Gates" in ancient times had a significance that does not hold in the modern world. Cities then were enclosed by walls for protection; gates in the walls let people in and out to do their business, but were also the weak points in the cities' defenses. In the Bible, cities on one level represent the minds of individual people. On a broader level, they represent beliefs shared by a community. The gates, then, represent openings where the Lord can feed us an understanding of truth and a desire for good. They also represent points where the hells can invade and sway us with false ideas and evil desires. We are kept in balance during our lifetimes, with influences from both the Lord and from hell. Ideally, we will over our lifetimes continue to invite the Lord farther and farther in and drive the hells back until ultimately the Lord can occupy our minds completely. And that point our belief in Him and His power and love will hold the gates and deny evil any entrance. As individuals, we at that point become angels. As communities, we at that point become part of the Lord's church. And at that point the gates become an entry point, introductory truths that allow people to enter churches and start bringing the Lord into their lives.

3216. 为更好地了解来世代表物的性质, 也就是说, 出现在灵人界的那些事物的性质, 再举几个例子. 当天使正在谈论仁与信的教义时, 在相对应的灵人社群所在的较低领域有时会看到一座或数座城的形态或模型, 城内有宫殿. 这些宫殿的建筑设计如此巧妙, 令人叹为观止, 以至于你会说, 这里就是建筑艺术的家乡, 一切灵感所在之处, 更不用说各种形状的房子了. 说来奇妙, 在每一座宫殿或每一间房子里面, 甚至连最小的点或最细微的可见细节都无不代表天使观念和言谈的某个方面. 由此清楚可知它们所包含的细节何等数不胜数, 以及圣言中先知们所看到的城, 圣城或新耶路撒冷, 圣言的预言部分所提到的城是什么意思, 也就是说, 它们表示仁与信的教义 (n. 402, 2449) .