297. 属天之善是裸露的, 因为它是至内之善, 天真无邪. 属天属灵之善开始需要遮盖, 然后是属世之善, 因为这些更外在. 也因如此, 它们被比作衣服, 甚至被称作 “衣服”. 例如: “我使你身穿绣花衣服, 脚穿海狗皮鞋, 并用细麻布给你束腰, 用丝绸为衣披在你身上.” (以西结书 16:10) 这是说古教会.

又如: “圣城耶路撒冷啊, 穿上你华美的衣服.” (以赛亚书 52:1)

再如: “在撒狄你还有几名是未曾污秽自己衣服的, 他们要穿白衣与我同行, 因为他们是配得过的.” (启示录 3:4-5)

类似地, 二十四位长老也说是 “身穿白衣” (启示录 4:4).

因此, 更外在的属天属灵之善和属世之善即是用来遮盖的 “衣服”, 也因如此, 具有仁爱之善的天使显现时, 都是身穿光明的衣裳, 此处由于尚在肉体中, 故被描述为身穿 “皮衣”.

Oil -- typically olive oil -- symbolizes the good that comes from celestial love. Celestial love is love of the Lord, the highest and purest love we can have. The good of celestial love is the desire to be good springing from celestial love: Wanting to do the Lord's will because you love Him. That's not a state many reach, even in heaven, but it's a beautiful goal. This representation makes sense based on the idea that the sun -- the source of all natural light and heat, and thus all natural life -- represents the Lord, the source of all spiritual light, heat and life. Burning oil was the most pure fire available in Biblical times, thus the closest representation of the sun people could create.