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73. 十, 因此, 每位天使都显为一个完整的人形
我们在前面两章已经说明, 天堂整体上类似一个人, 天堂的每个社群同样类似一个人. 从那里所阐述的一系列原因可推知, 这同样适用于每一位天使. 由于天堂是最大形式的人, 一个天堂社群是一个较小形式的人, 故一位天使就是一个最小形式的人. 因为在最完美的形式, 如天堂的形式中, 部分里面有整体的样式, 整体里面有部分的样式. 之所以如此, 是因为天堂是一个共享体. 事实上, 它将自己所拥有的一切与每个人分享, 每个人则接受他从这共享当中所得来的一切. 一位天使就是一个接受的容器, 并凭该容器而成为最小形式的天堂, 如前面章节所说明的. 而一个人只要接受天堂, 也是一个容器, 一个天堂和一位天使(参看57节). 这一点在启示录是如此描述的:
又量了圣耶路撒冷的城墙, 按着人的尺寸, 就是天使的尺寸, 共有一百四十四肘. (启示录 21:17)
“耶路撒冷”在此表示主的教会, 在更高意义上表示天堂; “城墙”表示真理, 也就是抵御虚假与邪恶攻击的一道防线; “一百四十四”表示作为一个整体的一切良善与真理; “尺寸”表示品质; “人”表示一切良善与真理, 无论总体还是细节, 所在之处, 因而表示天堂所在之处. 一位天使因具有这些特征也是一个人, 故经上说“按着人的尺寸, 就是天使的尺寸”. 这就是这些话的灵义. 若没有灵义, 谁能理解“圣耶路撒冷的城墙”是“按着人的尺寸, 就是天使的尺寸”呢?
注: “耶路撒冷”表示教会(天国的奥秘 402, 3654, 9166节). “城墙”表示抵御虚假与邪恶攻击的真理(天国的奥秘 6419节). “十二”表示作为一个整体的一切真理与良善(天国的奥秘 577, 2089, 2129, 2130, 3272, 3858, 3913节). “七十二”和“一百四十四”所表相同, 因为144就是12与12的乘积(天国的奥秘 7973节). 在圣言中, 一切数字皆表示事物(天国的奥秘 482, 487, 647, 648, 755, 813, 1963, 1988, 2075, 2252, 3252, 4264, 4495, 5265节). 乘出来的数和相乘得出这数的简单数具有相同的含义(天国的奥秘 5291, 5335, 5708, 7973节). 在圣言中, “尺寸”表示事物在真理与良善上的品质(天国的奥秘 3104, 9603节). 关于圣言的灵义或内义, 可参看对《启示录》中白马的解释和《天堂教义》的附录.
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73. 天人呈人形
前面兩章已經解釋, 天國在總體上呈現一個人的形態, 每個社群也是如此。根據前面所提出的因果關係, 可推斷每位天人也呈現一個人的形態。既然天國是人最大的形態, 社群是人較小的形態, 那麼天人自然就是人最小的形態。因為在天國這至為完美的形態裡, 局部形如整體, 整體形如局部。這還因為天國是所有天人的團契。事實上, 團契向每位天人分享一切, 每位天人從團契中獲得一切。天人是一個受體, 所以正如前面所說, 天人是天國最小的形態。
同理, 世上之人若接收天國, 也能成為受體, 天國, 天人(57)。
對此, 啟示錄如此描述:"天人(或天使)又量了聖城耶路撒冷的城牆, 按著人的尺寸, 就是天人的尺寸, 共有一百四十四肘"(啟示錄21:17)。"耶路撒冷"在此指主的教會, 在更高的意義上指天國,"城牆"指保守教會免受罪惡和謬誤攻擊之理。"一百四十四"表示善與理的全部,"尺寸"表示性質。人具足一切善與理, 故也具足
天國。正因如此, 天人也是人的形態, 故經上說:"按著人的尺寸, 就是天人的尺寸。"這是經文的靈義, 若非如此, 誰能理解聖耶路撒冷的城牆的尺寸是"按著人的尺寸, 就是天人的尺寸"呢？
73. Therefore Every Angel Is in Perfect Human Form
It has been explained in the two preceding chapters that heaven as a whole reflects a single individual and that the same holds true for each community in heaven. From the chain of causes presented there, it follows that each single angel reflects the same as well. As heaven is a person in greatest form and a community of heaven is a person in lesser form, so an angel is a person in least form; for in the most perfect form, like the form of heaven, there is a likeness of the whole in the part and of the part in the whole. The reason for this is that heaven is a commonwealth. In fact, it shares everything it has with each individual, and individuals receive everything they have from the commonwealth. An angel is a recipient and therefore a heaven in least form, as has been explained in the relevant chapter above.
