1. Prefazione dell’Autore

Il Signore parlando ai suoi discepoli della fine dei tempi, cioè nell’ultimo periodo della chiesa, ¹ dice, all’avvicinarsi della predetta fine, in merito al successivo stato di amore e fede: ²

Subito dopo l’afflizione di quei giorni il sole si oscurerà e la luna non darà il suo splendore, e le stelle cadranno dal cielo, e le potenze dei cieli saranno scosse. Ed allora apparirà nel cielo il segno del Figlio dell’uomo; ed allora tutte le tribù della terra faranno cordoglio, e vedranno il Figliuolo dell’uomo venire sulle nuvole del cielo con gran potenza e gloria. E manderà i suoi angeli con gran suono di tromba a radunare i suoi eletti dai quattro venti, da un capo all’altro dei cieli. (Matteo 24:29-31)

Coloro che si soffermano sul mero significato letterale di queste parole, hanno la convinzione che alla fine dei tempi, quando vi sarà il giudizio universale, tutte queste cose avranno luogo, così come sono descritte nel senso letterale, cioè che il sole e la luna si oscureranno e le stelle cadranno dal cielo, e che il segno del Signore apparirà nel cielo, ed egli stesso sarà visto sulle nubi, con gli angeli e con le trombe al seguito; inoltre è predetto in altri passi che l’intero universo sarà distrutto, e poi sorgerà un nuovo cielo e una nuova terra. Tale è la convinzione della maggior parte degli uomini nella chiesa, nel presente. Ma coloro che sono in questa fede ignorano i segreti che sono nascosti in ogni minimo dettaglio della Parola; in realtà in ogni singolo vocabolo della Parola vi è un significato interiore che concerne le cose spirituali e celesti anziché le cose naturali e mondane, così come appaiono nel senso letterale. E questo è vero non solo per il significato di gruppi di parole, ma per ciascuna parola. ³ Perché la Parola è scritta esclusivamente per corrispondenze ⁴ , affinché vi possa essere un significato interiore in ogni singolo particolare di essa. Quale sia questo significato lo si può vedere da tutto ciò che è stato scritto al riguardo in Arcana Coelestia [pubblicato nel 1749-1756]; e dalle citazioni attinte da quell’opera, nell’illustrazione del Cavallo Bianco [dell’Apocalisse, pubblicato nel 1758] cui si fa riferimento nell’Apocalisse.

È in conformità di quel significato spirituale, che deve essere inteso l’avvento del Signore dal cielo, sulle nuvole, di cui al passo sopra citato. Ivi il sole che si oscura significa il Signore quanto all’amore; ⁵ la “luna” si riferisce alla fede; ⁶ le stelle indicano la conoscenza del bene e della verità, o dell’amore e della fede; ⁷ il “segno del Figlio dell’uomo nel cielo” indica la manifestazione della Divina verità; le “tribù della terra” significano tutte le cose concernenti la verità ed il bene, o la fede e l’amore; ⁸ “l’avvento del Signore sulle nuvole del cielo, in gloria e potenza,” significa la sua presenza nella Parola e la sua rivelazione; ⁹ le “nuvole” significano il senso letterale della Parola, ¹⁰ e la “gloria” il senso interiore della Parola; ¹¹ gli “angeli con gran suono di tromba” indicano il cielo quale sorgente della Divina verità. ¹² Tutto questo chiarisce cosa deve intendersi con queste parole del Signore, vale a dire che alla fine della chiesa, quando non vi sarà più alcun amore, e quindi alcuna fede, il Signore svelerà il significato interiore della Parola e rivelerà i segreti del cielo. I segreti rivelati nelle seguenti pagine riguardano il cielo e l’inferno, nonché la vita dell’uomo dopo la morte. L’uomo della chiesa attualmente ha una scarsa conoscenza del cielo e dell’inferno, o della sua vita dopo la morte, sebbene questi argomenti siano contemplati e descritti nella Parola; ciò nondimeno molti di quelli nati in seno alla chiesa, negano queste cose, dicendo nel loro intimo, “Chi mai è venuto da quel mondo e ha confermato queste cose?” Per evitare che questo atteggiamento negazionista, invalso specialmente presso quelli pervasi dalla saggezza mondana, possa contaminare e traviare le persone semplici nel cuore e nella fede, mi è stato concesso di essere associato agli angeli e di parlare con loro, come tra uomo e uomo, e anche di vedere come sono i cieli e gli inferni, e questo da tredici anni, ormai; quindi, adesso posso descrivere ciò che ho visto è udito, nell’auspicio che l’ignoranza possa essere illuminata, e l’incredulità, dissipata. Le presenti rivelazioni sono estese ora perché questo deve intendersi per la venuta del Signore.

