197、由此可知，在圣经中，地点和空间，以及以任何方式涉及到空间的一切，都表示与状态相关的事物，如距离、远近、道路、旅程、迁移、英里、斯塔德｛注1｝、平原、田野、花园、城市、街道、移动、各种量度，长、宽、高、深，以及无数其它事物。因为从尘世进入人思想的绝大多数事物都带点空间和时间的东西。我在此仅提一下长、宽、高在圣经中的含义。
[2]在世上，被称为长或宽都是涉及到空间的长或宽，高也是如此。但在天堂，思想与空间无关，“长”被理解为是良善的状态，“宽”是真理的状态，“高”表示根据不同层级来区分它们（参看38节）。这三个维度之所以被这样理解，是因为在天堂，“长”是从东到西，那里住着处在爱之良善中的天使；而“宽”是从南到北，那里住着处在源自良善之真理中的天使（参看148节）；在天堂，“高”适用于这二者的层级。这就是为何在圣经中，长、宽、高表示这些事物，如以西结书中（从40到48章），新圣殿、新圣地及其院子、屋子、大门、门、窗户和环境都以长、宽、高等尺寸来描述，以此表示一个新教会和其中的良善和真理。否则，所有这些尺寸有什么目的呢？
[3]同样，在启示录中，用下面的话来描述新耶路撒冷：
城是四方的，长宽一样。他用苇子量那城，共有一万二千斯塔德；长、宽、高都一样。（启示录21:16）
因为“新耶路撒冷”在此表示新教会，所以这些尺寸表示教会的事物：“长”表示她的爱之良善，“宽”表示源于这良善的真理，“高”表示良善与真理的层级，“一万二千斯塔德”表示一切良善和真理的集合。要不然，怎会说高是一万二千斯塔德，长和宽一样呢？
在圣经中，“宽”表示真理，这从诗篇中明显看出来：
耶和华啊，你未曾把我交在仇敌手里，你使我的脚站在宽阔之地。。（诗篇31:8）
我在急难中求告耶和华；祂就应允我，把我安置在宽阔之地。（诗篇118:5）
此外还有其它经文（如以赛亚书8:8；哈巴谷书1:6）。在其它地方也是如此。
｛注1｝：【英129】“斯塔德”（stadia）是古希腊的距离单位，约等于185米。下文的“一万二千斯塔德”约为 2220公里。
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197. 由此可知, 在圣言中, 位置与空间, 以及涉及空间的一切事物, 都表示涉及状态的事物, 如距离, 远近, 道路, 旅程, 迁移, 英里, 视距, 平原, 田野, 花园, 城市, 街道, 移动, 各种尺寸, 长, 宽, 高, 深, 以及无数其它事物; 因为从尘世进入人思维的绝大多数事物都从空间和时间取得某种东西.
我在此仅提一下长, 宽, 高在圣言中表示什么. 在这个世界, 凡在空间上或长或宽之物都被称为长或宽, 高也是如此. 但在天堂, 思维无关空间, 其中长“长”表示良善的状态, “宽”表示真理的状态, “高”表示它们的不同层级(参看38节). 这就是这三个维度的含义, 因为在天堂, 长是从东到西, 是那些处于爱之良善的人所住之地; 而宽是从南到北, 是那些处于源自良善之真理的人所住之地(参看148节); 在天堂, 高适用于这二者的层级. 这就是为何在圣言中, 长, 宽, 高具有这些含义, 如在以西结书(从40到48章), 新圣殿, 新圣地及其院子, 屋子, 城门, 门, 窗户, 周围都以长, 宽, 高等尺寸来描述, 以此表示一个新教会, 以及其中的良善与真理. 要不然, 这一切尺寸有什么用处呢?
