In its degenerate condition, the church among men on earth is dead, in evils, falsities, and sins, because it is no longer receptive of life from the Lord. But the Lord, in His merciful love, provides a new church, in which there is life, because men are instructed in spiritual truths, and are thus enabled to re-open their minds, and to receive spiritual life from the Lord.

THE LITERAL MEANING.

The text has long been supposed to refer to a general resurrection, at some distant time, when men should awake from death, and re-enter their old physical bodies. But the text carries its own evidence that it does not refer to any such physical resurrection, but that it is a prophetic vision, intended, literally, to encourage the Jews in their existing condition of distress, on earth.

Ezekiel, the prophet, was among the captive Jews, exiles in a foreign land, whose hopes of returning to their former home were fast dying out. And the text expressly declares that the Lord would cause them to return to their own land. Held in bondage, and their dead buried in a foreign land, they despaired of reaching their old home in Judea. And they were thinking of themselves, in this world, and not of any general resurrection at some future time. In fact, many of them, with the Sadducees, did not believe in any life after physical death. And none of them had any conception of a distinctively spiritual life, or of a spiritual world, apart from the life of the natural world. And even those of them who believed in a resurrection expected to return to life in the natural world.

THE RESURRECTION.

And, in the second place, no such general physical resurrection, or return to the material body, ever took place, or ever will occur. The physical body is formed of the material substances of the physical world; and it is adapted to use on the physical plane of life. And it cannot enter into any other world. "Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God," i.e., the spiritual kingdom. The death of the physical body is the end of the man's physical existence. And the material body then decays, and loses its organized form and identity.

The resurrection is not the rising of the dead body, but the rising of the living man, the spirit, from the dead body, and into the more advanced life of the spiritual world. The resurrection-body is not the old dead body revived, but it is the spiritual body, the body of the spirit of man, an inward body, in which the man was born, and which existed within his material body, while he lived on earth. But natural death takes away the outward and physical body, and allows the man to live in his inward and spiritual body, which is formed of spiritual substance, and adapted to his life and uses in the spiritual world.

But natural-minded men, who do not think spiritually, but only in the light of their natural senses, insist upon interpreting everything according to natural appearances, and from a natural-minded standpoint. And yet, even those who believe in a physical resurrection, often have a general understanding that our text refers, also, to the inward and mental resurrection from the spiritual death of evil and sin, to the new life of regeneration and righteousness.

THE SPIRITUAL MEANING.

But, in its spiritual meaning, our text illustrates the subject of regeneration. Natural death is the rejection of the lower nature of man, the external part, including the impurities of the body. And, in the resurrection of regeneration, there is a death and rejection of the impure and lower things of the natural mind.

THE VALLEY.

The prophet was given a vision of a valley full of dry bones. The earth, in its form, and in its conditions, is a symbol of the mind of man. On the earth's surface, mountains are the high places, representing the higher states of mind, higher levels of affection and of thought; while valleys are the low places, representing the lower states of mind, lower levels of mental life. Comparatively, the natural mind is like a low place, a valley, and the spiritual mind is elevated, as a mountain. Human life begins on its lowest level, its valley; and it needs to be opened upward and inward, into the higher things of more advanced manhood.

In the mental valley, our natural thought sees things as they appear before the natural senses; but, on the higher levels, things are seen as they are, in the light of spiritual truth. And so, in the progress of regeneration, our Lord is constantly calling to us, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of Jehovah, and to the house of the God of Jacob. And He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths. For the law shall go forth from Zion, and the Word of Jehovah from Jerusalem" (Micah 4:2).

It requires constant and considerable work to climb from the valley up to the mountain-top. And the steady climbing represents the constant effort of the regenerating man to reach higher mental levels, And this climbing is done by rejecting, and leaving behind us the lower ways of the senses, and adopting a clean and orderly life, in feeling, thought, and action. "Who shall ascend into the mountain of Jehovah ? Or who shall stand in His holy place? He that hath clean hands and a pure heart" (Psalm 24:3-4).

BONES.

In the physical body, the bones have the least life, as compared with the other parts, especially the vital organs, the heart, the brain, the lungs, etc. And so the bones represent those things in the mind which are least receptive of life, and furthest removed from the centers of life. The bones represent the external natural mind, as compared with the internal and spiritual mind. In a particular sense, the life of the intellect, as compared with the life of the will, is like the bones, necessary and useful, but not full of life, until made alive by the inflowing loves of the will, which act upon, and within, the intellect, to use it for the work and purposes of the heart.

A bone cannot do anything, in the way of action, but it is acted upon by the muscles and nerves. And yet the bony framework affords a means by which the muscles can do their work. So our intellectual life, of itself, is cold and dead, until it is warmed by our heart's love, and put to work for our heart.

