Water generally represents “natural truth,” or true concepts about day-to-day matters and physical things. Since all water ultimately flows into the seas, then, it follows that a sea represents a huge agglomeration of such natural truths -- usually all of the natural truth a person has, or all the natural truth a church has. Water in the sea mixes freely, and is easily stirred up by winds and currents. This is also true of the concepts we hold about natural things -- they are not all related to each other, and when relationships do exist they usually can change without damaging the concepts themselves. Many of the concepts are easily disputed, and arguments can arise like waves on the ocean -- generally with little effect other than a mixing of waters. But the sea also offers great bounty. We draw fish from it (spiritual food), float ships (doctrinal systems) on it, bathe in it (using true concepts to purify ourselves), and the water that evaporates from it and falls as rain (purer forms of truth that can attach to desires for good) makes life possible.

1154. “亚实基拿, 利法, 陀迦玛” 是具有这类敬拜的众多民族, 也表源于歌篾所具有的外在敬拜的众多教义, 也就是仪式. 这同样从提及这些民族的先知书清楚可知. 他们各方面都表教义或仪式, 通常具有两种意义, 有时具有正面意义, 有时具有反面意义. 如耶利米书提及的 “亚实基拿”:

要在地上竖立大旗, 在各族中吹角; 祝圣各族攻击巴比伦, 使亚拉腊, 米尼, 亚实基拿各国听到攻击她. (耶利米书 51:27)

这论及巴比伦的毁灭, “亚实基拿” 表它的偶像崇拜, 或毁灭巴比伦的脱离内在的外在敬拜. 它尤表虚假的教义, 因而具有反面意义. 以西结书提及的 “陀迦玛”:

雅完人, 土巴人, 米设人都与你交易人的灵魂, 他们用铜器兑换你的货物. 陀迦玛族用马和战马并骡子兑换你的货物. (以西结书 27:13-14)

这论及推罗, 推罗代表拥有对属天和属灵事物的认知之人. 和前面一样, “雅完人, 土巴人, 米设人” 表各种代表性或相应的仪式; “陀迦玛族” 也表这些. 前者的外在仪式涉及属天事物, 而后者的外在仪式则涉及属灵事物, 这从他们所交易货物的含义明显可知. 他们在此具有正面意义. 同一先知书:

歌篾人和他的全军, 北方极处的陀迦玛族和他的全军. (以西结书 38:6)

此处, 他们表歪曲的教义, 也就是 “北方极处” 所指的. 歌篾人和陀迦玛族在此具有反面意义.