543.启12:5.“妇人生了一个儿子，男孩”表新教会的教义。在圣言中，“儿子”表示教义的真理，以及对真理和良善的理解和由此而来的对它们的思维；而“女儿”表示教义的良善，以及对真理和良善的意愿和由此而来的对它们的情感；“儿子，男孩”则表示在属灵人中孕育并在属世人生出的真理。这是因为在圣言中，“出生和生产”表示属灵的出生和生产，所有的属灵出生和生产一般都涉及良善与真理（535节）；因为作为丈夫的主和作为妻子的教会所生和所产的，并非别的什么。由于生产的“妇人”表示新教会（533节），故显而易见，“儿子，男孩”表示新教会的教义。此处所说的教义是指1758年于伦敦出版的《新耶路撒冷及其天堂教义》，以及《新耶路撒冷教义之主篇》、《新耶路撒冷教义之圣经篇》、《新耶路撒冷教义之守十诫的生活篇》（1763年阿姆斯特丹出版）；“教义”表示教义的一切真理，因为教义就是一切真理的总括。当这些教义被写下来时，那些龙们就站在我周围，满怀愤怒，努力吞吃，也就是毁灭它们。我被许可讲述这个信息，是因为它实实在在如此发生了。站在我周围的“龙”们就来自改革守基督教界的所有部分。
由于属灵的婚姻并不生产其它孩子，所以男孩是指在认知或理解力，因而在思维中的真理与良善；而女孩是指在意愿，因而在情感中的真理与良善；故在圣言中，“儿子”表示真理。为证实这一点，有必要引用一些经文，从中在某种程度看出这一点：
看哪，儿子是耶和华的产业，腹中的果子是祂的赏赐；少年时所生的儿子好像勇士手中的箭。（诗篇127:3-5）
要为你所喜爱的儿子使头光秃，要大大地光秃，因为他们离开你。（弥迦书1:16）
我看见灯台旁边有两棵橄榄树；他说，这些就是站在全地之主旁边橄榄树的两个儿子。（撒迦利亚书4:3，11，14）
我的帐棚毁坏，我的儿子离我而去，他们没有了。（耶利米书10:20）
我的儿子孤苦，因为仇敌得了胜。（耶利米哀歌1:16）
耶路撒冷啊，你的众子发昏，在各街头躺卧。（以赛亚书51:17，18，20）
在你中间父亲要吃儿子，儿子要吃父亲，我必将你所剩下的分散四风。（以西结书5:10）
儿子和父亲相争，父亲和儿子相争。（马太福音10:21；马可福音13:12；路加福音12:53）
你又拿了因我的黄金而华美的器皿，为自己制造男性的像，与它们行淫。（以西结书16:17）
耶稣说，种子就是天国之子，稗子就是那恶者之子。（马太福音13:38）
“人子”（即人的儿子）是指圣言的神性真理，因而是指主，这一点可见于《新耶路撒冷教义之主篇》（19-28节）。在上述引文中，“儿子”（或子）表示那些处于源自圣言的教义真理之人，抽象来说，表示真理自身；其它地方的儿子也一样（如以赛亚书13:17，18；14:21，22；43:6；49:17，22；51:17，18；60:9；耶利米书3:24，25；5:17；以西结书14:16-18，20；16:20，36，45；20:26，31；23:37；何西阿书11:9-11；撒迦利亚书9:13；诗篇144:11，12；申命记3:28）。“女儿”表示对教会真理的情感，因而表示教会的这种情感。这一点从圣言中的许多经文明显看出来，这些经文为数众多，若加以引用，则篇幅太多；“锡安的女儿”、“耶路撒冷的女儿”、“犹大的女儿”、“以色列的女儿”并非表示别的。所引用关于“锡安的女儿”的一些经文可见于下文（612节）。谁看不出，圣言中如此频繁提及的女儿不是指“锡安”、“耶路撒冷”、“犹大”和“以色列”的任何女儿。
543. She bore a male Child. (12:5) This symbolizes the doctrine of the New Church.
A son in the Word symbolizes doctrinal truth, and also an understanding of and consequent thought about truth and goodness. A daughter, on the other hand, symbolizes the goodness taught by doctrine, and also a willing of and consequent affection for truth and goodness. A male child, moreover, symbolizes truth conceived in the spiritual self and born in the natural one.