At first, we hold the truths of the church intellectually, as doctrines, which may be put to use, when our heart feels the need of them, in our practical life. But, before they are put to use, the life in them, as our mind holds them, is such life as is in the bones, very remote from the centers of life. But, as our heart puts these doctrines to use, in learning how to love goodness and truth, and to practice them in our conduct, then representatively, these bones begin to live; they begin to be clothed with flesh and nerves, and covered with skin, and thus built into a complete mental body, ready for the uses of life. The building up of the body, on its bony framework, represents the building up of the mind, in the process of regeneration, beginning with the knowledge of doctrine, and gradually covering that mental framework with the living things which make up a full man.

DRY BONES.

In the prophet's vision, the bones were seen to be very dry, i.e., very dead, very far removed from life. And so, in the unregenerate mind, even the mere knowledge of truth is very dead, because it is not intimately connected with any living principle.

In the vision, the bones were separated, and scattered about, and not even associated as a skeleton; representing the condition in the unregenerate mind, in which truths are not associated and arranged as a complete system, but are merely detached and separate notions, not brought into actual use. And, in this case, the question properly arises, "Can these bones live?" Can there be any genuine spiritual life brought into these detached notions, lying dead in the natural memory? Can there be any spiritual life in the mere knowledge of doctrines, scattered about in the memory, but not brought into use in the hearts life?

We have seen young men and women who were brought up in the Sunday Schools, and instructed in the doctrines of their churches, and in the words of the Scriptures; and we have seen these young persons bury their knowledge in the dust of sensuous life, or scatter it, like dead bones, in the valley of a low and selfish life, without any spiritual thought or noble aspiration. "Can these bones live?" No, not in their present condition.

LIVING.

But our Lord, who is life, itself, can fill them with life, if they will turn to Him, seeking life. And the way in which the Lord gives life to the bones of dead doctrine, is represented in our text. He builds them up into a full body. The application is both general and individual. At the end of every general church, or dispensation, men sink into very external conditions of mind; and even their knowledge of truth lies in scattered and dead pieces. But the Lord then establishes a new church, a different condition of the church, with such persons as can be induced to be regenerated. The Divine Truth is brought to such persons, in a different form, so that it will reach their minds, and arouse their attention. And then the old knowledges of doctrine will serve, like bones, for a framework, on which the Lord can build up the full man, with spiritual flesh and nerves; and to whom He can give spiritual life.

The prophet, prophesying to the dead bones, represents the Word of the Lord, coming to the dead mind, i.e., the unregenerate mind, with new light and life. The Lord causes breath to enter into our dead minds, when He gives us a consciousness of the spiritual quality of regenerate life, in which we can spiritually breathe the atmosphere of Divine Truth.

In the Hebrew, the words for wind, breath, and spirit are all derived from the same root-word. Breathing is a sign of life. When a man dies, we say that he expires, or breathes. out. And thus, the coming of the breath represents the coming of spiritual life into the dead mind.

Sinews (or nerves) are then given to the skeleton; for the same Hebrew word (gid) covers both sinews and nerves. The nervous system is the means of extending the brain throughout the whole body, representing the means by which the truth is carried throughout the whole mind, from the interiors of the spiritual mind, through all degrees, and to the outward natural mind. In the natural body, when there is no nerve-force, there is paralysis and deadness. And so, in the mind, the living force of living truth must circulate through all parts, or they cannot have spiritual life.

THE FLESH, ETC.

And the flesh is given. The flesh here represents the good, which comes into the will, or heart. Thus, while the nerves represent the intellectual part, the flesh represents the affectional part of the mind. And these two are necessary to any spiritual life. Putting flesh upon the bones thus represents rebuilding the spiritually dead man, by revivifying his heart, so that it may receive the regenerate life.

This is the meaning of the bread used in the holy supper, which there represents the flesh of the Lord, which means the Divine Goodness, which is the Divine Love, adapted to our reception.

When the nerves and flesh are provided for the body, it still needs to be covered by the skin, which has very important uses, in protecting all the body. The skin is exceedingly sensitive to all kinds of impressions, of heat or of cold, of danger or of delight; while, at the same time, it acts as a cleanser of the body, in carrying away the accumulating impurities.

The skin, as the external covering of the whole body, represents the outward life of conduct, the practical doings of our daily life, in which all our inward principles are carried into action; and by means of which all our mental impurities may be recognized, and rendered harmless, by being cast out, and not allowed to become a part of our actual conduct. And, as the healthy skin completes the usefulness and the symmetry of the body, so a good and useful practical life completes the manhood, whose interior life is in a good heart and a clear understanding.

And, as the skin needs constant care and cleansing, in order to protect the whole body from disease, so the cleanliness and health of our outward life are absolutely necessary in order to protect our spiritual life.

And our text declares that the resuscitated men shall know the Lord, when they are revived; representing that the man who is spiritually made alive by the Lord, then first truly knows the Lord.

THE RESTORATION.

The text describes the bringing together of the different parts of the body. "There was a noise" and "a shaking." The noise is the mental sound of the disturbance of the old conditions of the mind, and the clashing of the old dead states against the influence of the new life now beginning to operate. The shaking, or trembling, is the agitation of the mind, when made to loosen its hold upon old things, and to receive the new life.

