1、在启示录，我们读到：
我看见一个新天新地，因为先前的天和先前的地已经过去了。我又看见圣城新耶路撒冷由神那里从天而降，预备好了，就如新妇妆饰整齐，等候丈夫。城有高大的墙，有十二个门，门上有十二位天使，又有名字写在上头，就是以色列十二支派的名字。城墙有十二根基，根基上有羔羊十二使徒的名字。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；又量了城墙，按着人的尺寸，就是天使的尺寸，共有一百四十四肘。墙是碧玉造的；城是精金的，如同明净的玻璃。城墙的根基是用各样宝石修饰的。十二个门是十二颗珍珠。城内的街道是精金，好像明透的玻璃。有神的荣耀光照它，又有羔羊为城的灯。得救的列族要在城的光里行走，地上的君王必将自己的荣耀、尊贵归与那城。（启示录21:1，2，12-24）
凡阅读这段经文的人只能按字义理解它们。他们以为，可见的天地将毁灭，一个新天将出现，并以一座圣城，就是具有上述尺寸的耶路撒冷的形式降在新地上。
然而，天使却以完全不同的方式来理解它。他们以一种属灵的方式来理解我们以一种属世的方式所理解的细节，并且他们理解这些细节的真正含义。这就是圣言的内义或灵义。就天使所理解的内义或灵义而言，“一个新天新地”表示一个在天上和地上的新教会（后面会详细讨论这两个地方的教会，2-5节）。“由神那里从天而降的圣城耶路撒冷”表示新教会的天堂教义；一样的“长、宽、高”表示总体上该教义的一切良善和真理。“城墙”表示保护它的真理；“墙的尺寸，按着人的尺寸，就是天使的尺寸，共有一百四十四肘”表示总体上所有这些保护真理及其性质。珍珠的“十二个门”表示引入真理，与“门上的十二位天使”所表相同。“各样宝石修饰的城墙的根基”表示作为该教义基础的知识。“以色列十二支派”和“十二使徒”表示该教会的一切事物，无论总体还是细节。像“明透玻璃的精金”的城及其街道表示爱之良善，教义及其真理因爱之良善而透明、发光。得救的“列族”，以及将荣耀、尊贵归与那城的“地上君王”表示教会中所有处于良善和真理的人。“神”和“羔羊”表示主的神性本身和神性人身。
这就是圣言的属灵意义（译注：简称灵义），而属世意义，即字义则是它的基础。尽管如此，这两层意义，即属灵意义和属世意义，仍通过它们的对应关系而形成一体。我不打算在这本书中说明上述经文中有这样一种属灵意义，因为这不是我当前的任务；不过，读者可参看《属天的奥秘》一书中以下地方对它的证明。在圣言中，“地”，尤其当用于迦南地时，表示教会（AC662，1066-1067，1262，1413，1607，2928，3355，4447，4535，5577，8011，9325，9643节）。因为“地”在灵义上表示住于其上的民族及其敬拜（AC262节），那地上的人表示那些属于属灵教会的人（AC2928节）。“新天新地”表示就良善和真理，因而就两个领域的教会的事物而言，天上和地上的某种新事物（AC1733，1850，2117，2118，3355，4535，10373节）。至于过去的“先前的天和先前的地”表示什么，可参看《最后的审判》（译注：该书全称《最后的审判和巴比伦的毁灭》）全文，尤其65-72节。
“耶路撒冷”表示教义方面的教会（AC402，3654，9166节）。“城”表示属于教会和宗教的教义（AC402，2451，2712，2943，3216，4492，4493节）。“城墙”表示教义的保护真理（AC6419节）。“城门”表示引入教义并通过教义引入教会的真理（AC2943，4477，4492，4493节）。“以色列十二支派”代表，因而表示教会的一切真理和良善，无论总体还是细节，因而表示信和爱的全部事物（AC3858，3926，6335，6640节）。“主的十二使徒”所表相同（AC2129，3272，3354，3488，3858，6397节）。当经上论到使徒们说：“他们要坐在十二个宝座上，审判以色列十二个支派”（马太福音19:28；路加福音22:30）时，这句话表示所有人都要照教会的良善和真理，因而被它们所来自的主审判（AC2129，6397节）。“十二”表示总体上的一切事物（AC577，2089，2129，2130，3272，3858，3913节）。
“一百四十四”所表相同，因为它是十二乘十二的积（AC7973节）；“一万二千”具有相同的含义（AC7973节）。在圣言中，所有数字都表示事物（AC482，487，647，648，755，813，1963，1988，2075，2252，3252，4264，6175，9488，9659，10217，10253节）。倍数和它的因数具有相同的含义（AC5291，5335，5708，7973节）。“尺寸”表示一个事物在真理和良善方面的性质（AC3104，9603，10262节）。“城墙的根基”表示作为教义基础的真理的知识（AC9643节）。“四方”或正方形表示完整或完美之物（AC9717，9861节）。“长”表示良善及其延伸，“宽”表示真理及其延伸（AC1613，9861节）。“宝石”表示源于良善的真理（AC114，9863，9865节）。乌陵和土明中的“宝石”表示什么，无论总体还是细节（AC3862，9864，9866，9891，9895，9905节）。造城墙的“碧玉”表示什么（AC9872节）。
“城内的街道”表示源于良善的教义真理（AC2336节）。“金”表示爱之良善（AC113，1551，1552，5658，6914，6917，9510，9874，9881节）。“荣耀”表示诸如存在于天上的那种神性真理，以及由此而来的聪明和智慧（AC4809，5922，8267，8427，9429，10574节）。“列族”表示教会中那些处于良善的人，在抽象意义上表示教会的良善（AC1159，1258，1260，1285，1416，1849，4574，7830，9255，9256节）。“君王” 表示教会中那些处于真理的人，在抽象意义上表示教会的真理（AC1672，2015，2069，4575，5044节）。君王加冕礼上的仪式与神性真理的事物有关，但关于这些事物的知识如今已经消失了（AC4581，4966节）。
1、《启示录》中写道：
我看见一个新天新地，因为先前的天地已经过去了。我又看见圣城新耶路撒冷由神那里从天而降，预备好了，就如新妇妆饰整齐，等候丈夫。城有高大的墙，有十二个门，门上有十二位天使，门上又写着以色列十二个支派的名字。城墙有十二根基，根基上有羔羊十二使徒的名字。城是四方的，长宽一样。天使用苇子量那城，共有一万二千视距；长、宽、高都是一样；又量了城墙，一百四十四肘。按着人的尺寸，就是天使的尺寸。墙是碧玉造的；城是精金的，如同明净的玻璃。城墙的根基是用各样宝石修饰的。十二个门是十二颗珍珠。城内的街道是精金，好像明透的玻璃。有神的荣耀光照，又有羔羊为城的灯。列国要在城的光里行走，地上的君王必将自己的荣耀归与那城。（21:1，2，12-24）
阅读这些内容的人只根据字面意思理解它们。即，可见的天与地将毁灭，会有一个新天堂，符合上述尺寸的圣城耶路撒冷将降临在新地上。但是天使（天堂居民）对这些内容的理解完全不同，也就是说，人的理解是属世的（*属自然或属物质的），天使的理解是属灵的。天使理解的才是它们的真正意思，即圣言的内义或灵义。就内义或灵义而言，“一个新天与一个新地”表示一个既在天堂又在地上的新教会，这一点在后面会更详细地论述。“圣城新耶路撒冷由神那里从天而降”表示新教会的天堂教义；一样的“长、宽、高”在总体上表示那个教义的一切良善与真理。城的“墙”表示保护教义的真理；“墙的尺寸，一百四十四肘，按一个人的尺寸标准，也就是按一个天使的尺寸标准”，它从总体上表示所有那些保护真理，以及表示它们的性质。珍珠做的“十二个门”表示引导真理；“门口的十二位天使”表示的意思一样。
“各样宝石修饰的城墙根基”表示教义建立其上的知识。“以色列十二支派”和“十二使徒”均表示该教会总体和细节上的一切事物。像“明净玻璃的精金”的城及其街道表示让教义及其真理显现出来的爱之良善。被拯救的“列国”和将光荣与荣誉带进城的“地上众王”表示处在良善与真理之中的所有教会。“上帝”与“羔羊”表示就神性本身与神性人身而言的主。上述是圣言的属灵含义。文字的字面含义是作为基础。但是这两种含义，灵义与字义，仍然通过对应合而为一。本书的计划不是揭示上述经文有这样一种属灵含义，不过在《属天的奥秘》中能看到对属灵含义的论证，它们是在下列章节里：《圣经》中的“地”表示教会，特别是用于迦南地时（662，1066，1067，1262，1413，1607，2928，3355，4447，4535，5577，8011，9325，9643）。因为“地”在灵义上指住在其上的民族及其敬拜（1262）。“地上的居民”表示属灵教会中的那些人（2928）。“一个新天与一个新地”表示天堂和人间的新事物，即关于良善和真理的新事物，因此是与两地教会有关的那些新事物（1733，1850，2117，2118，3355，4535，10373）。已经过去了的“先前的天地”的含义能在《最后的审判和巴比伦的毁灭》整本书中得知，而详情是在no.65至72部分。
“耶路撒冷”表示就教义而言的教会（402，3654，9166）。“城”表示属于教会与宗教的教义（402，2449，2712，2943，3216，4492，4493）。“一座城的墙”表示教义的保护真理（6419）。“一座城的门”表示引向教义的真理，及通过教义引向教会（2943，4477，4492，4493）。“以色列十二个支派”代表因而表示教会总体和细节上的所有良善与真理，因此是属于信仰和爱的所有事物（3858，3926，4060，6335）。“主的十二使徒”表示同样的意思（2129，3272，3354，3488，3858，6397）。当说到使徒，即说到“他们将坐在十二个宝座上，审判以色列十二个支派”时，它表示所有人将根据教会的良善与真理被审判，因此是由创造他们的主执行审判（2129，6397）。“十二”从总体上表示所有事物（577，2089，2129，2130，3272，3858，3913）。“一百四十四”也表示相同意思，因为这个数字是十二乘十二的结果（7973）；“一万二千”也有同样含义（7973）。
《圣经》中的所有数字都表示事物（482，487，647，648，755，813，1963，1988，2075，2252，3252，4264，6175，9488，9659，10217，10253）。数字相乘的结果与相乘的单个数字表示相同含义（5291，5335，5708，7973）。“测量”表示一个事物就真理和良善而言的性质 （3104，9603，10262）。“一座墙的根基”表示教义建立其上的真理知识（9643）。“四边形的”或“正方形的”表示完美的（事物）（9717，9861）。“长”表示良善及它的范围，“宽”表示真理及它的范围（1613，9487）。在总体和细节上，乌陵和土明里的宝石表示什么（3862，9864，9866，9891，9895，9905）。造墙用的“碧玉”表示什么（9872）。“城内的街道”表示来自良善的教义真理（2336）。“黄金”表示爱的良善（113，1551，1552，5658，6914，6917，9510，9874，9881）。“光荣”表示神圣真理，比如在天堂里、才智和智慧从其而来的真理（4809，5068，5922，8267，8427，429，10574）。“民族”表示教会里的那些良善之人，抽象上表示教会的良善（1059，1159，1258，1261，1285，1416，1849，4574，7830，9255，9256）。“君王”表示教会里那些拥有真理的人，因此抽象地表示教会的真理（1672，2015，2069，4575，5044）。“君王的加冕仪式”涉及到属于神圣真理的事物，但是关于这些事物的知识在今日遗失了（4581，4966）。