The reason for this is that generations and births in the Word symbolize spiritual generations and births, all of which relate in general to goodness and truth (no. 535). For nothing else is begotten and born of the Lord as husband and of the church as wife.
Now because the woman who bore the child symbolizes the New Church (no. 533), it is apparent that the male child symbolizes that church's doctrine.
The doctrine meant here is The New Jerusalem and its Heavenly Doctrine (London, 1758), and also The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem Regarding the Lord, The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem Regarding the Sacred Scripture, and The Doctrine of Life for the New Jerusalem in Accordance With the Ten Commandments (Amsterdam, 1763). For doctrine means all the truths of doctrine, since doctrine embraces them all. When I was writing these doctrines, followers of the dragon stood about me and with all their fury endeavored to devour them, that is, to extinguish them.
I am permitted to report this new information, because of a truth it happened as I have said. The followers of the dragon who stood about me came from all over the Protestant Reformed Christian world.
[2] Since these and no other are the offspring born of the spiritual marriage, and male offspring are truth and good in the intellect and consequent thought, while female offspring are truth and good in the will and consequent affection, therefore a son in the Word symbolizes truth. To confirm this we will cite some passages from which it can in some measure be seen:
Behold, sons are a heritage from Jehovah, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a mighty man, so are the sons of one's youth. (Psalms 127:3-5)
Make yourself bald and shave yourself, because of your delightful sons..., for they are gone from you. (Micah 1:16)
(I saw two olive trees beside the lampstand,) and he said, "These are the two sons of the olive tree, who stand beside the Lord of the whole earth." (Zechariah 4:11, 14)
My tent is destroyed...; my sons have gone from me, and they are no more. (Jeremiah 10:20)
My sons are made desolate because the enemy prevailed. (Lamentations 1:16)
Your sons, (O Jerusalem,) have fainted, they lie at the head of all the streets... (Isaiah 51:17-18, 20)
...fathers shall eat their sons in the midst of you, and sons shall eat their fathers..., and all of you who remain I will scatter to all the winds. (Ezekiel 5:10)
Son will be divided against father, and father against son... (Luke 12:53, cf. Matthew 10:21, Mark 13:12)
You have also taken your beautiful vessels of My gold... and made for yourself male images with which you played the harlot. (Ezekiel 16:17)
(Jesus said,) ...the... seeds are the children of the kingdom, but the tares are the children of evil. (Matthew 13:38)
[3] That the Son of Man is the Divine truth in the Word, thus the Lord, may be seen in The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem Regarding the Lord, nos. 19-28.
In the passages cited, sons mean people who possess doctrinal truths drawn from the Word, and abstractly, those truths themselves. So, too, elsewhere, as in Isaiah 13:17-18; 14:21-23; 43:6; 49:17, 22; 51:17-18; 60:9; Deuteronomy 32:8.
That daughters symbolize an affection for the church's truth, thus the church in relation to that affection, follows from so many passages in the Word that if I were to quote them, they would fill many pages. Nothing else is meant by daughter of Zion, daughter of Jerusalem, daughter of Judah, and daughter of Israel. See some passages cited in no. 612[1-4] regarding the daughter of Zion. Who cannot see that no actual daughter of Zion, of Jerusalem, of Judah or of Israel, so often mentioned in the Word, can be meant?