"And the bones came together, bone to his bones" i.e., the scattered ideas of doctrine, which were lying in the memory, without cohesion or system, began to come together, into a general system of truth, covering all parts of the mind and life, and applicable to all our action. The mind perceived that all things are related and associated. This was a necessary preliminary condition, before the nerves and flesh could be added to the skeleton; i.e., before spiritual wisdom and love could be given.

And yet, there was no breath in the body, until the Lord gave it; i.e., even with good and true principles, we have no spiritual life in these things, until we recognize that they are from our Lord, and that they are the Lord's presence in us; and that they are not inherent in ourselves, nor procured by any power of our own.

THE FOUR WINDS.

The breath, or spirit, was called to "come from the four winds," to give life to the dead bones. The four winds, literally, are winds from the four points of the compass, North, South, East, and West. But, spiritually, they represent the four general states of human life, the natural understanding and the natural will, and the spiritual understanding and the spiritual will. These different phases of life are the aspects of life from four different mental standpoints, differing in quality and in degree. And, to meet the wants of men on these four different standpoints, or mental conditions, there are four different gospels in the New Testament, each peculiarly adapted to men in one of the four mental conditions. A similar idea is conveyed by the fact that the holy city, the New Jerusalem, is to be built square; i.e., with four sides.

That the breath, or spirit, is to come from the four winds, means that it is to come from all the quarters of the spiritual world, from external truth and from external good, and from internal truth and from internal good; to bring spiritual life in all its aspects, to reach and supply all forms of mind; i.e., to bring all the good and true principles of heaven, for the use of the church.

And when they received life, the bodies "stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army;" i.e., the regenerate mind begins at once to stand upon its new principles, in practical life: and, doing so, it finds such principles applicable to all the multitude of human actions. And then the regenerated mind is seen to be "the whole house of Israel," a spiritual church, looking to the Lord. Thus our Lord restores Israel to his own land, spiritually, by restoring men to a regenerate state.

APPLICATION.

Set before you a human skeleton of dry bones. And set beside it a living human body, in full health and vigorous operation. And then consider the great contrast between the two objects. And recognize the fact that there is as great a parallel contrast between yourself if unregenerate, or regenerate; if, spiritually, a mere skeleton of a man, or a full and living man, in vigorous spiritual health, and in loving, intelligent, and orderly activity. And then we shall understand what the Lord means, when He says to us, individually, "He that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live" (John 11:25). For He will open the old graves of our dead hearts, and raise our souls into spiritual life. And, in this, our Lord will fulfil, spiritually, the promise of our text, "O My people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel."

659. And shall not suffer [their bodies] to be put in sepulchres.- That this signifies their rejection and damnation is evident from the signification of not being put in sepulchres, or of not being buried, as denoting eternal damnation. For "to be buried," in the Word, signifies awakening unto life and resurrection, since when a man dies and is buried, he then awakens or arises again into life eternal. For man lives after death equally as in the world, but he lays down the earthly or material body, which served him for use in the natural world, and continues his life in a spiritual body. Therefore burial is only a casting off as it were of the covering which he bore about in the natural world. The reason why burial signifies awakening unto life eternal, or resurrection, is, because the angels do not know what the death of man is, nor consequently what his burial is, since there is neither death nor burial with them, and yet they perceive all things spiritually; when therefore the death of man is mentioned in the Word, instead of death they perceive his departure from one world into another, and when burial is mentioned, they perceive his resurrection into life. It follows consequently that "not to be buried" signifies resurrection, not unto life, but unto damnation, by which is meant spiritual death. Every man, indeed, after his departure out of the world, is awakened and rises again, but some to life and some to damnation; and because to be buried signifies resurrection to life, therefore not to be buried signifies damnation, but, in this case, of those who reject the goods of love and truths of doctrine, which are signified by the two witnesses, therefore not being put in sepulchres, or not being buried, does not mean damnation except in the idea of those only who condemn such things. What is signified therefore by sepulchres, in the Word, also by being buried and not being buried, is evident from the following passages.

[2] That sepulchres signify unclean things, consequently also infernal things, because of the carcases and bones which are in them, is evident from many passages in the Word.

In Isaiah:

"A people that provoke me to anger before my faces continually, that burn incense upon bricks, that sit in sepulchres, and pass the night in waste places, that eat the flesh of swine" (65:3, 4).

To provoke Jehovah to anger before His faces signifies to sin against the truths and goods of the Word, and to depart from the worship therein commanded, the faces of Jehovah denoting the things revealed in the Word. To burn incense upon bricks signifies worship from falsities of doctrine, bricks denoting falsities of doctrine, and to burn incense denoting worship from them. To sit in sepulchres signifies to be in filthy loves; to pass the night in waste places signifies to remain and live in falsities, waste places denoting where there are no truths; to eat the flesh of swine signifies to make infernal evils one's own.