To the extent that they accept heaven, people here too are receptacles and heavens, and are angels (see 57 above).
This is described in the Book of Revelation as follows: "The wall of the holy Jerusalem was measured, a hundred and forty-four cubits, the measure of an individual, that is, of the angel" (Revelation 21:17). "Jerusalem" in this passage is the Lord's church, and in a more elevated sense, heaven. 1The wall is the truth that protects it from the assault of false and evil things. 2"A hundred and forty-four" refers to all good and true things as a whole. 3"Measure" refers to its quality. 4The human being is where all these things are found, in general and in specific, and therefore where heaven is found; and since an angel is a person as well because of these characteristics, it says "the measure of an individual, that is, of the angel." This is the spiritual meaning of these words. Apart from this meaning, who would understand that the measure of the wall of the holy Jerusalem would be the measure of an individual, which was the measure of the angel? 5
Footnotes:
1. "Jerusalem" is the church: 402, 3654, 9166.
2. A wall is truth protecting from the assault of false and evil things: 6419.
3. Twelve refers to all true and good things taken together: 577, 2089, 2129-2130, 3272, 3858, 3913. The same holds for seventy-two and for a hundred and forty-four, because a hundred and forty-four is twelve multiplied by itself: 7973. All the numbers in the Word mean something: 482, 487, 647-648, 755, 813, 1963, 1988, 2075, 2252, 3252, 4264, 4495, 5265. Multiples have the same meaning as the simple numbers that produce them: 5291, 5335, 5708, 7973.
4. Measurement in the Word means the quality of an entity in regard to truth and good: 3104, 9603.
5 On the spiritual or inner meaning of the Word, see the expository work The White Horse Mentioned in the Book of Revelation, and the appendix to The New Jerusalem and Its Heavenly Doctrine.
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73. THEREFORE EACH ANGEL IS IN A COMPLETE HUMAN FORM
In the two preceding sections it has been shown that heaven in its whole complex resembles one man, as does any one society in heaven. From the sequence of reasons there set forth, it follows that this is equally true of each angel. As heaven is man in the greatest form, and a society of heaven in a less form, so is an angel in the least form. For, in the most perfect form such as that of heaven is, there is a likeness of the whole in the part and of the part in the whole. This is the case for the reason that heaven is a communion, for it communicates all it has with each one, and each one receives all he has from that communion. An angel is a receptacle, and by virtue of this, a heaven in least form, as was also shown above in the appropriate section. A man, too, so far as he receives heaven, is also a receptacle, a heaven and an angel (see above 57). This is described in the Revelation as follows,
He measured the wall of the holy Jerusalem, a hundred and forty-four cubits, the measure of a man, that is of an angel. Revelation 21:17.
"Jerusalem" 1there is the Lord's Church, and, in a higher sense, heaven; the "wall" 2is the truth that is a defence against the assault of falsities and evils; the "hundred and forty-four" are all truths and goods in the complex; 3the "measure" 4is the quality; a "man" is one in whom are all goods and truths in general and particular, that is, in whom is heaven, and as it is from these that an angel also is a man, it is said, the "measure of a man" which is that of an angel. This is the spiritual sense of the words. Without that sense, who could understand that the wall of the Holy Jerusalem is the measure of a man, that is, of an angel? 5
Footnotes:
1. "Jerusalem" is the Church (Arcana Coelestia 402, 3654, 9166).
2. A "wall" is truth defending against the assault of falsities and evils (Arcana Coelestia 6419).
3. "Twelve" stands for all truths and goods in the complex (Arcana Coelestia 577, 2089, 2129-2130, 3272, 3858, 3913).