Фусноте:

799. And his tabernacle. That this signifies all the doctrine of the church, and worship therefrom, is evident from the signification of the tabernacle, as denoting the church as to doctrine and worship, consequently also the doctrine and worship of the church. The falsification of these is therefore signified by blaspheming the tabernacle of God.

The reason why tabernacle signifies the church as to doctrine and worship is, that those who belonged to the church in the most ancient times dwelt in tabernacles and tents, which also they took on their journeys. For at that time they were mostly feeders of sheep; and the father of the family taught those who were born of his house the precepts of charity, and thence the life of love, in tabernacles, as, afterwards, in temples. Hence the tabernacle signified the same as the house of God, that is, the worship of God according to doctrine. Consequently it also signified the church, because the church is the church from a life according to doctrine; and a life according to doctrine is worship.

[2] Because those most ancient people among whom the church existed worshipped God under a human form; and because God under a human form is the Lord, they consequently worshipped Him. Their church was therefore a celestial church, distinguished from a spiritual church in this, that the celestial church is in love to the Lord, and in worship from that love; while the spiritual church is in love towards the neighbour, and in worship from that love. And because such was the quality of the church among the most ancient people, and the doctrine of love to the Lord was taught in their tabernacles, and hence tabernacles were loved by the Lord more than temples, therefore by command of the Lord on Mount Sinai, a tabernacle was built, in which the Israelitish nation might perform holy worship; and afterwards, in memory of the most holy worship in tabernacles, the feast of tabernacles was instituted. From these things it is evident why it is that the tabernacle signifies the doctrine of the church, and worship therefrom.

[3] This signification of tabernacles is also evident from the following passages:

In Moses:

"How goodly are thy tabernacles, O Jacob, thy tents, O Israel" (Numbers 24:5).

In this and other parts of the Word they are called tabernacles, and also tents; and by tabernacle is signified the church consisting of those who are in the good of love to the Lord, and by tent the church consisting of those who are in truths from that good. And because doctrine and worship therefrom make the church, therefore by tabernacle is signified the doctrine of the good of love; and by tent the doctrine of truth from that good. Hence also by tabernacles, in the plural, are signified the goods of the church and of doctrine; and by tents the truths of the church and of doctrine. It is therefore evident what is signified by the above words of Balaam, "How goodly are thy tabernacles, O Jacob, thy tents, O Israel"; for by Jacob is signified the church which is in the good of doctrine and of life, and by Israel the church which is in truths from good.

[4] In Jeremiah:

"Jehovah bringeth back the captivity of the tabernacles of Jacob, and I will have compassion on his tents, and the city shall be built upon its own heap, and the palace thereof shall be inhabited after its former manner" (30:18).

Here, also, tabernacles and tents are mentioned; and by tabernacles are signified the goods of the church or of the doctrine thereof, and by tents the truths of the church and the doctrine thereof. By captivity is signified spiritual captivity, which takes place when the goods and truths of the church or of doctrine are, as it were, imprisoned. Wherefore to bring back their captivity signifies to restore them. What the rest signifies may be seen above (n. 724).

[5] In Isaiah:

"Enlarge the place of thy tabernacle, and let them stretch out the curtains of thy tents; prohibit not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy bars" (54:2).

This said of the barren who did not bear, who signify the Gentiles, among whom the church was to be established by the Lord. The state of the good of love of that church is signified by the place of thy tabernacle; and the truths from that good are signified by the curtains of thy tents. The fructification of good and the multiplication of truth is signified by enlarging and stretching out. By the cords is signified their conjunction; and by bars their strength.