543. [verse 5] 'And she brought forth a male child' (filius masculus) signifies the doctrine of the New Church. By 'a son' in the Word is signified the truth of doctrine, also the understanding and consequent thought of truths and good, but by 'a daughter' is signified the good of doctrine, also the will and consequent affection of truth and good; whereas by 'a male child' is signified the truth conceived in the spiritual man and born in the natural man. This is because by the generations and births in the Word are signified spiritual generations and births, which all in general relate to good and truth (535); for nothing else is begotten and born from the Lord as Husband and the Church as wife. Now because by 'the woman' who had brought forth is signified the New Church (Arcana Coelestia 533), it is plain that by 'a male child' the doctrine of that Church is signified. The doctrine that is here meant is THE DOCTRINE OF THE NEW JERUSALEM published at London in 1758; then also THE DOCTRINES concerning THE LORD, concerning SACRED SCRIPTURE, and concerning LIFE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PRECEPTS OF THE DECALOGUE, [published at] Amsterdam; for by 'the doctrine' all the truths of the doctrine are understood because 'the doctrine' includes all of them. When those doctrines were being written the dragonists stood round me and worked together with all fury to devour, that is, to extinguish them. It is permitted to relate this news because it really so happened. The dragonists who stood around were from every part of the Reformed Christian world.
[2] Since there is no other offspring born of spiritual marriage, and a male offspring is truth and good in the understanding and consequent thought and a female offspring is truth and good in the will and consequent affection, therefore by 'a son' in the Word truth is signified. For confirmation some passages shall be quoted, from which this can in some measure be seen:
Behold sons are an heritage of Jehovah, and the fruit of the belly is a reward, as arrows in the hand of a mighty one, so are the sons of youth. Psalms 127:3-5.
Make thee bald, and poll thee for the sons of thy delights, for they have gone from thee. Micah 1:16.
I saw two olive trees near the lampstand, and he said, These are the two sons of the olive tree standing before the Lord of the whole land, Zechariah 4:11, 14.
My tent has been devastated, My sons have gone forth from Me, and they are not. Jeremiah 10:20.
Thy sons have become devastated, because an enemy has prevailed, Lamentations 1:16.
Thy sons, O Jerusalem, have deserted, they have lain at the head of all the streets. Isaiah 51:17-18, 20.
The fathers shall eat the sons in the midst of thee, and the sons shall eat their fathers, I will scatter thy remaining things to every wind. Ezekiel 5:10.
Son shall be divided against father, and father against son. Matthew 10:21; Mark 13:12; Luke 12:53.
Thou hast taken the vessels of thine adornment out of my gold, and hast made to thyself images of a male, with which thou didst commit whoredom. Ezekiel 16:17.
Jesus said, The seed are the sons of the kingdom, and the tares are the sons of the evil one. Matthew 13:38.
[3] That the SON OF MAN is the Divine Truth of the Word, thus the Lord, may be seen in THE DOCTRINE OF THE NEW JERUSALEM CONCERNING THE LORD 19-28. In the passages quoted [above] by 'sons' are understood those who are in truths of doctrine out of the Word, and abstractly the truths themselves. In like manner elsewhere, as Isaiah 13:17-18; 14:21-23; 43:6; 49:17, 22; 51:17-18; 60:9; Jeremiah 3:24-25; 5:17; Ezekiel 14:16-18, 20; 16:20, 36, 45; 20:26, 31; 23:37; Hosea 11:9-11; Zechariah 9:13; Psalms 144:11-12; Deuteronomy 32:8. That by 'a daughter' is signified the affection of the truth of the Church, thus the Church as to that affection, is established from so many passages in the Word that they would fill many pages if quoted. Nothing else is understood by the daughter of Zion, the daughter of Jerusalem, the daughter of Judah, the daughter of Israel. Some passages concerning' the daughter of Zion' may be seen quoted (612). Who cannot see that not any daughter of Zion, Jerusalem, Judah, or Israel, so often named in the Word, can be understood?
