1825、它们必须是“三岁大”的，因为它们要涵盖教会的一切时期和状态，这从圣言中“三”的含义清楚可知。“三”表示教会从开始到结束的整个时期，因而表示它的全部状态。因此，教会的末期由第三日，第三周，第三个月，第三年，或第三个十年来表示，它们的意思都是一样的。由于教会的状态由数字三来表示，所以作为一个教会的每个人的状态，以及属于教会的一切也都由数字三来表示，这从该数字在前面所引用的圣言经文中的含义（720，901节）可以看出来。
因此，“一头三岁大的小母牛”表示教会直至结束，也就是当它被荒废或变得荒凉时的整个时期或状态，这一点也清楚可见于以赛亚书：
我的心为摩押大声呼喊，他的逃民一直逃到琐珥，是一头三岁大的小母牛；在鲁希的上坡路上，他们要哭着上去；因为在何罗念的路上，他们要为废墟扬起哀声。（以赛亚书15:5）
耶利米书：
欢喜快乐从迦密和摩押地被收拾了去；我要使酒从酒榨停止；无人欢呼踩踏；那欢呼却不是欢呼。从希实本的哀呼达到以利亚利，直达到雅杂，从琐珥达到何罗念，就是一头三岁大的小母牛，他们发出声音；因为宁林的水也必成为荒地。（耶利米书48:33-34）
除非知道“摩押”、“琐珥”、“鲁希的上坡路”、“希实本的哀呼达到以利亚利”、“雅杂”、“何罗念”、“宁林的水”、“三岁大的小母牛”表示什么，否则没有人能明白这些细节是什么意思。显而易见，它们表示最后的毁灭。
New Century Edition
Cooper(2008,2013)
[NCE]1825. The fact that three years old covers all eras and conditions of religion can be seen from the symbolism of three in the Word. Three symbolizes an entire religious era from beginning to end, so it symbolizes every state along the way. Consequently the end of a religious era is symbolized by a third day, week, month, year, or age,{*1} which all mean the same thing.
Just as the number three symbolizes the condition of religion, it also symbolizes conditions in a religious person and in fact the condition of any feature of religion. This can be seen from the meaning of that number in the scriptural passages quoted in 720, 901.
[2] This symbolism of a three-year-old heifer as an era or state of religion all the way to its end (when it has been devastated or stripped bare inwardly) can also be seen in Isaiah:
My heart cries out over Moab; those who flee it as far as Zoar are a three-year-old heifer. For they will ascend in tears on the ascent to Luhith, since on the way to Horonaim they will raise a cry for the wreckage. (Isaiah 15:5)
And in Jeremiah:
Gladness and exultation have disappeared from Carmel and from the land of Moab; and wine from the winepresses I will put an end to. No one will tread the hedad; the hedad will not be a hedad.{*2} From the cry of Heshbon all the way to Elealeh, all the way to Jahaz, they have uttered their voice, from Zoar all the way to Horonaim — a three-year-old heifer; because the waters of Nimrim will also become wastelands. (Jeremiah 48:33-34)
No one could ever tell what these words mean without knowing what is symbolized by Moab, Zoar, the ascent to Luhith, the cry of Heshbon to Elealeh, Jahaz, Horonaim, the waters of Nimrim, and the three-year-old heifer; although it is clear that they depict final devastation.{*3}
Footnotes:
{*1} The Latin word here translated "age" is saeculum, which in Swedenborg's usage can refer to a decade (see 433), a century, or an even longer period. In Christian texts the word is sometimes translated "the world," that is, the current dispensation of time as a whole. See Lewis and Short 1879, under saeculum. [LHC, RS]
{*2} On the Hebrew word hedad, see note 4 in 971. The idea is that there will be no grape-treading and no jubilant shouting to accompany it. [LHC]
{*3} For more on the inner meaning of Moab, see 2468:7-11, 17; 8315. On Zoar, see 1589, 2429:4. Although Swedenborg never fully explains in one place the meaning of the cry of Heshbon to Elealeh, he does later provide separate clues to the meanings of Heshbon, Elealeh, and the cry itself; see Revelation Explained (Swedenborg 1994-1997a) 393, 435:7, 911:10. The specific meanings of the ascent to Luhith, Jahaz, Horonaim, and the waters of Nimrim are not given by Swedenborg. [SS, LSW]
Potts(1905-1910) 1825
1825. That "three years old" involves all things of the church as to times and states, is evident from the signification of "three" in the Word. By "three" is signified the full time of the church, from its origin even to its end, and thus all its state. The last time of the church is therefore signified by the third day, the third week, the third month, the third year and the third age, which are all the same. As the state of the church is signified by the number three, so also is the state of everyone who is a church, and everything which is of the church, as may be seen from the signification of this number in the passages adduced from the Word (n. 720, 901). [2] That "a heifer of three years" thus signifies the time or state of the church even to the last, that is, when it has been vastated or made desolate, may also be seen in Isaiah:
My heart crieth out upon Moab; her fugitives are unto Zoar, a heifer of three years old; for by the ascent of Luhith, with weeping he shall go up in it; for in the way of Horonaim they shall raise up a cry of breaking to pieces (Isa. 15:5). Also in Jeremiah:
Gladness and exultation are gathered from Carmel, and from the land of Moab; and I will make* wine to cease from the winepresses; none shall tread with shouting; the shouting shall be no shouting. From the cry of Heshbon even unto Elealeh, even unto Jahaz have they uttered their voice, from Zoar even unto** Horonaim, a heifer of three years old; for the waters of Nimrim also shall become desolations (Jer. 48:33-34). No one could possibly perceive what these things mean unless he knew what is signified by "Moab," by "Zoar," "the ascent of Luhith," "the cry of Heshbon unto Elealeh," by "Jahaz," by "Horonaim," "the waters of Nimrim," and by "a heifer three years old." That this is an uttermost vastation is plain. * Cessare faciam; but elsewhere feci, as Apocalypse Explained 376. [Rotch ed.] ** Latin here has a, doubtless a misprint for ad, as in n. 9391. [Ibid.]