1. The New Heaven and the New Earth, and What Is Meant by "the New Jerusalem"
It says in the Book of Revelation,
I saw a new heaven and a new earth, because the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. And I saw the holy city, the New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. The city had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and on the gates were twelve angels, and names written that are the names of the twelve tribes of Israel.
And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
The city was laid out as a square; its length was as great as its breadth.
And [the angel who talked with me] measured the city with a reed: twelve thousand stadia. 1Its length, breadth, and height were equal.
Then he measured its wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits, 2which is the measure of a human being, that is, of an angel. 3
Its wall was made of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. 4The foundations of the wall of the city were made of precious stones of every kind.
The twelve gates were twelve pearls. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.
The glory of God illuminated it, and the Lamb was its light.
The nations of those who are saved will walk in its light, and the monarchs of the earth will bring their glory and honor into it. (Revelation 21:1, 2, 12-24)
When people read this, they understand it only in literal terms. 5They think that the visible heavens are going to be destroyed along with the earth and that new heavens are going to come into being and come down onto the new earth in the form of a holy city, a Jerusalem with the dimensions given in the description.
[2] Angels understand it in a completely different way, though. They understand in a spiritual way the details that we understand in an earthly way, 6and they understand what those details really mean. This is the inner or spiritual meaning of the Word. 7In the deeper or spiritual meaning that angels are engaged in, a new heaven and a new earth mean a new church both in heaven and on earth (both will be discussed later [2-5]). The holy city coming down from God out of heaven means its heavenly teachings. Its length, breadth, and height, which were equal, mean everything in those teachings that is good and true, all gathered together. Its wall means the truths that protect it. The measure of the wall, being one hundred and forty-four cubits, which is the measure of a human being, that is, of an angel means all those protective truths gathered together, as well as the nature of those truths. The twelve gates, which were pearls, mean introductory truths, as do the twelve angels on the gates. The foundations of the wall, which were made of precious stones of every kind, mean the knowledge on which the teachings are based. The twelve tribes of Israel mean all elements of the church in general and in particular, as do the twelve apostles. The gold like clear glass that the city and streets were made of means good actions done out of love, 8which cause the teachings and their truths to shine. The nations of those who are saved and the monarchs of the earth who will bring their glory and honor into it mean everyone in the church who is devoted to what is good and true. 9God and the Lamb mean the Lord's 10divine nature itself and his divine-human nature. 11
[3] This is what the spiritual meaning of the Word is like; the earthly or literal meaning serves as its foundation. All the same, these two meanings, the spiritual and the earthly, are bound together by their correspondence. 12I will not take the time here to show that this kind of spiritual meaning is present throughout because that is not my current task, but the reader may see what is presented in the following passages of Secrets of Heaven. 13
On earth in the Word as meaning the church, especially where earth means the land of Canaan: Secrets of Heaven 662, 1066, 1067, 1262, 1413, 1607, 2928, 3355, 4447, 4535, 5577, 8011, 9325, 9643. This is because earth, spiritually understood, means the people who live there and their worship: 262. The people of the earth [or the land] mean those who are part of the spiritual church: 2928. The new heaven and the new earth mean whatever is new in the heavens and on earth in terms of what is good and true, which means in matters of the church in both realms: 1733, 1850, 2117, 2118, 3355, 4535, 10373. On the meaning of the first heaven and the first earth that had passed away, see the booklet The Last Judgment and Babylon Destroyed 14from beginning to end, especially 65-72.
