9127. “就为他没有流血的罪” 表那么他不会犯有所施暴行的罪. 这从 “血” 的含义清楚可知,

“血” 在至高意义上是指从主的神性良善发出的神性真理, 在源于至高意义的内义上是指良善之真理 (参看4735, 6378, 6978, 7317, 7326, 7846, 7850, 7877节). 因此,

“流血” 表示向神之真理或良善之真理, 以及良善本身施暴. 事实上, 凡向真理施暴的, 同样向良善施暴, 因为真理与良善结合得如此紧密, 以致这一个属于那一个, 或说这一个永远不会离开那一个. 因此, 向这一个施暴, 就是向那一个施暴. 由此明显可知,

“为他没有流血的罪” 表示他不会犯有向真理或良善所施暴行的罪.

人若对圣言的内义一无所知, 只能认为圣言中的 “血” 表示血液;

“流血” 仅仅表示杀人. 但内义并不论述人的肉体生命, 只论述其灵魂的生命, 也就是他的属灵生命, 这生命会永远活着. 在圣言的字义上, 这生命通过诸如构成肉体生命的那类事物来描述, 即肉和血. 由于人的属灵生命源于属于仁爱的良善和属于信仰的真理, 并靠它们来维持, 所以在圣言的内义上,

“肉” 表示属于仁爱的良善,

“血” 表示属于信仰的真理. 在更内在的意义上,

“肉” 表示属于对主之爱的良善,

“血” 表示属于对邻之爱的良善. 但在唯独论述主的至高意义上,

“肉” 是指主的神性良善, 因而是指神性良善方面的主自己; 而 “血” 是指从主发出的神性真理, 因而是指神性真理方面的主. 当一个人阅读圣言时,

“肉和血” 在天上就被理解为这些事物. 当这个人参加圣餐礼时, 同样理解为这些事物, 只是在圣餐中, 饼是肉, 酒是血, 因为 “饼” 与 “肉” 所表相同,

“酒” 与 “血” 所表相同.

但那些像当今大多数世人那样在感官层进行思考的人, 根本不理解这一切. 所以只要他们相信圣餐和圣言因来自神而含有某种神圣之物在里面, 就让他们持守自己的信仰吧. 就算他们不知道这种神圣在哪里; 还是让那些被赋予某种内在觉知, 也就是能在高于感官的层面上进行思考的人考虑一下, 在以下经文中,

“血” 是用来表示血,

“肉” 是用来表示肉吗?

人子啊, 主耶和华如此说: 你要对天上的各种鸟和田野的各种走兽说: 你们聚集来吧! 要从四方聚集来吃我为你们所献的祭物, 就是在以色列山上所献的大祭物, 好叫你们吃肉喝血. 你们要吃勇士的肉, 喝地上首领的血. 你们要从我为你们所献的祭物中喝血喝到醉. 你们要在我席上因马匹和战车, 并勇士和一切的战士而饱足. 我要这样将我的荣耀立在列族中.(以西结书 39:17-21)

启示录:

我又看见一位天使站在日头中, 向飞在空中的一切鸟大声呼喊说, 你们聚集来赴大神的筵席! 可以吃君王的肉, 千夫长的肉, 壮士的肉, 马和骑马者的肉, 并自主的, 为奴的, 小的大的, 众人的肉.(启示录 19:17-18)

很明显, 在这些经文中,

“肉” 并非表示肉,

“血” 并非表示血. 这同样适用于约翰福音中主的 “肉” 和 “血”:

我所要赐的粮, 就是我的肉. 我实实在在地告诉你们: 你们若不吃人子的肉, 不喝人子的血, 就没有生命在你们里面. 吃我肉喝我血的人就有永生, 在末日我要叫他复活. 我的肉真是可吃的, 我的血真是可喝的. 吃我肉, 喝我血的人住在我里面, 我也住在他里面. 这就是从天上降下来的粮.(约翰福音 6:51-58)