Elliott(1983-1999) 1825
1825. That 'three years old' embodies all things of the Church as to periods and states is clear from the meaning of 'three' in the Word. Three means the whole time of the Church from start to finish, and so its total state. The final phase of the Church is therefore meant by the third day, by the third week, by the third month, by the third year, or by the third decade,a all having the same meaning. As the state of the Church is meant by the number three, so also is the state of every individual who is a Church, and indeed everything that is part of the Church, as becomes clear from the meaning of that number in the places quoted from the Word in 720, 901.
[2] That 'a three year old heifer' accordingly means the whole time or state of the Church even to its end, that is to say, when it has been vastated, or laid desolate, also becomes clear in Isaiah,
My heart cries out upon Moab, his fugitives flee even to Zoar, a three year old heifer, for at the ascent of Luhith he will go up weeping, for on the road to Horonaim they will raise a cry of ruination. Isa 15:5.
Also in Jeremiah,
Gladness and exultation have been plucked from Carmel, and from the land of Moab, and I will make the wine cease from the winepresses. None will tread the hedad; the hedad will not be a hedad.b From the cry of Heshbon even to Elealeh, as far as Jahaz they uttered their voice, from Zoar even to Horonaim, a three year old heifer, for the waters of Nimrim also will become desolations. Jer 48:33, 34.
Nobody could possibly perceive what these details mean unless he knew what is meant by Moab, Zoar, the ascent of Luhith, the shout of Heshbon even to Elealeh, Jahaz, Horonaim, the waters of Nimrim, and a three year old heifer. That a final vastation is meant is plainly evident.
Latin(1748-1756) 1825
1825. Quod 'triennis' involvat omnia Ecclesiae quoad tempora et status, constat a significatione 'trium' in Verbo; tria significant plenum tempus Ecclesiae ab origine ejus usque ad finem, ita omnem ejus statum; ultimum tempus Ecclesiae ideo significatur per 'diem tertium,' et per 'septimanam tertiam,' et per 'mensem tertium,' et per 'annum tertium,' et per 'saeculum tertium,' quae idem sunt: sicut status Ecclesiae significatur per numerum ternarium, ita quoque cujusvis qui est Ecclesia, immo unumquodvis quod est Ecclesiae; ut constare potest a significatione illius numeri ex locis e Verbo allatis, n. 720, 901. Quod 'vitula triennis' significet sic tempus seu statum Ecclesiae usque ad ultimum cum nempe vastata est seu desolata, constare quoque potest, apud Esaiam, Cor meum super Moabo clamat, profugi ejus usque ad Zoar, vitula triennis, quia in ascensu Luhith, in fletu ascendet in eo, quia via Horonaim clamorem confractionis excitabunt, xv 5:tum apud Jeremiam, Collecta est laetitia et exsultatio de Carmele, et de terra Moabi, et vinum ex torcularibus cessare faciam {1}; non calcabit hedad {2}, hedad non hedad: a clamore Hesbonis usque ad Elealeh, usque ad Jahaz dederunt vocem suam, a Zoare usque (x)ad Horonaim, vitula triennis, quia etiam aquae Nimrim in desolationes, xlviii 33, 34;
@1 In all other refs. to this passage S. has feci.$ @2 See note, n. 1071.$ haec nusquam aliquis perciperet quid sint nisi sciat quid significatur per Moab, per Zoar, per ascensum Luhith, per clamorem Hesbonis ad Elealeh, per Jahaz, per Horonaim, per aquas Nimrim, et per vitulam triennem; quod ultima vastatio, patet.