432. Verse 5. Of the tribe of Judah twelve thousand sealed; of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand sealed; of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand sealed.

5. "Of the tribe of Judah twelve thousand sealed," signifies love to the Lord, and that all who are in that love are in heaven, and come into heaven n. 433; "of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand sealed," signifies the light of truth from that good, and that all who are in that light are in heaven and come into heaven n. 434; "of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand sealed," signifies the consequent good of life (n. 435, 436).

8394. Having examined himself, acknowledged his sins, and repented a person must remain steadfast in good to life's end. But if having done those things he falls back into his former life of evil and embraces it he profanes that good since he now links evil with it. As a consequence his latter state becomes, according to the Lord's words, worse than his former,

When the unclean spirit goes out of a person he goes through dry places seeking rest, but does not find it. Then he says, I will return into my house from which I came out; and when he comes and finds it empty, swept, and decorated for him, he goes away and links to himself seven other spirits more evil than himself; and they enter and dwell there. And the latter [circumstances] of the person become worse than the first. Matthew 12:43-45.