同样, 在启示录, 新耶路撒冷以这些话来描述:
城是四方的, 长宽一样大. 天使用苇子量那城, 共有一万二千斯他丢; 长, 宽, 高都是一样. (启示录 21:16)
由于“新耶路撒冷”在此表示一个新教会, 所以这些尺寸表示教会的属性, 其中“长”表示它的爱之良善, “宽”表示源于这良善的真理, “高”表示良善与真理的层级, “一万二千斯他丢”表示合在一起的一切良善与真理. 要不然, 说长, 宽, 高都是一万二千斯他丢又有什么意义呢? 在圣言中, “宽”表示真理, 这从诗篇明显看出来:
耶和华啊, 你未曾把我交在仇敌手里, 你使我的脚站在宽阔之地. (诗篇 31:8)
我在急难中求告耶和华; 祂就应允我, 把我安置在宽阔之地. (诗篇 118:5)
此外还有其它经文(如以赛亚书 8:8; 哈巴谷书 1:6). 在其它地方也是如此.
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197. 正因如此, 在聖言中, 凡涉及空間和地點的名詞都代表狀態, 例如距離, 遠近, 路徑, 旅程, 遷徙, 公里, 平原, 田地, 花園, 城市, 街道, 運動, 各種度量, 長, 寬, 高, 深, 等等。在世人的觀念裡, 這些都涉及時間與空間。
我僅說明一下長, 寬, 高在聖言當中的含義。對世人而言, 長寬高都與空間有關。但在天國, 天人的思維無關空間, 故將"長"理解為良善的狀態, 將"寬"理解為真理的狀態, 將"高"理解為良善與真理的層次(38)。因為在天國, 長指東西軸向, 專注於仁之善者住在其中。寬指南北軸向, 專注於(善所生之)真理者住在其中(148)。高指良善與真理的層次。這是長寬高在聖言中表類似含義的原因。如以西結書所描寫的新聖殿, 新聖地及庭院, 房間, 門框, 窗戶和周圍環境, 它們的尺寸都象徵品質, 指向新教會及其良善與真理。其餘各處, 所表之意雷同。
啟示錄對新耶路撒冷的描述與之相似, 經上說:"城是四方的, 長寬一樣。天人用葦子來量那城, 共有一萬二千斯塔德, 長, 寬, 高都是一樣"(啟示錄21:16)在此,"新耶路撒冷"表新教會, 尺寸表教會的品質, 其中"長"表愛之良善,"寬"表良善所生的真理,"高"表良善與真理的層次,"一萬二千斯塔德"表一切良善與真理的總體。若非如此, 長寬高同為一萬二千斯塔德將有何意義呢？
通過詩篇, 也能看出"寬"在聖言中系指真理, 詩中說:"禰未曾把我交在仇敵手裡, 禰使我的腳站在寬闊之處"(詩篇31:8);"我在急難中求告耶和華, 祂就應允我, 把我安置在寬闊之地"(詩篇118:5)。其餘各處(如以賽亞書8:8,哈巴穀書1:6), 意思相同。
197. This is why places and spaces in the Word (and everything that involves space) mean matters that involve state - distances, for instance, and nearness and remoteness, paths, journeys, emigrations, miles, stadia, plains, fields, gardens, cities, streets, motion, various kinds of measurement, length, breadth, height, and depth, and countless other things - for so many things that enter our thought from our world derive something from space and time.
[2] I should like only to highlight what length, breadth, and height mean in the Word. In this world we call something long and broad if it is long and broad spatially, and the same holds true for "high." In heaven, though, where thinking does not involve space, people understand length as a state of good and breadth as a state of truth, while height is their difference in regard to level (discussed above in 38). The reason these three dimensions are understood in this way is that length in heaven is from east to west, which is where people live who are in the good of love. Breadth in heaven is from south to north, where people live who are in truth because of what is good (see above, 148); and height in heaven applies to both in regard to their level. This is why qualities of this sort are meant in the Word by length and breadth and height as in Ezekiel 40-48, where the measurements are given of the new temple and the new earth, with its courts, rooms, doors, gates, windows, and surroundings, referring to the new church and the good and true things that are in it. So too all the measurements elsewhere.