主的 “肉” 是指祂的神性之爱的神性良善, 祂的 “血” 是指从祂的神性良善发出的神性真理; 这一点从以下事实可以看出来: 它们都是滋养一个人的属灵生命的食物. 这解释了为何祂接着说 “我的肉真是可吃的, 我的血真是可喝的”, 又说 “这就是从天上降下来的粮”. 由于人通过爱和信与主结合, 故祂还说:

“吃我肉, 喝我血的人住在我里面, 我也住在他里面”. 不过, 如前所述, 只有那些能在高于身体感官的层面上进行思考的人, 尤其那些信主爱主的人才能明白这个问题, 因为主把他们从其肉体感官的生命提升到其灵的生命, 因而从世界之光提升到天堂之光; 在天堂之光中, 对物质事物的概念, 也就是在心智中通过肉体所获得的印象会逐渐消失.

因此, 凡知道 “血” 表示来自主的神之真理的人也能看出在圣言中,

“流血” 并非表示杀人, 或剥夺一个人的肉体生命; 而是表示杀害或剥夺他灵魂的生命, 也就是摧毁他的属灵生命, 这生命就是对主的信和爱.

“血” 用来论及非法所流的血时, 表示因邪恶所生的虚假而被毁的神之真理, 这一点从以下经文清楚看出来, 以赛亚书:

那时, 主以审判的灵和洁净的灵, 将锡安女子的污秽洗去, 又将耶路撒冷的血从它中间冲走.(以赛亚书 4:3)

同一先知书:

你们的手被血沾染, 你们的指头被罪孽沾污. 他们的脚奔向邪恶, 他们急速流无辜人的血; 他们的思想全是恶念.(以赛亚书 59:3, 7)

耶利米书:

并且你的衣襟上有贫穷无辜灵魂的血.(耶利米书 2:34)

耶利米哀歌:

这都因先知的罪恶和祭司的罪孽, 他们在耶路撒冷中间流了义人的血. 他们在街上瞎逛, 又被血玷污; 他们不能玷污的东西, 竟用衣服触摸了.(耶利米哀歌 4:13-14)

以西结书:

我从你旁边经过, 见你滚在血中, 就说: 你虽在血中, 仍可存活; 我实在对你说, 你虽在血中, 仍可存活. 我用水洗你, 冲去你身上的血, 又用油抹你.(以西结书 16:6, 9)

同一先知书:

人子啊, 你要与这流血的城争辩吗? 向她宣布她一切可憎的事. 你要说, 因你所流人的血, 就为有罪; 又因你所造的偶像, 就被玷污了. 看哪! 以色列的首领各逞其能, 在你中间流人之血. 在你中间有好谗谤的人, 预备流人的血; 在你中间有在山上吃过的.(以西结书 22:2-4, 6, 9)

约珥书:

我要在天上地下显出奇事, 有血, 有火, 有烟柱. 日头要变为幽暗, 月亮要变为血, 都在耶和华大而可畏的日子未到以前.(约珥书 2:30-31)

启示录:

日头变黑像毛布, 满月变得像血.(启示录 6:12)

又:

第二位天使吹号, 就有仿佛火烧着的大山扔在海中, 海的三分之一变成血.(启示录 8:8)

又:

第二位天使把他的香瓶倒在海里, 海就变成好像死人的血, 海中一切活着的灵魂都死了. 第三位天使把他的香瓶倒在江河与众水的泉源里, 它们就变成了血.(启示录 16:3-4)

在这些经文中,

“血” 并非表示所流的人的肉体生命的血, 而是表示他的属灵生命的血, 也就是神之真理, 邪恶所生的虚假就是向它施暴的. 马太福音中的 “血” 所表相同:

叫世上所流义人的血, 都归到你们身上. 从义人亚伯的血起, 直到你们在殿和坛中间所杀的撒迦利亚的血为止.(马太福音 23:35)

这些话表示从古时直到现在, 犹太人一直对圣言的真理施暴, 以致他们根本不愿接受任何内在和天上的真理. 所以他们也不接受主. 他们流祂的血表示他们对神之真理的完全弃绝, 因为主就是神性真理本身, 也就是 “成了肉身的圣言” (约翰福音 1:1, 14). 在马太福音中, 这些话就表示他们对来自主的神之真理的完全弃绝:

彼拉多在众人面前洗手, 说, 流这义人的血, 罪不在我, 你们承当吧. 众人都回答说, 祂的血归到我们和我们的子孙身上.(马太福音 27:24-25)

这就解释了约翰福音中所描述的以下事件:

惟有一个兵拿枪扎祂的肋旁, 随即有血和水流出来. 那看见的人就作见证, 他的见证也是真的; 并且他知道自己所说的是真的, 叫你们也可以信.(约翰福音 19:34-35)

水也流出来的原因是,

“水” 表示外在形式的神之真理, 就是构成字义的那种真理.

“水” 表示真理 (参看2702, 3058, 3424, 4976, 5668, 8568节).

由此也明显可知被主的宝血洗净是什么意思, 即从主领受信之真理 (7918, 9088节). 由此也明显可知启示录中的这些话是什么意思:

他们胜过那龙, 是因羔羊的血, 和他们所见证的圣言.(启示录 12:11)

“因羔羊的血” 是指通过来自主的神性真理, 神性真理也是 “他们所见证的圣言”.

“羔羊的血” 是指纯真之血, 因为 “羔羊” 表示纯真 (3519, 3994, 7840节). 在天上, 从主发出的神之真理含有纯真在它的核心处; 因为它只感染那些拥有纯真的人, 或说, 除了那些拥有纯真的人外, 没有人对它拥有任何感觉 (2526, 2780, 3111, 3183, 3494, 3994, 4797, 6013, 6107, 6765, 7836节的末尾,7840, 7877, 7902节).

652. Verse 8. And their bodies shall be upon the street of the great city, signifies their extinction by the evils and falsities of doctrine. This is evident from the signification of "bodies" as being that the good of love and the truth of doctrine signified by "the two witnesses" have been extinguished; for "to be killed" signifies to be extinguished, here spiritually, because it refers to those who have wholly destroyed these things in themselves. In like manner the Lord is said "to have been slain" and "to be dead," to signify that the Divine proceeding from Him, which is Divine good and Divine truth, has been rejected, that is, the Lord has been slain and is dead with those by whom that has been rejected (See above, n. 83). This is evident also from the signification of "the street of the great city," as being the truth and good of doctrine, and in the contrary sense the falsity and evil of doctrine; for "street" signifies truth leading, and in the contrary sense falsity leading (of which presently); and "city" signifies doctrine (of which above, n. 223. It is said "great city," because "great" is predicated of good, and in the contrary sense of evil, as "many" is predicated of truth, and in the contrary sense of falsity (See above, n. 223, 336, 337). This now makes clear that "the bodies of the two witnesses upon the street of the great city" signifies the extinction of the good of love and charity and of the truth of doctrine and faith by the falsities and evils of doctrine. As the evils and falsities of doctrine are signified, it is next said "which great city is spiritually called Sodom and Egypt," "Sodom" signifying the evils of the love, and "Egypt" the falsities therefrom, each pertaining to doctrine, by which the church at its end is destroyed (concerning which in the following articles).

[2] "Street" signifies the truth of doctrine, and in the contrary sense the falsity of doctrine, because in the spiritual sense a "way" signifies truth leading to good, and in the contrary sense falsity leading to evil (See above, n. 97); and streets are ways in a city, and as a "city" signifies doctrine, so a "street" signifies the truth and the falsity of doctrine. Moreover, in the spiritual world there are cities, and streets in them, as in the cities of the world; and what each one is in respect to the affection of truth and intelligence therefrom is known there merely from the place where he dwells and from the streets in which he walks. Those who are in a clear perception of truth dwell in the southern quarter of the city and also walk there; those who are in a clear affection of the good of love dwell in the eastern quarter and also walk there; those who are in an obscure affection of the good of love dwell in the western quarter and also walk there; and those who are in an obscure perception of truth dwell in the northern quarter and also walk there. But in the cities where those live who are in the persuasion of falsity from evil the reverse is true. This makes clear why it is that a "street" signifies truth or falsity leading.