543. Verse 5. And she brought forth a son, a male, signifies the doctrine of the New Church. By "a son," in the Word, is signified the truth of doctrine, and also the understanding, and thence the thought, of truth and good; but by "a daughter" is signified the good of doctrine, as also the will, and thence the affection of truth and good; and by "a son, a male" is signified truth conceived in the spiritual man, and born in the natural man. The reason is, because by "generations and births," in the Word, are signified spiritual generations and births, all which in general relate to good and truth, (535); for nothing else is begotten and born of the Lord as Husband, and of the church as Wife. Now since by "the woman" who brought forth is signified the New Church, (533), it is plain that by "the son, a male" is signified the doctrine of that church. The doctrine here meant is The New Jerusalem and Its Heavenly Doctrine, published in London, 1758; as also The Doctrines concerning the Lord, concerning The Sacred Scripture, and concerning Life according to the Commandments of the Decalogue, published in Amsterdam; for by doctrine all the truths of doctrine are meant, because doctrine is the complex of them. When these doctrines were written, the dragonists stood around me, and endeavored, with all their fury, to devour, that is, to extinguish them. This news it is permitted me to relate, because of a truth it so happened. The dragonists who stood around me were from all parts of the Reformed Christian world.
[2] Since there is no other offspring born from the spiritual marriage, a male offspring is truth and good in the understanding and thence in the thought; and a female offspring is truth and good in the will, and thence in the affections; therefore by "a son" in the Word is signified truth. To confirm this some passages shall be adduced, from which this may in some measure be seen:
Lo, sons are an heritage of Jehovah, and the fruit of the belly is His reward; as arrows in the hand of a mighty man, so are the sons of youth, (Psalms 127:3-5).
Make thee bald, and poll thee for the sons of thy delights, for they have gone from thee, (Micah 1:16).
I saw two olive trees near the lampstand; and he said, These are the two sons of the olive tree that stand near the Lord of the whole earth, (Zechariah 4:11, 14).
My tent is devastated, My sons have gone forth from Me, and they are not, (Jeremiah 10:20).
My sons are become devastated, because the enemy hath prevailed, (Lamentations 1:16).
Thy sons, O Jerusalem, have fainted, they lie at the head of all the streets, (Isaiah 51:20).
The fathers shall eat the sons in the midst of thee, and the sons shall eat their fathers, and the whole remnant of thee will I scatter to every wind, (Ezekiel 5:10).
The son shall be divided against the father, and the father against the son, (Matthew 10:21; Mark 13:12; Luke 12:53).
Thou hast taken the vessels of thy ornament from My gold, and hast made to thyself images of a male, with which thou didst commit whoredom, (Ezekiel 16:17).
Jesus said, The seed are the sons of the kingdom, and the tares are the sons of the evil one, (Matthew 13:38).
[3] That "the Son of man" is the Divine truth of the Word, thus the Lord, may be seen in The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem concerning the Lord, (19-28). In the passages quoted above, by "sons" are meant they who are in truths of doctrine from the Word, and, abstractly, the truths themselves; in like manner in other places; as in Isaiah 13:17-18; 14:21-22; 43:6; 49:17, 22; 51:17-18; 60:9; Jeremiah 3:24-25; 5:17; Ezekiel 14:16-18, 20; 16:20, 36, 45; 20:26, 31; 23:37; Hosea 11:9-11; Zechariah 9:13; Psalms 144:11-12; Deuteronomy 32:8. That by "a daughter" is signified the affection of the truth of the church, thus the church as to that affection, appears from so many passages in the Word, that to adduce them would fill many pages; nothing else is meant by "the daughter of Zion," "the daughter of Jerusalem," "the daughter of Judah," "the daughter of Israel." Some passages respecting "the daughter of Zion" may be seen adduced, (612). Who cannot see that not any "daughter of Zion," "Jerusalem," "Judah," and "Israel," so often mentioned in the Word, can be meant?