[4] On Jerusalem meaning the church in regard to its teachings, see Secrets of Heaven 402, 3654, 9166. On cities meaning the teachings that are part of a church and a religion, see 402, 2451, 2712, 2943, 3216, 4492, 4493. On the wall of the city meaning the protective truth of the teachings, see 6419. On the gates of the city meaning truths that lead us to a body of teaching and through that teaching into the church, see 2943, 4477, 4492, 4493. On the twelve tribes of Israel as representing and therefore symbolizing 15everything good and true in the church both in general and in particular, and therefore all aspects of faith and love, see 3858, 3926, 6335, 6640. The meaning of the twelve apostles of the Lord is much the same: 2129, 3272, 3354, 3488, 3858, 6397. When it says that the apostles will sit on twelve thrones and will judge the twelve tribes of Israel [Matthew 19:28; Luke 22:30], it means that everyone will be judged according to the true and good principles of the church and therefore by the Lord who is their source: 2129, 6397. Twelve means everything taken together: 577, 2089, 2129, 2130, 3272, 3858, 3913.
[5] The same holds true for one hundred and forty-four because this is twelve times twelve: 7973. It holds true also for twelve thousand: 7973. All the numbers in the Word have definable meanings: 482, 487, 647, 648, 755, 813, 1963, 1988, 2075, 2252, 3252, 4264, 6175, 9488, 9659, 10217, 10253. Multiples mean much the same as the individual factors that are multiplied to produce them: 5291, 5335, 5708, 7973. The measure means what a given thing is like in regard to its truth and goodness: 3104, 9603, 10262. The foundations of the wall mean the knowledge of truth on which elements of the teachings are based: 9643. Square means complete: 9717, 9861. Length means goodness and its extent, and breadth means truth and its extent: 1613, 9861. Precious stones mean true perceptions that arise from what is good: 114, 9863, 9865. On the precious stones in the Urim and Thummim, 16both in general and specifically, see 3862, 9864, 9866, 9891, 9905. On the jasper of which the wall was made, see 9872.
[6] The street of the city means the truth of the teachings that arises from what is good: 2336. Gold means good actions that come from love: 113, 1551, 1552, 5658, 6914, 6917, 9510, 9874, 9881. Glory means divine truth as it exists in heaven and the intelligence and wisdom that result from it: 4809, 5922, 8267, 8427, 9429, 10574. Nations mean the people in the church who are committed to what is good, and in an abstract sense the good actions that are taught by the church: 1159, 1258, 1260, 1285, 1416, 1849, 4574, 7830, 9255, 9256. Monarchs mean the people in the church who are committed to what is true, and in an abstract sense the truths that are taught by the church: 1672, 2015, 2069, 4575, 5044. The rituals involved in royal coronations have to do with matters of divine truth, but nowadays awareness of this symbolism has vanished: 4581, 4966 (which contain further discussion about divine truth).
Footnotes:
1. A stadium ("stadia" is the plural) was an ancient Greek unit of distance. It was always equal to 600 feet in the local measuring units, but since that local value varied, the value of the stadium itself cannot be stated definitively. By one common estimate, it can be taken to equal about 607 (United States customary) feet, or 185 meters. A distance of twelve thousand stadia would then be approximately 1380 miles, or 2220 kilometers. See the Oxford Classical Dictionary, under "measures"; for examples of the variation in this unit in just one ancient Greek author, see the article cited there, Bauslaugh 1979, 5-6, with note 6 in New Jerusalem 2. [SS, JSR]
2. A cubit is the length from the tip of the middle finger to the elbow, approximately seventeen to eighteen inches (43. 18 to 45. 72 centimeters). The extent in question is presumably the height of the wall surrounding the city (which is far less than the height of the entire city), though some interpreters hold that the measurement refers to the thickness of the walls. In any case, the measurement would equate with approximately 204 to 216 feet (62. 18 to 65. 8 meters). [GFD, RS, SS]
3. The statement in Revelation 21:17 that "one hundred and forty-four cubits" is "the measure of a human being, that is, of an angel" is somewhat obscure. Given the reference to a measuring rod used by the angel in the preceding verses (Revelation 21:15-16), the natural inclination is to interpret this passage about the measurement of the wall as indicating that a cubit is the human standard of measurement that the particular angel in question was using, as many modern translations do; see, for example, the New Revised Standard Version, the New International Version, and the International Standard Version. However, Swedenborg interprets the wording nonidiomatically as indicating that both a human and an angel have the same measure; and since according to Swedenborg the inner meaning of "measure" is the quality of a thing (in the case of a person, the quality of her or his goodness and truth), the statement, he says, indicates that humans and angels have the same spiritual quality. See, for example, Secrets of Heaven 8988[4], 9603:2, 10217:9; Heaven and Hell 73; Revelation Unveiled 910; Revelation Explained (= Swedenborg 1994-1997a) 430:4. In the last cited section especially, Swedenborg states that the words in this verse mean specifically that one hundred and forty-four cubits (which has its own inner meaning), and not just a single cubit, is the measurement of a human being and also of an angel. In several of the passages cited he also says that this verse is unintelligible if the New Jerusalem is understood as a literal city. See also the similar line of argument in New Jerusalem 6. [LSW]
4. The literal meaning of the phrase "pure gold, like clear glass" in the biblical text here (Revelation 21:18), like the meaning of "pure gold, like transparent glass" in a later verse (Revelation 21:21), is not certain, but it probably is meant to suggest an idealized gold so free of opaque impurities as to take on the transparent qualities of crystalline glass. Compare 1 Kings 6:20-22, 28, 30, 32, in which the interior of Solomon's temple is said to be covered with pure gold. [SS]
5. Literal interpretations of the Book of Revelation are more common than allegorical or esoteric interpretations of the text. One of the earliest attestations of a literal interpretation can be found in the writings of the church father Justin Martyr (around 100-around 165 C. E.): "A man among us, named John, one of Christ's apostles, received a revelation and foretold that the followers of Christ would dwell in Jerusalem for a thousand years, and that afterward the universal and, in short, everlasting resurrection and judgment would take place" (Justin Martyr Dialogue with Trypho, 81 [= Justin Martyr 2003, 127]). Whether literal or otherwise, interpretations of Revelation have been broadly grouped into three categories: the eschatological, which see the text as dealing explicitly with the end times; the historical, which see it as reflecting current events at the time of the work's composition in the late first century of the Christian era; and the mythological, which view it as a compendium of earlier legendary material (McGinn 1979, 13). Swedenborg's interpretation does not fall into any of these categories. For more discussion, see the introduction, pages 70-72. [RS]
6. The Latin word here translated "in an earthly way" is naturaliter, traditionally translated "naturally. " In Swedenborg's terminology, the concept of "the natural" denotes a range of things from what is purely physical and material to what is earthly in the minds or preoccupations of angels and spirits, who are themselves nonmaterial beings. (On angels and spirits in Swedenborg's works, see note 2 in New Jerusalem 25.) [JSR]
7. By "the Word" Swedenborg generally means the Bible-a terminology that was prominent in the world of his Lutheran upbringing. However, though he does at times use the term in that general sense, especially in his later theological works, his predominant use of it refers to a biblical canon that is a subset of the Protestant canon. His canon is defined and listed in three parallel passages in his earlier theological works: Secrets of Heaven 10325, New Jerusalem<\i>266, and White Horse 16. In these passages Swedenborg defines "the Word" as those books of the Bible "that have an inner meaning" (more on this below), and provides a list of the books that qualify. In New Jerusalem 266 the relevant passage reads: "In the Old Testament, the books of the Word are the following: the five books of Moses, the Book of Joshua, the Book of Judges, the two books of Samuel, the two books of Kings, the Psalms of David, and the prophets-Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. In the New Testament: the four Gospels-Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John-and the Book of Revelation. " The books in the Protestant and Catholic canons of the Bible that are not on this list-namely, Ruth, 1 and 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs (Song of Solomon) in the Old Testament; all the books now included in the Apocrypha; and Acts and the Epistles in the New Testament-are not part of "the Word" as Swedenborg most