[3] That "streets" have this signification can be seen from the following passages. In Jeremiah:

Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see, I pray, and know, and seek in the open places thereof if ye can find a man [vir] that doeth judgment, that seeketh truth; then will I pardon her (Jeremiah 5:1).

Because "the streets of Jerusalem and the open places thereof" signify the truths of doctrine, according to the states of affection and perception of those who are of the church, and because "Jerusalem" signifies the church in respect to doctrine it is said, "Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see and know, and seek in the open places thereof;" and because "judgment" is predicated of truths, since all judgment comes from laws and precepts, which are truths, and because "truth" signifies the truth of doctrine and of faith it is said, "if ye can find a man [vir] that doeth judgment and that seeketh truth."

The "open places" mean particularly the corners of the city, thus the quarters where the dwelling places are; and as each one in the cities in the spiritual world has his dwelling place in accordance with his affection of good and his perception of truth, clear or obscure, therefore "open places" signify truths and goods according to each one's affection and perception.

[4] In Isaiah:

Judgment hath been rejected backward, and justice hath stood afar off; for truth hath stumbled in the street, and rectitude cannot enter (Isaiah 59:14).

"Judgment and justice" signify in the Word truth and good; that these no longer exist is signified by "judgment hath been rejected backward, and justice has stood afar off;" that they have wandered away from the truths of doctrine, and consequently there is no truth in the life, which is the good of life, is signified by "truth hath stumbled in the street, and rectitude cannot enter," for all good of life is acquired by means of the truths of doctrine, for it is by them that a man learns how he ought to live. Because "street" signifies where truth leads, it is said "truth hath stumbled in the street."

[5] In Nahum:

The chariots raged in the street, they ran to and fro in the open places (Nahum 2:4).

Because "chariots" signify the doctrinals of truth, and "streets" and "open places" what is in accord with each one's affection and perception, as above, it is said "the chariots raged in the streets, they ran to and fro in the open places," "to rage" signifying to call falsities truths, and "to run to and fro" signifying to wander off.

[6] In the book of Judges:

In the days of Jael the ways ceased, they that go in footpaths went in crooked paths, they ceased, the open places ceased in Israel (Judges 5:6, 7).

This is in the Song of Deborah and Barak, which treats of the desolation of truth in the church, and afterwards of its restoration; the desolation is described by "the ways ceased, they that go in footpaths went in crooked paths, they ceased, the open places ceased in Israel;" "ways and paths" having the same signification as "streets and open places," namely, truths of doctrine leading, and "to go in crooked ways" signifies to wander away from truths.

[7] In Isaiah:

The city of emptiness shall be broken down, every house shall be shut that no one may enter; a cry over the wine in the streets; every joy shall be mixed, the gladness of the earth shall be banished (Isaiah 24:10, 11).

"The city of emptiness" signifies doctrine in which there is falsity and no truth; "house" signifies the good of the will and thus of the life; thence is evident what is signified by "the city of emptiness shall be broken down, every house shall be shut that no one may enter;" "a cry over the wine in the streets" signifies lamentation on account of the lack of truth and the mingling of truth with falsity, "wine" signifying the truth of the church from the Word; therefore it is said "in the streets," because "street" too signifies truth, and where truth is sought. "Joy and gladness" are mentioned, because "joy" is predicated of the delight that is from the affection of good, and "gladness" of the delight that is from the affection of truth; that these delights will cease is signified by "every joy shall be mixed, the gladness of the earth shall be banished," the earth signifying the church.

[8] In Jeremiah:

How is the city of glory forsaken, the city of my joy! Therefore her young men shall fall in the streets, and all the men of war shall be cut off (Jeremiah 49:25, 26; 50:30).

"The city of glory" signifies the doctrine of Divine truth, and "the city of joy" signifies the delight from the affection of good and truth therein; "young men" signify those who are made intelligent by means of truths; and that the understanding of truth would perish is signified by "the young men shall fall in the streets;" "men of war" signify truths combating against falsities; that there will be no defense of truth against falsities is signified by "all the men of war shall be cut off."