Likewise "seventy-two", and "a hundred and forty-four", since 144 comes from 12 multiplied into itself (Arcana Coelestia 7973).
All numbers in the Word signify things (Arcana Coelestia 482, 487, 647-648, 755, 813, 1963, 1988, 2075, 2252, 3252, 4264, 4495, 5265).
Multiplied numbers have a like signification as the simple numbers from which they arise by multiplication (Arcana Coelestia 5291, 5335, 5708, 7973).
4. "Measure" in the Word signifies the quality of a thing in respect of truth and good (Arcana Coelestia 3104, 9603).
5. In regard to the spiritual or internal sense of the Word see the explanation of THE WHITE HORSE in the Apocalypse, and the Appendix to THE HEAVENLY DOCTRINE.
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73. THEREFORE EVERY ANGEL IS IN A COMPLETE HUMAN FORM.
In the two preceding chapters it has been shown that heaven in its whole complex, and likewise each society in heaven, reflects a single man. From the sequence of reasons there set forth it follows that this is equally true of each angel. As heaven is a man in largest form, and a society of heaven in a less form, so is an angel in least. For in the most perfect form, such as the form of heaven is, there is a likeness of the whole in the part and of the part in the whole. This is so for the reason that heaven is a common sharing, for it shares all it has with each one, and each one receives all he has from that sharing. Because an angel is thus a recipient he is a heaven in least form, as shown above in its chapter; and a man also, so far as he receives heaven, is a recipient, a heaven, and an angel (see above, 57). This is thus described in the Apocalypse:-
He measured the wall of the holy Jerusalem, a hundred and forty and four cubits, the measure of a man, which is that of an angel (Apocalypse 21:17).
"Jerusalem" means here the Lord's church, and in a more eminent sense, heaven; 1the "wall" means truth, which is a defence against the assault of falsities and evils; 2"a hundred and forty and four" means all goods and truths in the complex; 3"measure" means what a thing is, 4a "man" means one in whom are goods and truths in general and in particular, thus in whom is heaven. And as it is from this that an angel is a man, it is said "the measure of a man, which is that of an angel." This is the spiritual meaning of these words. Without that meaning how could it be seen that "the wall of the Holy Jerusalem" is "the measure of a man, which is that of an angel?" 5
Footnotes:
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73. [X.] QUOD INDE UNUSQUISQUE ANGELUS SIT IN PERFECTA FORMA HUMANA.
In binis praecedentibus articulis ostensum est, quod caelum in toto complexu referat unum hominem, et quod similiter unaquaevis societas in caelo: ex nexu causarum, quae ibi adductae sunt, sequitur quod unusquisque angelus pariter referat. Sicut caelum est homo in maxima forma, et societas caeli in minore, ita angelus est in minima; nam in perfectissima forma, qualis est forma caeli, similitudo totius est in parte, et partis in toto: causa quod ita sit, est, quia caelum est communio, communicat enim omnia sua cum unoquovis, et unusquisque recipit ex communione illa omnia sua; angelus est receptaculum, et inde caelum in minima forma, ut quoque in suo articulo supra ostensum est. Homo etiam, quantum recipit caelum, tantum quoque est receptaculum, est caelum, et est angelus (videatur supra, 57). Hoc describitur ita in Apocalypsi,
"Mensus est murum" sanctae Hierosolymae, "centum quadraginta quatuor cubitorum, mensura hominis quae est angeli," (21:17):
"Hierosolyma" ibi est ecclesia Domini, et in eminentiori sensu caelum; 1"murus" est verum quod ab insultu falsorum et malorum tutatur; 2"centum quadraginta quatuor" sunt omnia vera et bona in complexu 3"mensura" est quale ejus 4"homo" est in quo omnia illa in communi et in parte, ita in quo caelum et quia angelus etiam est homo ex illis, ideo dicitur, "mensura hominis quae est angeli." Hic sensus spiritualis est illorum verborum. Quis absque illo sensu intellecturus esset, quod murus sanctae Hierosolymae esset mensura hominis quae angeli? 5
Footnotes: