1. 前言:新天國與新教會的信仰

首先, 將本書中所講述的真實的基督徒信仰, 也就是新天國和新教會的信仰, 分別以總體和具體的形式概要地說明。作為接下來全書的引言, 或作為進入聖殿的大門, 又或作為詳細內容的概要。此信仰被稱為新天國和新教會的信仰, 因為天人(angel)組成的天國和世人組成的教會, 如同一個人的靈魂與肉體, 內外一致,行動如一。因此, 若教會之人活在良善與真理之中, 對於思想內在而言, 他就是天國的一名天人。在肉身死後, 他便進入天國, 照著良善與真理在他裡面聯合的狀態在那裡安享極樂。當知道, 在主現在正建立的新天國中, 這樣的信仰是新天國的引言,入門和概要。

10602. 'And Jehovah said to Moses' means the conclusion regarding the Israelite nation. This is clear from the meaning of 'saying', when Jehovah talks to Moses, as an answer, or in this instance a conclusion; for 'said' includes the words that come after it, because they are what He actually said or what are being declared here. Here therefore 'said' means the conclusion regarding the Israelite nation that has been the subject in the two previous chapters. That conclusion was that a Church would indeed be established among them, and that the Word would be written among them, but that their interest would lie in external things and not in what was internal. People's interest lies in external things and not in what is internal when they venerate outward things but do not acknowledge the Lord or love God for His sake, only for their own sakes, which is a love of self and not of God. Indeed it is a turning away from God, not a turning towards Him. But since they were able to practise outward holiness for their own sakes, and that holiness could be wondrously converted by the spirits residing with them into an outward holiness for God's sake; and since this in turn could be received from those spirits by angels and so be raised to an inner holiness, that nation was accepted. On this matter, see 10500, 10570. This is the conclusion which the present chapter contains, thus which is meant by 'Jehovah said to Moses'.