10127. Seven days thou shalt make propitiation upon the altar. That this signifies full in respect to influx into heaven and into the church, is evident from the signification of “seven days,” as being what is full (of which in what follows); from the signification of “making propitiation,” as being purification from evils and the derivative falsities (of which also below); and from the signification of “the altar,” as being a representative of the Divine Human of the Lord in respect to Divine good (n. 9388, 9389, 9714, 9964), here in heaven and in the church (n. 10123). The sacrifice of the bullock for propitiating and sanctifying the altar was to be offered seven days, because “seven days” signified an entire period from beginning to end, greater or less, the same as a “week;” hence also “seven days” signify what is full. The number “three” likewise signifies an entire period from beginning to end, and hence also what is full; but with this difference, that “seven” is said when some holy thing is treated of, but “three” when anything whatever is treated of.
[2] Be it known that all the numbers in the Word signify real things, which is very well known in the other life, where at times papers full of numbers are let down from heaven to the spirits beneath, and such spirits as receive influx from the Lord know from the numbers the things signified, in a continuous series, as if it had been written with letters. It has also been given to me sometimes to see such papers, and it was also said that some of the most ancient people, who as to their interiors were in company with the angels, infolded and stored up in numbers as a memorial for themselves, things of their church and heavenly arcana. From this it can be seen that all the numbers in the Word are significative of real things, for there is not the smallest expression in the Word which is not significative, because it was written not only for men, but also at the same time for angels in heaven. From this the Word is Divine as it passes through all the heavens.
[3] (That all numbers in the Word signify real things, see n. 575, 1963, 1988, 2075, 2252, 3252, 4364, 4495, 4670, 5265, 6175, 9659; that “seven” in the Word involves what is holy, n. 395, 433, 716, 881, 5265, 5268; and an entire period from beginning to end, thus a full state, n. 6508, 9228; and that a “week” has a similar meaning, n. 2044, 3845; and also the number “three,” n. 2788, 4495, 4901, 5123, 5159, 7715, 9198, 9488, 9489, 9825)
[4] As regards “propitiating,” this signifies purification from evils and the derivative falsities, or what is the same, their removal; and as “propitiating” and “expiating” have this signification, they also involve the implantation of good and truth, and the conjunction of both by the Lord. That these are involved is because insofar as a man is purified from evils and falsities, so far good and truth are implanted and conjoined by the Lord. Wherefore the one being assumed, the other also is assumed, for the Lord is present with every man with the good of love, because He loves all, and from love wills to conjoin them with Himself, which is effected through the good of love and the truth of faith; but the evils and their falsities which a man appropriates to himself by a life of evil, stand in the way, and hinder the influx. From this it is evident what is meant by propitiation and expiation. (See also n. 9506)