commonly uses the term. However, in his last theological works and manuscripts, which seem to be addressed more specifically to a traditional Christian audience, he often uses the term "the Word" to refer to the more familiar Protestant canon of Scripture, including Acts and the Epistles; see, for example, True Christianity 158, 176, 601, 675:2, 730:1; Draft for "Coda to True Christianity" (= Swedenborg 1996a) 2:3, 23:2; Draft Invitation to the New Church (= Swedenborg 1996c) Draft Invitation to the New Church 47. In one of these passages, for example, he cites a phrase that is "frequently mentioned in the Word of the New Testament, both in the Gospels and in the Acts of the Apostles and their Epistles" ( True Christianity 158). In two other passages, he apparently refers to Acts and the Epistles as "the Apostolic Word" (Draft for "Coda True Christianity" 1, 59:5; compare True Christianity 730:1). By contrast, he never overtly quotes or cites Acts or the Epistles in his earlier works, such as Secrets of Heaven and the works of 1758, although there are allusions to them. The first explicit reference to Acts or the Epistles in his published theological writings occurs in his 1764 work Divine Providence 115, in which he quotes Romans 3:28 and Romans 3:31. However, in his earlier works there are scattered explicit references to several books in the Protestant canon of the Old Testament that are not included in Swedenborg's canon: 1 and 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Job, and Song of Solomon. References to the Book of Job, in particular, are occasionally included in lists of references to passages from "the Word" (see, for example, Secrets of Heaven 46, 737, 3901, 9125, 9818), indicating that even in his earlier works Swedenborg sometimes uses that term in its more generally accepted meaning. Still, he is careful to point out that although Job and the Song of Solomon, in particular, are ancient books containing deeper meanings, they do not have the same kind of inner meaning that is contained in the books he defines more specifically as "the Word" (see, for example, Secrets of Heaven 1756:2, 3540:4, 9942:5; Sacred Scripture 20). The inner meaning of the books he includes in his canon of Scripture, he says, is characterized by a "vertical" series of layers of meaning that extend inward and upward all the way to the Lord, and whose subject is the Lord, his kingdom, and the church, which is the Lord's kingdom on earth (see Secrets of Heaven 1-4, 2343:2, 4442:2, 5275:2, 7417). He also describes that inner meaning as being "horizontally" continuous in the sense of extending seamlessly from one word, verse, and chapter to the next, without break or interruption (see Secrets of Heaven 1659:1-2, 2102:2, 4987, 7933:3, 9022). Without this type of "vertical" and "horizontal" series and continuity of deeper meaning, Swedenborg says, a book is not a book of "the Word" in the fullest and most proper sense of the term-which is the sense in which he most commonly uses that term in his theological writings. [JSR, LSW]
8. The Latin words here translated "good actions done out of love" are bonum amoris, literally, "the good of love," or "the good that arises from love. " The Latin word bonum (literally, "good thing"), as used by Swedenborg, very often has the sense of "goodness, or a good, that arises specifically out of an action performed," or "a good action," or "a good thing done. " See Chadwick and Rose 2008, under bonum, definition 4, and under bonus, definition 6. This use of the word is much in keeping with Swedenborg's focus on the importance of "doing" truth, goodness, and love rather than merely knowing or acknowledging the importance of those things. See, for example, Secrets of Heaven 4538:4-5, 5595:1, 9282; New Jerusalem 23:1 and note 1 in New Jerusalem 23 there. [SS]
9. "What is good" (Latin bonum) and "what is true" (Latin verum) and their respective equivalents "goodness," "good," or "the good," and "truth" are the most frequently occurring terms in Swedenborg's theological works. Echoing ancient philosophical and ethical traditions, in Swedenborg's theology these concepts stand in a complementary relationship to all things: that is, absolutely everything, whether physical, psychological, or spiritual, relates to goodness or truth or to a "marriage" of both (or to their opposites, evil and falsity). Their complementarity is so all-encompassing that in the relevant chapter in this work (New Jerusalem 11-19, with further references to Secrets of Heaven in 20-27), Swedenborg defines them only in terms of each other. In Swedenborg's system, goodness encompasses affective qualities such as love, affection, desire, and caring, and corresponds to physical heat, while truth encompasses cognitive qualities such as wisdom, thought, perception, and faith, and corresponds to physical light (on "caring," see note 3 in New Jerusalem 2; on "correspondences," see note 12 in New Jerusalem 1). Swedenborg uses these terms almost algebraically to stand in for things ranging from the sublimely abstract to the utterly concrete. [JSR]
10. In Swedenborg's works, "the Lord" (Latin Dominus) generally refers to Jesus Christ as God, though sometimes to God previous to the Incarnation. A core concept in Swedenborg's theology is that there are not three persons in the Trinity; there is one person, whose soul is the unknowable Divine, whose human manifestation is Jesus Christ, and whose operative influence is the Holy Spirit. Of the many names and terms from philosophical and biblical backgrounds that Swedenborg uses to denote God (the Divine Being, the Divine, the Divine-Human One, the One, the Infinite, the First, the Creator, the Redeemer, the Savior, Jehovah, God Shaddai, and many more), "the Lord" is the most frequently met with. It is a title rather than a name, meaning "the one in charge," and referring to Jesus Christ as the manifestation of the one and only God. For Swedenborg's brief explanation of his reasons for using "the Lord," see Secrets of Heaven 14. See also chapter 2 of True Christianity. [JSR]
11. The Latin here translated "divine-human nature" is Divinum Humanum, in which two adjectives are put together to form a noun, meaning "that which is both divine and human. " The Latin is a term of neuter grammatical gender. Swedenborg also uses a parallel phrase made up of two nouns, Deus Homo, "God-Human. " In Swedenborg's theology, the divine-human nature generally refers to God existing and appearing in human form, and more specifically to the Lord (Jesus Christ) when fully "glorified" (see note 113) or made divine. For more on the divine-human nature as compared to the divine nature itself, see New Jerusalem 282-297; Secrets of Heaven 3061, 6280, 6880, 10579; True Christianity 82-84, 92-94, 101-102. See also the extensive references to Secrets of Heaven in New Jerusalem 298-306. [GFD, LSW]
12. The concept of correspondence is briefly defined in Divine Love and Wisdom 71as "the mutual relationship between spiritual and earthly things. " In its full formulation, it holds that there are two separate "universes" or worlds, one spiritual and one material, that are related to each other through similarity but not through any shared matter or direct continuity. The material world is caused by God through the spiritual world and therefore reflects that constantly changing world; physical phenomena and events offer images of-that is, are "responsive to" or "correspond to"-spiritual phenomena and events. Swedenborg sees his canon of "the Word" (see note 7 in New Jerusalem 1) as "written in pure correspondences" (Heaven and Hell 114), and so understands the earthly circumstances, characters, and events it describes as reflections or images of spiritual ones. [JSR, SS, GFD]
13. Secrets of Heaven was published by Swedenborg in London in eight volumes between 1749 and 1756. [Editors]
14. In this edition, the work Swedenborg mentions here is referred to by the short title Last Judgment. It was published by Swedenborg in London in 1758. [Editors]
15. The Latin word here translated "representing" is a form of the verb repraesentare; the Latin word translated "symbolizing" is a form of the verb significare. These terms are heavily used in Swedenborg's theology, and they have related but distinguishable meanings. Both indicate the presence of an inner meaning in an object, person, name, or action, but symbolism directs our attention to the meaning itself (especially as communicated by words), whereas representation generally directs our attention to the living enactment of that meaning (especially by persons). A typical example occurs in Secrets of Heaven 3131, which expounds a phrase in Genesis 24:29, "And Laban ran to the man outside at the spring. " Swedenborg describes this as symbolizing the predisposition that goodness has toward truth; running symbolizes predisposition, and a man symbolizes truth, as does a spring, but Laban represents a desire for what is good. These distinctions apply only where Swedenborg is using the word symbolize in a technical sense. Often he uses it much more broadly. For more on these distinctions in inner meaning in relation to various modes of biblical writing, see Secrets of Heaven 66. On representations in general, see Secrets of Heaven 4044. [LHC, GHO]
