属天的奥秘 # 7780
7780. “直到磨坊后的婢女的长子” 表占据末位的信之被歪曲的真理. 这从 “长子” 和 “婢女” 的含义清楚可知: “长子” 是指信, 如刚才所述 (7779节), 它因表示信, 故也表示整体上的真理, 因为真理是一个人当信的东西, 是信的内容; “婢女” 是指对真理的一种相当外在的情感, 或对记忆知识的情感 (1895, 2567, 3835, 3849节). 但 “磨坊后的婢女” 表示对记忆知识的最外在的情感, 因为 “磨坊后” 表示占据末位的东西. 经上之所以说 “磨坊后”, 是因为 “磨坊” 论及那些属于信的事物. 事实上, 谷粒通过磨坊被磨成细粉, 从而预备制饼; 而 “粉” 表示产生良善的真理, “饼” 表示由真理所产生的实际良善. 因此, “坐在磨坊上” 是指学习并充满诸如服务于信, 并通过信服务于仁的那类事物. 这就是为何古人在描述信之教义的基本要素时, 将它们描述为 “坐在磨坊上”, 将学习更基本的要素描述为 “坐在磨坊后”. 正是由于这种含义, 主在教导教会末期地方说:
两个女人在磨坊里推磨, 取去一个, 撇下一个. (马太福音 24:41)
若非 “磨坊” 表示这些信之事物, 经上永远不会说这些话. 至于 “磨坊” 和 “推磨” 在内义上表示什么, 可参看前文 (4335节). 关于占据首位的信之真理和占据末位的信之真理, 要知道, 占据首位的, 是那些直接从仁之良善发出的信之真理, 因为它们是良善所取的外在形式, 而占据末位的真理, 是赤裸的真理. 事实上, 当真理接连从良善衍生出来时, 它们每一步都远离良善, 最终变成赤裸的真理. 这种真理由 “磨坊后的婢女” 来表示.
Apocalypse Explained # 289
289. To Him that sitteth upon the throne, that liveth unto ages of ages, signifies from whom are all things of heaven and of the church and eternal life. This is evident from the signification of "throne," as being, in reference to the Lord, in general the whole heaven, in particular the spiritual heaven, and abstractly Divine truth proceeding; and as through this the heavens have existence, therefore "throne" here signifies all things of heaven and of the church (See above n. 253; that "He that sitteth upon the throne" is the Lord, see also above (n. 267, 268). This is also evident from the signification of "living unto ages of ages," as being that eternal life is from Him (See above, n. 84); for "He that liveth" signifies that He alone is life, and therefore that everything of life with angels and men is from Him; and "unto ages of ages" signifies eternity. "Unto ages of ages" signifies eternity because in the world it signifies time throughout its whole extent; but in heaven, where there is not time like that in the world, it signifies eternity; for the sense of the letter of the Word is made up of such things as are in the world, but its spiritual sense is made up of such things as are in heaven; and this in order that the Divine may close into the natural things of the world as into its ultimates, and may rest in them, and subsist upon them; therefore it is said, "ages of ages," and not eternity.