[3] In Moses:

"Whosoever shall have touched one upon the surface of a field, that is slain with a sword, or a dead body, or the bone of a man, or a sepulchre, shall be unclean seven days," and afterwards he shall be purified (Numbers 19:16, 18).

To touch signifies, in the Word, to communicate. Therefore lest falsities and evils should be communicated, and thus appropriated, it was forbidden to touch unclean things, as in this case, one slain with a sword, a dead body, the bone of a man, and a sepulchre. For one slain with a sword signifies one who has perished by falsities, and who has consequently been condemned to hell. A dead body signifies one who has perished by evils, the bone of a man signifies infernal falsity, and sepulchre, infernal evil.

[4] In Ezekiel:

"Wail over the multitude of Egypt and cause her to descend with them that go down into the pit; they shall fall in the midst of them that are slain with the sword; Asshur is there and all his company, his sepulchres are round about him, all the slain who fell by the sword to whom sepulchres were given in the sides of the pit, and his company is round about his sepulchres; Elam and all his multitude is round about his sepulchres, all the uncircumcised slain with the sword" (32:18, 20, 22, 24).

The multitude of Egypt signifies the scientifics of the natural man, which are dead, because they do not descend and take form as effects, conclusions, and confirmations, from the truths of the spiritual man; Asshur signifies reasonings from such scientifics. Therefore by, wail over the multitude of Egypt, and cause her to descend with them that go down into the pit, is signified grief on account of the damnation of those who are in these things, the pit denoting the hell where such dead scientifics reign, that is, scientifics separated from truths, because applied to confirm falsities of doctrine and evils of life. Those slain with the sword signify, here as above, those who are condemned to hell on account of falsities. Asshur is there and all his company signifies reasonings from those falsities. The sepulchres which are round about Asshur and in the sides of the pit, where Elam is, and all the uncircumcised slain with the sword, signify the hells where those falsities are, that is, those who are in such falsities.

[5] It is to be noted that falsities and evils of every kind correspond to unclean and loathsome things in the natural world, and the more direful falsities and evils to cadaverous and also fetid excrementitious matter, and falsities and evils of a milder kind to marshy places; consequently the dwellings in the hells of those who are in such falsities and evils appear like pits and sepulchres. And, if you are disposed to believe it, such evil genii and spirits also dwell in the sepulchres, privies, and marshes that are in our world, although they are ignorant of the fact, the reason being, that they correspond, and things that correspond are joined together. The same may be concluded also from this fact that nothing is more delightful than the smell of a corpse to those who have been assassins and poisoners, also to those who have taken delight in violating women; and there is also nothing more delightful than the smell of excrement to those who have been filled with the love of commanding, also to those who have taken delight in adulteries and no delight in marriages. And there is nothing more delightful than a marshy, and also a urinous vapour to those who have confirmed themselves in falsities, and have extinguished in themselves the affection for truth. This is why the hells, in which they are, have an appearance in agreement with the correspondent delights, some as pits, and some as sepulchres.

[6] It is evident also from these considerations why it was that those who were possessed by demons were in the sepulchres and came out therefrom (Matthew 8:28, and following verses; Mark 5:2, 3, 5; Luke 8:27), namely, because those who were possessed were, while they lived in the world, in falsities from evil, or in knowledges from the Word, which they rendered dead by applying them to confirm evils, and to destroy the genuine truths of the church, especially the truths concerning the Lord, the Word, and a life after death, which dead knowledges are called, in the Word, traditions. It was for this reason that those who were possessed by such as had become demons, were in the sepulchres, and the demons themselves were afterwards cast out into the swine which cast themselves headlong into the sea (Matthew 8:31-33). They were cast into swine, because they had lived in the world in sordid avarice, for such avarice corresponds to swine and thence signifies them; the reason why these cast themselves headlong into the sea, was, because the sea there signifies hell.

[7] In David:

"I am counted with them that go down into the pit. I am become as a man that has no strength. I am among the dead, neglected, as the slain that lie in the sepulchre, whom thou rememberest no more, and who are cut off from thy hand; thou hast laid me in the pit of the lower [parts] in darkness, in the depths. Shall thy mercy be declared in the sepulchre, thy truth in destruction?" (Psalm 88:4-6, 11).

The subject there treated of is temptations, in the highest sense the temptations of the Lord; this describes what these were, namely, that He seemed to Himself to be as it were in hell among the damned, so fierce and great were the temptations which the Lord sustained; therefore "I am counted with them that go down into the pit" signifies that He seemed to Himself to be as it were in hell, the pit denoting hell. I am become as a man that hath no strength, signifies that He then seemed to Himself to be as it were without power, for temptations plunge a man into evils and falsities, in which there is no power. Amongst the dead, neglected, signifies among those in whom there is nothing of truth and good, and who are therefore cast away; as the slain that lie in the sepulchre, signifies as those who are in falsities from evil, the slain denoting those who perish by falsities, and the sepulchre denoting hell because those who are in hell are spiritually dead; whom thou rememberest no more, and who are cut off from thy hand, signifies who are deprived of all truth and good. Thou hast laid me in the pit of the lower [parts], signifies in the places of hell where such are; in darkness signifies as it were in falsities; in the depths signifies as it were in evils.