[3] The New Jerusalem is similarly described in Revelation, as follows:
The city was laid out foursquare, its length the same as its breadth; and [the angel] measured the city with the reed at twelve thousand stadia; the length and breadth and height were equal. (Revelation 21:16)
Here the New Jerusalem means a new church, so its measurements mean attributes of that church, length referring to the good of its love, breadth to the truth that derives from that good, and height to both the good and the true in respect to their level. Twelve thousand stadia means everything good and true taken together. Otherwise, what would be the point of having its height be twelve thousand stadia like its length and its breadth?
We can see in David that breadth in the Word means truth:
Jehovah, you have not left me in the grasp of my enemy's hand; you have made my feet stand in a broad place. (Psalms 31:8)
I called on Jah from my constraint; he answered me in a broad place. (Psalms 118:5)
There are other passages as well; for example, Isaiah 8:8 and Habakkuk 1:6. It also holds true elsewhere.
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197. It follows from this that, in the Word, by places and spaces and by all things that in any way relate to space are signified such things as relate to states, as by distances, near, far off, ways, journeys, sojournings, miles, furlongs, plains, fields, gardens, cities, streets, movements, measurements of various kinds, by long, broad, high and deep and innumerable other things. For most things that a man has in his thought from the world take on something from space and time. I would mention here only what, in the Word, length, breadth and height signify.
[2] In the world, that is called long or broad which is long or broad spatially, the same being true of height. But in heaven, where there is no thought from space, by length is understood a state of good, by breadth a state of truth, and by height the distinction between them in accordance with degrees (concerning which see 38). The reason why such things are understood by these three dimensions is that "long" in heaven is from east to west where dwell those who are in the good of love, while "broad" in heaven is from south to north and those who dwell there are in truth from good, as maybe seen above (148), and "high" in heaven applies to both of these according to degrees. This is why, in the Word, such things are signified by length, breadth and height, as in Ezekiel from chapter Ezekiel 40; 41; 42; 43; 44; 45; 46; 47; 48, where by measurements giving length, breadth and height are described the new temple and the new earth with courts, chambers, gates, doors, windows and surroundings by all of which are signified a new Church and the goods and truths that are in it.
[3] Otherwise, to what purpose would be all these measurements? In a similar way, the New Jerusalem is described in the Revelation in these words:
The city lieth foursquare, and the length thereof is as great as the breadth; and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs, and the length, the breadth and the height of it are equal. Revelation 21:16.
Because by the New Jerusalem here is signified a new Church, so by these measurements are signified the things of the Church, by "length" the good of its love, by "breadth", truth from that good, by "height", the degrees of good and truth, by "twelve thousand furlongs", all good and truth in the complex. What else could be meant by a height of twelve thousand furlongs, the same as the length and the breadth? That truth is signified in the Word by "breadth" is evident in David:
Jehovah, Thou hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy, Thou hast made my feet to stand in a broad place. Psalm 31:8.
(Thou hast set my feet in a large room. A.V.)
Out of a narrow place I called upon Jah; He answereth me in a broad place. Psalm 118:5.
(I called upon the Lord in distress; the Lord answered me, and set me in a large place. A.V.)
Besides other passages, as in Isaiah 8:8, and in Habakkuk 1:6, so also in other passages.
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197. It follows from this that in the Word places and spaces, and all things that in any way relate to space, signify such things as relate to states, such as distances, near, far off, ways, journeys, sojourning, miles and furlongs, plains, fields, gardens, cities and streets, motions, measures of various kinds, long, broad, high, and deep, and innumerable other things; for most things in man's thought from the world take on something from space and time.
[2] I will mention here only what is signified in the Word by length, breadth, and height. In this world, that is called long or broad which is long or broad in relation to space, and the same is true of height. But in heaven, where there is no thought from space, length means a state of good, breadth a state of truth, and height the distinction between them in accordance with degrees (see 38). Such is the meaning of these three dimensions, because length in heaven is from east to west, and those that dwell there are in good of love; while breadth in heaven is from south to north, and those that dwell there are in truth from good (see 148); while height in heaven applies to both of these in respect to degrees. This is why length, breadth, and height have these significations in the Word, as in Ezekiel (from chap. 40 to 48), where the new temple and the new earth, with the courts, chambers, gates, doors, windows, and surroundings are described by measures giving the length, breadth, and height, by which a new church, and the goods and truths that are in it are signified. Otherwise to what purpose would be all those measures?