16. "Urim" and "Thummim" are transliterations of two plural Hebrew words, אוּרִים ('ûrîm) and תּוּמִּים (tummîm), meaning "the lights" and "the perfections," respectively. (Swedenborg adds that Thummim means "radiance" in the language of angels; see True Christianity 218.) The Urim and Thummim were associated with the breastplate of the high priest of the Israelites (Exodus 28:30; Leviticus 8:8). Their exact nature and function are unknown. Swedenborg equates them with the breastplate itself (as seems to be the case here), and also with the stones in it (see Secrets of Heaven 3858:9, 3862, 6335:2, 9905; True Christianity 218; Revelation Explained [= Swedenborg 1994-1997a] 431:3, 15). The Jewish historian Flavius Josephus (37 or 38-after 93 C. E.) states: "God declared beforehand, by those twelve stones which the high priest bare on his breast, and which were inserted into his breastplate, when [the Israelites] should be victorious in battle; for so great a splendor shone forth from [the stones] before the army began to march, that all the people were sensible of God's being present for their assistance" (Flavius Josephus Antiquities of the Jews 3. 8. 9 = Josephus 1997, 105). Hence the common view that the Urim and Thummim were themselves the twelve stones and grew bright or dimmed in response to questions. This view is reflected in Swedenborg's discussions of them, as seen in the references above, and in Secrets of Heaven 6640:2. A comprehensive recent study (Van Dam 1997) does conclude that "Urim and Thummim" should be translated as "perfect light" and that they were believed to authenticate inspired prophecy. According to Van Dam's reconstruction of Jewish belief about their usage, military or political questions with existential significance for the kingdom of Israel would be ritually posed to the high priest; the high priest would then respond in the form of an ecstatic or prophetic utterance, and the Urim and Thummim on his breastplate would shine with "perfect light" if his words had been sent by Jehovah. Nevertheless, 1 Samuel 14:41-42, the most specific description of their use, suggests that they were a kind of lot. Other references in the Hebrew Bible give little indication of what they were or how they were used: Numbers 27:21; Deuteronomy 33:8; 1 Samuel 28:6; Ezra 2:63; Nehemiah 7:65. [LHC, RS, JSR, DNG, LSW]
1. Introduction: The New Sky and the New Land, and What “The New Jerusalem” Means
It says in the book of Revelation:
I saw a new sky and a new land. The first sky and the first land had disappeared.... Then I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of the sky like a bride ready for her husband....
The city had a huge, high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates. The names of Israel’s twelve tribes were written on the gates.... The city’s wall had twelve foundations, with the names of the Lamb’s twelve apostles on them....
The city had a square layout: its length was the same as its width. The city was measured with a measuring rod and found to be 12,000 stadia [1,379 miles]: its length, width, and height were equal. Its wall was measured to be 144 cubits [216 feet] by human standards of measurement, which an angel was using.
The wall was made of jasper, but the city was pure gold, like pure glass. The foundations of the city’s wall were made out of every kind of precious stone.... The twelve gates were twelve pearls . . . and the city’s highway was pure gold, like transparent glass....
God’s radiance gave light to the city, and its lamp was the Lamb.... The nations that have been rescued will walk toward its light, and the world’s kings will bring their magnificence and dignity to it. (Revelation 21:1, 2, 12-24)
When we read this passage, we understand it only literally. According to this interpretation, the sky and land we see now are going to disappear. Then a new sky will come into existence, and the holy city Jerusalem will come down onto a new land. This city will have the dimensions given in the description.
But angels have a completely different way of understanding all of this. Every detail that we interpret on a physical level, they interpret on a spiritual level. The angels’ way of understanding it is what it symbolizes: it is the Bible’s inner, spiritual meaning.
Here is what the details of this passage mean according to the angels’ inner, spiritual understanding of it:
* “A new sky and a new land” refer to a new religion in heaven and on earth. (I will say more later about this religion on both levels.)
* “The city Jerusalem coming down from God out of the sky” means this religion’s philosophy from heaven.
* “Its length, width, and height,” which were equal, refer to all the good qualities and true ideas in this philosophy, seen as a whole.
* “The city’s wall” means the true ideas that protect it.
* The measurement of its wall, “144 cubits by human standards of measurement which an angel was using,” refers to all this protecting truth seen as a whole and what it is like.
* The “twelve gates” made out of pearls mean the true ideas that bring people into the religion. The “twelve angels at the gates” mean the same thing.
* The wall’s foundations, “made out of every kind of precious stone,” mean the concepts this religious philosophy is based on.
* “Israel’s twelve tribes” mean everything about the religion, seen as a whole and in all its different aspects. The “twelve apostles” mean the same thing.
* The “gold like pure glass” that the city and its highway were made of means the good qualities that come from love, which make the true ideas in this philosophy shine through.
* “The nations that have been rescued” and “the world’s kings” who will “bring their magnificence and dignity to it” refer to all religious people who do good things and have true ideas.
* “God” and “the Lamb” refer to the Lord as the divine itself and as the divine human.
This is what the Bible’s spiritual meaning is like. The physical-level meaning, which is the literal meaning, serves as a basis for it. These two meanings, the physical and the spiritual, work together through correspondences.
This is not the place to show that all these details have this kind of spiritual meaning — that is not the purpose of this book. But it is shown in Secrets from Heaven (Arcana Coelestia).
1. ON THE NEW HEAVEN AND THE NEW EARTH, AND THE MEANING OF 'THE NEW JERUSALEM'
In Revelation we read:
I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. And I saw the holy city, the New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. The city had a great, high wall, which had twelve gates, and twelve angels on the gates, and the names inscribed, which are the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, on which were the twelve names of the apostles of the Lamb. The city lay square, its length the same as its breadth. And he measured the city with a rod, making twelve thousand furlongs; and its length and its breadth and its height were equal. And he measured its wall as a hundred and forty-four cubits, by the measure of a man, which is that of an angel. Its wall was of jasper, but the city itself pure gold, like pure glass; and the foundations of the wall were of every precious stone. The twelve gates were twelve pearls; and the street of the city pure gold like transparent glass. The glory of God gave it light, and its lantern was the Lamb. The nations which have been saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth shall bring to it their glory and honour. Revelation 21:1-2, 12-24.
Anyone reading these words can only understand them in their literal sense. That is, that the sky and the earth will perish, and a new heaven will come into existence; the holy city Jerusalem will come down upon a new earth, and will agree in its measurements with the description. But the angels understand these words quite differently. They understand spiritually what human beings understand naturally. The real meaning is what the angels understand, and that is the internal or spiritual sense of the Word.
A new heaven and a new earth means, in the internal or spiritual sense understood by angels, a new church both in the heavens and on earth. (I shall speak about the church in both places later on.) The city of Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven means its heavenly teaching. Its length, breadth and height, which are equal means everything good and true in its teaching taken as a whole. Its wall means the truths which protect it. The measurement of the wall, which was a hundred and forty-four cubits, by the measure of a man, which is that of an angel, means all the truths that protect it taken together, and what they are like. The twelve gates made of pearls mean the truths which lead into it, and the twelve angels on the gates likewise. The foundations of the wall which were of every precious stone mean the items of knowledge on which that teaching is based. The twelve tribes of Israel mean everything belonging to the church in general and in particular; likewise the twelve apostles. The gold like pure glass, of which the city and its street are made, mean the good of love which makes the teaching with its truths shine through. The nations who are saved, and the kings of the earth who will bring to it glory and honour, mean all the people in the church who possess good and truth. God and the Lamb mean the Lord as regards His Divinity and His Divine Humanity.
