after them in that chapter) corroborated with parallels in the prophetic Word, see my .
217. (i) THE TRUTHS OF THE LITERAL SENSE OF THE WORD ARE MEANT BY THE PRECIOUS STONES FORMING THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE NEW JERUSALEM IN Revelation 21:17-21).
I mentioned above (209) that in the spiritual world precious stones are to be found just as in the natural one, and that they have a spiritual origin from the truths in the literal sense of the Word. Incredible as it may seem, this is in fact the truth. This is the reason why, every time there is a reference in the Word to precious stones, they mean in the spiritual sense truths, It follows from this that the precious stones, of which the foundations of the wall surrounding the city of the New Jerusalem are said to have been built, mean the truths of doctrine in the new church. For the New Jerusalem means the new church in respect of the doctrine it derives from the Word. Therefore its wall and the foundations of the wall must mean the external of the Word. This is its literal sense as the source of its doctrine, and by means of its doctrine the church. This sense is like a wall with its foundations, surrounding a city and making it secure.
[2] The description in Revelation of the New Jerusalem and its foundations is this:
The angel measured the wall of the city of Jerusalem as one hundred and forty-four cubits, which is the measure of a man, that is, an angel. The wall had twelve foundations, decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh turquoise, the twelfth amethyst. .
The reason why the wall had twelve foundations, made of the same number of precious stones, is that the number twelve means the whole of truth derived from good, so here the whole of doctrine. These matters, together with the preceding and following parts of that chapter, can be found expounded in detail, with confirmations drawn from parallel passages in the Prophets, in my book Apocalypse Revealed.
217. (1) The truths of the sense of the letter of the Word are meant by the precious stones of which the foundations of the New Jerusalem consisted (Revelation 21:17-21). It has been mentioned above (n. 209[1-5]) that precious stones exist in the spiritual world, as well as in the natural world, and that their spiritual origin is the truths of the sense of the letter of the Word. This seems incredible and yet it is true. And this is why precious stones are so frequently mentioned in the Word; and why in the spiritual sense they mean truths. From this it follows that the "precious stones" of which the foundations of the wall around the city New Jerusalem are said to have been built signify the truths of doctrine of the New Church, because "the New Jerusalem" means the New Church in respect to doctrine from the Word; and therefore its "wall" and foundations" of the wall, can mean nothing else than the external of the Word, which is the sense of the letter; for it is from this sense that doctrine exists, and the church by means of doctrine; while the external of the Word is like a wall with its foundations, which encloses and protects a city. Of the New Jerusalem and its foundations we read in the Apocalypse:
An angel measured the wall of the city Jerusalem, an hundred and forty and four cubits, which was the measure of a man, that is, of an angel. And the wall had twelve foundations adorned with every precious stone. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third a chalcedony; the fourth, emerald; the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprasus; the eleventh, jacinth; the twelfth, amethyst (21:14, 17-20).
The wall had twelve foundations formed of as many precious stones, because the number "twelve" signified all things of truth from good; so here all things of doctrine. But this and what precedes and follows in this chapter, may be seen explained in detail and confirmed by parallel passages from the prophetic Word, in our Apocalypse Revealed.
217. (1) THE TRUTHS OF THE SENSE OF THE LETTER OF THE WORD ARE MEANT BY THE PRECIOUS STONES WHICH FORMED THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE NEW JERUSALEM, DESCRIBED IN Revelation 21:17-21.
It was stated above in209 that there are precious stones in the spiritual world, just as in the natural world, and that they derive their spiritual origin from the truths in the sense of the Letter of the Word. This appears incredible, and yet it is true. Therefore, wherever precious stones are mentioned in the Word, truths are understood by them in the spiritual sense. Hence it follows that by the precious stones which are said to have formed the foundations of the walls around the city, New Jerusalem, are signified the truths of the doctrine of the New Church, because by the New Jerusalem is meant the New Church as to doctrine from the Word. Therefore by its wall, and by the foundations of the wall, nothing else can be meant but the external of the Word, that is, the sense of its Letter; for it is this sense from which there is doctrine, and by means of doctrine, the Church and this sense is like a wall with foundations, that surrounds and secures the city. The following things are recorded in the Revelation concerning the New Jerusalem and its foundations:
"The angel measured the wall of the city Jerusalem, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel. And the wall had twelve foundations, garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst." Revelation 21 [14], 17-20.
The foundations of the wall were twelve, formed of the same number of precious stones, because the number twelve signifies all things pertaining to truth from good, and so, in this passage, all things pertaining to doctrine. However, this passage and its context may be seen explained in detail, and confirmed by parallel passages from the Prophetical Books of the Word, in our work "The Apocalypse Revealed."
217. I. QUOD VERA SENSUS LITERAE VERBI INTELLIGANTUR PER LAPIDES PRETIOSOS, EX QUIBUS CONSTABANT FUNDAMENTA NOVAE HIEROSOLYMAE, in Apocalypsi 21:17-21. 1 supra 209 memoratum est, quod in Mundo Spirituali, aeque dentur Lapides pretiosi sicut in Mundo naturali, et quod origo Spiritualis illorum sit ex Veris in Sensu literae Verbi: hoc apparet incredibile, at usque est Veritas: inde est, quod ubicunque in Verbo nominantur Lapides pretiosi, per illos in Sensu spirituali intelligantur vera. Quod per Lapides pretiosos, ex quibus fundamenta muri circum Urbem Novam Hierosolymam dicuntur constructa, significentur Vera Doctrinae novae Ecclesiae, inde sequitur, quia per Novam Hierosolymam intelligitur Nova Ecclesia quoad Doctrinam ex Verbo, quare per Murum ejus, et per muri Fundamenta non aliud potest intelligi, quam Verbi Externum, quod est 2 Sensus literae ejus; nam hic est, ex quo Doctrina est, et per Doctrinam Ecclesia, et ille est sicut Murus cum fundamentis, qui Urbem concludit et tutatur.
[2] De Nova Hierosolyma et de ejus fundamentis, leguntur haec in Apocalypsi, "Angelus mensus est Murum Urbis Hierosolymae 144 Cubitorum, quae erat mensura hominis, hoc est, Angeli: et Murus habebat Fundamenta duodecim, omni Lapide pretioso exornata: Fundamentum primum jaspis, secundum sapphirus, tertium chalcedonius, quartum smaragdus, quintum sardonyx, sextum sardius, septimum chrysolithus, octavum beryllus, nonum 3 topazius, decimum chrysoprasus, undecimum hyacinthus, duodecimum amethistus. Cap. 21:14, 17-20: 4 quod fundamenta muri duodecim, ex totidem Lapidibus pretiosis, fuerint, est causa, quia numerus duodecim significat omnia veri ex bono, hic itaque omnia doctrinae. Sed haec, ut et quae praecedunt et sequuntur in illo Capite, particulariter explicata, et ex parallelis 5 locis ex Verbo Prophetico confirmata, videantur in APOCALYPSI NOSTRA REVELATA.
Footnotes:
1. Prima editio: IN APOCALYPSI 21:17-21.
2. Prima editio: sst.
3. Prima editio: novum.
4. Prima editio: Cap. 21:17-20.
5. Prima editio: paralelis.