[9] In Ezekiel:

You have multiplied your slain in this city, so that you have filled the streets thereof with the slain (Ezekiel 11:6).

The "slain" mean in the Word those who are destroyed by falsities; for the "sword," by which they are slain, signifies falsity destroying truth; "city" signifies here, as above, the doctrine of truth; thence appears what is signified by "the slain in the city;" "to fill the streets with the slain" signifies to lay waste the truth by falsities.

[10] In Lamentations:

They that did eat delicacies are laid waste in the streets; and they that were brought up in crimson have embraced dunghills. The form of the Nazirites is darker than blackness, they are not recognized in the streets. They have wandered about blind in the streets, they are polluted with blood. They have hunted our steps so that we cannot go in the streets (Lamentations 4:5, 8, 14, 18).

Here, too, "streets" signify the truths of doctrine leading to the good of life, or truths according to which one must live. This treats of the church where the Word is, and its devastation in respect to truths; therefore "they that did eat delicacies are laid waste in the streets" signifies that those who have imbibed genuine truths from the Word have no longer any truths, "delicacies" meaning genuine truths from the Word; "they that were brought up in crimson have embraced dunghills" signifies that those who had imbibed genuine goods from the Word have nothing but the falsities of evil, "crimson" signifying the genuine good of the Word, in particular the celestial love of truth, and "dunghills" signifying the falsities of evil; "the form of the Nazirites is darker than blackness, they are not recognized in the streets," signifies that Divine truth is in such obscurity that it is apparent to no one; "the Nazirites" represent the Lord in relation to Divine truth, and therefore signify Divine truth from the Lord; "they have wandered about blind in the streets, they are polluted with blood," signifies that the truths of the Word are no longer seen because they have been falsified, "the blind" signifying those who do not see truths. "They have hunted our steps, so that we cannot go in the streets," signifies leading astray, so that it is not known how to live, "to hunt the steps" signifying to lead astray by falsities, and "to go" signifying to live, therefore "to go in the streets" signifies to live according to truths.

[11] In Zephaniah:

I will cut off the nations, their corners shall be laid waste; I will make desolate their streets, that none may pass through; their cities shall be laid waste, that there may be no man nor inhabitant (Zephaniah 3:6).

The "nations that shall be cut off," signify the goods of the church; the "corners that shall be laid waste" signify the truths and goods of the church in the whole complex (that this is the signification of "corners" see above, n. 417; the "streets that shall be made desolate, that no one may pass through," signify the truths of doctrine; for the "cities that shall be laid waste, that there may be no man nor inhabitant," signify doctrinals, "man" and "inhabitants" meaning in the Word in the spiritual sense all who are in truths and goods, thus in an abstract sense, truths and goods.

[12] In Zechariah:

I will return to Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem, whence Jerusalem shall be called the city of truth. There shall yet old men and women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, and the streets shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof (Zechariah 8:3-5).

This is said of the Lord's coming, and of the New Church to be established by Him; "Zion" means the church in respect to the good of love, and "Jerusalem" the church in respect to the truths of doctrine, therefore Jerusalem is called "the city of truth;" "the old men and women who shall dwell in the streets of Jerusalem" mean those that are intelligent and wise through the truths of doctrine; "the boys and girls playing in the streets, of whom the streets of the city shall be full," signify the affections of truth and good and their delights, in which those shall abound who live in the truths of doctrine.

[13] In Jeremiah:

According to the number of thy cities were thy gods, O Judah; and according to the number of the streets of Jerusalem have ye set up altars to shame, altars to burn incense to Baal (Jeremiah 11:13).

"According to the number of thy cities were thy gods, O Judah," signifies that there were as many falsities as doctrinals, "cities" signifying doctrinals, and "gods" falsities of religion; "according to the number of the streets of Jerusalem have ye set up altars to shame" signifies that there were as many kinds of worship as there were falsities of doctrine, "streets" here signifying the falsities of doctrine, and "altars" worship; worship from falsities is what is meant, because the altars meant were altars of incense, for it is said, "altars to burn incense to Baal," and "incense" signifies spiritual good, which in its essence is truth from good, and in the contrary sense falsity from evil.