[8] A prayer arising from grief then follows, that He may be delivered from temptations; and for this among other reasons, "Shall thy mercy be declared in the sepulchre, and thy truth in destruction?" which signifies that in hell, where and from which evils and falsities are, Divine Good and Divine Truth cannot be proclaimed, mercy denoting the Divine Good of the Divine Love, and truth the Divine Truth of the Divine Wisdom; the sepulchre denotes the hell where and from which evils are, and destruction denotes the hell where and from which falsities are. From these things it is also evident that by sepulchre is meant hell, especially from this, that those who are in hell are spiritually dead.

[9] In Isaiah:

"That he might give the impious to their sepulchre, and the rich in their deaths" (53:9).

This is also said of the Lord, of whom the whole chapter treats; here concerning His victory over the hells. The impious whom He would give to the sepulchre mean the evil who will be cast down into hell; here a sepulchre plainly denotes hell, which is called a sepulchre from those in it who are spiritually dead. The rich whom He would give in their deaths mean those of the church who are in falsities from evil, who are called rich from the knowledges of truth and good which they possess from the Word; falsities from evil are signified by deaths, because they who are in them are spiritually dead.

[10] Those who think evil about God and the neighbour, and yet speak well, and those who think insanely about the truths of faith and the goods of love but speak sanely, are inwardly sepulchres whited without, according to these words of the Lord:

"Woe unto you, scribes and pharisees, hypocrites, for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness" (Matthew 23:27, 29; Luke 11:47, 48).

[11] In David:

"There is no rectitude in the mouth of anyone, their midst is destruction; their throat is an open sepulchre, they flatter with their tongue" (Psalm 5:9).

In the mouth signifies outwardly, and the midst inwardly. That inwardly there is hell is signified by, their throat is an open sepulchre; and that outwardly there is hypocrisy, and apparent sanity is signified by, they flatter with their tongue. From these and other passages in the Word it is evident what is signified by sepulchre.

[12] When therefore those who are in falsities from evil are treated of, then by their sepulchre is meant the hell from which and in which that falsity is; but when those who are in truths from good are treated of, then by sepulchre is meant the removal and rejection of falsity from evil, and by burial is meant awakening and resurrection into life, also regeneration. For with man who is in truths from good falsity from evil is removed and cast out into hell, and the man himself, as to his interiors, which belong to his spirit, rises again, and enters into the life of truth from good, which is spiritual life. In this sense burial is meant in the following passages.

[13] In John:

"Marvel not, for the hour cometh in which all that are in the tombs shall hear the voice of the Son of Man, and shall come forth; they that have done good [things] unto the resurrection of life, but they that have done evil [things] unto the resurrection of judgment" (5:28, 29).

This does not mean that those who are in the sepulchres or tombs shall hear the voice of the Lord and come forth, since all after death equally as in the world live as men, with this difference only, that after death they live in a spiritual and not in a material body. Therefore by going forth out of the tombs is signified out of the material body, and this happens first with every one immediately after death, and afterwards when a last judgment takes place, for then the exteriors are removed and the interiors are opened in all those with whom this had not previously been. Those whose interiors are heavenly rise unto life, but those whose interiors are infernal rise unto death, this is signified by, those who have done good [things] shall go forth unto the resurrection of life, but those who have done evil [things] unto the resurrection of judgment.

[14] That this is meant by going forth out of the tombs or sepulchres is still more evident in Ezekiel:

"Behold I will open your sepulchres, and cause you to come up out of your sepulchres, O my people, and bring you upon the land of Israel, that ye may know that I am Jehovah, when I shall have opened your sepulchres, and have caused you to come up out of your sepulchres, O my people, and shall have put my spirit in you that ye may live, and have placed you upon your own land" (37:12-14).

The subject here treated of is the dry bones seen by the prophet upon the faces of the valley, upon which sinews appeared to be stretched, and flesh came upon them, and they were covered with skin; and when the spirit of God was sent into them, they lived again and stood upon their feet. That those bones mean the whole house of Israel, is plainly declared in these words: "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel, behold they say, Our bones are dried up, our hope is perished; as for us we are cut off" (verse 11). The house of Israel is likened to dry bones, because they were in falsities and evils, which have no life, because of their non-correspondence with heaven as to sinews, flesh, and skin; for bones signify truths in the ultimate of order, upon which spiritual truths are based, but dry bones signify falsities from evil. It is therefore evident that by opening the sepulchres, and causing the people to come up out of the sepulchres, is signified to raise up out of falsities from evil, thus from the dead, and to impart truths from good, thus life, and this life is the spirit of God from which they lived again. This then is the meaning of causing the people to come up out of the sepulchres; the church to be formed out of these is signified by the land of Israel, upon which they shall be brought, and upon which they shall be placed.