[3] In like manner the New Jerusalem is described in the Apocalypse in these words:
The city lieth foursquare, and the length thereof is as great as the breadth; and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs; the length, the breadth, and the height are equal (Apocalypse 21:16).
Because "the New Jerusalem" here signifies a new church these measures signify the things of the church, "length" its good of love, "breadth" truth from that good, "height" good and truth in respect to degrees, "twelve thousand furlongs" all good and truth in the complex. Otherwise, how could there be said to be a height of twelve thousand furlongs, the same as the length and the breadth? That "breadth" in the Word signifies truth is evident from David:-
Jehovah, Thou hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy, Thou hast made my feet to stand in a broad place (Psalm 31:8).
Out of straitness I called upon Jah; He answereth me in a broad place (Psalm 118:5).
Besides other passages (as in Isaiah 8:8; and in Habakkuk 1:6). So in all other cases.
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197. Inde est, quod in Verbo per loca et spatia, et per omnia quae a spatio aliquid trahunt, significentur talia quae status sunt sicut per "distantias," "propinquum," "longinquum," "vias," "itinera," "peregrinationes," per "milliaria," "stadia," per "campos," "agros," "hortos," "urbes," "plateas," per "motus," per "mensuras" varii generis, per "longum," "latum," "altum," et "profundum," et per innumerabilia alia: nam pleraque, quae apud hominem in cogitatione ejus e mundo sunt, aliquid a spatio et tempore trahunt. Velim solum in medium afferre, quid in Verbo significant "longitudo," "latitudo," et "altitudo."
[2] In mundo id longum et latum dicitur quod longum et latum spatio est, similiter altum sed in caelo, ubi non cogitatur ex spatio, per longitudinem intelligitur status boni, per "latitudinem" status veri, et per "altitudinem" discrimen illorum secundum gradus (de quibus 38). Causa quod talia per tres illas dimensiones intelligantur, est quia longum in caelo est ab oriente ad occasum, ac ibi sunt qui in bono amoris sunt et latum in caelo est a meridie ad septentrionem, ac ibi sunt qui in vero ex bono (videatur supra, 148); ac altum in caelo est utrumque secundum gradus. Inde est, quod in Verbo per "longitudinem," "latitudinem," et "altitudinem" talia significentur ut apud Ezechielem, a capite 40 ad 48, ubi per mensuras quoad longum, latum et altum describitur Novum Templum et Nova Terra, cum atriis, conclavibus, portis, januis, fenestris, suburbiis, per quae significatur nova ecclesia, ac bona et vera quae ibi ad quid alioqui omnes illae mensurae? Similiter describitur Nova Hierosolyma in Apocalypsi his verbis:
"Civitas illa quadrangularis sita est, cujus longitudo tanta est quanta est latitudo mensusque est civitatem calamo ad stadiorum duodecim millia suntque longitudo, latitudo, et altitudo aequales," (21:16):
ibi quia per Novam Hierosolymam significatur nova ecclesia, ideo per mensuras illas significantur illa quae ecclesiae sunt per "longitudinem" bonum amoris ejus, per "latitudinem" verum ex illo bono, per "altitudinem" bonum et verum quoad gradus, per "duodecim millia stadiorum" omne bonum et verum in complexu quid alioqui foret, quod altitudo esset duodecim millia stadiorum, sicut longitudo et latitudo? Quod in Verbo per "latitudinem" significetur verum, patet apud Davidem:
Jehovah "non conclusisti me in manum inimici, stare fecisti in latitudine pedes meos," (Psalm 31:8);
"Ex angustia invocavi Jah, respondet 1mihi in latitudine," (Psalm 118:5):
praeter alibi, ut apud Esaiam 8:8, et apud Habakuk 1:6, ita quoque in reliquis.
Footnotes: