7108. 'Behold, the people of the land are now many' means the greatness in numbers of those who belong to the spiritual Church. This is clear from the meaning of 'the people of the land' as those who belong to the spiritual Church, dealt with in 2928. For 'the people' means those in possession of the truths of faith, 1259, 1260, 3581; and 'the land' means the Church, dealt with in 662, 1066, 1067, 1262, 1733, 1850, 2117, 2118 (end), 3355, 4447, 4535, 5577.