(That this is the signification of "incense" and its "altar," see above, n. 324, 491, 492, 567.)

[14] In the same:

Seest thou not what they do in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? The sons gather wood and the fathers kindle the fire, the women knead dough to make cakes to the queen of the heavens, and to pour out drink-offerings to other gods; I will make to cease in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem the voice of joy and the voice of gladness (Jeremiah 7:17, 18, 34).

What these words signify in the spiritual sense may be seen fully explained above n. 555; also that "the cities of Judah" signify the doctrinals of the church, and "the streets of Jerusalem" its truths of doctrine.

[15] In the same:

Have ye forgotten the evils which they did in the land of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? (Jeremiah 44:9)

"The land of Judah" signifies the church in respect to good, but here in respect to evil; and "the streets of Jerusalem" signify the truths of doctrine, but here its falsities of doctrine.

[16] In Ezekiel:

With the hoofs of his horses Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon shall trample down all thy streets; he shall slay thy people with the sword, and he shall bring down the pillars of strength to the earth; they shall make a spoil of thy wealth (Ezekiel 26:11, 12).

"Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon" signifies the profanation of truth and its consequent destruction; "to trample down all thy streets with the hoofs of his horses" signifies that all the truths of the church will be destroyed by the fallacies of the sensual man; "he shall slay the people with the sword" signifies that truths will be destroyed by falsities; that thus also all worship from truths will be destroyed is signified by "he shall bring down the pillars of strength to the earth," for "pillars" signify holy worship from truths, and because all power is of truth from good they are called "pillars of strength;" that knowledges of truth will also be destroyed is signified by "they shall make a spoil of thy wealth." (That "wealth" and "riches" mean the knowledges of truth, see above, n. 236.)

[17] In the same:

Thou hast built thee an eminent place and hast made thee an exalted place in every street, upon every head of the way thou hast made thee thy eminent place, and thou hast made thy beauty abominable (Ezekiel 16:24, 25, 31).

"Eminent place" and "exalted place" with the ancients signified heaven; from this came the practice of sacrificing upon high mountains, or in place of these upon places built up high, therefore worship from evils and from the falsities of doctrine is signified by "making an eminent and an exalted place in every street, and upon every head of the way;" and as that worship became idolatrous it is said that "they made their beauty abominable," "beauty" meaning truth and intelligence therefrom; for everyone in the spiritual world is beautiful according to truths from good, and intelligence therefrom.

[18] In Amos:

Lamentations shall be in all the streets, and they shall say in all the open places, Alas, alas! and they shall call the husbandman to mourning (Amos 5:16).

"Lamentations shall be in all the streets, and they shall say in all the open places, Alas, alas!" signifies grief because truth and good are everywhere laid waste; "and they shall call the husbandman to mourning" signifies the grief of the men of the church on this account, "husbandman" signifying the man of the church, because a "field" signifies the church in respect to the implantation of truth.

[19] In David:

Our garners are full, affording food on food; our flocks are thousands and ten thousands in our streets; our oxen are laden, there is no breach nor fleeing away, nor outcry in our open places (Psalms 144:13, 14).

"Garners which are full of food" signify the doctrinals from the Word, thus the Word itself, wherein are all truths of doctrine which furnish instruction and spiritual nourishment; "flocks are thousands and ten thousands in the streets" signifies spiritual goods and truths, "thousands of flocks" goods, and "ten thousands" truths; "oxen laden" signify natural goods and their affections; "no breach" signifies their coherence; "no fleeing away" signifies no loss of any of these; "no outcry in the open places" signifies no lamentation anywhere over the lack of these.

[20] In Job:

God, who giveth rain upon the faces of the earth, and who sendeth waters upon the faces of the streets (Job 5:10).

"To give rain upon the faces of the earth" signifies the influx of Divine truth into all things with those who are of the church; and "to send waters upon the faces of the streets" signifies Divine influx into the truths of doctrine, that man may be rendered spiritual thereby.