Such is the spiritual sense of the Word; the natural or literal sense serves as its foundation. But still the two senses, the spiritual and the natural, make one by their correspondence. There is not room here to show that all these statements contain that spiritual meaning; that is not the purpose of this book. But they can be seen demonstrated in my ARCANA CAELESTIA.
1. THE NEW HEAVEN AND THE NEW EARTH, AND WHAT IS MEANT BY THE NEW JERUSALEM.
IT is stated in Revelation 21:1-2, 12-24), "I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. And I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride before her husband. The city had a wall, great and high; having twelve gates, and over the gates twelve angels; and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, in which were the names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb. The city itself lay four-square, and the length thereof was as great as the breadth. And he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs; and the length and the breadth and the height thereof were equal. And he measured the wall thereof, a hundred and forty and four cubits, the measure of a man, which is that of an angel. The wall thereof was of jasper; the city itself, however, was pure gold, like unto pure glass; and the foundations of the wall of the city were of every precious stone. The twelve gates were twelve pearls. And the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. The glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb was the lamp thereof. The nations that were saved shall walk in the light of it; and the kings of the earth shall bring their glory and their honour into it."
The man who reads these words, understands them only according to their literal sense; namely, that the visible Heaven with the Earth will perish, and a new heaven take its rise; and that the holy city Jerusalem will come down upon the new earth, and that it will be according to its measures, as described. But the angels understand these words altogether differently; namely, each word which the man understands naturally they understand spiritually; and as the angels understand them, such is their signification and this is the internal, that is, the spiritual sense of the Word.
By the new heaven and the new earth in the internal or spiritual sense in which are the angels, is understood a new Church, in the heavens, as well as on earth: the Church, in either world, will be discussed below.
By the city Jerusalem which comes down from God out of heaven is meant the heavenly doctrine of that Church; by the length, breadth, and height, which are equal, are meant all the goods and truths of that doctrine in the aggregate; by its wall, the truths protecting it; by the measure of the wall, which is a hundred forty and four cubits, and which is the measure of a man, which is that of an angel, are meant all those protecting truths in the aggregate, and their quality.
By the twelve gates which are of pearls are meant the introductory truths; and the same is signified by the twelve angels on the gates; by the foundations of the wall, which are of every precious stone, are meant the knowledges of which that doctrine is founded.
By the twelve tribes of Israel are meant all the things of the Church in general and in particular and the same meant by the twelve Apostles.
By gold like unto pure glass, of which are the city and the street, is meant the good of love, from which doctrine with its truths is translucent.
By the nations that are saved, and the kings of the earth who shall bring glory and honour into the city, are meant all those belonging to the Church who are in goods and truths.
By God and the Lamb is meant the Lord in respect to the very Divine and the Divine Human.
Such is the spiritual sense of the Word, to which the natural sense, which is that of the letter, serves as a basis; but still these two senses, the spiritual and the natural, make one through correspondences.
That such a spiritual meaning is contained in all the above expressions, we have no occasion to show here, because it is not within the design of the present work; but it may be seen demonstrated in the Heavenly Arcana, in the following places: That by Earth, in the Word, is signified the Church, especially when by the earth or land is meant the land of Canaan, Arcana Coelestia 662, 1066, 1067, 1262, 1413, 1607, 2928, 3355, 4447, 4535, 5577, 8011, 9325, 9643; because in the, spiritual sense by earth or land is meant the nation which is in the land, and its worship, Arcana Coelestia 1262.
That by the people of the land are meant those who are of the spiritual Church, Arcana Coelestia 2928.
That a new heaven and a new earth signify something new in the heavens and on earth, with respect to goods and truths, and thus with respect to those things which belong to the Church in either world, Arcana Coelestia 1733, 1850, 2117, 2118, 3355, 4535, 10373.
What is meant by the first heaven and the first earth, that passed away, may be seen in the work on The Last Judgment and the Destruction of Babylon, from beginning to end, but particularly from The Last Judgment 65-72.
That Jerusalem signifies the Church with respect to doctrine, Arcana Coelestia 402, 3654, 9166.
That Towns and Cities signify the doctrines which belong to the Church and religion, Arcana Coelestia 402, 2451, 2712, 2943, 3216, 4492, 4493.
That the Wall of a city signifies the protecting truth of doctrine, Arcana Coelestia 6419.
That the Gates of a city signify the truths which are introductory to doctrine, and by means of doctrine into the Church, Arcana Coelestia 2943, 4477, 4492, 4493.
That by the Twelve Tribes of Israel were represented, and hence signified, all the truths and goods of the Church, in general and in particular, thus all things belonging to faith and love, Arcana Coelestia 3858, 3926, 4060, 6335.
That the same is signified by the Lord's Twelve Apostles, Arcana Coelestia 2129, 2553, 3354, 3488, 3858, 6397.
That when it is said of the Apostles, that they shall sit upon twelve thrones, and judge the twelve tribes of Israel, the meaning is, that all are to be judged according to the truths and goods of the Church, and thus by the Lord, from Whom they are, Arcana Coelestia 2129, 6397.
That Twelve signifies all things in the aggregate, Arcana Coelestia 577, 2089, 2129, 2130, 3272, 3858, 3913; that the same is signified by a hundred and forty-four, because that number arises by multiplying twelve by twelve, Arcana Coelestia 7973.
That twelve thousand also has the same signification, Arcana Coelestia 7973.
That all numbers in the Word signify things, Arcana Coelestia 482, 487, 647, 648, 755, 813, 1963, 1988, 2075, 2252, 3252, 4264, 6175, 9488, 9659, 10217, 10253.
That numbers when multiplied have the same signification as the simple numbers from which they arise by multiplication, Arcana Coelestia 5291, 5335, 5708, 7973.
That a Measure signifies the quality of a thing with respect to truth and good, Arcana Coelestia 3104, 9603, 10262.
That the Foundations of a wall signify the knowledges of the truth on which doctrinals are founded, Arcana Coelestia 9643.
That what is Quadrangular, or Square, signifies what is perfect, Arcana Coelestia 9717, 9861.
That Length signifies good and its extension, and Breadth, truth and its extension, Arcana Coelestia 1613, 9487.
That Precious Stones signify truths from good, Arcana Coelestia 114, 9863, 9865.
What the precious stones in the Urim and Thummim signify, both in general and in particular, Arcana Coelestia 3862, 9864, 9866, 9905, 9891, 9895. What the Jasper of which the wall was built signifies, Arcana Coelestia 9872.
That the Street of the city signifies the truth of doctrine from good, Arcana Coelestia 2336.
That Gold signifies the good of love, Arcana Coelestia 113, Arcana Coelestia 1551-1552, 5658, 6914, 6917, 9510, 9874, 9881.
That Glory signifies the Divine Truth, such as it is in heaven, and intelligence and wisdom from it, Arcana Coelestia 4809, 5292, 5922, 8267, 8427, 9429, 10574.
That Nations signify those in the Church who are in good, and hence, in the abstract sense, the goods of the Church, Arcana Coelestia 1059, 1159, 1258, 1260, 1366, 1416, 1849, 4574, 6005, 9255-9256.
That Kings signify those in the Church who are in truths, and, therefore, abstractly, the truth of the Church, Arcana Coelestia 1672, 2015, 2069, 4575, 5044.
That the ceremonies observed at the coronation of kings involve such things as belong to the Divine Truth - which things are treated of - but that the knowledge of these things, at this day, is lost, Arcana Coelestia 4581, 4966.
