899.“有十二个门”表那里对真理与良善的一切认知，人凭这些认知被引入新教会。“门”表示对出于圣言的真理与良善的认知，因为人凭它们被引入教会；事实上，门所在的“墙”表示圣言，如刚才所解释的（898节）；在下文，经上说“十二个门是十二颗珍珠，每门是一颗珍珠”（｛21:21）；而“珍珠”表示对真理与良善的认知（727节）。显然，人凭这些认知被引入教会，就像通过城门进入城那样。“十二”表示全部（参看348节）。在以下经文中，对真理与良善的认知也以“门”来表示：
我要以蓝宝石立定你的根基，又以红宝石造你的女墙，以红宝石造你的城门。（以赛亚书 54:11，12）
耶和华爱锡安的门，胜于爱雅各一切的住处，神的城啊，有荣耀的事乃指着你说的。（诗篇 87:2，3）
当称谢进入祂的门，当称谢祂，称颂祂的名。（诗篇100:4）
耶路撒冷啊，我们的脚站在你的门内；耶路撒冷被建造，如同连络整齐的一座城。（诗篇122:2，3）
耶路撒冷啊，你要颂赞耶和华，因为祂坚固了你的门闩，赐福给你中间的儿女。（诗篇147:12，13）
我必在锡安女子的门述说你一切的美德。（诗篇9:14）
你敞开城门，使守信的公义民族得以进入。（以赛亚书26:2）
应当扬声，使他们进入贵胄的门。（以赛亚书13:2）
那些遵行祂诫命的人有福了，能从门进城。（启示录22:14）
众城门哪，你们要抬起头来，那荣耀的王将要进来。（诗篇24:7，9）
锡安的路径悲伤，她的城门凄凉，她的祭司叹息。（耶利米哀歌1:4）
犹大悲哀，城门衰败。（耶利米书14:2）
耶和华定意拆毁锡安女子的城墙，锡安的门都陷入地内。（耶利米哀歌2:8，9）
他们在争讼的事上定人罪，为城门口责备人的设下网罗。（以赛亚书29:21）
他选择新神，然后开始攻击城门。（士师记5:8）
此外还有其它地方（如以赛亚书3:25-26；14:31；22:7；24:12；28:6；62:10；耶利米书1:15；15:7；31:38，40；弥迦书2:13；那鸿书3:13；士师记5:11）。由于“门”表示引入的真理，也就是源于圣言的认知，故城中长老坐在城门口判断；这一点明显可见于相关经文（申命记21:18-21；22:15；耶利米哀歌5:14；阿摩司书5:12，15；撒迦利亚书8:16）。
899. And twelve gates. This symbolizes all the concepts of truth and goodness by which a person is introduced into the church.
Gates symbolize concepts of truth and goodness from the Word, because a person is introduced into the church by them. For the wall that had the gates symbolizes the Word, as explained just above in no. 898. Moreover we are later told that "the twelve gates were twelve pearls: each gate was of one pearl" (verse 21), and pearls symbolize concepts of truth and goodness (no. 727). Clearly it is by these concepts that people are introduced into the church, as through gates into a city.
That the number twelve symbolizes all people may be seen in no. 348 above.
Gates symbolize concepts of truth and goodness also in the following places:
I will... lay your foundations in sapphires; I will make your pinnacles of garnets, and your gates carbuncle-stones. 1(Isaiah 54:11-12)
Jehovah loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God! (Psalms 87:2-3)
Enter through His gates with confession... Confess Him, bless His name. (Psalms 100:4)
Our feet have been standing within your gates, O Jerusalem! Jerusalem is built as a city that holds fast together. (Psalms 122:2-3)
Praise Jehovah, O Jerusalem! ...For He has strengthened the bars of your gates; He has blessed your children in your midst. (Psalms 147:12-13)
...that I may recount all Your praises in the gates of the daughter of Zion. (Psalms 9:14)
Open the gates, that a righteous nation which keeps its fealties may enter in. (Isaiah 26:2)
...raise your voice... that they may enter the gate of the princes. (Isaiah 13:2)
Blessed are those who do His commandments... and enter through the gates into the city. (Revelation 22:14)
Lift up your heads, O you gates... that the King of glory may come in. (Psalms 24:7, 9)
The roads to Zion mourn... All her gates are desolate; her priests groan... (Lamentations 1:4)
Judah mourned, and her gates have been made to languish. (Jeremiah 14:2)
Jehovah has purposed to destroy the wall of the daughter of Zion... Her gates have sunk into the ground. (Lamentations 2:8-9)
...who make a man to sin against the Word, and lay a snare for him who reproves in the gate... (Isaiah 29:21)
They chose new gods; then he began to attack the gates. (Judges 5:8)
And so on elsewhere, as in Isaiah 3:25-26; 14:31; 22:7; 24:12; 28:6; 62:10; Jeremiah 1:15; 15:7; 31:38, 40; Micah 2:13; Nahum 3:13; Judges 5:11.