[15] It is recorded in Matthew, that after the passion of the Lord the tombs were opened, and many bodies of those that slept came out of their tombs, went into the holy city, and appeared to many (27:52, 53). The tombs being opened, and many bodies of them that slept appearing, has a similar signification to that which is stated above in Ezekiel, where it is said that Jehovah would open the sepulchres, and cause them to come up out of the sepulchres, namely, the regeneration of the faithful and their resurrection unto life; not that the bodies themselves, which lay in the tombs, rose again, but that there was the appearance of this (apparuerunt) in order that both regeneration and resurrection unto life from the Lord might be signified. Moreover, these same words mean those who are said in the Word "to be bound in the pit," whom the Lord liberated after He had finished the whole work of redemption. For many of the faithful could not be saved until the Lord had come into the world and subjugated the hells; in the meantime they were detained in places which are called pits, even up to the coming of the Lord, and they were liberated by the Lord immediately after His coming. These pits were also represented by the tombs that were opened, and those who were therein by "those that slept," who after the Lord's resurrection, as it is said, "appeared to many in the holy city;" the holy city was Zion and Jerusalem, but by these is meant heaven, whither they were raised up by the Lord, for both Zion and Jerusalem were rather profane than holy.

[16] From these things it is evident what that miracle and that appearance represented and signified. Since the land of Canaan not only signified the church, but also heaven, and since burial signified resurrection unto life, therefore Abraham bought of Ephron a field in which was the cave of Machpelah which was before Mamre (Gen. 23), and there Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, with their wives, were buried (Genesis 23, 25:9, 10; 35:29; 49:1). The particulars related concerning that cave, namely, that it was in the field of Ephron, which was before Mamre, and so on, signified resurrection unto life, as may be seen explained in the Arcana Coelestia. On this account also, Joseph commanded that his bones should be brought up into the land of Canaan (Genesis 50:24-26), and this was done (Exodus 13:19; Joshua 24:32); and for the reason that the land of Canaan as has been said, signified the heavenly Canaan, which is heaven. Because of the representation of resurrection into heaven by burial, also David and the kings after him were buried in Zion (1 Kings 2:10; 11:43; 14:17, 18; 15:8, 24; 22:50; 2 Kings 8:24; 12:21; 14:20; 15:7, 38; 16:20). The reason of this was, that Zion signified the celestial church and heaven, where the Lord is.

[17] That burial signifies resurrection is also evident from this fact, that it is frequently said that the dead "have been gathered to their fathers" and "to their people." "To their fathers," in Genesis:

Jehovah said unto Abraham, "Thou shalt come to thy fathers in peace, and shall be buried in a good old age" (15:15);

and in the Second Book of Kings:

Jehovah said of Josiah, king of Judah, "Behold I gather thee to thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered unto thy sepulchre in peace" (22:20).

And "to [their] people," in Genesis:

"Abraham expired and died in a good old age, an old man and full [of days], and was gathered to his people" (25:8).

And in another place:

"Isaac expired and died, and was gathered to his people an old man and full of days" (Genesis 35:29);

and again:

"Jacob expired, and was gathered to his people" (49:33).

To their fathers and to their people denote to their own, that is, to their like in the other life, for every one after death comes to his like, with whom he will live for ever. It cannot mean to be gathered to their fathers, and to their people in the sepulchre, for it is also said concerning Abraham, that he should be gathered to his fathers, and that he was gathered to his people, when he died, and was buried in a new tomb, where none of his fathers, or of his people, except Sarah his wife, was buried before.

[18] In Job:

"Thou shalt know that thy tabernacle is peace, and thy children as the herb of the land; thou shalt come in old age unto the sepulchre, as the coming up of a shock of corn (acervi) in its season" (5:24-26).

A Tabernacle, in the Word, signifies what is holy in worship and the good of love, because Divine worship, in the most ancient times, was celebrated in tabernacles, and because their worship was from the good of celestial love, therefore a tabernacle also signifies that good. Since genuine peace pertains to celestial good, therefore it is said, "Thou shalt know that thy tabernacle is peace." The truths from that good and their increments are signified by the children who shall be as the herb of the land; for sons and children, and also the herb of the land, signify truths from good. That after a man is imbued with wisdom he will come into heaven is signified by, thou shalt come in old age into the sepulchre, old age denoting wisdom, and to come into the sepulchre, or to be buried, denoting resurrection; because this is meant it is therefore said, "as the coming up of a shock of corn in its season."