1. THE NEW HEAVEN AND THE NEW EARTH, AND WHAT IS MEANT BY THE NEW JERUSALEM.
It is written in the Apocalypse:
I saw a New Heaven and a New Earth; for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away. And I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride before her husband. The city had a wall, great and high, which had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, in which were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. The city itself lieth four-square, and the length is as great as the breadth. And he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand stadia; the length and the breadth and the height of it were equal. And he measured the wall thereof, a hundred forty-four cubits, the measure of a man, which is, of an angel. And the wall of it was of jasper; and the city itself was pure gold, like unto pure glass; and the foundations of the wall of the city were of every precious stone. The twelve gates were twelve pearls. And the street of the city was pure gold, as it were pellucid glass. The glory of God did lighten it, and the lamp of it was the Lamb. The nations which were saved shall walk in the light of it; and the Kings of the earth shall bring their glory and honor into it. (21:1, 2, 12-24.)
The man who reads these things, understands them only according to the sense of the letter; namely, that the visible heaven and earth will perish, and a new heaven will exist, and that the holy city Jerusalem, answering to the measures above described, will descend upon the new earth; but the angels understand these things altogether differently; namely, what man understands naturally, they understand spiritually; and as the angels understand, so they signify; and this is the internal or spiritual sense of the Word. In the internal or spiritual sense, "a New Heaven and a New Earth" means a New Church, both in the heavens and on the earth, which will be more particularly spoken of hereafter. "The city Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven" signifies its heavenly doctrine; "the length," "the breadth," and "the height," which are equal, signify all the goods and truths of that doctrine in the aggregate. By "the wall" of it is meant the truths which protect it; "the measure of the wall," which is "a hundred forty-four cubits, which is the measure of a man, that is, of an angel," signifies all those protecting truths in the aggregate, and their quality. "The twelve gates" of pearl mean introductory truths; "the twelve angels at the gates" signify the same. "The foundations of the wall" which are "of every precious stone," mean the knowledges on which that doctrine is founded. "The twelve tribes of Israel," and "the twelve apostles," mean all things of the church in general and in particular. The city and its streets being of "gold like unto pure glass," signifies the good of love from which the doctrine and its truths are pellucid. "The nations" who are saved, and "the kings of the earth" who bring glory and honor into it, mean all of the church who are in goods and truths. "God" and "the Lamb" mean the Lord as to the Divine itself and the Divine Human. Such is the spiritual sense of the Word, to which the natural sense, which is that of the letter, serves as a basis; but still these two senses, the spiritual and the natural, form a one by correspondences. It is not the design of the present work to show that there is such a spiritual meaning in the afore-mentioned passages, but the proof of it may be seen in the Arcana Coelestia, in the following places: In the Word by "land" [earth] the church is signified, particularly when it is applied to the land of Canaan (n. 662, 1066-1067, 1262, 1413, 1607, 2928, 3355, 4447, 4535, 5577, 8011, 9325, 9643). Because by "land" in the spiritual sense is meant the nation dwelling therein, and its worship (n. 1262), "the people of the land" signify those who are of the spiritual church (n. 2928). "A New Heaven and a New Earth" signify something new in the heavens and on earth, as to goods and truths, thus as to those things that relate to the church in each (n. 1733, 1850, 2117-2118, 3355, 4535, 10373). What is meant by "the first heaven and the first earth" which passed away, may be seen in Last Judgment and Babylon Destroyed, from beginning to end, but particularly n. 65-72.
"Jerusalem" signifies the church as to doctrine (n. 402, 3654, 9166). "Cities" signify doctrines which are of the church and religion (n. 402, 2449, 2712, 2943, 3216, 4492, 4493). "The wall of a city" signifies the truth of doctrine defending (n. 6419). "The gates of a city" signify truths introducing to doctrine, and through doctrine to the church (n. 2943, 4477, 4492, 4493). "The twelve tribes of Israel" represented, and thence signified, all the truths and goods of the church in general and in particular, thus all things of faith and love (n. 3858, 3926, 4060, 6335). The same is signified by "the Lord's twelve apostles" (n. 2129, 3272, 3354, 3488, 3858, 6397). When it is said of the apostles, that "they shall sit upon twelve thrones, and judge the twelve tribes of Israel," it signifies that all are to be judged according to the goods and truths of the church, thus by the Lord from whom they are (n. 2129, 6397). "Twelve" signifies all things in the aggregate (n. 577, 2089, 2129, 2130, 3272, 3858, 3913). Also "a hundred forty-four" signifies the same because that number is the product of twelve multiplied by twelve (n. 7973); "twelve thousand" has also the same signification (n. 7973). All numbers in the Word signify things (n. 482, 487, 647, 648, 755, 813, 1963, 1988, 2075, 2252, 3252, 4264, 6175, 9488, 9659, 10217, 10253). Numbers multiplied into each other have the same signification as the simple numbers from which they arise by multiplication (n. 5291, 5335, 5708, 7973). "Measure" signifies the quality of a thing as to truth and good (n. 3104, 9603, 10262). "The foundations of a wall" signify the knowledges of truth on which doctrinals are founded (n. 9643). "Quadrangular" or "square" signifies what is perfect (n. 9717, 9861). "Length" signifies good and its extension, and "breadth" truth and its extension (n. 1613, 9487). "Precious stones" signify truths from good (n. 114, 9863, 9865). What "the precious stones" in the Urim and Thummim signify, both in general and in particular (n. 3862, 9864, 9866, 9891, 9895, 9905). What the "jasper" of which the wall was built signifies (n. 9872). "The street of the city" signifies the truth of doctrine from good (n. 2336). "Gold" signifies the good of love (n. 113, 1551, 1552, 5658, 6914, 6917, 9510, 9874, 9881). "Glory" signifies the Divine truth, such as it is in heaven, and the intelligence and wisdom thence (n. 4809, 5068, 5922, 8267, 8427, 9429[1-7], 10574). "Nations" signify those in the church who are in good, and, in the abstract sense, the good of the church (n. 1059, 1159, 1258, 1261, 1285, 1416, 1849, 4574, 7830, 9255, 9256). "Kings" signify those in the church who are in truths, and thence abstractly the truth of the church (n. 1672, 2015, 2069, 4575, 5044). The rites at the coronation of kings, involve such things as are of the Divine truth, but the knowledge of these things is at this day lost (n. 4581, 4966).
1. DE NOVA HIEROSOLYMA ET EJUS DOCTRINA CAELESTI.
DE NOVO CAELO ET NOVA TERRA; ET QUID PER "NOVAM HIEROSOLYMAM" INTELLIGITUR.
DICITUR in Apocalypsi,
"Vidi caelum novum et terram novam, primum enim caelum et prima terra transierant.... Et...vidi sanctam illam civitatem Hierosolymam Novam, descendentem a Deo e caelo, paratam ut sponsam coram viro suo." ....Civitas "habebat murum magnum et altum, qui habebat portas duodecim, et in portis angelos duodecim, et nomina inscripta, quae sunt nomina duodecim tribuum..Israelis. ....Et murus civitatis habebat fundamenta duodecim, in quibus duodecim nomina apostolorum Agni. ....Ipsa civitas quadrangularis sita est, cujus longitudo tanta erat quanta latitudo. Et mensus est civitatem calamo ad stadiorum duodecim millia; et erant longitudo et latitudo et altitudo ejus aequales. Et mensus est murum ejus centum quadraginta quatuor cubitorum, mensura hominis, quae est angeli. ..Erat murus ejus ex jaspide, ipsa vero civitas aurum purum, simile vitro puro: et fundamenta muri civitatis ex omni lapide pretioso..... Duodecim portae duodecim margaritae erant; ...et platea civitatis aurum purum tanquam vitrum pellucidum. ....Gloria Dei illustrabat illam, et lucerna ejus erat Agnus. ....Gentes quae servatae fuerunt, ambulabunt ad lucem ejus, et reges terrae gloriam suam et honorem suum ad illam afferent" (21:1-2, 12-24).