[21] In Isaiah:

In its streets they have girded themselves with sackcloth, upon its roofs and in its streets he shall howl, flowing down in weeping (Isaiah 15:3).

This is said of the city Ar in the land of Moab, which signifies the doctrine of those who are in truths from the natural man; grief over their falsities of doctrine, from the first to the last, is signified by "they have girded themselves with sackcloth, upon its roofs and in its streets he shall howl," "roofs" meaning interior things, and "streets" exterior things with such. In Jeremiah:

Upon all the roofs of Moab and in its streets, lamentation everywhere (Jeremiah 48:38).

The signification here is similar, as above.

[22] In Daniel:

Know and perceive that from the going forth of the Word even to the restoration and building of Jerusalem, even to Messiah the prince; after sixty and two weeks it shall be restored and built, street and ditch, but in straitness of times (Daniel 9:25).

He who knows not the spiritual sense of the Word may think that by "Jerusalem" here Jerusalem is meant, and that it is to be restored and built; also that "the street and ditch" which it is said will be restored and built mean a street and ditch of that city; but "Jerusalem" means the church that is to be established by the Lord, and "street and ditch" mean the truth of doctrine; "street" truth, and "ditch" doctrine. What is there signified by the number of weeks is not to be explained in this place.

[23] This makes evident that "the street of the New Jerusalem" has a like signification in the following passages in Revelation:

The twelve gates were twelve pearls and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass (Revelation 21:21).

And afterwards:

He showed me a pure river of water of life, bright as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb; in the midst of the street thereof and of the river on either side was the tree of life, bearing twelve fruits (Revelation 22:1, 2).

But these passages will be explained hereafter.

[24] In Isaiah:

Thy sons have fainted, they lay at the head of all the streets, as an antelope in a net (Isaiah 51:20).

This, too, is said of Jerusalem, that is, the church vastated in respect to doctrine, "sons" meaning those who are in the truths of doctrine; "to faint and to lie at the head of all the streets" signifies to be deprived of all truth, "head or beginning of the streets" signifying entrance to truth, thus all truth.

[25] In Lamentations:

The infant and the suckling faint in the streets of the city. Lift up thy hands to the Lord respecting the souls of thine infants, who have fainted from famine at the head of all the streets (Lamentations 2:11, 19).

"Infant and suckling" signify innocence, and also the goods and truths that are first born and made alive by knowledges from the Word with men who are regenerating, and which, being the first, are faultless and blameless; entire lack of these is signified by "they have fainted in the streets of the city, and at the head of all the streets;" it is said "from famine," because "famine" signifies loss, lack, and ignorance of knowledges, and at the same time desire for them (See above, n. 386).

[26] In Nahum:

Her infants were dashed in pieces at the head of all the streets, and over her honorable ones they cast a lot, and all her great ones were bound with chains (Nahum 3:10).

Here also "infants" mean the truths that are firstborn and vivified, and "to be dashed in pieces at the head of all the streets" signifies to be scattered and to perish; "honorable ones" signify the goods of love; "to cast a lot over them" signifies dispersion of these; "great ones" signify the truths of good; and "to be bound with chains" signifies to be tied by falsities so that truth cannot come forth. This is said of "the city of bloods" which signifies the doctrine in which the truths of the Word are falsified.

[27] In Jeremiah:

Death cometh up through our windows, it cometh into our palaces, to cut off the infant from the street, the young men from the open places (Jeremiah 9:21).

"Death" means here spiritual death, which takes place when falsity is believed to be truth and truth to be falsity, and the life is in accordance therewith; "windows" signify the thoughts from the understanding, "palaces" the interior and thus the more sublime things of the human mind; this makes clear what is signified by "death cometh up through the windows and cometh into our palaces;" "infant" signifies here as above the truths that are firstborn through knowledges from the Word; "young men" signify truths acquired, from which comes intelligence; and "streets and open places" signify the truths of doctrine and the truths of life which lead to intelligence and wisdom; this makes clear what is signified by "cutting off the infant from the street, the young men from the open places."