[6] In David:

"One thing have I desired of Jehovah, this will I seek, that I may dwell in the house of Jehovah all the days of my life, to see the pleasantness of Jehovah, to visit in the morning his temple. For he shall hide me in his tent in the evil day; he shall hide me in the secret of his tabernacle, he shall lift me up upon a rock" (Psalm 27:4, 5).

Here the house of Jehovah, the temple, the tent, and the tabernacle are mentioned. And by the house of Jehovah is signified the church which is in the good of love to the Lord; by temple the church which is in truths from that good; by the tent of Jehovah is signified Divine truth, and by the tabernacle Divine Good. Hence it is evident, that by dwelling in the house of Jehovah all the days of one's life, is not meant to dwell in the house of Jehovah, but in the good of love to the Lord; and that by visiting in the morning the temple of Jehovah, is not meant to visit a temple every morning, but to inquire into and learn the truths of that good. By hiding in the tent is signified therefore to keep stedfastly in Divine truth, and to protect from falsities. And by hiding in the secret of the tabernacle, is signified to keep stedfastly in Divine Good and to protect from evils. By lifting up upon a rock is signified to instruct in interior truths.

[7] Again:

"Jehovah, who shall abide in thy tabernacle, who shall dwell in the mountain of thy holiness? He who walketh uprightly, and doeth justice, and speaketh the truth" (Psalm 15:1, 2).

Where also by tabernacle is signified the church as to the good of love, consequently also the good of love. By the mountain of holiness, by which is meant Jerusalem, is signified the church as to truths of doctrine from that good. It may be known, therefore, what is signified by abiding in them. He who walketh uprightly signifies one who is in good as to life, and in truths as to doctrine. Therefore it is also said, "who doeth justice and speaketh the truth;" and by doing justice is signified to be in good as to life, and by speaking the truth is signified to be in truths as to doctrine.

[8] Again:

"I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever, I will confide in the hiding-place of thy wings" (Psalm 61:4).

To abide in the tabernacle for ever, signifies to be in the Divine Good of love. To confide in the hiding-place of thy wings, signifies to be in Divine truths; for the wings of Jehovah, signify spiritual truths.

[9] In Isaiah:

"By mercy was the throne established; and he sat upon it in verity in the tabernacle of David, judging and seeking judgment, and hastening justice" (16:5).

These things are said of the Lord. Heaven which was established by Him; the church therefore is signified by the throne established by mercy. That the Lord there reigns by Divine truth from Divine Good, is signified by sitting upon it in verity in the tabernacle of David. By David is meant the Lord as to His royalty, which is Divine truth; and by His tabernacle is signified the Divine Good. By judgment is signified the truth of doctrine because all judgment is from it; and by justice is signified the good of love, both of which are from the Lord Himself among those who are in heaven and those who are in the church.

[10] In the same:

"Look upon Zion, the city of our stated feasts, let thine eyes see Jerusalem a quiet habitation, a tabernacle which shall not be taken down; the bars thereof shall not be removed, neither shall any of the cords thereof be plucked up" (33:20).

By Zion here is not meant Zion, nor by Jerusalem, Jerusalem, but heaven and the church as to the good of love and the truth of doctrine. These things are the quiet habitation, and the tabernacle which shall not be taken down. By the bars which shall not be removed, is signified to be strengthened by Divine truths; and by the cords which shall not be broken, is signified conjunction by means of Divine Good.

[11] In Jeremiah:

"My tabernacle is devastated, and all my cords plucked away, my sons have gone forth from me, and they are not; there is no longer any to stretch out my tabernacle, and to set up my curtains" (10:20).

By the tabernacle which is devastated is signified the church in which there is no longer any good. By the cords being plucked away is signified that there is no conjunction. By the sons going forth and being no more, is signified that there are no longer any truths. By none stretching out the tabernacle any more, nor setting the curtains, is signified that no one any longer in the church teaches the good of love and the truth from that good, the curtains denoting the truths proceeding from good and covering it.