543. (Vers. 5.) "Et peperit filium masculum," significat doctrinam Novae Ecclesiae. - Per "filium" in Verbo significatur verum doctrinae, tum intellectus et inde cogitatio veri et boni; per "filiam" autem significatur bonum doctrinae, tum voluntas et inde affectio veri et boni; et per "filium masculum" significatur verum conceptum in spirituali homine, et natum in naturali: causa est, quia per "generationes et nativitates" in Verbo significantur generationes et nativitates spirituales, quae omnes in communi se referunt ad bonum et verum (535); non enim aliud generatur et nascitur a Domino ut Marito, et ab Ecclesia ut Uxore. Nunc quia per "Mulierem," quae pepererat, significatur Nova Ecclesia (533); patet quod per "filium masculum" significetur Doctrina illius Ecclesiae. Doctrina, quae hic intelligitur, est Doctrina Novae Hierosolymae (Londini 1758 edita); tum etiam Doctrinae de Domino, de Scriptum Sacra, et de Vita secundum Praecepta Decalogi (Amstelodami (1763 editae)); per "Doctrinam" enim intelliguntur omnia vera Doctrinae, quia Doctrina est complexus eorum. Cum illae Doctrinae scribebantur, circum me steterunt Draconici, et omni furore collaborabant devorare, hoc est exstinguere illas. Hoc novum licet referre, quia ex veritate ita contigit; Draconici qui circumsteterunt, ex orbe Christiano Reformato undequaque erant. Quoniam ex conjugio spirituali non alia proles nascitur, et proles masculina est verum et bonum intellectu et inde cogitatione, ac proles faeminina est verum et bonum voluntate et inde affectione, ideo per "filium" in Verbo significatur verum. Ad confirmationem adducentur aliqua loca, ex quibus hoc quodammodo videri potest:
"Ecce haereditas Jehovae Filii, merces fructus ventris: sicut tela in manu potentis, ita Filii adolescentiae," (Psalm 127:3-5);
"Calvitiem induc, et tonde te propter Filios deliciarum tuarum, quia migrarunt a te," (Micham 1:16);
"Vidi duas oleas juxta candelabrum; et dixit, Hae sunt duo Filii oleae stantes juxta Dominum totius terrae," (Sacharias 4:11, 14);
"Tentorium Meum devastatum est, Filii Mei exiverunt a Me, et non illi, (Jeremias 10:20);
"Facti sunt Filii Mei devastati, eo quod invaluerit hostis," (Threni 1:16);
"Filii tui" Hierosolyma, defecerunt, jacuerunt in capite omnium platearum," (Esaias 51:20); 1
"Patres comedent Filios in medio tui, et Filii comedent patres suos; dispergam reliquias tuas in omnem ventum," (Ezechiel 5:10);
"Dividetur Filius contra patrem, et pater contra Filium," (Matthaeus 10:21; Marcus 13:12; Luca 12:53);
"Accepisti vasa ornatus tui ex auro Meo, et fecisti tibi imagines Masculi, cum quibus scortabaris," (Ezechiel 16:17);
Jesus dixit, "Semen sunt Filii regni, et Zizania sunt Filii mali," (Matthaeus 13:38). 2
Quod "Filius Hominis" sit Divinum Verum Verbi, ita Dominus, videatur in Doctrina Novae Hierosolymae de Domino 19-28. In allatis locis per "filios" intelliguntur illi qui in veris doctrinae ex Verbo sunt, et abstracte ipsa vera.
(Similiter alibi, ut Esaias 13:17-18; 14:21-22; 343:6; 449:17, 22; 51:17-18; 60:9; Jeremias 3:24-25; 5:17; Ezechiel 14:16-18, 20; 16:20, 36, 45; 520:26, 31; 23:37; Hoschea 11:9-11; Sacharias 9:13; Psalm 144:11-12; Deuteronomius 32:8).
Quod per "Filiam" significetur affectio veri Ecclesiae, ita Ecclesia quoad illam affectionem, constat ex tam multis locis in Verbo, ut implerent plures paginas, adducerentur; non aliud intelligitur per "Filiam Sionis," "Filiam Hierosolymae," "Filiam Jehudae," "Filiam Israelis;" videantur aliqua loca de "Filia Sionis" adducta (612). Quis non videre potest, quod non aliqua "Filia Sionis," "Hierosolymae," "Jehudae" et "Israelis," toties in Verbo nominata, possit intelligi.
Footnotes:
1. 20 pro "17, 18, 21"
2. 38 pro "13"
3. 21, 22 pro "21, 22, 23"
4. 6 pro "5"
5. 36 pro "26"