[19] From these few instances it is evident that sepulchres, because of the dead carcases and the bones therein, signify infernal things, but that burial signifies the rejection of these, and therefore resurrection. For when man casts aside or puts off his material body, he then puts on a spiritual body, with which he rises again; consequently the death of a man, in the spiritual sense, signifies the continuation of his life, although in a bad sense it signifies damnation, which is spiritual death. Since burial, in regard to man, signifies resurrection, and also regeneration, therefore burial, in regard to the Lord, signifies the glorification of His Human. For the Lord glorified, that is, made Divine, His whole Human, therefore He rose again on the third day with the Human glorified, that is, made Divine. Unless this had been accomplished, no man could have risen again to life. For man has resurrection to life solely from the Lord, and indeed from the fact that He united the Divine with His Human; from this union which is properly meant by glorification, man has salvation. This also is involved in what the Lord said concerning the woman who poured balsamic ointment upon His head, that she did it unto His burial (Matthew 26:7, 12; Mark 14:8; John 12:7); for anointing signifies that glorification; and because man from it has salvation, therefore He said concerning that woman,

"Verily, I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, that also which this [woman] hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her" (Matthew 26:13).

This was also represented by the man that was cast into the sepulchre of Elisha reviving when he touched his bones (2 Kings 13:20, 21), for Elisha represented the Lord as to Divine Truth, which constitutes the life of heaven, into which man is raised up.

[20] Since to be buried and burial signify both resuscitation into life, and regeneration; therefore not to be buried, and to be dragged out of the tombs, signify neither resurrection to heaven nor regeneration, but resurrection to hell, and consequently damnation; as in the following passages.

In Isaiah:

"Thou art cast out of thy sepulchre as an abominable branch, the raiment of the slain thrust through with the sword, who go down to the stones of the pit, as a carcase trodden under foot; thou shalt not be united with them in the sepulchre, for thou has destroyed thy land, thou hast slain thy people, the seed of the wicked shall not be named for ever" (14:19, 20).

This is said concerning the king of Babel, who signifies the profanation of Divine Truth. Therefore, thou art cast out of thy sepulchre, signifies condemned to hell. As an abominable branch, the raiment of the slain, thrust through with the sword, signifies the falsification of truth and its profanation, an abominable branch denoting truth falsified, and the raiment of the slain, thrust through with the sword, denoting truth adulterated and altogether destroyed by direful falsities. Who go down to the stones of the pit, as a carcase trodden under foot, signifies to the hell where the falsities of evil are, a carcase trodden under foot denoting an infernal spirit, in whom everything is spiritually dead, because good has been altogether destroyed. Thou shalt not be joined with them in the sepulchre, signifies no consociation with those who have risen again to life; for to be in the sepulchre, or to be buried, signifies that resurrection; and on the other hand to be cast out of the sepulchre signifies damnation. Thou hast destroyed thy land, thou hast slain thy people, signifies that the church and those therein who were in truths from good has been destroyed by the falsities of evil. The seed of the wicked shall not be named for ever signifies eternal severance and separation.

[21] In Jeremiah:

"Jehovah hath said concerning the sons and concerning the daughters who are born in this place, and concerning their mothers who shall bare them, and concerning their fathers who shall beget them in this land; they shall die of grievous deaths, so that they shall not be lamented, neither shall they be buried; they shall be for dung upon the faces of the earth, they shall be consumed by the sword, or by famine, that their carcase may be for food to the birds of the heavens, and to the beast of the earth" (16:3, 4).

These things are said of the church vastated as to all good and truth. Sons and daughters, and mothers and fathers, in the spiritual sense, do not mean sons and daughters, mothers and fathers, but the truths and goods of the church, both exterior and interior; sons and daughters denote truths and goods exterior, mothers and fathers truths and goods interior, which are called mothers and fathers because they beget and bring forth the exterior. They shall die of grievous deaths, so that they shall not be lamented, neither shall they be buried, signifies condemnation to hell on account of direful falsities. They shall be for dung upon the faces of the earth, signifies infernal filth which is the evil that defiles the good and truth of the church. To be consumed by sword or famine, signifies to be destroyed by falsities and evils. That their carcase may be for food to the birds of the heavens and to the beast of the earth, signifies to be consumed and to be yet further consumed by the desires of the love for evil and falsity.

[22] In the same:

"A tumult cometh even to the end of the earth, for Jehovah hath a controversy against the nations; he will enter into judgment with all flesh, he will give up the wicked to the sword; the slain of Jehovah shall be in that day from the end of the earth even unto the end of the earth, they shall not be lamented, nor gathered, nor buried; they shall be for dung upon the faces of the earth" (Jeremiah 25:31-33).