[12] In the same:

"The whole earth is devastated, suddenly my tabernacles are devastated, my curtains in a moment" (4:20).

By the earth which is devastated is signified the church by the tabernacles which are devastated its goods; and by curtains its truths.

Again:

"Nebuchadnezzar king of Babel shall take their tabernacle and their flocks, their curtains and all their vessels, and their camels he shall take away for himself" (49:28-29).

This is spoken of the vastation of Arabia, by which is signified the church which is in truths from good. The goods of that church are signified by the tabernacle and their flocks; the truths thereof by the curtains and all the vessels; and the knowledges of truth by the camels. By Nebuchadnezzar king of Babel are signified the evils and falsities which lay waste. Similar things are signified by the tabernacles of Arabia, mentioned in Psalm 120:5.

[13] In Jeremiah:

"The shepherds and their flocks shall come unto Zion, they shall fix tabernacles against her, they shall consume every one his space" (6:3).

By these words also is described the vastation of the church as to the good of love, Zion denoting the church in which that good exists. By the tabernacles which the shepherds and flocks shall fix against her, are signified the evils and their falsities which devastate it. They shall consume every one his space, signifies that it shall be altogether deprived of goods and truths.

[14] In Hosea:

"Egypt shall gather them, Memphis shall bury them, the desirable place of their silver the nettle shall possess, and the thorn shall be in their tabernacles" (9:6).

This is spoken of the vastation of the church by the falsifications of truth. By Israel, of whom these things are said, is signified that church. That the natural man and his cupidity will destroy them, is signified by Egypt shall gather them, Memphis shall bury them. That falsity will destroy all truth, is signified by, the desirable place of their silver the nettle shall possess; and that evils of falsity will destroy all their good, is signified by, thorns shall be in their tabernacles.

[15] In Isaiah:

"Who dwelleth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as locusts, who stretcheth out the heavens as something fine, and spreadeth them out as a tabernacle to dwell in" (40:22).

To dwell upon the circle of the earth, signifies upon the heavens; for the heaven encompasseth the earth as a circle its centre. Whence the Lord is called the Most High, and He that dwelleth in the highest. The inhabitants thereof as locusts, signifies men in the extremes; for the locust signifies what is alive in ultimates - specifically truth in ultimates - and, in the opposite sense, falsity there. Who stretcheth out the heavens as something fine, signifies omnipotence to amplify the heavens at will; and spreadeth them out as a tabernacle to dwell in, signifies nearly the same, but the latter the enlargement of the heavens as to goods, and the former their enlargement as to truths.

[16] Again in Hosea:

"As yet will I cause thee to dwell in tabernacles, according to the days of the time appointed" (12:9).

The subject treated of is Ephraim, who being enriched said that he had found wealth (ver. 8), whereby is signified that he had procured for himself the knowledges of truth. For by Ephraim is signified the understanding of the Word and the Intellectual of the church. Therefore by causing him to dwell in tabernacles is signified to be in the church where good is. According to the days of the time appointed, signifies, until those knowledges perish.

[17] In Zechariah:

"Jehovah shall save the tabernacles of Judah first" (12:7).

The tabernacles of Judah denote the goods of the Word and the goods of the church; for by Judah is signified the Word, and also the church, as to the good of love to the Lord.

In Lamentations:

"The Lord hath bent his bow as a foe, he stood with his right hand as an enemy, and slew all things that were pleasant to the eyes; into the tabernacles of the daughter of Zion he poured out his anger like fire" (2:4).

Here, the subject treated of is the devastation of the church as to truths and as to goods. Devastation as to the truths thereof is signified by slaying all things that were pleasant to the eyes; and devastation as to goods by pouring out His anger like fire into the tabernacles of the daughter of Zion. Things pleasant, in the Word, are said of truths, and eyes of the understanding of truth; tabernacles are said of goods, and anger, like fire, of the vastation of good. The daughter of Zion signifies the church which is in the affection of truth from the love of good.

[18] Again in David:

"He hath set for the sun a tabernacle in the heavens" (Psalm 19:4).