Homo qui haec legit, non aliter illa intelligit quam secundum sensum litterae; nempe, quod periturum sit caelum aspectabile cum terra, et novum caelum exstiturum, et quod super novam terram descensura sit sancta civitas Hierosolyma, et quod illa futura sit quoad suas mensuras secundum descriptionem. Sed angeli prorsus aliter illa intelligunt, nempe, singula spiritualiter quae homo naturaliter; et sicut angeli intelligunt, ita significant illa; et is est sensus internus seu spiritualis Verbi.
Per "novum caelum et novam terram," in sensu interno seu spirituali, in quo sunt angeli, intelligitur nova ecclesia tam in caelis quam in terris; (de ecclesia utrobivis dicetur infra;)
per "civitatem Hierosolymam descendentem a Deo e caelo" intelligitur caelestis ejus doctrina;
per "longitudinem," "latitudinem" et "altitudinem," quae aequales, intelliguntur omnia bona et vera illius doctrinae in complexu;
per "murum" ejus intelliguntur vera tutantia illam;
per "mensuram muri," quae "centum quadraginta quatuor cubitorum," quae "mensura hominis quae est angeli," intelliguntur omnia illa vera tutantia in complexu, et quale eorum;
per "duodecim portas," quae ex margaritis, intelliguntur vera introducentia; similiter per "duodecim angelos in portis;" per "fundamenta muri," quae "ex omni lapide pretioso," intelliguntur cognitiones super quibus doctrina illa fundatur;
per "duodecim tribus Israelis" intelliguntur omnia ecclesiae in genere et in specie; similia per "duodecim apostolos;" per "aurum simile vitro puro," ex quo civitas et platea, intelligitur bonum amoris ex quo pellucet doctrina cum suis veris;
per "gentes" quae servatae, et per "reges terrae" qui gloriam et honorem in illam afferent, intelliguntur omnes ab ecclesia qui in bonis et veris sunt;
per "Deum" et "Agnum" intelligitur Dominus quoad ipsum Divinum et Divinum Humanum Talis est sensus spiritualis Verbi, cui sensus naturalis, qui est sensus litterae, inservit pro basi; sed usque bini illi sensus, spiritualis et naturalis, unum faciunt per correspondentias.
Quod talis intellectus spiritualis insit omnibus illis, non vacat hic ostendere, quia non hujus operis est; sed ostensa videantur in Arcanis Caelestibus, in sequentibus his locis:
- Quod in Verbo per "terram" significetur ecclesia, imprimis ubi per "terram" intelligitur Terra Canaan (Arcana Coelestia 662, 1066, 1067, 1262, 1413, 1607, 2928, 3355, 4447, 4535, 5577, 8011, 9325, 9643): quia in spirituali sensu per "terram" intelligitur gens quae ibi, et ejus cultus (Arcana Coelestia 1262).
"Populus terrae," quod sint qui ab ecclesia spirituali (Arcana Coelestia 2928).
Quod "novum caelum et nova terra" significent novum in caelis et in terris quoad bona et vera, ita quoad illa quae sunt ecclesiae utrobivis (Arcana Coelestia 1733, 1850, 2117, 2118, 3355, 4535, 10373).
(Quid intelligitur per "primum caelum et primam terram" quae transiverant, videatur in opusculo De Ultimo Judicio et Babylonia destructa, a principio ad finem; et in specie ibi, De Ultimo Judicio 65-72.)
Quod per "Hierosolymam" significetur ecclesia quoad doctrinam (Arcana Coelestia 402, 3654, 9166).
Quod per "urbes" et "civitates" significentur doctrinae, quae ecclesiae et religionis (Arcana Coelestia 402, 2450 [2449?], 2712, 2943, 3216, 4492, 4493).
Quod per "murum civitatis" significetur verum doctrinae tutans (Arcana Coelestia 6419).
Quod per "portas urbis" significentur vera introducentia ad doctrinam, et per doctrinam in ecclesiam (Arcana Coelestia 2943, 4478, [4477?], 4492, 4493).
Quod per "duodecim tribus Israelis" repraesentata fuerint, et inde significata, omnia vera et bona ecclesiae in genere et in specie, ita omnia fidei et amoris (Arcana Coelestia 3858, 3926, 4060, 6335).
Quod per "duodecim apostolos Domini" similia (Arcana Coelestia 2129, 2329 [3272?], 3354, 3488, 3858, 6397).
Quod de apostolis dicatur quod "sessuri super duodecim thronis, et judicaturi duodecim tribus Israelis," significetur quod omnes secundum vera et bona ecclesiae judicandi sint, ita a Domino a quo illa Arcana Coelestia 2129, 6397).
Quod per "duodecim" significentur omnia in complexu (Arcana Coelestia 577, 2089, 2129, 2130, 3272, 3858, 3913).
Quod simile per numerum "centum quadraginta quatuor," quia est numerus multiplicatus per duodecim in duodecim (Arcana Coelestia 7973):
quod etiam simile per "duodecim millia" (Arcana Coelestia 7973).
Quod omnes numeri in Verbo significent res (Arcana Coelestia 482, 487, 647, 648, 755, 813, 1963, 1988, 2075, 2252, 3252, 4264, 6175, 9488, 9659, 10217, 10253).
Quod numeri multiplicati simile significent cum simplicibus a quibus per multiplicationem exsurgunt (Arcana Coelestia 5291, 5335, 5708, 7973).
Quod per "mensuram" significetur quale rei quoad verum et bonum (Arcana Coelestia 3104, 9603, 10262).
Quod per "fundamenta muri" significentur cognitiones veri super quibus doctrinalia fundantur (Arcana Coelestia 9642 [9643?]).
Quod per "quadrangulare" seu "quadratum" significetur perfectum (Arcana Coelestia 9717, 9861).
Quod per "longitudinem" significetur bonum et ejus extensio, et per "latitudinem" verum et ejus extensio (Arcana Coelestia 1613, 9487).
Quod per "lapides pretiosos" significentur vera ex bono (Arcana Coelestia 114, 9863, 9865).
Quid per "lapides pretiosos" in Urim et Thummim in genere et in specie (Arcana Coelestia 3862, 9864, 9866, 9905, 9891, 9895). Quid per "jaspidem," ex quo murus (Arcana Coelestia 9872).
Quod per "plateam civitatis" significetur verum doctrinae ex bono (Arcana Coelestia 2336).
Quod per "aurum" significetur bonum amoris (Arcana Coelestia 113, 1551, 1552, 5658, 6914, 6917, 9510, 9874, 9881).
Quod per "gloriam" significetur Divinum Verum quale est in caelo, et inde intelligentia et sapientia (Arcana Coelestia 4809, 5292, [5068?], 5922, 8267, 8427, 9429, 10574).
Quod per "gentes" significentur illi in ecclesia qui in bono sunt, et inde abstracte bona ecclesiae (Arcana Coelestia 1059, 1159, 1258, 1260, (1261,) 1288, [1285?], 1416, 1849, 4574, 7830, 9255, 9256).
Quod per "reges" significentur illi in ecclesia qui in veris sunt, et inde abstracte vera ecclesiae (Arcana Coelestia 1672, 2015, 2069, 4575, 5044).
Quod ritualia circa coronationes regum involvant talia quae sunt Divini Veri (de quibus); sed quod cognitio de illis hodie perierit (Arcana Coelestia 4581, 4966).