Since gates symbolize introductory truths, which are concepts from the Word, therefore the elders of the city used to sit as judges at the gates, as is apparent from Deuteronomy 21:18-21; 22:15; Lamentations 5:14; Amos 5:12, 15; Zechariah 8:16.
Footnotes:
1. A name variously applied in former times to precious stones of a red or fiery color.
899. 'Having twelve gates' signifies all the cognitions of truth and good there by means of which a man is introduced into the Church. By 'gates' are signified cognitions of truth and good derived from the Word, because by means of them a man is introduced into the Church, for 'the wall' in which the gates were signifies the Word, treated of just above (898), and in the things following it is said that:
The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each one of the gates was [of] one pearl (verse 21), and by 'pearls' are signified cognitions of truth and good (727). That by means of them a man is introduced into the Church, thus through the gates into the city, is plain. That 'twelve' signify all may be seen above (348). By 'gates' are signified cognitions of truth and good also in these passages:
I will lay thy foundations in sapphires, and I will make thy windows (soles) of the fiery stone (pyropus), and thy gates in carbuncle stones. Isaiah 54:11-12.
Jehovah loving the gates of Zion more than all the habitations of Jacob, glorious things are to be declared in thee, O city of God. Psalms 87:2 [,3].
Enter through His gates with confession, confess unto Him, bless His Name. Psalms 100:4.
Our feet have been standing in thy gates, O Jerusalem; Jerusalem is built as a city that coheres together. Psalms 122:2-3.
Praise Jehovah, O Jerusalem, for He makes firm the bars of thy gates, He blesses thy sons in the midst of thee. Psalms 147:12-13.
That I may recount all thy praises in the gates of the daughter of Zion. Psalms 9:14; [H.B. 15].
Open the gates, that the just nation keeping faithfulness may enter in Isaiah 26:2.
Lift up the voice that they may come to the gates of the princes. Isaiah 13:2.
Blessed are those who do His commandments, and enter through the gates into the city. Revelation 22:14.
Lift up your heads, O gates, that the King of Glory may come in Psalms 24:7, 9.
The ways of Zion are mourning, all her gates have been devastated, her priests are groaning, Lamentations 1:4.
Judah mourns and his gates have been made to languish. Jeremiah 14:2.
Jehovah has thought to destroy the wall of the daughter of Zion, her gates have sunk into the ground, Lamentations 2:8-9.
Who make a man to sin in the Word, and entrap him who reproves in the gate. Isaiah 29:21.
He chose new gods, then he began to assault the gates, Judges 5:8; besides elsewhere, as Isaiah 3:25-26; 14:31; 22:7; 24:12; 28:6; 62:10; Jeremiah 1:15; 15:7; 31:38, 40; Micah 2:13; Nahum 3:13; Judges 5:11. Since 'gates' signify introductory truths, which are cognitions derived from the Word, therefore the elders of a city used to sit in the gates and judge, as is plain from. Deuteronomy 21:18-21; 22:15; Lamentations 5:14; Amos 5:12, 15; Zechariah 8:16.
899. Having twelve gates, signifies all the knowledges of truth and good there, by which a man is introduced into the church. By "the gates" are signified the knowledges of truth and good from the Word, because by them a man is introduced into the church; for "the wall," in which the gates were, signifies the Word; as explained just above, (898); and it is said in what follows, that "the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each one of the gates was one pearl" (verse 21); and by "pearls" the knowledges of truth and good are signified, (727). That a man is introduced into the church by them, as through the gates into a city, is manifest. That "twelve" signifies all, may be seen above, (348). Knowledges of truth and good are also signified by "gates" in these passages:
I will lay thy foundations with sapphires, and I will make thy suns of ruby, and thy gates in stones of carbuncle, (Isaiah 54:11-12).
Jehovah loveth the gates of Zion more than all the habitations of Jacob, glorious things are to be declared in thee, O city of God, (Psalms 87:2-3).
Enter through His gates with confession, confess unto Him, bless His name, (Psalms 100:4).
Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem; Jerusalem is built as a city that coheres together, (Psalms 122:2-3).
Praise Jehovah, O Jerusalem, for He makes firm the bars of thy gates, He blesseth thy sons in the midst of thee, (Psalms 147:12-13).
That I may enumerate all thy praises in the gates of the daughter of Zion, (Psalms 9:14).
Open ye the gates, that the just nation that keepeth faithfulness may enter in, (Isaiah 26:2).
Lift up the voice, that they may come into the gates of the princes, (Isaiah 13:2).
Happy are they that do His commandments, and enter in through the gates into the city, (Revelation 22:14).
Lift up your heads, O ye gates, that the King of glory may come in, (Psalms 24:7, 9).
The ways of Zion do mourn, all her gates are devastated, her priests groan, (Lamentations 1:4).
Judah mourneth, and the gates thereof languish, (Jeremiah 14:2).
Jehovah hath thought to destroy the wall of the daughter of Zion, her gates have subsided into the earth, (Lamentations 2:8-9.
Who make a man to sin in a word, and lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate, (Isaiah 29:21).
He chose new gods, then he began to assault the gates, (Judges 5:8).
Besides other places (as Isaiah 3:25-26; 14:31; 22:7; 24:12; 28:6; 62:10; Jeremiah 1:15; 15:7; 31:38, 40; Micah 2:13; Nahum 3:13; Judges 5:11). Since "gates" signify introductory truths, which are knowledges from the Word, therefore the elders of a city sat in the gates, and judged; as is manifest from Deuteronomy 21:18-21; 22:15; Lamentations 5:14; Amos 5:12, 15; Zechariah 8:16.
899. "Habentem portas duodecim," significat ibi omnes cognitiones veri et boni, per quas homo introducitur in Ecclesiam. -Per "portas" significantur cognitiones veri et boni ex Verbo, quia per illas homo introducitur in Ecclesiam; "murus" enim in quo portae erant, significat Verbum, de quo mox supra (898); et in sequentibus dicitur, quod "duodecim portae duodecim margaritae essent, unaquaevis portarum una margarita," (vers. 21); et per "margaritas" significantur cognitiones veri et boni (727); quod homo per illas introducatur in Ecclesiam, sicut per portas in urbem, patet: quod "duodecim" significent omnes, videatur supra (348). Per "portas" significantur cognitiones veri et boni, etiam in his locis:
"Fundamenta tua ponam in sapphiris, et ponam pyropum soles tuos, et Portas tuas in lapides carbunculi," (Esaias 54:11-12);
"Amans Jehovah Portas Zionis prae omnibus habitaculis Jacobi; gloriosa praedicanda sunt 1in te, Urbs Dei," (Psalm 87:2(, 3));
"Intrate per Portas Ipsius in confessione, confitemini Ipsi, benedicite Nomini Ipsius "(Psalm 100:4);
"Stantes fuerunt pedes nostri in Portis tuis, Hierosolyma; Hierosolyma aedificata sicut Urbs quae cohaeret una," (Psalm 122:2-3);
"Lauda Hierosolyma Jehovam, nam firmat vectes Portarum tuarum, benedicit filiis tuis in medio tui," (Psalm 147:12-13);
"Ut enumerem omnes laudes tuas in Portis filiae Zionis," (Psalm 9:15 (B.A. 14));
"Aperite Portas, ut ingrediatur Gens justa custodiens fidelitates," (Esaias 26:2); 2
"Extollite vocem ut veniant Portae principum," (Esaias 13:2);
"Beati qui faciunt mandata Ipsius, et per Portas ingrediuntur in Urbem," (Apocalypsis 22:14);
"Attolite Portae capita vestra, ut ingrediatur Rex gloriae," (Psalm 24:7, 9);
"Viae Zionis lugentes, omnes Portae ejus devastatae sunt, sacerdotes ejus gemunt," (Threni 1:4);
"Luxit Jehudah, et portae ejus languescentes factae sunt," (Jeremias 14:12); 3
"Cogitavit Jehovah perdere Murum filiae Zionis, subsederunt in terram Portae ejus," (Threni 2:8-9);
'Qui peccare faciunt hominem in Verbo, et corripientem in Porta illa queant, (Esaias 29:21);
"Elegit deos novos, tunc oppugnare coepit Portas," (Judicum 5:8).
(Praeter alibi, ut Esaias 3:25-26; 14:31; 22:7; 24:12; 28:6; 62:10; Jeremias 1:15; 15:7; 31:38, 40; Micham 2:13; Nahum 3:13; Judicum 5:11).
Quoniam "portae" significabant vera introducentia, quae sunt cognitiones ex Verbo, ideo Seniores Urbis sedebant in Portis et judicabant (Ut patet ex Deuteronomius 21:18-21; 422:15; Threni 5:14; Amos 5:12, 15; Sacharias 8:16).
Footnotes:
1. sunt pro "est"
2. 2 pro "3"
3. xiv. pro "iv."
4. 21 pro "22"