By the sun is there meant the Lord as to Divine Love; because He dwells in the good of His own love in the heavens; therefore it is said, He hath set a tabernacle for the sun in the heavens, the tabernacle there denoting the Lord's heaven from the good of love.

Again:

"Because thou hast made Jehovah the Most High thy habitation, no evil shall befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy tabernacle" (Psalm 91:9, 10).

By the habitation of Jehovah and by His tabernacle, are signified heaven and the church, by habitation, heaven and the church as to truths, and by tabernacle heaven and the church as to goods. The removal of and protection from evils and the falsities of evil, is signified by making the Most High his dwelling, and by no evil befalling him nor plague coming nigh him.

[19] Again in David:

"He shall pluck thee out of the tabernacle, and shall root thee out of the land of the living" (Psalm 52:5).

This is said of Doeg the Edomite. That he should be expelled from all the good of the church, is signified by being plucked out of the tabernacle; and also from all the truths of the church, is signified by being rooted out of the land of the living, the land denotes the church, and those are called the living who are in truths from good.

By tabernacle is signified the church as to good, or the good of the church, in the following passages also:-

"That Jehovah would set a tabernacle in the midst of them, would walk in the midst of them, and be to them for a God" (Leviticus 26:11, 12).

This was one among the blessings.

After that the Lord was transfigured before Peter, James, and John, Peter said, "Lord, it is good for us to be here, and let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias" (Matthew 17:4; Mark 9:5; Luke 9:33).

"I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them" (Apocalypse 21:3).

"He forsook the tent of Shiloh, the Tabernacle, in which he dwelt amongst men" (Psalm 78:60).

"He refused the tent of Joseph" (Psalm 78:67).

That a tent signifies the church as to truths of doctrine, is evident from the passages in the Word where a tent or tents are mentioned.

As in Isaiah 22:16; Jeremiah 9:19; Ezekiel 25:4; Amos 9:11; Hab. 1:6; Psalm. 43:3; 46:4; 74:7.

[20] Because heaven and the church as to the doctrine of the good of love, was signified by a tabernacle, and as to the doctrine of truth from that good by a tent, and this from the holy worship of the Lord by the most ancient people, as said at the commencement of this article; therefore, it pleased the Lord that a tabernacle should be erected by Moses, in which representative worship was to be performed, which is described in Exodus (26:7-15; 36:8-37). And it was afterwards commanded, that

All the tribes of Israel should encamp about it, and that the Levites who were to guard it should be near to it (Numbers 1:10-54; 3:7-39).

"And also that they should journey with it" (Numbers 9:15).

That tabernacle was representative of heaven and the church. This is clear from the fact

That the form of it was shown to Moses upon Mount Sinai (Exodus 25:9; 26:30).

And whatever is shown in its form so as to be seen in heaven and from heaven, is representative. That the tabernacle was representative of heaven itself where the Lord is, and thence also of the church, is evident from its holiness

For it was not lawful for any one to enter it, except Aaron and his sons, and that if the people drew near, they should die (Numbers 17:12, 13; 18:1, 22, 23; 19:14-19).

Also in that

There was a cloud upon it by day, and the appearance of fire by night (Exodus 40:38; Numbers 9:15; Isaiah 4:5, 6).

And afterwards that

A feast was celebrated, which was called the feast of tabernacles, and they were to be glad from the produce of the corn-floor and of the wine-press (Leviticus 23:39-44; Deuteronomy 16:13, 14; Zech. 14:16, 18, 19).

By the produce of the corn-floor was signified all the good of the church, the same as by bread and corn; and by the produce of the wine-press was signified all the truth of the good of the church, the same as by wine; and by being glad on the occasion was signified the delight of celestial and spiritual love arising from these.

That everything belonging to the tabernacle - as the ark, the propitiatory with the cherubs upon it, the veil, the table upon which was the bread, the altar of incense, the candlestick, the curtains, the coverings, the staves and pillars, the cords, pins, etc. - were representative of heaven and the church, may be seen in the Arcana Coelestia where Exodus is treated of; in which all these things are explained. It is also there shown, that the holiness of all these things resulted from the Law deposited in the ark; for the Law signified the Word, and thereby represented the Lord, who is the Word.