By these words is described the devastation of the church at its end when a last judgment takes place. The tumult even to the end of the earth, because Jehovah hath a controversy against the nations, signifies the dismay of all those who are of the church when they are visited and their evils are disclosed, the earth denoting the church, the nations, those who are in evils, and abstractedly, evils and the controversy of Jehovah against them denoting visitation and disclosure. He will enter into judgment with all flesh, signifies the universal judgment which takes place at the end of the church; He will give up the wicked to the sword, signifies that the unfaithful will perish by their own falsities. The slain of Jehovah in that day shall be from the end of the earth unto the end of the earth, signifies those who perish by falsities of every kind, the slain of Jehovah denoting those who perish by falsities, and from the end of the earth to the end of the earth denoting from primaries to the ultimates of the church, consequently falsities of every kind. They shall not be lamented, nor gathered, nor buried, signifies that there will be no longer any restoration and salvation, but condemnation, lamentation signifying grief because such is the state of man, and no lamentation signifying no grief, because man is such as to admit of no restoration. They shall be for dung upon the faces of the earth, signifies merely falsity and evil, without any reception of life from heaven; for if man does not receive life by means of the truths of faith and goods of charity, he is merely dead, being in mere falsities of evil and evils of falsity, which are "a carcase and dung upon the faces of the earth."

[23] In the same:

Against the prophets who prophesy a lie in the name of Jehovah: "The people to whom they prophesy shall be cast away in the streets of Jerusalem; because of famine and the sword, there shall be none to bury them, themselves, their wives, and their sons, and their daughters" (Jerem.14:15, 16).

Here not to be buried denotes not to rise again to life, but to damnation; the rest may be seen explained above (652:34).

In the same:

"At that time they shall bring the bones of the kings of Judah, and the bones of the princes thereof, and the bones of the priests, and the bones of the prophets, and the bones of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, out of their sepulchres, and shall spread them out to the sun, and to the moon, and to all the host of the heavens, which they have loved, and which they have served, and which they have gone after, and which they have sought, and to which they have bowed themselves down; they shall not be gathered, nor buried, they shall be for dung upon the faces of the earth" (8:1, 2).

By bringing out the bones from the sepulchres is signified to separate from the peoples, that is, to cast out from communion with those who are in heaven, among the damned without, as is the case when the evil enter the societies of the good, and are cast out afterwards, when discovered. For concerning those who are buried it is said that they are gathered to their peoples, as above concerning Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, therefore to be brought out of the sepulchre denotes to be cast out from them. All those who are of the church, also all things pertaining to the church, are signified by the kings, princes, priests, prophets, and inhabitants of Jerusalem; kings signifying the truths of the church themselves in their whole extent; princes, principal truths; priests, the goods of doctrine; prophets, the truths of doctrine; and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, all things of the church depending thereon;

[24] here, by their bones, which are to be brought out, are signified falsities and evils, which have nothing in common with truths and goods. To spread them out to the sun, to the moon, and to all the host of the heavens, signifies to give them up to devilish loves, and thence to evils and falsities which are from hell. For the sun signifies love in both senses, the moon faith from that love, in both senses, and the host of the heavens, falsities and evils of every kind. Hence therefore to spread out the bones to these, means to give them over wholly to such things, in order that they may be nothing but loves and desires of evil and falsity. Which they have loved, which they have served, which they have gone after, which they have sought, and to which they have bowed themselves down, signifies exterior and interior affection and proneness for such things and worship therefrom. They shall not be gathered, nor buried, signifies that they shall never return to the societies of heaven, but will remain with those who are in hell. They shall be for dung upon the faces of the earth, signifies what is dead and unclean such as is cast out and trodden under foot. It is evident from these things what is signified by Josiah the king taking the bones out of the sepulchres and burning them upon the altar (2 Kings 23:16); by Jezebel being eaten by the dogs in the field, and none to bury her (2 Kings 9:10); and by Jehoiakim, the son of Josiah, king of Judah, being buried with the burial of an ass, taken out, and cast forth beyond the gates of Jerusalem (Jeremiah 22:19).

[25] The signification of being buried in Tophet, and in the valley of Hinnom, in Jeremiah, is similar:

"Behold the days come in which it shall no more be called Tophet, or the valley of the son of Hinnom, but the valley of slaughter; and they shall bury in Tophet till there is no room, and the carcase of this people shall be for food to the bird of the heavens, and to the beast of the earth, and none shall frighten them away" (7:32, 33).

And in the same:

"I will break this people and this city as the vessel of a potter is broken, which cannot be repaired any more, and they shall bury in Tophet, because there will be no place to bury, and I will make this city as Tophet" (19:11, 12).

Tophet and the valley of Hinnom signified the hells, Tophet, the hell at the back, which is called the devil, and the valley of Hinnom, the hell in front, which is called Satan, since all the places in the city of Jerusalem, and outside of it, corresponded to places in the spiritual world, for there the dwelling places are according to Divine order. In the midst are those who are in the greatest light or wisdom; in the borders, those who are in the least; to the east and west, those who are in love; to the south and north, those who are in intelligence. Such is the arrangement of the whole heaven, so also in every society there, in every city, and in every house, and this because the lesser forms in the heavens are all according to the likeness of the greatest form. And since Jerusalem signified heaven and the church as to doctrine, therefore also the places there were representative according to their quarters and their distances from the temple and from Zion; consequently Tophet and the valley of Hinnom, being most unclean places and wickedly idolatrous, represented and thence signified the hells. The signification of burying in Tophet, and in the valley of Hinnom, is evident from these things.