[28] In the same:

I am full of the anger of Jehovah, I am weary with holding in; pour out upon the infant in the street, and upon the assembly of young men; for even the man with the woman shall be taken, the old man with him that is full of days (Jeremiah 6:11).

Here "the infant in the street" and "the young men" have a similar signification as above; "man [vir] and woman" signify truth conjoined to good and intelligence therefrom; and "old man" and "one full of days" signify wisdom.

[29] As "street" signifies the truth of doctrine leading, and in the contrary sense falsity, "the clay of the streets," "the mire," and "dung" signify the falsity of the love of evil, in the following passages. In Isaiah:

Their carcass has become as the dung of the streets (Isaiah 5:25).

He shall make him to be trodden down like the clay of the streets (Isaiah 10:6).

In Micah:

She shall be trodden down like the mire of the streets (Mic. Micah 7:10).

In David:

I will beat them small as the dust before the faces of the wind, I will spread them out as the mire of the streets (Psalms 18:42).

All this, too, is from the appearances in the spiritual world; in the cities there in which falsities from evil reign the streets appear full of dung, mire and clay. This makes evident what is signified by:

The Lord's commanding the seventy whom He sent out to preach the Gospel, Into whatever city ye enter and they receive you not, go out into the streets thereof and say, Even the dust of your city that cleaveth unto us do we shake off from us ¹ (Luke 10:10, 11).

[30] Because "the streets of a city" signify the truths of doctrine, according to which one should live, it was customary to teach and to pray in the streets. Thus in the second book of Samuel:

Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice (2 Samuel 1:20).

In Matthew:

When thou doest alms sound not a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the open places that they may have glory of men. And when thou prayest thou shalt not be as the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets where they may be seen of men (Matthew 6:2, 5).

And in Luke:

Then shall ye begin to say, We did eat before Thee and drink, and Thou didst teach in our streets; but He shall say, I tell you I know you not whence ye are (Luke 13:26, 27).

[31] Furthermore, from the signification of "street," as meaning the truth of doctrine, it is also evident why the Lord said in the parable that:

The master of the house commanded his servants to go out quickly into the streets and open places of the city and bring in the poor, the maimed, the lame, and the blind (Luke 14:21).

"The poor, the maimed, the lame, and the blind," do not mean such in a natural sense, but such in a spiritual sense, that is, such as had not the Word, and were therefore in ignorance of truth and in lack of good, but still desired truths by means of which they might obtain good; such were the Gentiles with whom the church of the Lord was afterwards established.

[32] Because "the street of a city" signified either truth or falsity teaching and leading, therefore:

The angels that came to Sodom said that they would lodge all night in the street (Genesis 19:2).

And for the same reason it was commanded that:

If the sons of Israel observed that those in any city served other gods they should smite the inhabitants of the city with the sword, utterly destroying the city, and they should bring all the spoil of it into the midst of the street, and burn the city and all the spoil with fire (Deuteronomy 13:14, 16, 17).

"Other gods" signify the falsities of worship, "the sword" the destruction of falsities by truths; "spoil" the falsification of truth; and "fire" the punishment of the love of evil and its destruction.

[33] From these passages cited from the Word it can be seen what is signified by "the bodies of the two witnesses were cast forth upon the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt," and afterwards that "they were not suffered to be placed in sepulchers;" for it was a custom with the Jewish and Israelitish nation to cast out the slain that were enemies into the ways and streets, and not to bury them, as a sign of their hatred of such; but still this represented that by such enemies infernal evils and falsities that could not be raised again to life were meant, that is, those who were in infernal evils and falsities.

[34] This is evident in Jeremiah:

The prophets prophesy, saying, Sword and famine shall not be in this land; by sword and by famine shall these prophets be consumed, and the people to whom they prophesy shall be cast out into the streets of Jerusalem, and there shall be no one to bury them (Jeremiah 14:15, 16).

A "prophet" means the doctrine of truth, here the doctrine of falsity, because they prophesied falsities; and as "streets" signified where falsities are, it is said that "they were to be cast out into the streets of Jerusalem."

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